We all know that for the most part car values go in one direction and it’s generally down. However there are exceptions and I believe that it is possible to make money by buying the right car.
About five years ago I was changing jobs and stepping out of a company supplied car. After considering a number of different scenarios, I found myself left with a choice of two types of vehicle. One I would enjoy driving that was reasonably fuel efficient and still fun to punt on a Sunday morning or alternatively, a car that I might actually turn a profit on. I could finally put to the test my theory that it is possible to buy a car in any market no matter how volatile and make a profit come sale time.
In the end it came down to a choice between two cars, a new Mazda MX5 or something right out of left-field - the infamous plastic fantastic Walkinshaw VL Group A Commodore. I chose the MX5, fuel efficient and fun.
Move forward five years or so and the “Battle Star Galactica” Walkinshaw has easily doubled if not tripled in value. Watching a few go under the hammer recently has only cemented in my mind the fact that I should have had the intestinal fortitude to take the plunge and benefit from my theory. The MX5 has been a wonderful car but it is now worth considerably less than what I paid for it. Damn…
It is a crystal ball story that will no doubt be told time and time again and in an age when GTHO Falcons are fetching close to the magic million mark, it makes sense that later model ‘cars of interest’ take their place in the collectible Australian muscle car line-up.
Of course the famous XW/XY GT Falcons in all their different phases, models and colours have been worth a bit of coin for some time, but its only in the last five or ten years that values of cars like the “John Goss Special” have started to rise rapidly. John Goss special - I hear you say, with one raised eyebrow…
The John Goss special was never considered a real Australian muscle car, it ‘only’ produced an anemic 240bhp from its somewhat small (by ford standards) 302ci V8. How could that possibly be a desirable car these days? If the model in question has a unique story behind it then anything is possible.
Tasmanian-born Goss found fame racing with Kevin Bartlett around Mount Panorama at Bathurst in the 1970’s. Alongside “KB” racing in a privateer team, he won the James Hardie 1000 at Mount Panorama in 1974 in what was a very close race. To cash in on the win, the marketing boffins at ford signed off on a limited edition road car that in many people’s eyes fell short of Goss and KB’s achievement that year on the mountain.
In August, 1975 Ford released a run of XB based John Goss Special limited edition hardtops to commemorate the win. Powered by the 302ci V8 with either a three-speed automatic or four-speed manual transmission, the car was available in two different colour schemes, blue and white and green and white in addition to which a variety of factory and dealer fitted options were available.
The John Goss special was considered a bit of a joke by enthusiasts, and it was only a few short years ago that you could have quite comfortably paid about $5,000 to own an example of this special edition Falcon that was born from a Bathurst win. Today it is a different story as a decent John Goss special will fetch somewhere between $35,000 - $40,000. In fact, quite recently a low kilometre John Goss special in immaculate condition sold for $75,000! The John Goss special is but one example of the more obscure Australian muscle cars that have seen significant increases in value.
The John Goss special is a great example of how a good story can make a car collectible but to be a truly desirable collectible a motor racing history or a colourful history (like the Energy Polarizer equipped Brock Commodores), rarity and visual clout are all factors that play a role.
The HSV VS GTS-R is a prime example of a car that will only appreciate in value. It has a story, is rare and displays plenty of visual clout though it will never be described as pretty and its looks were derided by the press in its day. Best of all it was a super limited edition with only 75 examples built.
So, are there any potential Aussie muscle car collectibles out there now?
The short answer is yes and here is a selection of the potential collectibles that I would consider;
HSV VN SV89 - (available under $15,000) with only 200 built and rumbling 5 litre V8 pushing from the rear, the SV89 not only had some sting in its tail but looked the part too, with what could only be described at that time as a fancy body kit that didn’t look like an afterthought.
HSV SV 5000 - (available under $15,000) preferably in the British racing green with matching tan leather interior, the SV 5000 is a car who’s value I believe will rocket up in the next five to ten years. With 200kw and 410Nm of torque (145kW per tonne) and a limited production of just 359 units it ticks many of the collectability boxes.
