怎樣才能成為未來經典？WHAT MAKES A CAR A FUTURE CLASSIC?
*Check out the English Version below
KENNETH WONG 黃恩揚- 經營優質高級汽車事業，對處理高檔車種，擁有豐富經驗。經常參與高端汽車相關活動，其文章定期於汽車傳媒刊登。在創辦Classic Insider之前，是香港首間經典車拍賣行的營運總監。
「在經典車市場中，價格走勢曾經有兩次大升幅：一次在80年代，另一次在 千禧年代。而真正的經典車，其實永遠都是非常昂貴，永不跌價。就算市場怎跌，法拉利250 GTO仍是天價，因為買得起的人，市場是不能影響他們。」
怎樣去區分一部二手車和經典車？我認為經典車是一部值得收藏、具有代表性的車款。每部汽車出廠時都不一樣。今次不如讓我們談談有甚麼元素，能夠令一部車給更多人喜歡，令它不只是舊車，而是一部值得收藏的經典車。一部車要變成future classic，就要在推出時對車壇有很大衝擊，成為車廠的一個標誌。至少要有汽車雜誌或媒體，去報導那部車配有出人意表的創新技術。如果能做到這個條件，以後就能受收藏家青睞。我多年來經常看拍賣catalog，看看那些經常出現在封面和頭條的車，研究一下它們有甚麼特點，最後我綜合了四個重點。
第一，設計要美觀，而且還要有劃時代技術，操控優良和夠獨特。
第二是品牌夠高級，就像法拉利（Ferrari）和林寶堅尼（Lamborghini）。最好要是限量生產，要有限量生產編號。某些限量版本之中，還有更特別的版本，那就最好了！因為這差不多是保證那部車會成為future classic，例如法拉利458 Speciale，還有更限量的 Speciale Aperta。
第三，那部經典車要在賽車方面夠出色，有彪炳戰績，這也會令它增值。
第四是要在文化方面有衝擊，那部車在某電影和電視節目中出現過。例如福特（Ford）Mustang Bullitt、AC Cobra和保時捷（Porsche）964turbo 3.6 等等。這些車款都是膾炙人口，曾在90 年代《絕地戰警》（即《Bad Boys》）中出現過。深受車迷追捧的「明星車」還有很多例子，《狂野時速》的豐田（Toyota）Supra和《頭文字D》AE86也是，以前從來沒有人會想過它們的價值會反升，可見文化衝擊的影響。
其中有兩部經典車，我想特別談談。第一部是積架（Jaguar）E-Type Series 1，這部車很多人認同它是積架其中一部代表作。甚至連Enzo Ferrari當時都說E-Type是世上最美麗的車款，一登場就已得到世人欣賞和認同，所有汽車雜誌和傳媒無一不讚。甚至在1962年的流行曲，歌詞也有提到E-Type！價錢方面，1965年這部車售5,000美元，來到2018年，要買一部狀態良好的，至少索價250,000美元（折合約1,961,450港元）。E-Type產量少嗎？原來又不是，產量也有7,500部。第二部則是平治（Mercedes-Benz）300SL gullwing，這部車在50年代造了4,000部，新車時價值10,000美元，現在價格則上升至1,000,000美元（折合約7,845,800港元）。
你可能會問這些車是否賺了很多錢？但事實上，如果你計回通脹、當時跟現在的幣值，加上每年保存和復修那車的預算，其實這兩部車多年來只賺了8至10%，實在轉變不大。當然，我是說由新買那刻起一直保存了50年。能夠成為特別具收藏價值的經典車，其實是少之又少。時至今日，我認為只有公認的法拉利250 GTO和麥拿侖（McLaren）F1。還有那些落過場比賽的平治300SLalloy body，法拉利2 75 GTB alloy body和極罕有的Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic，都是真正的collectorcar，均是天價。
在經典車市場中，價格走勢曾經有兩次大升幅：一次在80年代，另一次在千禧年代。而真正的經典車，其實永遠都會非常昂貴，永不跌價。就算市場怎跌，法拉利250 GTO仍是天價，因為買得起的人，市場是不能影響
他們。
不如我們玩個遊戲，我現在要大家選五部這十年內推出的、而且各位讀者認為會變成future classic的車款。選好後好好收藏這個名單，15年後回顧這些車的價值，看看自己眼光。
我先選吧，第一部會是保時捷首部hybrid supercar918 spyder、其次是產量很少的寶馬（BMW）1M、第三部是Pagani Zonda，它是車廠第一部、也是最後一部自然吸氣V12手波車。第四部是法拉利458 Speciale Aperta，限量之餘，更是法拉利最後一部中置自然吸氣引擎V8車款。最後一部是具有爭議性的Tesla Roadster，各位可能未必認同，但它是第一部電動跑車，在汽車歷史中影響甚大。
What sets apart a classic car from just a used car?
