The first sports cars were designed with an emphasis on active and vibrant performance, sharp handling, great speed, and the overall thrill of driving. Over the years, sports cars have gone from being merely used as a symbol of speed, to being used as a symbol of social status. The early 20th century brought us many iconic sports cars that became popular among automobile enthusiasts. Some of these fantastic sports cars were expensive for many enthusiasts and were often bought by people who merely wanted to own them as show-off pieces.
Many people admired and aspired to own some of these sports cars because of the dominance, magnificence, and performance that go along with these cars. However, aside from those classics that are now worth a fortune, it's ridiculous how many cool sports cars of the past lost almost all of their value.
Factors such as high maintenance costs, aged designs, obsolete features, and outdated performance all made these cars depreciate like crazy. And while that may be sad, it's still great news for true enthusiasts who don't have the money to own a brand-new sports car and can buy and appreciate one of these affordable classics for cheap.
10 BMW M3 E36
After its launch, BMW M3 E36 became a popular status symbol sports car that was owned by people who want to express their driving skills in a classy car. The car is regarded as perfectly reliable because of certain features such as the cooling system, suspension bushings, and other little maintenance items.
Currently, the car can be bought and owned by anyone because of the reduction in value. The sports car which had an original MSRP of $35,800 can now be bought at a price of around $19,000.
9 Porsche 944
When this classic sports car was released, it was owned by people who wanted to flaunt their wealth on the road using one of Porsche’s first true entry-level offerings. Enthusiasts regarded the 944 as a forgiving car on the race track due to its speed, safety and performance parts.
Today, the Porsche 944 has fallen a fair way from its cost in the 90s when it was first released. Budget buyers can now afford this luxury at prices between $9,000 to $24,000. It is surely worth buying in 2022.
8 Chevrolet Corvette C3
In the 20th century, if you were to cruise down the highway with a Chevrolet Corvette, all the attention would be on you. While it might not have received all its due praise then, Corvette has always been the type of car used to demonstrate that one is of high status in society.
Right now, you can purchase this luxury sports car at prices that might sound like an absolute steal. While you might need to have some cash saved up for gas, you can pay as low as $16,000 for this American sports car.
7 Lotus Esprit
The Lotus Esprit is one of the best status symbol sports cars of the past due to its power, function, and reliability. With an original sticker price of approximately $100,000, it had a design and performance that reflects that.
Currently, shoppers looking for a Lotus Esprit of the past will not have to break the bank to own one because of its serious depreciation and devaluation. On the used market, you can now get the Esprit for as low as $19,000.
6 Alfa Romeo Spider
Another reliable status symbol car of the past anyone can afford is the Alfa Romeo Spider. This two-seater, front-engine, rear-drive roadster is one of those little cars that are far better than most people are giving them credit for.
The 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider with an original high retail price of over $30,000 can now be bought for a lesser price that helps you spend your money wisely. You can now spend as low as $8,000 on an Alfa Romeo Spider, and you'll be driving one of the most stunning status symbol sports cars of the past on the road.
5 Maserati Biturbo
While the Maserati Biturbo was seen as quite a good car in the past, it was also regarded as a bit of a problem child for Maserati due to certain reliability and maintenance issues. Initially, it accelerated quickly and performed like a supercar despite its conservative look, but after some years, everything that could get spoiled did.
Soon the Biturbo got devalued as a result of the maintenance issues and low quality of the build. While the quality just isn’t up to the minimum industry standard, the car can be purchased at prices between $3,000 and $8,000.
4 2003 Maserati Quattroporte
This four-door full-size luxury sports saloon spearheaded Maserati's comeback as a premium brand on the global luxury sports cars market which was dominated by other brands. Despite the fact that this Italian sports car's fit and finish were not completely up to competitive standards, people still owned it because of its exclusivity and rarity.
While the original cost of a 2003-2009 Maserati Quattroporte is around $100,000 in today's money, it can now be had for less expensive prices. On today's market, a used Quattroporte can be purchased and owned for around $20,000.
3 BMW Z3
After its launch, the Z3 became the first real mass-market BMW sports car that had an immediate hit because of the design and phenomenal experience it gives to drivers. The roadster went on to become something of a status symbol for wealthy young people and never really got rid of that image for a long time.
Like many sports cars of this type launched in the 20th century, the BMW Z3 can be had for an absolute steal as of today, because of depreciation. With different dealers selling at different prices, it can be bought for as low as $7,000 used.
2 Aston Martin DB7
Apart from offering British styling and driving experience, this grand tourer also offered owners the luxury of using it as a status symbol car. While it can be regarded as a very good sports car of the past which has reached the bottom of its value range, it is also beginning to edge up in terms of price.
Originally launched with a hefty price tag of around $140,000, the car can be owned for a serious bargain price. In today's market, Aston Martin DB7 can be purchased at different prices, of which approximately $32,000 is its general sale price. It is safe to say that investing in Aston Martin DB7 in 2022 offers something for everyone.
1 Maserati GranSport
The Maserati GranSport is truly exciting to drive as a result of its sporty design, exclusivity, heritage, and great value. These exceptional and intoxicating features, as well as the edgier performance, made car lovers want to own this sports car to display their high status while cruising the street.
The original cost of the Maserati GranSport was around $98,000. The current value of a used Maserati GranSport is around $30,000, and that even varies among different retailers in the market. This means you can get the GranSport’s performance and luxury for a serious bargain.