Did you know that July 12th was Collector Car Appreciation Day! Some collector cars out there can range in the hundreds of thousands to millions, which is a little outrageous. In light of this automotive holiday, we thought it would be ideal to compile a short list of the top five classic cars that also won’t burn a hole in your pocketbook. Honestly, who wouldn’t want to behind the wheel of one these on a hot summer cruise? (All of these prices are the average for a good condition vehicle too – no need to roll up your sleeves for these puppies!)
1. 1968-1985 Fiat 124 Sport Spider – $9,500
Designed and manufactured by Italian car maker Pininfarina, this little classic is a sweet deal. The Spider features an optional three-speed automatic transmission for their later models. About 75% of the 200,000 that were built are in the U.S., so finding these won’t be as difficult as one would expect.
2. 1964 Ford Thunderbird - $11,500
This fourth generation firebird was offered in hardtop, convertible, and Landau version. It was also standardly equipped with a 300 horsepower, 390 cu V8 engine with performance upgrade option of 345 horsepower. The pricing is the average cost for the coupe version.
3. 1966 Ford Mustang - $12,500
The ’66 Mustang is one of the most popular Ford Mustang model years ever with total production units a little over 600,000. This car just screams speed and youth. This model in particular sports a few upgrades from its predecessors – more color options, redesigned grille, and an automatic transmission option for the V8 submodel.
4. 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Edition - $17,000
Even in modern standards, this car just screams style. When this car was first introduced for Corvette’s 25th anniversary, it showcased the most dramatic body style change Corvette has ever done. The silver edition was attributed to Bill Mitchell, an automobile designer, who suggested his favorite color for the model prior to retirement.
5. 1963 Studebaker Avanti $17,500
Even though this was Studebaker’s “Hail Mary” to try to get the American public into Studebaker showrooms, the design still is a head turner. Apparently their team was able to produce this controversial design (Plexi-glass windows?) in just a few weeks.
