Collectors are spoilt for choice regarding cars to add to their collection. Everything from classic muscle cars to supercars is available to buy and cherish.
Some are more obscure. A Mitsubishi performance SUV or a Toyota that once starred in James Bond are two other vehicles that spring to mind.
In this list, we will chart 24 of the best cars collectors can buy in 2024. Some are very expensive, but all of them are worth every dollar.
1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary
The Countach 25th-anniversary model was a rare occasion when a sequel was as good as the original car. Lamborghini produced 650 examples, with a 5.2-liter V12 engine that used Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection in the US version.
This engine produced 455 hp, the highest output a Countach would ever achieve. They are now exceptionally rare and can be worth as much as $700,000.
Toyota 2000GT
The Toyota 2000GT is expensive, with one selling at $1,200,000 in 2013. However, it is also one of the finest GT vehicles on the planet. Produced from 1967 to 1970, it was Japan’s answer to the Jaguar E-Type and proved they could build fast sports cars.
A convertible model appeared in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, and two topless models were also produced for the movie. Under the hood was a 2.0-2.3-liter inline-six producing up to 148 hp.
2008–13 BMW M3
Narrowing down a classic BMW M3 to buy is tricky, but the 2008-2013 model makes a good case for itself. The E92 M3 packs a 4.0-liter V8 under the hood and has plenty of power for sports car thrills.
A generation of M3 is rapidly becoming a modern classic, and prices are creeping up to around $65,000 for those in excellent condition.
Porsche 944
It is sometimes easy to forget Porsche-produced cars other than the 911. The 944 is one of those, and in particular, the 944 Turbo is rapidly becoming a collector’s gem.
The 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four is good enough for 217 hp, and now is the time to strike while prices aren’t through the roof.
1997–99 Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution
The Pajero Evolution is one of the more unusual vehicles on this list. Mitsubishi produced 2,500 road-going versions of this car so it could compete in the famous Paris-Dakar rally.
JDM fans still adore the 3.5-liter iron-block V6 that produces 276 hp, especially as it runs Mitsubishi’s MIVEC variable valve-timing-and-lift system and their gasoline direct-injection.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
Lancia is worthy of a place on this list, especially the Integrale. In the 1980s, the Integrale won six consecutive World Rally Championship titles and made a name for itself as a fast and agile road car.
It was also the last car Lancia would win a WRC title with. The manufacturer pulled out of the championship as the 1990s dawned, and soon Lancia slipped into the shadows.
2011–16 Ferrari FF
A Ferrari with all-wheel drive and four-seats seemed an odd concept. However, the Ferrari FF set a trend that rivals would follow, resulting in a Prancing Horse SUV.
The FF packs a naturally aspirated V12 with 651 hp, more than the Ferrari Enzo, yet it can seat four people. A good, used one will cost around $177,000.
Citroen CX
The CX is from when Citroen still produced exciting and innovative cars. It features sharp, bold styling and a fantastic interior, while the 25 GTi Turbo 2 has a punchy but reliable engine.
The hydraulic suspension can sometimes be tricky to maintain, but it makes up for what with exceptional comfort. Something Citroen built a reputation on.
Fiat Panda 4×4
It might seem an odd choice, but the Panda 4×4 has a charm all of its own. Under the hood is a 965cc engine producing just 48 hp. But it is light and agile and is genuinely a joy off-road.
Fiat’s little 4×4 is a classic. Finding one in good condition is incredibly hard due to rust, but its home country of Italy is the best place to look.
1965–70 Chevrolet Impala SS
The Chevrolet Impala is one of the best muscle cars for any collector. The mid-1960s to 1970s were a significant period for the Impaka, which could produce up to 425 hp in the rare L72 V8.
Examples in mint condition can push up to $50,000, and it’s little wonder. Decades on, the Impala remains as popular as ever.
1993-2004 Lotus Esprit
The Esprit is a sports car that tends to get overlooked. Most of that is down to Lotus’s reputation, the name of which jokingly stands for “Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious.”
But the later generations of Esprit bucked that trend. A 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine was good enough for 264 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. And these were some of the best looking of all generations of the Esprit.
Maserati Bora
Maserati’s of the 1970s have questionable reliability. But there is no arguing with the design of the Bora. Giugiaro designed this Italian supercar, and it gets even better when you learn a choice of Tipo V8s is sitting under the hood.
