So many threads devoted to whether the SRT-6 will be a future collectable or worth $1.98 in three years, excuse me for adding one more to the mix. But with all the different cars I've owned over the years there are a number of parallels, and I started thinking about the 1980 Triumph TR8 coupe I had owned back in 1985.

For those that don't know it, the car was a Triumph TR7 (old ads used to tout the TR7 as "the shape of things to come," though if it was it has clearly come and went) -- major mod being the 2 liter 4 cylinder TR7 engine was replaced by an early 60's design 3.5L GM/Rover V8. A pretty low output V8 but it was light and a fast car by 1980 standards. Many, many more TR7s on the road than TR8s -- a similar dynamic to N-A Crossfires vs SRT-6s. Similar TR8 production numbers to the SRT-6 and oddly enough, similar production numbers on the TR7 vs. N-A Crossfire.

I paid $3,200 for it in 1985 while I was in college and struggled to sell it 6 months later for similar money. Former Triumph dealer would only offer $1,500 in trade -- claimed to have two new ones still in the warehouse that he never could sell. Problems? The car would chronicaly overheat, which was finally remedied by a low pressure thermostat and wiring the cooling fan so that it ran whenever the engine was on. The wiring was such a patchwork mess that the entire wire harness had to be ripped out and replaced. The right pop-up headlight worked but took about 15 seconds to creep up. Manual choke added. These were on top of the fixes put in place by the prior owner -- "upgrading" the unduly restrictive intake and tempermental carb to something sourced from an early sixties GM. I'm probably safe in saying that few if any SRT-6's had inflicted so much pain in such a short time as ownership as that TR8 did to me. You may think Chrysler service is as bad as it gets, but that's because you never tried dealer service on a Triumph in 1985. Ahhh!

Just for curiosity a searched Hemmings. 1980 Triumph TR8 Coupe, $16,900.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/

I'm sure that most TR8s would have cost more than that to keep running these past 23 years than the selling price even disregarding inflation and the time value of money, so as many have stated cars are rarely "investments" unless you venture into the mega-buck category or simply get particularly lucky. But value and further depreciation are another matter. For those who think their very limited producton 330hp German made sports car over time will be worth less than a 4 year old Yaris, remember the TR8.

 

I remember the TR8!! It was back in the 80's. I was young(probably around 7) and I was with my dad driving and all I remember was this cool looking red car in front of us stopped at a light. I had just took interest in cars at the time and had never saw one. Well, this thing sounded loud! I asked my dad "what is that"!? The light turned green and this guy stomps on it and lights em up across the intersection! That picture stays in my mind to this day! Haha.

 

If a TR8 is worth 16k then a SRT6 is worth 116,000k !! A TR8/7 is a pile of crap. Put it along side all the MGs too!

 

While I'm not saying the TR8 is anything good or bad, I don't think the Crossfire will ever be a real valuable collectible. The car has one distinct disadvantage as far as collectibility goes: it's mixed heritage.

The folks that collect Chryslers won't want it, because of it's primarily Daimler heritage. And the Mercedes collectors won't want it primarily because of it's Chrysler name.

I think that is going to leave this car in the bargain bin for a long time. Which, by the way, is OK by me, since I'm hoping ot pick up a low mile SRT-6 in about 6 to 8 years, and I don't want to pay a bundle for it!

 

I hope everyone keeps believing that the SRT6 isn't worth keeping around, which will make mine worth more. Just an FYI, but on the other extreme of the "mixed herritage" hypothesis , the 427 Cobra was an American powered, British bodied sports car. I doubt the SRT6 will ever be worth what the Cobras are, but certainly it will fall in line with a Hemi Cuda, LS6 Chevelle, L88 Corvette etc...No offense, but the TR family of cars were all toilets and were purchasd for the same reason the NA Crossfires were...they are just another pretty face to be seen with. My guess is in 3 more years, most of the na Xfires will be abused second hand cars relegated to teenagers and midlifers...the SRT6's are high powered enough to get low performance drivers into trouble and will end up smashed and gone the way of the LS1 Camaros and T/A's. All of this hopefully means a bright future for those that hold onto and take care of the SRT6's

 

Yes, built like a POS -- as were almost all of the British sports cars. But picking on British Sports cars is like fishing in a fish tank. That's kind of the point though. From POS to automative works of art, I really can't think of an example of a higher powered low production variant that over time didn't hold up well on value. Simple formula that always seems to hold:

Attractive design + highly upgraded factory power - large production volumes = some collectability

American muscle cars all followed the same formula. They sell for silly money today compared to their low-power sister cars, even though most who had them before they were worth anything remembered them as having questionable reliability, so-so handling, and (as comes from the factory) not all that fast compared to modern cars.

