Off-Topic: Are 740s likely to suddenly appreciate as the 240s have?

[Eddystone]

I've come across an extremely nice 740 nearby that I may purchase today. Low mileage, non-turbo, 8-valve, Plain Jane 740 GL that looks like brand new except for the usual headliner issue. I have a 93 940 turbo wagon that is not a show car by any standard but EXTREMELY useful as a pickup truck. Just put a nice 960 leather interior in that. And I like airbags.

This is the archetypical basic un-messed-with 740 in lovely shape. I'm thinking of putting antique plates on it and polishing is a lot inside my garage. Eventually, there will be few 740s around because people don't seem especially interested in them. They either want 240 series or 900 series from what I see.

Do you think an extremely clean low mileage 740 is likely to increase in value?

Prices for 240s have gone through the roof.

Asking here because I know you guys.

[volvolugnut]

I think yes, especially a very nice example.
volvolugnut

[matthew1]

I think they'll be close to 240s value.

[abscate]

Don’t buy it as an investment. If it’s more money than you can afford to lose, don’t buy it at all. Buy it if you want it.

There are a million ways for a;investment car to turn into a paperweight or box of Enron stock certificates.

[Clemens]

Hard to say. 850ies are past the low value point in Austria and Germany, prices are increasing. So are the 7 and 9 series prices. 2 series are skyrocketing (by Volvo standards), but here the 9 series is definitely more appreciated than the 7 Series because it offers better creature comforts.

As abscate says, don't invest in cars unless you want them. Every repair or tuneup could cost more than a whole year's possible value increase...

[Eddystone]

Don’t buy it as an investment. If it’s more money than you can afford to lose, don’t buy it at all. Buy it if you want it.

There are a million ways for a;investment car to turn into a paperweight or box of Enron stock certificates.

I went and looked at it. The body and interior were about as pristine as you could hope for. This being a rust area, there were two small areas of rot under the floor along the outside sills in the footwell. Hood had some clearcoat peeling, but rest of paint was like brand new. It was running a little rough and the exhaust had a rattle. Seller is asking $2000 with 100,135 miles on it. Nice if you are looking for a 740 sedan, but I'm not really looking for a 740 sedan. A wagon/estate in that shape would be hard to turn down.

[matthew1]

Frame it like this:

In 15 years, EVs will be half or more of cars on the road. In 25 years, they'll be 90-95%. These are my estimates.

The future: Facebook drones hover over your rooftop. You won't remember the last time you heard a V8 doing a burnout somewhere in the neighborhood. Nobody meets in person any longer. Parking and speeding tickets are automatically deducted from your social credit account. Nobody under 40 has ever seen or ridden in a taxi.

You wake up one morning and the world kinda looks a lot like Blade Runner, now that you think about it.

Given that, let's look at these Volvos. 700-900-240 classes are all RWD, already a rarity for about 20 years now.

In 25 years, everybody will want them, both the young kids -- because it's the forbidden fruit they're not allowed to buy new -- and the old timers like me, for nostalgia reasons. Both halves will want them. Usually you don't get that with collectibles, you only get the young or the old wanting something.

Turbo: add 20%
Manual: add 20%
Wagon: add 20%

[matthew1]

harrison ford.jpg (47.47 KiB) Viewed 1428 times

[FireFox31]

If people want RWD, can't they get that in American cars/trucks newer than 1995? If someone wants RWD for performance, I think Volvo is the last place they'd look. Heck, why do people want RWD at all?

It's more than an investment if you're driving it, getting utility out of it. Of course, its purchase price (less the value of its parts) and upkeep costs must equal the value of its utility. Even if you drive it once a week to keep it fresh, that's wear saved on your car, so should have some value.

[matthew1]

FF31, I think this subject is akin to Harley Davidson. Why are HD's cooler than other motorcycles, generally? Why do the bad guys ride them? HD's are 1970s tech.

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I fleshed out my thoughts a bit more in my Wordpress post here https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/will- ... -25-years/