The march of progress means that yesterday’s computer is today’s door stop and the mobile phone you so coveted a year or two ago is now a glorified brick in your pocket. The same applies to supercars, remember that fancy Ferrari in Magnum P.I.? Well, a turbocharged Honda Civic today would give it a seriously hard time. Yet despite their technical inferiority, values of these classic cars keep rocketing skywards.
The current buzz around cars like the 1960s Ferrari 250 GTO and ‘80s Testarossa supercar have made them totally unobtainable to the car lover who doesn’t happen to run their own hedge fund. Well we have some good news for you, there are plenty of modern supercars that can (generally) be had for a fraction of the price and they will destroy just about any classic Ferrari you care to mention. We don’t even need to stretch to the latest and greatest hybrid hyper cars either, our selection of early 2000s supercars and even a few humble sports cars can do the job just fine. While they may not all cost as much as a classic Ferrari, some may still require you to have a job in banking to get one.
We have selected a cross-section of classic Ferraris and pitted them against a variety of the more popular supercars from the early 2000s. Sure this is an unfair comparison but so are the prices that some of these Ferraris command. So, let’s forget about history and provenance, rarity and stunning designs and rather compare the bare performance figures.
19 Ferrari Dino 206 GT
The 206 was, as most ‘60s era Ferraris were, rather stunning to look at. However, it was meant to be an entry-level Ferrari and made do without Ferrari badges or big capacity engines. The first 206 had a 2.0-litre V6 which made 180-hp. It was light and rather nippy in its day but you could easily leave one in your dust in a modern turbo diesel BMW. Average values of these early legends can go up to $780,000 for pristine examples, the later 246 GTs can be found for as ‘low’ as $200,000.
0-60 mph: 7.5 seconds
18 BMW M3
We felt it unnecessary to go as far as an actual supercar for this one, after all the previous generation M3 offers up more than twice the power and gets to 60mph almost twice as fast as the Dino. That may be down to the fact that the M3 has a 4.0-litre V8 under its hood which produces 420-hp.
It took the mid-sized luxury performance sedan segment to a whole new level.
No, it’s not a like for like comparison but this was never going to be the case, especially when a used M3 can be had for around £30,000. In a way it is an entry level supercar, just like the Dino was in its day.
0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds (DCT transmission)
17 Nissan GT-R
Another nearly-supercar, the Nissan GT-R has been the Fast and Furious style challenger to the establishment. In fact, let’s reassess that first statement, with the kind of performance this car is capable of, it qualifies as a legitimate supercar even 10-years after it was originally released. Sure, you can get the track-ready 600-hp NISMO variant but the ‘base’ 560-hp trim is more than capable both on and off track. Used examples are around $50,000 and a brand new one is about double that. The 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 and dual-clutch transmission put the power down to all four wheels with such ferocity that even the quickest supercars will be left standing, a Dino wouldn’t even know what colour the GT-R was.
0-60 mph: 3.0 seconds
16 Ferrari 308
The 308 was a long-running model in Ferrari’s range. Starting off with a glass-reinforced plastic body the cars soon reverted to standard steel panels and the 2.9-liter V8 went through various changes producing 250-hp in its most potent form. The emissions hobbled U.S. versions had somewhat lower outputs, especially in the earliest fuel-injected models which made a paltry 200-hp. With that kind of power on tap it is a good thing that most of Thomas Magnum’s foes were driving even slower contemporary sedans. Today, you can pay up to $130,000 for a pristine steel bodied one or almost $200,000 for the early GRP bodied cars.
0-60 mph: 6.7 to 7.5 seconds
15 Lamborghini Gallardo
The Gallardo used to be the entry-level offering in Lamborghini’s range until the Huracan replaced it. VW ownership meant that the Gallardo shared some Audi components but the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10 was unique to the Lamborghini (no, despite rumours the Audi RS6 did not use a version of this motor) and it made a wonderful noise as it sent over 500-hp to the road.
The AWD system kept things in check allowing the Gallardo to launch away from the lights in a Ferrari 308 battering pace.
They cost less than a 308 too, a decent 550-hp LP560 Spyder can be found for less than a steel bodied 308.
