A classic car is an old vehicle that people collect because it looks nice or has a special history. They are usually kept in good condition and sometimes sold for high prices.
Car
1992 Saturn coupe
A 1992 Saturn coupe is a small, two-door car made by the American company Saturn. It was known for its unique look and was sold in the early 1990s.
The 1981 Aries K is a small, affordable car from the 80s that many people like to buy and improve. It’s popular because it’s easy to work on and can be made faster with some tweaks.
Car
Aries K car
The Aries K was a small car made by Chrysler in the 1980s. It was popular because it used less gas and had a simple design.
A collectible look means the car looks special and is wanted by people who collect old cars. It usually has a cool design or history that makes it valuable.
Fixing up an old car means fixing broken parts, cleaning it up, and making it look like it did when it was brand new. It takes a lot of work but makes the car beautiful again.
The 1972 Monte Carlo is a classic American car that people like to buy, keep, and sell for more money later.
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Minty in the morning rolls on your fast lane for the ride in seven ten W.O.R.
Well, a whole new decade of cars has joined the ranks of the classic cars.
Here to talk about that is Ronananey and host of The Car Doctor,
which is available weekly on the iHeartRadio app.
He's also owner of R.A.
Automotive in Waldwick, New Jersey.
Hey, Ron, hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
We did, Larry. It seemed to you.
When people think about classic cars, they think about like the cars
they saw in the movie Dazed and Confused.
They're from the 50s, 60s, the muscle cars from the 70s.
American graffiti.
Yeah, exactly.
Why are the 80s models now involved?
Well, you know, they've officially become classics.
They've aged into it.
They're like you and me, Larry.
They're old.
Hey, speak for yourself.
Cars from the 80s are 35 to 40 years old now.
Right. And we all have memories.
You know, Natalie, although I don't think there's hope for Natalie Saturn.
We were talking before the interview today
she wants to know if her Saturn's ever going to become a classic.
It was a 1992 red and silver two-tone coupe.
It was adorable.
Yeah, I'm sure.
You looking to sell it? What was that all about?
I don't know. It's way gone.
But I was wondering if I held on to it.
It would have been worth any money one day.
I wouldn't have been running by now.
Ten years I got out of that car, by the way.
Like, do you know, for example, what's a really hot car?
Probably the number one hot car from the 80s, Larry,
that people are looking for to buy as a classic.
No, no, what?
Do you remember the 81 Aries K car?
No.
The Lea Iacocca, if you can find a better car, buy it.
When Chrysler was making their big comeback, when they went bankrupt
in the late 70s and Lea Iacocca used to say the Aries K car was a great car.
That car is so hot right now. You can't find any.
And why is that?
Because there was less production of it or?
Well, it's 40 years ago and they all rusted away.
And now all of a sudden we want them.
You know, we didn't we didn't think any of this stuff was going to be valuable.
I've gotten called.
I got a call last week on the show.
Somebody wants to go buy an 81 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
with the 4100, the HT4100 engine.
Nobody remembers this, but that was the engine that General Motors suffered
so much abuse from because if the engine lasted 30,000 miles,
it was extraordinary.
The engines just did not last.
And, you know, in his case, his concern was what I do if the engine fails.
And here's the beauty of an 80s car.
The engine bays are so big.
You can slide a modern day powertrain into that if the engine failed
and have the look of the 80s with the reliability of a present day automobile.
Isn't that crazy?
Hold on the look of the 80s.
That is I mean, it's not like the cars from the 50s
that are so wild to look at.
And they they're beautiful and they're elegant.
I don't know. The 80s kind of were boxy.
But you grow into these things.
I mean, were they really that beautiful back then?
I mean, I don't know.
Think about how big those cars were.
Think about think about how sexy a two door Eldorado convertible
1982 was wire wheels.
I can see I can see the one my mother-in-law had yellow with the brown boot
black top. You go driving around.
It was just it was just a gorgeous, sexy car.
And those cars are making a comeback.
They really are.
In the 70s, my dad bought one of those Cadillac Fleetwoods.
It was red convertible.
And at the time, it was the longest car ever made.
Yep. Yeah, it was.
You couldn't get it into a garage.
No, I was going to say parking spots must have been difficult.
Well, the last three feet would stick out of the garage.
I know people that own them because absolutely.
Truly, I see. Right.
Yeah, it was it was.
And you'd cover it with a raincoat because you didn't know what to do
and you don't want your car to get wet.
You were just goofy about it.
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These cars are making a comeback, right?
You know, Eldorado's, Riviera's, Lincoln Town Car.
