Classic cars have a unique appeal that modern cars lack. It is the reason wealthy car collectors will often splash millions of dollars to buy them despite having private garages that boast a slew of modern hypercars and supercars. However, you don’t need deep pockets to have a taste of that experience.
Cars like the Buick Riviera, for example, will transport you to the heady days of the '60s for cheap as you slide behind the wheel. The Buick is not alone, however, and this article presents an assortment of American classic cars, along with a few from other regions, that offer a similar experience at bargain prices.
10 1963 Buick Riviera
The Buick Riviera is a personal luxury car marketed by General Motors from 1963 to 1999. Here, the focus is on the first-generation Riviera that marked GM’s first entry into the luxury car segment. That model had its debut in 1963 and lasted until 1965 before the first styling and mechanical changes were introduced.
The 1963 Riviera rode into the market on GM’s new ‘E-Body’ vehicle platform and was praised for its handling and performance. It is not uncommon to find pristine Rivieras worth more than $30,000, but $20,000 should get you an average mileage one that you can enjoy on a city cruise.
9 1975 Jaguar XJ-S
It seems ridiculous that you only need about $11,000 to buy this one. That is the case with the Jaguar XJ-S, a British car that is arguably the most affordable V12 sports car today. The powerplant was a 5.3-liter engine that produced 285bhp and a hefty 399 pound-feet of torque.
The XJ-S could accelerate to 60mph in 6.8 seconds and had a top speed just shy of 150mph. It may not be the best daily driver today due to reliability concerns but that price point makes it a very tempting bargain even if it’s just to experience that howling engine under the hood.
8 1967 Mercury Cougar
Alas, the Mercury Cougar will forever remain in the shadow of its cousin, the iconic Ford Mustang. However, this might not be such a bad thing because it means you can get one of these hulking muscle cars at bargain prices today. The 1967 Cougar was not shabby at all. In fact, it won Motor Trend's 1967 Car of the Year award.
Engine power ranged from 200 to 320 hp depending on the V8 engine under the hood. You can expect to pay extra for the more powerful variants, but even the 200 hp version still possesses enough muscle-car character to keep the driver interested.
7 Ford Ranchero
The Ford Ranchero was a coupe utility with a pickup bed that launched in 1957 and competed with the Chevrolet El Camino for several years. Changes were frequent and by 1968, the Ranchero was already in its fourth generation.
Ford offered up to 6 different engine options ranging from a 4.1-liter Inline-6 at one end to a 5.8-liter V8 at the other end of the spectrum. Today’s Ranchero values are influenced by mileage and there are listings that are as cheap as $10,000.
6 Cadillac Eldorado
The Cadillac Eldorado is a luxury car that Cadillac marketed to the public from 1952 to 2002. This time frame saw at least 12 generations of the Eldorado in various configurations and trim levels. They often ranked among the most expensive models sold by the carmaker but today, the prices are much more affordable.
For example, the ninth generation Eldorado, which spanned most of the 1970s, can be found on the market for anywhere between $10,000 to $25,000. It is a massive car, able to seat 6 adults in comfort. Imagine pulling up to a friend’s party with your crew in one of these.
5 Mercedes-Benz R107 SL
This was a stylish Mercedes 2-seater with a detachable roof that allowed for a true open-air experience. It was first introduced in 1971 as the 350SL before making its way to the American market the following year with a 4.5-liter V8 that produced 180hp and 220 pound-feet of torque.
The R107 SL hung around for almost two decades before it was replaced by an upgraded version. It is not too difficult to find one today and sub-$20,000 prices make them a very reasonable bargain indeed.
4 1979 Mazda RX-7
For as little as $8,000, you can get your hands on a classic Mazda RX-7 which has the distinction of being among the very few vehicles that made it to production status with a rotary engine. The rear-wheel-drive sports car was powered by a unique Wankel rotary engine.
Power output was modest at 100hp but the driving experience was smooth and quite balanced. The manual version could hit 60mph in less than 10 seconds and a maximum cruising speed of 120mph was achievable. It was a budget sports car for the enthusiast and still is today.
3 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III
The bold styling of this massive luxury car will stand out even in today’s modern setting. It was marketed as Ford’s luxury flagship vehicle at the time and went up against Cadillac’s Eldorado.
As a luxury vehicle, the Mark III was packed with features that included power steering, vacuum-operated concealed headlights, and electrically adjustable front seats. A premium leather upholstery was an option and may be something to look out for if you are out shopping for one today. Decent examples should cost no more than $15,000, offering you a feel of what American car luxury was all about in earlier times.
2 1967 Ford Galaxie
The iconic Mustang was undoubtedly Ford’s most important car during the 1960s, but they also made other great cars such as the Ford Galaxie. It was impossible to miss that aggressive grille and vertically-stacked headlights that blended well with the car’s upscale styling.
There was an assortment of engines available topped by a 7.0-liter V8 that cranked out a hefty 425 hp at 6,000 rpm. A good example today should only cost about $20,000 and you can expect to put many more miles on it as they can be quite reliable.
1 1970 Chevrolet Impala
This Chevrolet Impala was once described as the best of its class and was America’s best-selling vehicle at the time. It was part of the fourth-generation Impala that had been completely redesigned and featured changes such as an all-new hood design, curved and frameless side-glass, and a sleek profile for sport coupe models.
The most popular engines for the Impala were the big-block Chevy V8s that could put out almost 400hp. The base model option was pretty decent too with a 155hp output. A quick internet search will reveal that most 1970 Impalas are priced around the $20,000 mark.