Early OB cars: 1977,78,79 collectible?
 

If you had three cars.... from 77,78, and 79 all in a similar good condition, is there a particular year that stands out from the pack to be more desirable or collectible? Granted early VIN, color, options, auto/manual all have some effect on personal choice, but generally, is there really that big of a difference between the years as far as being collectible??

Does collectible in your estimation include financially valuable?

Valuation is always part of the equation. However, My question would not include the few really expensive cars that have been for sale, like a Kermit. But rather something between $15,000 and $20,000 that is partially restored and available to more people in the market.

No brainer. Pre-production ('77) would be the most valuable, and I'd say by a significant margin, followed by '78 & then '79. IMHO, all things being equal, a '78 will be a little more desirable/valuable than a'79. The Hagerty price guide seems to confirm that.

But in the real world, things are seldom equal. I'd take a '79 in excellent condition or one with a unique color over a '78 that's rough or boring. And of course, a 5-speed beats an automatic.

(At this point, I'd take a '79 that has functioning door locks over my '78! Grrrr!!)

Define "collectible".

Value? Historical significance? Desirability (demand)?

Condition and mileage will drive price over anything else.

For historical significance, the very early cars have features that were only available for a short time.
Otherwise, both the 78 & 79 are rather different from the later cars (hence the "OB" distinction).

Desirability and demand are really hard to quantify.

First year is always more desirable, early VIN even more so.

But it can be really difficult to predict what will and will not be desirable from a collector standpoint.

And while there were cars delivered in 77, the first model year was the 78.
So, short of a European car that registers based on delivery year, not factory model year, there really aren't any 77 cars.

The Devore car is a 78 and it's cool to have that weird VIN number, the short one. It's #1046 of the 78 cars, probably a mid year car.

What makes it unique is that it is obviously the Devore car and really has no peers because of its age and construction...most of the other 928 racers are much newer.

Does that make it "collectible"? It does to me, because I will never willingly sell it and it is special to me.

Does it make it valuable? Not particularly, certainly not like my 911s.

Not sure what you mean by a '77. Generally, there were the 11 preproduction press cars which are typically referred to as '77s. You will not be able to get one of those at a bargain - think+$50K as an opening bid, then see who else is in the room and go from there. The production cars, regardless of the year of manufacture (some were made in '77) start as '78s. Collectability will depend on many factors from there. Some '79s could be more valuable than some '78s. As others have said, it all depends, and on many factors. The $15K to $20K you reference above is no longer near the range for the true collectable early cars, and I am not referring to the Kermit unicorns either. Good early samples are commanding strong prices.

Agree with Ed 100%. I have a completely restored '79 auto in petrol blue/cork leather combo (IMHO the best color combo, besides Ed's minerva/cork pascha) and >$40k in receipts that I wouldn't consider anything below $25-30k.

OB's are getting attention, but there are still plenty of rusted out "parts car" that will not be worth anything >$1500 in the foreseeable future. Get the running OBs with all the panels intact and interior for <$5k while you can. Those will be snatched up when the "collectors-restorers" start to move in from the sidelines.