We all know Hagerty, right? The big bearded guy from the Harry Potter books/movies who had a pet gargoyle or something? Wait no, that’s not right. I mean Hagerty, the classic car insurance people. I don’t think they have any gargoyles, but I bet there’s some beards involved there, somewhere. Every year since 1612 Hagerty has been releasing their “Bull Market List” for collectible cars they think will be going up in value, and this year is no exception. Let’s go through their list and see what we think!
There’s eleven cars on the list, one for every finger on your hand plus your secret extra finger. The eleventh one was a “people’s choice” one, though I suspect the Hagerty team included a significant number of people as well.
I think overall it’s a well-considered list, but, as always, I’m very curious what you, the most informed and svelte automotive-interest community on the internet, thinks! So let’s walk through these.
1961–1964 Jaguar E-Type
I think an E-Type is a pretty safe bet, because it has an iconic design that I think will always have appeal (not to everyone, of course) and I think Hagerty focusing on the 3.8-liter inline-six instead of the later larger engines and the coupé version with its fun side-opening rear hatch is a good idea.
Of course, it’ll take six figures to get into one of these, so it’s for people who are already rich, not us normal dirtbags. This feels like a pretty safe choice, not particularly daring or anything, but I guess that’s the point?
It’s also interesting to note who Hagerty considers “youth” in this context:
Gen X! That’s me! And the idea that I’m somehow part of a “youth vote” is hilarious. Fucking AARP is sending me shit every week. I have a yarmulke-sized bald spot. I’m overdue for a colonoscopy. I have a teenaged kid. I sometimes watch WWII documentaries without realizing what I’m doing. Youth is behind me.
2003–2013 Lamborghini Gallardo
This is another one for already-rich folks, but for a supercar-class machine, it’s relatively “affordable.” These were cool cars, and the Audi partnership actually helped make these more usable and reliable than what Lambos used to be. Hagerty notes that the real sweet spot here are the manual ones, but those are rare enough to make three-pedal cars demand 50% more money! Damn!
I’m sure these are plenty of fun to own, though I think I may be a bit skeptical that the value is really going to grow all that much? Of course, what do I know; these cars are pretty far removed from the sorts of things I usually seek out.
Still, if you’re getting something to enjoy and not just collect, and have the money, a Gallardo probably is a pretty good bet.
1984–1990 Ford Bronco II
I have pretty mixed feelings about the Bronco II. On one hand, I love the idea of a smaller, Ranger-based Bronco, and I do love the stubby, boxy look of these. I know with their original 2.8-liter Cologne V6 they were said to be underpowered, but as someone used to 50 hp shitboxes, I bet they’re fine. What concerns me a bit more is that with their tall height and short length they seemed to want to tumble like Mary Lou Retton.
Even though the Suzuki Samurai tended to get most of the attention back in the day about rollover wrecks, the truth is that the Samurai had far fewer incidents of rollovers than the Bronco II. There was an alarming figure that one in 500 Bronco IIs ever built was involved in some kind of rollover incident, and some insurance companies have stopped issuing policies to Bronco IIs.
I’m not saying that’s a reason to not collect one – lots of fabulous cars are, technically, deathtraps, and I happily drive dangerous cars frequently – but it’s something to be aware of.
Will these actually go up in value? Maybe if you can find one not beat all to hell, I guess? I’m not totally sure here. Honestly, I think I may have preferred to see something like an AMC Eagle in this spot.
1978–1983 Datsun 280ZX
Ah, a Datsun Z car! The Z is a legendary machine, though the really desirable ones were the earlier ones, of course. The ZX-era was generally less-loved, and there were reasons for that. They did lose a lot of the lithe appeal of the original, but that’s not to say they don’t have their charms.
For one thing, they had one of the best fuel gauges of any car, ever:
I mean, that’s a pretty good reason, along with the fact that the 280ZX had the first one-touch power windows and an automatic window defogger, among other features. Will these actually go up in value? Maybe, if they get to be seen as the only affordable option for someone who wants a classic Z car. Finding one in good shape is likely to be tricky; the ones I’ve driven have not exactly aged that gracefully.
