As a long time Olds owner, I am curious as to what the Olds community feels about the possibility of the Intrique becoming a 'classic'

I currently has a '98 Intrigue with only 73k miles and I can't decide if it is time
to find it a new home or hang on to it for several more years?

Your thoughts. Thanks.

 

No American car manufactured after 1972 will ever become a Classic.

In addition, no Oldsmobile ever made has ever been designated a Classic (though, if the list included cars earlier than 1915, the Curved Dash Olds would probably qualify).

Next question.

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

 

What Eric is referring to is the TRUE meaning of a classic as described by the AACA and other clubs. But if Eric will look at the top of the page we do refer to this group of Oldsmobile enthusiasts as Classic Oldsmobile's of which we have none if taken letterly. That being said it's doubtful that your car will be any kind of classic in the near or far future. Just drive it and enjoy it they are great cars..... Lost in the fifties.... Tedd

 

Hey, I didn't name the group, Tedd.

I'm just keeping it grounded in some sort of defined reality.

The word "Classic[al]" was used starting in the late 1500s to refer to the finest Ancient Greek and Roman poets and authors, and is still used today in referring to "Classical literature" or studying "Classics" in school. Over the intervening years, it was broadened to refer to other fine examples of art and architecture of the same era.

It began to be used more casually to refer to other examples of fine art somewhere in the early to mid 1900s, but, as far as I know, was not used consistently to refer to automobiles until its use was adopted by the Classic Car Club of America in the early 1950s (if I recall correctly).

So, at least as far as I'm concerned, if the CCCA pioneered this use of the word, I will accept their definition of it.

Others will, of course, choose to disagree.

- Eric

 

Thanks for the input. I guess 'classic' was not the right word. I guess I really meant 'collectible' (desirable above their bluebook value).

 

I think you already know the answer to this question. History has shown that collectability is usually a function of interest and appeal when the car was new. High performance, top end luxury, or noteworthy design or engineering are the usual metrics. Early Datsun roadsters are collectible because they are cool looking and built in very limited quantities. Mustangs are collectible, despite very high volume production, because they were unique designs when new. On the other hand, the 1962-63 Olds Jetfire really hasn't gone up much in value, despite unique engineering milestones (first turbo production car, first aluminum V8, etc). Cars that were popular when one was in high school usually are the ones sought after once people have discretionary income. Unfortunately, the Intrigue doesn't really fall into that category either.

 

The only intrigue, IMO, that will ever be desirable or collectible is the 2002 Final 500... Like I said, JMO... Many people have a different view of it's collectible value and that is understandable since it is only a special edition basic 4 door Intrigue with a very low production number...

 

I doubt the Final 500 cars will be collectible. They are just stock cars with stickers and emblems.

 

Per the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA), classic cars were manufactured between 1915 and 1948. They were expensive when new and built in limited quantities. There were not produced for the masses. Here is the link to the list.

http://classiccarclub.org/grand_clas...sics_2016.html

 

They specify their distinction as "1915 through 1948 are recognized as CCCA Classics", emphasis on CCCA Classics vice classics in general. Popular culture has it's own less defined view of what a classic car is and I'm sure the vast majority is ignorant of and couldn't care less about the CCCA parameters.


To the OP's question, it's unlikely that the Intrigue will be viewed as classic or collectible in the future. Even if it does achieve such consideration the question of value is linked directly to desirability...not every classic car is desirable or valuable.


IMHO, your decision making process on that car should be the same as for any other used car - low ownership costs and divest while it still has some value.

 

Actually, the opposite is true.

While not every antique car is desirable or valuable, ever classic car is desirable and valuable.

Regardless of your precise definition, the meaning of the term "classic" is that the car is special for reasons other than just being old.

- Eric

 

If by "several more years," you mean until the year 2098, then, yes, by then it will probably have some value.

 

Probably in a biblical sense...

 

You didn't give us much detail here (options, exactly which Intrigue you have as there were three available that year--base sedan, GL sedan, and GLS sedan), but the Kelley Blue Book site lists the retail value of a '98 Olds Intrigue GL Sedan (I picked the middle one, with "standard" equipment) with 73,000 miles in "good" condition (versus fair, very good, and excellent) at $1,600. In "very good" condition, the value is $1,770, and in "excellent" condition, it's $1,890.

VMR Auto Guides shows values that are about in line with these, but with a bit more spread. A GL Sedan in "clean" condition is shown at $1,475 while one in "excellent" condition is way up there at $2,300.

http://www.vmrintl.com/used-car/pric...-INTRIGUE.html



One thing to do is look at values of cars that are 10 years older than yours to get an idea of what your car might be worth 10 years from now. What's a comparable car, say, a mid-level 1988 Delta 88, worth today?

First off, the Kelley site doesn't go back beyond 1992, so we can't use that. The VMR site does go back to 1988, and it's not kind to the '88 Delta 88, with values shown for all four versions in "clean" condition as between $1,150 and $1,200.

The Old Cars Price Guide, which does occasionally give values for models as late as the 1980s, is kinder to the '88 Delta 88. For the base 4-door sedan in "car show" condition, the value is about $2,600, whereas for the 4-door sedan Brougham, it's about $3,100.


In all seriousness, in my completely uninformed opinion, I would say that you would need to keep your car for at least another 20 years, and keep it in the condition it is now, if not improve it back to showroom condition as much as possible, before you'd see any real appreciation in value. And it would be slow appreciation. I think only showroom-condition cars from this era will have any value in the coming decades. I don't think there will be much interested in lesser-quality vehicles that would need restoration.

 

And there's a key point here that is often missed:
It costs money to maintain a car in excellent condition, even if it's never used.
You need garage space, which costs something (if you're not renting a garage, you're spending extra money every month on your mortgage to have it), plus the unused car in that space is occupying space that another car, which is slowly deteriorating, and thus costing money, could occupy.
Add money to heat and cool the garage (a non-climate-controlled space will not maintain a car in excellent condition for decades) every month, and maintenance on the garage and the heating and cooling systems, and you've spent a fair amount of money.

Now figure the appreciation needed on an "ordinary" (non-Corvette, non-Ferrari) car over that time that would be required to pay you back, and you can see that in almost every case, you will lose money by putting a nice car away and expecting it to appreciate.

- Eric

 

Intriguing...