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- 20 Classic Cars That Are Still Cheap In 2023
Often, when we think of classic cars, it is most likely that we picture exclusive and expensive models. This perception is not unfounded, because some of the most expensive sports cars ever sold during auctions commanded multi-million-dollar prices. A few examples are the $26.4-million 964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale, the $38-million 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta, and the $29.6-million 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Silver Arrow. However, did you know that you can snag some pretty good classic cars for under $25,000 in 2023? Yes, you can.
UPDATE: 2023/10/04 By Ron FP
20 Classic Cars That Are Still Cheap In 2023
Owning the classic car of your dreams doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. There are still plenty of affordable classics on the used car market, just waiting for their new owners who may one day reap the benefits of a sudden demand and price increase.
Using cross-referenced vehicle specifications and pricing data from manufacturer websites, Hagerty, Repairpal, Kelley Blue Book (KBB), CarGurus, and Classic.com, here are classic cars that are still relatively affordable in 2023.
Surprisingly, the selection pool of affordable classic cars is a lot bigger and more varied than you might think. Here are 20 classic cars you can purchase under $25,000 in 2023. You might want to act quickly, as some cheap classic cars are appreciating in value real fast.
20 1982 - 1991 Porsche 944
Average Used Car Price: $22,434
After only building rear-engined cars for three decades, Porsche all of a sudden decided to experiment with more conventional configurations in the 1970s. The first front-engined Porsche was the 924 in 1976, soon followed by the 928 in '78, and the 944 in 1982. The Porsche 944 was the sportiest of the front-engined bunch and featured a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder mill with up to 190 horses on tap. Later versions used a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that delivered up to 250 hp. Car and Driver named it the "Best Handling Production Car in America," and now you can get your hands on one of these beauties for as low as $5,500.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
2.5-liter I4 |
Horsepower |
143 - 190 |
Torque, lb-ft |
140 - 170 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
6.1 - 9 |
Notable Feature |
Front-engine Porsche |
19 1978 Datsun 280Z
Average Used Car Price: $22,467
The Datsun 280Z is a well-known Japanese sports car from the 1970s. Following the success of its predecessor, the 240Z, the Datsun 280Z came with a 2.8-liter I6 engine that cranked out 170 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. Boasting a 0-60 mph time of roughly 8 seconds and a top speed of roughly 120 MPH, the Datsun 280Z was a decently capable sports car during its time. Moreover, the Datsun 280Z is generally considered to be reliable, with only a few reported issues beyond regular repair and maintenance.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
2.8-liter I6 |
Horsepower |
170 - 173 |
Torque, lb-ft |
163 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
7.8 |
Notable Feature |
Gullwing doors |
18 1972 Volkswagen Beetle
Average Used Car Price: $14,549
The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the best-selling cars of all time, and it needs little to no introduction to just about anyone who knows about cars. With its unmistakable shape and dimensions, the Beetle has been a popular road-going icon since its introduction in 1938. Aside from having a quirky exterior, the Beetle also boasts a very dependable air-cooled engine, making the VW compact one of the most reliable classic cars today.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
1.6-liter air-cooled opposed-4 |
Horsepower |
60 - 65 |
Torque, lb-ft |
87 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
18 - 19 |
Notable Feature |
It's a Beetle! |
17 1990 - 1994 Lexus LS 400
Average Used Car Price: $11,014
With a development cost of over $1 billion, the Lexus LS 400 debuted in 1989 (for the 1990 model year) with a lot of luxury segment firsts, including an electronic tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power-adjustable seatbelts, and chromatic rearview mirrors. The LS 400's all-new, 4.0-liter V8 engine (250-290 hp) was incredibly smooth and quiet, and Lexus made sure that the LS 400's suspension, body, and interior would produce a level of comfort, luxuriousness, and reliability that was previously unseen among all other luxury sedans at the time.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
4.0-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
250 - 290 |
Torque, lb-ft |
258 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
7.5 - 7.7 |
Notable Feature |
Excellent ride quality and interior luxury |
16 1974 Bricklin SV-1
Average Used Car Price: $19,500
In 1974, Bricklin introduced its SV-1, a sports car that was designed with safety first in mind. The car actually looked quite cool with its wedge-styling, gullwing doors, and pop-up headlights, but that's where the coolness ends. The gullwing doors were heavy and awkward, the car was hampered by emission regulations, and it was severely overpriced. What could've been a serious Corvette competitor ended up as a footnote in automotive history. At least the $19,500 buys you a car that's somewhat unique, as only about 1,700 still exist today.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
5.9-liter AMC V8 |
Horsepower |
220 |
Torque, lb-ft |
315 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
7.2 |
Notable Feature |
Gullwing doors |
15 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider
Average Used Car Price: $22,831