And it’s worth remembering they’re not the same kind of car as the earlier 240Z – these were bigger, heavier, slower GT-type cars, more for comfort than intense driving performance. But maybe that’s fine, and reflects how these cars will actually get used?
Maybe the Black Gold special edition ones will go up in value, but I’m not sure I’m sold on most 280ZXs skyrocketing in value. Maybe. Either way, a lot of what Hagerty is talking about here are cars that aren’t suffering from inflated value yet, like so many other cars, and these certainly haven’t reached outrageous prices.
1961–1972 Volvo P1800 Coupe
Okay, this one I can speak to with some authority, because I had one for years, a 1967 (maybe ’68?) 1800S. I loved that car. I traded it for my Reliant Scimitar GTE because the Volvo was incompatible with the tiny leaves in my backyard, which kept clogging the fuel filler drain line, but other than that the car was pretty reliable for an old Swede and was a real treat to drive.
Sure, the later P1800ES is an exciting shooting brake, but the original coupé design of the 1800 is just lovely. These were well-built cars. with proven Volvo B18B engines, and sure, the SU carbs tended to leak, but Volvo did eventually switch to fuel injection on the 1800E and they moved the tricky fuel filler, too.
I agree that these will go up in value. They’re GT cars, not really sports cars, and they do their job very well – they look fantastic, they’re comfortable, quick cruisers, and just generally charming cars. I’m all aboard on this one, Hagerty.
2006–2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8
Yeah, this one I’m not really sold on. I do love the look of these, and the very idea of a muscle wagon is wildly appealing. I remember driving one of these back in the day, and while the chop-top look of the low greenhouse looked fantastic, it was a damn tomb inside, and the visibility, especially to the rear, was terrible.
These were fast, sure, and there’s not really anything like them, at least factory-built, but they don’t seem to be aging particularly well, and good luck finding one not flogged to hell. There’s lots of plastic bits that get rattly, and the interior was never exactly great to begin with.
Maybe a few really nice ones will sell for big bucks, but for the bulk of them? I’m not sure. You know what fast American wagon might be a better choice? A Cadillac CTS-V. Better build quality, different but still great look, fast, plenty of cargo room, but probably more expensive to get into.
1976–1989 Ferrari 400/412
I have to be honest here; I’m no expert on Ferrari valuations. What I can tell you is that I always liked the subtle looks of these, and a V12 is always something kind of exciting. Plus, a back seat for your big, sloppy sheepdogs or whatever! Then again, these cars also had Ferrari’s first three-speed slushboxes, in case you were getting too excited.
These don’t seem to be going for crazy money now, so maybe them going up in value isn’t so far off? Again, the Ferrari market always seems like a mystery of flying money to me, so I’ll withhold judgment.
2002–2006 Mini Cooper S
I’m actually happy to see these on this sort of list; I think they’re fun, accessible cars, one of the more successful of the retro-rebirths of iconic peoples’ cars. These resurrected Minis only really focused on the performance side of the original Mini and less on the cheapest-way-I-can-get-around side, which I suppose was the only choice Mini owner BMW would have made.
I think these look cool and drive well, but repairs are kind of a nightmare and I have to wonder if maybe a somewhat more rare, fun, tiny car like the Fiat 500 Abarth may be a similar but more likely option to go up in value. Those things were a blast and sounded incredible.
1997–2001 Honda Prelude
Okay, now this I think is an actually inspired choice: these were really compelling cars, and you hardly see any of them on the roads today. They were reliable, and especially with the five-speed manual, pretty damn fun to drive. I always liked the strange swept-back headlights and the tidy proportions and the clean lines. These cars looked good, in an understated way, and still managed to be eye-catching.
Will these go up in value? I think they have a good shot! Interesting look, great to drive, I bet there’s JDM versions that will be really desirable, practical, and usable, not a nightmare to maintain – these I’m bullish about, too.
