American Motors/Jeep/Studebaker 1942-78
The sole WW2 Jeep for sale in 2022 was cheap, but with overseas prices exceeding $100,000, our good ones are probably under armed guard. Civilian (CJ) versions and 1990s Wranglers offer similar comfort for much less. Locally assembled Ramblers became much dearer but good Matadors and Rebels are around $20,000. Few Javelin coupes survive and prices have climbed. 1960s Studebakers were also assembled locally and were cheap but numbers have dwindled. Excellent Lark V8 sedans cost more than $25,000,two-door Daytonas and Hawk coupes can exceed $40,000.
Rambler Rebel/Matador 1967-78 $29,990 [1] Rambler Javelin 1968-73 $79,500 [1] GPW Jeep 1942-53 $23,000 [1] Jeep CJ3-8 1958-85 $26,375 [5] Jeep Wrangler 1992-99 $11,900 [9] Studebaker All Models 1947-55 $27,875 [4] Lark/Cruiser 1960-66 $29,000 [2] Lark/Daytona H/Top 1962-66 $32,500 [2] Hawk 1958-64 $36,000 [2]
Buick Classic 1946-72
Buick took several years following WW2 to modernise its designs, yet today’s buyers still seem happy to pay serious money for bulbous 1940s-50s cars with straight-eight engines. Most Buicks built after 1953 had V8s and top examples of the Century and Roadmaster models exceed $70,000. Our recent sample also discovered some 1950s cars awaiting restoration and priced at less than $25,000, so there still are projects awaiting owners. The 1960s market wasn’t packed as it sometimes was with mid-size Skylarks, however the money being asked for the few on offer looked realistic. More prolific were full-sized Electra; mostly four-door sedans or hardtops at less than $35,000. Convertibles are less common and can cost $60,000.
All Models 1946-52 $40,130 [8] All Models 1953-58 $54,030 [13] Skylark 1962-71 $28,000 [1] Skylark Conv. $33,485 [3] Electra/Limited 1961-74 $34,760 [12]
Buick Performance 1963-80
Australia saw plenty of 1960s Rivieras imported as new cars but not many of Buick’s more overt muscle cars; the GS400/455s and Wildcat. All except the Skylark-based GS were considered by Buick as ‘full-sized’ cars and had engines of at least 400 cubic inches (6.6 litres). With few in our sample, the GS average was skewed by inclusion of a $130,000 GS455, however excellent examples of the GS400 should cost around $60,000. First-series, 1963-65 Rivieras were hard to find, however plenty of the stylish 1966-70 cars remain available and $50,000 was typical for one in excellent condition. Only one Boat-Tail (1971-74 Riviera) appeared during our survey and at less money than usual for the model.
GS/GS400/GS455 1965-72 $94,725 [4] Wildcat 1964-71 $59,995 [1] Riviera 1963-65 $27,500 [1] Riviera 1966-70 $50,980 [5] Riviera 1971-74 $38,500 [1] Gran Sport 1974-80 $28,000 [1]
Cadillac 1950-60
1950s Cadillacs come with lots of nostalgic triggers; the fins, the chrome, movie star affiliations and as a metaphor for extreme wealth. If you want a 1950s Cadillac in today’s market, especially a convertible version, then access to some fairly extreme wealth may be required, but they aren’t all costly. Cadillacs from the early 1950s were modern when compared with other brands of their time but might feel more cumbersome than 1957-58 cars that come at similar prices. Some 1959s come at prices taller than their tailfins, with Coupe de Villes at $70-90,000. Convertibles at above $100,000 are aligned with quality cars in the North American market.
Sedan/Coupe 1950-56 $70,000 [4] Conv. 1950-56 $155,965 [3] Sedan/Coupe 1957-58 $66,500 [4] Sedan 1959-60 $66,665 [3] Coupe De Ville 1959-60 $94,625 [4] Conv. 1959-60 $117,495 [2]
Cadillac 1961-1990
Cadillacs from the post-fin era are popular with Australian lovers of American automotive ‘iron’ and prices have remained at similar levels for some years. Due to a small sample that includes a couple of high-priced cars, late 1960s De Villes appear expensive, but most remain at around the same prices as 1961-64 versions. 1960s convertibles are realistic too: cheaper in many cases than an open-top Chevrolet or Pontiac. Move into the 1970s and the choices include a wider range of designs – full sized front or rear-wheel drive models, compact sedans and coupes. Even some with diesel-engines if you’re brave. Top examples of the ‘Boss Hogg’ Eldorado convertible rarely reach $50,000 and you can find a 1970s Coupe de Ville in decent order for less than $30,000.
Sedan/Coupe 1961-64 $44,790 [10] Sedan/Coupe 1965-72 $53,750 [4] Conv. 1961-72 $49,800 [5] Sedan/Coupe 1973-90 $26,615 [21] Eldorado Coupe 1967-78 $30,090 [5] Eldorado Conv. 1971-77 $46,500 [6]
Chevrolet 1955-60
Chevs from the American Graffiti era tend to weather economic turmoil very well, so it will be interesting to see how they fare this time. Much prior interest in 1955-57 Chevs came from US baby boomers who had these as ‘college’ cars and then bought better examples for nostalgic reasons, however those people aren’t as active in the market now. Nor does it explain the extreme money sought and paid for these
