According to You: Which classics were underappreciated when new?
We asked and you answered! Last Friday was Collector Car Appreciation Day, so we wanted examples of the breed that people don’t necessarily consider. We can all appreciate a hot Corvette, a plucky Porsche, or one of the many muscular American icons that had an instant following that only grew as time progressed. My initial suggestion of the Chevrolet Nova was well received by members of the Hagerty Community, as the compact was forced to play second fiddle to other Chevrolets in the same showroom. Your feedback went above and beyond my sample answer and covered all the bases.
Well, perhaps not every single base—but the submissions represent a good smattering of vehicles that will inspire you to think about underappreciated classics. So have a look!
1980–81 Buick Skylark Sport
Now this will get the ball rolling! Hagerty Community member @Gerald knows that GM snuck some gold into them there X-body hills, and not just in the form of the Citation X-11.
The 1980–81 Buick Skylark Sport Sedan looked like a Mercedes sedan of the period (sort of, if you squinted), and it had no hood ornament (rare for a Buick), a front air dam, the 2.8 liter (same as Mercedes-Benz’ I-6) V-6, and a four-speed transmission. I’d take it in for service and they’d have to find someone who knew how to drive a stick. Actually, not bad-looking for the period but, like all cars back then, it rusted like crazy.
The interior was bulletproof—luckily, because I discovered the passenger side floor was gone, held up only by the thick vinyl backing of the carpet. Patched it with fiberglass. Drove and handled nice for the period. Very few sold; people just didn’t associate “sport sedan” with Buick. Mine looked just like the picture except it was a four-door and wore no stripe.
1994–1998 (SN-95) Ford Mustang
@MarveH: People thought the 1994–98 SN95 Mustangs looked soft or something; I don’t know, because looks aren’t the number one thing for me. Many didn’t like the weight increase but that was from the reinforced structure over the Fox-body Mustang. (If you want any power from a Fox you have to do those reinforcements on your own anyway.) Another complaint was the 4.6 V-8—Ford left a lot of power on the table with its measly 210 hp. It doesn’t take much, however, to get even a two-valve mod motor up to some serious power.
Oldsmobile Jetfire
We couldn’t agree with @Frank more: It’s taken way too long for collectors to appreciate the Olds Cutlass Jetfire, which, he writes, “flat out flew, but like the Fuelie Corvettes, they were hard to work on as the ‘new technology’ was foreign to the average person.”
Lincoln Mark VII LSC
Perhaps the first production hot-rod Lincoln always had a following, but it was never as popular as the song that mirrored its mission. But @John couldn’t afford the most luxuriously aggressive Fox-body Ford product until now:
I finally acquired a car that I liked when new but couldn’t afford. I worked at a dealership where I was able to “test drive” a Lincoln Mark VII LSC. Fast forward to last January and I bought a black-on-black ’92 with 38,000 miles. It is not a race car, but a nice road-trip car that both corners and drives well. They have a small but strong following, but not mainstream by any means. To drive one is to understand, and you will become a fan.
BMW M Coupe
@Randy: Are we talking about just American cars, GM cars (with a concession to 5.0 Mustangs)? Because on a much—much—smaller scale, I’ll mention the 1999–2002 BMW M Coupe and 2.8/3.0 non-M coupes.
Admittedly a polarizing style, built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts! The dealerships hated them for lingering so long, and many were traded to among dealerships as an add-on with a car another dealership wanted to have; they’d trade you the one you want as long as you take the second-place coupe too! Nowadays, and particularly with the 2001–02 (S54 engine) versions, clean low-mile cars are going for 150 percent of their MSRP! The 1999–2000s aren’t doing too badly either, especially compared to their more numerous open versions (the Z3 and M Roadsters).
Ford Mustang II King Cobra
While the Mustang II sold like hotcakes, it just never got the respect it deserved from Mustang purists. @Hooch speaks up for the black-sheep Stang: “I love a hot-hatch compact car with a V-8.”
AMC Hornet Hatchback
While I am not sure that @Mitch is correct about the Hornet being the first hatchback on the market (1971 Vega?), there’s no doubt that this car doesn’t get enough recognition.
Underappreciated then, underappreciated now: 1973 AMC Hornet Hatchback. The very first of the hatchback trend, and the six-cylinder drivetrain was bulletproof. I drove mine 174,000+ miles with the original clutch. It finally “gave up the ghost” after the front suspension became too rusted to weld on, so my cousin pulled the engine and tranny and drove it in his Gremlin for several more years. Until that unibody rusted out. I bet that engine is probably still running somewhere!