2002–2008 Mercedes-Benz G500
I have pretty mixed feelings about G-Wagens. I really like the very early ones, the ones with the big amber indicators and no chrome and soft top options, back when they were just Jeep-like utility machines. But the era Hagerty is talking about here is firmly in the era where Mercedes realized they could slather these in leather and chrome and sell them for lots of money, which makes them a lot less cool in my eyes.
It seems like you can get into these for around $30 grand or so, which isn’t terrible, I suppose. Will these be worth something, though? The G-Wagens I’ve seen pushing 20-year-olds seem to be getting a bit ratty inside, but of course that’s wildly variable. I feel like the early, non-luxo ones are the most likely of the original G-Wagens to become worth something.
These do have some sort of cultural cachet, I suppose, and they are cool in their blocky, faintly absurd way. Are they any better or worse than a Land Rover Defender, though? What about a LaForza? That’s a deep cut!
1981–1983 DeLorean DMC-12
This was the People’s Choice car, and it’s not hard to see why; the stainless steel DeLorean is a cultural icon and as a result I think will actually at least hold value, and maybe go up. It doesn’t matter that the DeLorean never really drove like you imagined it would, it doesn’t matter it was kinda slow, because it’s Doc Whatshisname’s motherflossing time machine and has gullwing doors and a great story about cocaine trafficking and just still looks great.
People who aren’t into cars know what a DeLorean is. You drive it around almost anywhere and people will come up to look at it. That’s the real way these things are valued; it’s all perception and image and intangible, ridiculous things. Because cars are and should be ridiculous things. So, for this one I’ll say yeah, these will go up in value.
So what do we feel, collectively, about Hagerty’s list? I tend to think predicting what cars will become desirable and what won’t is not that different than how ancient Romans would disassemble a bird and stir around what’s inside and decide what the future would be based on that. I think I trust these predictions about as much. No offense to any big augury fans out there, of course.
And Yugo turbo.
I owned a used Mini Cooper S turbo for a several months about three years ago. Couldn’t wait to get out of it. British reliability with German complexity. (In other words, not very reliable and very hard to fix.) Used lots of oil. Hood latch broke so I couldn’t check the oil for a month. Was always complaining that I used the wrong bulbs when replacing turn signals. Complained because I redid the rear brakes but not the wear sensors. Interior ergonomics prioritized “cool” over easy to use. Loud, rough ride, etc etc. I fell quickly out of love with it and was happy to say goodbye.
Except… that day I took it to a performance driving class at Road America and got to wring it out. That was one of the most fantastic days of driving in my life.
But otherwise – nope. Never again.
Owned a MINI Cooper S from that generation, mom had a Prelude from that generation. I liked my MINI more. But I understand the placement on the list for both.
BB6 Prelude SH. Not as easy to find a good one nowadays tho, and probably all been lowered (STANCE!) or driven hard.
There is one left to rot on the street in my neighborhood. It isn’t an SH but but it is bone stock and the body looks good aside from the clear coat that has left the chat. But there it sits on flat tires. Whenever I drive past I’m tempted to knock on the door and make an offer.
If you trust Hagerty, go for it!
The MINI is on there and not the Fiat because the MINI is actually fun to drive where the Fiat makes fun noises. Both were made in huge numbers so not really rare. The other thing is the Fiat build and material quality was terrible. I remember attending the Detroit auto show on day 2 one year and the 500 on the floor had interior pieces that were broken. I thought “probably just from so many people getting in and out of it” then that summer I test drove one and the same piece of trim fell off a car with 50 miles on it. Later I drove a friend’s on a twisty road and walked away wondering why anybody would ever buy one. It made all kinds of cool noises, but it was slow and rolly.
The first gen MINI (sorry as a prior owner I am obligated to type in all caps to signify the new one not a classic) was built by BMW to be a drivers car. The only mistake they made in my opinion is the engine. Then the people who bought it just wanted something that looked cool, so every subsequent version was watered down and more cartoonish.
Mini Cooper S is an odd choice. Reliability aside, they also sold in huge numbers, which doesn’t really help with values.