The Bora would form the basis of the later Merak, using the same bodyshell front clip but in a 2+2 configuration. Maserati produced just 564 Boras; in 2024, supercar enthusiasts coveted them.
1964–66 Ford Thunderbird
The Ford Thunderbirds of the 1950s get a lot of attention, and rightly so. But the mid-1960s Thunderbird deserves a mention.
A 390 ci V8 with 300 hp and 427 lb-ft of torque wasn’t quite punchy enough, but by 1966, it had gained an extra 15 hp. Then there was the 428 V8, an optional powertrain that launched the Thunderbird from 0 to 60 mph in just nine seconds.
1997–02 Plymouth Prowler
It is a divisive-looking car that should have had a V8 under the hood. But the late 1990s Plymouth Prowler, designed by Chip Foose, was a brilliant tribute to the glory days of hot rods.
The SOHC V6 was good enough for 214 hp. Not as much as the enthusiast would have wanted, but then you remember you are in an open-air sports car with hot rod styling, and it doesn’t matter.
1995-1997 Volvo 850 R
Volvo will no longer make station wagons or estates, so collectors should look for a classic one. The 850 R is a monster of a wagon, with a 2.3-liter turbocharged straight-five producing 250 hp.
Even crazier is that the 850 R could go from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, quicker than the Ford Thunderbird from the mid-1960s.
1998-2010 Saab 9-5 Station Wagon/Estate
Saab is one of the most-missed names in automobile history. And the 9-5 Station Wagon was one of their best products.
It was a good-looking car, and the 2.3-liter engine produced 247 hp, firmly placing the 9-5 in Volvo 850 R territory. It is still a popular car in 2024, which highlights how missed Saab is.
Aston Martin DB5
Some buy an Aston Martin DB5 because of the James Bond connection. But as a piece of art, it is exceptional, and as a Grand Tourer, it is equally exemplary.
The 4.0-liter straight-six was good enough for up to 325 hp and 288 lb-ft of torque. The DB5 was a comfortable, smooth-riding car that firmly put Aston Martin on the map and cemented their status as an automotive icon.
Jaguar E-Type
To many, the Jaguar E-Type is the best-looking car from Britain. In America, it was the XK-E, and it had what was, at the time, a groundbreaking design principle.
This was the front subframe carrying the engine, and the front suspension and front bodywork bolted directly to the body tub. The E-Type was also light, weighing just 2,899 lbs.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL
The 300 SL is instantly recognizable thanks to its iconic gullwing doors. Produced in various forms from 1954 to 1963, it had a 3.0-liter M198 straight-six under the hood that produced 240 hp and 217 lb-ft of torque.
With the aid of Bosch mechanical fuel injection, the 300 SL had a top speed of 163 mph.
Chevrolet Corvette C1
Chevrolet almost killed the Corvette before it had a chance to flourish. Chevrolet rushed the C1 into production, and poor sales nearly destroyed the program.
Thankfully, Chevrolet learned from their mistakes. In 2024, the C1 became a great collector’s car, and there is no arguing with its striking looks.
Porsche 550 Spyder
The 550 Spyder is one of the most striking Porsche cars ever made. The German manufacturer produced them from 1953 to 1956, but only 90 were actually produced during that time.
The 550 Spyder became one of the best motorsport cars, although it is also sadly remembered as the car Hollywood actor James Dean was driving when he died.
Lancia 037
Another Lancia icon is the 037, the car that took the fight to Audi in the 1983 World Rally Championship. The two-wheel drive Lancia somehow beat the four-wheel drive Quattro to that year’s WRC title.
Lancia produced a handful of 037 Stradale road-going cars, each with a 205 hp Abarth DOHC 2.0-liter 16-valve inline-four under the hood.
1986-1992 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth
The RS Cosworth is easily one of Ford’s finest products. Ford’s F1 engineers worked to create a Group A motorsport racer, and that spawned the road-going version.
Power came from a mighty 2.0-liter Cosworth turbocharged inline-four that produced 204 hp with a 0-60 mph time of just 6.1 seconds.
2000 – 2005 Jaguar XKR
The Jaguar XKR came during Ford’s ownership of the British manufacturer. Its predecessor, the XK8, had a 4.0-liter V8 with 290 hp and 284 lb-ft of torque under the hood.
The XKR also had a ZF five-speed automatic transmission, but Jaguar upped the game in 2000 by adding a supercharger. That allowed the XKR to produce 370 hp—more than enough for it to compete with Mercedes, BMW, and Aston Martin.
