S2000 Among Japanese Collectibles Gaining Value
With interest in Japanese cars and various other collectibles rising, now might be a good time to sell, not buy.
Exploding Interest
It might not be news to those of us that have been in the market for a nice S2000 lately, but it appears that Japanese collectibles of all kinds are becoming quite hot. To the point where even the New York Times did a piece on this phenomenon recently. Regardless, we found this to be quite interesting, especially given the broad scope of popularity Japanese cars and other collectibles are enjoying these days.
Photos: Honda
Japanese Invasion
This much was evident at the August’s 69th annual Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California. An event typically reserved for rare classic cars saw an influx of 54 different Japanese machines for the second straight year. Many of them of distinctly modern vintage compared to what the Concours typically presents.
Photos: Honda
For the Youth
Turns out, this gathering, called the Japanese Automotive Invitational, is organized by MotorTrend's Ed Loh, who the Times caught up with at the show. And he was happy to explain how it came to exist. "For all its global prestige, the Concours’ leadership recognizes the need to stay fresh, to attract younger enthusiasts," Loh said. "Japanese cars are showing they have a strong appeal to that demographic."
Photos: Honda
Wrong Decade
This makes perfect sense, of course. Today's younger automotive enthusiasts may not care for or know much about cars built in the early 1900s, preferring, say, a Honda from the '90s that they grew up admiring. And according to the Times, the group of Japanese machines at the Concours drew quite the crowd, too.
Photos: Honda
Wide Variety
That gathering of cars was rather diverse. It included vehicles like a first-gen Miata, Nissan's R382 race car, a 1970 Toyota 2000GT, 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport, 1963 Prince Skyline, and of course, at least one S2000. The value and rarity of these cars varies greatly, from the tens of thousands all the way up to the over one million. But they all share one thing in common - rising interest from collectors.
Pure and Affordable
"Japanese cars are getting to be full-fledged collectibles," explained Randy Nonnenberg, founder and chief executive of Bring a Trailer. "A lot of it is driven by nostalgia, memories of a time when cars delivered a purer sense of driving. That, and affordability."
Photos: Honda
New Era
Of course, the '90s were an important era for Japanese vehicles. That's when Japanese automakers began really coming into their own, working hard to differential themselves from European and American automakers.
Photos: Honda
Seismic Shift
"I remember test-driving those early Lexus sedans and coupes for the first time. Even compared to premium German cars, they were dazzlingly smooth-riding and silent-running," said Jack Keebler, a Detroit-based automotive journalist and a former quality review team leader for General Motors. "I knew instantly that something seismic had happened in the automotive universe."
Photos: Honda
Going Up
According to Hagerty, auction prices for up and coming Japanese collector cars from the '90s averaged $31,173 last year. This year, they're already averaging a much higher $43,403. "There’s still a window to get in at reasonable prices, but the cat is coming out of the bag with Japanese cars," Keebler said. "Their quality is going to validate their collectibility."
Photos: Honda
Seeking Validation
This data does nothing more than validate what we've been seeing in the S2000 market in recent months, of course. But it's also a great reminder that if you haven't already jumped on the wagon, time might just be running out before values climb to a level where these cars are no longer affordable for the average Joe.
Photos: Honda
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