Many classic sports cars are facing steep increases in value, with interest towards them growing as they age. These cars are often hugely sought after because of their history, power, and looks, and finding examples that are in good condition is getting harder by the day. However, that's just the minority of classic cars on the market, with most old cars still not sought-after or appreciated by collectors and either depreciating in price or staying the same for a very long time.

Related: 24 Classic Cars That Are Dirt Cheap In 2021

There are often a wide array of reasons why some classic sports cars remain cheap over time. Whether it be poor build quality, slow speed, or bad looks, cars can be undesirable to the point where they cost literal peanuts to buy. We've compiled this list to show some of the cheapest classic sports cars and also their reasons why they are so cheap so you can weigh up whether they are worth owning.

9 1972 Fiat X1/9 1300 ($8,500)

Fiat X1/9
via pinterest.com

Noted for its handling abilities and racing feel, the Fiat X1/9 was a small sports car released in the 1970s. Many expected it to be quite a powerful car as it was so lightweight (weighing 1940 lbs), but it wasn't, and its engine never made more than 75 horsepower. Nonetheless, the car was a nimble motor to drive and it felt very stable.

Front 3/4 view of the X1/9
Via wikipedia.org

However, it hasn't been very impressive over the years as rust has begun to set into the car, and there have been many instances of the car suffering from terminal rot. Issues with the build quality have made it quite an undesirable car and buyers will be looking to pay around $8,500 for a Fiat X1/9 1300 nowadays.

8 1975 Triumph TR7 ($3,900)

1975 Triumph TR7 In Orange
via Wikipedia

When The Triumph TR7 launched in 1974, many liked its cool styling. The car received good reviews, and it made it into the U.S. before it was even sold in the UK, which was surprising as the U.S. was considering a ban on open-roofed cars at the time. After some time on the market, it became obvious that the car had been undeveloped due to the financial problems that Triumph was having at the time.

Triumph TR7
Via Bring A Trailer

Despite its nice interior and appeal, the TR7 has a weak engine that wasn't powerful enough and the build quality of the car was appalling. Buyers can now expect to pay around $3,900 for a TR7, which is reflective of the poor way in which the car has aged. It's considered a lemon and drivers would much rather buy a TR6 or even the V8-powered TR8 before the underpowered TR7.

7 1975 Lotus Eclat ($8,700)

Lotus Eclat S2
Via Brightwells Classic Cars

Launched in 1974, the Lotus Eclat was released after the U.S. rejected the Lotus Elise for its shooting-brake styling. Lotus launched the Eclat with the same engine options as the Elise and brought an extra 5 hp, producing 160 hp overall. However, the car never did as well as the Elise did as it was especially heavy for a Lotus, weighing 2399 lbs.

Lotus Eclat S2
Via Brightwells Classic Cars

The Eclat was brilliant in terms of handling, but the heavy feel and odd looks make it quite undesirable now. There also aren't many Eclat's available with only 1299 ever produced, so the $8,700 price is incredibly cheap for a rare British sports car.

6 1974 Ford Mustang II ($7,400)

Ford Mustang II Brown
Via: Bring A Trailer

The second generation of the Ford Mustang was launched in 1973 and its release coincided with the oil crisis. The car was pushed straight into the malaise era, which is where muscle cars were underpowered and they lost a lot of their momentum. The Mustang II did come with improved handling and it was 490 lb lighter than the original Mustang, but that just wasn't fast enough to justify its lack of power and dull looks.

Related: Why The 1978 Ford Mustang King Cobra II Was One Of The Worst Fords... Ever

1500004288531
via Ford

Going 0-60 mph in 10.5 seconds was hardly impressive, making it the slowest muscle car of the decade, and enthusiasts were completely let down by it. For this reason, the car is very cheap nowadays costing around $7,400 on average. It was a complete letdown and it did not reflect what the Mustang is about.

