For most people, buying a new car makes the most logical sense. They come with a warranty, and more often than not, some form of service plan. It is also accepted that new cars depreciate the moment they leave the showroom. In fact, depending on the make and options they can actually lose up to 30% of their sticker price.

Updated June 2021: If you want to see some examples of cars that went from being cheap to ridiculously expensive almost over night, you're in for a treat. We've updated this article with the current prices listed in Hagerty's Valuation Tool, so you can see with your own eyes how these cars have become unavailable to most car enthusiasts these days.

This makes the vehicle more of a financial liability than an investment, pushing a lot of people into the second-hand market. This is a scary prospect for some, as it is very hard to establish how well the vehicle has been maintained by the previous owner, whether it has been in an accident or even legally owned by the seller. With all this in mind, there are still some good bargains to be had, including some vehicles that are becoming a brilliant investment opportunity.

In this article, we're going to look at 15 classic cars that were once cheap, but they stopped depreciating, and have started to skyrocket in value, leaving them out of reach to all but the richest car enthusiasts.

15 BMW M3 (E46): $25,000

Blue BMW
via motormemos.com

Admittedly, it is a bit of a reach calling a modern classic like the E46 M3 a "cheap" car. It did, however, depreciate severely until recently, and is considered a budget supercar with the last of the high revving inline sixes under the hood. Finding one in good shape is not going to be easy, but if you do, the value is only going up. In fact, values have been on the rise for a while now already, but it still has a fair bit to go before hitting the ceiling.

14 Datsun 240Z: $24,000

Pristine Datsun 240Z
via businessinsider.com

The Datsun 240Z has to be one of the most desirable Japanese cars in the world right now. The pristine example pictured here sold for the eye-watering sum of $310,000, but one in reasonable condition will set you back just under $25,000, or roughly what you would pay for a small modern hatchback. Finding one that's not eaten by rust or modified won't be an easy task, but you know it's been worth it when it's parked in your driveway.

RELATED: Here's Why The Datsun Z Cars Are Skyrocketing In Value

13 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16: $20,000

Mercedes-Benz AMG
via dsf.my

In many ways, the 190e falls into the shadows of all the other high performance German super sedans with its understated looks and smaller engine. It is, however, one of the most complete cars Mercedes-Benz has ever made, especially the Cosworth tuned model. It is quietly gaining classic car status. Those who don't have the budget for the Cosworth-tuned models should look at the 2.6 inline-six model, which has also started to see its prices increase these last couple of years.

12 BMW 2002: $15,000

Orange BMW
via bringatrailer.com

The BMW 2002 has been a classic for some time now, but they are getting fewer and fewer, as such the value is steadily climbing. Finding a good one for around $15,000 is still possible, and this translates to amazing value. In the next few years, it is not overly optimistic to expect them to double in value. Forget about the Turbo model, that one has already skyrocketed out of reach for most people, regularly fetching in the region of $100,000 these days.

11 Volkswagen Golf GTI (mk1): $14,000

via home.bt.com

The mk1 Golf GTI is the mother of all hot hatches. As such, it has become a modern classic and has held a respectable value for some time now. At its roots, this is a blue-collar hero, still affordable and set to become extremely collectible in the coming years. Prices are starting to get a bit silly for pristine examples, but some can still be found around the $15,000 mark. For that kind of money, you'll get a very basic car that offers absolutely zero luxuries, but it's one of the greatest driver's cars ever made.

RELATED: Ranking The Fastest Hot Hatches Of 2021

10 1967 Volkswagen Beetle: $14,000

via bringatrailer.com

Although the beetle sold in droves pretty much from the first year of production to the last, the 1967 model stands apart in value. At this moment it is still fairly affordable, but it is getting harder to find and is rapidly gaining value all over the world with its huge fan-base. Just a few years ago, these cars were given away for free, but that's certainly not the case today. Our top tip to acquire one for a lot less money is to import it from Mexico or some other Central/South American country, which easily saves you $10-12 grand.

