Fast Pickups Are the Real Golden Age of Muscle
One of Hagerty’s insightful market observers recently wrote about how the Second Golden Age of Muscle is Over. I don’t dispute that conclusion, but I also think there is another part of the muscle market being overlooked—the trucks that shared engines with those recently departed golden age muscle cars. Ford F-150 Raptor Rs, RAM 1500 TRXs, and others seem poised to be the next great collectible.
Why will the muscular trucks and SUVs of the past 10 years become more collectible than their engine-sharing car cousins? For the usual reasons: supply and demand. Let’s dig into the details.
Supply
How many of these trucks are being put away with zero miles? How many are taken off-road and jumped? Sure, Cadillac Escalade-V drivers may not be catching air over the sand dunes very often, but is anyone mothballing one next to their LaFerrari? Similarly, most Raptor Rs and TRXs are going to be driven. Looking at the mileage of Ford Raptors and Shelby GT500s sold at auction, we see that the average miles per year on the trucks is 2818, more than six times the 430 of the GT500. Looking at it another way, the number of vehicles with fewer than 100 miles shows only 25 Raptor trucks with two-digit odometer readings vs. 63 for the GT500. Similarly, TRXs sold at auction have averaged 2511 miles per year compared to 254 miles per year for same-era Hellcats. Also, there are 16 TRXs with less than 100 miles vs. 140 Challenger SRT Hellcats.
Vehicles sold at auctions are only part of the story. Based on the anticipated annual mileage in a Hagerty insurance policy quote for the above vehicles shows TRX owners expect to drive 6228 miles per year, while Hellcat owners expect to drive 2307 miles per year. F-150 Raptor owners plan to drive 5460 miles per year, and Shelby GT500 owners plan to drive 1835.
The attrition of these trucks is likely to be greater, too, despite the muscle cars’ tail-happy reputation and the Mustang crash compilation videos on YouTube. Searching Copart reveals that for medium to heavily damaged vehicles with overlapping model years (2020+ for the GT500 and Raptor, and 2021+ for the TRX and Challenger SRT Hellcat), there are 32 Raptors and 57 TRXs vs. 13 GT500s and 15 Challenger SRT Hellcats.
Demand
The muscle cars of the late 1960s were innovative in part because they had a combination of style, performance, availability, and accessibility. The muscle cars of the second golden age, while vastly improved, were really just a sequel to that same story from the late 1960s. Even their styling and nomenclature borrow heavily from their ancestors. The muscle trucks of the past 10 years, however, brought something truly new to the new-vehicle market.
Of course, off-road capability in a passenger pick-up was nothing new, and neither were pickups with high horsepower and quick quarter-mile times. But having off-road prowess, unprecedented power figures and incredible acceleration times all in one package was a fresh and exciting concept. Years on, vehicles that were fresh and exciting concepts when they were new tend to gain historical significance and notoriety, which resonates with collectors. That, combined with a limited supply of clean, low-mile examples, suggest that collectors of the future will clamor for this golden age of muscle trucks.
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These modern off-road trucks are lame. Give me the Fall Guy’s 1980s GMC any day.
A lot of the “cool kids” have trucks in the last decade.
Assuming trucks remain cool, then yes attrition will boost values relative to peer collectibles.
Some of the modern trucks are filling odd niches… that may not exist in the future to be excited about. Many parts of North America seem determined to limit off-roading for example, while cities where I live are making it hard to drive anything let alone park anything large. So I am not sure I would bet on anything as a sure thing.
I would add that one should not rule out the Cummins powered Dodge 2500 and 3500 series pickups. Not only are these trucks fast off the line in delivered form but are very buildable for substantially more horsepower and torque when modified. My 2005 4WD 2500 Dodge is basically stock and has both great power and when driven lightly also presents outstanding fuel economy with 325,000 KM on the odometer.
I agree David, I’ve got a 2012 ram 2500 with almost 400k on it.. same engine and transmission.. and I’m not easy on it. Lots of trailers and weight.
100% unadulterated crap. The worst part is the macho Chuck Norris wannabes driving these toys. A pox on humanity.
They just want to be different. And they sure are – but, not in a good way.
“Fast Pickups Are the Real Golden Age of Muscle” – Uh Ok. They are a segment of the modern age of muscle, not sure what “real” means here. I’d rather have a ZL1 Camaro or a GT500 Mustang over any of the muscle trucks.
yup-quips like that show Hagerty or its “writers” aren’t in touch with the car community
Sports cars for morons.
And, “The Bro-dozer’s Cadillac “V”
just wondering.. those Dodge pickups with factory Viper V-10s from late 90’s early 2000s going for- they should be a good if the raptors and the TRX demand would be like
So many people drive these AND whine about the price of gas. Amazing.
Amen!
I like my 2020 Shelby F-150 with 770 hp. When I don’t feel like shifting this is what I drive, it’s a blast and I rarely see myself coming.
But, many people are probably happy to see you going.
As a driver of sports cars and sedans all these yahoos driving around in pickup trucks scare the crap out of me. Now you want them to have more power?
Have to admit, but I agree. Every day, I see a lot of self denial of the laws of physics by hotted truck drivers. There’s a reason sports cars are light and low to the ground. I’ve driven a friend’s truck and cannot fathom trying to handle that behemoth weaving through traffic like I was in a Corvette or even a Mustang.
It would seem like the Hagerty’s audience has spoken and the vote is (so far) unanimous . ‘ Muscle Trucks’ are big dumb bullets in a 9 mm world. I could throw up rooster tails in the dirt with lamest p.o.s. ever made that’s barely running and give you that money shot. Who can’t ? What’s the point ? From my perspective these things are ridiculous and with mercury now regularly topping 101? The s**t has hit the fan ..and the fan ain’t helping.
The temp is always hot in the summer. This did not just occur in 2024. Thanks for the laugh.
paul s murray probably drives a Prius. lol
I have to agree with many of the skeptical comments above. First of all, most of the public will never seem them in their preferred environment, so a broader appreciation for their off-road capabilities will never be realized. Secondly, when they are on road, where it suspected that many spend the majority of there time, once the road turns curvy, which it inevitably does, it’s all over. I’ve had many try and stay close navigating asphalt corners and either have to slow down dramatically, or veer off road unintentionally, not realizing the physical limitations of their vehicle. So no, you’re comparing apples and oranges here.
And I thought that F1 and NASCAR drivers were the biggest whiners. You proved me wrong!
I loved pick up trucks in the 1950s. We used to sit in the back and the driver would pop the clutch and the rear wheels would squeal like crazy. Then it dawned on me that it wasn’t the torque, it was because the back tires had hardly any weight on them. Going through the 1960s-70s My opinion formed that trucks were ill handling under powered and dangerous. Fast forward to 2024 and I do realize that today’s trucks are much, much improved. My mindset has changed a lot about what’s available now. Today I realize that trucks are equal to cars on the road and it’s the yahoo behind the wheel that’s a real danger. I apologize to the responsible drivers and will always give way and slow down to those out there that want to show the rest of us that their truck is the fastest vehicle on the road. I hope they make it to the age of maturity. I know at age 81, I’m still working on that. My Porsche’s are definitely the fastest and best handling cars out there.