Over the years, the automotive scene has seen several designs of vehicles come and go. Some car designs and features will easily make the top 10 list of the most beautiful cars in any season. While many features are unique and interesting, very few stand out like the pop-up headlights.

UPDATE: 2023/09/15 17:47 EST BY MARTIN PETER

Pop-up headlights are easily one of those classic car features we'd love to see in modern cars. However, since we'll never see them make a comeback, the only way to get them is by buying used classic cars. While these are used cars with zero chances of advancing in design or performance, their demand often changes, and so do their prices. We’ve therefore updated this article to present you with up-to-date information on some of the best cars with pop-up headlights you can buy today for cheap.

RELATED: The Pop-up Headlight: A Forgotten Design Icon Of The Automotive Industry

While cars with pop-up headlights aren’t easy to come across on the streets, this article features a few of the best in this segment. A good search on auction websites and classic car showrooms reveals several examples with prices not exceeding $15,000. Read on – every piece here will most likely entice you with their retractable headlights.

Using price data from Kelley Blue Book, Hagerty, and J.D. Power, we’ve compiled a list of 18 cheap cool cars with the coveted pop-up headlight feature.

18 1976-1988 Porsche 924

Starting Used Price: $8,450

The 914 was the first automobile featuring pop-up headlights that Porsche built. Also known as the VW-Porsche 914, the car got marketed between 1969 and 1976 by the two collaborating brands, Porsche and Volkswagen. Porsche replaced the 914 with the 924 in 1976.

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We think the 924 is not as popular as it should be, and it's one of the best classic German sports cars every gearhead should drive at least once. It has the potential to become a great collectible. Hence, for those who want an economical Porsche, but don’t want a Boxster, now might be the time to buy this beauty. J.D. Power values a 1988 Porsche 924S in good condition at $8,450.

17 1989-1997 Mazda MX-5 Miata

Starting Used Price: $3,200

After decades of existence, the MX-5, inspired by the original Lotus Elan, is still going strong, albeit without the pop-up headlights. The MX-5 debuted in 1989 and became a sudden hit. It was cheap, stable, and fun to drive. It immediately became one of the most reliable Japanese performance cars from the 1980s.

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The Mazda MX-5 Miata sold between 1989 and 1997 with over 400,000 units leaving the showrooms, and its primary selling point was the beauty of the concealed headlights. Today, mid to late-90s Miatas sell for around $10,000. Check for rust in problematic areas with extreme caution. Plus, there’s a lot of aftermarket support, so these little roadsters should be around for a long time.

16 1984-1989 Toyota MR2

Starting Used Price: $7,525

The MR2 was the first Japanese production car with a mid-engine configuration, and Toyota made a great deal out of it. The Honda NSX would follow later, but there have been few mid-engine Japanese sports cars until today.

RELATED: Here’s How Volvo Reinvented And Modernized Pop-Up Headlights With The EX90

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The MR2 MkI was a great machine, and it still is. However, finding one in drivable condition requires a careful search. According to Hagerty, you can get a 1987 MR2 MkI in good shape for around $12,000. Project examples, drivable but requiring lots of work, cost about $5,500, but they may drain your wallet.

15 1987-1991 Honda Prelude

Starting Used Price: $1,400

Honda produced the Prelude in five versions, but only two had pop-up headlights. The first version had a conservative design – but the second was different. It included flip-up lights for a considerably cleaner look.

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Considering Honda is generally known for reliability, the Prelude wasn’t any different. A 1991 Prelude Si, according to J.D. Power, costs under $5,000. The 1991 model featured a 2.1-liter inline-four with a decent output of 140 horsepower.

14 1968-1973 Opel GT

Starting Used Price: $7,525

Opel produced the GT in two generations – the first from 1968 to 1973 and the second between 2007 and 2009. While the reason General Motors decided to discontinue the modern Opel GT is unknown to many; the first generation is a must-have for those in love with pop-up headlights.

The classic Opel GT featured rotating pop-out headlights that gave the car a charming appearance. The headlamps swiveled into place instead of springing up when operated manually through a lever, and were only available in left-hand drive cars sold exclusively in Europe.

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The Opel GT is worth considering if you're looking for a pop-up headlight classic on a tight budget. In 2022, an Opel GT in good condition will cost around $11,000, according to Hagerty.

