Why is old gun collecting better than old car collecting?
- Thread starter Dr. Sandman
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Aaron1100us
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I like both.
orionengnr
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Because an old car (or bike, in my case), will gum up its fuel system as it sits. The battery goes dead. The brake fluid absorbs water from thin air and degrades the brake system. Every piece of steel, aluminum, plastic and rubber tries to decompose....continually. (I can't keep it in a humidity-controlled environment like my safe.)
In other words, it requires ongoing maintenance whether I use it or not.
To say nothing of insurance and registration, which come due every year.
I can insure my entire gun collection, including accessories, reloading gear, components, the works...for $125 per year. I can't ensure one bike for that amount.
Doesn't keep me from owning several project bikes in addition to my daily rider...but I never claimed to be a fast learner.
In other words, it requires ongoing maintenance whether I use it or not.
To say nothing of insurance and registration, which come due every year.
I can insure my entire gun collection, including accessories, reloading gear, components, the works...for $125 per year. I can't ensure one bike for that amount.
Doesn't keep me from owning several project bikes in addition to my daily rider...but I never claimed to be a fast learner.
Willie Sutton
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Less storage space needed.
(says the guy who collects jet fighters.... you want to try to store them?)
Willie
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(says the guy who collects jet fighters.... you want to try to store them?)
Willie
.
SC Shooter
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You can probably share most of your old stories about your guns with your wife, but there are most likely some old car stories that are better left unsaid.
Well it depends, if you bought $6000 dollar mustang w/cobra package R vin code new in the late 60's early seventies instead of the plain Jane 289 or 302 for $4000... And drove it very little and has all original motor and trans, that's a huuuge return on investment. Around here 50's through 70's cars can be had at an average of between $4-$8000 except those oddballs like Plymouths w/ hemis, fords with cobras original SS model Chevys, or the holy Grail camaro with a ZL-1 COPO.
Cars from the 80's are extremely garbage can-ish and rare to come by, they can be had for scrap value with the exception of T-type buicks and grand nationals. Those are $20k to 30k depending on condition.
Cars from the 80's are extremely garbage can-ish and rare to come by, they can be had for scrap value with the exception of T-type buicks and grand nationals. Those are $20k to 30k depending on condition.
Willie Sutton
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"Well it depends, if you bought $6000 dollar mustang w/cobra package R vin code new in the late 60's early seventies instead of the plain Jane 289 or 302 for $4000... And drove it very little and has all original motor and trans, that's a huuuge return on investment"
Yeah... about 15% of what you would have earned in the market, less storage costs for the car...
With very few exceptions cars and guns are not investments. And benefit of perfect hindsight helps.... ;-)
Willie
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Yeah... about 15% of what you would have earned in the market, less storage costs for the car...
With very few exceptions cars and guns are not investments. And benefit of perfect hindsight helps.... ;-)
Willie
.
Bubbles
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Apples and oranges. It's not like I can drive a stock certificate to work either.
consumer product inflation index:
1968, $6000 = 2013, $40,184.31
versus
5% APR compounded monthly, 6000 base, 45 years = $ 56,660.00
Those mustangs are cracking $200,000.
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/ford/mustang/1605786.html
You'd have to do very good and be pretty lucky on the market to end up with 200K from a $6,000 start. At one point I was doing 250k in trades every day, day trading, and I rarely had perfect hindsight.
I made out OK, usually, but .. there's been SO MANY chances to get wiped out since 1968, I just don't see it happening unless your initial investments were very long term and very lucky.
FYI, at the 5% compounded monthly mark (56,600) you're right at what a brand new 2014 Shelby costs with 600+ horsepower and some good options.. so their pricing hasn't really gone up much in the last 45 years, on premium musclecars.
TrickyDick
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Had a 67 Galaxie XL Fastback with a 390. Spent a lot of money on the car itself, and things in it. Hurt my wallet. My entire gun collection is worth less then what I spent on that old car. and when a car breaks down, its more of a hassle to change the clutch than a firing pin.
Yeah I've got a 73 Mach 1 in the garage that needs a lot of work. All the old rubber parts are shot. I fix one leak in a line or gasket, it springs a new one somewhere else.
I've got some broken down guns too, but those aren't fixed because I'm lazy, not because they're incredibly difficult or expensive to fix.
I've got some broken down guns too, but those aren't fixed because I'm lazy, not because they're incredibly difficult or expensive to fix.
22-rimfire
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Easier to store. You don't need a garage to store your firearms.
Armored farmer
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all my guns will fit in my '71 cheyenne shortbed.
silicosys4
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Well, I have mixed feelings....rarely can you buy a gun at auction for $250k, take it across the country, or ship it overseas, and make $100k at another auction a week later. It happens a lot with collectible cars.
There is definitely more money in the game to be made as an investor with deep pockets, and a bigger market for collectible cars.
But the cost of entry and maintenance is astronomically higher.
So I can afford the odd colt diamondback or old s&w, but the one really collectible car I had, a gmc typhoon, I was forced to sell or watch it deteriorate for lack of funds while I was in school. If I had the money to restore and keep it in a heated garage, I have no doubt it would gain more value in 25 years than any of my guns.
There is definitely more money in the game to be made as an investor with deep pockets, and a bigger market for collectible cars.
But the cost of entry and maintenance is astronomically higher.
So I can afford the odd colt diamondback or old s&w, but the one really collectible car I had, a gmc typhoon, I was forced to sell or watch it deteriorate for lack of funds while I was in school. If I had the money to restore and keep it in a heated garage, I have no doubt it would gain more value in 25 years than any of my guns.
Palehorseman
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As I read of and see more purist gun collectors, I think it is pure laziness. They don't believe in cleaning an old grimy firearm, they will lovingly snuggle up to it, then drool all over the thing.
theotherwaldo
Member
I only need one old car at a time.
That's the difference.
That's the difference.
I own both. I've even considered trading a vehicle for a rare NFA weapon. Shooting is fun, as is with suppressed an automatic weapons, but it ain't the same as a 700+ horse big block dropping that power to the rear wheels at over 4 grand.
And when I go out for a night on the town with one of my old cars and my woman, I always have a pistol of similar vintage on me.
And when I go out for a night on the town with one of my old cars and my woman, I always have a pistol of similar vintage on me.
Deanimator
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If somebody kicks in my door tonight, I can shoot them in the face with my Colt New Service. I can't run past them, jump into a Mercedes SSK and run them down in the living room.
Bullet Bob
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"I can take ALL my guns in that car"
I can remember those good old days
I can remember those good old days
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