9 Big Winners from the Big Three in the Latest Price Guide
As the weather gets hotter and driving season is now in full swing across North America, the collector car market continues to cool off. That doesn’t mean all classic cars are getting cheaper, though, as a lot of them started this year with significant appreciation. We surveyed the vehicles from the Big Three (GM, Ford, and Chrysler) in the Hagerty Price Guide, and below are the ones that have seen the biggest rise in values so far in 2024.
1979-93 Ford Mustang: +15 percent
Third generation, aka “Fox-body” Mustangs have been getting pricier for over a decade now, and kept right on going through the first part of 2024. A 15 percent bump in a quarter is remarkable, and so is the 258 percent surge in average Fox-body values over the past 10 years.
A big part of the Mustang’s appeal is that there’s one for most budgets, and that’s still the case with Fox-bodies despite the big numbers above. Condition #2 values for this generation of America’s pony car range from $13,000 for some of the humble early cars to over 100 grand for high-spec Saleens and SVT Cobra Rs.
1984-92 Lincoln Mark VII: +15 percent
The love for Ford’s Fox platform isn’t limited to Mustangs. In total, 15 different FoMoCo vehicles rode on the Fox chassis, and one was the Lincoln Continental Mark VII, renamed Mark VII for 1986. The 1985 LSC model was the first American car with four-channel antilock brakes, and the combination of reliable 302-cubic inch V-8 with Lincoln luxury made it a decent seller. Maybe it’s a case of the Mustang’s rising tide lifting all Fox-platformed boats, but the Mark VII’s growth isn’t limited to 2024. Since 2021, this car has more than doubled in value, with current #2 prices ranging from $22,000 to $24,500.
1999-2004 Ford SVT Lightning: +18 percent
The 1993 F-150 SVT Lightning was Ford’s original sport truck, and alongside the ’93 Mustang SVT Cobra, it introduced the buying public to Ford’s Special Vehicle Team. Ford retired the Lightning name in 1995, but brought it back on the 10th generation F-Series platform for 1999. Whereas the original Lightning used the tried-and-true 351 Windsor, the 1999 Lightning used an Eaton supercharged 5.4-liter Triton engine good for 360 hp (up to 380 from 2001). MSRP for the 1999 Lightning came in at $29,355 (about $55,800 when adjusted for inflation) when the regular F-150 XL V8 listed from $16,015, and Ford sold over 28,000 units of the boosted pickup from 1999-2004. When adjusted for inflation, then, Lightnings haven’t quite caught up to their original price unless they’re in #1 (“best in the world”) condition.
1965-68 Plymouth Fury/VIP: +11 percent
Plymouth’s fourth-generation Fury rode on Chrysler’s new, full-size C-body platform and was available in a wide range of body styles, engine configurations and trim levels, including a luxury version called the Plymouth VIP. Given the wide range of equipment and body styles, Fury values have a broad range as well, from under 13 grand for a 318-powered Fury I sedan to over 100 for a Hemi-powered Sport Fury. Prices have moved differently among the various body styles: Most convertibles and sedans have actually moved down about three percent, while two-door sedans and hardtop coupes are up 20 percent since January.
1965-68 Dodge Polara: +9 percent
Also built on the full-size C-body platform and available with a wide range of engines, body styles, and trims, the third generation Polara similarly has a wide range of values that move differently from each other. And, like the Fury, it isn’t the first name in American muscle despite being available with big V-8s, including 440s and Hemis. While most versions haven’t moved at all, convertibles are up 15 percent since the beginning of the year.
1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ: +10 percent
Introduced for 1984, the XJ-generation Jeep Cherokee was Jeep’s first all-new design since the 1960s as well as the first with unibody construction. This proto-SUV was so popular that when Chrysler bought the Jeep brand from AMC in 1987, it retained the XJ and kept on building it until 2001. That’s an impressive run, and XJs are still in demand. Their #2 values are up by 10 percent across the board so far this year, and have more than doubled over the past five years.