13 1983-1989 Nissan 300ZX

Starting Used Price: $5,325

The 300ZX is one of the most popular sports cars from Nissan. And although the Z31 300ZX lacked the flash of Ferraris and Lamborghinis, it was a dynamic package with plenty of choices that driving enthusiasts appreciated.

RELATED: Why The 2004 Chevy Corvette Was The Last Car To Feature Pop-Up Headlights

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The Nissan 300ZX is fast becoming a classic. It is on the verge of becoming a collectible, so finding a marvelous example in the affordable price bracket will soon be impossible. That said, several examples of the 300ZX Z31 are currently available for less than $10,000.

12 1962-1973 Lotus Elan

Starting Used Price: $14,950

The Elan was one of Lotus’ most affordable vehicles in the 1960s. And because of its small size, it got dubbed a little sports car, and came equipped with a 1.6-liter turbocharged Isuzu engine capable of producing up to 160 horsepower. The little sports car is good for 62 mph in 8.5 seconds and can reach a top speed of 112 mph.

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Besides its beautiful-looking pop-up headlights, the Lotus Elan is a reliable vehicle. Many reportedly go beyond 750,000 miles before breaking down for good, especially under proper care and maintenance. Several examples from the 1960s and 1970s are available for around $14,000. However, to get one in this price bracket in perfect condition will require an extended careful search – otherwise, nice ones go for around the $20,000 mark.

11 1986-1995 Volvo 480

Starting Used Price: $1,120

The Volvo 480 is a sporty compact vehicle built between 1986 and 1995. It was available in only one body style and was the first Volvo with a front-wheel drive system. Equipped with naturally aspirated or turbocharged inline-four engine options, the Volvo 480 started as a less respected vehicle. But it grew into one of the most reliable and durable vehicles available today.

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One of its unique features was the pop-up headlights – it was also the first and the last Volvo with this feature. The headlights give the nose a strange appearance when they’re in place. And although they aren’t easy to find, the Volvo 480 is reasonably priced today. Examples in good condition go for around $7,000.

10 1993-1997 Ford Probe

Starting Used Price: $1,333

The Ford Probe was a joint project of Ford and Mazda – its first generation nearly replaced the Mustang. It was that serious. Behind the beautifully placed pop-up headlights was a silky-smooth 2.5-liter Mazda KL V6. Ford produced the front-wheel drive liftback coupe for two generations. Although it has been out of production since 1997, the Probe is still an excellent vehicle to drive daily.

RELATED: 14 Coolest Cars With Pop-Up Headlights (1 That's Hideous)

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The only problem with this vehicle is its availability. Only a few models are still running. Although a good search could reveal several models under $10,000, examples in excellent condition will require a careful search.

9 1983-1988 Pontiac Fiero

Starting Used Price: $1,450

The Fiero, which arrived just ahead of the Toyota MR2, came to fill the same gap in the market. It was the first popular mid-engine production automobile from the United States, created as an economical two-seater sports car. Considering a reputation for poor reliability, poor performance, and questionable safety credentials, the company still produced over 370,000 units of Fiero in just five years.

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The Fiero was light because of its reinforced composite plastic shell, which also meant it was corrosion-resistant. The Fiero is dirt cheap today thanks to its large production numbers of over 300,000 units. Examples in excellent condition and with the V6 engine cost around $5,000.

8 1978-1985 Mazda RX-7

Starting Used Price: $2,775

The RX-7 is a beautiful sports car built by Mazda for three generations. The two-seater sports automobile is unique thanks to the choice of engine used by Mazda. Instead of the ordinary piston engine, the RX-7 features the legendary Mazda rotary engine. Since its introduction in 1971, the RX-7 has dramatically evolved from an elementary sports car to one of the best, most wanted classic cars on the market.

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Besides its excellent body design and performance, the RX-7 is beautiful thanks to its pop headlights. For anyone looking for an affordable sports car that stands out, good examples of early RX-7s are available for under $10,000.

7 1970-1974 Saab Sonett III

Starting Used Price: $8,700

Italian designer Sergio Coggiola and Swedish engineer Gunnar A. Sjögren worked on the Sonett V4 to produce the Sonett III. To make the car fit for Americans, the Sonett III received a floor-mounted shifter, while the air conditioning was available as a dealer install option. However, one of the coolest features of the Sonett III is the pop-up headlights, which are quite unique as they are manually operated through a lever.