Volvo 140/240 Series
@snailish: In North America, I vote for Volvos. I’m talking about the bricks from the late 1960s to ’80s. Sure, they had their niche cult following, yet wider appreciation wasn’t in the cards. But now you have all sorts of flavors of in the Volvo fanbase: original, LS-swapped, etc.
@Dennis: I know I loved mine, @snailish! I had a 1970 Volvo 142 in dark blue (rather than white, red, or black). I think it was just me and Corvettes that had four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment (of the non-exotics in that era). And it even had a mechanical system to provide some antilock brake protection. I swear it saved me from rear-ending someone. I could go on . . . but as the advertisement of the time predicted, I had mine for 11 years.
Fox-body Mercury Capri
@Scott: I wanted a Mustang GT for my first car, however, I was responsible for insurance and fuel. Insurance made it a no-go and I was disappointed until I discovered a most unappreciated alternative—the Fox-bodied Mercury Capri with the 5.0 engine and automatic transmission. OK, the last part wasn’t great but it dropped the insurance cost down to a level I could afford. We spent many weekends searching for one between Chattanooga and Atlanta only to find a copper-colored example with TRX wheels and tires within a half mile of my parents house. Man, those TRX tires gripped the road.
My dad bought the car about a week before he told me as he was waiting on a new set of Michelins he’d ordered. I’d fill the tank with Amoco Gold (white gas as my dad called it) and add a can of 104+ octane boost. The exhaust fumes would bring tears to your eyes but good Lord, that car would fly. I wore those tires out in 24,000 miles and had to buy the next set ($400). They must have changed rubber compounds as the second set lasted much longer.
1955–57 Chevy Task Force
This truck brought about an interesting thread about the rise in popularity of all work trucks in recent history. Tri-Five Chevy automobiles have been in the spotlight since 1955, but when did you really see the trucks going for big bucks? More to the point:
@DUB6: Sajeev, I agree 100 percent with you on the Nova but my vote is really for a truck rather than a car. The 1955–57 Chevy 1/2 pickup was just looked upon as a work vehicle (business or home or farm) when introduced. It lived in the shadow of the Tri-Five cars for years. Still does to some extent, but due to the surging popularity of light pickups in general, they certainly qualify as “classic” and “collectible” these days. I learned how to drive in a green ’55 long-bed Stepside and thus fell for them early in life, but I don’t think they were appreciated by the masses as much when new as they are now. I see them restored and shown all the time.
@Jeff: I would say that the Cameo version was always somewhat special.
“Bullnose” Ford F-Series
@Jeepcj5: My 1985 F-250 and 1986 F-150 were underappreciated. Even though Fords are usually the best-selling truck, older/classic Ford trucks still live in the shadow of Chevy trucks. Also, my 1968 Chevelle Malibu, because it’s a four-door post sedan. When I got the car years ago, most people turned their nose up to a four-door. It seems that a lot of people are coming around to the notion that any old car is neat in its own way.
Cadillac Roadsters
@TG: Allanté, anyone? I love mine . . . take all of the lingering 1990s-era complaints off the table, and it is a great car. It’s 30 years old and the styling is not terribly far off the mark of Cadillac’s current offerings. Plenty of power, handling is a little soft but as to be expected for a luxury-oriented car. Fun to drive and turns heads everywhere I go—particularly heads of people not involved in car collecting who don’t know they are supposed to hate it.
@David: TG, I’m adding another Cadillac . . . the XLR.
@audiobycarmine: The XLR is/was always a wow car. It’s the “Waldorf-Astoria” of Corvettes.
All of them!
@Justin: This is an easy answer: ALL of them! Remember, every high-dollar collector car was once a worn-out rusty junker that no one wanted. Most of them only become collector cars because they get expensive.
Most people want them because everyone else wants them, this is certainly the case with my early Broncos. Ten years ago I tried selling my ’73 Bronco, which had a 1990 EFI Mustang engine, a five-speed from a Dodge Dakota, power steering, and disc brakes, all for $5500. Only one person came to look, and they complained about the dings, dents, and faded paint.
Now that Broncos are expensive, I have random strangers stopping and wanting to buy mine. They don’t want it because they “have always wanted one,” rather because they think they can quickly flip it for a fast buck or use for a status symbol now that Broncos are expensive. Remember, some Dodge dealers converted the Super Birds and Daytona back to Chargers with the normal front end so they could sell them. And some of the Cobra race cars were given away because they couldn’t sell them. You never know what car is going to be the next one to shoot up in value.
