When a duck overtakes a prancing horse

Bruno von Rotz
11/08/2014

Ferrari 512 BBi von 1984 (© Tom Wood - Courtesy RM Auctions)

Youngtimers are rarely preferred objects when investors are looking for quick returns. However, there could be great potential in the medium term, as most cars on the cusp of becoming classic cars are comparatively inexpensive.

Citroën 2 CV (© Simon Clay - Courtesy RM Auctions)

In fact, the 1984 Citroën 2 CV Special manages to maintain its value when new for over 30 years due to inflation. In second place is the Ferrari 512 BBi (pictured above), followed by the Audi Quattro Turbo in third place.

Audi Quattro Turbo (© Audi AG)

The Porsche 911 Turbo, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, the Lamborghini Countach LP 500 S, the Ferrari 308 GTSi QV, the Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0 and finally - a surprise - the Citroën CX Pallas follow in the other places in the sample of 57 cars.

Citroën CX

At any rate, this ranking is the result of comparing the new price of a 1984 car with its current value, as determined by Classic Data for condition 2.

Alfa Romeo GTV 6 (© Daniel Reinhard)

An Alfa Romeo GTV 6, for example, is in 13th place, with its current value covering just 30% of the new price at the time due to inflation. Some of the market values may be a little low, but the trend is clear.
Cars from the 1980s can still be bought cheaply in most cases - there are always exceptions.

BMW 635 CSi (© BMW AG)

A good example is the BMW 635 CSI, which is now available at a third of its original price, or even just 20% due to inflation.

Renault Fuego GTX

In 44th place is the Renault Fuego GTX, which costs just 14% of its original price when inflation is taken into account. And of course you have to find one first.

On average, each of the 57 cars analyzed was worth 24% of the new price due to inflation, without inflation it is 37%. The differences between saloon, coupé and convertible cars after 30 years are much smaller than in the study of 50-year-old cars.

The good news from all these calculations: Cars from the eighties are still cheap to buy. The bad news is that any investments made in these cars will not be repaid so quickly, and in most cases the development in value is quite sluggish.

On the other hand, these cars offer a comparatively high level of practicality and are also eligible for an H license plate or a veteran's certificate. So should you buy them now and not regret it later when the vehicles are traded at new prices again? Everyone has to decide for themselves.

Here are the results of the small investigation in a sortable table, for all those who want to analyze a little further:

Brand	Type	Body shape	New price 1984 (CHF)	Change in value*	Change in value without inflation
Citroen	2CV 6 Spécial	Sedan	7720	1.02	1.56
Ferrari	512 BBi	Coupé	141000	0.63	0.97
Audi	Quattro Turbo	Coupé	59200	0.57	0.87
Porsche	911 Turbo	Coupé	94600	0.56	0.86
Aston-Martin	V8 Vantage	Coupé	173400	0.5	0.77
Porsche	911 Carrera Cabriolet	Cabriolet	62400	0.48	0.74
Lamborghini	Countach LP 500 S	Coupé	185000	0.46	0.7
Ferrari	308 GTSi 4 Valvole	Convertible	76000	0.44	0.67
Alfa Romeo	Spider 2.0	convertible	25000	0.36	0.56
Citroen	CX Pallas	Sedan	21900	0.35	0.54
Alfa Romeo	Giulietta 2.0	Sedan	20500	0.33	0.5
Fiat	Ritmo Abarth 125 TC	Sedan	18990	0.31	0.48
Alfa Romeo	GTV 6 2.5	Coupé	28650	0.3	0.45
Lancia	A 112 Abarth	Sedan	12790	0.3	0.46
Lancia	Beta Coupé 2.0 IE	Coupé	22490	0.29	0.45
Renault	5 Alpine Turbo	Sedan	17995	0.28	0.43
Lotus	Esprit Turbo	Coupé	77100	0.26	0.4
Mercedes-Benz	380 SL (automatic)	Convertible	69100	0.25	0.39
Opel	Kadett GT/E	Sedan	18450	0.25	0.39
Opel	Manta GTE	Coupé	19450	0.24	0.37
Porsche	928 S	Coupé	76820	0.24	0.37
Porsche	924	Coupé	29900	0.23	0.35
Alfa Romeo	Alfa Sei	Sedan	31300	0.21	0.32
BMW	635 CSi	Coupé	57650	0.21	0.33
Mazda	RX-7	Coupé	28400	0.21	0.32
Porsche	944	Coupé	39900	0.2	0.3
Saab	900 turbo-3/16	Sedan	35100	0.2	0.3
Chevrolet	Corvette	Coupé	68275	0.18	0.27
Mercedes-Benz	500 SEC (Automatic)	Coupé	85420	0.18	0.28
Rolls-Roye	Corniche (Automatic)	Convertible	258000	0.18	0.28
Toyota	Corolla 1600 Sedan DL	Sedan	12900	0.18	0.27
VW	Scirocco GTI 1800	Coupé	23000	0.18	0.27
Ford	Sierra XR4i	Sedan	26850	0.17	0.26
Jaguar	XJ 6 4,2 (Automatic)	Sedan	48600	0.17	0.27
Rover	3500 Vitesse	Sedan	35900	0.17	0.26
Talbot	Samba Convertible	Convertible	17600	0.17	0.25
Toyota	Supra 2.8 i	Coupé	27990	0.17	0.26
Audi	Coupé GT 5E	Coupé	26200	0.16	0.24
Aston-Martin	Lagonda	Sedan	240000	0.15	0.23
Maserati	Biturbo 2.5	Coupé	49000	0.15	0.23
Audi	80 GL	Sedan	18440	0.14	0.21
Maserati	Quattroporte	Sedan	110000	0.14	0.21
Peugeot	505 GTi	Sedan	22350	0.14	0.21
Renault	Fuego GTX	Coupé	21000	0.14	0.22
Fiat	Panda 45	Sedan	9590	0.13	0.21
Jaguar	XJ-S H.E .(Automatic)	Coupé	76000	0.13	0.2
Mitsubishi	Starion 2000 Turbo EX	Coupé	32000	0.13	0.19
Opel	Rekord Berlina	Sedan	21250	0.13	0.2
VW	Passat GL 1800	Sedan	18940	0.13	0.2
BMW	323i	Sedan	25200	0.12	0.18
Volvo	240 GL	Sedan	22650	0.1	0.15
Ford	Escort Cabriolet	Convertible	20360	0.09	0.14
Mercedes-Benz	190 E	Sedan	29600	0.09	0.13
Opel	Monza GS/E	Coupé	40450	0.09	0.14
Rolls-Roye	Silver Spirit (Automatic)	sedan	198500	0.09	0.14
Mazda	626 GLX	Sedan	17170	0.07	0.11
VW GOLF	Golf GL 1600	Sedan	16000	0.07	0.11