When is a car considered "rare"? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

S3XPanther · 12-07-2012, 07:01 PM

Hey all, opinions aside, is there any sort of legal definition that could be used to classify a car as being "rare"? I know that for a car to be considered a classic (it depends by state) it has to be a certain number of years old. Is there anything similar to this (maybe production numbers?) that could be used to officially label a car "rare"?

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 12-07-2012, 07:03 PM

when there aren't 300K of the same/similar model floating about being driven by idiots that spend too much time and money @ pep-boys for stick on b.s.

DesertCamaro · 12-07-2012, 07:06 PM

When an Average Joe and Millionaire Joe can't buy the same car, either due to price or availability. A supercar will be released on a limited production run and all models are spoken for before they even begin building (Ferrari Enzo).

Hell, remember when gas prices went crazy a few years ago and you couldn't even buy a Prius? It was like that in Phoenix.

S3XPanther · 12-07-2012, 09:35 PM

Well, the reason I bring it up is due to a discussion between friends in which I have unfortunately become involved. It's regards the Buick Regal, mid to late 80's specifically. One friend claims the Grand National is a rare car, while the other disagrees. I will agree that the GNX version was "rare" with only 537 (or 547? Can't remember) produced, however I didn't feel the regular Grand National was rare, with close to 30,000 produced. I mean I can find several relatively close to me for under 20k Of course this is all opinion based, but I wanted to know how C5 felt.

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 12-07-2012, 09:42 PM

yeah the GNX is rare, the GN isn't but it is still a collector car..

S3XPanther · 12-07-2012, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. iNCREDIBLE

yeah the GNX is rare, the GN isn't but it is still a collector car..

Agree 100%. Those were my words exactly. I can understand collector status, but I didn't feel the GN is "rare". And my friend kept insisting it was even after I showed him how easily and relatively cheaply I found several for sale.

Apex Paul · 12-07-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S3XPanther

Agree 100%. Those were my words exactly. I can understand collector status, but I didn't feel the GN is "rare". And my friend kept insisting it was even after I showed him how easily and relatively cheaply I found several for sale.

This is a pretty good argument. I am not aware of any defining number that makes a car rare (like the "classic" status, used by State licensing agencies)

joeybsyc · 12-07-2012, 10:25 PM

It all depends on how many are still around as much or more than how many were originally made. Those boxy mid 80's Cavaliers are rare now.... they made millions, but how often do you see one today? And to build on that, rare doesn't always mean desireable. Many a Grand National was beat into the ground, so how many of the 30,000 are still around 25 years later? I'm sure quite a few, but to find an original and unmodified one would indeed be rare. On the flipside, I bet MOST of the 500+/- GNX's are still accounted for and in pristine original condition. Just something else to think about.

AdamZ · 12-07-2012, 11:09 PM

My car is extremely rare. My Camaro is the only Camaro in the world that is currently owned by me

2010 SSRS · 12-07-2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamZ

My car is extremely rare. My Camaro is the only Camaro in the world that is currently owned by me

Tony I want your autograph

midnighter · 12-07-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2010 SSRS

Tony I want your autograph

A three + year old Camaro with less than 1k miles on it is very rare.

Number 3 · 12-07-2012, 11:52 PM

Rare means you can't afford it. If you can afford it..................it isn't rare.

Silverlsinva · 12-08-2012, 12:07 AM

There has to be a better definition of rare, yes there are only 547 GNX produced and it is a highly sought after car but i also know that a 09 cobalt SS sedan only 472 were built and if you happen to come across a yellow one it is 1 of 15 made but its not highly sought after. So i think the Op means Rare and Sought after.

S3XPanther · 12-08-2012, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverlsinva

There has to be a better definition of rare, yes there are only 547 GNX produced and it is a highly sought after car but i also know that a 09 cobalt SS sedan only 472 were built and if you happen to come across a yellow one it is 1 of 15 made but its not highly sought after. So i think the Op means Rare and Sought after.

Well, that's fair. While I don't think a yellow 09 cobalt sedan is really sought after lol, I do find such a small number to qualify as rare.

