I owned a '62 Corvair Greenbriar in 1966. It was a nine passenger window van. I drove it to work with eight riders. They paid for the car. That car would go anywhere. In deep snow the front would ride on top (of the snow). I thought about putting ski's on the front. During one of the worst winters we had here in Michigan (1967) I was the only one to get through. It would climb up dirt embankments where no other car could go - with ease. It was good off road without 4 wheel drive. It didn't have speed but it did have a lot of power.

Boydie

 

Any car that is made today will become a classic. Give it 30 or so years and it would be in classic status.

 

Don't take my comments to heart. I speak from the knowledge of a lifetime. My Dad could pick classics. Like the '63 Thunderbird he used to own. I've always picked the ones few will ever appreciate. The third generation Firebird. The fourth generation Corvette. My favorites of all of the styles. The least favorite of everyone else. I like my HHR a lot therefore I know very few others will.

 

Looking at reality, cars of the 50's, 60's and some 70's are NOW considered classics (discounting "one off" vehicles of course). So if you wait 40-60 years, yeah you have a classic.

That being said, discussing the value, at that time, may be an entirely different issue.

 

I could care less if it becomes a classic, that said, If I live another 30 years it <hhr> and myself will be a classic!!!

 

I think that eventually they will become classics. Of course, just like the once common Chevelle, the top performance trim SS models will be the most sought after. Do I think it will demand the premiums that true Super Sport 64-72 Chevelles do? Heck no. But the guys who circle track raced true SS Chevelles back in the day never imagined they would be worth what they are today. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't have used them like they did.

 

even worst pintos can be considered as "classic" nowadays, so why the heck not HHR! already there is fanclubs for rwd caprices and the last big fords are almost classics... i would say only ones i personally cant see as future collectibles are koreanbuilt- chevy-copies like spark, aveo etc. 80s chevy-isuzucorolla isnt on top of ANYbodys list i quess?

 

Did y'all know that vehicles manufactured in 1990, yes 1990, are now eligible for showing at AACA events. Now to me, '90 was just yesterday, but in a good number of states that 1990 Olds Cutlass Ciera that you've been holding onto as a daily driver/beater/snow car...is an antique!

So HHR's will hit "Classic" status just by surviving the ravages of time if nothing else.

And what's so bad about the Pinto, compared to the Vega they were paragons of dependability, if just a touch prone to "Unintended Combustion" in the wrong circumstances. And the pre-1974 "small bumper" models were fairly good looking for their day, at least not gawky like the AMC Gremiln.

(Err..Gremlin that is, can't even type Gremlin without Gremlins getting into the act..)

 

But the Pinto (of any given model year) was never as good looking as the split bumper Vega. Those always reminded me of the 70-73 Camaro.

 

I wonder how classic is related to collectability. When I got my SS I called my Collector car insurance co. to ask if it qualified for modern collector coverage. They told me at the end of the day it was still a grocery getter.
I tried to tell them about the limited production of the SS Panel, but they didn't want to hear it. They said if it was a new Corvette or Camaro they would consider it!