The Alfa Romeo Spider is seriously cool and is one of the most stunning as well as iconic Italian classic sports cars. Sure, it's not particularly fast, and the handling isn't the best, either, but it's still a car most gearheads should own, or at the very least drive, at some point in their lives. The 1975 version is part of the second generation and features a 129-hp 2.0-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
2.0-liter I4 |
Horsepower |
126 - 129 |
Torque, lb-ft |
137 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
8.3 |
Notable Feature |
Simple but elegant bodywork |
14 1979 Fiat 124 Spider
Average Used Car Price: $10,159
The Fiat 124 Spider - an Italian sports car - is the aforementioned Alfa's cousin, and it's just as cool but even cheaper. Yes, it turns out it's possible to buy a cool, rear-wheel drive Italian roadster with a Pininfarina-style body and a 102-hp, 2.0-liter DOHC engine for under $15,000. The Fiat 124 Spider was introduced in 1966 and stayed in production until 1981. This is a truly beautiful classic roadster that needs to be experienced.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
2.0 |
Horsepower |
126 |
Torque, lb-ft |
104 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
11.6 - 13.2 |
Notable Feature |
Pininfarina-style body |
13 1962 Austin-Healey Sprite
Average Used Car Price: $15,199
The Austin-Healey Sprite MK II replaced the popular "Frogeye" MK I Sprite ("Bugeye" in the US), a nickname it earned due to its peculiar headlights. The Sprite was an affordable and simple sports car that offered superior fuel economy. Even to this day, this is one classic most car enthusiasts can afford to get behind the wheel of. The engine is a tiny 948-cc inline four-cylinder unit that only produces around 46 hp, but this car isn't about top speed, it's all about driving pleasure on a nice, twisty piece of tarmac.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
948 cc I4 |
Horsepower |
46 |
Torque, lb-ft |
53 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
19.8 |
Notable Feature |
Decent handling and fuel efficiency |
12 1981 Chevrolet Corvette
Average Used Car Price: $16,417
The 1981 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe might not be the most stylish Corvette ever made, but that kind of plays in our favor as this car can be picked up for roughly $16,000 on average today. It is powered by a naturally aspirated, carburetor-fed V8 engine that cranks out 190 hp and 280 pound-feet of torque and drives the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. Sure, that doesn't sound like a lot of power - because it isn't - but the Corvette can be tuned and upgraded thanks to a massive aftermarket.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
5.7-liter L81 V8 |
Horsepower |
190 |
Torque, lb-ft |
280 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
8.1 - 8.4 |
Notable Feature/s |
Interior upgrades from the previous year |
A Detailed Look Back At The Chevrolet Corvette C2
The C2 is one of the most iconic Corvettes.11 1971 Lincoln Mark III
Average Used Car Price: $16,475
The 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III is a 2-door hardtop coupe, and you can get your hands on one of these bad boys for as low as $13,000. The Lincoln Mark III is powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 365 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque. Those are some seriously impressive performance numbers, but keep in mind that this is not a small car. The Mark III manages a top speed of 131 mph and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 11.1 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
7.5-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
365 |
Torque, lb-ft |
500 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
7.9 |
Notable Feature |
Luxurious and tech-laden interior |
10 1996 Chevrolet Camaro
Average Used Car Price: $12,027
The 1996 Chevrolet Camaro is a 2-door coupe, and you can get it for as low as $7,000. Granted, this isn't the best-looking Camaro to ever see the light of day, but it's a decent car with decent power. Speaking of power, the 1996 Camaro came with a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 285 hp and 335 pound-feet of torque. The Camaro manages a top speed of 160 miles per hour and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 20 miles per gallon, which isn't too bad for a V8-powered car from that era.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
5.7-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
285 - 310 |
Torque, lb-ft |
325 - 335 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
5.3 - 5.8 |
Notable Feature |
Luxurious and tech-loaded interior |
9 1994 Jaguar XJS
Average Used Car Price: $15,998
The 1994 Jaguar XJS is a sporty 2-door classic that came in coupe and convertible guises, and you can get it for as low as $11,000 if you go for the six-cylinder version. Of course, the V12 is much cooler, and not all that much more expensive. The base engine is a naturally-aspirated inline-6 engine that cranks out 219 hp, while the V12 has around 295 hp.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
4.0-liter I6 |
Horsepower |
219 - 233 |
Torque, lb-ft |
270 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
7.3 |
Notable Feature |
Coil-on-plug ignition |
8 1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II
Average Used Car Price: $14,203
The 1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II is a 4-door full-size luxury car, and you can get it for as low as $12,000. This was pretty much as luxurious as a car could get back in the 1970s, and even today it'll cause some heads to turn. The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II is powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 200 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The Silver Shadow has a top speed of 115 miles per hour and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 10.7 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
6.75-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
200 |
Torque, lb-ft |
398 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
10.5 |
Notable Feature |
Special 75th-anniversary Rolls-Royce logo |