Who didn't rent a Lincoln Town Car to go on vacation in the 80s?
Right. Big four door tank.
Right. The Mustang, the Fox Body Mustangs.
I Rock Z Camaros.
Ringing any bells for those kids that were in high school in the 80s.
Right. Used cars.
Early Toyota Supras and the Aries K car.
The number one classic, you know, car in demand.
And the reason is they're still affordable.
Well, why? Yeah, let's talk about that.
What are the prices as compared to some of the other classic cars?
Well, you know, a 1970 Chevelle Big Block, right?
Yeah. Anywhere from seventy five to one hundred thousand dollars.
Oh, my God. All right.
The guy was going to buy this 81 Cadillac with the forty one hundred engine.
Forty nine hundred bucks.
You know, how could you go wrong
if the body's in good shape and the rest of the drivetrain is there
and the engine fails? Stick another engine in it.
You've got a car for under 15 grand.
It's a classic. It looks cool.
And you can kind of hang out there.
They're taking them to car shows, Larry.
That's that's the sign that they're being accepted.
Have you seen this yourself, that demand for these?
What are people coming to you and asking for these cars or where they can?
Oh, yeah, they're there. They want to know.
Can I still work on them? Can I get parts?
And that's the other thing.
It's easier.
There's still a lot of parts out there for 80s cars, certain models.
There's still a lot of parts available because that's a problem
with a collectible look.
Somebody wants to restore a fifty five Chevrolet.
OK, you could you could buy a fifty five Chevrolet brand new.
There are companies out there reproducing it from the frame on up.
Well, but an eighty one Cadillac.
Yeah, not so much because the demand isn't there yet.
But there's still a lot of original parts from GM
in warehouses and back alleys and basements that people never used.
So it's still relatively, relatively affordable
and still relatively easy to get parts for cars
that aren't so easy to find.
Well, you're saying all that as if they're not going to be affordable soon.
So you see the price on these going up?
Yeah, I do.
And once something hits a collectible, it's kind of like the housing boom
in New Jersey, as soon as everybody wants one, nobody can get it.
You know, it's it's it's all tied to that, Larry.
So you're looking at an early demand.
You're like you're like reading a stock market.
You're looking at early demand on these things and realizing
that they're a great investment right now.
Yeah, I think so.
Well, I don't know if a car is an investment per se if I do it
over the stock market.
But yeah, there are a couple of cars I take a gamble on.
I think everybody's going to want.
I think everybody's going to want an eighty eight Lincoln Town car.
Listen, I purchased an old two Ford Thunderbird little ahead, right?
Yeah, I purchased an old two Ford Thunderbird two years ago.
Now paid a couple of grand for it.
The car goes up in value every day.
It's going to be the next classic if it if it isn't already.
There are just some cars out there that catch your eye
that you know are going to go in the right direction.
I love the idea of investing in cars because you can drive around on it,
keep it nice, and then you can resell it.
And if you get something that's going to be a classic, I mean, what how
how much could they go up in value?
You can see some cars go anywhere from six to eight percent.
You can see some cars double.
I purchased a seventy two Monte Carlo in 2016.
I'll tell you right here.
I paid eight grand for the car.
That car today is selling all day long for between twenty six and thirty grand.
Man, that's great advice.
Ron and Nanny and we'll be back with us in two weeks at nine thirty five with
with more investment help.
It's it's it's investing with Ron and Nanny and Larry.
All right. Thanks, Ron.
When we come back, my final thoughts, a recap of today's show
and the talk back of the morning.
Here's your W.O.R.
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About this episode
Ron Ananian dives into the resurgence of 1980s cars as they officially enter classic status, highlighting their nostalgic appeal and affordability. He shares insights on popular models like the Aries K car and Cadillac Fleetwood, discussing their unique characteristics and the ease of finding parts for restoration. The conversation also touches on the investment potential of these vehicles, with anecdotes about price increases and the joy of owning a classic that can still be driven. Ron's expertise and anecdotes make this episode a treasure trove for classic car enthusiasts.
Larry Mendte of “Mendte in the Morning” on WOR 710 AM New York sits down with Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor to talk about a surprising new twist in the collector world: the growing demand for cars of the 1980s.
It’s a fast, fun, and nostalgic 10-minute romp through the cars you grew up with—Cadillac Eldorados, and the boxy, big-shouldered cruisers that are suddenly hot again. And how about a 1981 Dodge Aries!? As always, Ron keeps it spirited and informative, explaining why these cars are gaining attention and what makes them worth a second look.
Catch Ron every other week on WOR 710 AM at 9:39 AM on Mendte in the Morning.
