APRIL 1998 – FORD MUSTANG FASTBACK
The people responsible for marketing Ford’s first series of Mustangs were dyed in the wool legends. We know that the team was led by Lee Iacocca, who described the Mustang as a ‘secretary’s car’ but somebody knew how to milk the much broader appeal of Ford’s astonishing ‘compact.’ Five months after releasing the main coupe/convertible range, these people gave Ford its second crack at a shell-shocked market by releasing the Mustang again, as a Fastback. This one looks amazing, with all the good gear and well worth the advertised price.
THEN: $37,000
NOW: $90,000-$110,000
JANUARY 1997 – HDT VK GROUP A
Can you remember January 1997? Times then were tough, but did you happen to have $30K sitting in an account somewhere and decide to take a punt on this barely run in Blue Meanie? If so and at the peak of the most recent panic to acquire low-kilometre examples of HDT’s most desirable product, the return on your $30K could have been 12 to 15 times the outlay. If you held on, its value even in today’s less intense market will have dropped below $300,000, but distance travelled does matter and it will rise again.
THEN: $30,000
NOW: $260,000-$290,000
FEBRUARY 1985 – JAGUAR XK150S
Unique Cars had barely drawn a breath when this bargain priced XK Jaguar appeared in our second-ever issue. Look though at the car’s location and consider when this advertisement might have been placed – almost certainly a few weeks before the most destructive storm to ever strike Northern Australia? XK150S Jaguars were rare anywhere, but one domiciled in Darwin had to be unique, so if you owned or knew the car back in 1974, did it survive Cyclone Tracy? If it did and you bought the XK, did it show signs of its ordeal?
THEN: $25,000
NOW: $120,000-$150,000
NOVEMBER 2006 – NISSAN R34 GTR
Hey honey, bring the chequebook and hook up the car trailer, some desperate has knocked $10K off the price of an R34 V Spec and we can grab it for $75K. Not any more we can’t. Anyone who in the recent past has clicked frantically on the ‘Bid Now’ button only to see ‘Outbid’ flashing before their eyes will be permitted to weep when reminded by this advert from 2006 of just how cheaply these GTRs could once be bought. One which did sell recently, just to upset you further, was showing 6800km and cost $365,000.
THEN: $74,990
NOW: $300,000-$330,000
FEBRUARY 1997 – PONTIAC GTO CONVERTIBLE
We reckon this flashy Pontiac with its steering wheel still on our passenger side probably hadn’t been in Australia very long when this picture was taken. Back in 1997 the market for recreational cars was dormant and money for a status symbol like this wouldn’t have been easily found. Hence an asking price barely half the Condition One value ($28,000) quoted in Unique Cars’ inaugural 1995 Value Guide. If a Goat of similar quality could be found today, the required money would likely be four times the 1997 figure.
THEN: $17,950
NOW: $65,000-$75,000
AUGUST 1999 – CHRYSLER VJ REGAL HARDTOP
Production data for 1970s Chrysler product can be sketchy and while two-door VJ Regals are certainly scarce, a total of seven isn’t right. Around 1000 is more likely and even then a couple of these two-door Valiants were offered at auction during 2024, with one selling for almost $90,000 and the other stalling at under $50K. Where they go from here is interesting because most panels will be impossible to find and copping a decent bump from behind represents a risk that many people won’t want to take.
THEN: $8650
NOW: $55,000-$65,000
JUNE 2004 – PORSCHE 911 SPEEDSTER
Porsche’s original 356 model was offered shortly after release in low-screen Speedster form, yet it took 25 years for an equivalent car to join the 911 range. Local examples of the 911 Speedster are rare, with 40 reportedly delivered new and a few more arriving over the years from other RHD markets. Total production in LHD and RHD was just 2103 cars, helping maintain demand. Showing the pace of their appreciation, one sold locally at auction in 2014 for $175,000 but asking prices for low km Speedsters can now exceed $400,000.
THEN: $82,000
NOW: $360,000-$400,000