There aren’t many things that are more interesting in the automotive world than the classic car market. Collectors of Classic Cars will often neglect certain cars for years, and then suddenly start spending crazy amounts of money on them. This typically happens when a new era of cars that were once fairly commonplace start becoming rarer and slipping into classic territory. Other times, it can happen by cars that were once viewed as oddballs becoming better appreciated over time. It can also be because a certain classic becomes a prime platform for customisation.
All the cars on this list fit into these categories in some way. They’re from multiple different eras, and also from multiple different regions and car cultures. There’s even one that’s a bit of a wildcard, as it was made within the last 20-25 years!
5 Dodge Ramcharger (Second Generation)
Average Used Value: $17,583
|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
Power |
Torque |
|
318 Cubic Inch V8 |
3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic |
Rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive |
140 hp |
245 lb-ft |
|
360 Cubic Inch V8 |
3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic |
Rear-wheel drive, four-wheel drive |
193 hp |
285 lb-ft |
There’s been some debate over what car was the first-ever SUV. Many people claim it’s the Chevrolet Suburban, but the term was decades away from being invented when that car first showed up. One car that can definitely stake a good claim to the title of first-ever SUV is the Dodge Ramcharger. Based on the Dodge Ram pick-up truck, the Ramcharger carries over that same rugged feel and workhorse build quality. It also means that it got some pretty great engines. In the case of the second-generation Ramcharger we’re focusing on here, those were the 318 and 360 cubic-inch V8s. While neither are powerful by modern standards, they’re more than good enough for hauling or towing things around, thanks to their high torque numbers.
The Ramcharger is the only car on this list that’s still a proper bargain, and still attainable for regular enthusiasts. You can pick up a second-generation model for around $17,583, and prices are still staying low. That won’t be the case forever, though. Collectors are definitely starting to take notice of the Ramcharger, and are beginning to buy them up.
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4 BMW M5 (E60)
Average Used Value: $30,545
|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
Power |
Torque |
|
5-liter V10 |
6-speed manual (North America only), 7-speed automated manual |
Rear-wheel drive |
500 hp |
384 lb-ft |
Yes, we know. The E60 BMW M5 is pretty young to be considered a classic car. But it has a type of engine that’s become almost completely extinct. Because of that, collectors are starting to want to get hold of them. This generation of the M5 is the only one that was sold with a naturally aspirated V10. This engine (along with the car’s complicated electronics) was more than a bit problematic. But that noise more than made up for it.
You can get an E60 M5 now for around $30,545. While all iterations of this generation of the M5 are desirable to collectors, the North America-only manual transmission versions are the ones that’ll really go up in value. These eliminate a lot of the pesky problems that come with the 7-speed SMG automated manual, and they give more of the purist driving experience that older versions of the M5 have.
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3 Chevrolet 454 SS
Average Used Value: $38,982
|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
Power |
Torque |
|
454 Cubic Inch V8 |
3-speed automatic (1990), 4-speed automatic (1991-1993) |
Rear-wheel drive |
230 hp (1990), 255 hp (1991-1993) |
385 lb-ft (1990), 405 lb-ft (1991-1993) |
High-performance pick-up trucks are almost normal now. But back in the early 1990s, they were practically unheard of. The GMC Sylone is the one everyone remembers, but General Motors also produced the Chevrolet 454 SS. This was a true performance monster of its day in the pick-up market, thanks to its 454 cubic inch V8. It was also only ever available in rear-wheel drive format. Without a lot of weight over the back end, that meant it could do serious burnouts!
If you want to buy one of the best of the early high-performance pick-ups, you’ll have to pay around $38,982. That average value is only going to go up as well, thanks to collectors’ seriously lusting after them.
2 Alfa Romeo GTV
Average Used Value: $44,978 – $48,274
|
Model |
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
Power |
Torque |
|
1750 GTV |
1.8-liter inline-4 |
5-speed manual |
Rear-wheel drive |
118-122 hp |
137 lb-ft |
|
2000 GTV |
2-liter inline-4 |
5-speed manual |
Rear-wheel drive |
130-132 hp |
134 lb-ft |
Alfa Romeo has consistently produced some of the most gorgeous-looking cars over the decades. The GTV from the 1970s is absolutely no exception to this. A variant of the Giulietta, it was originally available with a 1.8-liter inline-4 and known as the 1750 GTV. Later on, that engine was upgraded to a 2-liter unit and it became known as the 2000 GTV. Both versions are absolutely fantastic classic Alfa sports cars just on their own. But as companies like Alfaholics have proved, these cars also make a fantastic base for you to create your own restomod. This restomodding potential has definitely helped them become more desirable. Owners can adapt modern components to the classic looks, creating the best of both worlds between vintage and modern.
The earlier 1750 GTV is the more desirable one of the two—average values are at around $48,274. The 2000 GTV isn’t much less expensive though, averaging at around $44,978. Whichever version you go for, you’re getting a brilliant classic Alfa Romeo that’s quietly becoming all the rage with collectors.
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1 Continental Mark II
Average Used Value: $49,254
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|
Engine |
Transmission |
Drivetrain |
Power |
Torque |
|
368 Cubic Inch V8 |
3-speed automatic |
Rear-wheel drive |
285-300 hp |
402-415 lb-ft |
The Continental Mark II has to be one of the Ford Motor Company’s coolest oddities. Sold from 1956-1957, it was made during a time when Ford attempted to spin the Lincoln Continental off into its own brand. As a result, this is basically a classic Lincoln Continental, just without the Lincoln name on it. It’s got everything you’d want in a classic ’50s American luxury car, and the engine is powerful enough to help it keep up with modern traffic.
It shouldn’t be surprising, considering how plush it is, but the Continental Mark II is the most expensive car on this list. The average used value of one right now is $49,254. That puts it well out of the range of the average enthusiast. But it’s definitely not out of the range of the wealthy collectors, who are starting to snap these up.
Sources: Alfa Romeo, BMW, Chevrolet, Classic.com, Continental, Dodge