Weren’t the early ones made with a Chrysler-designed, Brazilian-built, iron block called Triton, or something? I remember they were pretty gutless (if simple) until they got supercharged, which helped, but it was more the noise of the supercharger than anything else that gave more appeal.
So, I can’t tell if I am torn or not. I know the motor was about as inspired as day-old pudding, but simple and straightforward. Maybe everything isn’t about just power, though.
Thank you for being witness to my internal dialog and self-crisis.
As someone who has had a North America LR Defender and a early 2000s G wagon in their family, I have 2 takeaways.
The Defender was by far the cooler, more tasteful vehicle. The top down experience with a manual in the summer was epic. It was also objectively terrible at being, you know, a vehicle. It creaked, rattled, shook, and occasionally decided to just refuse to provide 12v to any of the onboard systems.
The G500 became embarrassing to drive when they started being associated with the Kardashian / Hilton crowd. It was built like a tank though, and we never lost confidence in its ability to get us anywhere without issue.
If I could buy back our family’s old G wagon, I would strip off the chrome and running boards and maybe put some cool steelie reproduction wheels with BFG T/A K03s.
My second car was a 1978 Datsun 208Z 2+2, 5 spd. By the time I got it it had electrical issues, no A/C, rust around the liftgate and a busted headlight cowl. But it was still fun for the 6 months or so I had it.
My dad had a P1800 in a beautiful green. Alas having 3 more kids and a wife working for a Phd meant she spent her last years in the garage. Once he got sick he only had time and engergy to work on his ’57 Chevy Belair wagon so the P1800 was given a new home.
All I know about future car values is that they are most likely to go up when I don’t own one.
RX7s, Silvias, E30 BMWs: all worth nothing when I owned them, all insane money now.
Even my Elise, which I bought as a basket case for 4k and sold for 14k just nine years later, pretty much doubled in value in the two years after I sold it.
I sometimes think the market is being manipulated just to spite me. The only 90’s 750 race-rep motorcycle that’s still worth nothing is the one I’ve owned for twenty years. I’m selling it next year, so watch ZX7R prices go mental in 2026.
Do we have any historical data on Hagerty’s lists from previous years? I’m not nearly as knowledgeable as most people around here, but it seems hit and miss to me. I’d be surprised if an Autopian member survey couldn’t outperform the Hagerty list.
I get the general ethos of including the Bronco II – they’ve had the XJ Cherokee on a prior list, there’s decent demand for retro offroaders, nostalgia because someone grew up in the back seat of one, and so on. I just find it interesting the Bronco gets the nod before the S10 Blazer. I’d argue the Blazer is better looking (although the Bronco II’s pseudo-vista windows have charm, and it’s not half-bad in refreshed Eddie Bauer form), and likely better to drive on road. Only thing I can think of is higher volumes (stronger sales, longer lifespan), and the Blazer lived to get suburbanized with a 4-door variant whereas the Bronco II was swept under the rug for the Explorer (even if they effectively was a 4-door Bronco II).
HOW THE CRAP IS THE FRICKIN DELOREAN UNDERRATED!?!?!?
Why is anyone surprised by any vehicle on this list? It’s basically formed based on current selling prices, and what Hagerty think future prices will be. That’s it. It’s not a lit comprising cars with top-notch quality interiors, or what cars are well built. That’s why the Magnum is on here; it’s relatively cheap, and they think the price is going to go up. Cadillac CTS-V Wagons aren’t as cheap (but yes, I know, it’s not just about cheapness) and apparently Hagerty doesn’t think they’ve bottomed out in value yet.
Bronco II? The worst piece of shit next to the Mustang II. Short wheel base, narrow track, do you like to do 360’s when you don’t want to? maybe the value is based on what they charge for classic car insurance?
I’ve had a Bronco II for…9 years? now. Besides the leaky slave cylinder, its been a pleasure to own and drive. Never had it perform unexpectedly. I even put a mild 2″ lift on it 4 years ago.
