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1986 Revisited – Part 2: Deals on Wheels

Here’s another installment from the recently-found 1986 “Deals on Wheels” magazine. This one is the color edition with a few exotics and some up and down values. The first car is a 1969 Jaguar XKE 2+2. You could have been nifty if you would have had this car in 1986! But, instead you had your sport coat sleeves pushed up to your elbows and you had argyle socks on; not nifty. The 2017 value of this car, according to Hagerty, is between $30,700 for #3 “good” condition, to $60,300 for #1 “concours” condition. The seller’s asking price of $8,950 in 1986 would be $19,892 today. A heck of a bargain today, although a 4-speed would have added a bit more fun to the equation.

Here’s an odd combo, an Italian sedan and a sexy British roadster. Care to take a guess which one has soared in value and which one has plummeted in value? You are correct! The 1982 Maserati Quattroporte was a heck of an exotic and desirable car in 1982, not many people had them; not many could afford them. This 4-year old example with an asking price of $28,850 in 1986, which is $64,124 in today’s dollars, is currently worth $42,900 in #1 “concours” condition. This is most likely in #2 “excellent” condition and that has a value of $24,800 today. When was the last time you saw a Quattroporte of this vintage sell for more than $10,000? Same here, not often. This would not have been a good investment car in 1986, at least monetarily.

The Jag is a 1973 XKE roadster and that $16,850 asking price in 1986 equates to $37,452 today. Hagerty’s #3 “good” condition value for this car is $37,200 and their #2 “excellent” condition value is $49,200. This one is probably priced right for the era. Thoughts?

This is where it gets really painful. These two 1968 Shelby GT-350 convertibles are priced at $18,500 for the top car with a 4-speed, and $15,500 for the bottom car with an automatic. $18,500 in 1986 would be the equivalent of $41,119 today. A show of hands for those of you who would pay $41,119 for that top car right now? HA, I thought so! Hagerty’s #3 “good” price is $103,000 and a #2 “excellent” car is worth $131,000. Ouch. The bottom car, priced at $15,500 in 1986, would be the equivalent of $34,451 today. You’re in Camry territory there. Or, just buy both of them for less than you’d pay for a new Escalade. You don’t need one of those things anyway. Have a good weekend, all!

Comments

  1. Avatar Jeffro

    Thanks for starting my weekend off with depression! LOL

    Like 0
  2. Avatar Scott Tait

    No profanity, politics, or personal attacks. ….putting cars up at these prices is a personal attack lol

    Like 0
  3. Avatar Brad

    I enjoy this feature – keep it going :)

    Like 0
    • Avatar Tyler

      Ditto on keeping this new feature. Reminds me of the good old days when most of this stuff was simply used cars.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Joel E Beckett

    Thanks for reminding me of my “shouldas” ….. DryGuy

    Like 0
  5. Avatar jake

    Was selling cars then and this takes me back, we always had Porsches in the $6000 range, esp those hard to sell just used car 1969 thru 1973 early cars!!! Gotta laugh at myself for not putting 1 or 2 away!!!

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Blindmarc

    Make me wonder what the 440/6 Cuda convertible I had is worth now.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar TVC15

    I’m sure those ” Chrome Road Wheels ” were an option ? Wires came as standard ?

    Like 0
  8. Avatar dj

    Chrome steel wheels were standard in 1969. The wires were optional.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar wesholliday

    I remember when I first saw the XKE 2+2, I loved the look of the XKE, when I saw my first 2+2 at a service station I nearly thru-up ! They ruined that car !

    Like 0
  10. Avatar John

    April fool

    Like 0
  11. Avatar will

    Back then these were wayyy overpriced, c’mon, I bought a B6 Alpina in Germany for $8000.00 US,a 78 6.9 MB AMG for 9k,the Brit cars were always overpriced and the Quat would blow rear windshileld’s like my Labs Squat LOL

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Dennis Dainack

    Dennis the 69 jag 2+2 was my driver except mine was stick and was tan, hard car to keep rear end on highway , low start but wow it could really wind up , decided to sell after a couple years before I killed my self, great menories

    Like 0

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