Ford Falcon ED XR8 Sprint - (available under $15,000) Ford fans will tell you the ED XR8 sprint was pretty much a GT Falcon in plain clothes. it produced 200kW and well over 400Nm of torque (some say more) and had the ability to put that power down smoother than any of the Generals cars of the same period. Production was limited to 356 units. This is the car that the EB GT should have been, a stripped out, basic Aussie Muscle car without all the fuss associated with the EB and EL GT’s and for that reason alone it will also be a car sought after in years to come.
Ford Falcon EB and EL GT’s - (available under $30,000) It will take a while to really cash in big on these two cars. I’ve seen EB and EL GT’s sell for as little as $17,000 right up to $50,000 in recent times, so prices really are anywhere and everywhere but at the right price they are good value and on their way to being a true collectible.
HSV SV99 - (available under $40,000) Painted in the Hackett gold, (named after swimming legend Grant Hackett and his gold winning spree in the pool) the SV99 had a different hue compared the Tiger Mica Holden hero colour of around the same time. With a production run of just 99 units the big bold gold HSV had the heart of a lion with a recently ‘massaged’ 5.7 V8 pumping out a strong 250kW/473 Newton-metres of torque, the SV99 ticks many of the collectable car boxes. Prices are currently all over the place but look around and you can still find examples around the $25,000 mark.
So there you go, a few gems that I think represent good buying now with the potential to see values increase over the coming years. These are not cars to buy and drive, instead they will make great weekend warriors as you treat them with kid gloves and keep the mileage down. Obviously low kilometre cars in original condition with the original paperwork, brochures and service books are worth more than examples with a ‘mystery history’.
While I have enjoyed the little MX5 over the last 5 years, I do regret not buying the ‘Walkie’ when I had the chance. It is not just about the opportunity to profit, it has as much to do with owning a piece of our motoring heritage, something special enough that you would consider keeping it in the family and passing it down through the generations.
Though some of you may scoff, Australia does have a performance car heritage of which to be proud.
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The VL Walkie is one of my favourite modern australian performance cars mot only because it grabs your attention but unlike the bodykits on the current HSVs…. the Walkies wasn’t there to just improve the looks of the car it actually had a postiive effect on the aerodynamics C/d 0.47].
The HSV VL Walkie SS Group A was one of the first Modern Aussie cars to make it into the 6.0 second club [0-100Km/h] which at the time was considered to be quite an achievement
Unfortunately though like the rest of the HSVs and FPVs The walkie can easily be replicated which is why if I had my choice I’d prefer an Original Monaros; SLR Torana or XC Cobra
The Walkie is a love it or hate it design. I used to hate it but now I quite like it. It was my brother’s fave car, that and the VN Group A.
He actually owned the other VL in the picture, a Brock VL SS Group A. It was sold to a new owner and got stolen promptly afterwards
I’d like to try and get my hands on one of the concept cars Holden have created over the years like the Mambo Sandman Panelvan; TT-36 Torana; SS-X; Monaro Cabriolet or even the HSV VU HRT LE Maloo.
Particularly after one of the two HRT427 Monaros made sold for approx $800;000.. I know I’ve got no chance on the Efijy
I have to admit to being a sucker for the plain old LX Torana SS coupe. I still remember being a kid in the back seat of one that belonged to a mates father.
It had a Brock tuned 308. I spent the next 15 years and stupid amounts of money on cars trying to recreate the feeling of acceleration that thing had.
So the ones that have got the thumbs up so far happen to be the ones required for racing.
GTHO, the “plastic pig” & the VN Group A.
With Silohette racing now the norm it’ll be hard for any of the current crop to gain the same immortality.
Bring back production car racing I say. Lets see a boosted FPV F6 up against a W427.
Amazingly no-one’s said it yet, so I will.
Holden over Ford, any day.
With the exception of an XR6 Turbo, there isn’t one Aussie-sold Ford I’d buy (I would give my right nut, and yours too, for a Ford GT or a current-generation V8 Mustang).
