the saleable value of crappy old 80s bmxes over the last year demonstrates the “something from the childhood of the generation with disposable income” approach
Slightly more nuanced, you need to find something that they probably didn't get at the time. But you had an Apolo from Halfords and your dad drove a Marina.
So BMX's, Ford Escort 2000/RS/Mexico etc would all be things that the cool kids (or their dads) had.
I've got an MG Midget, because I wanted one, but it's value hasn't gone mental like say an Escort Mexico that would have cost about the same when I bought it. But there were hundreds of thousands of Midgets and the peak for late middle-aged men wanting to restore one was probably 20years ago. Infact anything other than a Midget would have been an investment!
Similarly Superbikes from the heyday in the late 90's / early 2000's. Honda SP1/2, Ducati 916, etc. Less so GSXR, Ninja, probably because they made similar bikes for decades and incrementally got better so there's not that one must-have year/model.
Based on that, I think early examples of modern Adventure bikes. Things like a 2000's big GS (not 90's Africa Twins, that ships sailed). Now old enough to be cheap, but later models were hugely popular.
Massive lolz at that CCM being an investment @kayak23
They’ve made so many “limited editions” of various flavours too, some of which are incredibly tacky. I had a deposit on one for a short while but they couldn’t confirm a delivery date, no chance of a test ride, massively over-priced once specced up with a few accessories - list price c£9500 but more like £15k+ once specced. Horrendously under-powered too, with an awful farty exhaust…
Quite a few for sale currently, although I suspect there are a lot of garage queens too.
The only collectible motorbikes are mass market successes like RD250/350 LCs, Z900s etc, owned by people who are now in their 40s & 50s with cash to spend but that ship has sailed now too.
The CCM does look nice from the right angle though.
Land in rural locations, as more and more companies allow staff to work from home or remotely, living in rural Norfolk not far from the North Norfolk coast, it used to be a place people retired to, but now people aren't tied to living and commuting into big cities so much, they are moving out to countryside more (purely from personal experience watching demographic change around me, looking at house prices and friends who are plumbers/ builders telling me), so that they can raise kids in healthier environment.
Did someone say 'classic' cars?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Escort-Cabriolet-full-rs-turbo-running-gear-lovely-car-/313804379322
1985 vintage.
Expensive motorbikes and classic cars aside, going (I suspect) back to the OPs original thoughts it is easy with hindsight but hard at the time to gauge value in everyday objects.
Currently on my desk as I type are two objects - one I bought today and one I've had for over 30 years. Both never opened.
So item one is Doolittle, an original vinyl album still shrink wrapped as new with the original receipt (5.99 Our Price, Cambridge19/12/89).
Item 2 is a unopened shrink wrapped copy of the Matrix DVD (collectors edition) which was made in 2001 and I bought today from a charity shop. I think it was around £19.99 when it came out.
The DVD cost me £1 today when I went in to drop off some unwanted gifts, in fact it was actually 2 DVDs for a pound but the Matrix caught my eye as my younger daughter wanted to watch it the other night and it wasn't on netflix so I was going to pay for a download but then I saw this - its a lovely thing in its box with a booklet and extra disc with bollox on it, booklet etc......for £1!!!
And whilst I like to think I got a bargain, if you go on ebay £1-£2 is the going rate
Doolittle......well I have been offered £100 for it and in fact more but it ain't for sale (I only have it because it was a duplicate present and my well worn other copy will someday give up the ghost)
Both items are iconic in my opinion and quite similar but priced very differently
Vinyl has a nostalgia appeal and lots of collectors. The same is not generally true of other media. But who knows what might happen in 20 years' time. Maybe I'll regret ditching my laserdiscs even more than I already do.
In my 20s I tried to pre-empt the "it'll be worth something some day" next wave of vinyl by investing in collectors edition... VHS cassettes. They're now all in landfill.
Retro games might be a thing. I took a bunch of old cartridges and discs to CeX and got a wedge (so obviously I hugely undervalued them), emboldened I took pretty much my entire DVD collection down and got £15 for the lot.
@pk13 - I know that Mortlach 16 whisky has been getting more expensive, but £240? Wow!
I have a bottle of it, given to me as a friend, but as it's my favourite whisky, I intend to drink it anyway. 🙂
Collectables? I've owned classic cars that I've sold for what I've bought them for, and retro mountain bike bits that have cost more to post than they sold for. Weird sleeper things that appreciate have been oddballs like a Yeti mechanic's shirt (cost £30 or so, sold for £120 to a Swiss collector) but most things I've bought are, at best, worth what I paid for them... Like a 1981 Aria Pro II electric guitar (bought for £250 back in 1986, worth about £250 now...) - not really sure that I'd know what's going to increase and what isn't.
If only memories had monetary value.
Disney is working on it
Like a 1981 Aria Pro II electric guitar (bought for £250 back in 1986, worth about £250 now…) – not really sure that I’d know what’s going to increase and what isn’t.
That is the question though isn't it. Easy with hindsight and for example you could have possibly bought a 1960's Precision Bass for you £250 in 1981 which is worth just a bit more than £250 today.
I could have bought a mint Dino 246 in 1989 for £40,000 and we know what they sell for now
Porn mags
Hedge fund?
I sold my large collection of Pokémon cards several years ago, for what I thought was a good deal. If I still had them now they'd be worth a fortune!
I still have this amazing Lego set, a birthday present but I think it was around £69 at the time.
Now it's worth around £200 used, it's on Amazon new for £500!
I’ve got a bottle of Highland Park’s The Dolphins in the house. Not expensive to buy (if you can get one), but not meant to be available to the public so any prices you see online reflect that. I’m trying to convince myself it would be a good one to tuck away for a good few years
Got a few UCS Star Wars Lego sets that are worth more than rrp now but not a great deal more. I didn't buy them at the time as an investment. I do pick up Lego sets here and there and keep them sealed but I know that I am one of many who do so and therefore I'd be lucky making any money out of it.
How about an NFT of the "Probably a stupid headset question" thread from here?
Porn mags
Hedge fund?
