Latest news with #classicCars
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
8 Undervalued Classic Cars That Are Actually Worth a Lot of Money
The collector car market isn't just about Ferraris and seven-figure auctions. Plenty of models are flying under the radar while quietly climbing in value, perfect for classic car enthusiasts. Owning a retro vehicle is about more than just getting from A to B, it's usually about appreciating the history, loving the style or making a smart investment (all of the above, more often than not!) Be Aware: Consider This: GOBankingRates spoke to two automotive experts who shared some classics that are worth watching now. These cars offer rarity, performance and design appeal without requiring very deep pockets. Overshadowed by the Mustang it helped inspire, the Falcon Sprint has become a cult favorite, according to Lauren Fix, founder of Car Coach Reports. Lightweight, V8-powered and scarce, Fix values these between $20,000 and $35,000. They're now being appreciated on their own merits rather than viewed as Mustang prequels. Discover More: The Mustang has always had collector appeal, but models equipped with the GT Equipment Package, especially fastbacks, are seeing renewed interest. Terry Shea, Marketplace Editor at collector car marketplace Hemmings, highlighted this version for its rarity, stronger V8s and better handling. Fewer than 45,000 GTs were produced across two years, a sliver of total Mustang output. The early pony car craze still has fuel in the tank. A sleeper among sedans, the 6.9 hides big-block muscle under luxury sheet metal. 'Don't be fooled by the three-pointed star hood ornament,' said Shea — it's a muscle car in disguise. Less than 2,000 were sold in the U.S., and with advanced tech like early ABS and self-leveling suspension, it's starting to gain the attention it missed decades ago. Often ignored for not being a 911, the Porsche 944 offers sharp handling and solid design. Fix shared it as a $15,000 to $40,000 buy that's fun to drive and gaining traction as a retro-cool sports car with real Porsche DNA. According to Fix, the C4 ZR-1 is 'undervalued due to its dated angular design' but delivers serious performance and growing collector interest. Priced between $10,000 and $20,000, the ZR-1 combines exclusivity with serious output from its Lotus-designed V8. It's a smart entry point for future value. According to Shea, the S2000 is a 'free-revving' anomaly in a market dominated by tech-heavy performance cars. With its 9,000 rpm redline and roadster styling, it fills a gap in today's electric-first landscape. Nothing else on the road drives quite like it, and as buyers realize what's been lost, prices are catching up. Shea shared the C5-generation Corvette Z06 as a prime example of accessible performance with long-term upside. All Z06s featured the LS6 V8, six-speed manual and a rigid, lightweight body. 'It's only a matter of time before collectors turn again to the C5, particularly the high-performance Z06,' he said. As prices for later-generation Corvettes climb, this analog-era powerhouse is being rediscovered. Shea also flagged the M3 for its naturally aspirated S54 engine, razor-sharp handling and pure driving experience. 'Today's M cars are quite a bit quicker,' he explained. 'But the '01 to '06 M3 delivers a more visceral experience for most drivers.' Prices remain strong and are expected to stay that way. More From GOBankingRates 9 Downsizing Tips for the Middle Class To Save on Monthly Expenses This article originally appeared on 8 Undervalued Classic Cars That Are Actually Worth a Lot of Money
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
I stumbled across a luxury car graveyard where Cadillacs & Chevys rot after owner abandoned hundreds of vintage vehicles
TAKING a spin through his home state, photographer Dax Ward's eyes widened as he spotted a sprawling estate of abandoned cars. But on closer inspection, he was stunned to realise the 20-acre site was packed with rotting classic cars as well as custom boats, vans and trucks. 14 14 14 14 Delving into its history of how so many vintage vehicles ended up in a graveyard on a hillside in Arkansas, Dax discovered the owner had vanished years ago. The site is now a magnet for opportunistic thieves with their sights set on selling parts. Dax said: "The junkyard owner once took great pride in his collection, even having shot a thief in the past and pistol-whipping another to protect his automotive treasure trove. "However, the owner has not lived on the property for some 20 years and rarely visits, having abandoned the location after a messy divorce. "There are many cars still remaining, but a number have been stolen over the years and the ones that remain have been stripped for parts by thieves." Jaw-dropping pictures show once indulgent vehicles weathered by the elements and sat rotting on the sprawling 20-acre ground. Antique cars including Cadillacs, Chevys, Buicks, and VWs have been taken over by rust. Dax said: "The property owner once owned a tow truck company and many of the vehicles were sold to him at very low prices from the customers who he served. "He amassed an enormous collection of valuable antique vehicles over the years, which would now be worth millions of dollars. "The collection is still valuable, but thieves regularly visit and the cars are slowly disappearing, piece by piece or body by body. Inside world-famous abandoned 'UFO village' packed with crumbling spaceship holiday homes "Local law enforcement sometimes catches intruders, but prosecution is often halted as nobody has seen or heard from the owner in years and he cannot be located, even by authorities." Dax visited the location twice, and was shown around by a neighbour who had not heard from the site's owner, a childhood friend, in years. The explorer added: "He gave me a roundup of the history of the property, the owner and automobiles, as well as describing regular incidents of thieves raiding the property. "Watching the beautiful cars, as well as valuable antiques and other rare and expensive items be stolen or picked clean over the years has left him in frustration. "Unfortunately, there is little he can do but watch. He tries to keep watch and notifies police regularly if he sees trespassers, but they often arrive too late to catch the intruders." 