I’m a Holden man too, and I can’t say there’s much in the aussie ford lineup that excites me either (though most of the guys who comment here are the opposite)
That Roush Mustang they featured on Topgear looked pretty sensational, as does the Saleen version (as seen in Transformers!) The Ford GT is also pretty hot but if Clarkson is to be believed they don’t make them too well
If Ford are to resurrect the great GTHO, they’ll need to do more than just special build number plaques, or an Amanda Vanstone bodykit like the EL GT - they’ll have to build-in stuff that won’t just appear on the next hot Falcon, which would thus make the new HO redundant.
Is there any more left in the Windsor V8? It could be a really good send-off for the old motor by maxxing it out for one last version - how about ‘351kW’?
I think a future collectable would be a limited edition FG F6. Wind the boost up some more, have one-off paint, wheels and rear wing.
Have the last real Aussie engine go out on an even higher note than it is now. Instant classic.
I’ve seen that snap of the ED XR before and find it quite amusing that the R33 GT-R is behind it must be coming around to lap it … again
We will shortly be featuring road tests from “The Insider” - no we can’t tell you his name or show you his face… but he has just stepped out of the G6E-Turbo and said it is without question of a doubt, the best Aussie built car ever!
So, I’m thinking Watto_F6 is onto something.
Well Im at an age and that I have seen Aussie Muscle cars at their lows owned them at their lows sold them at their lows too ,unfortunately!
Sorry have to disagree Alan…….Fords have and always will be the epitome of Aussie Muscle cars,they started the whole concept with the GT and that still to this day attract the top prices in todays Aussie Car Market……..
The GT has always been that little bit better than the equivalent at the early stages of Aussie Muscle Cars……..especially I found in how they drove, looked ,interiors and strength of engines /drive trains . I mean look at Top Loaders twin plate clutches and 9in Diffs……..I wish Ford would revert back to those days of giving you over engineered drive trains ect than than the ones that are now on the limit…….look at the current…… no dont get me started on that! Oh and as for giving my right nut for….hahaha well if I had some it would be what Cobra045 has just bought in the States…a GT 500 Super Snake Mustang……..Ive been promised a drive if Im good,not sure whos more excited him or me! Probably him cause I have to wear a bikini top whilst doing it……..hahaha.MEN!
Im lucky to have had several GT Falcons {still have an GT XA Coupe thats all caught up in a messy divorce} and one of Australia’s best 4 door A9Xs………..and although I think my heart is with GTs there are some others I will look at again. Love XU1s……….and would like another A9X cause they are a fun car to drive ,a hell of a lot easier to throw around than a big Coupe I give you the tip,although at least the big GTs give you warning when their about to let go the A9X was more like the M3 have to catch it when it does! The old Brock Commodores I had were fun also ,never owned a Group A but the VH SS in red with the big Leary bolt on guards and cool tweed interiors was just as much fun as the A9X ,hell when dumped a few inches a some nice big rebel wheels stuck on it it handled like it was on rails, the VK SS a little more subtle nice interiors not so leary but a nice car to drive ,the VK Calais Brock Director was……yawn ,looked sleek from the exterior especially in all black,but the blue velour interior with all the Calais electrics bored me to tears.
I think that when Rod Barrett does finally make the next HO it will be well and truly worth waiting for and hopefully live up to its reputation ………worlds fastest 4 door again.Now that would be nice.
I think most of us agree with Conquistador on the F6 over the W427. Take a trip to Nizpro and see for yourself! W427……..no thanks!
So TMR have there own Stig? Cool !
great article mate, a good read.
Ive recently being focusing on the car market and bought and sold a few dungers and made a bit here and there in the past few months, so i thought id provide you with my hot tips for future classics with regards to investment.
