One For The Collector

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
The blue 3 litre sold for £6,200 (plus fees?). That one is very similar to mine (was) when I bought it in October 2023. Mine had 20k miles less and a full service history. I paid £5,995.
So, on that basis, the bigger-engined Z3s and those with low mileage are holding their values very well. It does seem that high mileage cars are struggling to hold much value at all, especially the 4 pots.
 

Pingu

Zorg Guru (III)
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Points
145
In my naivety I always thought 'collectors' were rich old men (usually American) with limitless money who have huge buildings with many rare cars in them.
I heard recently that many 'collector' cars have been bought by international hedge funds to be squirreled away until they realise their investment potential. Could be the reason why so many classic cars' values have rocketed in the past two decades. Look at what an AM DB6 is worth at present!
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, unless it's a properly rare car - 1 of 99, or rarer. It's a lot of money in a single item.

By the time you've paid for storage, insurance and recommissioning, there won't be much left. Even less if it's professionally looked after.

I'd go for watches, paintings, precious metals or precious stones.
 

elevensies

Zorg Legend
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Aug 24, 2024
Points
84
Location
North Lincolnshire
Model of Z
roadster 2.8 widebody
Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, unless it's a properly rare car - 1 of 99, or rarer. It's a lot of money in a single item.

By the time you've paid for storage, insurance and recommissioning, there won't be much left. Even less if it's professionally looked after.

I'd go for watches, paintings, precious metals or precious stones.
i do gold, iv done ok this year with it, but i will get a kick if i sell, as the sale tax on gold bars is an arse, im buying coins next,

i did play earlier this year on shares but im no expert and i lost a little, which was enough for me to not bother.
 

Duncodin

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
Joined
Sep 8, 2021
Points
163
Location
Pontrhydyrun - in Crow Valley
Model of Z
M44 FrankenZed
I'd go for watches, paintings, precious metals or precious stones.
Watches. Yes. It's classed as "Wasting Asset" so no capital gains tax when you sell.

Paintings, metals (such as gold bars etc), stones will all, I think, be taxed when you sell. So big No No unless you'll enjoy looking at them. A lot.

On the other hand there is no CGT when you sell UK Legal tender coins ie gold 1oz britania from the royal mint.

So. Watches and gold britanias. Yes. Maybe a nice car if you intend to drive and enjoy it.
 

Pingu

Zorg Guru (III)
3rd Party Trader
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Points
145
Watches. Yes. It's classed as "Wasting Asset" so no capital gains tax when you sell.

Paintings, metals (such as gold bars etc), stones will all, I think, be taxed when you sell. So big No No unless you'll enjoy looking at them. A lot.

On the other hand there is no CGT when you sell UK Legal tender coins ie gold 1oz britania from the royal mint.

So. Watches and gold britanias. Yes. Maybe a nice car if you intend to drive and enjoy it.
The drive and enjoy is the important bit. If it appreciates, then - bonus. As an investment - NO.

I've done well with shares. Over 25% in the last 12 months (inside an ISA wrapper, so no tax :) ) Not big numbers, though, as I'm an amateur and don't know enough to dive deep.

Coins are good, but don't sell as a collection, as that's CGT. I priced up a sovereign collection at £33k once (1817 - 2020). It would now be around £100k. That would have been a better investment than any Clown Shoe. The great thing about coins is that you can sell as few, or as many, as you want.

With investments like watches, gold, paintings, etc., you need to build in the spread costs, unless you are a dealer.

If you only want £2000, any investment is a bad investment you have to sell a £50k asset to get it.
 

Pond

Zorg Guru (III)
British Zeds
Joined
Dec 26, 2016
Points
144
Location
Spaldingski, Lincs
Model of Z
3 litre Z3 pretending to be Italian exotica. Two previous E89 Z4s.
Personally I don't look on collecting cars as an outright investment like the other things mentioned above.
If I had the space and the knowledge, I would start to collect cars and motorcycles. Not as an investment as such, but as things that I like to look at which are not going to be worth nothing in the future. That's the tricky bit IMO.
I would rather have an Aston Martin DB6 in the garage than 10 Rolex watches in a drawer!

The problem I have is that all the cars and bikes I like are generally not going to hold their value. Luckily I don't have the space anyway.

With the move towards EVs increasing daily there is major uncertainty as to what the ICE car market will do in the near future which puts me off aswell. If we have to order petrol from Amazon at £100 a litre and have it delivered, it will crash the old car market IMO. And what will happen about servicing these cars when all the 'mechanics' are gone and garages only employ 'electricians'?
 
Last edited:

shera25

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 12, 2025
Points
13
I guess that's plus c.30% fees ? Guess a main dealer would stick it in the showroom at c. £25k
That sounds like a very low-mileage Z3, pretty rare to see one with just 6,500 miles. The auction fees will add on, so probably not far off what a dealer would ask, but still a decent deal if it’s in great condition.
 
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