The generational aspect is absolutely true, and you are seeing a major retrench in muscle cars, like the previous decline in '50s cars.

Of course, some cars don't follow the trend -- but those tend to be really rare cars.

However, you are also seeing major upticks in cars like '55-63 Mercedes 190s, following up the prices for their gullwing siblings. They are by no means common, but with 25,800+ made, they aren't hen's teeth either.

E-types continue to go up, and even the Series III and 2+2 cars are catching fire. Alfas of all sorts are rising -- even the early 70s cars. Triumphs, MGs, and big Healeys from the same period seem comparatively static...and maybe even declining.

The generational thing may hit air-cooled 911s eventually, but it was still the "it" car into the late '80s -- so you've got at least 20 years before the peak demographic starts to "age out" -- and we (Gen X) are not even into our peak earning years.

I wouldn't count out the millennials. No doubt they seem to be more into phones than cars, but my kids friends who DO like cars are all about the classics -- and love 911s.

As I've said, I don't see normal 74-89 cars ever being $100k cars like the "early" cars (don't want to get accused of being a non-Porsche person!). But $35k for excellent examples of 25-35 year old cars is hardly a bubble.

I love the early 911's and started with them. I was lucky to get a few before prices have jumped. For years I was driving a 71 and 73. Then I started to appreciate the lowly forgotten 912 so I bought a 66 and 67 and love them...the SWB 912 are in their own world...fun to drive full out...

Then I seen the 930 market and bought two of those a 78 and 86, gee what a car...I watched for years and never understood why people did not buy these cars. Then last but not least I bought a G50 88 car....with this car you do not have to worry about looking for Rust all the time...what a joy and for longer trips it's my car...the point is...they are just great low volume hand built cars and I do not care about a bubble...do yourself a favor and enjoy them...now I am cash broke but life is good.

Now I am cash broke but life is good. That's me. I wish I had been a little more liquid as I saw things start to move. I really wish there was a 930 in the fleet.

But there's other things to actually invest in. Once the 11 axis mill gets delivered in a few months we will be making our own ring and pinions instead of contracting Ricardo to make them for me. That's money better spent than a 930 that I would never sell no matter how much it would appreciate.

Love what you got and live life with a smile.

+1
I am a Gen Y'er and love the old cars. New cars are for daily driving & running the family around. Old cars are for fun on the weekends. The old cars are a back to basics type scenario where they can be serviced by the driver & don't have to be hooked up to a raft of machines every service.

As population sizes increase the availability of quality old cars decreases and car lovers will ALWAYS want an old car to play with.

Well put, Matt. I agree.

What is a 11 axis mill? Rare mill?

Expensive piece of machinery that can make all manner of steel and aluminum parts without having to stop and change tools. You set the program and the machine holds the piece of metal, rotates it on its own and when a different size or shape of cutter or drill bit is needed the machine changes it itself. Really amazing piece of technology. Will cut manufacturing time of our LSD bodies in about a third. Unfortunately until the "mortgage" on the thing is paid off won't really introduce cost savings, but will greatly increase our ability to produce more product and drop lead times.

Is this for real?
I thought Porsches were elite sports cars.
Confused.

The long hoods are NOT elite sports car when measured by today's standards. Like Eric has pointed out in the past, the only 911s from the 70s and 80s that could still be considered "elite", with regard to speed, acceleration and braking, are the turbos.

There's a reason the old 356 and early 911 and prototype racers were called giant slayers. Humble little air cooled engines in cheap German econoboxes that were beating the big boys in the world's great endurance races.

Cheap, fast, reliable, pick two. The original Porsches were cheap and reliable. Fast and expensive came many years later.

#becausetrolling

comments in bold

Never disputed that -- the top performance models of even mass-produced cars generally bring premiums. Be even a relatively pedestrian 289 convertible with power steering -- in very good original condition or restored is trading for more money than your average solid impact bumper 911. And those are not rare cars. The uber rare Mustangs like the 429 Boss may still be rising, and the 1st Gen Shelbys. But the I think the later Shelby's have softened.

You are correct -- I asked it more as a question because I didn't look up the facts. I should have been more specific about timing. The Daytona was the last truly fast Ferrari to make it to the US, unless a few Berlinetta snuck in under the wire. Post-73, everything went to hell. An early 911S would probably pace a Dino, and nothing after that could compare with a modern GTI until the Testarossa. And the fact it took a V12 car says something.

The true "bubble" did not hit real rare cars as hard -- like the Superbirds. I am talking about the standard cars that exploded and then swooned. People were playing silly money for I6 Cudas and non-GTX Belvederes -- just so they could clone more desirable cars.

