Everyone is hoping 2021 will be a better year than 2020, and we’re no exception! 2020 was tough, but we are looking forward to the future and what classic cars may be on the rise in value. From old favorites to newer additions, here are 10 cars that might be a good investment this year according to Hagerty.
2012 Lexus LFA
This car might not be that old, but the Lexus LFA had a run of just 500 units, making it a rare find. Though the car was an overall dead end, its styling influenced later Lexus models and its technical specs and performance made it a great sports car. It features a 553-hp, 4.8-liter V-10 in the front, a single-clutch paddle-shift auto in the back, and a 1LR-GUE V-10 dropped into a Euro-crumpet. With a 9000-rpm redline, the engine screams through its three exhausts and delivers 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. This year could be a good time to invest in an LFA, and if Toyota sticks to form, a successor won’t appear until 2035, meaning it won’t be upstaged for a long time.
2006-10 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Back in 2006, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 was the 11th project to roll out of Chrysler’s SRT (Street and Racing Technology) development center and the first Jeep product to receive the SRT growth serum. They bored the Grand Cherokee’s 5.7-liter Hemi into a 6.1-liter, 420-hp monster delivering 420 lb-ft of torque. Despite the nearly 2.5-ton heft, the truck goes and turns. And the comfortable seats, ample cabin space, and a proper amount of natural exhaust roar (no piped-in malarkey) made the SRT8 definite road-trip fodder.
2005-17 Aston Martin V8 Vantage
In 2005, Aston Martin took a trip downmarket with the V8 Vantage, which quickly proved to be Aston’s best car at the time. The “cheap” Aston featured a riveted and glued aluminum frame and a massaged 4.3-liter, dry-sump, 7000-rpm V-8. In 2009, it was enlarged to 4.7 liters, making 420 hp. The engine was pushed behind the front axle and the six-speed manual transmission was lodged in the rear. Whether you opt for the early model or the later 4.7-liter car, the Aston has character and will never go out of style.
2005-06 Ford GT
Ford’s update of the 1966 GT40 gave all the feels required, and with 550 supercharged V-8 horsepower, it delivered 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and a claimed 205-mph top speed. But when it was new, it may have felt too clinical, so buyers began to alter their GTs. Tuners found that the engine was stout enough to bolt on turbos or larger superchargers without requiring a rebuild. A community formed around this durable, usable sports car. The fact that the Ford GT is only available with automated dual-clutch transmission and twin-turbo V-6 has only lifted the old GT’s values.
2000-06 Audi TT Quattro
The Audi TT offered fresh design and competent performance at a price that undercut the Porsche Boxster, Mercedes-Benz SLK, and BMW Z3. It was available as a coupe or convertible, front-drive or Quattro all-wheel drive, and a 180-hp or 225-hp turbocharged inline-four-cylinder sitting sideways in the bang bay (a 3.2-liter V-6 arrived in Quattro models in 2003). Many of the TT’s design elements, such as brushed aluminum interior accents, exposed screw heads, and a skeletal center console, have been vigorously copied. Audi is likely phasing out the TT after 2021, but more than two decades later, the first-generation TT looks as good as the day it was conceived.
1993-97 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80
After 70 years in production, the legendary Land Cruiser will be no more after the 2021 model year. So if you’re in the market for an older FJ, consider the 1991-97 FJ80 series. It’s the last FJ with a solid front axle and silky inline-six. But it’s the first to include four-wheel disc brakes, a supple coil-spring suspension, and livable on-road manners. FZJ80s also featured full-time 4WD and available locking front, center, and rear differentials. It’s not uncommon to see one of these machines still going strong with 300,000 miles on the odometer—a result of Toyota building them to a standard, not a price. It’s clear the time to buy these best-of-the-breed Cruisers is now, folks.
1984-91 Ferrari Testarossa
Ferrari’s long-awaited replacement for the 512 Berlinetta Boxer was decidedly slippery, with a drag coefficient of 0.36. Combined with a naturally aspirated 380-hp, 4.9-liter flat-12 and its quad cams, 48 valves, and dry-sump lubrication, the TR was a potent package. It also included a mid-engine 12-cylinder machine with real air conditioning and a trunk. The dash to 60 mph was just over five wailing seconds away, and 180 mph was available up top. With the huge collector movement toward cars of the 1980s and ’90s, the pop-culture and poster-car sensation Testarossa is on the move again.
1980-91 Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia
Volkswagen’s family-hauling van-wagon with the portmanteau name launched in 1980 as a replacement for the company’s iconic T2-chassis Bus. The T3 was tall and boxy with a rear-mounted flat-four. It came in a variety of configurations, from cargo van to people hauler to pop-top Camper. Each iteration had its own appeal, but the Camper hit a sweet spot. The model’s built-in cabinets, table, bunk, and available kitchenette were enough for two people or a small family to travel overnight in remarkable comfort, while the Vanagon’s car-size footprint made for easy parking on city streets and in most suburban garages.
1964-70 Honda S600/S800
Honda’s first four-wheeler featured a cast-aluminum engine with double-overhead cams and a crankshaft that could turn in roller bearings. The Sports 360 and larger-bore Sports 500 both included a short prop shaft that terminated just behind the seats at a differential bolted directly to the body. From there, shafts fanned out sideways to a pair of aluminum cases that served both as rear suspension trailing arms and housings for the oil-bath drive chains. In 1966, the vehicle saw the addition of a hardtop coupe and an engine increase to 606 cc, which resulted in 57 horsepower. However, Honda kept hustling, growing the engine again to 791 cc and replacing the chains with a conventional solid axle.
1948-54 Jaguar XK 120
In May 1949, the Jaguar XK 120 was verified as the world’s fastest production automobile. As Jaguar’s first postwar sports car, the XK 120 was initially intended as a development exercise for a coming high-performance sedan. But the combination of refinement and performance drew admirers, and the car was elegant fun. XK 120s handle gracefully and their only letdown are their Girling drum brakes, which give decent stopping power but wilt under hard use. A ladder frame, a simple but well-tuned independent front suspension, and a live rear axle were fine partners for that glorious engine.
Protecting Your Car in 2021
If you decide to invest in one of these cars, then you know any standard “off-the-shelf” auto insurance just won’t cut it.
At Classic Auto Insurance, we’ll help you protect your piece of history with customized classic car insurance coverage.
No two cars are alike, just like no two engines are really alike, which is why our insurance coverage plans are tailored to meet the needs of your specific vehicle. Our plans are as individual as your favorite car, so you can enjoy your classic car with the right insurance and then pass on the legacy you’ve worked so hard to build.
Collector and Classic Car Insurance for Less
Car club members know the importance of specialty policies like ours at Classic Auto Insurance, which protects your valuable investment for years to come. Do you know a car club membership could get you a 10% discount at Classic Auto? Let us customize a policy to fit your needs. We offer affordable, Agreed Value coverage for a variety of collector, classic, and custom vehicles. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff can answer your questions and give you a quote on the spot. Get an instant quote online or call 888-901-1338 and see how we can help safeguard your dream car.
