Though they’ve since morphed into modern-day station wagons, the earliest sport-utility vehicles were rough and rugged models sought out by hunting and fishing fanatics and the just plain adventurous for their go-anywhere nature.
Though most have subsequently been driven to the scrap heap, those that survive and have been restored to their original glory are fast becoming prized among vintage-vehicle collectors. According to classic car insurer Hagerty Insurance in Traverse City, Mich., the niche segment of vintage SUVs has grown by 65 percent since 2008, with values rising concurrently. For example, a 1981 Mustard Yellow Toyota Land Cruiser recently sold at auction for $88,000. Other coveted classics include utilitarian Ford Broncos, Jeeps and International Scouts from the 1960’s and 1970’s.
“With so many young collectors opting for modern SUVs as their daily drivers, we’re seeing a shift in perception of what makes a vehicle cool,” says McKeel Hagerty, Hagerty Insurance president and CEO.
