So-called barn finds are what legends are made of among auto enthusiasts. Earlier this year a rare, but rust-covered 1969 Ford Mustang that was originally priced at around $2,600 was unearthed, being locked in a barn for over two decades. Spiffed up it could be worth a cool $605,000.
But one doesn't have to go the American Pickers route to get into the collectable car game or cash out the 401k buying a fully restored 1960's muscle car to invest in vintage rides As in past years the experts at collectible vehicle insurer Hagerty have come up their annual Bull Market list of still-affordable and coveted cars that are poised to increase in value over the coming year, and perhaps even turn a handsome profit down the road.
Though past performance, as they say regarding other forms of investments, is no proof of future value, Hagerty says its Bull Market picks from the prior years have all outperformed the market. The company's analysts are said to have poured through data culled from public and private vintage-auto sales, comparing the results against historic trends and insurance valuations to narrow down the list to 11 soon-to-be hot wheels.
While older cars in top shape can still bring big bucks at auction. Hagerty's Vice President of Automotive Intelligence Brian Rabold says more-recent vintage vehicles are beginning to catch the eye of a new generation of auto investors. "It's clear that younger enthusiasts are increasingly entering the collector car market, and vehicles from their eras are appreciating. It's official, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s era cars are collectible."
To be sure, a recent Hagerty survey found that nearly 60% of Gen Z respondents said they'd like to own a collectable car, compared to 31% of Baby Boomers. That's perhaps why a number of models on this year's list are enjoying increased ownership among Millennial and Gen Z enthusiasts. While previous lists were mainly comprised of models from the 1980's and early 1990's, the average model year represented in the current Bull Market list is a more-recent 2001.
As in the past, Hagerty's Bull Market list for 2025 contains a couple of classic rides that are already priced at unobtainable levels for many shoppers, well into six figures, but it does include several that remain affordable, with the most accessible of the bunch being priced in the $12,000-$17,000 range. Besides, what other form of investment can be taken out and enjoyed over an open road when weather permits?
Still, as with any type of investment, there are a number of caveats regarding the vintage-car market. For maximum value and investment potential, experts advise novice collectors look for a model that's in the best mechanical and cosmetic shape possible, and have it verified by a trusted mechanic who's familiar with older cars. Buy only from a reputable source and eschew entering into a transaction sight unseen, especially via a listing on eBay, Craigslist or other outlet where fraud can be easily perpetrated.
Make sure any classic ride under consideration is well documented, with proven provenance (its history, in Antiques Roadshow lingo) being critical. Look for a direct paper trail that starts with the automaker and ends with the current owner, and ideally includes the original window sticker, sales contract, the owner's manual and other paperwork that came with the car, along with copies of titles and bills of sale.
Always research the manufacturer's production figures for a specific vehicle under consideration, with limited numbers being the most potentially profitable down the road. Unless it's otherwise trashed, having as much original equipment as possible - seats, badges, radio, et cetera - is best. Likewise, the fewer original miles registered on the odometer, the better.
And avoid the temptation to acquire a "handyman's special" that's in dire need of a full restoration with the hope that it will command big profits once the vehicle is renewed. The process could take several years and many thousands of dollars to complete, even with an owner doing much of the work his or herself. What's more, parts may become difficult, if not impossible to come by.
At any rate, here's a look at the 11 used cars Hagerty says are most likely to succeed as future collectibles, presented according to their current average values, high-to-low:
1961-1964 Jaguar E-Type SI 3.8 Coupe ($182,800). Though costly, this classic Jaguar is highly desirable. The E-Type helped forge the brand's reputation in the U.S in the 1960's for its smooth V6 performance and its classic styling that featured a block-long hood. Hagerty says that while E-Types from that era have decreased in value somewhat over the past three years, that only makes them more desirable to to a new generation of well-heeled enthusiasts.
2003-2013 Lamborghini Gallardo 6-Speed ($157,700). Few cars are as unmistakably styled as this wedge-shaped Lambo, and few are as quick, thanks to its red-hot V10 engine. While an automatic gearbox was the standard transmission, a six-speed manual was optional for purists, and should be the version to find for future appreciation. Hagerty says Gallardo prices have notched up by a mere 9% over the past five years, which lags behind other Lamborghinis during the same period and makes them relative bargains, even at this astronomical average value.