1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am: +16 percent
Pontiac debuted the Grand Am model in 1973 as a sort of mix between the luxury-oriented Grand Prix and the sporty Firebird Trans Am. Built on the GM A-body platform, the “mid-sized Pontiac with Foreign Intrigue…American Ingenuity” (according to the ads) was available as a 2-door colonnade or 4-door “pillared” hardtop, and adorned with the massive beak found on most ’70s Pontiacs.
Introduced after the golden age of muscle was already over, the first-gen Grand Am is like many ’70s American cars in that it isn’t very expensive and its prices historically haven’t moved much. They started getting pricier in 2020, however, and have started the year with a 16 percent gain on average.
1961-63 Oldsmobile F-85 Cutlass: +13 percent
Olds used the Cutlass name on a 1954 Motorama show car, but it didn’t reappear until 1961, with the introduction of a deluxe coupe version of the all-new F-85 “senior compact.” It came with a 215-cubic inch aluminum V-8, similar to the Buick engine that went on to become the famous Rover V-8. The Cutlass-based 1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire was also the first production car offered with a turbocharger.
F-85 values were flat for most of the 2010s and didn’t move dramatically during the earlier part of this decade. Convertible models and Jetfires are also flat so far this year, but all other trims (F-85 and F-85 Cutlass) and body styles (coupe, sedan, and station wagon) are up 20 percent since January.
1973-77 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: +30 percent
The redesigned ’73 Monte Carlo was a big success for Chevrolet. Motor Trend named it their “Car of the Year,” and the Monte helped the company set a sales record that year. New features like standard radial tires, wrap-around interior styling, and one-piece swiveling bucket seats helped the Monte Carlo lead the parade of entries in America’s personal luxury car market. Through several restyles and despite shrinking engines and power figures, the second-gen Monte remained a sales juggernaut through its five-year production run.
These cars shot up in price starting in 2022, and #2 values are up a whopping 82 percent over the past two years.
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Fox bodies have been under value for a long time. The lightning is a special interest limited volume. The Monte is of interest as everything else is way over priced in the Chevy coupe line.
The rest are cars that just never had much value so any movement can be large.
The Mark VII is an attractive car as shown here in black LSC form. I’d look for one that already had the ‘always at the dealer’ air suspension swapped over to standard coil if possible. What about those early -‘Continental ‘ – Mk VIIs with the BMW sourced turbo diesels? Can’t imagine there are many of those left and as an oddball collectors piece maybe? This Polara would probably be my choice as an investment and as a driver. It has a certain shabby chic quality that I can imagine gaining ground in the future. But then I’m a sucker for a ragtop and the robins egg blue is not too Petty blue…too.
I have a Black Mark VII LSC Special Edition. The Air Suspension isn’t hard to maintain. A coil conversions significantly lowers the value of the car in the collector market.
It’s also surprisingly affordable to maintain. Problem is I haven’t seen new Motorcraft bags for sale in a while, so you are usually stuck with aftermarket bags. They generally don’t last as long, and at this point, its probably wise to buy spares of aftermarket bags (as they will likely stop being made too).
I’m not really familiar with the rear suspension on those particular cars . If it has normal shocks as well though , would some of the old school Monroe air adjustable shocks help extend the life span of the air bags if there getting that hard to find now ?
I my be spitting in the wind here , but as I said I don’t think I’ve ever been under one that I can remember and if so it was long enough ago I don’t remember just how there set up ?
I have those Monroe’ s on my 71 Boat Tail Rivi and love them, I can air them up when I want to drive twisty roads and air them down for highway / interstate cruising. I’ve also used them on a number of different trucks to, mostly work trucks and they work exceptionally well there too .
That’s an interesting idea, but I bet the wear isn’t from the load of the car. It’s just from age of rubber and the moves an air spring must perform as the car drives down the road. They rarely crack in a visible place, mostly happening where the rubber is attached to the base of the spring.
I just toured and took a video of a closed Ford dealership in Tennessee that probably has the OEM air suspension parts. The place has been closed a long time, so old parts are everywhere. There is a company cataloging and selling everything cheap. https://youtu.be/Gd0T8cR9eMw
I would certainly agree about the air suspension being a Ford Senior Master Technician. I’ve diagnosed and repaired many including my ’86 Lincoln Continental. Sajeev- I’ve had aftermarket bags in my Continental for about 4 years without issue. I think if you don’t let the battery charge get low and the suspension vent out they should last.