The TR 7's and 8's like pretty much all were some nice designs seemingly engineered by the blind and built by the highly astigmatic. Same for the pre-emissions lot. Lotus Elite's, Bristol's, AC's. Sunbeam Alpines/Tigers, Jaguar E-types, Austins, MGs etc. All had the build quality of lego, and those who developed attachments to them did so in spite of it as all were more fun (on the rare occassions they were running) than their contemporaries. Forget the glamour names. Even in the low rent district, MGC's and Triumph GT6's and apparently even the TR8 sell for more now than they did when new.

There are higher expectations (and prices) now for cars than years ago, and the SRT-6 is objectively at least 10x the car that any of them were given all the technology, engineering and build quality improvement.

 

Sure glad you didn't mention my Sunbeam Tiger...but then it's Ford powered...One just sold at $105,000...paid $4,000 for mine in '85...

 

Congratulations for holding on to the Sunbeam. The guy I bought my Spitfire from a couple years before the TR8 wanted to sell me his Sunbeam Tiger for $5,300 including a part car. It doesn't sound like much now, but I bought the Spitfire for $950.

 

It is unquestioed that the SRT6 will be valuable someday. The question is how long before that happens? Some things that makes a car valuable is a unique story behind it and limited production. The SRT6 certainly has that but don't expect it to double in value in 5 years. Your're probably looking at 15-20 years.

 

 

Now you're giving me flashbacks (though mine was a blue coupe, no luggage rack). Who's the older couple posing next to it?

 

The HIGH price of a car that a collector might pay doesn't mean the car is any better now than when new ! It's only that some nut has more money than brains ! I'd buy a new $100k Audi, BMW, Benz, Porsche or Jag XK over any 100k Sunbeam ! Maybe even a used Bentley GT.

 

You obviously never drove a Tiger much less a Cobra in the sixties...You don't understand nostaglia and $1000 Howdy Doody lunch boxes...The true joy in these cars is in the restoration...Regards, Gary

 

In the sixties I did own a 1958 100/6 Austin-Healy drove great for a grand $ and to me better than any Tiger ! A friend of mine in the sixties had a 400 HP tiger it would lift off the frontend when stepped on!
As for restores that's all early English cars are good for or in need of!

 

Whether you "get" the prices of collector cars or not, compared to the $2,500 Hummell or the $25k credenza on Antique Road Show (that's now only worth $5k because someone sanded and refinished) at the end of the day you can always drive the car. #1 rule is they don't make any more of them, and it "speaks to you" for some reason which gets back to my original point re the SRT-6.

Tiger was a cool car. Would Maxwell Smart have driven a dud?

 

Don't you wish you kept that 100/6....I kept the Tiger....

 

Not really, I wish I had my 1967 GTA for the value now but, overall I'd had a chance at a couple of nice '55 300SLs for under $8k !

 

My roommate had a two year old AC Cobra he wanted to sell me when he was sent overseas. I was stapped for cash and couldn't swing it. They sold anywhere from $3,500 - $5,000 new. Now they selll for over a $100,000 for a decent one.

 

Had the same experience in 1963. Fellow let me drive Gull wing and offered it to me for 6K. Beyond my means, that was a king's ransom...Bought a 50TD for $600...Still have it...along with '59 MGA rdst. Belong to the SW Ohio MG club...Did not like a Porsche club...'52 356...

 

I miss the 1972 and 1974 TR6's I owned back in the mid-70s and sold in 1990 when we had our second kid. The Roadster is a return to those roots, although a much better engineered vehicle. Sports cars have come a long way in 35 years, but I had a lot of fun with those verts. Lots of chicks when I was single, too. But I remember cleaning the spark plugs every 3k and fooling around with the dual Strombergs trying to get them to run right. And the electronics - Lucas, Prince of Darkness.

But I wish I had one still.