According To You: Classics That Should Make the 2025 Hagerty Bull Market List
We’re just around the corner from revealing the 2025 Hagerty Bull Market List, and since we love to hear from the Hagerty Community, we asked you, the readers, what cars are on your radar as potentially appreciating classics. Thank you all for your contributions, opinions, and observations. The wide variety of vehicles you chose will likely inspire everyone, so have a look below.
But here’s the punchline: One of these vehicles will be on the actual list. Someone within the Hagerty Community didn’t get it 100% correct, but they did get the right year, make, and model.
Care to guess who among the below respondents got it right? Stay tuned for our 2025 Bull Market List, which debuts on December 9.
LamboEd: Countach! Especially the early ones: Periscpa, LP 400S and 5000. Very low production numbers and better styling than anniversary edition. 40 years later it is still the ultimate exotic. And they are manual rather than the stupid autos made for celebrities who don’t know how to drive. Sky is the limit on prices. I bought my LP 400 S 10 years ago when they where affordable and I will never sell it at ANY price as I could never find another one!
Mike G: Alfa Spiders, specifically Series 3 are appreciating in the market, and set to pop. As an “80’s kid”, I was all about the Series 3 cars with the spoiler, and bought mine 2 years ago. I predict in the coming years the Series 3 cars will out pace the Series 2 cars in appreciation, and I’d also predict they become more desirable and costly.
Cliff R: I hope the Honda S2000 makes a comeback because I have one in winter storage in my garage. The asking prices in the fall were holding up and I would be pleased to get what I paid for mine in 2018. Regardless it’s a fun summer car for back road bashing and I will keep it until I can’t get in or out of it (being 82 now).
Tim H: I agree that the S2000 should appreciate at an above average rate – especially stock ones. So much pleasure to drive such a responsive analog performance car!
Ric: Within the last 10 years, it’s about doubled in price, but as an entry-level Ferrari, I love the Testarossa. I think there’s room for it to double again to about $350k
billyt: 2003/2004 Mustang Mach 1. Made in low production numbers, 32 Valves, DOHC, and the last Mach 1 to sport the Shaker hood scoop. 2004 examples were also the 40th-anniversary models. They are just starting to creep up in value on the cleanest, low-mileage examples.
JimG: I think maybe 2025 is the year for the 1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Ams to finally get their due. It’s an incredible car born from a bastardized experiment between two GM divisions, never quite at home in the Poncho world nor Buick land.
For decades it has lived in the shadow of the GNX, which I believe was primarily due to numbers produced (547 vs 1555). We are starting to see high five figures for pristine examples but none reaching $100k yet. Only time will tell.
Bill H: I’m voting for the BMW E34 M5. It’s the best of the S38 cars, and one of the best-looking BMWs ever. They’ve been persistently undervalued but seem to be desirable to the buyers who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s.
Don: I’m voting for the Volvo 1800ES. It has great looks and was produced for only two years in low numbers.
Dan B: Having owned a 2010 Jaguar XKR, I would think it was an underrated sports/tourer. Being offered as a supercharged 5.0L, it was no slouch with 510 HP. The rarity of the model also drew lots of attention.
It may not draw the same appreciation in value as may other vehicles but is is an affordable collectible. It can keep up with many of the cars you mention, while driving to your destination without getting rattled in the process. I regret having sold mine to the new lucky owner.
Ken R: Chevy SS, hands down.
Jeff R: I own a 40th Anniversary ZR1 as well as a 96 LT4 and a 2019 Z06. All are great cars but contrary to the opinions circulating on the internet today, the ZR1 is considerably quicker than the LT4. Of course, the Z06 outperforms the others in every way, BUT the ZR1 is my favorite and should be a more valuable classic for one simple reason…audacity!
We are not likely to see a Corvette that is so unique in its advanced engineering and unapologetic in its focus on the performance buyer again. Reason enough to make it a classic.
