CTF Rabbit Hole

[DAP_Driver]

I’m sure this has been discussed at length but went down a little rabbit hole this week on CTF cars.

The first Z/28 unveiled at DAS was white (yes, not the production white, but white).

69 CTF cars
10 white CTF (perfect 60/40 split between ac and not)
454 white (Chevelle)
427 white AC (obvious)
27 white no ac (27 has its own lore)

The truth is out there!

[DAP_Driver]

Wonder what CTF values will do once their rarity sinks in

[el ess A]

Just my opinion-

Obviously, as a 5th gen Camaro owner, I'd love to say they'll go through the roof in value. Everyone hopes they will.

But in today's reality, it's tough to say values of anything car-related in the future. Car collectors aren't what they used to be. This is a fact. The younger generations, as they get older, aren't doing as much with cars like many of us did in our day. Sure, there's plenty of old folks left that appreciate and will dig deep for cars they really like, but there's the collectors that give a crap and those who have more money than brains. Again, value only goes up if the demand is there.

It may remind them of a Hot Wheel car they had as a kid, but other than that, they have no vested interest in the car except to go in the garage and point it out to their friends. I say this as a general rule. Some outliers, like Jay Leno, Tim Allen, and folks like that do appreciate the cars they own. But again, that's not the norm. And they're not young anymore, either.

Computers are dated. Once they're installed in cars, there's usually no way of easy upgrades. Firmware/software updates have an upper limit, and that's it. So after 25 or more years, the current cars likely will be miles ahead of today's technology. Who knows what the future collectors will be looking for? I still hate working on newer cars due to all the electronic junk. Not that it's bad, it's just that OBD1 is about my limit. I quit bothering with trying to learn all the computer stuff.

Another "hidden" cost of owning a "collectible" car is the constant attention and maintenance to keep it as a pristine garage queen. Storage costs, insurance, fuel, exercise, etc. all have to be considered.

And parts...will it need restoration in the future? Seals, weatherstrips, etc., all age and some age badly. Even finding them now is a PITA. And the aftermarket isn't helping all that much anymore.

Time will tell. All the old bastages that appreciate the Camaro for what it is...most of them are dying or dead. And if they ever bring back the Camaro in another form not true to its roots? Might as well give up at that point.

So to sum it up...they MIGHT be valuable one day to the general masses. But all you need is that ONE guy or gal with deep pockets...

[DAP_Driver]

That’s a very astute observation - especially on who the market will actually be in the future as baby boomers exit. A car like the gen 5 Z/28 is a direct tie to the 67-69 Camaro and therefore an extension of the generation that grew up in that era. As a millennial, I’ve always loved those cars for what they represented for my parents and grandparents. However, there’s a reason sedans and other cars are going the way of Woolworth’s.

That being said, everything comes in cycles, we cut cable and now have that same number of channels but a hundred different subscriptions. Same day delivery replaced in-store. Cell phones replaced land line. These innovations haven’t delivered on the promise of making quality of life considerably that much better.

Gen Z and Gen Alpha are returning to basics. Love of country, love of God, yearning for a simpler time. I am hopeful that they will reject the idea that transportation is some stale, joyless A to B service you only rent and never experience. Would be a shame.

Like Brooks said in the Shawshank Redemption- “The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry.”

[JRowe500]

I do not think Camaros are that easy to pigeonhole to a certain age group especially the newer ones. I took my Z to Publix a few months ago and a Latin kid around 15 said "hey mom , that's a Z28, I have never seen one". He asked if he could take pictures. I know he was the exception but he actually know what a Z was.

[el ess A]

Originally Posted by JRowe500

I do not think Camaros are that easy to pigeonhole to a certain age group especially the newer ones. I took my Z to Publix a few months ago and a Latin kid around 15 said "hey mom , that's a Z28, I have never seen one". He asked if he could take pictures. I know he was the exception but he actually know what a Z was.

That kid can give one hope, that's for sure.

The question isn't whether anyone can recognize one. But when that kid is grown, able to get a good job, and save up the money...will he come knocking at the door wanting to know if the old SOB that drives that old Camaro wants to sell it and is willing to pay top dollar for it? I'm banking while there may be some that might, the pool is getting shallower. It's the trend I'm noticing, not the end all be all. We grew up in Bizzaro world, at least I did. Gas crunch, people dumping their 442s, Chevelle 454s..etc., for more fuel economy. Most of us could only afford the cast off muscle cars going for cheap. That's probably never going to happen again.

Will the Z/28 or any 5th gen hold value in the future for the kids growing up now? Sure, some other old fart will buy that car from you right now because they know exactly what they're getting. But these young kids now?

According to my grand-nephews (never thought I'd live to see that word in writing), there's not as many motorheads in high school today as there was when many of us were growing up. A few like cars in general, but not many. And the car companies aren't helping by NOT making affordable gas cars.