1981-1983 DeLorean DMC-12 ($75,100). While the three Back to the Future films cemented the DeLorean's status as a bona fide pop-culture icon, there's enough intrigue-filled backstory involved with the infamous aluminum-bodied gullwing-door sports car to fill volumes. Though it never was much of a high-performance car, the rise in 1980's nostalgia has generated heightened interest in the low-slung Irish-built DMC-12. Hagerty reports its values have skyrocketed by more than 73% since 2019.
1976-1989 Ferrari 400/412 ($59,900). Not all vintage Ferraris command eye-popping prices, as this model illustrates. Though it's as sleek as any sports car to wear the Prancing Horse logo, with styling by the noted Italian design house Pininfarina and packing a lusty V12 engine, Hagerty says its fortunes have been adversely affected among purists by its four-passenger seating and automatic transmission. Still, it's one of the last models from the Enzo Ferrari era, and while Hagerty says that while its values have increased by more than 50% in recent years, it remains within the reach of many entry-level collectors.
2002-2008 Mercedes-Benz G500 ($53,200). The G-Wagon as it's called has always been something of a desired taste, with unabashed boxy styling that makes it look like a postal vehicle for some affluent gated community. Derived from a post-World War II military vehicle, it nonetheless has always delivered the goods with regard to luxury appointments and its uncanny off-road prowess. New models cost well into the $100,000 range, which makes older models in good shape relative bargains. Hagerty says prices of G-Class models from this era have increased by 12% over the past year.
1961-1972 Volvo P1800 ($44,200). That's right, a highly regarded collectible car that comes from the automaker otherwise known for selling conservatively cast sedans and wagons. The P1800 breaks the mold as the brand's first bona fide sports coupe. Considered to be an excellent touring vehicle with sleek Italian-styled lines, the P1800 found fame in "The Saint" TV series from the same period with Roger Moore behind the wheel. Hagery notes that Next Gen collectors are paying more for vintage P1800s these days than more-established collectors, which is a good sign they will continue to advance in value.
1978-1983 Datsun 280ZX ($32,800). Sold in its native Japan as the curiously-named Fairlady, the Z sports car helped establish Datsun (now Nissan) in the U.S. for its comely styling and aggressive nature. As it became more of a softer grand touring model than a flat-out sports car by the late 1970's, purists have instead focused their bank accounts on earlier models. That helps make Zs from this vehicle a far more-affordable proposition, especially to younger collectors, with turbocharged models being especially desirable. Though their values have risen by 138% over the last half-decade, Hagerty believes there's still an opportunity for growth.
2005-2008 Dodge Magnum SRT-8 ($32,600). By the 2000's, station wagons had long been an afterthought in the U.S. market. That's why it was novel for Dodge to deenliven the genre with the rear-wheel-drive Magnum as a modern-day muscle car, especially in its top 425-horsepower V8-infused SRT-8 version. Even with a 39% jump in value since 2019, Hagerty says this unusually practical speedster remains relatively affordable in the collector market, presumable with room for grown down the road.
1997-2001 Honda Prelude ($17,400). While not as flat-out aggressive as Nissan's Z, the Prelude was a more-sophisticated sports coupe, available in this period with then-novel features like torque-vectoring steering. Hagerty says it's an up-and-comer among enthusiasts 13 years younger than the average collector, who were growing up while this fifth-generation Prelude was still factory fresh.
1984-1990 Ford Bronco II ($15,600). As the resurrected Ford Broncos that debuted a few years ago have become popular as rough-and-tumble alternatives to Jeep Wranglers, older models are appreciating in value. This incarnation was a three-door wagon that would be replaced by the wildly popular Ford Explorer. A low cost of entry helps make the final-generation Broncos especially appealing among Gen Z and Millennial enthusiasts. Hagerty says its sustained demand shouldn't keep them this affordable for much longer.
2002-2006 Mini Cooper S ($12,000). The least-expensive budding collectible in Hagerty's 2025 Bull Market list is the first generation of the reimagined Mini Cooper, brought back to life courtesy of BMW. It's endured for its classic styling, amenable performance and overall quirkiness. The modern-day Mini has remained relatively cheap, with its average price in the vintage-car market having creeped up by only 4% in recent years. However, Hagerty says its value and desirability makes its bargain pricing too attractive to last.