David N: As an owner of a ’93 ZR-1, very well said, Jeff! Heart of the Beast is a must read and to drive one is to understand!
Paul I: I read the headline and immediately imagined either a 1995 ZR-1 or a 1996 LT-4 Collector Edition before reading the article. I am pleased as punch to see Sajeev agrees with me.
Sajeev Mehta: That makes two of us!
Stephen A: My vote goes to a base ’93 C4, looks the same, handles the same, just as fast on the street within a fraction of a second for a hellofalot less cash. They made too many is the only reason C4’s are so cheap.
David N: Lamborghini Silhouette…if anyone even knows what that is! There were many firsts for Lamborghini with that car. Only 52 production cars were made, plus three prototypes. I can’t tell you how many Lamborghini dealers I’ve stumped with that one.
Paul S: I vote for New Edge-era Mustangs (1994-2004), as Fox bodies are on the rise. While the 4.6 in the New Edge’s won’t win many drag races, it will, with proper love, run for 300,000 miles easily.
Ericvap: I am very surprised at the amount of attention my late father’s Hummer H3 gets each time I drive it. I have a 1997 Viper GTS that gets more attention, but I am shocked how many people think the baby Hummer is very cool.
Ron F.: I have, for the past 7 years, owned a 2009 Hummer H3T Alpha. This pickup with the V-8 is just right for the mountains and roads I share my driving with. It’s a great truck with a special look that, as you wrote, gets a lot of attention wherever it goes. Because of the grill some who are not that car-savvy think it’s a Jeep!
Jim D: I vote for the first-generation Toyota MR2 (AW11). Clean, unmolested, rust-free examples are getting harder and harder to find.
Greg: The 1969 Cougar, it sure seems like these beauties are coming up in stories all the time recently. I think they should be on the list!
ed_audio: Just bought a ’69 Cyclone CJ. I’m hoping for a good Mercury year.
Ron F.: Nissan 300ZX TT—1990-1996. Got to be the five-speed manual. Great looks, the best of all the Z’s from 1990 until today.
Fast take off. Wonderful handling. Great brakes. Plenty of power with the 300 turbocharged horses. Reliable and affordable, especially if you think about Supras at double the price.
Bunka: I’m going to step outside the norm and choose a car that is not rare or exotic. The car was cheap when new, fantastically slow, easy to work on and was and is plentiful. Even today’s aftermarket, replica parts are reasonable. They used to be everywhere. They are full of nostalgia. They are already an established icon.
It is precisely for these reasons that they will appreciate, plus easy entry into the collectible market. My son-in-law is a muscle car guy and mentioned to me that he thinks it would be fun fixing up an original Type 1 VW Beetle. I agree! The only downside is that even in a 10% bull market the return will still be close to minuscule. Don’t underestimate the fun factor.
Dennis W: What about the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado? It was car of the year, and its styling is iconic. It was perhaps the ultimate expression of Oldsmobile’s brand heritage, engineering innovation, durability, class, and style. Will it ever get some recognition?
JimG: Agree on the styling (I’d include ’67s too). These are definitely due their time!
Michael A: If the writers and editors of the annual Bull Market Issue want to turn a quick and substantial return on their hypothetical investment, they should select the penny stock of collectibles; the beautiful Fiat 124 Spider!
Here they would find a sensuous Pininfarina-designed body, with a rev-happy, Lampredi-engineered motor, with a smiles-to-dollar ratio that’s off the chart. These overlooked beauties can still be found for the cost of a Wall Street business lunch, and even a modest uptick in value produces a return on investment to warm a fund manager’s heart. Why not take a pass on the Ferrari 250 GT for $5 million, invest in a 1981 Fiat 124 2.0 Spider look-alike for $5,000, and buy your girlfriend a little something with the savings…like a new home in Palm Springs?
Alan D: I agree, this is a great little car, great driving fun for the buck.
Mario D: The Generation 3 GM cars, AKA The Forgotten Years from 1973-1977, including the Cutlass, Monte Carlo, and Chevelles!
