Collector Cars That Have Turned Out To Be The Best Investment

Collector Cars That Have Turned Out To Be The Best Investment


May 5, 2025 | Allison Robertson

Collector Cars That Have Turned Out To Be The Best Investment


Cash Out Or Cash Up

While the collector market is still very active, it is said to be somewhat unpredictable, with some collector vehicles losing value and others rising tremendously.

According to Hagerty Insurance, if you'd bought one of these classics five years ago, your investment would have climbed anywhere from 40% to 180%.

From classics cars and trucks to sports cars and vintage favorites, let’s take a closer look at which vehicles may just be the best investment.

Car Investments Msn

Top Five Classic Cars For Appreciating Value

The top five classic cars for appreciating value are a mix of 1980s and 1990s cars, Japanese vehicles, and the Mercedes-Benz W123 series—particularly the station wagon.

According to John Wiley, head of analytics for Hagerty Insurance, “These are popular vehicle generations in that at least 1,000 people have come to Hagerty this year to insure their example of that vehicle”.

Let’s find out just how much they’re worth.

File:1980 Mercedes-Benz W123.jpgRutger van der Maar, Wikimedia Commons

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1. 1979-1993 Ford Mustang

Ford Mustang models between 1979 and 1993 are believed to be up an astounding 187% to US $50,300.

1982 Ford Mustang GT HatchbackSicnag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

2. 1976-1985 Mercedes-Benz W123 Series

Mercedes-Benz W123 Series between 1976 and 1985 are said to be up 138% to US $34,500.

File:Mercedes-Benz 230E (W123) registered August 1985 2299cc.JPGCharles01, Wikimedia Commons

3. 1994-1998 Nissan Skyline R33

Nissan Skyline R33 models between 1994 and 1998 are up 119% to a whopping US $181,900.

14 August 2019, Saxony-Anhalt, Gräfenhainichen: The driver Tessa Whittock (Great Britain) poses at a Nissan Skyline R33 and the tire tracks of a so-called Donat before the motorsport event Iron Drift King 2019. From 15.-17.08.2019 more than 100 drift drivers from 26 nations drive around the crown of the Iron Drift King 2019 in Ferropolis. picture alliance, Getty Images

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4. 1993-1998 Toyota Supra

Toyota Supras between 1993 and 1998 are up 104% to US $109,700.

UNITED KINGDOM - SEPTEMBER 21: A 1994 Toyota Supra MK IV used on screen by Paul Walker in The Fast and the Furious (2001) during the 'Fast & Furious Live' media launch day event which featured the most screen used Fast and Furious cars ever in one place, on September 21, 2017 at the Fast & Furious 'Fast Camp' live rehersal space in Leicestershire, England.Ollie Millington, Getty Images

5. 1975-1978 Datsun 280Z

Datsun 280Z models between 1975 and 1978 are up 92% to US $37,400.

File:1978 Datsun 280-Z (19028254342).jpgGreg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons

Top Five Trucks For Appreciating Value

Those were the top five classic cars, now let’s take a look at the top five trucks for appreciating value. This list is curated—just so it isn’t all Ford F-series trucks.

File:Ford F-Series truck (5043837888).jpgsv1ambo, Wikimedia Commons

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1. 1997-2003 Ford F-Series

Ford F-Series between 1997 and 2003 are believed to be up an incredible 149% to about US $38,000.

'97-'98 Ford F-250 XL Regular CabBull-Doser, Wikimedia Commons

2. 1972-1980 Dodge D/W Series Pickups

Dodge D/W Series Pickups between 1972 and 1980 are up about 123% to US $27,600.

Dodge D-W SeriesTrop86, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

3. 1967-1972 Ford F-Series

Going back a little further, Ford F-Series between 1967 and 1972 are now up 101% to $43,500.

Ford F-SeriesJOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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4. 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee

Jeep Cherokees between 1984 and 2001 are up 101% to US $17,700.

1993 Jeep Cherokee 4 0 litre.Heritage Images, Getty Images

5. 1988-2000 Chevrolet GMT400 Series Trucks

Chevy GMT400 Series trucks between 1988 and 2000 are up 98% to US $28,700.

File:Chevrolet Suburban GMT400.jpgIFCAR, Wikimedia Commons

Top Five Sports Cars For Appreciating Value

This list of sports cars spans a wide range of years, but in general, the vehicles in this list are still appreciating, nearly as fast as many of the trucks.

