Has the TJ reached classic car level?

harbiison

harbiison

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Nov 4, 2020
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255
Location
Buffalo, New York
Hey guys I was scrolling through FB marketplace and Craigslist and it seems the market (at least around me) has flourished and even doubled. I bought my 2000 Wrangler Sport with 140k for around 8,000. Now I see clean examples around me going for 10k-15k. It really makes me think that the TJ is being appreciated and inclining in value? The TJ was the last true Jeep imo and it seems to be finally getting its recognition. Share of thought are appreciated.
 
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I consider them classic in the sense that our TJs are the last with the 4.0 inline six. That engine is gone forever. I do feel like jumping into a classic vehicle when I drive it. Many are totaled or stolen so their rarity is staring to show. I consider them classics but not in official sense.
 
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harbiison said:
Hey guys I was scrolling through FB marketplace and Craigslist and it seems the market (at least around me) has flourished and even doubled. I bought my 2000 Wrangler Sport with 140k for around 8,000. Now I see clean examples around me going for 10k-15k. It really makes me think that the TJ is being appreciated and inclining in value?
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It's up and down like the stock market. I guess I'd better sell my Rubicon again while the market is up. :unsure: Just because people are asking ridiculous prices, doesn't mean they're getting them. A guy locally has been trying to sell a 99' with 69,000 miles for $15,000 for quite a while. Realistically I could sell my 03' Rubi with 140,000 miles for $12,000 (quick sale). I sold it 3 years ago for $14,000. It had 3,000 less miles then.
 
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TheBoogieman said:
It's up and down like the stock market. I guess I'd better sell my Rubicon again while the market is up. :unsure:
p.s. Just because people are asking ridiculous prices, doesn't mean they're getting them. A guy locally has been trying to sell a 99' with 69,000 miles for $15,000 for quite a while.
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The market for certain things is crazy right now. Like the nada trade in for my pickup, I barely paid more than that for it brand new. Now 4 years and 130k miles later they’re saying it’s worth that.. I’m seriously thinking of selling.

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Classic yes. Appreciate, no. (1997 models are approaching 25 years old this year if they were made in 1996)

I don’t seem them really appreciating in value. They were a very common, mass produced vehicle.

Example- do CJs appreciate in value? No, not when you consider the labor and expenses of keeping them in condition that is worthy of anything. Even then, probably just barely keeping up with inflation.

The nice thing is they are pretty much at the bottom of the depreciation curve.

Even most ACTUAL classic cars don’t really appreciate in value. You might see a car that cost $3,000 in the 1960’s sell for $50,000 on tv but they have hundreds of hours in labor to get there and lots of $$$. Those high values don’t magically come out of thin air.

Especially on a vehicle with 140,000 miles...

All that being said, it doesn’t make a TJ any less fun to drive
 
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Man, that is tempting. Can back into a brand new truck for next to nothing.
ARawls88 said:
The market for certain things is crazy right now. Like the nada trade in for my pickup, I barely paid more than that for it brand new. Now 4 years and 130k miles later they’re saying it’s worth that.. I’m seriously thinking of selling.
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Hopper said:
I think its 25 yrs here and no emissions needed.
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if i try and plate it as is it'd be required forever. it's the ability to change the registration to classic that will allow me to get around it.

but our fine state will charge me for every yr it was not plated back to the last good registration so i'll owe like 5yrs worth of fees to get it back current.
 
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People cant travel so they are buying 4x4,s to travel local and camp.
In Australia TJ,s have doubled in price in the past 8 months, its supply and demand, Jeeps are popular 4x4,s in US so they are getting purchased more than normal, demand raises the price, in Australia you cant buy a Toyota 4x4 unless you are first at the door with cash, same with most 4x4,s at the moment.
TJ prices will go lower again as Gas prises rise, In Australia Gas prises during Covid have been the lowest prices for years along with massive government cash handouts to stimulate the economy but now petrol started to go back up I have noticed more TJ,s up for sale.
 
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Ny its 25 yrs to be technically a classic. But I feel the TJ became a classic the day the JK came out. They changed the formula so much that they don't fit in the same category as an original "Jeep".
I remember when the Miata came out and everyone was declaring it to be a modern classic. I think the new Bronco would have fit that definition too if it had kept a solid front axle and a few less electrical wizbangs.
 
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Vtx531 said:
Classic yes. Appreciate, no. (1997 models are approaching 25 years old this year if they were made in 1996)

I don’t seem them really appreciating in value. They were a very common, mass produced vehicle.

Example- do CJs appreciate in value? No, not when you consider the labor and expenses of keeping them in condition that is worthy of anything. Even then, probably just barely keeping up with inflation.

The nice thing is they are pretty much at the bottom of the depreciation curve.

Even most ACTUAL classic cars don’t really appreciate in value. You might see a car that cost $3,000 in the 1960’s sell for $50,000 on tv but they have hundreds of hours in labor to get there and lots of $$$. Those high values don’t magically come out of thin air.

Especially on a vehicle with 140,000 miles...

All that being said, it doesn’t make a TJ any less fun to drive
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I would have to disagree with this, this is to much of a blanketed statement when it comes to other cars, some classic cars have appreciated in value, classic mopars have gotten very high in the last 10-25 years a car that you could have bought in unrestored condition in the early 90's for about 10-15k is now well over 60k.

Also the euro and JDM market is on fire, I can give you a perfect example, when I was about 18 in 2005 I had a 73 blue on blue BMW 2002 manual that was unfortunately totaled when someone rear-ended me, I paid 6k for that car and that was actually high for the time but it was super clean now to buy one that nice your looking at 18-22k.

Now when it comes to TJ they are very much holding strong in my area, about 5 years ago you could by a well sorted stock TJ for about 8k easy now its about 10k and the Jeep is older with more miles, I don't think there is a lot of appreciation more holding value.
 
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Fishtaco said:
People cant travel so they are buying 4x4,s to travel local and camp.
In Australia TJ,s have doubled in price in the past 8 months, its supply and demand, Jeeps are popular 4x4,s in US so they are getting purchased more than normal, demand raises the price, in Australia you cant buy a Toyota 4x4 unless you are first at the door with cash, same with most 4x4,s at the moment.
TJ prices will go lower again as Gas prises rise, In Australia Gas prises during Covid have been the lowest prices for years along with massive government cash handouts to stimulate the economy but now petrol started to go back up I have noticed more TJ,s up for sale.
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It’s like the RV craze here in the US. Give it a year or two and you will see a bunch of lightly used RVs for sale at discount prices. Toyota’s go really quick here in CO, especially the first generation Tacoma’s.
 
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someguysjeep said:
if i try and plate it as is it'd be required forever. it's the ability to change the registration to classic that will allow me to get around it.

but our fine state will charge me for every yr it was not plated back to the last good registration so i'll owe like 5yrs worth of fees to get it back current.
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Man what’s up with Ohio? My TJ was $56 to renew in Belmont county. $20 in just tax.
 
The rust problem has decimated a lot of the numbers of TJ's and will continue to do so. Then there's the normal stuff like accidents, excessive wear and tear, and just being used beyond its life expectancy that is and will continue to bring down the numbers of good TJ's available. Add in the almost cult like following of the TJ and IMO (which really isn't worth much 😂) the prices for well cared for TJ's will hold and even rise. Eventually, given enough years, they'll be like the much sought after early Broncos are today.
 
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