1. Early Datsun 260Z’s (sexy classic lines, and an ever growing JDM craze mean this thing is gonna be a keeper)
2. VN SS (first of Aussie 304’s, that still look great today)
3. VR GTS (one of the sexiest HSV’s ever, and one of the first with 6 speed and ’stroker’ motor)
4. 2002 V2 Monaro GTS yellow (at the time probably HSV’s closest thing to a Corvette, and it had the goods)
5. XD ESP Fairmont 351 (orange over charcoal, often overlooked but still a very cool car with the big 351 clevo and 2V heads, a nice stock one with low k’s can be found for 5-15k, and can possibly be the follow up to the XY-XW GT boom in price.
you know where you heard it first!
cheers
As part of a promotion for the 1990 Tooheys 1000 there was a competition where you could win one of two Black VN SS Group A’s with a couple more additional features including unique interior and ID plates etc.. So they’d be ones to look out for
Guts, there are quite a few cars that I simply couldn’t fit into the article, if I would have; the article would have soon turned into a novel, however you’ve named a few more.
I’d love to spend the time and give each car its own article, as they are all individually deserved. Maybe that’s something I can look into for the future.
No doubt about the ESP, but I think you mean in XE guise, not XD. Some of the early Xl/XM/XP Falcons are well worth investing in too. HSV GTS coupe is definitely the next ‘GT HO’ in years to come, and you might even say the first 300kW VTII GTS would be from the same ilk.
I didn’t have time to give credence to Chargers, or any of the big Valiant/Chrysler coupes, nor did I mention any of the Torana’s in any of the various forms that were successful at Bathurst, but then those cars are already worth big bikkies now, and it doesn’t take a genius to see that.
The 240Z is already very much a sought after car, not sure the 260Z will reach the dizzy heights of the 240, but it will increase in value, that is for sure.
The Japanese domestic market phenomenon for early Japanese performance cars has been strong for some time now, just like early Japanese motorbikes. No doubt that will grow in strength too, maybe that too is deserved of its own article.
Looks like you have given me much food for thought Guts, thanks for the comments.
Valiant Chargers - The best car to NEVER win Bathurst
Daniel, Mate you seem pretty clued up on the old school id love to read more articles on these classics mightnt be a bad idea to have a ‘weekly flashback’ column or something like that.
Limited edition original Black VN Group A???????
Wheelnut i want to know everything there is to know about this car!! Definetly would be worth a pretty penny now
The Black “Tooheys 1000″ VN SS Group As were basically the same as the red ones except What makes em special is that they were painted Black - at the factory not Red then resprayed Black.. and there are only 2 of em
They had red and white pinstripes along the doors; Unique badging and a special Tooheys 1000 ID plate.. and I think they also had black leather interior with red highlights
Any early Falcon Fairmont’s are worth looking out for too cause this is what GTs were built around so a lot of Fairmont parts are GT parts hence why they use them to make or swap bad bodies GTs over into. Parts alone on old falcons are worth more apart most of the time than assembled!
Oh and the Cleveland in the XE ESP,had 4 heads,sorry to be picky Guts.I owned a XE Fairmont Ghia but it was only a 6 ,the ESP were made for 8 months only and came in 5 colours. So very collectible now,
One of the Tooheys 1000 VN Group As [Number 1 infact]is in Perth However; the bloke that owns it has made so many modifications to the engine gearbox suspension brakes etc..that in a way he has lowered the resale value of it as its no longer 100% Factory Original - still a good car though
XE ESP colours: Black; White; Red; Blue; and Silver
Monza Red
Chestnut
Charcoal metallic
Stark White
Silver Grey metallic
Sorry to be picky lover……….your the one thats the guru on Holden colours .
Hey I was just guessing as they are the 5 colours most Limited Edition cars are released in - although 4 out of 5 ain’t bad
Another rare care would be DJR enhanced XF Falcons which I believe only came in White
hahaha…..I know just stirring…….anyone for a Brock Falcon? Nope didn’t think so!