7 1978 Lincoln Continental
Average Used Car Price: $13,421
The 1978 Lincoln Continental was available as a 4-door full-size luxury sedan and a 2-door full-size luxury coupe. It might be humongous and luxurious, but it can be bought surprisingly cheaply. These cars are available for as little as $6,000, and for that amount, you get a huge car powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 166 hp and 319 pound-feet of torque. The Lincoln Continental has a top speed of 106 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 14.0 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 14 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
6.6-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
166 |
Torque, lb-ft |
319 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
14 |
Notable Feature |
Long body and front/rear overhangs |
6 1988 Chevrolet Corvette C4
Average Used Car Price: $21,450
The 1988 Chevrolet Corvette is a 2-door coupe, and you can get it for as low as $6,400, which makes it quite a performance car bargain. It may not have aged well, but it's still a cool car. The 1988 'Vette is powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 245 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. The Corvette has a top speed of 160 miles per hour and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 19 miles per gallon and comes with a 5-speed manual transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
5.7-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
245 |
Torque, lb-ft |
340 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
5.7 - 6.5 |
Notable Feature |
Additional 5 hp for the L98 V8 compared to prev. year |
You Need To Buy These Cool '80s Cars Now Before Prices Skyrocket
These 1980s cars are still relatively affordable, but they won't be for long. If you want to own a piece of automotive history, you better act fast.5 1975 Dodge Charger
Average Used Car Price: $16,000
The 1975 Dodge Charger is a 2-door hardtop coupe with 4 bucket seats, and you can get it for as low as $7,500. Granted, it's nothing like the model that preceded it, but it is still powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 150 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. The Charger has a top speed of 109 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 13.6 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
5.2-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
150 |
Torque, lb-ft |
255 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
12.8 |
Notable Feature |
4 bucket seats |
4 1972 International Harvester D-Series Pickup
Average Used Car Price: $21,568
During its active years, International Harvester was one of the most popular harvesting equipment manufacturers in the US. Moreover, when International Harvester diversified its operations to include automobiles, American car buyers flocked once again due to the reputation of quality and reliability that the brand had built.
Among International Harvester's successful models was the D-Series pickup, which ran from 1968 to 1975. The 1972 International Harvester pickup, in particular, has grown immensely in popularity in the last couple of years. Three to four years ago, you could find them for less than $10,000, but these days, that kind of money will only get you a rusted-out wreck. It was powered by a range of different engines, ranging from inline-6s to V8s.
Specs And Performance
Engine/s |
3.8-liter V6 to 6.6-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
140 - 145 hp |
Torque, lb-ft |
215 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
14.7 - 15.6 |
Notable Feature |
Completely redesigned D-Series |
These 10 Classic Cars Are Pure Fun To Drive
As the saying goes, old but gold. We can't think of a better way to describe these classic drivers' cars.3 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL
Average Used Car Price: $14,014
The 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL is a 2-door convertible sports roadster, and you can get it for as low as $10,895. The 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380SL was powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 155 hp and 196 pound-feet of torque. The 380SL has a top speed of 115 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 10.7 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 18.8 miles per gallon and comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
3.8-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
155 |
Torque, lb-ft |
196 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
10.7 |
Notable Feature |
Same horsepower rating as the MB 450SL |
2 1977 Jeep CJ-5 232
Average Used Car Price: $20,268
The 1977 Jeep CJ-5 is a 2-door open-air off-road SUV, and you can get it for as low as $13,700. Its base trim is powered by a naturally-aspirated inline-6 engine that cranks out 85 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque. The CJ-5 has a top speed of 77 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 15.4 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 15.8 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed manual transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
3.7-liter V6 |
Horsepower |
85 |
Torque, lb-ft |
165 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
15.4 |
Notable Feature |
Unmistakably a Jeep |
1 1975 Cadillac Eldorado
Average Used Car Price: $19,844
The 1975 Cadillac Eldorado is a 2-door classic that has a true American cult following, and you can get it for as low as $12,000. The 1975 Eldorado came powered by a naturally-aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 190 hp and 360 pound-feet of torque. The Eldorado has a top speed of 114 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 9.9 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Specs And Performance
Engine |
8.2-liter V8 |
Horsepower |
190 |
Torque, lb-ft |
360 |
0-60 MPH time, sec |
12.8 |
Notable Feature |
Automatic climate control, power door locks and power seats |