Yes it will be a classic.

Ugly doesn't matter. Daimler SP 250's command over $30k (<$4k new). But the Crossfire is beautiful.

Top performance spec's are not the question. See MG TD, 6 cyl. 60's Mustangs.

Production only counts to a degree. Some Dodge Royal Manacos are extremely rare--and cheap. Find a Merkur over $5K.

So what makes a classic. I suggest that the primary test is the "drool" factor of those between 15-25 yrs old when the car is produced. Thus, the test for a future classic is exemplified in the Lancia Stratos, Pantara, Austin-Healey (even the 4-banger approaches $60k), my Sunbeam Tiger (now over $50k for a Hillman Husky knock-off w/a 164 hp. v8), Jaguar XKE, etc. When each of these cars were produced "kids" would flock to look at it in any parking lot where they showed up.

In the 30's-and 40's, luxury rather than sport was the test. Thus, Duesenbergs, Cadillacs, Lincolns, Delehayes, etc., engendered the "drool" factor and became the classics of that era.

The 50's benchmark was chrome, excess, and raw power. Bonnivilles, Cadillacs, V8 Chevys, and Hemi Mopars have become the classics.

The 60's were defined by the muscle/pony car phase. Look at the price of any Mustang, or any Ford 2-door with a 427 side-oiler or Mopar 2-door with a street hemi.

If the automobile industry were to be given an enema, the seventies and eighties would be where youl'd start. There will be no long term classics from here. The "kids" continued to drool over the 60's muscle/pony cars knowing that everything being built was little more than a people mover. My brother has a true 100 pt. 1973 Z28, and it wouldn't bring $30k. A 69 Z28 is up over $60k. Production numbers are similar.

Starting in the mid-nineties, cars became "droolable" again.
There aren't many choices in the 2000-2010 era that have substantial drool factor. Corvettes do, did, and always will. Come 2020, the pocket-rockets should also have a cache of collectability, especially considering how they are being destroyed by the current owners (see 60's muscle cars).

This brings us to the Crossfire. Another post commented how the prices dropping are resulting in young people buying the car and driving down the prices even further. True, but temporarily true. This will actually result in an increased "drool" factor amongst the kids. I have 16 year old daughters, and their friends "drool" over my Crossfire. It will also be helped by the "American" badge currently looked at as a detriment. Either because they are priced so far out of reach or because there will be no experience between "kids" and certain cars, vehicles such as the Lexus IS F (and its predecessor), Audi R8, BMW Z4, won't achieve classic/sought-after status. The continuing depreciation of the Acura NSX shows that cars that are out of reach and thusly out of consideration of the younger set don't turn the corner.

Considering this, I would suggest that recently built future classics include the Crossfire, as well as a BMW Z3 and Nissan 350Z. The latter two, as well as the Miata (also suffering from the Japanese connection) may never reach this, however, because of high production and therefore high availability. Others that I would bet on (gentlemen's bet, not $) include any WS 3 Camaro or Firebird, Solstice GXP Coupe, and possibly one of the later GTO's (400 hp and a stick shift in a currently affordable car is hard to igore), and anything with a W12 (although purchase price-new will not be reached). Not included are the current crop of Mustangs (including Shelby's), goofy cars like the For Two, the Cube, and the Element, and anything billed as luxury without a W12.

In closing, I just went outside and looked at my Crossfire. I'd say it is a future classic, and earlier than others on this board believe. I sure hope I'm right, but that has nothing to do with why I bought the car. Simply, it is the most bang for the buck today, and when you look at classics, that has often been a telling factor, especially on the "bang" part.

Wow, that went long.