3 Up, 3 Down: These Collectible Fords Are Making Moves

We have reported regularly on the collector-car-market slowdown in the last few years, and that it has entered flat territory of late. Despite that, and the fact that in the last quarter nearly 65% of vehicles in the Hagerty Price Guide have retained steady values, some vehicles are still on the move—down and up. Take this selection of six collectible Fords, as they are packed with surprises, disappointments, and perhaps even outright shockers for the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.

While some less-than-famous names are expected to lose value in a flattening market, there’s one famous name that took us all by surprise. So let’s start there, and sound off in the comments if you were also surprised to see this happen.

2008-14 Mustang Cobra Jet (-5%)

This one is a bit of a shocker, as this extremely limited production Mustang was given the Cobra Jet name and a host of performance upgrades to make it a drag racing champ. Yes, this is not a street-legal vehicle, but neither was the original Cobra Jet from 1968. Production was limited to 50 units (in the 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 model years) just like the first, so that should help overcome its lack of road legality.

The limited production paired with the Cobra Jet’s legacy in motorsport should have ensured that prices rose over time, or at least remained flat. The Hagerty Valuation Team (HVT) noted these Cobra Jets are not performing like they once did, and noted that these race-bred vehicles are generally not raced. There appears to be a glut of low-mile, “in the wrapper” cars as of Q1 2025, and that is likely contributing to the 5% decline in prices.

1967-71 Thunderbird (+10%)

To be fair, the increases in the fifth-generation Thunderbird’s value are probably not from examples like the above model with its four doors. Sedans are generally less desirable than coupes, even if the Thunderbird’s rear-hinged rear doors and landau bars are certainly eye-catching. My cheekiness in photo selections aside, the 1967-71’s appeal lies in its relative affordability, exclusivity, and impressive performance from its luxury accouterments, and a series of big-block Ford engines for brisk performance.

Fifth-gen T-Birds saw prices trending up early in the first quarter, and the 10% increase in value (which is averaged across all trims) was a result of that general trend line, along with some very strong individual sales. While the transaction data isn’t showing equal increases across all trims and engine options, things are looking up for our feathered friend.

1957-59 Ranchero (-5%)

The original Ford Ranchero pre-dated the Chevrolet El Camino by two years, but that first mover advantage isn’t necessarily resonating with classic car buyers in modern times. The Ford sedan with a revised and reinforced body south of the B-pillar generally doesn’t get the same amount of love and attention as its bow-tie wearing counterpart, possibly because sales lagged behind the El Camino when both were new vehicles.

The Hagerty valuation team notes that the Rancheros of the 1950s have been losing value due to weaker transaction prices. This is still a nuanced analysis, because examples in the best conditions posted only modest losses, but Rancheros in lesser conditions lost significantly more value. It all equates to a 5% drop in values for Q1, no matter the condition, trim level, or engine and power assist options.

1960-65 Ranchero (+8%)

Unlike the first Ranchero, the second incarnation’s value trajectory in 2025 has been rather positive in nature. Maybe that’s because sales when new were significantly stronger, and the interchangeability with the popular 1960 Ford Falcon (and the 1965 Mustang) gives it a broader appeal to more would-be buyers. There are a host of performance-oriented engine, suspension, braking, and powertrain parts available for these Rancheros, and picking the right parts can turn a classic truck into a restomod with the practicality of a modern-day SUV.

The slight movement for these ’60s Rancheros drew from an upward trend in quoted values, as sales themselves, while tracking with this increase, were relatively infrequent this quarter.

1969-72 LTD (-8%)

While the Burt Reynolds Effect (as it were) has certainly improved the long-term prospects of the Bandit-era Pontiac Trans Ams, there’s less love for the Ford that helped him become an icon of the Southern Superhero film genre. The Ford LTD (along with its lesser known Galaxie and Custom counterparts) was a staple of police fleets in movies of the day, but Reynolds’ Ford Custom 500 sedan with a built big-block motor, a 4-speed manual transmission, and brown paint worthy of moonshine running should have turned this vehicle into a classic car rock star.

My personal disappointment aside, our valuation team generally lacks significant amounts of data on these forgotten full-size Fords. But things changed in Q1 2025, as a handful came to market and performed poorly. This is why values dropped by 8%, so my advice to you (Which is absolutely NOT financial advice, but I’ve always come out ahead, at least as it relates to an enjoyable car experience, by listening to Sajeev—Ed.) is to grab every Ford sedan you can find, paint them all brown, and pay tribute to the legendary actor of the American South while these are still affordable.

1969-70 Mustang Boss 302 (+17%)

The days when a racing series required a counterpart that was sold at dealerships spawned some true gems for the collector hobby. The 1969-70 Boss 302 Mustang was one such jewel, with limited production, aggressive small block V-8 power, while tweaks to the suspension ensured it cornered with tenacity for street or track use. Yes, the Boss 429 has big-block appeal, but the featherweight Boss 302 is no doubt a top-tier collectible in the Blue Oval’s stable of iconic automobiles.

We noticed a softening in the Boss 302 market in pre-pandemic times, but it seems those days are but a distant memory. The folks in the Hagerty valuation team noted it had a notable start to 2025 thanks to strong sales at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale and at Barrett-Jackson. Those exceptional sales were balanced out with a few weaker-than-expected performances when the hammer struck, averaging out to a nonetheless impressive 17% increase.

Perhaps the Boss 302 Mustang’s improvement comes as no surprise, but did the value changes of any of the other five collectible Fords catch you off guard? Sound off in the comments, as we always enjoy feedback from readers of Hagerty Media.