Let us lay the ground rules for this experiment. Our expert’s objective: to identify a group of unique collectible cars for the entry level buyer that are ready to be enjoyed without significant investment and have ample opportunity to appreciate in the near future. For the sake of simplicity and transparency, the selected cars have sold on Bring a Trailer, as we feel it’s the best resource for finding really unique automobiles with a knowledgeable community that does a great job vetting for quality and value. “This list is totally subjective, but I would own every one of these cars.” Let’s get started!
1991 CADILLAC ALLANTE
“The Allante is such an interesting car. My stepdad sold Cadillac’s in the 80’s and this was such a huge deal. I remember seeing the first one on the showroom floor and not quite understanding it. I also remember sitting in front of the television for a special episode of Dallas when JR Ewing drove up the driveway of Southfork in one. The bodies for these cars were designed and built in Italy by Pinninfarina and shipped over 50 at a time in specially built 747’s. The car never really caught on in its day, but I think the simplified styling has aged well. I particularly love the Recaro seats. One downside: the Northstar Engine can be problematic, however for $16,000 this is a lot of car for your buck.”
1993 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIOLET CLASSIC 5-SPEED
“Is there a more fun looking car on this list? I think not. $14k for four-seat, sporty, reliable, open air driving. And unlike my best friend’s version of this car back in 1985, it has air conditioning. This 1993 model is toward the end of the range but maintains the purity of the early design.”
1985 CADILLAC ELDORADO COUPE
“It’s hard to imagine getting less horsepower out of a 4.1 liter V-8, but somehow GM managed to do it. Still, for $8,000 I think this represents the end of the golden age of big Cadillac’s before GM surrendered to the Germans.”
1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE
“T-tops? Check. Tons of storage space for a road trip? Check. Value for money? Absolutely. I think the C4 generation of the Corvette is definitely coming into its own. When you factor in reliability, easy and affordable parts, and probably the best support network of clubs and dealers, it’s a very attractive investment.”
1984 PONTIAC FIERO SE INDY PACE CAR EDITION
“What do I love about this car? Oh, so many things. It’s a wedge, it’s mid engine, it’s got sweet 80’s graphics, cloth interior, and most importantly: speakers in the headrest. The indy package on this car and its condition is why it brought a premium price at $20k, but there are tons of nice examples under $10,000.”
1965 MG MGB ROADSTER
“Hello old chap. This car is so very British in every way. The styling, the chrome in all the right places, it has a banjo steering wheel and piped interior. It leaks oil. This car has so much style for $17k. My mom got one of these from her third husband as an anniversary present, but by then the MG had the ugly rubber bumpers, and they didn’t last much longer. Neither did the marriage. Childhood trauma aside, what a zippy fun ride and who needs AC, after all?”
1983 BERTONE X1/9
“What an interesting car this is. Designed by the legendary Marcello Gandini, who also designed the BMW 5 series, the Lamborghini Countach, Lamborghini Miura, Detomaso Pantera, and many other iconic cars, this car retains his design language. Originally produced by Fiat, Bertone took over production in 1983 and continued to improve the car. Over 160,000 units were sold in the US, and this is a great example of two-seater Italian motoring for $17k.”
1997 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT 4X4
“All of your square-bodied dreams come true in one of the most iconic and durable 4×4’s of the decade. You can hit the trails by day and cruise the strip at night for under $10k. Lot of cool points for the dough.”
1984 NISSAN 300ZX TURBO 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
“Turbo. T Tops. Three pedals, Two tone paint, anniversary graphics, and leather interior. Under 50,000 original miles and all for $17,000. Sure, you could opt for the later version of the 300, but as you can tell by this list, I am partial to wedges.”
1988 PORSCHE 944 500 CELEBRATION EDITION
“The creme de la creme of under $25k vintage sports cars. Another special edition with a spectacular interior, it’s the 1988 Porsche 944 Celebration Edition for $17k. Sporting perfect 50/50 weight distribution, the Jake Ryan-approved four-cylinder is still so much fun to put into a corner, and the styling has become truly iconic.”
1986 TOYOTA CELICA SUPRA 5-SPEED
“One of the fastest appreciating classics out there and a defining moment for Japanese styling and performance, this car is super original with great looking paint, a five speed, and the two most important words in the automotive world in 1986: graphic equalizer. This example sold for $20k, and that feels like a steal.”
1991 HONDA CRX SI
“Look up “hot hatch” in the dictionary, and this car will be staring back at you. This completely original and well-documented SI sold for a top of the range $22k, but there is still tons of upside and tons of fun to be had with this number.”
