Some investors are treating vintage tech like fine art. The right piece could be a goldmine.
Porsche dream gone wrong: Michael Foley thought he’d scored a vintage Porsche 911 in Europe. Instead, he wired $20K to scammers with a fake listing, forged docs and promises of a Euro road trip. Now he’s got no car, no cash, just the memory of telling his scammer, “Thank you, I’ve wanted this car for years.” Ooof.
🎨 Better AI images: The next time you use an AI image generator like Bing, imagine you’re giving directions to an artist who takes things literally. Start with your main subject, then layer in details such as color, background and mood. Don’t forget the style. Try “watercolor,” “realistic photo,” “Pixar style,” “vintage film” or even “cyberpunk.” And always say what to avoid. Example: “A happy golden retriever in an autumn park at sunset chasing a ball, Pixar style. No people.” The clearer you are, the better the magic turns out.
⚡ Classic cars get plugged in: Imagine your busted Land Rover or the Ferrari 308 from Magnum, P.I., now whisper-quiet as a Tesla. U.K.’s Electric Classic Cars has converted 100+ classics since 2015, swapping gas engines for battery packs without chopping up the vintage shells. Conversions start around $57K, but wild custom builds climb past $190K. I don’t know, I love the roar of my ’67 Corvette that was actually in the movie Con Air.
🎶 Groovin’ digitally: Want to preserve your vintage vinyl collection? Turn your records into digital files with a USB turntable. They’re not cheap, but neither were all those albums … For the record, a person born in ’33 was 45 in ’78.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
🤩 I’m a Barbie girl: For $129, you can have your very own hot pink flip phone that looks just like Barbie’s. Manufacturer HMD (the folks who own Nokia) call it a vacation, as in no social media apps — just calls, texts and a 5MP camera. Accessories include stick-on charms, vintage Barbie stickers and a beaded strap. Preorders open Sept. 23. People want it so badly that they’re lining up in a Barbie queue.
Things you have laying around worth big money: Part 2
In part 2 of this podcast, Kim dives into the world of sports memorabilia and collectibles. Just how much is that signed baseball card or vintage jersey worth? Collections full of rare or mint items can fetch astounding sums, and you could be sitting on your own gold mine and not even know it.