Top 5 most uncollectable collectable cars
Welcome to this week's edition of the Appreciating Automobiles newsletter. Today, we're looking into cars that are considered collectable but might not be. These are cars that are rare and were marketed as 'collector's items' when they first sold. However, just because a car is rare or hard to get doesn't mean it's necessarily special, worth collecting, or a good investment.
We're here to challenge the idea that scarcity alone makes a car valuable. Autofolio has handpicked five cars that we believe don't quite live up to the hype of being collectable. Let's explore what truly makes a car worth collecting, beyond just being rare.
BMW M4 GTS
The BMW M4 GTS was pitched as a track-focused, lightweight, limited edition version of the highly popular BMW M4. With this objective, BMW had its sights set on the Porsche GT3 RS...
Despite these lofty goals they were not achieved. When compared to competitors at the time such as the 991.1 GT3 RS and the AMG GTR the M4 GTS lagged significantly behind. Additionally, the car listed at ~£120k around double that of the standard M4!
The car features 493 horsepower, water injection technology, and extensive use of carbon fibre, limited to just 700 units globally. Its allure was undeniable, especially with the car following the iconic BMW M3 GTS.
Despite the car holding some collectable attributes the car's development did not match the calibre of competitors. As a result cars currently trade around £40,000 under list price, following selling over list price at initial launch.
Aston Martin Zagato Coupe
The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Coupe was born from the collaboration between Aston Martin and the Italian design house, Zagato. This promised not just a car, but a work of art, limited to 99 units worldwide, ensuring exclusivity.
Despite only 99 Zagato couples being produced Aston Martin and Zagato produced multiple other iterations of this generation of re-bodied Vanquish's. This included: 99 Volantes, 99 Shooting Brakes and 28 Speedsters. In total 325 Zagato Vanquish's were built.
At the initial launch, cars traded around £750k on the open market. Since then the market for Vanquish Zagato's has significantly repriced. Cars currently trade around £300k-£350k, now below the list price. Despite this Zagato Coupes still trades on three times the premium of the car that it is based on the Vanquish S.
Bentley Continental GT3-R
The Bentley Continental GT3-R was created following the success that Bentley's GT3 race car had its maiden season in 2014. Inspired by this and the brand's racing pedigree, this model is a nod to those who are looking for a track-focused Bentley. In total Bentley produced 300 examples.
Despite the car's carbon fibre, wings, and green accents the car is represented closer to a Bentley wearing a 'track dress' rather than an out-and-out GT3 race car.
Despite the rarity and racing pedigree that GT3-R tried to carry cars currently trade below £100k significantly under the GT3-R's initial £240k list price.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Sauber F1 Racing Limited Edition
The Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Sauber F1 Racing Limited Edition was created to signal Alfa Romeo's racing heritage, combining high performance with the allure of Formula 1. The special edition was created in collaboration with the Sauber F1 Team.
The car featured minor upgrades over the standard Giulia Quadrifoglio including light aero, parts from the Giulia GTA, and a 10 BHP power upgrade. Alfa Romeo produced 35 cars globally with 11 RHD examples being delivered.
Despite Alfa Romeo no longer being a part of F1 this car still represents a lacklustre attempt by the manufacturer to sell a few more Giulias.
Audi R8 V10 Decennium
Audi has now officially announced that the current generation of R8 will be the last car to feature its iconic V10 engine. The Audi R8 V10 Decennium celebrates a decade of the marque's V10 engine. Limited to 222 units, this edition pays homage to the engineering and design philosophy that has defined the R8 series, making it a milestone in Audi's history.
Despite this, the car is as it looks... An Audi R8 with matt paint, gold wheels, and a numbered plaque. As a result, it is hard to justify the collectable factor of this edition over any other R8.
Despite the critiques against these five cars, it's important to recognise a fundamental principle when investing in cars: every car, like any asset, has a price point at which it becomes undervalued and is likely to adjust according to market dynamics. Therefore is a scenario in which, should these cars' current pricing trend persist, these vehicles may be considered viable investments.