A 1978 Porsche 911 SC photographed driving on a track in Essex, on July 2, 2019.Total 911 Magazine, Getty Images

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1. 2000-2009 Honda S2000

Honda S2000s between 2000 and 20009 are up 83% to US $50,100.

Honda S2000Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

2. 1999-2005 Mazda MX-5 Miata NB

Mazda MX-5 Miata NS models between 1999 and 2005 are up 81% to US $18,300.

Mazda MX-5 Miata NBMercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

3. 1978-1983 Porsche 911

Porsche 911s between 1978 and 1983 are up 58% to US $84,100.

1979 Porsche 911SC. Creator: Unknown. Heritage Images, Getty Images

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4. 1996-2002 BMW Z3/M Roadster

BMW Z3/M Roadsters between 1996 and 2002 are up 48% to US $32,900.

BMW Z3/M RoadsterTTTNIS, Wikimedia Commons

5. 1969-1976 Triumph TR6

Triumph TR6s from 1969 and 1976 are up 44% to US $33,300.

Richard Good of Mohnton in his Historic 2, 1972 Triumph TR6. The Duryea Hillclimb started Saturday on Reading's Duryea Drive ending on Skyline Drive and will conclude Sunday. Duyrea Hillclimb Photo by Harold Hoch 8/19/17MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images, Getty Images

Top Five Vintage Cars For Appreciating Value

While traditional vintage cars have a similar story to sports cars, they happen to have a somewhat slower appreciation, according to Hagerty. John Wiley goes on to say, “Overall, we’re seeing faster appreciation among vehicles that were mostly overlooked by collectors five to 10 years ago”.

So, which vintage cars made the list?

10 June 2023, Saxony-Anhalt, Wolmirstedt: Torsten Parschat competes in his 1968 Cadillac Deville at the 13th Ohre Classic. 110 participants take part in the classic car meeting with their cars. From the starting point at the Schlossdomäne Wolmirstedt, classic car fans will drive through the north of Saxony-Anhalt this year. Photo: Peter Gercke/dpapicture alliance, Getty Images

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1. 1956-1975 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

Volkswagen Karmann Ghias between 1956 and 1975 are up 83% to US $51,700.

MARKT PIESTING, AUSTRIA - SEPTEMBER 2: 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia in the '6th Ebreichsdorf-Classic' oldtimer ralley at Markt Piesting on September 2, 2017 in Markt Piesting, Austria.Manfred Schmid, Getty Images

2. 1965-1970 Cadillac DeVille

Cadillac DeVilles between 1965 and 1970 are up 75% to US $37,200.

Bill Golasinski's 1965 Cadillac deVille convertible with original tags. Friday, May 23, 2014, in Houston. ( Marie D. De Jesus / Houston Chronicle )Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images

3. 1970-1979 Lincoln Continental

Lincoln Continental models from 1970 to 1979 are up 69% to US $22,700.

NEUNKIRCHEN, AUSTRIA - JULY 31: A Lincoln 1975 Continental Mark IV is seen during the Rock'n'Roll Kurpark Festival at Kurpark Bad Sauerbrunn on July 31, 2022 in Neunkirchen, Austria.Manfred Schmid, Getty Images

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4. 1962-1980 Triumph Spitfire

Triumph Spitfire models between 1962 and 1980 are up 47% to US $17,100.

1974 Triumph Spitfire MKIV. Heritage Images, Getty Images

5. 1970-1974 MG/MGB

MG/MGB models from 1970 to 1974 are up 39% to US $21,400.

1971 MGB GT. In common with most MG cars, the MGB GT offered reasonable performance and fun for a bargain price. The cars proved highly popular right up until their production was discontinued by British Leyland in 1980 to make way for the new TR 7, and they retain a large following of enthusiasts to this day.Heritage Images, Getty Images

Future Investment Values

According to Wiley, Hagerty does not make predictions on how much vehicles will appreciate in the coming years. Instead, he suggests that in general, vehicles that are both accessible—and something you like—are good purchases.

Bill Golasinski is the proud owner of a 1965 Cadillac deVille convertible running over a 100,000 miles around the country in it. Friday, May 23, 2014, in Houston. Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers, Getty Images

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Do It For The Dream

Collector cars should not be purchased solely for investment potential—you should buy your dream vehicle simply because it is your dream.

1979 Porsche 911 Turbo, 2000. Heritage Images, Getty Images

You May Also Like:

The Trillion Dollar Collector Car Market—By The Numbers
10 Classic Chevys Every Collector Wants—And What They’re Worth Today
22 Classic Cars From The 1970s

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