Will a 2015 Chevy Volt be worth big money to collectors in 2041? Photo courtesy GM Media.
In 1989, the Hollywood blockbuster Back to the Future II envisioned a 2015 filled with flying cars, self-fitting clothes and hoverboards, to name but a few of the movie’s forward-thinking ideas. So far, none have come to fruition, at least in a commercially viable manner, which has us wondering: Given the same 26-year time span as in the movie, what cars will we (or our relatives) be collecting and driving in the year 2041?
Yes, this is a two-part question, since a future without both daily drivers and collector cars is too bleak for us to imagine. First, let’s tackle the issue of daily drivers: What will power them? Solar or wind-generated electricity? Hydrogen? Some means we haven’t even conceived of yet? Will self-driving cars be a reality, or will the technology development stop at semi-autonomous? What about the flying cars we were promised in the 1950s; will these be a reality (albeit an expensive one) in 2041?
Next, what cars will be collectible in 2041? Will a 1969 Yenko Camaro or a 427 Shelby Cobra still be an object of desire? What about a 2015 Ford Mustang GT350, or a 2015 Chevrolet Camaro Z28? Will future generations look to cars like the Chevrolet Volt or the Nissan Leaf as desirable relics from a simpler time, or will these serve as a mere footnote to automotive history?
As a reminder, keep your replies on topic, since discussions like this have a way of turning political very quickly. We’re here to talk about automobiles, not legislation or the men and women behind it.
