Why the GT defies gravity

[Joehand1]

Lots of recent posts have observed the lowering numbers of GTs along with the escalating prices at auction and online.

Reasons we all know that the GT is retaining value are:

1. Most desirable American car built since the original Cobra and original GT 40.
2. Beautiful, unique and masculine styling....all at the same time, and universally loved by both American and foreign fans. (Even Jeremy Clarkson said it attracted more positive attention than any other car he has ever driven, even more than the Bugatti Veyron.)
3. Performance that is close to today's super cars (0-60 in 3.5 sec and top speed of 212mph).
4. Very low maintenance cost compared to any other super car.
5. More reliable overall than other super cars. (Gauge issues not withstanding)
6. Limited numbers on the market and increased demand from places like China, Russia and Saudi Arabia, further drawing down availability in the US.
7. Skyrocketing prices of new Super Cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Porsche which once bought, depreciate to 50% of it's initial value in five years...

Number 7 is I think the biggest reason demand for our cars is up. Folks who can afford a 200k car are for the most part good money managers, and not all of us owners are so wealthy that the depreciation of our cars can be totally ignored.
I came to this realization this weekend when a young physician friend of mine bought a 991 Turbo for 165k plus, while another friend put up his 2007 Turbo for sale for 60k, and it's in very good shape..

That's a lot of dollar loss to someone like me, and although I love the Turbo, it makes me so glad I didn't buy the 911 Turbo when I bought my GT six years ago.
What's funny is that my 87 911 that I've owned since new has recently appreciated to 30k, not far from what I paid for it 26 years ago..

 

[GT Venum]

I agree.

The items that influenced my purchase 2 years ago (before the appreciation) were numbers 2 and 4. I was looking at the F cars and Lambos but a little research on the maintenance cost made the GT an easy decision.

Now the appreciation makes it a great purchase and even easier to drive and not worry about the money.

 

[shelbyelite]

97 911 Turbos are worth well over their original msrp with low miles.

 

[Joehand1]

97 911 Turbos are worth well over their original msrp with low miles.

Ahhh yes!! the last of the air cooled cars, also destined to be collector cars.

I love them!

 

[Kayvan]

I think you meant Feminine styling.....hourglass, hips, curves; liked by Alpha males

I think the original owners of the GT set the stage. Most refused to sell at the depths of the '08 crisis and had nerves to see thru ups & downs from control arms, half shafts to gauges.

Like most assets the smart money consolidated it's hold and now has excluded those buyers below the $200K.

You can always sell; but price to get back in will be higher

 

[33Bravo]

Agree with all.

Timeless design, no successor.

Fun to drive – tons of torque – here and now..

3 pedals.

Easy to mod.


When the FGT was announced – I clearly remember being worried – would Ford do it right? Yes, and then some!!

 

[w. mitty]

An important factor is that the GT just seems to scratch an itch that would otherwise go unscratched -- I really can't think of a car in ANY collection that would duplicate the GT or make it redundant. In other words, it is inimitable and irreplaceable. Sort of like...the Ferrari GTO, the early gull wing Mercedes, the Mclaren F1, the Jaguar XKSS, or any other of a number of proven classics.

It seems that the primary response to the GT lately is that it is a "known collectible". The market has voted and it loves the GT. Aint it nice to be right sometimes? I, like many of you, can say that I bought the GT on love at first sight. The fact that it has become the darling of the auction circuit, while great, was wholly unforeseen by me.

 

[roketman]

Im with you ! My 1987 911 is a family favorite!
Just hit 100k in 25 years last summer

 

[twobjshelbys]

The market has voted and it loves the GT.

Is it the overall car market or just "irrational exuberance" with the current economy? The market will correct but will the GT do better, average or worse than the rest? Remember when the Mopars were doing so well and then went to 1/4 to 1/3 of their high values.

 

[FBA]

Ya but the only difference here is that there's only ONE FGT. There were / are a lot of desirable mopars across different bodies and years. I'm thinking we're only going to see these cars escalate until they're no longer a "deal". LOL

 

[Joehand1]

Is it the overall car market or just "irrational exuberance" with the current economy? The market will correct but will the GT do better, average or worse than the rest? Remember when the Mopars were doing so well and then went to 1/4 to 1/3 of their high values.

We may soon find out...looks like the Asian markets are tanking again, contagion?

 

[DanielJ]

It was halftime during the 2004 Superbowl game and was on my way to the bar and refresh my enthusiasm for the game. Frozen in my tracks when "The Commercial" for the FGT started and could not believe my eyes. My wife asks me if there was something wrong with me. Yes, I said, we just bought the Ferrari and it's the wrong car...........

Took us several years to add the GT to our collection and believe this car will prove to be very valuable in the near future, but, all of us know that. Like Sherlock says; It's the prospective owners that will drive the value up.

 

[Copenhagen GT]

Quite interesting emptying out my inbox for old messages this weekend - back in summer 2008 when I bought my FGT - to see the many very interesting offers I was presented with from dealers and forum members - perfect low mile cars going for 150-160K ......

 

[Empty Pockets]

...Frozen in my tracks when "The Commercial" for the FGT started and could not believe my eyes. My wife asks me if there was something wrong with me. Yes, I said, we just bought the Ferrari and it's the wrong car...........

I had been trying to decide between a Gallardo and an F-car 360 when I saw that ad. By the time the commercial got to the part where the GT was dirt tracking around corners - 'game was over. All done. School was out. The bell had rung.

 

[BlackICE]

I had been trying to decide between a Gallardo and an F-car 360 when I saw that ad. By the time the commercial got to the part where the GT was dirt tracking around corners - 'game was over. All done. School was out. The bell had rung.

and then you sold the car without really driving it! :confused

 

[RPM217]

and then you sold the car without really driving it! :confused

Does EP even have a driver's license?
Last night's 60 Minutes on Jay Leno, had some great shots of his two "hangers" filled with beautiful cars, including a good view of his red GT!!

 

[Xcentric]

Worth a revisit from time to time.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/cars/ford/2005-ford-gt/index.shtml#item=128659

 

[MNJason]

I'll take a 993 Turbo S please!

 

[pacettr]

As a prospective owner, I only hope the values at least plateau over the next year or two while I get my ducks in a row. These Heritage prices are KILLING me.

 

[DWR46]

The other thing that really "saved" the Ford GT was that Ford Motor Co. did not follow it up with a "newer" generation super car. If Ford had produced a successor to the GT, there would be good reason for the 2005-06 cars to heavily depreciate as then they would be "last years super car". As it stands, I doubt that Ford will ever again, in the forseeable future, build a car like the GT. The guaranteed depreciation of the current Ferrari and Lamborghini models is automatically assured everytime a new model is unveiled. The one exception to this is the 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione.