Whether you're considering adding to your personal collection or simply want to stay informed on classic cars, here’s a look at the top 10 vehicles currently standing out at auctions and in private sales, as well as an update on the current state of the market in 2023.
If you have a functioning heart, then it is likely there is some kind of car that increases your pulse by a beat or two. It’s true that many of today’s vehicles are stuffed with quirky technologies and design elements that cause nearly all variants to look, sound, and behave the same. However, yesteryear’s vehicles – the vintage, classic, and/or collector cars representing past eras – well, they highlight a time when individuality was paramount. (Not to mention engineering that almost always ensured a vehicle would go just as fast as it looked.)
Perhaps it’s no surprise then to learn that the collector car market is still very active. So, let’s take a peek at why that is, how it’s faring, and which vehicles are garnering the most attention.
Know Your Collector Car Category
Collector cars hold significant value in the automotive world, and understanding their categorizations can be helpful when trying to make sense of the current market.
Some of the high-level categorizations include:
Classic Cars. These are typically older vehicles that have retained the style and design of their respective eras. They are often sought after for their historical significance, craftsmanship, and cultural impact. Obviously, with each new year’s passing, the bounds of what constitutes a “classic” car grows. Generally speaking, any vehicle over 20 years old is considered a classic. However, your local DMV, insurance carrier, or car club might disagree.
Vintage Cars. The general consensus here is that a car is “vintage” if it was built between 1919-1930 and remains largely unmodified.
Antique Cars. Keeping things confusing is the “antique” moniker. Despite the name suggesting something old and rickety, antique cars are loosely defined as anything manufactured from 1975 or earlier.
Since these definitions can be a bit arbitrary depending on who you ask, the collector car market often uses more specific categorizations. A few of these include:
Muscle Cars. These are high-performance American vehicles typically manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s, such as the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and Dodge Challenger. They are known for their powerful engines, aggressive styling, and straight-line speed.
Sports Cars. Sports cars are typically defined by performance, handling, and driver enjoyment. They offer sleek designs, lightweight construction, and advanced engineering.
Exotics & Supercars. The apex of automotive engineering, design, and performance, this category includes high-performance and exclusive vehicles from renowned manufacturers like Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, and Bugatti. They are known for their cutting-edge technology, exceptional speed, advanced materials, and edgy aesthetics. Production is typically limited, thereby offering market exclusivity and chronologic rarity.
European Classics. This category includes iconic European cars, such as the Jaguar E-Type, Porsche 911, Mercedes-Benz 300SL, and Aston Martin DB5, known for their timeless designs, refined engineering, and advanced luxury features.
Vintage 4x4s. Becoming very popular in recent years, these vehicles often exhibit utilitarian designs, representing a more functional past. Think: off-road oriented models like Broncos, K5 Blazers, International Scouts, and Toyota Land Cruisers, as well as older square-body pickup trucks.
Short for “Japanese Domestic Import,” this category refers to vehicles originally designed and manufactured for the Japanese market. Known for their aerodynamic designs, high-revving engines, and advanced drivetrains, these vehicles have gained a significant following in recent years as younger buyers enter the collector car market. The category includes iconic models such as the Toyota Supra, Honda NSX, Nissan Skyline, and Subaru WRX.
Current State of the Collector Car Market
Collector car auctions like Mecum and Barrett-Jackson saw record sales and consignment numbers during and directly after the pandemic, along with unprecedented attendance thanks to online bidding channels. Even now, in 2023, prices and participation remain elevated. Though, post-auction data shows the numbers are finally coming back down to earth.
Regardless of how the market continues to swell or contract economically, the feeding frenzy of the past few years did encourage a few “sticky” trends for the foreseeable future. Here are three major ones:
Online Bidding. The rise of online auctions and digital platforms has made it easier for collectors to access a wider range of vehicles from around the world. Online platforms also provide more convenience and transparency, as well as easier access to alternative payment methods like bitcoin.
Tangible Assets. Many buyers are viewing collector cars less as a passion and more as an investment opportunity. As a result, more “speculators” and “flippers” are landing on scene. While this helps bring more vehicles to the marketplace, saving them from the scrap heap, it also drives up prices for enthusiasts on a budget.
Younger Buyers. Younger enthusiasts are happily stepping into their buying power, bringing along a passion for more “modern” classics. Vehicles from the ‘80s and ‘90s are finding new life, gaining popularity for their nostalgic appeal, unique designs, and increasing rarity.
Top 10 Collector Car Standouts In 2023
After reviewing the current collector market, here are our takes for the Top 10 collector candidates for 2023. They are grouped by Trend and Old School variants since the collector market will always be considered to be both wide and deep.
Trending 5
These vehicles represent more modern types extending from the late ‘60s to more current model years.
1996-2006 Hummer H1. This particular variant offers a host of values, including a limited production, military heritage, iconic design, and practical off-road capability. The Hummer H1 has attracted a dedicated fan base, and is currently rising in demand among collectors.
1968-1970 AMC AMX. The AMC AMX features a distinctive design that sets itself apart from other muscle cars. Its value is supported by a limited production run, significant performance, and a racing heritage, thereby creating important overall cultural significance.
2008-2015 Audi R8 (manual gearbox). The first-gen Audi R8, equipped with a manual transmission, is quickly becoming an important collector car. This assertion is supported by its on-road performance, innovative design, and styling – not to mention dedicated enthusiast following.
2003-2008 Nissan 350Z. The 2003-2008 Nissan 350Z is becoming a significant collector car due to its rarity, styling, and outstanding performance history leading to emergent cultural value. Also pushing up value is the existence of various limited editions, along with an active aftermarket and tuning capability.
1984-1988 Toyota Pickup. Thanks to its a reputation for durability and reliability, rigorous off-road capability, and a simple and utilitarian design, the classic ‘Yota has become immensely popular, both in the collector car market and automotive culture in general.
Old School 5
These cars are what one might call ‘venerable’. Regardless of modern trends, these vehicles are always in demand by collectors for a host of reasons usually involving quality, performance, design innovation, or just plain nostalgia.
Shelby Cobra 289/427. A legendary American sports car, known for its powerful performance and iconic design. This vehicle was originally badged as the AC Cobra roadster after experiencing a hybrid birth created by mating a British AC Bristol chassis, with a Carroll Shelby-derived Ford 289 engine. Ultimately, the 289 was supplanted by a Ford 427 and as they say, the rest was history. The car’s total production run extended from 1962 to 1967.
Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7. This is a classic rear-engine sports car offering game-changing speed, performance, and handling. The car is highly thought of by those who appreciate the Porsche marque. It was introduced in 1972 and ended its production run in 1973.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing. The car’s iconic gull-wing doors and timeless styling make the 300 SL a coveted collector car. The vehicle was introduced in 1954 and continued its production run until 1964.
Jaguar E-Type Series 1. Recognized as one of the most beautiful cars ever created, the original E-Type combines elegant design with impressive performance. Its 12-cylinder engine was a smooth-running marvel, and its production line extended from 1961 to 1968.
Aston Martin DB5. Due to its immense popularity as James Bond's car in the film "Goldfinger," the DB5 has become an iconic symbol of luxury, elegance, and the ability to integrate twin 30 caliber machine guns in the front valence, along with a passenger ejection seat in the event that Ernst Blofeld suddenly appeared in the cockpit. Regardless of the obvious joking around, the DB5 was aesthetically beautiful, while representing the ‘Golden Era’ of sports car history with ease and grace. The car was produced from 1963 to 1965.
When digging into the collector car market, it’s clear that there is something for everyone, ranging from visceral excitement, to engineering attraction, and finally to pure, tear-choking nostalgia.