I wonder where the Crossfire hobby will be 30 years from now. I have been a car guy since way before I bought my first car. I remember watching from the third floor of my high school watching other students rolling in to the school lot with their cool cars. Most were the typical 1970's 2nd or 3rd family hand me downs but there were a few gems. I recall a '66 or '67 Vette several Mustangs and my favorite a 1971 Cuda with the black billboard stripe on the side.

My car hobby has four distinct chapters, Chapter 1 was the second gen Firebirds of which I owned 5 between 1974 and 1980. Chapter 2 belonged to the Turbo Mopars of the 80's. I owned another 4 of these one of which I still own. Chapter 3 was my Jeep that I bought in 1999 and also still have. Chapter 4 of course is the Crossfire. While I have always been limited on what I could afford in the way of hobby cars I have managed to be a part of four distinct enthusiast groups over the years and for that I am blessed.

The Jeep enthusiast network is huge and growing with a vast amount of vendors, clubs and internet sites right down to very specific Jeep models. Like the Jeep hobby the GM F-body enthusiast group is also pretty big although it has taken a hit with the demise of the Pontiac brand. Unlike the Jeep brand the f-body has a rather huge fan base in racing along with the resto/show crowd and the daily drivers. The Turbo Mopars still have an enthusiastic fan base with Chapters of the Shelby Dodge Automobile Club around the U.S. and Canada. Where this group differs from the F-body group is the fact that since none of the cars are high dollar collectables and probably never will be, pristine originals and restored examples are few and far between. The SDAC has been holding a four day national meet at various location around the country since 1990. The first one I attended took place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994. Well over a 100 cars in attendance with many excellent examples on the show field. I returned there in 1998 and once again over 100 cars with many fine examples. Carroll Shelby even made an appearance at a couple of their events to sign cars and other item. Went to a couple more in the mid 2000's that were still pretty good but, the show was held at a city park instead of a race venue and the number of cars had been reduced to 50 or 60 cars of which 20 or so were of show quality. The 2012 event was within driving distance so I decided to attend. this time it was in the middle of no where. A small town (can't even remember the name) somewhere between Richmond and Indianapolis just north of I-70. Probably 30 actual turbo cars there with maybe 5 cars that were of show car quality.

What strikes me about that group is the fact that most of them have no interest in preserving them or saving them. They seem to be more about shaving a tenth of a second of their quarter mile times than anything else. The fact that the cars make better racers than show cars because of how affordable and easily modifiable they are doesn't help. It seems that the very enthusiast of the cars are responsible for destroying many of them.

Personally, I probably don't have another 30 years but, in has me wondering where the Crossfire ends up in 30 or more years. There will be lifers here who will own the same car that they own right now but, what about the cars that will change hands numerous times. Will this forum still be active? Will the cars be forgotten? Will an SRT-6 cross Barrett Jackson and bring in $500,000?

 

xjken: an excellent thought to ponder!!....Carl

 

I'm keeping mine till death do us part. I plan on driving it 3,000 miles per year while keeping it in pristine condition. Sometime in 2052, I will add the Mr. Fusion mod and take it flying so I can get to my 100th breathing anniverary during which I will dance the tango with my wife after defeating all the kids at the Limbo competition. See www.mfoundation.org

Dave Gobel

 

I bought mine with the intention of keeping it forever. I am going to leave it as it is. Take good care of it. Drive it less than 3000 miles a year. Currently has 22,500 miles. It should outlive me.

 

Mines a keeper until I destroy it. My intuition is: it'll be like the AMX. Appreciate in price but since it's unusual/obscure to the masses, it'll stay on the lower end in price of the collectables.

Les

 

I totally agree with Les. That's why I drive my car, because they're just too much fun to let em sit. Well that, and the fact that I'm not going to be around when they really start to appreciate.

 

Like most who have responded my plan is to drive the car about 3 or 4 thousand miles a year. I do garage mine and try to avoid rain but, if I get caught in a storm or a shower while driving it's not a big deal. It definitely will not see snow or salt covered roads while I have it. Like +fireamx I won't be around when they really start to appreciate but, my son will get my fleet when I can no longer drive so I don't want to leave him a bunch of rusted out hulks. I don't really care what any of my vehicles are "worth" decades down the road any more than I care now. I own them and enjoy them while I have them and I try and keep them as perfect as I can because that's how I like them. I have bought myself four vehicles in the last 29 years and I still have three of them and there is a good chance I will die with the same three.

Watching the Barrett Jackson auction last weekend got me thinking about this. Seeing so many of those cars bringing 100's of thousands of dollars was amazing. I am still a little confused as to which is worth more, a pristine factory original or a total frame off restoration. Personally I would rather own a factory original than a perfect resto. To me a resto is no longer a factory built car but a modified factory car. Once you totally disassemble a car it ceases to be a factory built car but, the big money seems to go to the restorations. I actually think the Crossfire will do well down the road because of it's one of a kind history.

 

If and it's a big if, these cars get to be of some value the NA will not be the high $ item, the SRT6 roadster will take top honors.

 

Absolutely, followed closely by my base roadster. First $100,00 takes it home.

 

Got to drive it daily...it's a compulsion ...can't help it!!!!!!!!!.Carl

BTW. This my last car....at my age, plalns are not to buy anymore. Therefore this my "life car" project...!!!!!Carl

 

I believe these cars are near the low end of the $ curve. As kids and people needing cheap rides buy them because they are inexpensive, they will destroy them...slowly depleting the numbers.

With only 76k Xfires ever built, no doubt a Crossfire will one day cross Berrit Jackson stage. Most likely it will be a 2004 SSB (the model closest to the prototype) or a SRT-6. I doubt they will ever reach the $500k level (in today's $), but the high bid will be substantial!

 

Only time will tell if our children have a collector on their hands, because most of us won't be around to ever know... So drive them while you still can...

 

I have an SRT6 roadster (RHD) and looking at how many were built its only 1 of 200 odd built. Picked it up for a, I thought very reasonable price. She has done 107K Kms and I plan to drive as often as i can coz its just soooo much fun. You can cruise along and let the world go by or be up the front. Its great to just have that feeling. I have told my son that when its my time, he will get the car and do not sell, just enjoy it. Unless you plan to store the car and sell later on then who knows. For me its just worth the fun.

 

It comes down to one question. Is your XF a tool/toy or an investment?

At these prices I say get one to mod/ drive the wheels off, and put one back for a spare/investment.

74k units is not a lot, but plenty for us who love them. If there weren't enough the prices would be much higher. I Think the supply of SLKs actually helps us in several ways. Gives the image conscious buyer somewhere else to go. And keeps spare parts plentiful cheap for us.

 

My son likes my Crossfire but, I don't really see him keeping it or my other cars. If he wants to sell them all and get something he really likes that's fine but, I have already told him to sell all of them to someone who really appreciates them and not the first person who comes along. I have suggested he list all of them on the same enthusiast forums that I frequent for each car.

There is a segment in the collector car hobby that believes that no vehicles from the computer age will become true collectables. They believe most of them will become useless when their computers fry themselves and replacements can not be found. I hope that's not the case and the aftermarket steps up like it has for the classic muscle cars.

 

You know when things have turned bad when a coupe shows up as a coop ................. for chickens.

 

Dave. Couldn't have spoken more apropos...Carl