The German car market offers some of the best value sports cars in the world, with the likes of BMW, Porsche, and Mercedes especially offering a combination of style, luxury and performance that is almost unmatched by any other nation in the world.

However, for all of their well priced cars, some classics have recently seen their prices go through the roof, for their now iconic styling, performance, and because of the part they played as some of the most notable cars in history. Below are some German classic cars which have skyrocketed in value.

10 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing ($2,500,000)

1954-Mercedes-Benz-300-SL-Gullwing
source: wsupercars

Every classic car enthusiast has heard of the fabled 300 SL Gullwing, as one of the most collectible cars in history, its value has risen massively over the years.

1954-Mercedes-Benz-300-SL-Gullwing
source: wsupercars

Originally released in 1954, the Gullwing was an immediate hit with its timeless styling and revolutionary design, especially given its Gullwing doors. Now, its value has risen way past its original price tag in the mid 1950s to upwards of $2,000,000. Because of the rarity and iconic nature of the vehicle, it's possible to see the 300 SL go for anywhere between $2,000,000 and $3,500,000 at auction.

9 Porsche 550 Spyder ($5,000,000)

1954-Porsche-550-Spyder
source: wsupercars

As one of the most uniquely designed vehicles of all time, the Porsche 550 Spyder has seen its value reach that of some of the most expensive cars in the world.

1954-Porsche-550-Spyder
source: wsupercars

Ultra rare and backed by its racing pedigree, the 550 Spyder entered its first race at the Nürburgring in 1953 and won. This launched the 550 Spyder to stardom, and helped it quickly establish itself as one of the premier sports cars of its day. Currently, the 550 Spyder's value is hard to pin down exactly because of the rarity, but in the past, we've seen 550 Spyders sell for $3,600,000 at auction in 2012, and in 2016, Jerry Seinfeld's 550 Spyder managed to reach a massive $5,350,000.

8 BMW 3.0 CSL ($240,000)

1973-BMW-3.0-CSL
source: wsupercars

The 3.0 BMWs of the early and mid 70s can fluctuate largely in price, but the premier CSL models are the most desirable and fetch the highest price.

1973-BMW-3.0-CSL
source: wsupercars

The excellent pillarless design of the 1972 3.0 CSL leaves potential classic car buyers and car enthusiasts alike in awe to this day, with its luxurious interior and smooth, powerful 200 hp engine, it managed something in the 70s that we still see in BMWs today, a perfect combination of everyday sports car luxury and great performance. As this is the case, the BMW 3.0 CSL fetches a hefty price tag of around $240,000, especially one that has been restored or is in particularly good condition.

Related: 10 Reasons Why The BMW M1 Was Awesome

7 BMW Z3-M Coupé ($100,000)

1999-BMW-M-Coupe
source: wsupercars

This is perhaps a surprising one for those unfamiliar with the BMW Z3. The Z3 is famously one of the best value for money used roadsters on the market. It's popular as it's one of the best handling sports cars in its sub $15,000 price range, with a variety of engine options too, including a 3.2-liter inline-six.

1999-BMW-M-Coupe
source: wsupercars

The value of the coupe has skyrocketed for the same reasons listed earlier, but also because of its unique looks, some buyers are more than willing to pay potentially 10 times as much for this version, and the value shows no signs of slowing any time soon.

6 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 S ($179,000)

1995-Porsche-911-Turbo-3.6
source: wsupercars

Porsche's have never exactly been very cheap, they provide great sports car performance and interior quality, making them still great value for money in their price bracket, however. The 911 Turbo is one of the most popular, and often, one of the best performing in the 911 lineup, classic Porsches have that timeless styling that we still see in modern variants, while still having the power and handling to keep up with even modern sports cars.

1995-Porsche-911-Turbo-3.6-Coupe
source: wsupercars

The 3.6 Turbo S from 1994 was Porsche's last hurrah for the 964 range of cars, and in going out with a bang they added an exclusive beefier body kit, and a massive 3.6-liter turbocharged flat-six, allowing for a top speed of 174 mph, particularly impressive for the mid 90s, hence the immense value of the car today.

5 Porsche 356 B Roadster ($500,000)

1954-Porsche-356
source: wsupercars

Much like the Z3M Coupé from earlier, the Porsche 356 isn't a particularly expensive vehicle on the used market, unless it's in its roadster form.

1954-Porsche-356
source: wsupercars

The B Roadster is a much rarer and generally nicer car to drive, with comfort seats and general improvements in engineering and build quality, the T5 body type fetches much higher prices than other variants of the 356. This is especially true if the car has been restored somewhat, as fans of the 356 enjoy the feeling of driving and owning a genuine 60s sports car in near factory condition.

Related: Check Out This Restored 1972 911 S 2.4 Targa From Porsche Classic

4 BMW 507 ($2,000,000)

1956-BMW-507-Series-1
source: wsupercars

The story behind the 507 is a fascinating one, as it's often considered the car that almost bankrupted the famous German giants, BMW. Production costs of the 507 were massively underestimated and as such, the poor sales and high manufacturing cost meant BMW stopped production at just 252 models.

1956-BMW-507-Series-1
source: wsupercars

No one could have foreseen a time where the 507 was a collector's item, wanted by millionaires and celebrities alike for its unique styling and good performance. The low sales initially were in part because of the gulf in class between the famous 300 SL and the 507, but for styling alone, the 507 managed to win over the hearts of car enthusiasts eventually.

3 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 ($750,000)

porsche_911-carrera_1972
source: wsupercars

As one of the most instantly recognizable Porsches of all time, the Carrera RS 2.7 has shot up in value massively since the mid 70s. Famously, the Carrera RS is one of the fastest appreciating cars the world has ever seen, seeing a value increase of around 700% in a decade.

porsche_911-carrera_1972
source: wsupercars

The rarest and more lightweight versions of the Carrera RS can even see values that exceed the estimated $750,000 shown here. Part of its charm is that it's a homologation special, with more power, less weight, and increased aerodynamics over your standard Carrera, making it especially wanted in today's market for history and its iconic status alone.

2 BMW 2002 Turbo ($140,000)

1974-BMW-2002-Turbo
source: wsupercars

The BMW 2002 Turbo is one of the most expensive BMWs of all time, perhaps unsurprising given it was the premier sports car of its day.

1974-BMW-2002-Turbo
source: wsupercars

Its decals show even those less acquainted with BMW sports cars that this is no ordinary BMW. The Turbo model is the best of the best from the BMW lineup at the time, and the first-ever turbocharged car BMW had ever produced. With only 1,672 examples built, the is car is not only stylish and capable, but it also marks a significant and rare piece of BMW history, making its value skyrocket.

Related: 10 Most Beautiful Mercedes-Benz Classics Ever

1 Porsche 959 ($1,250,000)

1986-Porsche-959
source: wsupercars

The Porsche 959 is surely a car that needs no introduction but still, its value is rising more and more by the day since its induction in the mid 80s. Its unique elongated 911 styling makes it clear that this is no ordinary machine, so much so that in 1986, it was the world's fastest street legal production car.

1986-Porsche-959
source: wsupercars

Its top speed of 197 mph is no joke even by today's standards, and some models have even been reported to be able to reach a massive 211 mph, something that can rival today's modern supercars and even hypercars. The performance alone of the 959, and 959 S especially, make it a car that surely won't ever see it depreciate in value any time soon.

Sources Used: Autoexpress, Top Speed, Motorbiscuit, Classicdriver, Autocar, Supercars.net, Autotrader, The Value, Auto Blog, Classic.com, Evo