You miss the point entirely. I can get great performance for less money by buying a Toyota Camry. But I still like my 1958 Austin Healy 100-6. My brother-in-law can buy a really nice used Ford for $3,000, but he likes his showcase Model T, for which he paid $6,000.
Will it keep going up? Unless they start mass producing Model T's again, yes, it probably will. Unless they start building more Collins S-line, I suspect the price will continue to rise. Unless Drake begins manufacturing the B-line or C-line, the sheer fact is they will become more rare, as some die, some are scrapped, and the ones that are left are highly maintained. I know where there's a 37 Plymouth sitting in a field. I could probably get it for 100 bucks. But it is totally rusted out, has no engine, no wheels, no seats, no upholstery, no transmission, no axles. And that is where many of the Drakes, Hallicrafters, Collins, Nationals, etc, will wind up. Consequently the once dime a dozen 37 Plymouth/Drake C line, will no longer be a dozen, so they won't be a dime. Once that old 1943 copper penny is mass produced again, it will have no value other than a penny.
So if you want service and performance, buy the best, the latest, the gadgets, and there is nothing at all wrong with that. We do it all the time in cars, trucks, computers, satellite TV, vacuums, washing machines, microwaves, Nintendo, lawn mowers, and even kitchen sinks. That is the correct way.
But if you want something to collect, then you have to open the other eye
73
Ed Brooks, W5HTW