Produced from 1970 to 1974, the Sonett III gets power from a Ford Taurus V4 engine, with an output of about 65 horsepower. With this mill, the Sonett III can go from rest to 62 mph in about 13 seconds, with a top speed of 103 mph.

RELATED: 10 Little-Known Cars That Featured Pop-Up Headlights

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According to Hagerty, a nice 1971 SAAB Sonett III will set any collector back only about $10,000. Not at all bad for one of the most interesting European cars of its time.

6 1983-1986 Porsche 928 S

Starting Used Price: $14,050

Porsche engineers focused on lightweight construction when designing the 928 that went into production in 1978. Therefore, the bonnet, doors and front wings were aluminum-made instead of steel construction. The 928 also featured round, electronically controlled pop-up headlights integrated into the wings.

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Under the hood, the 928 S featured a 4.7-liter V8 that produced 300 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque. In 1985, the engine displacement increased to 5.0 liters, and power increased to 310 hp. Today, according to J.D. Power, a used 928 S goes for next to nothing on the used market, averaging $18,900.

5 1984-1989 Chevrolet Corvette (C4)

Starting Used Price: $4,775

The fourth-generation Corvette debuted in 1983 and came in either convertible or targa-top (coupe) body styles. The C4 was unlike its predecessors. Gone was the classic old-school styling imagined by Zora Arkus-Duntov, Corvette’s spiritual father. Surprisingly, the C4 Corvette retained the pop-up headlights first seen on the C2 Corvette.

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Although the second and third-generation Corvette featured pop-up headlights, their cult-like following today makes them quite expensive, which is why the fourth generation is the most affordable Corvette model with pop-up headlights. Prices for used examples average around $9,000.

4 1986-1991 Subaru XT6

Starting Used Price: $1,650

From the late 1950s, Subaru was an isolated brand, as the Japanese automaker ignored other mainstream design trends and stuck to its own path. That styling approach changed in 1985 when Subaru introduced the XT. Like other sports cars of the ‘80s, it featured a wedge-shaped body and pop-up headlights.

RELATED: Ranking The Fastest Sports Cars With Pop-Up Headlights Ever

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Subaru went a step further to make the XT one of the most aerodynamic cars ever made. It even underwent extensive wind tunnel testing, which lowered its drag coefficient to an incredible 0.29 Cd. For reference, this was better than the 300ZX and on par with the modern BMW i3. Although the XT had a starting price of over $8,000 while new, it’s massively underrated today, which is why you can get used examples for less than $5,000.

3 1990–1999 BMW 8 Series (E31)

Starting Used Price: $6,250

In the early '90s, BMW needed a new sports car to add a little spice to its sedan-dominated lineup. That's how the 8 Series came to be. The first-generation 8 Series was a revolutionary vehicle not just for BMW but also the entire auto industry. It was the first car designed using a computer and had several technologies that were ahead of its time.

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The 8 Series was an instant hit. Gearheads loved its sleek, low-slung, aerodynamic design, comfy interior full of upscale materials, and performance. There were several engine options depending on the trim, including BMW's first-ever V12. With prices still under $20,000, the E31 * Series is among the most affordable V12 cars on the market.

RELATED: 8 Great Reasons To Buy A Porsche 944 (2 Reasons Why We'd Steer Clear Of It)

2 1982–1991 Porsche 944

Starting Used Price: $5,075

Although the 911 is Porsche's most popular sports car, the German automaker knows that it's too expensive for most of its fans. This is why it has always offered more affordable sports car options over the years. Of All the entry-level sports cars Porsche has built, the 944 is arguably the best.

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The 944 is a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car that used the mechanical underpinnings of the aforementioned 924 but was better in every way. Porsche built several 944 versions, including a turbocharged version that provided up to 250 hp to play with. You can buy the base 944 for less than $10,000, which is extremely cheap for a Porsche.

1 1976–1978 Lotus Esprit S1

Starting Used Price: $16,500

Lotus has built many cars, but few are as famous as the Esprit. The Esprit gained worldwide fame when it starred in James Bond's 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me where it turned into a submarine after 007 drove it into the ocean. Definitely one of the most iconic movie cars ever.

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Beyond its Hollywood fame, the first-generation Esprit was among the coolest British sports cars of the '70s. For starters, it had a cool wedge-shaped design penned by none other than the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro. Although its 140-hp four-pot wasn't quite up to scratch, the S1 was said to have the best handling of all Esprit generations. $16,500 seems like a steal for this car, but you better get it quickly as prices are going up.