Modern cars offer features that can last over time and thus become classic models. However, it will take a few years for that to happen, in the meantime, you eat some models that could earn the title of true classic jewelry.
In recent years, the used car market has become a hotbed of high-priced powerhouses, ridiculously expensive SUVs, and expensive small European coupes. And although many of these classics have retained their value for a long time, there are many others that have seen their price increase drastically in the last decade.
The good news is that while these classics won’t get cheaper in the future (quite the opposite in most cases), there will certainly be others to come. Whether for exclusivity, convenience or some revolutionary automotive innovation, there are many vehicles that have all the characteristics of a promising classic and here we will tell you what they are.
1. Alfa Romeo 4C
A look at the 4C is all you need to know that this Alfa Romeo is destined to become a classic. From its curvy body to its lightweight carbon fiber chassis, everything on the platform screamed like a tiny Italian supercar. Weighing just 895 kg (1,973 lb), it came powered by a turbocharged 1.75 L all-aluminum inline four-cylinder engine that generates 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to bring the mid-engined lightweight Alfa to 60 mph in 4.5 s. Oh, and you have to count that the 4C was the brand’s first mass-produced vehicle for the modern North American market.
2. Aston Martin Vantage
In the early days, Then-Acting Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez wanted a car that could compete with the dynamic driving qualities of the Porsche 911. As such, he commissioned the British brand to squeeze its largest, most furious engine into the smallest platform it had on the market. The result was the V12 Vantage, a raucous racing-bred monster that featured an aluminum chassis and a 6.0 L, 510-hp V12 drawn from much of its larger GT sibling, the DBS. After it was discontinued, Aston ditched the meaty engine for a twin-turbo V8, bringing with it the end of the Vantage craze.
3. Audi TT
Although technically Audi has been manufacturing the TT since 1998, we would have the second-generation version that went into production in 2006. In addition to boasting a distinctive style inspired by the R8, it also offered a number of characteristic details worthy of a classic. The most popular RS version, for example, came standard with a quirky 2.5L inline five-cylinder turbocharged and a six-speed manual gearbox. Add to that a capable Quattro AWD system, a striking body kit, and a retractable rear spoiler, and it’s no wonder these maintain their value even today.
4. BMW 1M COUPÉ
If there’s one thing that guarantees a car is an instant classic, it’s a good backstory, and BMW’s 1M Coupe is a good example. Supposedly a skunkworks project done by a group of M engineers, it is said that no one else in the company knew that the car was in development until it was already built. Better yet is the fact that it borrowed many of its components from the E92 M3, inheriting much of what made that legendary car so great. Regardless of whether you believe the rumors or not, there’s no denying that this 355-hp little track gun is still one of the best cars BMW will ever build.
5. Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
Whether you consider the C8 as a card-loaded Corvette or simply as a mid-engine imitator, there’s no denying its importance in the model’s history. The fact is, in addition to being the first Corvette since 1953 to move its engine away from the front, it was also the first GM production sports car to do so after the Pontiac Fiero. And besides, the difference in performance more than compensates for the deviation from its predecessors.
6. Dodge Challenger
Granted, while the Challengers of the most pedestrian base model cost ten cents a dozen, there are many high-revving variants that consume a lot of energy and will no doubt see an increase in their value. We’re talking about everything from the SRT8s to the Hellcats and even the Demon that dominates the race tracks. After all, the car has everything an aspiring classic should have, including timeless styling, a pounded engine, and plenty of history that goes with its name.
7. Ford Mustang Shelby GT350
And where there’s an era-defining muscle car, it’s as safe as tire smoke that will soon follow. Produced for just five short years after its debut in 2015, the Shelby GT350 was eventually discontinued in favor of its more muscular 760-hp sibling, the GT500. However, in many ways, this small number was the real star of the show. Affordable, iconic, and a car for the driver in every sense of the word, the modern GT350 is a Mustang that is sure to make Carroll Shelby smile.
8. Honda Civic Type-R
High-performance Honda’s are always desirable, no matter the model or year. And it’s for good reason; The Japanese automaker is one of the best in the industry when it comes to building cars that are as fun to drive as they are practical to own. In the case of the tenth-generation Civic Type-R, you get the fastest version of the platform to date: a 306-hp superhot tailgate vehicle that will reach 169 mph and jump to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds.
9. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
As the first Jeep to receive the SRT treatment, it goes without saying that the 2011 Grand Cherokee SRT8 will become a classic one day. Sure, Chrysler put its HEMI engines in a number of vehicles since this super SUV stopped production, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it was monumental at the time of its debut. With its 6.4-liter, 470-hp engine generating 465 lb-ft of torque and a respectable sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, it still compares pretty well to the current Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, even despite having a disadvantage of about 237 horses.
10. Toyota Yaris GR
Sure enough, a World Rally Car for street racing, the GR Yaris combined a 1.6 L, 257 hp three-cylinder engine with an all-new AWD system, a massive disc brake set, and a six-speed manual transmission. In practice, this has made it one of the purest driving experiences you can buy: a real smile machine that will make you smile from ear to ear.