We don't know exactly what's the secret ingredients that make classic cars so adored... Perhaps it's the sheer noise, lack of safety precautions, outlandish styling, or raw feel of getting behind the wheel of a classic - we're not entirely sure. What we do know, however, is that classic cars are skyrocketing in demand at this very moment.
More carmakers are converting themselves to hybrids and fully-fledged electric vehicles, even Ferrari is slowly starting to follow that line of business with the new 296 GTS. That's mainly the reason why classic cars' demand is rising, but there is another contributing factor - money. Yes, most of us know classic cars are either worth the price of a new kidney or sell for scrap metal. Looking back at the classic car market, it's early to see that some cars tend to go up in value more than others, like the Jaguar E-Type for example, but the cars we'll be talking about today are some that are soon to skyrocket in value and are guaranteed to make you money in the long run.
10 1973 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Karmann Ghia is somewhat of an unsung legend. It had the looks of a gorgeous grand tourer, but the heart of the Beetle. And it wasn't solely German-built, its DNA was infused with some Italian blood as well.
Yep, that's right, a car that has been dubbed the most beautiful car to exist by various motor enthusiasts receives its power from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out less than 50 hp. Still, these magnificent VWs can be picked up for as little as $20,000, and by the looks of things, they'll skyrocket in value very soon.
9 2001 Ford Focus SVT
As we all know, the Ford Focus RS is one hell of a machine; we mean, it's an all-wheel-drive hatchback with a drift mode button and a mandatory manual gearbox. But the RS wasn't the first Ford hatch to adopt a super fun personality... In 2001 Ford souped up their Focus, and they called it the SVT (short for Special Vehicle Team) Focus in honor of the team that developed it.
It was also developed with the help of the legendary tuning company called Cosworth, and underneath its hood was a 2.0-liter Zetec four-cylinder engine that put out 170 hp, Recaro front buckets came standard, and the car could go from 0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds. When released, the Focus SVT cost $18,000, but nice examples are selling for more than that nowadays already, and that number is bound to go up.
8 1987 Jaguar XJS
The Jaguar XJS is arguably one of the best bang-for-your-buck grand touring cars available. At the time of writing this article, you can pick yourself up a 1987 XJS for around $10,000 on CarGurus. This specific year model came equipped with a gnarly, yet sophisticated 5.2-liter V12 that produced more than 260 hp.
That number isn't astronomically high, but then again, that wasn't this Jag's intended purpose, comfortable and effortless touring was. In other words, for around $10,000 you can own one of the classiest, grand touring Jags ever created, and if you were to sell it one day, chances are you'll only make money on the XJS.
7 1983 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
Hot hatches are all the craze today, but way back when, Volkswagen birthed one of the first-ever hot hatches, the GTI. The GTI name still remains a mark of significance in Volkswagen's lineup of cars today, but the Rabbit GTI is one many people tend to overlook. Underneath the econobox's small hood was a naturally-aspirated 1.8-liter four-pot that sent 90 hp to the front wheels.
Back in the '80s that meant that the Rabbit GTI's 0-60 time of 9.7 seconds was actually quicker than some muscle cars of the same era, even the Pontiac Trans Am if it had the base V8 with an automatic. At the moment, most Rabbit GTI models are selling for under $20,000 - but we've seen some museum-quality examples as high as $40,000.
6 1990 Mazda MX-5 Miata NA
Miata is always the answer (M.I.A.T.A. - get it?), no matter if the question is in regard to an enjoyable driving experience, or a wise investment. The first-generation MX-5, also called the NA, came out for model year 1990, and since then the MX-5 name has been synonymous with being the best-selling sports car.
It was affordable, looked good, and never failed to slap a smile on your face. Just a few years ago, these NA Miatas could be bought for $5,000, and they seldom hit above the $10,000 mark. But in today's day and age, it's a different story—some of them (best of the best) have even sold for around $20,000 on Bring A Trailer.
5 1993 BWM E34 M5
The BMW M5 is seen as the original super sedan, albeit the E28 and not the E34-generation. But ever since the first M5's introduction back in 1984, every single M5 after that has been just bewildering. We consider the E34 to be the best M5 to pick up if you intend to sell it for a profit. We know, it's not as cheap as the V10-powered E60 M5, but then again the E34 is also much more reliable. Furthermore, its 310-hp inline six was more than adequate to smoke some unsuspecting sports car owners.
For the time being, it's difficult to standardize the 1993 M5's exact value since models of this era have sold for anything between $20 ,000 and $40,000.
4 1992 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo
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With the release of the new Nissan Z, hardcore Z fans are starting to reminisce about previous Z cars, but one stands out above them all, the 300 ZX. The new Z isn't the first Z car to come with a turbocharged engine, that was actually the 1981 280ZX Turbo, hence the name of course. But that car paled compared to the 300ZX twin-turbo that debuted nearly a decade later.
These twin-turbo V6 cars cranked out 300 hp to the rear wheels, had a T-top design, quad exhausts, flush headlights, and handsome taillights that were the inspiration behind the new Z's rear end. For the time being, the 300ZX TT sells for anything upwards of $20,000, but we predict in the foreseeable future that these will be impossible to find for under $40,000, and the pristine ones will sell for much higher.
3 2003 BMW E46 M3
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And we have our second Bavarian machine on the list for today, only this one is a bit more modern, and cheaper. The M3 name has been shared with six different generations, but the E46 stands out because it was the last naturally-aspirated straight-six-powered one out of the bunch. To the average buyer, such details seem almost insignificant, but for true gearheads, especially Bimmer fanboys, the E46 M3 is seen as the last "true" M3 BMW had created.
Like many of these M cars, the convertible versions are always cheaper, and at this moment, the cheapest running example of an E46 M3 on CarGurus is a topless 2003 model that costs $13,000, and on Bring A Trailer the hardtops are already starting to sell between $30,000 and $50,000 - unbelievable.
2 2002 Porsche 911 Turbo (996)
The 996-generation of Porsche's 911 is seen by some as the ugliest 911-generation ever, but once you look past its weird headlights, you really can't help but fall in love with this 911. The 996 Turbo had a rear-mounted 3.6-liter flat-six turbocharged engine that pumped out 420 hp to all four wheels, and it could be controlled via a blissful 6-speed manual gearbox.
A well-kept, lower-mileage 996 Turbo will set you back less than $70,000 in 2022, but as all other 911s go, its price is bound to double in the next decade or so. Still don't believe us? Doug DeMuro himself said you're getting one hell of a deal, so you know it's serious.
1 1987 Porsche 928 S4
The Porsche 928 itself is somewhat of a forgotten Porsche that was initially meant to replace Porsche's 911, but as you guessed, things didn't go quite as planned. The 928 also didn't make use of flat-six engines like the 911, it sported a V8, and it was front-mounted. In the S4 variant, the 928's engine would produce 316 hp.
When new, a 928 S4 would have set you back almost $60,000, but they can be picked up for as little as $30,000 today. We can't even imagine the ludicrous prices these Porsches are going to sell for in the near future, especially if the internal combustion engine faces its demise.