Jay Leno Says Pontiac Azteks Will Be "Really Collectible"

I think he's definitely got the right idea. It is infamous, as GT5000 said "rare and weird", distinctive, yeah, it may not be cool, but we'll all remember it and it has a story behind it. That sounds like classic "collectible" formula to me.

The Taurus is a little more uncertain. It certainly isn't all that unheard of for a car to be unloved for a while then gain insane popularity as a collectible, and it did dominate its segment for a while, but I'm just not sure its that special.

The Aztek will have a cult following. If they don't already, they'll have an annual gathering where they admire each others Azteks.

Anything interesting, weird, ugly or rare will become collectible (to some extent) and will have a following.

Don't believe me?

http://www.pacerfarm.org/pacers.htm

http://www.fordpinto.com/smf/index.php

http://www.chryslerkcar.com/

I have to agree with Jay here. As ungainly and unpopular as the Aztek was, it's become infamous and will be partially to blame for Pontiac's demise, no small feat for a car. Everyone knows of the Aztek and what a flop it was. Sad thing is that it was actually a very practical SUV that had some good ideas. Too bad it was so ugly!

I totally agree with the original Taurus as well. It was the car that saved Ford, and proved that America can actually build a stylish, roomy, and good performing (for the time) family car that leapfrogged the Accord and Camry. If that happened nowadays it would be just as amazing! There's still a lot of them on the road, but the ones in good shape could easily be collectors items.

the 1st gen taurus was what audi tried to make for many years, so it's a break-through for an american car company in terms of accomplishment. the aztek, well... it's just a decade early for the transformer movie, or else it'd have been a great hit.

Concur with Jay...

The fact that so many people universally dislike the Aztek now is exactly what will make it both rare and collectible in the future.

Of course, if I had Jay's wallet, it wouldn't exactly be a loss if I bought an Aztek now and it didn't pan out to be something special in the future. For most of us, spending that type of money on speculation that something like an Aztek COULD become worth more isn't exactly an easy pill to swallow...

Jay seems to know collectibles, but I can't see it. It was ugly then, it's ugly now, and will always be ugly. No one wanted them...ever! We laugh and/or pity the person driving one because they MUST be going through rough times. It's a name brought up when talking about the reason why Pontiac is dead and why GM is on the ropes. I'm surprised there arent mobs attacking Azteks on the street. Collectible? I tell you what, When I see people really falling over each other for AMC Pacers, Gremlins, Chevy Citations, Oldmobile Omegas, and Ford Pintos and Mavericks...I'll find an Aztek abandoned (out of embarrassment) one the side of road and fix it up...Collible? LOL

Anyone remember this article?

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/04/slobs-against-the-snobs-concours-dlemons-to-invade-monterey-this-summer.html

Seems as though there are some contradicting statements from Edmunds writers.

I'm pretty sure that Jay was referring to the SHO versions of the Taurus. I believe that I have heard him refer to that before.

Nope, it was all Tauruses, although certainly well-maintained/low mile SHOs will be top of the heap, the basic argument is that for 1985 it was so far ahead of its time, it will seem novel now. It was first aerodynamic, modern American car. I know I like my 94 because it doesn't have the bunker feel and you can see the corners (for the most part) compared to new sedans.

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/jay_leno_garage/4312877.html?page=1

I disagree with the first Taurus - I think the collectible Taurus will be the 1996 redesign that ruined the franchise, particularly the SHO & the wagon.

Leno's always been able to make me chuckle.

I didn't like the Aztec either, and wondered what GM was thinking, but other crazy vehicles have sold before. And Pontiac isn't the only nameplate ever to have sold an odd or poorly selling car. What about the Toyota Echo? That thing was (and still is) ugly too, and didn't sell that well either, in its first few years. How about the BMW 318tii (maybe not quite ugly, but awkwardly styled in the rear)? And we can't overlook the (not so) Smart car.