Yes that seems about right for aftermarket bags. If I recall correctly, their lifespan is about half that of OEM bags…when they were still being made.
I had a Mark VII with the turbo diesel, great mpg, suspension no problem. Transmissions, that’s an issue, went through three transmissions.
On the Fox body Mustang, I also had an 82 GT, when Ford reintroduced the GT’s. Went to the dealer and preordered one, it was the first GT that the dealer ordered, still have the window sticker for it $8740. My younger brother ended up with it, and drove it into the ground, should have never sold it to him.
Our pop was a Ford tractor dealer. Ford had an excess of the turbo diesel Lincolns so dad and his brother, partners in the firm, each got one–former Ford exec. cars. (A BMW turbo in THAT car!) We got the silver 4-door Conti, uncle got a Mark. Many thought the bustle back Continental ugly, but we had a blast with it for upwards of 200k miles. I think it was the tranny at the end. It was quirky. The real wood in the dash warped after a few cold NY state winters. It wasn’t quick off the mark, but if you floored it in time you left the car you passed in twin plumes of white diesel smoke. And it would keep that high speed up all day during our yearly trips through Canada. (Speed limit: reasonable and proper!)It was a blast to drive! Serene, but grrrrr underneath, once underway.
Oh no, the secret’s out on the Grand Am! When I was 16 Mom brought home a new ’73 GA. She chose the color she liked and didn’t notice that the car had a 455 and every speed part Pontiac could add on. With 500 ft/lbs of torque, it was a tire-melting monster, The drivetrain from the Trans Am, the interior from the Grand Prix, and the body from the LeMams. It was to be the next GTO, The drawings showed it as a GTO. I have 3 now. Black 455, orange 400, and a silver 455. I was hoping to keep them a secret. The car showed up again in ’77 as a Can-Am but no 455 this time.
Most beautiful 1969 and 1970 Mach 1 Ford Mustangs with the 428 or 429 Super Cobra Jets!!!
yes, and no 68/9/70 Chargers with the 383 or 440. 440 is better on the street then Hemi unless you are a mechanic.
The first car I got to drive around was my dad’s 68 Chrysler New Yorker 4 door. My friends laughed at that land yacht until they saw it beat a lot of muscle cars off the line and 0-60. It could burn the tires off if you wanted. Laying rubber streaks on the road 80 feet long was no problem. Tons of fun and great memories
My Dad only bought Dodges or Chryslers. When he got his new ’68 New Yorker, he was very disappointed. Most of his cars had 383s. This New Yorker had a 440. He always complained about the rough idle and he had a hard time “not” squealing the tires when he took off. So sad… Poor Dad!
As a young teen, i remember my dad buying a 73 Grand Am, white with red white blue striping. I thought highly of that car back then. It was the sportiest car my dad ever bought in addition to a 60 something Mustang. I see that a copy sold on BAT this year for over $56,000. Interesting…
My father-in-law, as a Chey diehard, purchased a new ’73 Monte Carlo. I was and remain unimpressed. To each their own.
Agree. The 1970 Monte Carlo was a tasteful design. The 1973 was a disco ball on wheels.
Yeah not a fan?!
I guess I should have kept my first car in 1968, a maroon ’63 Buick Skylark with the 215 cubic inch aluminum V-8 and three on the tree. It appears that car would have been a good investment. Got my first ticket in that car for allegedly squealing the tires. In truth, thought the engine wasn’t powerful enough to do a burnout. In traffic court, the judge laughed at the cop for issuing me a ticket in a Skylark then dismissed it. But that didn’t get me off with mom, who read me the riot act as she totally believed I deserved the ticket. The Camaro next to me at the traffic light did the burnout while the cop issuing the ticket was parked behind a building and couldn’t tell which car offended.
As a teenager in the 70s, i got a careless driving ticket for the same thing in my parent’s green 73 Buick Electra 225. I had just done a tuneup, filled up with gas. Cop said i spun the tires exiting the gas station. I was but just barely. Not gonna say how i got out of the ticket, thought statutes long over. 🙂 Parents were mad with me also.