I never understood the hate these trucks got.
do you go over 45 mph? they get hate because they like to do 360’s with the slightest provocation. Did you go wider with wheels/tires? Short wheel base. Narrow track. High center of gravity. It is physics. They don’t teach it any more but I took it in HS. I have driven one and well understand the hate. If you like yours good for you.
I max it at 65 mph. But I try not to go above 55 mph with it – it gets squirrelly like many vehicles of that era. After I lifted it, I went 2″ wider on the tires.
I love it. Sure is a head turner.
No, not many vehicles of that era (?) get as squirrelly as the Bronc II. Maybe none. That’s my point. Thanks for making it.
I respectfully disagree. Had the same issues in my ’87 Ram D150, ’92 Ranger. And my dad’s ’63 Studebaker and fil’s ’67 GMC K2500 same thing.
Bronco II was a shorter wheel base Ranger, so … the Ranger was not as bad due to physics. D150 kinda narrow track, still longer wheel base. the k2500 in 1967 is not a comp for a Bronco. nor the 63 Studie. I would not agree either is of the same era, unless the era is of the horseless carriage era. And they have pretty good food there.
https://www.galpin.com/horselesscarriage/
go there and support Beau!
Oh I agree. They are far removed from being of the same era. Late malaise shouldn’t really compare to the swingin’ sixties, but I still considered it relative to the conversation.
My point is that many older vehicles (especially American) are terrible handlers and the Bronco is not exceptionally worse than anything else out there. It handles like shit, but so did everything else.
“like many vehicles of that era. ” :”They are far removed from being of the same era.” do you have a brain tumor? the Bronco II handles worse than any of the 40+ vehicles I’ve ever driven. so is it of the same era, of is it removed? “It handles like shit, but so did everything else.” No, you are wrong, Should I go on? You seem to have no idea of vehicle dynamics. I hope you are never driving near me.
Also: Glad you were able to go over this list for us. Was there any duplication or cross-referencing between Hagerty’s list and the World”s Worst Cars compendium that you started to review a few months back? I noticed that there were no Mercurys, which would have been a topic for yesterday. I may have missed the premiere of “Tucker Tuesdays” but, in all fairness, you probably finished that one because it only takes one day to cover the whole model lineup,
I’m concerned, Torch. I should have said something earlier – maybe I’ve been distracted by David’s current folie à Jeep, which has wrapped him in the delusion that he will be getting married shortly or, if that actually does take place, that he will have his Jeep clean and running and not reeking of fuel and hantavirus in time to whisk his bride away after the ceremony – but I have to ask: Did (or do} you have some sort of unnaturally close and boundary-free relationship with your mother’s home dental care regimen? It’s not your fault, or maybe it is (I wasn’t there), but regardless, you may be able to brush away those ghosts haunting your soul. Just think about it for us. We care, kinda.
Who codes this website anyway ?
The posting process includes a notification which indicates “Awaiting for approval”.
No native English speaker would write that. Hell, even most not-native English speakers know better.
So I submitted a couple of perfectly reasonable comments for this article and neither of my comments was published. I’m wondering why my comments didn’t get published.
Perhaps someone can explain what causes comments to be published or not.
By the way my “name” comes from an old ad BMW used. It’s a German word which means “triple-hemispherical swirl action combustion chamber”. BMW made a big deal out of the cylinder head design they used back in the 1970s.
Sorry about that! Back when this site launched we had a huge problem with spambots. We started blocking and deleting them with good success. Then, real people started pretending to be bots, so we installed a spam filter that tries to get both the bots and the people pretending to be bots.
Unfortunately, the filter isn’t very good at its job and lots of legitimate comments get caught by the filter as spam. I approved all of your comments! 🙂
Edit: To be clear, I have no idea what the filter thought was “spammy” about your comment. But I make sure to check the moderation queue just in case real commenters like you get caught up in the filter’s actions.
Shouldn’t it be “dreikugelwirbelundsoweiter”?
No.
In fact you are correct. I misspelled “drei” and you caught it.
I don’t know if it’s possible to edit a user name, but if it is I’ll correct it.
It is an awesome word, by the way. I once misspelled Nietenzähler, which is very meta but also very embarrassing.