Best club to join for collector cars?

Hard to choose a best club. They all offer good things You never know what each club may offer. Some though with membership include a car. I myself like to choose. I Just join the LCCA again. So as for cars it is between the TCA, LOTS and LCCA. One  other thing to consider is which size car. Meaning Scale or semi scale. Hope this helps....Paul

The TCA usually offers a scale and traditional O car for each national convention. As well as S and Standard gauge. http://www.traincollectors.org/?page=Member_Offers

You don't necessarily have to join a club to get a club car. Many clubs make the cars available to non members, sometimes with a nominal surcharge. I have three "Apache Beer" Atlas Woodside reefers from the TCA Desert Division in Arizona.

The TCA Yahoo group makes periodic special runs of Weaver cars. They make them available to members of the list, but TCA membership isn't required.

Also look for magazine announcements and check the club websites.

Also check the manufacturer's sites for special runs.

I hope you are interested in purchasing club cars because you like them, not because you are looking to make an investment. Some club cars to go up in value, others don't.

In addition to the TCA cars mentioned by Matt and Quick Casey, some of the TCA divisions make cars too. For example the NETCA has been doing an annual car for many years. I am not certain of their membership requirements.

The LCCA has a lot of club only offerings done.

Based on your recent posts, it sounds like you are looking to make money in O.  This is a hard hobby for that...modern items rarely increase much in value.  Better to just enjoy running and/or collecting them.  There are exceptions though.

That being said, the LCCA hit two home runs recently with the NS military PS-1 boxcar and Texas Special milk car.  Those two have done well on the secondary market.  It is a great club to belong to and releases some very nice offerings.  They have an upcoming scale PS-4 flatcar that will have Lionel deco piggyback trailers on it...this one may command a nice price on the secondary market as well...just a guess though.  TCA does a variety of offerings each year...scale and traditional sized.  Not sure how all of the TCA items hold their value, but those Lionel PS-1 boxcars don't go down in price.

I really like the SF Warbonnet series LOTS has done, beautiful.   

Bagelman.  No offense but you seem to look for "The best" of this or that. If your in the hobby for the enjoyment There is no "Best" every manufacturer has it's own good or bad features.  If your in the hobby thinking what is going to be worth money down the road your in for the wrong reason! Very little especially new issue trains are going to provide you or even your kids a retirement plan!  I just try to enjoy the hobby for what it is. A hobby! There are a lot of great people in this hobby many I call my friends and I enjoy some of the train gatherings and camaraderie that go with it.   Life is to short to worry about "the best" or worth.   Buy what you like and enjoy the ride!