the cars that matter indexes

Cars That Matter "BLUE CHIP" Index

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Blue Chip" Index of the Automotive A-List is a stock market style index that averages the values of 25 of the most sought after collectible automobiles of the post-war era. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. Values are for #2 condition cars.* The term "Blue Chip" at one time referred to the highest value chip at a casino. Since the 1920s, "blue chip" has been a stock market term for the most stable and consistent stocks.

Four months ago it looked like the market had bottomed out for Blue Chip collectibles. Now, values have increased by a modest 2%, fueling debate that the worst is over. This theory is supported by recent market activity, but the spring and summer sales season will ultimately tell the whole story. Will a possible Euro Zone decline derail the recent growth or is the strength in other markets enough to continue—or better—these gains?
- Dave Kinney, May 2010

Cars That Matter "PRINCE OF DARKNESS" Index of British Cars

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Prince of Darkness" Index of British Cars is a stock market style index that averages the values of 21 of the most iconic British sports cars from the 1950s-70s. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. Values are for #2 condition cars. British cars were known for sometimes dodgy electrical systems supplied by Lucas, whose founder, Joseph Lucas is affectionately referred to by legions of British car owners as the “Prince of Darkness."

Cars That Matter "ROSSO CORSA" Index of Ferraris

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Rosso Corsa" Index of Ferraris is a stock market style index that averages the values of 13 of the most sought after street Ferraris of the 1950s-70s. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. Values are for #2 condition cars. "Rosso Corsa" is the name of the iconic Italian car color. It literally means "racing red."

Historically, Ferraris often lead the market, both on the way up and the way down. This volatile index is the biggest gainer of the seven major indexes Hagerty’s Cars That Matter tracks, up 4% since September 2009. Even more interestingly, this value increase isn't being driven by a few big-name cars, but is instead a collective effort. Pundits are anticipating that prices will be back to 2008 levels by August (but not back to their apex, however), which is positive news indeed.

- Dave Kinney, May 2010

Cars That Matter "SMOKEY BURNOUT" Index of Muscle Cars

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Smokey Burnout" Index of American Muscle Cars is a stock market style index that averages the values of the rarest and most sought-after muscle cars. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. "Smokey Burnout" needs little explanation for anyone who has ever watched a big-block beast under the lights, weekend nights at their favorite drag strip.

Classic American muscle is down 37% from their September 2007 high, which actually isn't as far as most people believe it to be. While the bursting bubble has been well documented and painful, the fact is prices seem to have stabilized over the past year. As we have been saying, opportunity exists in this segment for those who can afford to hold onto what they buy.

-Dave Kinney, May 2010

Cars That Matter "SILVER ARROW" Index of German Cars

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Silver Arrow" Index of German Cars is a stock market style index that averages the values of 21 of the most sought after cars from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche from the 1950s-70s. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. Values are for #2 condition cars. Silver is the national racing color of Germany and the world beating German Grand Prix cars from the 1930s were known as "silver arrows."

The untold story in the classic car world is that many cars haven't suffered at all during the past few years' economic troubles. Case in point: HCTM's Silver Arrow index shows that German cars are as high now as they have been during the past four years. The most visible of these cars, such as the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and Porsche 356 Speedsters have slipped a bit in the past 16 to 20 months, but the remaining cars have been relatively unscathed. In fact, some classically overlooked collectibles, such as the thinly traded BMW M1 and more popular 3.0CSL, have made gains as enthusiasts turn their attention to less obvious choices.

- Dave Kinney, May 2010

Cars That Matter "ATOMIC JETFIRE" Index of 1950s American Classics

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Atomic Jetfire" Index of 1950s American Classics is a stock market style index that averages the values of 19 of the most sought after collectible American automobiles of the 1950s. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. Values are for #2 condition cars. "Atomic Jetfire" is an homage to classic 1950s marketing hyperbole like "Jet-Sweep Styling."

Fifties American iron regained the point lost during the last period, making owners cautiously optimistic. What we have seen is that marquee cars in this segment have pushed this increase more than everyday drivers. Fins and chrome continue to have widespread appeal, but will quality design win out over kitsch? You might look to the Fine Arts market for long-term answers, but we will leave it to you to determine if a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible is more Warhol than Wyeth, and what that difference means in value terms to your automotive portfolio.

- Dave Kinney, May 2010

Cars That Matter "Small Cap" Index of Affordable Classics (Under $30K)

The Hagerty’s Cars That Matter "Small Cap" Index of Affordable Classics is a stock market style index that averages the values of 12 undervalued cars, priced under $25,000, from the 1950s-70s. The table below lists the cars that make up the index and their values from Cars That Matter Book 1 through Hagerty’s Cars That Matter Book 12. Values are for #2 condition cars. In the financial world, "small cap" mutual funds are funds made up of companies whose market capitalization falls below a certain threshold.

These affordable classics have again remained relatively stable, which most agree is a good thing. Fun can be had for relatively little money and without much risk. The same can't be said of most vehicles sold new today. Economists take note—this was the car class pundits predicted would suffer the most during the recent recession, yet they didn't take the drop many expected. Did we hold onto our cars even if the overall economy was drowning? It looks from here like we did. With the recent better news on the job front, this fun car segment might see a boost from summertime activity.

- Dave Kinney, May 2010