10 Classic Sports Cars Worth Collecting

Jan 01, 2024

If you're looking for a sports car with historical significance combined with timeless beauty and style, these classics would make a great investment.

Classic sports cars exemplify the pinnacle of automotive innovation of their times, showcasing how different their competence is in comparison to more modern machines. In addition to their historical significance, these classic cars also prove that beauty and style are timeless. Their near-perfect weight distribution, raw power, and agility make them super fun to drive regardless of their age. Despite being remnants of a bygone era, some of these machines can still fetch a fortune in the marketplace and at auctions. It might not be easy for new collectors to decide which of these beauties they should invest in, for there are too many great options when it comes to sports cars.

You should do your market research and take a look at the demand and valuation of such machines before even laying a finger on your checkbook. Here is a list of 10 classic sports cars that are truly worth preserving and collecting, as each car possesses a distinct persona that encapsulates the spirit of its era. Stats have been obtained from Hagerty and Classic.

The iconic 1980 Lotus Esprit S2 is mounted with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, and while the car was made quite lightweight in order for it to run like the wind despite the modest 160 horsepower, the build quality suffered. When several upgrades were made to improve the build quality, the weight of the car began to rise at an alarming rate, eventually leading to the engineers mounting a turbocharger to increase the power output. The 1980 Lotus Esprit S2 in its factory condition delivers a quality of handling that is absolutely brilliant, due to its near-perfect weight distribution.

Today, the 1980 Lotus Esprit S2 is valued on Hagerty for just around $22,600. Steadily rising in value, the Esprit S2 should be on the watch list of any car collector that is looking for an affordable collectible that looks aesthetically pleasing and handles like a dream.

The Bricklin SV-1 was Malcolm Bricklin's audacious attempt to craft a safe yet distinctive sports car. Unfortunately, cost overruns and inexperienced workers led to bankruptcy by 1975, although a few leftover parts yielded 1976 models. The SV-1 boasted a fiberglass body with vibrant molded-in colors, along with doors that were hydraulically operated gullwings. With resolved overheating and door issues, these machines could now prove to be delightfully drivable. The V8, that this mid-engine car was fitted with, produced just around 175 horsepower.

The car looks oddly stylish and futuristic, perhaps due to its sharp aerodynamic design and gullwing doors, and can be found for around $24,900 on the used car marketplace or online auctions. The Bricklin SV-1 is steadily rising in popularity with collectors and can be expected to fetch decent returns upon investment.

The Nissan Datsun 240Z emerged as the transformative force that rattled the European marketplace and reshaped their perception of Japanese automobiles. Its 2.4-liter inline-six engine, generating 150 horsepower, garnered praise for its reliability and endurance. At a modest price of $28,500, this machine can be procured on the used car market and utilized for restoration projects. The highest ever recorded sale of one of these cars with its original parts was valued at about $315,000. A classic car restored to its former glory, complete with original parts, often commands a lofty price at auctions. Yet, the path to restoration itself can be a costly affair. The Herculean quest to find these obsolete parts entails a significant financial investment.

Even in its factory condition, the car provides comfort and dependability unparalleled by any other '70s sports car. The Datsun 240Z justifies every cent spent on it and possesses great potential to emerge as a highly coveted collectible in the years to come.

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The 1968–1969 models of the Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider saw a rise in popularity in recent years, with a 27.3% increase in value over the course of just one year, the current value being $54,500. The car is a compact little roadster with a mere 125 horsepower four-cylinder engine, which was perfect for the Italian market at the time. Collectors have begun to catch wind of the rise in popularity of these machines, and who doesn't want an adorable compact classic Alfa Romeo in their collection, especially one available at such an accessible price point?

The Alfa Romeo Spider was always meant to be an affordable and cool Italian convertible sports car, and anyone looking for classic cars for sale should consider getting their hands on one of these. This Alfa Romeo Spider captures hearts with its gorgeous design, and its beauty deserves to be preserved in a collector's showcase.

In 1966, the Chevrolet Corvette roared into the automotive scene with power and style that turned heads using its formidable 427 c.i.d big-block V8 engine, with some variants of the machine boasting a ridiculous 425 horsepower, an insane number at the time. For a touch of luxury, leather interiors were available for an extra $79. The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427 captured the essence of power, style, and choice, securing its place as a classic icon. Despite this iconic status, this model of the Corvette has seen a 19.7% decline in value since the beginning of this year, and is currently valued at around $56,500.

However, there is a wide disparity in the sale valuations, with the highest recorded sale in the last five years being at around $533,000 and the most recent sale being valued at around $105,000 on Classic. The true value of a 1966 Corvette 427 is heavily dependent upon their location and whether they are in factory condition or if they are restored machines.