Darcy M: 1990’s Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Spyder. 500 or less made per year. First retractable hard top since the Ford Skyliner, outstanding performance, AWD, 4WS, and a growing supply of parts from specialty shops. And the looks? So sexy.
Tom W: 1970-1971 LT-1 Corvette Coupe. Most Chevy engine technicians will comment that the 350 LT-1 was the highest-quality performance small block engine to come out of the factory during the muscle car era. The LT-1 Corvette was purpose-built for the true enthusiast with only limited options. Owners of the car will tell you there is nothing quite like the sound or feeling this car provides when you let it rip towards 6500 RPM. I have seen a number of decent “fairly original” cars trade between $35,000 – $40,000. Most of these examples would be worthy of a quality restoration.
norm1200: My ’68 C3 Corvette roadster with the TH400. Why? I want to sell it next year!
Pete: Ditto on the 122S Volvo in my garage.
Jeff D: My guess would be the 1980’s Porsche 944s, especially the Turbo models.
I think the Volvo C30 should be considered. It is fun to drive, well made, reliable, low production numbers, and has a quirky design.
Series 1 Audi TT coupe! Remember (elder guys) when the Dino was dissed? Not saying the TT is the same class, just a little of the same attitude. The TT series 1 is a sport car in every sense and one of the real bargains for enthusiasts and certainly a collector’s prize down the road.
I’d argue for the 84-87 corolla gts, commonly refered to as the ae86-which is really the sr5. The true ae88 gts’s are dohc, 5 speed with a lsd and 4 wheel disc brakes.
Unfortunately, those now available have been modified to the moon and bone stock examples can’t be found for any price.
The picture you used for the 300ZX is not the turbo. It doesn’t have the rear spoiler or the vents at the corners of the front air dam. It’s a great car without the turbo (I had a1990 from new to 2003) but you should use an accurate photo.
I think part of the problem with the 89 tta is that it’s white. Had they made it black/gold it may have been more desired? I owned a black/gold 89 gta. Took it to a few shows. I remember I was parked next to an 89 tta. My car seemed to garner more attention then his, I didn’t get it. Mine was just a run of the mile black t-top 350 car, wasn’t nothing special about it. Also, Firebird/Formula/Trans Am always played 2nd fiddle to the Camaro unfortunately, if they had made the 89 pace car an Iroc-Z or something, I’m sure it would be way more popular.
Lots of comments. After the COVID shutdown bump in prices it looks like the old car market is cooling off, not surprising. I liked some of the cars mentioned, but I doubt most will take off. The Volvo 1800E is already considered “pricey” as I know a few folks who want one, but they won’t pay the price. The 1966 Olds Toronado is a handsome vehicle, but it is HUGE. The front wheel drive scares people, although it was reliable. ANY C4 Corvette is cheap and having owned one I can say they are complex and really not much fun to drive. A buddy had the exotic 4 cam version and after a couple expensive repairs he was happy to get rid of it. I’m glad a few folks enjoy these cars, but overall I don’t see them taking off. The exception is the inexpensive 70-80’s cars that a generation remembers and is now buying and restoring them. These cars are usually low priced and easy to buy and fix up. I’ve seen a few restored and they look MUCH better than when they left the factory. Not for me, but each to their own and when you buy a car for little, you can put some money in it for a relatively inexpensive old car to enjoy.
All cars…..I might have to put a “Not For Sale” sign on my ’68 C10. I get tons of inquiries if I’d sell it. CST Blazers are bringing a ton of money too.
You guys can dream about C-4’s 1984 had to be one of the worst Corvettes ever made next to the dogs in the mid 70’s, Corvette made a nice car up until the early 70’s then they never again until the C-5 came along and took off again, so boys don’t hold your breath 🥱
I have a 68 Corvette convertible, with hardtop, I purchased in 1976. Did not have the original engine when I purchased it but it did have the large 427 hood. When I had it in the Philippines while stationed there for 3.5 years I had lots of looks. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the humidity destroyed the paint, but had it repainted once I returned to southern CA. When my wife passed in 1996 it sat in my garage, my brothers garage, shipped to Texas and sat in that garage, until 2018.
