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A lot of classic cars currently on the market are ones that everyone rightly pays attention to. As a result, they get all the press, and their values start to skyrocket. That means that there are plenty of hidden gems that end up falling by the wayside. But these hidden gems are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve. These are five of the coolest that you should definitely take a look at. Most of them are sports cars. But there is one executive sedan in here, and also one car that was seriously ahead of its time!
Porsche 924
Average Used Value: $31,098
The Porsche 924 has to be one of the most misunderstood cars to come out of Stuttgart. A joint venture between Porsche and Volkswagen (before Volkswagen bought Porsche outright), the 924 was supposed to be the Porsche-badged version of two sibling sports cars. The Volkswagen version never ended up happening, but some of that VW DNA still carried through into the Porsche we eventually got. That included the original engine of the base model 924—a 2-liter inline-4 that was based on a unit used in the Volkswagen LT van. Porsche also extensively modified the Volkswagen engine so it could be turbocharged, creating the Turbo and Carrera GT variants for road-going customers. The turbocharged 924s were discontinued in 1982 in most of the world (they soldiered on in Italy until 1984, due to tax reasons unique to Italy), and by 1984 the old Volkswagen engine in the regular 924 was discontinued and replaced with Porsche's own 2.5-liter inline-4. This version is known as the 924S, and it carried on until the end of 924 production in 1989.
The 924 has never had the best reputation among Porsche enthusiasts. Purists turn their nose up at it, due to its front-engined layout and the Volkswagen-derived engines of most variants. But gearheads who don't care about that stuff as much have found out that the 924 is a gem. Its front-engined, rear-wheel drive setup means that it's easier to get used to (and definitely safer to drive) than a classic 911. They've also taken advantage of the 924's relatively low price point. The average used value for 924s across all trim levels is $31,098. The early Volkswagen-engined base models are the biggest bargains out of the lot, going for around $10,327 these days. The Porsche-engined 924S is also relatively cheap, averaging around $10,863 on the used market. The most expensive attainable 924 is the Turbo, which has an average value of around $25,621 these days. Whichever model you go for, you're getting a real hidden gem that's finally starting to get the attention it always deserved.
Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia
Average Used Value: $21,967
The Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia often doesn't get talked about when people mention classic sports cars. It is understandable why that's the case. It's not going to cause any excitement performance-wise. It's based on the platform of the classic Volkswagen Beetle, and that includes the Beetle's air-cooled flat-four engine. What the Karmann-Ghia makes up for in that regard, though, is almost unlimited charm. Its good looks are timeless, and anyone who sees one of these out on the road is guaranteed to smile. Plus, using Beetle components means that it's cheap and easy to maintain.
Across all its variants, the average used value of the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia is around $21,967. If you're lucky, you might be able to grab an example for as little as around $10,000. That's an incredibly cheap price to pay for a gem of a car that's overlooked because it's mechanically a classic Beetle.
Rover SD1
Average Used Value: $18,850
If much of your exposure to classic cars is from North America, you likely won't have heard of the Rover SD1. It's a car that mainly made its name in Europe. It was also shouldered with the failing reputation of British Leyland during that time. That's a shame, as this car was actually one of BL's best. It came with several different engine options, including a diesel. But the engine every enthusiast wants in one of these is the 3.5-liter Rover V8. This version was actually sold in the USA from 1980 to 1982. It was known as the Rover 3500, and it had some modifications to make it compliant to US federal regulations. These were big plastic crash bumpers and exposed, round headlamps instead of the covered ones European examples had.
You can now get a Rover SD1 for around $18,850 on the used market. This includes examples of the highly desirable 3500 and 3500 Vitesse models. Plus, as even the youngest examples of this car are nearly 40 years old, you can freely import one to the USA or Canada. If the values of other classic Rovers are anything to go by, the SD1 still has a bit of depreciation to go. Until those values eventually start climbing up, this really is one of the best hidden gems in the classic car world.
Toyota Celica Supra (A60)
Average Used Value: $18,355
When people talk about the Toyota Supra, they're mainly going to mention the A80 version that became famous through the tuner scene and the Fast & Furious movies. This has meant that the original Celica Supra has been left by the wayside, in the shadow of its more legendary descendant. Perhaps the biggest hidden gem of the old Celica Supras is the A60. This is the second generation of the Celica Supra, and it was the version that was sold throughout much of the '80s. It came with multiple engine choices, all from Toyota's G and M families of engine designs. North American customers got a 2.8-liter inline-6, producing anywhere from 145-161 horsepower and 155-169 lb-ft of torque. This came with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission.
An A60 Celica Supra can be yours now for around $18,355. That's much cheaper than what you can expect to pay for the lauded A80 Supra, and the performance isn't much worse. Plus, you may prefer the wedgier, more '80s looks. These A60 Celica Supras may not stay cheap for long. But while they are, their living in the shadow of a later legend makes them one of the biggest hidden gems in the classic car market.
AMC Eagle
Average Used Value: $12,138
Out of all the cars here, the AMC Eagle has to be the one that predicted the future the best. It's a crossover that was sold during the 1980s. Not only that, but it was also designed to do at least some level of off-roading! All variants of the Eagle have four-wheel drive, and had multiple tried-and-tested engine options. Initially coming with AMC's 258 cubic inch inline-6, the General Motors 151 cubic inch "Iron Duke" inline-4 was added as a smaller engine option in 1981. This was replaced by AMC's own 150 cubic inch inline-4 by 1983. While neither of these engines is anything to write home about, they at least mean that it's still fairly easy to keep these cars maintained, as there's plenty of parts still available for them.
If you want one of these quirky early crossovers, you can expect to pay around $12,138. That makes the Eagle a real bargain, especially considering how historically important it is now. AMC's thinking with the Eagle was at least a decade ahead of its time, and people are finally starting to appreciate that.
Sources: AMC, Classic.com, Porsche, Rover, Toyota, Volkswagen