0-60 mph: 3.5 to 4.1 seconds
14 Porsche 911 Carrera S
The 997 model Carrera was and remains a great all-round sports car. The Carrera S versions made 350-hp from their 3.8-litre flat-sixes and offered 182-mph performance potential. These cars slotted into the Porsche range at around the same place the older 308 would have occupied in the Ferrari pecking order. But 30-years of development make the 911 far more capable and a lot easier to use day-to-day. $35,000 will get you started while $60,000 will get you a face lifted 380-hp variant. Newer 911s now offer even more power and performance, threatening to overshadow this once class-leading Carrera in the same way that it squashes the 308 into the dirt performance wise.
0-60 mph: 4.5 seconds est.
13 Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4
Equipped with a 4.4-liter V12 pushing out a claimed 350-hp, the Daytona 365 GTB was a ferocious thing back at its launch in 1968. It was a superb GT car capable of covering huge distances at serious pace, you could wring a 170mph out of one if you were brave enough. Racing versions were also produced and privateer racers achieved some impressive results in endurance racing events like the Daytona 24-hour and at LeMans.
The kind of power that the road cars were producing though is now being matched by entry-level 4-cylinder Mustangs.
Prices can push the $800,000 mark for the best examples although you can find roughed up examples for around half that price.
0-60 mph: 5.9 seconds
12 2005 Ford GT
Built to recapture some of that old GT40 LeMans winning magic, the Ford GT was a blue-collar supercar with brutal performance. It may have used the transmission derived from a truck but it needed to be strong to handle the 550-hp produced by the supercharged 5.4-liter V8. This too happened to be a heavily reworked engine taken from the Lincoln Navigator SUV. Regardless of the pedestrian origins of the underpinnings, when fettled and fitted under the retro-styled bodywork the GT was a superb machine. At $300,000 for a used one, these cars have long been popular collectors’ items.
0-60 mph: 3.3 seconds
11 Corvette C6
Such is the march of progress that even the comparatively humble Corvette can show a once all-conquering V12 Ferrari the way. We are not talking about the latest European supercar conquering C7 here. No, even the old C6 generation ‘Vette could outrun the 365 GTB.
The 400-hp LS2 6.0-litre V8 gave this sports car Porsche 911 levels of performance and as usual, at a fraction of the price.
The ZR1 however was supercar quick and made 638-hp from its supercharged 6.2-litre V8. These can go for up to $90,000 but the very capable Z06 is a much more agreeable $40,000. That means you could get 20 Z06 Corvettes for one 365 GTB/4. You are going to need to get a bigger garage.
0-60 mph: 3.2 to 4.2 seconds
10 Ferrari Testarossa
The Testarossa was a big departure from the 512BBi it replaced. While the 4.9-liter flat-12 engine was similar it now made 385-hp and could top out at a very rapid 180-mph. The looks were stunning too, those side strakes and wide rear haunches gave the car a unique and sporting character. The white example as used by Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice made it popular in the States and it was one of the most desirable ‘80s supercars. It may outrun a turbocharged 4-cylinder Mustang but one of the V8 models will leave its standing at the lights. Prices for these once mighty machines range between $60,000 and $130,000.
0-60 mph: 5.2 seconds
9 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren
The SLR was the result of an uneasy alliance between Mercedes and McLaren. Both companies had their own ideas of what a supercar should be and their latest in-house developed models clearly demonstrate a very different interpretation on the theme. The SLR may have ended up a bit heavy and was saddled with an automatic transmission but it proved to be a ballistic continent crusher nonetheless.
It matched any contemporary supercar (bar the Veyron) while still offering a luxurious interior.
Its 617-hp 5.4-litre supercharged V8 would simply crush a Testarossa.
0-60 mph: 3.4 seconds
8 Lamborghini Murcielago
The Murcielago is less of a GT than the Testarossa but any discomfort on longer trips would be short-lived. This supercar would get you to your destination in half the time. The final variants had a 661-hp 6.5-litre V12 that gave the Murcielago LP 670 a 213-mph top speed. Clearly more than a match for a Testarossa but even this crazy level of performance has now been eclipsed by the latest Aventador. Prices start at around $130,000 which is about what you would pay for a perfect Testarossa. You can pay double that for a low-mileage late model car though.
