Prove that the 80's 911 is a classic / special interest car.

[r-mm]

Yes, that is an inane thing to have to do but it is exactly what my municipality is requiring me to do at a property tax appeal this week. Classic / Special interest cars are taxed lower in CT and most towns simply look at the age and you're good. Then I moved and things got complex. So I need to walk into town hall with some visuals to make my case. This seems easy, right? To a car audience, sure. But how best to explain this (without sounding like a gloating fanboy) to the assessment board of appeals??

Anyone have a good bibliography of books or articles written or some other nice metrics I can use?

Thanks all for any ideas.

[Catorce]

Wait a minute - you have to pay property tax on your car?

[r-mm]

Yuuup.

But "classics" are assessed at a flat $500. You can see my interest in getting this right.

[mgar88]

Coming at this from a legal perspective, does the municipality provide you with any guidance as to what defines a "classic / special interest" car?

Like you mentioned, most jurisdictions simply have a year cut-off (i.e., 25 years or older are deemed "classic"). Without an objective metric like that, it seems like you have to prove that your '87 911 is a "special interest car" while a 1987 Ford Escort isn't. To a government bureaucrat who isn't interested in cars, this might be hard to do.

I think you're headed in the right direction in terms of seeking books and articles, but it may be helpful to zero-in on what exactly you are trying to prove. Also, it may be important to understand how you are going to convey this information to the municipality (e.g., in-person, in writing?).

In any event, I think below are some big bullet points that may be persuasive to those uninterested in cars (disclaimer: this narrative about Porsche is skewed to help you; I don't personally believe everything in the below):

- Porsche wasn't always a luxury sports car manufacturer.
- Porsche used to be a niche, quirky car manufacturer known for its racing pedigree
- Older Porsche cars are known for its raw and visceral driving experience
- In the 90's however, the Porsche sought to expand its market and began building cars for everyday people. These cars are heavier, easier to drive, and more comfortable.
- This pivot by Porsche made it earlier cars more and more special
- My 1987 represents one of the best examples of Porsche's early models, before they changed their design philosophy. It was one of the last hand-built models by Porsche. It is an "air-cooled" engine (like a motorcycle!) that does not have a radiator or require any sort of coolant. The driving experience is raw and direct.
- The market at large has noted the special interest and collect-ability of this car, specifically.
- Nationwide gatherings are held in celebration of Porsche's air-cooled cars. For example,

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2016/04/12/luftgekuhlt
https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2017/05/08/luftgekuhlt

- As a direct reflection of the strong interest and scarcity of air-cooled Porsche's, the market for such cars has and continues to boom. In fact, values for car models like mine have more than doubled in the past 10 years and are poised to continue growing.

- In light of the significance of this model in the landscape of Porsche's history, coupled with the collectability of this model, I respectfully request that the city recognize this car as a "special-interest" and or "classic" vehicle.


Hope this helps...OK enough procrastinating for me. Cheers and good luck!

[jlex]

Tell 'em it's air cooled. What other cars on the road today can make that claim?
Air cooled technology should qualify it for special interest.

[r-mm]

The one reason I was denied classic status was for lack of "historical interest"

[Knockdown]

You may want to include references that are available on a google search that group the 80's 911 in a classic category, i.e., Porsche, Hemings, NADA, etc.

[tirwin]

Do you own any of the "coffee table" books on Porsches or the 911 in particular?

You could point out the 50th anniversary of the 911 that just happened recently.

It might help your case to state the number of cars built in your model year vs say GM or Ford. Maybe express that as a percentage.

Were 911's still hand built in your model year? If so, point that out.

The 911 has only been built in Stuttgart, right? Goes to the point that it is not mass produced.

I think Hagerty has a tool on their website that lets you see market trend for your year/make/model. Maybe you could point out there is an X% increase in prices over Y years which clearly shows these cars are collectible.

My advice is to have 2 or 3 fairly solid points up front and then have the rest in backup. If you convince them quickly don't sell past the close.

You're likely either dealing with someone who will see $$$ signs in terms of tax revenue or someone who is going to rubber stamp whatever you say because a) you showed up and b) you have a pulse. Read the room and see if you can figure out what you're dealing with before making your argument.

[r-mm]

Thanks all great advice. Can anyone think of a recent magazine cover that splashes some headline like "THE NEW CLASSICS: BUY NOW" or some such with 80's 911s?

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by r-mm

Thanks all great advice. Can anyone think of a recent magazine cover that splashes some headline like "THE NEW CLASSICS: BUY NOW" or some such with 80's 911s?

Vintage Porsches Are Rising as the Next Blue Chip Classic Cars

Porsche 911 Buyers Guide: Buy a Classic Porsche 911

Why You Should Sell Everything and Buy an Old Porsche

[David Goodman]

Show them a picture of the "Made in Western Germany" tag.

Always thought that was an interesting commentary on the car and the times.

[RDM]

You could bring in an issue of Classic Porsche magazine, preferably one that has an article on your year car.

http://www.classicporschemag.co.uk/latest-news-blog/

[RSBob]

A classic appreciates in monetary value due desirability and collectability, whereas ordinary vehicle values plummet with lack of consumer interest. I would show the climb in values over the last 15 years.

Wiki says: "...an older car with enough historical interest to be collectable and worth preserving or restoring rather than scrapping."

[DaveE]

Does CT issue classic tags? If not you could research the states that do and present that as evidence.

[pampadori]

Might benefit your defense.

[SpyderMike]

Being a numbers guy, I would also approach it from the limited quantity built in your car's year relative to the standard cars of that time that others might be more familiar with...the high seller american models.

[GothingNC]

Just hope they do not change that assessment values to current classic vehicle values to generate more tax revenue.

In NC the vehicle has to be 35 years and my friend with his 88 Carrera just had his vehicle property tax valuation jump from $8,000 to $35,000 in the county next to mine.

[sky1jord]

Does this help??

The affordable supercar: Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera | Classic and Sports Car

[Rick Brooklyn]

Where in CT have you moved to, out of curiosity?

One thing you could do is give a shout to Dick S or others at CVR PCA, who are a super friendly bunch. I'm sure someone else went through the same issue before, they might know.

[nathanbs]

Out of curiosity does Hagerty only insure classic and special interest? If so could this be used in your defense?