Maybe you’ve seen those Alfa Romeo Giulia commercials on television — the ones with the cherry red sedan and the female voice cooing about leaving “Predictable” behind.
Turns out, you may be wise to splurge. According to experts who insure collectable cars for a living, the Giulia has what it takes to hold its value as it ages. It could even become an icon.
“Vehicles like this, aimed at [brand] enthusiasts and luxury consumers, continue to outdo themselves year-over-year in terms of power, drivability, and overall performance,” said McKeel Hagerty, chief executive officer of Hagerty, an insurance firm for vintage and collectible cars. Those characteristics — power, drivability, and performance — are crucial factors in what can propel a car to a decent value 30 years from now. The sure bet, though, is to buy a car that is exceedingly rare and obtrusively different to see as it rolls down the road.
Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
(Rs 22.1 crore)
This super-rare convertible version of the already historic LaFerrari is already sold-out, so you’ll have to be lucky to get one. The technology is especially novel: The car has a V12 engine, plus an electric motor and KERS technology for the equivalent of 949 total horsepower. And it looks like an alien—sometimes, for collector cars, the weirder, the better. This one certainly passes muster.
What’s more, vintage limited-edition Ferraris are selling for tens of millions of dollars, more than triple and even quadruple their original prices.
The V10, 645-horsepower car is meant to celebrate the lap record Randy Pobst set in a Dodge Viper ACR at Laguna Seca Raceway in October 2015.
It can hit 60 miles per hour in three seconds and hit nearly 200mph at top speed. It’s also the final edition and last-production Dodge Viper, which makes it an even more special prospect for collection, because once this year’s 28 units are sold, they’re gone.
“This Viper ACR ... is celebrated for the large-displacement, small sports car formula executed by so many legends,” Hagerty said.
Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
(Rs 39.74 lakh)
At 50 years and counting, the Camaro is an old model. Historic. This proves how beloved it has become—the car has seen many generations and performance upgrades.
The Camaro gained notoriety through countless drag racing wins and movie cameos, especially in the massively popular Fast and Furious franchise.
The 2017 Camaro ZL1 has a massive, 6.2-liter V8 engine and 650 pounds-feet of torque. It’ll hit 60mph in 3.5 seconds — faster than the RWD Lamborghini Huracán Spyder.
Porsche 718 Cayman & Porsche Boxster
(Rs 35.03 lakh-Rs 36.4 lakh)
Porsches remain dominant on the auction market today. That won’t change, especially for “lesser” but more interesting models than the standard 911, such as the 718 Cayman and Boxster.
That’s why when you want to differentiate yourself a bit from the pack, the 2017 Porsche 718 lineup is a very good option. It’s not as expected a choice as the ubiquitous 911, and it’s arguably more fun to drive. This version has a brand-new, turbocharged, flat-four engine and 25 more horsepower in the 718 than in previous models.
Fiat 124 Spider
Abarth (Rs 18.32 lakh)
This classic 124 Spider shares architecture with the Mazda Miata, which—despite its humble mien—is fun and sporty to drive, as any road-racing dilettante knows.
It can hit 60mph in 6.3 seconds, so it’s not lightning-quick, but the “MultiAir” turbo engine and lusty torque on such a small, lightweight body give it true Italian verve.
This is the European gift you’ll have fun driving and keeping around for a few decades, while it appreciates.
Ford F-150 Raptor
(Rs 32.18 lakh)
When Ford made the original special edition F-150 Raptor in 2009, the truck was welcomed with rapt attention.
The Raptor is like a hyped-up, super-in-shape, race-ready version of the bestselling vehicle in America going on four decades; it’s always a good idea when scouting for collectible cars to get the special, souped-up version, anyway.
For 2017, the Raptor has even more power (450hp on a twin-turbo, 3.5-litre, eco-boosted engine) and is 500 pounds lighter to boot. It’s considerably more efficient than the previous V8.
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