You know who you are, buying up the solstices so that we can't enjoy them on the road. Keeping your precious first 1k car to yourself never to see the light of day. Jumping on the speculative band wagon. YOU DISGUST ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Too much, here is the article, solstice specifically mentioned.
A Can't-Miss Investment That Missed: The Case of the 'Last Convertible'
By DAVE KINNEY
THIRTY years ago, amid a swirl of rumors that federal rollover rules would impose a death sentence on open-top cars, Americans lined up to buy what they believed would be the nation's last large convertible, the 1976 Cadillac Eldorado.
The last of the mammoth, 5,153-pound Eldorados rolled off the assembly line on April 21, 1976. The cars quickly found buyers, even though production had been ratcheted up to 14,000 for the 1976 model year, from 8,950 for 1975. Certain that the Cadillac was destined to become a classic and expecting that its value would soar, collectors and speculators snapped up the cars and tucked them away like bags of Krugerrands.
Yet, even three decades later, many of the people who bought the "can't miss" collectible have never recouped their investments.
The '76 Eldorado is an example of an "instant collectible," a car that many people bought when it was new simply for its perceived future value. The car's checkered history as a collectible, however, provides a cautionary lesson for those buying some of today's new cars — like the Ford GT, Pontiac Solstice and Corvette Z06 — with the same profit-oriented goal.
For a time, the Cadillac was a hot commodity as a used car, selling for many times its base sticker price of $11,049 (almost $40,000 today, adjusted for inflation). In the late 1970's, Eldorados sometimes sold for $50,000 or more.
Trading in the big Cadillacs resembled, in a way, the Dutch tulip mania of the 17th century. Some buyers bought multiple Eldorados so that they would be assured of having a fresh convertible for the rest of their lives — or at least having an extra chip to play when prices ultimately hit the stratosphere.
The interest in '76 Eldorados was not entirely driven by buyers. General Motors, which did not miss a lot of marketing opportunities in the 1970's, did nothing to discourage the speculation. As sales of Eldorado convertibles jumped 64 percent in 1976, diluting the exclusivity of these "last ever" cars, Cadillac responded by marketing a more distinctive version. This car, the Bicentennial Edition, came only in white with red and blue pinstripes. Just 200 were built, making this a true limited edition in an era when such labels usually meant little.
Ultimately, the biggest strike against the Eldorado convertible was the fact that the body style didn't disappear for long. The new rollover rules were not as draconian as anticipated, and by 1982 Chrysler was selling a regular-production convertible, the LeBaron, again.
In the 1980's, J. P. Van De Bundt, owner of the Victory Cars dealership in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., bought more than a dozen 1976 Eldorados, many of them from the original owners. "Some of them felt betrayed by G.M.," he said. "They thought they had bought the last American convertible."
When he tried to resell the cars, Mr. Van De Bundt found willing buyers for low-mileage convertibles in Europe as well as North America. "Most of the Eldorados I sold outside the U.S. went to Germany or to the Netherlands," his native country, he said. "Most of the European owners would convert their cars to run on propane; they would have a switch under the dash to shift back and forth between the cheaper propane and gas."
Mr. Van De Bundt owned an Eldorado in the 1970's before leaving Europe for South Florida. "I was a musician then, and I always drove big American cars," he said. "I would get pulled over by the Dutch police, what with the big convertible and long hair."
Today, Eldorado convertibles are frequently seen at collector car auctions. At a February sale by RM Auctions in Boca Raton, Fla., a 1976 convertible showing just 13,928 miles brought $25,680 including commissions. According to the Black Book Cars of Particular Interest Value Guide, a 1976 Eldorado convertible in good "weekend driver" condition is worth $14,750, a slight increase from the sticker price when new (albeit in much less valuable 2006 dollars).
Other instant collectibles of the era include several Corvettes, notably two '78 models: the Silver Anniversary coupe, built to commemorate the 25th year of Corvette production, and the Pace Car coupe, a replica of that year's Indianapolis 500 pace car.
In 1982, the first of the Collector Edition Corvettes appeared, followed by, among others, the 35th anniversary, 40th anniversary and 50th anniversary editions, and by pace cars for both 1995 and 1998.
Donnie Gould, a partner in RM Classic Auctions, has seen a lot of Pace Car and Collector Editions cross the block. "The majority are low-miles cars, parked when new and only used for special occasions like Sunday drives," he said. "Lots of the first owners treated them more like art than cars." Prices of these Corvettes have only recently spiked, particularly the 1978 Pace Car and 1982 Collector Edition.
"Occasionally you can make some quick money by buying the right car and getting in — and out — quickly," Mr Gould said. But he warned: "Don't assume that low production and the latest thing will last forever. The smart investors wait for the first owners to take the financial hit, and then buy the one they want when they are no longer this year's hot ticket."
