1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

Just curious but what would you say the first speculated collector car was? The 1978 Corvette Pace Car was the first one I ever remember. Followed by the GNX and then the ZR1 Corvettes. Was there anything else before all those? Or during? I'm talking pre 1995. Just to clarify, I meant when the car was brand new at the dealer.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

1979 Silver Anniversary Trans Am

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

----1975 El Dorado convert. We were selling them out of Classic Motors all the time back then. They were, however, horrid tanks to drive.....Bill S

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

'

The '54 'Vette entombed when new?
[img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/hmmm.gif[/img]
~ Pete

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https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics...bedsampson.jpg
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Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

That's a wild pic! What is it exactly?

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

The main reason there are a slew of no mile '78 Pace Cars and Anniversary edition Corvettes is because of the advent of the NCRS just years prior. People realized low mile Corvettes and examples that were more original in comparison to those that were modified held greater value in the collector circles. I'd have to agree with you Matt. The '54 Vette was more of a science experiment than a mass produced example. I don't know anything about Cadillacs so I cannot respond there. A few others come to mind... 1982 and 1996 Collector's Corvettes, 96 Grand Sport, 94-96 Impala SS.

Dan

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: olredalert</div><div class="ubbcode-body">----1975 El Dorado convert. We were selling them out of Classic Motors all the time back then. They were, however, horrid tanks to drive.....Bill S </div></div>

I agree with this...as Cadillac made a big deal about it being the last convertible...so people bought them to put away...back then. BTW, I was in high school [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

Pretty much the same deal as the Eldorado, the last full size Chevy convertible, the Caprice Classic....can't remember if it was 75 or 76. At the time, people were convinced these were solid investments that were going to make them wealthy at whatever point in the future they decided to sell. It was all a sign of the times. Up until the early 70's, auto manufacturers and designers were still relatively unencumbered by regulations. All of a sudden, there were far more stringent emissions regulations and the advent of the ugly 'crash bumpers', and car enthusiasts were very fearful of things getting even worse in the future.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

The &quot;Last&quot; Cadillac Convertible of the era was in 1976. I was surprised at how many people were buying them as an investment, to put away and not drive. There was a Bicentenial Edition, only approx 200 produced witch seem to be the most valuable.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

----Oh,,,I remember the Bicentennial Caddy now. Thanks, Stefano! We probably ran 3 of those thru Classic. Jack Douglas was fond of putting his friends into those things.......Bill S

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

The &quot;end of the convertibles&quot; was the first speculated cars in the mid 70s. 75 Vettes, 76 Eldos etc.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

My favorite of that era was the '87 GNX

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

Yeah GNX!!! Man have they gone up in price!!

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Fast67VelleN2O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just curious but what would you say the first speculated collector car was? The 1978 Corvette Pace Car was the first one I ever remember. Followed by the GNX and then the ZR1 Corvettes. Was there anything else before all those? Or during? I'm talking pre 1995. Just to clarify, I meant when the car was brand new at the dealer. </div></div>

I agree but I would say the 76 Eldo convertible was the first from this era. The Mustang Fox bodied in the Saleen forms were hot in the 80's too. The Grand Nationals in 86 and 87 were hot too

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

My Dad told me of a fellow he knew in the Bomanville area (Just outside Oshawa Ontario)that bought &amp; stored 2 new 1957 Cameo pick-ups
when they were first released. I think his intent was keep them until his grandkids were old enough (about 1974 or 75) &amp; they would have the option of keeping or selling to help their college/university fund. He thought they were a 1 year thing,but I think they did make them in 58 &amp; maybe 59 as well ? Not sure if they would've been Oshawa built or Norwood or what ever became of them.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

Back in the early to mid 1990's, I subscribed to some short-lived muscle/collector car magazine. It had a feature on a guy in (I believe) North Carolina who had ordered a brand new 1959 Impala sport coupe with the 348 engine (I think the 3 deuce version, but not positive on that) and 3 speed manual trans. White with red interior. He put it up on jack stands immediately after bringing it home from the dealer and never drove it. At the time of the magazine article, it had somewhere around 35 or 40 miles on it, some of that mileage from when he bought a different house and drove the car from the old garage to the new garage. I have never seen any other magazine coverage on that car.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

I remember that 59 Chevy article! First and last time I heard of it as well.

Re: 1978 Pace car the first speculated collector?
 

Don't forget the 1979 Silver Anniversary Trans Am as the other Dave mentioned. A friend of mines' father bought one new and drove it from the dealer to his shop and stored it for many years. I think it had 17 miles on it when he sold it in the late 80s or early 90s. Sold for a profit but not retirement money.