5 1971 Triumph Stag ($13,700)

3-Via Driven To Write Cropped
3-Via Driven To Write Cropped

Launched in 1970, the Triumph Stag was nicely styled, and many loved how comfortable it was. The car came with a 3.0-liter V8 engine that sounded fantastic, but the were many problems that were going on with the car and this reflected how many Triumph cars also suffered during the 1970s. At the top of the list were build quality problems that affected the engine.

3-Via Driver Car Cropped
3-Via Driver Car Cropped

Engine problems included the powertrain overheating and needing a complete rebuild, which meant more money was spent on repairs. Since there are so many engine problems and costly repairs, the Stag costs around $13,700 nowadays, and many of them are in OK condition as they have survived this long, but buyers need to look out for engine problems.

4 1984 Pontiac Fiero ($3,000)

Pontiac Fiero 1988 Wall
via: Wikipedia

The Pontiac Fiero was launched in 1984, made mainly because Pontiac wanted to have a car that looked sporty in its lineup. Due to the emissions and oil regulations, the Fiero wasn't really powered like a sports car. Coming with a 2.5-liter "Iron Duke" engine that produced 92 hp, its power levels weren't exactly desirable. Despite the lack of power hindering its status as a proper sports car, it did come with good handling and it was very comfortable.

Related: 5 Worst Pontiac Cars Ever Built (5 We'd Blow Our Savings On)

via thestreetpeep.com

Updated models did bring more power, but the standard Fiero remained behind in this sense. Also, the Fiero had serious problems with safety and it frequently caught fire, especially in the GT models released in 1986. For these reasons, the Fiero costs around $3,000 nowadays, and it isn't expected to rise in price any time soon.

3 1984 Datsun 300ZX ($10,500)

300ZX
Via Hagerty

Launched in 1984, the Datsun 300ZX was wider and squarer than the previous 280Z, but many also found it to be more refined and it was modernized for the time. It came with a Nissan V6 engine that produced 180 hp, which was a good amount for a car of its size. Also, the build quality was brilliant, with many surviving in good condition nowadays, but there are many cars which have been tuned as time has gone on.

Related: This Is What Makes The Datsun 240Z Special

1984 Nissan 300ZX
Via Connorsmotorcar.co.uk

However, despite its nice build and a good engine, the 300ZX wasn't very fast for what it was, going 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds. It was more of a cruiser than a sports car and it wasn't anywhere near as popular as the later Z32 generation 300ZX. Prices for this model remain very low, with the 300ZX costing around $10,500 on average, but buyers should look out for badly modified versions.

2 1975 MG Midget MkIV ($5,300)

MG Midget MkIV
Via MGExp

Launched in 1975, the MG Midget MkIV was the final installment in the Midget lineup. The U.S. versions were very undesirable due to the addition of rubber safety bumpers that added weight to the car. Also, power was down in the MkIV with 55.5 hp, which resulted in a top speed of only 80 mph. Build quality wasn't the best either, thanks to British Leyland.

MG Midget MkIV
Via Historics.co.uk

Buyers should remain aware of the poor quality of the MkIV as it is the worst of the Midget car family, they should always look out for rust in the car too. Costing around $5,300 now, it is easy to see why prices are so low. Many owners have opted to remove the rubber bumpers, replacing them with chrome ones which do go some way to redeeming the car.

1 1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke ($5,600)

1982 Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke
hemmings.com

The Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke was a complete flop for Chevrolet and a massive letdown among enthusiasts. While it looked very aggressive and sporty, its performance told a very different story. The 2.5-liter Iron Duke engine produced a shockingly tiny 90 hp, and it did nothing for the muscle car name. While it was supposed to be the solution to the emissions and oil problems of the '70s, it was better off not being produced.

via Pinterest

Being unable to reach 100 mph is ridiculous in a muscle car that looked like this. Buyers can expect to pay $5,600 for one of these nowadays, which is hardly surprising given their reputation.