The cougar fox body is becoming almost extinct and the turbo is really rare now
I had a friend with a rambler. Got a ticket for doing 50 in a 25. Cop said she went from stop to 50 in less than a block. Judge threw out the ticket when told it was a stock rambler. Didn’t know it had the “big” V8 in it!
The 93 SVT Cobra Foxbody as the feature photo in teal is absolutely Gorgeous. My new screen saver!
It is a gorgeous car, my favorite combo on the fox platform.
I didn’t know that the full size Plymouths or Dodges ever were available from the factory with the hemi engine. Am I wrong? Only the mid size cars from Chrysler and the Barracuda or Challengers had hemis I thought.
Hemis were indeed not offered as an option on the C-bodies – biggest engine available was the 426 Wedge or the 440, depending on year (440 being introduced for the ’66 model year). So the car rferenced in the article would have had an engine swap.
The hemi was originally offered in the B body cars from 1966. The E bodies, Barracuda and Challenger, were the most popular in 1970.
That’s not his point. His point was that no C-body was offered with a hemi in the 1960s, and he’s quite right.
It’s errors like this that reduce Hagerty’s publication quality to that of clickbait, thereby rendering their output completely unreliable.
David and Sajeev- You know better than I. What I know of these era Lincolns is friends of mines mothers having one thats tail was periodically on the ground. Which, I guess , maybe the perfect tail dragger ? If you put on some gold wire whitewall 14 inchers and added a little bling? Me, honestly, I prefer my ‘Air Suspension’ be written in all caps on the step of a crosstown bus where they belong.
That’s usually the sign of cracked rubber at the bases, causing a slow leak that only gets worse over time. If it wasn’t for coil springs “spoiling” us with cheap and reliable performance for decades, we’d know to change the air bags at that moment to ensure a healthy air suspension system at minimal expense. Problem is people let the leaks persist, it destroys the air compressor (too many cycles to refill leaky bags), and nobody wants a huge repair bill on a depreciated Lincoln that’s worth the fraction of a Lexus.
My mom drove a ’65 Dodge Monaco, silver with a black vinyl top. IMHO, It was a beautiful car, much nicer than any Ford of GM product.
The Fury is beautiful. Clean, simple lines. And those stacked headlights!!
I remember back when the Lincolns were new. I was working out at World’s Gym in Calgary and WWF wrestler Bret Hart showed up in his. You could see from the glass front of the gym. Sunglasses on. It was pretty funny. He came in and worked out. Nice guy from what I remember . I always associate that car with him.
It’s fun to watch my “A” title 1985 GT keep on rising. I have to agree with others though regarding the value being so low for so long. Nice to see them finally getting there due!
Looking for 67 to 77 (like everyone) high boy 250 4×4 manual shift. Not one that is already done the way someone else am saw it.. I would like it to be stock as much as possible to make it into what I want it to be.
Are the ’60s MOPARS you mentioned really a hot property or is it just a statistical anomaly?
I can’t imagine there are enough of them surviving to be a real market segment.
Rather like saying the Mercer Raceabout market is up based on two sales over three years.
Yes, the value of the Plymouth and Dodges might be up, but if they’re unavailable, it’s not exactly “news you can use”.
I haven’t seen any in years, even at our regional MOPAR show.
A few might be hiding in the garages of now elderly original owners.
Hmm. Maybe it’s your location. Big following to my knowledge but not as popular as A, B and E bodies. Many C’s were used in demolition derbies due to size and set up. That being said, many C-Bodies remain from Chrysler Imperials, New Yorkers, Fury I,II, III and VIP, I have a 68 hardtop, 2 door, FURY III with a 318. Only difficulty on restoration is finding repro sheet metal that is a great match to original. Need to look at southern bone yards. All mechanical parts are available. Great cruisers. For what it’s worth I got mine from the original owner, so yes, many still sit in garages too.
I have a original 1991 Lincoln MKVII LSC with the moonroof. I would like to sell it. It needs both rear bags and a heater/ac blower motor. The front seats need attention but the car is all original. I am located in Ontario, OR. My email is billybrum368@gmail.com. I’m not expecting a fortune for the car. Let’s communicate. Thanks