Future classics
We’re often asked to not only define what a classic car is, but what cars could potentially become future classics.
It’s an extremely difficult question to answer and virtually impossible to accurately define what constitutes a classic. Opinions are definitely divided, as, for some it’s aesthetic beauty, while others opt for rarity. One thing is for certain, though — that classic car ownership is now being looked at by a new, younger breed of owner. For these purchasers, their view of what constitutes a classic will be completely different to what we’ve traditionally acknowledged.
We’re living in somewhat of a golden age, where, for those who enjoy driving something interesting, we have the opportunity to do so for a very modest outlay. The trick, it seems, is being able to predict which cars will become classics in the future. Although it’s hard to know which cars will be considered timeless in years to come, we took a crack at it and, over the last couple of months, have taken a look at a few European models that we think are both great to own and well worth preserving for the future such as the BMW E39 M5 and the Audi RS2, RS4, and RS6. You could consider any of these cars, which are now sitting at the bottom of their depreciation curves. More importantly, if the car has a full service history you can be fairly sure that the maintenance has been kept up to date, and if you’re able to buy one that’s not a contender for the crusher, there’s a fair chance that your investment will increase in value in years to come.
In this issue we take a look at the Mercedes-benz V12 SL600 (R129). The R129 model range was produced from 1990 through to 2002 and the generation’s engine lineup reads like a greatest-hits list of Mercedes engineering.
The SL has always been Mercedes-benz’s top-of-the-line two-seater, and these fourthgeneration SLS represent great value in today’s market and definitely have the necessary credentials to become future classics.
Without getting into the heady realms of the megadollar, super-rare exotics such as those manufactured by Ferrari, Bugatti, and Maserati, we’ve focused our attention on more affordable speculation — if you’ve always had a desire to own a potential classic marque from the ’80s or ’90s, now’s the time to invest in your dream car.
Until next month …