The obsession with classic cars is real and valid. Each year, there seems to be an increase in fascination with these ageless beauties. Classic cars allow people to enjoy automotive experience outside of their time while still having access to all the advancements and technology that comes with being in this age. Something of a best of both worlds.
The growing demand for rare classic cars, especially among the wealthy and celebrities, has caused a skyrocketing effect in the classic car markets. The car collector hobby is becoming more elaborate, now more than ever before.
This increase in demand has led to many of these classic cars being way more expensive than their original offering by the manufacturers.
10 1967 Toyota 2000GT: $825,000
The 1967 Toyota 2000GT is one classic that never seems to get old, exciting each generation as a modern car would. The design is still in vogue, and the car is one of the rarest in the automobile industry. Only 351 2000GT models were made, and there are only 62 left-hand drive cars of this number.
This rarity is what has made this car one of the most expensive classics ever. One of the classics left-hand drive model recently sold for $1,200,000 in an auction. Compared to $6,800 when it was first released as new, this Toyota GT has increased in price by more than a thousand percent. It is currently worth $825,000.
9 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432R: $200,000
This Nissan classic is a tuned-up version of the Nissan 240Z as done by Datsun. In the late 60s and early 70s, where Datsun needed to upgrade the 240Z for more prominent race competitions. Datsun tuned up the 240Z by fitting it with a 158 horsepower S20 inline-six engine, initially from the Nissan Skyline GTR.
Such became the making of the Nissan Fairlady Z432R. Since it was produced, this car has gone ahead to become one of the more renowned classics in the world, auctioning at insane prices of between $600,000 to $700,000. The current market value of this car is $200,000, forty times more than its original cost.
8 1995 McLaren F1: $12,000,000
The 1995 McLaren F1 has never been a car one can describe as affordable, debuting as one of the fastest cars in its era. Its DOHC four-cylinder engine can produce 668 horsepower at 7800 RPM and 520 pound-feet of torque.
The car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 225 mph. The market value was about $800,000 when it was new, but the price has risen to $12,000,000 on the market.
7 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO: $42,300,000
A sure indicator of a car's rarity can be seen in the fact that collectors can account for every single unit ever produced. Such is the case with the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO. Only 36 units of this car were built between 1962 and 1964. Ralph Lauren and Craig McCaw own a unit apiece of this eye-catching classic car.
The rarity of this vehicle has contributed to a hike in price over the years. One unit's cost was $18,000 but has risen to a current market valuation of $42,000,000. The car has a type 168 Comp 62 60 degree V12 engine, which produces 246 pound-feet of torque at 5500 RPM and 302 horsepower at 7500 RPM.
6 1939 Alfa Romeo 8c 2900B Lungo Spider: $19,800,000
This Alfa Romeo was one of the few sports cars to come forth from the 1930 era. It was state of the art, the most advanced, and a technologically astute car that money could buy at the time of its release, and it went for a price of about $5000 in 1939.
This classic competes with some of the rarest classic cars ever made as only 32 units were ever produced. It is powered by a supercharged straight-eight engine, which produces up to 180 horsepower. Its performance is aided by a four-wheel independent suspension and a four-speed manual transmission. This classics current market valuation is about $20,000,000.
5 1935 Duesenberg SSJ: $22,000,000
The 1935 Duesenberg SSJ car has set the record for being the most valuable pre-war car ever to be auctioned off, beating a few other notable cars to this title. The history and rarity of this vehicle mainly played a part in this vehicle's current price, seeing as the car is one of two like its kind that was produced.
This classic costs about $22,000,000 today. It packs a supercharged straight-eight engine under its hood with double overhead cams, which can produce up to 400 horsepower reaching a top speed of 140 mph.
4 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4S Nart Spyder: $27,500,000
The 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB cost about $15,000 when it was new, but its valuation has grown over time to approximately $27,000,000. Some of the things that have made this car so expensive include its unique late 60s Ferrari styling and its modern mechanicals. The styling is one that isn't common to other Ferrari cars of the modern age.
This V12 enabled car was upgraded with the core and overhead camshafts, the rear-mounted transaxle, and the independent rear suspension, all of which were giant leaps in vehicle technology in the '60s. These upgrades were first made available in the Nart Spyder. This classic has looks enough to turn heads and performance enough to be noticeable n the race track.
3 1970 Buick GSX: $150,000
Back in 1970, as at the time of the release of the Buick GSX Stage 1, the car cost about $4,800, but the market value has since risen to $150,000. In 1970 when General Motors eased off the 400cid engine unit and allowed for bigger engines in their cars, that action made room for cars like the GSX stage 1 to be born.
The car was based on the body of the Skylark, having the bigger 455cid V8 engine. The new powerhouse afforded the stage 1 bigger and better advantages, as seen in its 400-horsepower output and 510 pound-feet of torque. Such specifications were only exceeded at the time by Cadillac's 474cid and 500cid V8 engines.
2 1987 Porsche 959: $1,000,000
The 1987 Porsche 959 currently sits at a market valuation of about a million dollars, and the reason is not far fetched. The classic car is hard to critique in that it almost fulfills everything in the book for a car in its category. It suffices as a race car and luxury sedan, but also for efficiently navigating through traffic.
The car is one of the most potent speedsters ever to come forth from the 80s. It was initially valued a $225,000 when it was first released. This price is quite understandable when taking into consideration the performance of the car.
1 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing: $931,000
This is one of the most iconic cars ever produced by Mercedes Benz, resonating through time. When Mercedes first released this vehicle, it cost about $7,500, but the price has risen to about $930,000.
The 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL is one of the first cars to embrace the swing up gullwing door style, and the car was based on Mercedes 1952 racer, the W194. By utilizing mechanical direct fuel injection, this car's engine enables the vehicle to reach a top speed of 163 mph, which even some modern cars do not possess.