BY KENNETH WONG - Classic Insider
Let’s define ‘Classic.’ By ‘Classic’ I mean ‘Iconic’ or ‘Collectible’
Not all cars are created equal. Today, let’s talk about the elements that will make the car desirable, instead of just being an "old car”. There are ingredients that determine which car will become a future classic.
The car needs to be universally beloved as a milestone car when it was introduced, it is referenced/cited frequently as a benchmark of design/engineering/innovation, it is sought after by the most sophisticated collectors.
I have studied auction catalogs for years and I think it is one of the best way to ascertain tomorrow’s classics today. Ask yourself, what is it about the cars that headline these events that set them apart from everything else that fills the catalog?
Design excellence, Breakthrough technology or Outstanding handling
Premium Marques with Limited production numbers. Limited production and special edition vehicles. If there's a limited production edition, of an already desirable vehicle, it's a much more sure bet.
Competition Success
Culturally significant. Cars that made an impact will be desirable. Always. That includes both in automotive terms, and in cultural terms - like popular in movies, etc. (Bullitt seriously boosted Mustang popularity. AC Cobra and Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 was made popular in the 90s by Bad Boys movie)
As I have noted above, you will find these cars were universally successful when introduced for a variety of reasons: Competition success, engineering innovation, design excellence, build quality, cultural significance.
Most people would agree that the Series I Jaguar E-Type was a milestone car. Enzo Ferrari called it ‘the most beautiful car in the world. It graced the cover of every car magazine when it debuted in ‘62, was featured in pop songs of the sixties. An E-type in 1965 cost about $5,000. In 2018, you can buy an E-type at a top car auction for $250K, restored to better than new condition. Not to mention they made 7500 E-Types. Another irrefutable ‘classic’ is the Mercedes 300SL Gullwing of the fifties, the production number is 4000. They can be had for about $1M at any major auction this year. But they cost ~$10K new, in the mid fifties. But factoring in Time value money storage and restoration cost, these car has merely appreciated 8-10% over time.
The number of cars that are truly worth more today than they were new is exceedingly small. Ferrari GTO and Mclaren F1 comes to mind. Specific limited editions of already fabulous cars such as alloy race versions of the 300SL and 275GTB. Specific special versions of Bugatti (eg the Atlantic).
Are there cars lying around today, valued merely as used cars, that will experience re-discovery and appreciation in the future that they don’t enjoy today. That sometimes happens. Sometimes that is due to cultural significance, namely appearance in popular movies or TV shows. The Toyota Supra twin turbo which appeared in Fast N Furious is an example.
In summary: There have been periods of time when prices of collector cars have spiked upwards sharply. The late 80’s and the late ‘00’s are good examples. But generally collector car values over time normalize to any other hard asset, with the disadvantage of being costly to own and maintain. When you buy a ‘fun’ car, buy it for your own pleasure and use-case. You might get lucky and time your purchase well enough to beat the market for a while, but never over the long term. True classics will ALWAYS be expensive, no matter what the timing.
Anyway, these are big market drivers, historically. Now pick FIVE introduced in the last 10 years which you think will be future classics, see how your answers turn out in another 15 years...
It won’t be fun if I don’t participate, so here are my picks:
Porsche 918, the first hybrid Porsche supercar
BMW 1M Coupe, the accidentally low volume skunk works car
Pagani Zonda, the first and the last Manual shifting V12 Normally Aspirated Pagani
Ferrari 458 Speciale Aperta, the ultimate limited edition last mid-engined NA V8 from Ferrari
The original Tesla Roadster, the first generation of a car that created a truly new category
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