13 Cars That Went From Collector Favorites to Bargain Finds
Many of us would love to own a classic car. The idea that an iconic and historic vehicle of the past could be sat on our driveway is an amazing feeling. However, classic cars often come with a price tag.
But is that always the case? Well, the reality is it's not, as many classic cars don't have as big an asking price as you might think. Some are way more affordable than you could imagine.
This list contains 13 classics that, for want of a better phrase, have tanked in value. We've selected them based on, of course, their price, as well as their historical value and legacy. Some of these have dropped in price, while others have always been great classic cars for those on a budget.
Ninth-Generation Ford Thunderbird
When people look at examples of Ford Thunderbirds to buy, most of us will look at the original generation from the 1950s. However, if you want a Thunderbird on a budget, look no further than the ninth generation of 1983.
After the eighth generation, Ford gave the Thunderbird a makeover in 1983 with a revised, sleeker, and more aerodynamic design. Engine options included a 3.8-liter V6 with 110 horsepower and a 5.0-liter V8 with 130 horsepower. Ford also offered a turbocharged, fuel-injected 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 142 horses.
Lincoln Mark VII
During the 1980s, several United States automotive manufacturers took steps to “Europeanise” their range to appeal to more buyers and fight off competition from vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz SEC. Lincoln was one manufacturer that did just that with its Mark VII, based on the rear-wheel-drive Fox platform used on the Ford Mustang.
The rather sleek and slender Mark VII came in a variety of models. The Luxury Sport Coupe (LSC) focused on performance, and the higher-level trims focused on luxury. Engine options included a 140 horsepower 5.2-liter V8 or the 2.4-liter turbodiesel straight-six sourced from BMW.
Triumph TR8
Triumphs have sometimes had a mixed reputation, and the wedge-shaped TR8 is one of them. Ironically, the TR8 was more popular on American soil than it was in its native United Kingdom, and it was a more powerful V8 version of the previous TR7.
Triumph used the 3.5-liter Rover V8 in the SD1 instead of British Leyland's V8 engine. The TR8 was produced over two years, and hardly any examples were sold in the U.K. However, nearly all left-hand drive examples were sold on the American market and in Canada.
Peugeot 205 Rallye
When most people think of the Peugeot 205, they instantly think of the GTi, the homologation version of Peugeot's rally car. But there is another version from the 205 lineup, and ironically, it is called the Rallye, and it is slowly earning more recognition.
Power was modest, with a 1.2-liter powertrain producing 102 horsepower, but it was only a touch less than the 1.6-liter GTi. Peugeot really stripped back the interior to save as much weight as possible, and thanks to skinny tires and a few other changes, the 205 Rallye is one of the best-handling Peugeots ever made.
MG Maestro Turbo
At first glance, it might look like a Lancia Delta Integrale. But upon closer inspection, we can see that it is, in fact, an MG Maestro Turbo, produced from 1989 to 1991. The Maestro Turbo was MG's attempt to break continental Europe's monopoly on the hot hatchback market.
The standard Maestro's 2.0-liter inline-four engine was fitted with turbocharging to boost power to 150 horsepower. The 0-60 mph time was just 6.7 seconds, and the top speed was 128 mph. The Maestro Turbow was faster than most rivals but couldn't shake off its standard Maestro image. As a result, MG only produced 500 cars.
Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign
The Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign is the top-of-the-range trim level of the XJ6, and Jaguar produced the Sovereign from 1986 to 1994. The Sovereign had the same V12 engine under the hood as the regular XJ6, but it also came with a few extras.
All Sovereigns came with air conditioning, headlamp washers, a six-speaker sound system, rear self-leveling suspension, and anti-lock brakes. Earlier examples prior to 1991 also had inlaid burl walnut wood trim to give the interior that classic, British luxury car vibe.
MG MGB
If you want an affordable classic, you don't need to look further than the MG MGB. British manufacturer MG produced the MGB from 1965 to 1980, with early models, in particular, a delight thanks to their chrome bumpers and trim. Each MGB came with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 95 horsepower.
MG would later change the car's appearance dramatically thanks to updated plastic bumpers. However, while it didn't look as good, the MGB still retained its brilliant performance and handling from the earlier models. The MGB is the perfect way to enter the classic car world on a budget.
1965 Ford Thunderbird
If you want a Ford Thunderbird that is a bit more classic than the ninth generation, the 1965 Thunderbird might be the one for a year. Ford massively redesigned the Thunderbird just one year earlier, and the 1965 model carried over those changes, plus new sequential taillights.
Power game from a 6.4-liter or 7.8-liter V8 engine, producing between 300-345 horsepower and 427-462 lb-ft of torque. The 1965 Thunderbird also had a bit of luxury, thanks to the Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission. The 1965 Thunderbird represents another brilliant and affordable way to get your hands on a Ford classic.
Porsche 944
The Porsche 944 is an exciting proposition. It debuted in the early 1980s as Porsche was looking to future-proof its lineup amid doubts its staple 911 would have the longevity it needed. Ironically, the 944 was out of production by 1991, and Porsche still produces the 911.
The 944 evolved from the earlier 924, and power came from a range of inline fours. The most notable being the 2.5-liter M44/51 turbocharged inline-four found in the 944 Turbo. Porsche introduced the Turbo for the 1986 model year, and the new engine produced 217 horsepower in the United States.
2002 Ford Thunderbird
We make no apologies for having another Ford Thunderbird on this list because the 2002 Thunderbird is a modern classic. At the time, it was derided and turned into a joke, yet it's actually one of the best versions of the Thunderbird.
The retro design mixed with early-2000s design cues works incredibly well. The only thing that hasn't aged well is the 17-inch wheels. Under the hood, you have a 250-horsepower 3.9-liter quad-cam V8 engine with an overdrive five-speed automatic transmission. The more you look, the more you realize there is much to love about the 2002 Thunderbird.
Cadillac Allante
The Cadillac Allante was the American manufacturer's answer to the Mercedes-Benz SL; however, it didn't quite work out for the GM brand. Pininfarina was tasked with designing the body and interior, with Cadillac wanting to inject some European flair into the Allante. Production wasn't always efficient, with the bodies built in Turin, Italy, then shipped to Detroit in the US for final assembly.
Ultimately, build quality hurt the Allante, but if you had a good one, you had a very enjoyable and luxurious coupe. One that came with a 4.1-liter V8 with 170 horsepower, with later versions receiving the 295 horsepower Northstar V8 engine.
Cadillac Seville
In the mid-1970s, American manufacturers had to adapt to different levels of luxury. The rise of cars from Mercedes-Benz and other European rivals meant standards had to increase, and the 1975 Cadillac Seville was America's first answer to this challenge.
The new, smaller Cadillac was based on the Chevrolet Nova's X-body platform but stretched and modified to suit a luxury car better. The entry-level model came standard with air conditioning, a vinyl roof, and a fuel-injected V8 that produced 180 horsepower. Power-operated seats, windows, and locks were also standard features. However, buyers had to fork out for what became the second-most-expensive member of the Cadillac range.
Mitsubishi 3000GT
The Mitsubishi 3000GT is an interesting sports car marketed in North America as the Dodge Stealth. Confusingly, it was also sold in America as a 3000GT, but aside from that, the Japanese sports car is one of the best you can currently buy for a reasonable price.
Based on Mitsubishi's Sigma/Diamante, power comes from 3.0-liter 24-valve V6 engines, including the twin-turbocharged 6G72. The 3000GT also came available with active aerodynamics, four-wheel steering, all-wheel drive, and adaptive suspension, giving the car a smooth ride.
