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TR6s and modern sports cars [mild TR6 content]

To: 6 Pack <6pack@autox.team.net>
Subject: TR6s and modern sports cars [mild TR6 content]
From: Shane Ingate <hottr6@hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2003 14:25:32 -0500
All,

Just taking a break, and was thinking about the variety of new sports cars
available today, and comparing it with the variety of "new" sports cars that
were available in the 60s and 70s.

I asked myself the question: What sports car available today is equivalent
in terms of cost and performance expectations to the TR6?

So I drew up a little chart.  I hope that the column alignment on your
screen holds up.

2003                    |    1960s/70s
------------------------|------------------------------
$20,000  Honda CRX      |    $2,000
         MR2            |             Sprite/Midget/Spitfire
         Miata          |             MGB
$30,000  350Z           |    $3,000   240Z, GT6
         Honda S2000    |             TR6
$40,000  Audi TT        |    $4,000
         BMW Z3 M       |             A-H 3000
         BMW M3         |
$50,000                 |    $5,000   Sunbeam Tiger
         Boxter S       |
         Corvette Z01   |             Corvette LS-1
$70,000                 |    $7,000
         Viper          |             E-Type
$80,000  Porsche 911    |    $8,000   Cobra
                        |             Pantera
$100,000 Cheap Ferrari  |   $10,000   Porsche 911E
                        |   $16,000   Dino (entry-level Ferrari)
$200,000 Saleen         |   $20,000   Ferrari Daytona/Lambo Miura

In the left hand column is a list of modern sports cars arranged in
increasing price.  The right-hand column is a list of 60s/70s sports cars
also arranged in increasing price (1970s dollars for a new car).

Clearly, this is pretty rough, and I may have messed up in my memories of
MSRP of the older and newer cars.  If I excluded your pet cars, it was not
intentional.

But we may make some interesting observations, some obvious, some
not-so-obvious.
    - there are no modern British sports car for sale in the US
    - the modern market is almost dominated by German cars
    - The Nissan 350Z is positioned at exactly the same market segment as
the Datsun 240Z.  So too with the Corvette.
    - the Honda S2000 occupies the same position as the TR6
    - The BMW M Roadster is the modern-day A-H 3000 (no insult to Big Healey
fans)
    - The Miata is the modern-day MGB
    - The Toyota MR2 holds the same position as the small Brit sports cars
    - Porsche 911s and Ferraris have become cheaper with time
    - "Super Cars" retain their elite status
    - The Viper is positioned in the market in the same place as the Cobra

I made this comparison to think that if I were in my teens today, what car
would I be most likely to restore in 30 years time (based on numbers
produced and what my salary allows)?  Looks like I may have ended up with a
S2000.

I wonder what kind of inferences we can make for the modern sports cars in
30-40 years?  Will CRXs/MR2s swarm like flies at vintage race events?

Just some musing for you to think about.

Shane Ingate in Maryland

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