Teres another one rare car - Brock Monza Coupe: looks aboit like a LX Torana Hatchback with a VK Commodore Front
Or perhaps the rarest of them all…wasn’t there a metallic blue V8 VB SL/E Commodore that belonged to a fisherman in Victoria that Brock used as the development mule for the first HDT cars? Now if that is still lying around somewhere…
i heard there was an XE turbo 6 concept built by Ford…… that would be a cool little earner
Nice article telling whole history of Ford’s generation car’s.
haha ur amature mate!
u obviously dont know sh*t about cars, coz ford win over olden,
not just in power, but with brains!
holden have a 6L doin 317kw, well ford have a 5.4L doin 310kw hmmmm…7kw more to use up an extra 600cc, wat a waste of fuel! In comparisin ford r gettin a bucket load of more power out of their engines then holden! so like the old sayin “all show n no go” *cough* holden *cough*, holden put a bigger AMERICAN engine in their cars (just 2 be able to compete with ford), call it an aussie car, n all these meat head buy it, no offense 2 those meat heads!
plus there are many cars u should choose over just about any holden!
any way thats my opinion, i like brains over foolishness!
I like correct spelling and grammar over Fords AND Holdens.
No offense to any of you meatheads out there - it’s just my opinion.
Before I start I am going to clear up something with people who might not be as brainy as yourself: If you look up the etymology for the word “amateur”, it means enthusiast or someone who does something out of passion. Its only because of people who try to use big words with no idea what it means, that the meaning has changed in common usage. Since you’re clearly a brainy and eloquent man, I’m going to assume you’re using the word properly and not like a fool. Yes, I am passionate about cars. Thanks for the compliment.
If you liked brains over foolishness, then I’m wondering why you’re rubbishing Holden for using an “American engine” when Ford’s current V8 is a bigger version of the engine powering the Mustang, and devloped in the USA. Ask yourself if getting basic facts wrong makes you sound foolish or brainy.
The Windsor V8 that powered pre AU Falcons wasn’t an Aussie developed engine, either. It was also developed in the USA. The Holden 308, on the other hand, is an all Australian engine. So Holden kept their flagship engine “home grown” for far longer than Ford did, so if anyone has “more right” to call their car Aussie its the Lion and not the Blue Oval.
Holden’s V8 makes less power/litre, but it also has a wider spread of torque and makes it far more drivable in real-world conditions. Peak power or power/displacement is only going to “win” in a bench race or on the Internet - but when the hot air stops and you take it out on to the strip or circuit, its how flexible your engine is as much as how much power it makes at a specific RPM that determines who is quicker. With its pushrod configration the weight of the GM small block also sits lower, for improved balance. Any comparison you read puts the HSV V8 significantly quicker than the FPV V8, both in a straight line and around the bends, which speaks volumes about which car is better.
Holden didn’t drop their old V8 for the Chevy small block to “keep up with Ford” either. They did it because they couldn’t come close to meeting their emissions requirements without sinking more funds into R&D than they had spare. It was either drop the V8 from the range completely, price the V8 models into top-end European car pricing (which means they may as well drop the car from the range since no-one was going to buy a SS when they could have a BMW 328i instead, or buy a HSV Clubsport if it was going to cost M3 money), or make the decision they did and source an emissions compliant engine from overseas.
Its the same reason why Ford Australia dropped the Windsor for the modular V8, except Holden make the decision to source an American all-alloy V8 faster.
If I “don’t know shit about cars”, what does it say about you that I know more about your preferred make and engine configuration than you do?
I wouldn’t get into power wars either, if I were you. Both the Holden and Ford engines are way down on power/displacement compared to their counterparts. Any European or Japanese car fan would laugh at making that little power from that much displacement. If power scaled linearly with displacement, which it doesn’t, an S2000 engine would be making 540kW. A current M3 makes 309kW from 4.0L.
Ford and Holden, unfortunately, have got nothing in comparison if you’re talking about an arbitrary power figure on a sheet of paper.
The EB and EL GT will be as valuable and collectable as the Cobra 400 1978 coupes are right now. Any muscle car built in a limited edition will increase in value. The e series GT’s have more modern looks and in 15 years time when they are 30 years old, the generation of muscle car buyers will remember these from there youth.
i own a el fairmont ghia im gettin lowered 18inch mags black tint im gettin a turbo manifold and im puttin on a rear spoiler and body kit its a prestige green looks good now mint condition leather interior she gonna be a green machine when its finished im not doin 4 resale its my pride n joy ride and its got the 5 speed manual replaced the auto much better