0-60 mph: 2.9 to 3.8 seconds
7 Ferrari 250 GTO
Now we move to the big daddy, the most expensive car ever to be sold at auction or otherwise. A pristine example will be going up for auction at Monterey in August which is rumoured to sell for more than the previous record holder, another 250 GTO which went for $38-million in 2014. One sold privately for around twice that figure earlier this year. It sure is beautiful and makes all the right noises but in a straight up fight it will come second best to just about any new supercar. The 3.0-litre 300-hp V12 gave the car a top speed of around 160mph, insanely quick for the day but nowhere near the ballpark compared to more modern stuff. Average values are between 38 and £70-million
0-60 mph: 6.1 seconds
6 Bugatti Veyron
The Veyron was the first 1000-hp production supercar. Like the 250 GTO, it rewrote the record books although not in terms of on-track performance. Instead it made every other supercar instantly look underpowered and slow. It broke every acceleration record and topped out at a massive 254-mph.
That is almost 100mph faster than the GTO and it would get to 60mph more than twice as quickly.
It did need an 8-litre quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder monster engine to do it though. Still, you can buy 19 examples for the price of one auctioned off 250 GTO.
0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds
5 Pagani Zonda
The Zonda descended on the supercar world like a crazy futuristic work of art. The Mercedes-derived 6.0 and 7.3-liter V12 gave it performance and a soundtrack that put the fear of bankruptcy into many an established supercar manufacturer. Thankfully (for Ferrari and Lamborghini) the Zonda remained a niche model and despite seemingly dozens of special editions and one-offs, production numbers remained low. Prices vary greatly depending on specification levels although even the best rarely trade above $2-million. That’s rather fantastic value compared to that 250 GTO.
0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
4 Ferrari F355
The F355 is about as beautiful as mid-engined Ferraris get. It followed on from the somewhat forgettable 348 and offered much more power and a whole lot more performance too. Capable of 183mph, the 375-hp 3.5-litre V8 also produced one of the most magnificent noises of any internal combustion engine ever made. All great stuff, but the latest 488 GTB with its 661-hp twin-turbo V8 will absolutely destroy it. The 355 was also the first road-going Ferrari to offer a single-clutch semi-automatic transmission. Effective but rather clunky compared to today’s lightning-quick dual-clutch units. Stick to the manuals and enjoy one of the best analogue ‘90s supercars out there. Average values range from $50,000 to $100,000.
0-60 mph: 4.6 seconds
3 Audi R8
The R8 was in some ways a similar product for Audi as the F355 was for Ferrari. It was a reliable sports car with a mid-mounted V8 that really had the competition running for cover. The R8 with its original 420-hp 4.2-litre V8 may only have arrived 10-years after the F355 but it was both quicker in a straight line and on the track. At $60,000 for one of these early models they are cheaper too. The later V10-powered examples raised the performance to new levels and these too can be found for well below F355 prices.
0-60 mph: 4.2 seconds
2 Porsche Carrera GT
The Carrera GT was the last true analogue supercar from Porsche and its sound is just as intoxicating as the F355s is. That and the fact that both have their engines situated in the middle is where the similarities end.
The Carrera GT was the pinnacle of Porsches road-going knowledge and the 603-hp 5.7-liter V10 was a masterpiece.
It was a tricky handler at the limit and demanded respect. The limited production run of just under 1,300 units had people clamouring for more and used prices are now pushing the $1-million mark.
0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
1 Ferrari Enzo
Just to show that we are not heartless Ferrari-haters, we end off with the most significant Ferrari supercar of the 2000s. The Enzo. It ushered in a new age of technological innovation and produced segment-defining performance from its 660-hp 6.0-litre V12. With a limited production run of a mere 400 units they have long been trading well above their original asking price. $3,000,000 is where it’s at currently but that price is likely to keeping heading upwards. Pricey compared to the F355 but a mere rounding error relative to that 250 GTO.
0-60 mph: 3.2 seconds
Sources: hagerty.com, carfolio.com, newpress.com