Looking ahead, Mr. Gould singled out the 1987 Buick GNX as a car likely to rise in value — in contrast to the 1988-91 Buick Reattas that were also tucked away, like Eldorados, as collectibles. The product of a collaboration between Buick and ASC/McLaren, the GNX had a sticker price of $29,290; only 547 were built. "They were a true 1980's supercar," Mr. Gould said. "Nearly every piece on those cars was unique to it."
Price guides currently estimate the value of a GNX in excellent condition at $55,000, which Mr. Gould says is low. "Try more like $75,000 to $100,000," he said.
Among recent production vehicles, Mr. Gould sees appreciation potential for the Ford GT, which has a list price of $150,000. "They did sell for up to $50,000 over list when they first came out," he said, but added that GT's are now selling at sticker price or slightly above it. Prices are higher, he noted, for Heritage Edition cars painted orange and light blue — the racing colors of Gulf Oil, which sponsored the Ford GT40's that famously raced at LeMans in the 1960's.
As for other new cars that may seem to have investment potential, speculators would do well to remember the 1976 Eldorado and heed the lessons of the past. While a few limited-production models will appreciate in value, prices of most hot new cars quickly drop when the initial demand is sated — or when that model is superseded by the next flavor of the month.
Location: Yuba City, California .... The BIG Cowpie!
What is collectible is rare, and has high horsepower. The Ford GT and Z06 certainly qualify on horsepower, but it remains to be seen if they are rare enough to be collectible. The Solstice certainly won't be.
__________________ Solstice GXP Coupe You still don't need a trunk to haul ass...
even at Red Rock Canyon in Las Vegas!
We're not buying the last Solstices. We're buying the first.
Not saying it's an investment, merely mentioning the fact that 30 or 40 years from now, having one of the first 1k might mean a little more than having one of the "last Eldorados".
__________________ Some people are never quite what they seem,
So come on baby, come on darling,
Lets just get into my car and drive.
We're not buying the last Solstices. We're buying the first.
Not saying it's an investment, merely mentioning the fact that 30 or 40 years from now, having one of the first 1k might mean a little more than having one of the "last Eldorados".
WELL SAID!!
__________________
Sly / Steel-Sand
#9957 / "U4EA"
We have enough YOUTH!!!!!
How about a fountain of SMART!!!!!!
My 2001 Buick Regal had the GNX Package on it "Aftermarket" but still factory delivered...It pumped out 285 HP and it still caught fire like a regular Factor Car! But man it was fast?!!! Supercharger is the way to go! Imagine if tweety didn't have the delay he does! That is what I had 0-60 in about 5.1 on a 3800 lb car!!! would convert to about 4.6-4.8 in power to weight ratio on a solstice
Not saying it's an investment, merely mentioning the fact that 30 or 40 years from now, having one of the first 1k might mean a little more than having one of the "last Eldorados"
I think the important part is the line about the 1988-91 Buick Reattas. The point of the article is not to compare the Eldorado to anything, but to say becareful, just because a car is hot now doesn't mean it is a collector's item.
I bought my car to drive it and to have it create lasting memories for me. I have over 19,200 miles on my car and look forward to putting on many more miles. My car is a 1K car. I wil store this car, but not until I have probably close to 100K on the odo. I will store it so I can still enjoy it for "Fun" times as compared to it being a daily driver, which it is now. I'm not worried about collector value, the collector value to me is the memories it helps me "collect" with friends, and driving experiences. For everyone who is keeping their car in mint condition, more power to them. It is fullfilling their desires. My desire is to drive and that I am doing.
__________________
AKA xmm
First 1000 Order VIN # 000218 - Time Stamp 2:35:20 DEEP with Steel/Sand leather,
72,300+ miles on the odo - Silver side stripes - My wife named my car "Nittany" after Penn State, my Alma Mater
Reborn at the factory at 57,100 miles Proud Member - ICoD EHDoR&M WPASC
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NASSOA
Founding Member #41
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "It's Going To Be A Girl......plus one more on the way!!!"
In the heat of the "Ice" controversy I made the statement that there are car collectors and car drivers. I prefer to be in the driver catagory. It suits me more to spend an hour to clean it up so I can spend three hours getting it dirty again than to spend four hours toiling over it to make it so shiny that I would be afraid to drive it anywhere. It won't be hard in this thread to figure out who is a driver and who is a collector.
__________________ Volley - ICOD GOTHIC................"Pontiac Pure Excitement".........
.................................................. ...."Drive it like you stole it"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The time has come for the enthusiasts...
website link - NASSOA - Officially recognized by GM
Founding Member #69 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've also had my Solstice for 2 months. It was my 30th birthday present from my husband (boy is he a keeper). Regardless of the value and whether or not it's a collector's item I'm keeping it as long as possible and my kids will learn to drive it.
I can't wait to put more miles on it! 