The 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 stands tall as the most iconic Nissan sports car on the market, and a legend among Japanese circuit racers, boasting unparalleled balance and performance. Offering an exceptional all-wheel drive system that delivers outstanding performance on both straights and corners, the R32's weight demands regular tire replacements, but the exhilarating experience it provides is worth every penny. The suspension comes perfectly balanced in its factory-tuned condition, and the build quality is quite sturdy for a sports car. The 276 horsepower that the engine produces is enough to propel it from a standstill to 60 mph in a mere 5.6 seconds.

The 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 tops out at around 156 mph and even in its factory condition, it reigns as the epitome of a balanced circuit racer, earning its well-deserved nickname "Godzilla." Currently, Hagerty values the 1989 model at around $56,900, with the highest recorded sale valued at an insane $379,000. The original '89 R32 is likely to be a sought after classic in a few years, courtesy of the various mods that roam the street and cars in their original condition being rarer and costlier on the market.

RELATED: 10 Reasons Why Gearheads Love The Nissan Skyline GT-R

The 1989 BMW Z1 showcased the German automaker's attempt at a small, lightweight roadster ahead of its time, although it was overshadowed by the success of Mazda's MX-5 Miata. Still, the Z1 is recognized for its innovative features at the time, notably the easily replaceable body panels and composite body elements. The 1989 BMW Z1 was really special because of the innovation that went into building it. For example, it had distinctive doors which dropped-down into the sills, which are still unforgettable. The conventional 2.5-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that found its home under the hood of the 1989 BMW Z1 generated just around 168 horsepower, which was nothing exceptional but still acceptable.

Fetching around $61,400 in terms of valuation, the car seems to be doing just fine with a 17% rise in value since the beginning of the year. A few of these are still listed at auctions for a little less than $70,000. They are definitely classic sports cars that are worth collecting.

The NSX was Honda's brainchild developed by their luxury car brand Acura, with some areas in the car showcasing technological developments from Honda's Formula One program. There are several reasons to consider buying a 1994 Acura NSX, one of them being its balanced nature. The car was mounted with a 3.0-liter V6 engine that produced just around 270 horsepower.

The balanced nature of the car came from its wide body, fine-tuned suspension, and low ground clearance, granting the driver easy control regardless of the terrain with smooth and precise shifting. The 1994 Acura NSX roams the market with a sticker price of around $74,500, which is hefty but worth it because the value of this machine has only been on the rise since 2020.

RELATED: How Honda Created The Ultimate Sports Car With The NSX

They didn't call it "The Widowmaker" for nothing – the 1989 Porsche 930 Turbo is considered a dangerous car. There were not many manufacturers that could have built a machine with this level of competence at the time, and Porsche showboated their engineering prowess at full display with this machine. The 930 Turbo was the first-ever turbocharged 911 producing around 300 horsepower, and its ever rising popularity with collectors is a testament to its iconic status. The car gets its 'dangerous' status from the fact that its raw power and lightweight build resulted in an insane power to weight ratio, sometimes known to cause the car to spin out and crash. Competently reaching 60 mph in a mere 5.4 seconds, the car can still compete with more modern rivals in terms of acceleration.

Fitted with wide fenders, iconic whale tail spoiler, and the world-renowned round headlights, the Porsche 911 Turbo 930 was a force to be reckoned with. The most recent recorded sale fetched around $130,000 for the buyer, and yet the car rose further in value, with its current sticker price being a whopping $146,000.

It's a good thing they named it a 'Road Runner' or we'd not know, the 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird finds itself a mere stride away from soaring into the sky like an airplane. Its colossal 426 cubic-inch, 7.0-liter Hemi engine bellows with authority as it pumps out a massive 425 horsepower. The insane price tag of $413,000 that it is valued at renders it beyond the means of the average American household, accessible only to prosperous collectors. The most expensive Superbird sale is a record $1,650,000, with the most recent sale valued at around $605,000. The '70 Superbird keeps rising in value at a stellar rate, with a 22.2% increase since early 2023.

A Hemi Road Runner could manage to conquer the 0 to 60 mph sprint in a mere 5.6 seconds, so the performance of these machines was not inferior to their stunning looks. There is no doubt that the Superbird is the most admired Plymouth sports car of all time, and the 1970 model showcases the mechanical brilliance of their makers, turning every head on the street.

An independent journalist from India, Kanwar loves rugged cars and trucks that are built to endure harsh weather and off-road driving. He dislikes vehicles that are just impractical and ostentatious showpieces.