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But what about today's cars?
Market conditions may make some of the cars arriving in dealer showrooms this year better bets than previous modern-era cars.
That's because federal fuel economy and emission legislation may spell the end of the widespread performance-car market.
Today's conditions are similar to what happened in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when emission standards effectively killed what is known as the "muscle car" era. Cars like the Pontiac GTO, Chevelle SS 396, Mustang Boss 302 and Plymouth Road Runner disappeared from showrooms and became coveted icons because newer vehicles didn't live up to their performance levels.
Even when modern cars began to catch up and exceed the performance levels of those muscle cars, image vehicles from the 1960s and earlier rose in value because they represented a different feel and style from today's cars.
There's every reason to believe that 20 years from now, innovation will find a way to make new cars -- be they powered by gas-electric, diesel or hydrogen power plants -- as fun to drive as today's high-performance vehicles. Still, there is likely to be a hankering for the feel of gasoline V-8 power.
With that in mind, here are a few of the new vehicles that might -- emphasis on the word "might" -- one day be worth a lot more than their 2008 purchase price.
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| 5 cars that may become collectibles |
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2009 Corvette ZR1: Chevrolet is unlikely to top this $100,000, 620-horsepower super Vette (due in showrooms this fall) in the next two decades. |
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2008 Dodge Challenger SRT: A throwback to the muscle-car days, this resurrection of a "pony car'' may not be in production for more than a few years. But at the start, it will be highly coveted. |
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2009 Chevrolet Camaro: Like the Challenger, this is another revival, and V-8 versions will be highly sought after. The new Camaro will be introduced in 2008.
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2008 Shelby Mustang: Carroll Shelby is 85 years old. When he dies, anything with his name on it will go up in value. |
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2008 Audi R8: At more than $100,000, it's in supercar price territory. But it's likely to be a better long-term value than a comparably priced Porsche. |
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| Here are this week's reader questions: |
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