@77GL: All of them. Cars have always been built to be disposable and that destiny came true for almost all of them.
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Hello to Hugh Whaley, my first house was about 6 blocks from AJ Foyt Chevrolet in Houston. I like that Nova you had, I have a 1970 Malibu in Forest Green I bought back in the day. Nova’s were very cool and fast and I came close to buying a few thru the years, almost bought a new SS350 4-speed in ’69 but saved my money for another year and bought the Malibu.
I cast my vote for the Caddy XLR. I had a 2007 in victory red, a Corvette color. The Passion edition. I sold it for a loss when the head and tail lights became so expensive/impossible to find, and while the top still worked because I was too scared to drive it. Replaced it with a manual CTS-V wagon that I have the same fear with now but I really miss the XLR every time I see one.
You are really diminishing the definition of the word classic by lumping these in to the fray. I own a 63 Studebaker GT Hawk & according to the Classification from the Classic Car club of America, only a select range & years of Studebaker Presidents are considered classics. That’s a long ways from a Pinto!!
Oh Man, I loved them all especially the Mark VII what a looker, the Capri RS with its incredible hood scoop and wild spoiler was killer, and the classy Allante what a head turner. Trophy cars at any car show.
Back in the day when I liked Fords I had a couple Pintos And I liked them until the stinking timing belt broke on BOTH of them I haven’t seen anyone else mention that I wouldn’t call them bulletproof but at least I got em cheap
I don’t think I can criticize any of the suggestions so far because powerful personal reasons attach to each of them. Perhaps said was that with so few old timers still rolling along, all oldies are “classics.” That said, I nominate the sweet old Mercedes Benz 114/115 series of 4 door sedans. Available here from 1968 through 1976, these incredible cars were so German and so solidly built they seem indestructible. And they may be. We have had ours for 52 years and it just keeps running, and it is not a diesel, just a smooth running gasoline 6 cylinder. Like all Mercedes of this vintage the 114/115 series requires more than a little routine maintenance, and there’s the rub. Nice ones are few and far between because most owners neglect them and very few owners actually do what is needed when it is needed. Yet despite the neglected maintenance, outright abuse and incompetent repairs, there are literally thousands still rolling along our roads, and, because they were popular around the world, there are countless thousands more running in virtually every country. Next time you watch some documentary about Africa, the middle east, or any other country you can name but may be unlikely to visit, look carefully at the background scenes. There you will likely see one these stalwart German sedans chugging along still in daily service doing what it was designed to do, moving people. Even when they are no longer able to move under their own power and have been literally put out to pasture behind the barn or a corner of the property, the the 114/115 sedans will still be putting up a grim Stalingrad-like battle against the dreaded tin worm. That three pointed star may still be on the grill, reminding the world it is still around and always a Classic.
I had a 71 Volvo 142GT in that bluish/silver metallic paint. Black leather seats. 4 speed with electric overdrive. 2lire fuel injected. Great gas mileage for its size. Wonderful car with loads of room and very reliable for me. I had over 200,000 miles on it when I sold it for, gulp, a 1986 Renault R18 Sportwagon. That was an interesting car too but not friendly for servicing like the Volvo was. If I could find a nice 142GT or 123GT again, I’d have them for sure.
Went to the Ford dealer in ’96. Drove the Probe GT and Mustang GT back to back. Bought the Probe and never regretted the decision.
As you might surmise from my screen name, I have road tested literally thousands of new cars during my automotive journalist career that started 45+ years ago. Yeah, I’m now on Medicare…but I still like to do burnouts, power shifts and occasional road racing.
I like to kid people that I’ve “owned one of just about everything interesting” and that’s not far from accurate. From a 1950 Buick Super (like my grand-dad’s) to a Ferrari 812 Superfast and 2006 Ford GT supercar, I’ve run the gamut. A recent acquisition is a ’75 Monza 2+2 with a 425 hp V8 and 4-speed (this car was previously owned & restored by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen…his first car, as mentioned in his autobiography.)
In keeping with the topic of this post, there are plenty of “under-appreciated but interesting” cars from the 1960s and into the early ’70s. Then, not much for the next ten years.
However, by 1983, a few cars started to crawl out of the malaise with some signs of “Performance Darwinism.”