Others here made great points about things such as how many are still in existence. I also think another thing to consider is how readily available spare parts are. So I guess it's a combination of a lot of things. Its unfortunate that an official definition of "rare car" doesn't exist because I hear so many ignorantly claim their car is rare for this reason or that reason.

Another friend put it well when he said that "rare" just refers to crappy options that no one wanted when the car was around lol.

12-07-2012, 07:01 PM	#1
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	When is a car considered "rare"? Hey all, opinions aside, is there any sort of legal definition that could be used to classify a car as being "rare"? I know that for a car to be considered a classic (it depends by state) it has to be a certain number of years old. Is there anything similar to this (maybe production numbers?) that could be used to officially label a car "rare"? __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

12-07-2012, 07:03 PM	#2
Mr. iNCREDIBLE Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Baby... Posts: 2,530	when there aren't 300K of the same/similar model floating about being driven by idiots that spend too much time and money @ pep-boys for stick on b.s. __________________ *I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you fail to understand.*

12-07-2012, 09:35 PM	#4
S3XPanther by Odeon Drives: '12 SS/RS A6 IOM SOLD, '13 1LE IOM Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Good question Posts: 1,707	Well, the reason I bring it up is due to a discussion between friends in which I have unfortunately become involved. It's regards the Buick Regal, mid to late 80's specifically. One friend claims the Grand National is a rare car, while the other disagrees. I will agree that the GNX version was "rare" with only 537 (or 547? Can't remember) produced, however I didn't feel the regular Grand National was rare, with close to 30,000 produced. I mean I can find several relatively close to me for under 20k Of course this is all opinion based, but I wanted to know how C5 felt. __________________ "It works 60% of the time, every time." "Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's an incredible waste of time." "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." 2013 IOM SS/RS - 1LE. Born 5/6/2013 (1 of 32 1SS IOM 1LE's)

12-07-2012, 09:42 PM	#5
Mr. iNCREDIBLE Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Baby... Posts: 2,530	yeah the GNX is rare, the GN isn't but it is still a collector car.. __________________ *I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you fail to understand.*

12-07-2012, 10:25 PM	#8
joeybsyc Drives: 2010 Aqua Blue Metallic 2SS Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: PA Posts: 2,010 View My Garage	It all depends on how many are still around as much or more than how many were originally made. Those boxy mid 80's Cavaliers are rare now.... they made millions, but how often do you see one today? And to build on that, rare doesn't always mean desireable. Many a Grand National was beat into the ground, so how many of the 30,000 are still around 25 years later? I'm sure quite a few, but to find an original and unmodified one would indeed be rare. On the flipside, I bet MOST of the 500+/- GNX's are still accounted for and in pristine original condition. Just something else to think about. __________________

12-07-2012, 07:06 PM	#3
DesertCamaro Drives: Fast Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 785	When an Average Joe and Millionaire Joe can't buy the same car, either due to price or availability. A supercar will be released on a limited production run and all models are spoken for before they even begin building (Ferrari Enzo). Hell, remember when gas prices went crazy a few years ago and you couldn't even buy a Prius? It was like that in Phoenix.

12-07-2012, 11:09 PM	#9
AdamZ Account Suspended Drives: Eve - 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Fairfield, OH Posts: 11,815	My car is extremely rare. My Camaro is the only Camaro in the world that is currently owned by me

12-07-2012, 11:52 PM	#12
Number 3 Hail to the King baby! Drives: '19 XT4 2.0T & '22 VW Atlas 2.0T Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 12,172 View My Garage	Rare means you can't afford it. If you can afford it..................it isn't rare. __________________ "Speed, it seems to me, provides the one genuinely modern pleasure." - Aldous Huxley

12-08-2012, 12:07 AM	#13
Silverlsinva Drives: 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth Grigio Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Manassas, Va Posts: 3,124	There has to be a better definition of rare, yes there are only 547 GNX produced and it is a highly sought after car but i also know that a 09 cobalt SS sedan only 472 were built and if you happen to come across a yellow one it is 1 of 15 made but its not highly sought after. So i think the Op means Rare and Sought after.