14 14 14 14 14 The neighbour told Dax how the owner abandoned the site more than 20 years ago after going through a divorce. Dax said: "His ex-wife's custom Cadillac - sent to Italy and then re-imported after customisation - sits parked in the driveway of the uninhabited house, in the same spot that it was parked and left behind two decades ago. "He left derelict the posh house and many vehicles, became addicted to gambling in casinos over the border in Oklahoma and worked up a severe debt. "While exploring and documenting this fascinating location I was simultaneously awestruck by the amount of classic cars, many of them expensive and rare, and saddened by the loss of such a collection, the remnants of which sit and rot." Dax previously visited Taiwan's . With its UFO -like buildings the star of the show, the resort's space -age retro splendor continues to slowly fade away. Perched on Taiwan 's northern coast in Wanli, the unusual collection of buildings was supposed to act as a holiday park. But what remains is a series of bizarre, decaying structures nestled beside a beach that Dax captured on camera. 14 14 14 14 How to report an abandoned car Reporting an abandoned vehicle is important for keeping city streets safe and clean Not only is an abandoned car an eyesore, it's also a hazard to the surrounding community as pests and rodents can take refuge in the interior, engine bay, or trunk. Leaking fluids can be dangerous for the environment, as many vehicle fluids are toxic and can wreak havoc on ecosystems if they enter waterways. They can also encourage crime with several cities like Oakland, California reporting that drug dealers may use them to hide and side drugs or weapons. Abandoned vehicles can also lower property values. Therefore, they're worth Specific contact information for your city's abandoned car hotline may vary, but the necessary information on the vehicle is the same. When reporting an abandoned vehicle, police will need: The exact address of the vehicle Information on the steering column (broken, missing, intact, etc) Condition of the vehicle (severely damaged, windows broken, leaking fluids, missing body panels or doors, etc) Make and model Color Body style (pickup truck, SUV, sedan, etc) License plate number and state, if applicable VIN Many cities will allow residents to report abandoned vehicles online through an online form, or it can be called in.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Riverside business takes magical approach to installing auto upholstery
RIVERSIDE — Codee Mixon, 27, has always wanted to have his own business, and with his Mixon Magic Auto and Marine Upholstery, at 221 Third St., Riverside, he has achieved that goal. 'I am an entrepreneur,' he said recently. 'I have always tried to find a way to make something profitable. As soon as I got into upholstery, I liked it. It seems like a straightforward type of business and from a back-end paperwork perspective, it looked very interesting to me.' Mixon is from Chicago, but grew up and went to school in Las Vegas. About two years ago, Codee and his wife moved to Riverside. A lot of Mixon's background is in film and TV production. 'While I was in school I did some marketing and advertising production for people,' he said. Otherwise, most of his experience is in car building. In honing his upholstery skills he worked at a shop for free for three months just to learn the trade. Once he learned upholstery, it was 'time to do my own thing,' he said. Mixon bought his first classic car to restore sometime in 2021-22. In doing so he worked with his father. 'My dad, does everything but upholstery. We built the car to the point where I wanted to complete it.' Upholstering is probably the last thing he learned in building cars. 'I've done paint, body building, engine building, all the suspension building, fabrication. Everything.' Upholstery is a business that is underserved, Mixon said. 'Everybody that is in the industry now is at retirement age, it seems. So when people come into my shop I hear that the customer has been looking for someone for a long time.' 'I can go anywhere and be successful at what I am doing,' he said. Mixon established his Riverside shop in 2023. 'When I started it was slow and it took me four months to go from working part time at another shop to part-time in my shop and finally working full time in my shop.' Mixon approached Bucknell's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for advice. 'With their help, I went to a bank looking for a small business loan to help my business move forward and expand. We drew up a business plan, a business proposal and from there I got the loan and worked with SBDC to do some advertising and get my website up.' Ray Haden, SBDC business consultant helped Codee with crafting a business plan as well as making financial projections. 'Additionally,' Haden said, 'Codee received technical assistance and consulting in approaching a lender suitable for his needs. He also received additional support with the loan application process. Ultimately, through these efforts, he was able to secure monies through the Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce to help with his working capital and equipment needs.' Mixon Magic does upholstery in many ways but mostly as it pertains to vehicles,' Mixon said. 'Cars, motorcycles, trucks, anything from customization to simple repairs. Vinyl work, leather, cloth, whatever people want.' What's it like having his own business? 'It's always been my dream. 'I am at my easiest point in my entrepreneurial journey I am finally in a place where I have a business that is running.'
