Pre-WRX Subarus and other AWD cars: True classics, or historical oddities?

I think we can safely say that the WRX will be a future classic. But in 30 years, will anyone care about the XT, or the BRAT, or the SVX? What about AMC Eagles? Mitsubishi Galant VR4 and 3000GT VR4? They're all interesting in their own special ways, but do only fans of those makes care? Are we the only people willing to see the goodness behind their flaws?

The Mitsu examples have some real race provenance, but the others are relatively not historically significant. They're just cars. Right? If a Chevy Vega is still worth nothing, what chance do these cars have?

(A footnote: When classic trucks hit auctions, do collectors care if they're 4WD or not?)

Subaru oddballs and AMC Eagles are likely to have a small cult following, but I don't see them going mainstream. The people who collect them will probably be from the same crowd that brings a Citroen SM or a Triumph Herald on cruise night.

The 3000GT VR4 are likely to be a bit more mainstream. It's pretty much an archetypal example of over the top Japanese technology, in a package with mainstream appeal. Same goes for the DSM triplets.

Not sure where the Galant VR4 will fit in here; it may be in between.

Grand daddy... yes...

The Brat is already approaching uber cult status. I think the XT will not be so classic, but the SVX will be kinda like the Citroen SM...Just sayin'

Leo

I think the DSMs, Galant VR4, EVOs, Skylines, maybe the Subie 2.5RS and maybe the 3000GT VR4 (maybe) will reach collectors status

1989 Pontiac 6000 STE AWD for the win.

Classic trucks of the 40's and 50's with Napco 4x4 are definably worth more than 2wd models. Most companies didn't make 4WD in house at the time.

I'd say the standard rules apply: what was popular and desireable then will remain popular. There are a lot of "classics" from the 50's, 60's, 70's, etc. that have a small following but aren't exactly investment cars.

Thus I agree cars like the XT and Brat will maintain cult followings but are unlikely to gain mainstream followings unless some outside influence occurs. Example: Would the AE86 be as collectible as it is without Initial D?

Totally forgot about the early Audi Quattro's , if any AWD can be a classic, it's that.

Galant VR-4s will have a website with four times as many members as there were cars, bitching about the good old days (the 00s and 10s) where there were rust free shells. I'll be 85,I won't care.

BMW e30 325iX.

Gearheadotaku wrote: Totally forgot about the early Audi Quattro's , if any AWD can be a classic, it's that.

True... but if you go shopping for a clean Quattro Coupe, you may discover they are already "there" much like the E30 M3.

Gearheadotaku wrote: Totally forgot about the early Audi Quattro's , if any AWD can be a classic, it's that.

That's a good point.

Alltrac Celicas should be on this list. They have a WRC champion heritage.

1991 Isuzu Impulse RS. Not many good ones left.

The Eagle? Actually the Eagle was the granddaddy of the SUV/crossover rage in the US. I will never forgive the Eagle!

The collector subarus before 2002 were not sold in the US I would think...

Think of what Japan had in the 90s available for purchase, if you lived there.....

Mazda 323 GT-R, Toyota Celica GT-4, Mitsubishi Evo, Subaru WRX STI, Nissan Pulsar GTI-R.... not to mention the special editions of those cars like Carlos Sanz GT-4 and STI 22B as well as extremely stripped down ultra-light trims of some of those cars had like the 323 and the Pulsar.

On top of that you had available to you... Audi RS2, Lancia Delta Integrale, Ford Escort Cosworth, Alfa Romeo 155 Q4 (sedan integrale evo for like $20k less), and on and on and on.

That was an awesome time to be not american if you were a fan of cars like that. Hardly anyone makes them anymore, sadly. FWD hatchs now.... all of those cars are also far more hardcore than the versions of them we get now.

The Brat is already approaching uber cult status.

Forgot about these, and they do seem popular right now.

1991 Isuzu Impulse RS. Not many good ones left.

I don't think they are on the same level as these cars though, are they? I wanted to buy one but I heard the drivetrain is like glass and the rust is an epic problem.

maybe the Subie 2.5RS

I think once 90s imports are allowed this will become a forgotten car. Everyone who wants that will buy a 90s STI instead not even mentioning all the other rally 90s classics mentioned above. It's not like they are expensive either, all aside from a couple (ie. Integrale Evos) can be had for less than $10k.

Rupert wrote: I will never forgive the Eagle!

Neither will many of its owners!

Well, I attempted to buy a subaru xt from a local mechanic to turn it into a lemons car. Turns out one of the guys there was restoring it. So, at least one guy cares about them. Okay two (since I really wanted one). I really do want an SVX with a manual tranny swap.

I've always wanted to own a Brat.....Subaru that is

Mazda 323GTX?

They are hard to find, like to eat gearboxes, but I don't see them ever being popular collectibles. Cult following? Yes.

I would just like one of each. Cult...Mainstream...Fun...don't care as long as the speculators don't drive the bubble price up.