Carrscorvettesandcustoms.com brought it back to life doing an enormous amount of work, at least what I could afford. Only thing original now is the front end, chassis, and body. Everything else is brand new front to back, way too much to list the changes. Paint redone in 1985 still looks pretty good but would love a new paint job maybe some day.
I know it’s a resto mod now but hopefully worth something if I ever decide to sell it.
The Mitsubishi TT Spyder is a very collectible car, I sold mine in 2018, and figured it would double in 5 years I made money on it myself, after 5 years. But the reason I sold it is because it is one complicated vehicle, and at 85K I knew that it was only a matter of a short time before one of the systems would have to be repaired, at a lot of $$:
Hardtop convertible – hard enough to keep aligned, having to use a computer program and someone who knows what they’re doing!
Twin Turbos
AWD
4-W steering (or is it the other way around?)
Anyway, they haven’t doubled in price yet, but I’m glad I don’t have any of those big repairs looming over me!
Agree that what Jaguar is doing now is incontrovertible but the older ones are special. Consider the XKE from the early 1960’s to mid 197o’s they had to respond to the new emissions standards then. In 1994 they came out with new XK cars with the new double overhead cams with 320 HP and the XKR with 400 HP.
Worked on the XKE’s in the late sixties as a mechanic and wanted one so badly but could not afford it. Then in 2021 bought a 2006 XKR convertible and love it. Truly if you ever get the chance to drive one do it. They are truly driver responsive and road responsive vehicles.
I’m a little late to the party and seen the bull market list that already came out but in regards to what I was hoping to see on the list (I’m a little biased as I own one) but thinking the 96 GS might be a better choice than the C4 ZR1s. I haven’t had the pleasure of a ride in a ZR1 and agree that the power is more than a Grand Sport but the GS is not that far behind. Additionally, the ZR1 had a production run from 1990 to 1995 with 6939 units produced (I’m sure other more knowledgeable corvette enthusiasts can correct me here if incorrect) while the GS was one year only with only 1000 units produced making it more limited. And who can beat that Admiral Blue with white stripe combo (IMO). Gotta love the “Skunk”!
I have owned a number of great cars, including several of the nominees mentioned in this article. Nevertheless, my choice is a very easy one:
BMW E34 M5
A superbly entertaining, rock solid reliable, discreet and comfortable automobile. Garching’s last and finest contribution.
Kinda opposites, but first…
Honda CRXs…both first and second series. Way fun to drive; all are nimble, and the SI versions are also very quick. As a bonus, useful as a practical daily driver. I remember fitting a half dozen 8 foot long boards into mine, and closing the hatch on ’em. Not bad for a sub 12 foot car! The trick is to find a clean, unrusted one that hasn’t been modified–skillfully or otherwise.
And second, any BMW E30 (3 series) variant. There were a bunch, from the 122 hp (but 177 ft/lb of torque) eta cars to the 190 hp M3–and everything in between. Body styles galore: two and four door sedans, convertibles and even (unfortunately not for the US) a “Touring”–BMW-speak for station wagon. M3s are already reaching stratospheric (for E30s) prices, but even the more pedestrian models (with 5 speeds, please!) are nimble, practical, analog, reliable, and with only a few minor tweaks (larger sway bars, Bilstein shocks) way fun to drive. The 4 doors and eta cars are very affordable, and can be upgraded to 318/325is coupe performance with minimum effort.
I think the ’71-’73 boat tail Riviera and the 90’s Oldsmobile Aurora and probably any of the late90s-2000s supercharged Pontiacs, like the Bonneville. Those cars just look so strange sitting next to anything new.
I’d like to hope that my 69 TR6 would be on the list, because I love it and want to spend a ton of money on it. But…