Cratecruncher
True Classic
NEG, How do you and other British Xers view the fuel injected version?
OMG. You do realise the Western World includes most of Western Europe and Australasia, which probably goes somewhat to explaining the limited interest in European Cars in the US, and as such the US is the go to country for undervalued European Classics. So you are right to a certain degree, the future market for X1/9's in the US is pretty grim, but outside of the US X1/9's are appreciating, with low milage original examples now fetching in the region of US$15,000. But I guess we are dealing with localised markets where nostalgia and familiarity go a long way to dictating the market and the US to be fair is wedded to it's own history of muscle cars, cruisers, pickups, land ships of the 50's and 60's, much in the same way Australia is wedded to their long history of Fords and Holdens, where innocuous sedans and sport sedans reach $100,000 of dollars.US(Western market)
Whilst not British, we also had the European model which was the Carburettor version, and also no air conditioning or all the catalytic converter plumbing added to the US model, which does dramatically impact the performance the X. Personally I prefer the basics of the Carburettor, that you can pull it to pieces and put it back together with ease. It makes working out what's wrong so easy, a fuel pump, jets, a distributor and a spark, a bit of a throw back to the past, but also eked every last hp out of the little single overhead cam engine.NEG, How do you and other British Xers view the fuel injected version?
I agree that they are unlikely to be an investment that gains money, but well maintained won't loose money. They are in my opinion becoming collectible, for as you have noted, the reducing numbers coming up for sale, especially good solid examples. Being 30 years old, Italian and quirky, most have now found their way into the hands of enthusiasts where it is their weekend car or project car, and rarely the daily driver. There are now may affordable, modern and reliable sports cars out there, Miata's, BMW Z's, Boxsters, Audi TT's, and other soft top derivatives of Mini's, Golf's, BMW's, Peugeot's, Fiat 500's, etc.Not sure our cars will ever be considered a collectible as an investment that will gain value
NEG, How do you and other British Xers view the fuel injected version?
When was the last time you were at a gas station and someone didn't approach you with a story about owning one, or knowing someone who did?
There is no rhyme or reason why cars suddenly start to appreciate, I have an Alfa GTV6, and have seen the value of that almost quadruple over the last 10 years. Why?
Ironically all makers are tarred with that brush, even FORD is known as 'Fix Or Repair Daily'.
I still think there's way too many of them out there for them to be scarce enough to warrant a significant price rise any time soon.
FORD.... Driver Returned On Foot.
Bernice
Rarity does not equate to market value in many examples.
Needle that has been in a haystack is rare, collectable?
Again, value of any material item is directly tied to how much any individual is willing to give for it's title-ownership no more, no less.
Again, value of any material item is perceived. Creation (creation of fantasy often based on deception) of desirability drives market value. This is just one of many elements of marketing and human psychology based on decades of Academic studies and Human history. This knowledge based is used to create perceived value by marketing folks.
Bernice