Classic cars still play a huge role in the automotive market. It seems the passion for vintage cars has been passed on to young car enthusiasts too. Although some iconic cars were sold for a fortune and are generally found in the hands of wealthy collectors, there are some models that are still affordable.
Insurance company Hagerty provides reliable figures about the average price tags classic cars currently come with. Some classic cars must be severely underrated, some others were produced in huge numbers... No matter the case, these cool vintage cars are definitely low-priced. Enjoy the 10 coolest, yet cheap, classic cars that you could get now!
10 1960 Studebaker Lark Regal Hardtop Coupe - $4,300
In the early '60s, a Studebaker Lark would be the choice for those looking for a compact car, without compromising on style. The Lark was indeed a good-looking car, which inherited some distinctive traits from the cars of the '50s — such as the shape of the rear lights and the curved chrome profile on the sides.
The Lark, in fact, presented that lower body profile that Americans loved so much. The front grille on the "Regal" trim was enlarged and presented lots of chrome, giving the car a desirable classy look. Packing a 259 cu in V8 engine, its power output was rated at 180 hp, making the Lark a smooth car to drive. Finally, its current valuation is ridiculous, as a Lark in good condition can be found for less than 5 grand.
9 1963 MG Midget Convertible - $6,400
This roadster rolled out from Morris Garages in all its beauty. The British car manufacturer MG was clearly inspired by luxury watercraft when shaping the Midget Convertible. The long chrome profiles, which are connected to both front and rear light frames, stretch along the body sides and give the car a more linear profile.
This tiny car wasn't intended to race or to offer great performance. The engine is only a 1.0-liter 4-cylinder unit, and it released just 45 hp. Despite these poor figures, the car could be such a delightful "first-buy" for those approaching the classic cars' world, being super affordable right now.
8 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible - $12,500
The Chevy Corvair hasn't gathered a considerable number of fans yet, but it will surely do so in the future. The fact that it's so different from any other type of American car from the '60s makes it a little weird, but desirable at the same time. Let's take a look at what made the Corvair so unique.
First of all, you've probably spotted the missing aggressive front grille that's typical of America's favorite muscle cars from the '60s and '70s, which helped the air to blow into the radiator and cool down the engine. In fact, the Corvair is an air-cooled-engined car that was designed to give German Porsches and VWs Beetles a decent competitor. This choice, though, didn't influence the overall appearance of the car, which still maintained a nice look.
7 1969 AMC Javelin - $13,600
American Motors gave birth to such memorable cars. At times, they were memorable because of their awful design. The craziest thing is that models like the Gremlin X, which is widely accepted to be an ugly car, currently sell for over $30,000, while more appealing AMC cars, such as the Javelin, are currently underappreciated.
According to Hagerty, you can find a good-condition Javelin for about $13,600. Although it won't be as awesome as the Defiant, the 1972 Javelin AMX that was restomodded by Ringbrothers, the Javelin still remains an affordable, good-looking, V8-powered compact muscle car.
6 1972 Triumph TR6 Convertible - $14,200
Let's get back to Britain and take a look at another tiny roadster that looks awesome. For a relatively cheap price, the Triumph TR6 Convertible is such a gorgeous Sunday driver with a pleasing design. Apart from the unquestionable British style, the car is still a fun toy to play with.
The TR6 came with a straight-six 2.5-liter engine, which puts out 106 hp. Not that much, but definitely enough to grant a decently smooth and enjoyable drive on country roads. To make the drive even cooler, the 4-speed manual transmission presents overdrive gears.
5 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo - $14,800
The 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is an example that, despite some super blazoned muscle cars being sold for a fortune, this is still a category approachable by almost everyone. Maybe, not in its most high-performing version, like the 454 cu in that delivered 360 hp, but in its 350 cu in version this car could be a really good purchase.
The "Turbo-Fire" 350 cu in came in two different versions: the first one released 250 hp and a second one, which took the engine to a maximum output of 300 hp. Of course, not the handiest car in the world, the 1970 Monte Carlo is the largest, yet affordable classic car you could opt for.
4 1970 Ford Torino GT 351 - $15,800
The Torino GT is what you really need to make your neighbors feel uncomfortable with their modern car. The design of this car is amazingly aggressive. While other muscle cars would present soft lines, the Torino wanted angles and geometry to prevail. The result is an evil-looking coupe.
It's true that aesthetic appearance talks first, but the Torino GT has also a great voice to boast. The Windsor 351 cu in small block is literally a growling beast. It doesn't have all that much power, but almost 250 hp is decent enough to be a wild, noisy, and fun drive.
3 1967 Volkswagen Beetle - $16,500
There are just a few cars as iconic as the Beetle. Also, its design has undergone slight changes over the years, proving that the original design was really innovative, in terms of aesthetics and aerodynamics. The symbolic Bug isn't too expensive at all, according to Hagerty, the hardtop version could be yours for less than 17 grand.
Of course, the main reason why the classic Bug comes with such an affordable price tag is that some 23,5 million units were sold. Without a doubt, this car isn't the most exclusive you could get, but for sure, one of the coolest, most reliable and fun classic German cars ever.
2 1971 Datsun 240Z - $23,600
The Datsun 240Z was the favorite Japanese sports car of every American driver in the '70s. The car was chosen by those who wanted to radically separate themselves from the rest, who would rather prefer larger American muscle cars.
First of all, the weight of the car was about 2,000lbs. Despite its steel body, the overall lightweight of the 240Z allowed the 6-cylinder 2.4-liter engine to move the car at a decent pace. Matched with a 5-speed transmission, the power output was 150 hp, making this tiny coupe a playful toy. To fuel the readers' envy, this very model was sold for $13,200.
1 1967 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia - $23,900
Let's have a final stop in Germany, and take a look at the most iconic VW coupe. The Karmann Ghia was an air-cooled 4-cylinder engine car. And yes, it was basically a Beetle, but with a lower and more sport-oriented body, provided by Karmann.
In 1967, a hydraulic clutch was made available, along with other improvements such as the front disk brakes. The valuation of the car has witnessed an important increasing curve over the last years, and it's believed it could get even steeper. It looks like this is the final call for a very good deal.