For many seniors and retired people, investments are crucial for making ends meet in retirement, long-term security for emergencies, and providing something to pass down to their heirs. One potential investment to consider is vintage vehicles. Below, we explore the return-on-investment potential of classic cars and how they could benefit your portfolio.
The Investment Appeal of Classic Cars
Its Value Appreciates As It Ages
Perhaps the biggest upside of a classic car is that it can become more valuable as it ages instead of less valuable. Unlike our regular, daily drivers that lose a chunk of their value the second it leaves the lot, a vintage vehicle’s value appreciates rather than depreciates.
So long as it remains in quality condition, a classic car becomes a rarer and more valuable commodity the longer the owner holds onto it. This appreciation makes classic cars terrific investments with strong rates of return.
Diversify Your Investment Portfolio
Another reason that more people are considering classic cars as investments is it allows them to diversify their portfolio. Diversity within an investment portfolio is critical to success and security, so it’s wise to have tangible assets, such as art, jewelry, or classic cars, alongside other investments. And if you ask us, there’s no more fun way to diversify your assets than owning and driving a beautiful old car!
Strategies for Investing in Classic Cars
Look for Rare or Unique Finds
Investors should treat classic cars like any tangible assets they want to add to their portfolio—the rarer, the better. Cars produced in limited quantities decades ago will inherently be more valuable to collectors than one of the millions of muscle cars produced in the heyday of Detroit. When investing, look for vehicles with a limited supply—it’ll mean more costly maintenance and repairs but a greater potential sale years later.
Stay Practical, Not Sentimental
A common mistake to avoid when buying a classic vehicle is to invest with your heart, not your head. Many of us have a dream classic car that we always imagined owning and driving—and if we come across that dream, particulars such as condition or rarity can feel irrelevant.
But classic cars, like old houses, can be money pits if buyers aren’t careful. Don’t let the style and allure of a beautiful classic sway you—what’s underneath the hood, in the documentation, and available on the market determines a vintage car’s value.
Consider High-Upside Restorations
If you’re looking to maximize the return-on-investment potential of a classic car, you may want to consider exploring a restoration project. Project cars are more risky and costly, but the value of a rare vehicle with a high-quality restoration can increase by tens of thousands of dollars.
For some, it’s also a great hobby as many have always wanted to bring an old and decrepit vehicle back from the dead to shine like new again. It’s a big swing and requires time and money, but sometimes big swings mean home runs!
We hope our guide has opened your mind to looking at a classic car as an excellent investment, not just a vanity purchase. If you’re considering diversifying your portfolio with a tangible asset that will appreciate, consider buying a vintage car!
