The Specialty Equipment Market Association and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization and Hot Rod Industry Alliance Councils have deemed July 8, 2011 as Collector Car Appreciation Day.

As regular 5.0&SF readers know, we worry more about modifying Mustangs than we do about their collectability. However, we do have a soft spot for rare rides too. In fact, yours truly has a few rare rides, including my daily driver...

Yes, my beater is a faithful 2004 SVT Focus with the European Appearance Package. It is one of only 104 five-door SVTs produced with the EAP. That makes every day a collector car appreciation day for me.

On those special days, I bring out Project Vapor Trail, a highly modified 2008 Shelby GT500. It is one of 41 Vapor Silver coupes produced with the stripe-delete option.

Then, of course, there is the long-, long-, long-term project, Fox 500. I have yet to track down any production numbers for T-top Foxes. Given that ’88 was the final year for the leaky-roof option, and I've rarely lain eyes on aero-nose LXs with factory T-roofs, then I'd have to say it's a pretty rare ride.

In any event, you and your pals can kick around the who-has-the-rarest-ride conversation during your bench-racing session on collector car day. The important thing is that you clean up your ride and drive it on Friday. So you better start detailing now.

For more info on National Collector Car Appreciation Day, check out the straight scoop from SEMA SAN here.