Forget Air-Cooled Porsches, This Is The Next Classic Car Goldmine

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

If you’re looking to make money in classic cars, the air-cooled Porsche 911 s are what finance types would call a “crowded trade”. Everyone and their mother wants one, no matter how awful or over-priced. Time to turn your attention towards something not so overvalued.

At just over $28,000, this Acura Integra Type-R is a steal. It’s nearly new, in bone stock condition (hard to find, since most have been crashed, stolen or chopped for parts) and in the most desirable color. Only a handful of real Type-Rs ever came to America and they represent the pinnacle of the golden age of front-drive Hondas. Think of it like buying a Shelby GT350 in the late 1970’s. You know what they’re worth now.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

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  • Bumpy ii Bumpy ii on Mar 18, 2015

    On the subject of hopped-up Integras, this is where it all started: http://www.japaneseclassicsllc.com/1989-da6-honda-integra-xsi-b16a-5-mt-9995.html

  • Dal20402 Dal20402 on Mar 18, 2015

    Now at $38k.

  • Mnm4ever Mnm4ever on Mar 19, 2015

    I was all ready to start talking about how these cars are never going to pull big money and then I saw that the bidding has now topped $40k, so maybe I am about to eat some crow. But it also looks like the same 3 guys are in a bidding war and knowing what I know about eBay, at least 2 of them might be fake bidders, so we shall see. The problem with the ITR is that it really wasn't that great even back in the day. Like the CRX or the AE86, they were awesome cars for the times, but the rose colored glasses of nostalgia has treated them better than time. Drive one today and they aren't so great. As has been said before, the S2000 is a way better car and much more freely available. Cars that bring big money at auctions, the future moneymakers, have to have broad enough appeal to bring the bidding wars that end up in the 6 figures. If there are not enough "more money than brains" collectors competing, then the entire concept collapses. There are hundreds of thousands of people who want classic muscle cars, even now. There are maybe dozens of people who dream of classic Japanese cars. How many of them will have the money to drop 6 figures on a toy and have it NOT be something newer/better/faster or even just custom build something? This is why 60s and 70s Japanese cars are not seeing any huge gains in the classic market now, and why 80s and 90s Japanese cars will not see it either. The people who lust after old Japanese cars want them cheap.

  • CaseyLE82 CaseyLE82 on Mar 25, 2015

    It ended up selling for more than 43,000 dollars.

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