When closed cars are more expensive than open ones
03/10/2012
For most classic vehicles, open-top versions are more in demand than the closed versions. This is the case with the Maserati Ghibli or the Ferrari Daytona, for example, but you can also observe the same thing a few price classes lower down. A VW Beetle convertible is typically worth more than the saloon, a Fiat 124 Coupé will fetch less in the shops than a 124 Spider. These price differences can often not be explained by the number of units, it is primarily about the wishes and preferences of the buyers.
Interestingly, however, there are also cars where the reverse is true. The coupés of the Porsche 911 series are usually more expensive than the Targa variants. And as Classic Data told me just this week, the coupés are also increasing in value more than the Targa variants. Why do you think that is? Well, presumably the coupés are also increasing in value a little in the wake of the particularly sought-after Carrera RS and other racing-inspired models. In general, closed versions are also in demand where racing is important. Coupés and saloons are usually more rigid than open-top vehicles and are therefore superior on the racetrack.
As always, the current market prices for Porsche 911 models ( as of March 2012) can be found on Zwischengas. In the last six months, around 25% of all Classic Data value listings have been updated, so it's worth taking another look.
