Difficult to see where values are going. We have the fact there is nothing worth investing in much that does not involve idiots with clipboards or tax/fees taking the cream. Classic cars are still relatively free of both and the area was offering a good return. However the slump in ready cash is beginning to hurt that, particularly for those who did not buy wisely. What with Europe determined to follow the rainbow on the Euro and drive us all bankrupt in the process it is very hard to see the economy improving soon. I believe we have a further crash to negotiate. At the moment I think you will see the Italian classic market fall out, for instance. We have the signs after it has been performing strongly. Their economic lie is catching up with them now just as Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Spain before them. The Germans and French cannot support all these failing states and have to except a change in policy is inevitable, I think their populations want this, and the great Euro socialist experiment has failed, as it always was. That means turmoil. This places the good classic cars firmly in the hands of those with disposable income. For them classic cars are great investments transferable over borders without to much interference unlike moving cash now. Sadly that is not likely to help the ordinary bloke with a job who is being hit from all sides and expected to pay for the mess these idiots have created. I therefore feel that specifically for Schmitts the market will stabilise and the cars continue to pass from drivers to collectors. The majority of them will not attend rallies leaving the older 'low born' enthusiasts with a limited social and rally scene struggling to keep activity going as they loose the key creative folk who are responsible for making most of the parts, over time. Hard to replace such experience as the younger/newer generation is short on practical and engineering skills. The parts themselves are set to become very expensive. So I do not see Schmitts being affordable as they used to be previously. The price will climb with well documented original and well restored cars leading the way much in the way Morgans have performed. I think the difference will be in usage.
In a nutshell, if you want a schmitt buy one and get the parts you will need to run it now unless you are likely to become wealthier. This unless tariff barriers are set to net tax from moving classic cars around.
I am less concerned with the values of other microcars but it would seem that in many cases it is the collectors who are driving the prices as there are not the cars to go round. I can only assume, due to the above argument, that this will continue but with quality being the key. A pile of junk will remain that until a skilled person can make it collectable. I would generalise that Berkeley, Isetta, Trienkel etc will behave as BSA do to Morgan. That is they are seen as the cheaper option or stepping stone to the brand leader. This is not meant as a put down, I like Trienkels and think they could have been the best car of the bunch if things had fallen slightly differently. This view is thus looking a bit jaundiced in terms of sociable rally meetings and so on.
Discuss, as my old Masters used to say!