GTVs have been climbing pretty steadily. They are beautiful cars, and great fun to drive. If Alfa ever gets its act together in the US, they could see another bump. Of course, pundits have been saying that for years.

308s are climbing in valuing now. It is getting really hard to pick up a good car for under $25k like you could a couple of years ago. Their biggest problem is that they are very pedestrian in performance, and have scary maintenance requirements. If you find a cheap car, it is probably big trouble.

I'm certainly speculating, but I think they still have a bit of stigma for looking tacky -- and for Ferrari fans who like the look, the 328/348 are accessible below $40k. Go much above that, and you are approaching Testarossa money.

I don't know enough about them to judge the merits of a carbed early car vs. a later FI version, but it seems to me that unless the later (and better) cars start seriously climbing in value, they will keep a lid on 308 values.

It was an obvious exaggeration however if you're expecting "elite" performance and dynamics in a 25 - 50 year old car, prepare for disappointment.

You know, the service costs for the 308 are indeed higher than a 911. But with some shopping about, not too bad. As an analog car, they are still quite serviceable by an enthusiastic owner as well.

I would strongly disagree that they look "tacky"-most observers believe it to be one of Pininfarina's iconic designs and one that essentially established Ferrari as "The" car to own in modern times. Sadly some have been horrifically modded or neglected and they do look better in Euro trim-but still a beautiful car by any standard. The FI 2v cars were not fast and a comparable SC would probably out accelerate it without too much trouble. I much prefer the overall drive of the 308 to the SC though as I find its handling, braking, size and bespoke feel superior. The early carbed cars, Euro spec and QV cars had pretty good performance for the day. I've owned multiple examples of both and while the SC is certainly the more usable sportscar, the 308 makes every drive special. I've also found them to be very reliable when exercised regularly-the 911 is legendary in this regard though.
As to 328s-very nice cars and very reliable, just softened a bit too much design wise for my taste. The 348s are more aggressive but have an entire array of servicing/reliability issues that the 308s do not. TRs are cheap comparatively because they exemplify every horror story you've ever heard about Ferrari running costs -requiring regular engine out servicing that easily exceeds five figures.

you definitely got the last part right.

A 16 year old judges cars by their performance numbers in the back of Road & Track -- because he doesn't have the experience to know any better.

Sports cars are visceral -- and rawness is part of the vibe. If you want refined, by a Mercedes.

There is joy to be had in driving a slow car fast. Especially a light, low car. That is why 912s have appeal, even though their straight line performance is leisurely.

A TR3 is a blast to drive, even though it has a quasi-tractor motor and is little more than a body bolted on a frame. The fact you can drag your knuckles on the ground from the driver's seat gives you a sensation of speed that belies its true performance.

A 911 is low, small, light and raw enough to give the same type sensation, but is infinitely better engineered. What does "elite" sports car even mean?

About the same appeal as "driving" a golf cart!

Well, if its only about speed-considering a new Camaro Z/28 handily outruns any 930-I guess they are like golf carts with a wing. ;)

Uhhhhh, think again about the "any" detail in yer comment! ;)

Well then, if the 930 is a golf cart with a wing then I guess I gave the 912 way too much credit - should have called it a soap box derby car then! :D

I've owned slow/underpowered Porsches in the past (two 914s), and have over a decade of motorcycle roadrace experience (some of it on slow machinery) - driving/riding a slow car/ motorcycle fast does absolutely nothing for me, and in my experience, only appeals to people that do not have experience with machines that have genuine power (or simply do not like it). Each to their own, obviously.

I agree with Ronnie to a point. I understand the value of driving a slow car fast as a learning tool for apexing, brake points, car control, and vision but there is something tremendously fun about driving something blisteringly fast around a track, even if I, as an amateur, am not doing so as efficiently as possible.

My previous Evo X had 325 WHP and on R888s was just a monster on tight tracks like Shenandoah and I had a blast with it.

Ok, let me clarify-factory 930. I know there are some modded monsters out there!
I know what you are saying. However, its simply a personal preference as I know a number of pro level(and well known) drivers that can drive anything , yet still appreciate and enjoy "hot" lapping in vintage XK120, SWB Ferraris and the like. Tell me those guys(pros for the most part) aren't having the time of their lives running the legends at Goodwood every year.
Even though I have a few track prepped modern cars-they don't compare to the effort/enjoyment experienced trying to pilot a vastly over powered vintage car at speed(even if the ultimate times are slower).

300 hp in an Evo? Heck, that car drives itself! Take that same 300hp and stick it in the back of a SWB 911, now you are having fun!