A ha, let’s do a list with that perspective!
In chronological order, here is my personal list of ten “under-appreciated interesting cars” (so no Mustang GTs/Z28s/Trans Ams/Vettes/ GNXs allowed) that I tested and wrote fondly about in the 1980s.
“Affordability” also figures into this list, or I’d have to include the mostly-unloved-at-the-time Porsche 928 S4 and the ultra-rare and mostly-unknown BMW M6.
1983 Mercury Capri 5.0 (I’m in agreement with what others have posted already. The convex rear window still looks funky to me, though.)
1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe 5-speed (Once you mastered the turbo lag, it would romp! Nice “sleeper.”)
1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo Z 5-speed (My test car was all-black. Sinister. T-tops. Leather. Quick and handled well. Crappy cable shifter, though.)
1985 Chevy Monte Carlo SS (Never could get comfortable in the seating positions of the G-bodies, but the Monte SS, Buick Regal T-Type and Hurst/Olds 442 were fun & quick cars. Similar driving feel to a potent small-block 1960’s Chevelle.)
1985 Lincoln Mark VII LSC (Hard to believe it was on a Fairmont platform. Looked ’80’s aero-sleek, but classy, with lots of luxury. Great road trip car. And, it peeled rubber.)
1985 Mercury Merkur XR4Ti. (I didn’t say it was a great car, but it was a hoot to drive fast & sideways on Ford’s Dearborn Proving Grounds! Merkur’s Euro-transplant recipe was supposed to be “the future”. Let’s give it a shot.)
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (*okay, not so affordable* but a huge improvement over the lackluster 924. 0-60 in 5.7 sec. First car I hit 160 mph in, on the German Autobahn. Beloved now, but in ’88 not so much in America. Many thought it was over-priced. But it wasn’t, for what you got.)
1988 Volvo 740 Turbo Wagon with a manual. (So incongruous to what Volvo soccer moms drove back then, I titled my article “Baby in Boost!” Even Paul Newman owned one…but with a transplanted Mustang 5.0 liter.)
1989 Mitsubishi Starion Turbo (Only the “over-fendered” model with intercooled turbo. Torquey. Handled. RWD too! )
1989 Shelby Dakota V8 (It was not just one of the first performance pickups, but a true built-by-Shelby concoction. My buddy installed a Vortech supercharger and homebuilt intercooler on his and ran 13.7@103 mph.)
Comments? Other thoughts?
My pick is the Dodge Omni GLH, especially the turbo version. It was the ideal Q-ship; a four-door subcompact that could show it’s tailights to Fox-body Mustangs and with a short wheelbase was nimble, too
We are missing the Datsun 2000 roadster 1968-1970. As a high-school student in the 60s, you could make federal minimum wage and buy one for cash (2k). This would come with the optional performance package of dual solex or mikuni carbs a B cam and a bigger oil pan. 155 horse from a 4cyl that would outrun most cars on the road and still get 30mpg on the highway at 80 with the tall 5th gear. In fact, until 2018, it would out perform any Mazda Miata in both speed and economy and cost about 1/6 in terms of federal minimum wage. It was quickly overshadowed by the 240 z in the market, but weighing in at under 2000 lbs, it would outrun that Z car and have the drop top fun that a coupe couldn’t provide. It’s sales numbers were low compared to the Z cars, it’s value remains low, but the style and bang for the buck are timeless.
Pinto / Vega / Gremlin / Maverick …… we sure did mock these cars when we polished up our ‘60’s muscle. I did see a resto mod Maverick recently for sale which caught my eye …… my Mom had one which I scored after she lost interest in it and it was a good little daily driver – gutless mind you lol
Well, I’m a big-time Oldsmobile guy so of course that little F 85 is my favorite but I really like the early 50s and mid 50s Chevy trucks. I had a 58 Apache for a while. I loved it. I’m sorry I sold it.
In the late 70s I had a Hornet wagon, I think it was a 74 or 75 and I did underappreciate it. Because it was a piece of it. My 73 Gremlin was a much better car but weird looking. The only weirder looking car I’ve seen was that AMC Fishbowl.
I went to the Ford/Mercury dealership in 1985 to buy a Mustang GT, got there and saw a red Mercury Capri 5.0 with 5 speed and Goodyear Gatorbacks; didn’t know anything about it until we did the test drive! Bought it for less than the Mustang. Loved it: definitely surprised a lot of folks, especially the SVO and Z28 owners.