9 Ford F150 Ranger: $14,000

via pinterest.com

The humble pick-up truck has been getting far more recognition in the past few years. Some have been driven into the dirt, but for those that made it out alive, there is a burgeoning new market. Ford trucks have shot up in value, and the F100 Ranger seems set to only gain in value in the future. Not all that long ago, these trucks could be found rusting away at any farm and could be picked up for a song. These days, a bag full of cold, hard cash is needed if you want to take one home.

RELATED: 10 Coolest American Trucks You Didn't Know Had Terrible Flaws

8 1965 Ford Mustang: $12,000

via Mustang Attitude

The Ford Mustang is a true classic, the value does, however, vary wildly from one model to another. With some of the muscular V8's fetching six figures and up, there are still a few versions that are affordable. Rather surprisingly, the original inline 6 from 1965 is one of those, although it is set to follow in the footsteps of the semi priceless car pictured here. Those who aren't purists should definitely pick up a cheap six-cylinder model, seeing as there are plenty of more potent engines that will drop right in, and the list of aftermarket parts for these cars is seemingly never-ending.

7 Willys-Jeep: $13,000

via barett-jackson.com

The Willys-Jeep has long been heralded a war icon. It was also a very affordable 4x4 post WW2 and became a huge sales success. Now, many decades later, it is still a capable off-road vehicle and a true classic, but it's certainly not affordable anymore, with some restored vehicles fetching more than $20,000.

6 Toyota MR2 (Mk1): $9,000

The MR2 has flown under the radar for many years. It was Toyota's take on a small mid-engine sports car, and frankly, they did a great job. Most will agree it is an underrated little car, but with a growing fan-base and more interest in all things Japanese, it has seen a spike in its value. Finding one without rust won't be easy, and it's almost as difficult to find one that hasn't been crashed at some point. Granted, the MR2 wasn't particularly powerful, but the snap oversteer sent many an overambitious driver backward into a ditch.

5 Mazda RX7 (Series 1): $10,000

1978
via supercars.net

The Wankel rotary engine in the Mazda RX7 needs no introduction. With a "love it or hate it" sort of reputation, there is no question that this is a modern classic. Values are only going one way, especially for the series 1 cars that are unmolested (and actually running). For some reason, the first and second-generation RX7s were never as popular as the iconic third-gen, but now that the third-gen cars are out of range to most, the earlier models have started to gain popularity, and we're seeing prices increase as a result.

4 Toyota Celica Supra (Mk1): $12,000

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The Supra nameplate has a huge following, with newer versions getting loads of mods and crazy power. The mk1 is not a drift car but is soon to be a classic. While nowhere near as expensive as Paul Walker's Supra from The Fast And The Furious, the values have already risen above most of the drift-ready versions and if it is an investment you're looking for rather than a racer or a beauty queen, this is a great option.

3 Honda Integra Type R (JDM): $30,000

honda-integra-type-r
via Motorious

Although you might be stuck with a right-hand drive direct import, it is truly worth it. The car has a huge following worldwide and is fast becoming a modern classic, with fantastic handling and a rev-happy engine that makes for a real driver's car. The value has already skyrocketed out of reach for all but the most serious collectors and enthusiasts, and will only continue to go up in years to come. If you haven't owned one of these already, you probably missed your chance.

2 Datsun 510: $14,000

via en.wikipedia.com

The Datsun 510 brought the world a reliable car in a time when affordable cars were not exactly known to be reliable in any way shape or form. The little Datsun was a game-changer: cheap, reliable, and well-built. It has rightly become a classic car, and we've already seen its prices more than double in the last couple of years. If you didn't already get your hands on one, there definitely won't be a better time to buy as values are set to rise even more in the coming years.

1 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV (JDM): $10,000

via pinterest.com

The Evo IV is a car where Mitsubishi just seemed to get everything right. Using the World Rally Championship as their marketing platform, they created a rally car for the street. It is one of the most sought after cars, and with prices still reasonable, it is a great buy. However, what's the point of buying a performance car if not driving it the way it was meant to be driven, right? Well, that might just ruin the resale value, so that's certainly something to consider before buying one.