The Biggest Winners and Losers of the Collector Car Market in 2024

Audi

As tastes change and new people start participating in the old car hobby, the market shifts along with them. That’s why Hagerty updates our Price Guide four times per year; values are always moving.

The past 12 months saw lots of car values adjusting downward—25.7 percent of the vehicles in the Hagerty Price Guide came down from their pandemic-era highs. Plenty of others—43.7 percent of those in the Price Guide, in fact—bucked the trend and kept surging upward. (The remainder, for those of you tallying up the numbers, had values that stayed level.) The ends of this spectrum of ups and downs aren’t limited to any one era or segment—there’s a wild array among the winners and losers. Here are the five cars with the biggest movement up and the five biggest movements down from the end of 2023 to the end of 2024, measured by median condition #2 (“excellent”) value in the Hagerty Price Guide.

Winners:

1985-86 Audi Sport Quattro (+30 percent)

Audi Quattro Sport front three quarter cornering
Audi

Audi introduced all-wheel drive to international rallying at the dawn of the 1980s, smoothed out its early problems (weight, complexity, reliability), and kept on improving its Quattro platform up until its departure from the sport in 1986. The Sport Quattro was Audi’s entry for 1984, and compared to the Ur (German for “original”) Quattro that preceded it, the Sport Quattro is over a foot shorter, features carbon-Kevlar body panels, rides on wider wheels, and stops via brakes derived from the Porsche 917. Audi built a total of 214 Sport Quattros for Group B homologation and a little over 160 of those sold to European customers at sticker prices that surpassed even some Ferraris.

The World Rally Championship’s (WRC) wild Group B and the radical cars it produced have become more popular in recent years, and the Audi is one of the most famous and successful of the genre. Their #2 values are at an all-time high of $644,000.

1973-75 Pontiac Grand Am (+34 percent)

1975 Pontiac Grand Am Colonnade white
Pontiac

The new-for-1973 Grand Am combined the existing Grand Prix and Trans Am nameplates to suggest it was a car with both the luxury of the Grand Prix and the lively performance of the Trans Am. Available as a two-door colonnade or four-door pillared hardtop and wearing a prominent Pontiac beak, the Grand Am could be had with either a 400-cid or 455-cid V-8.

As a brand, Pontiac has surprising staying power despite getting GM’s corporate ax 15 years ago, and the formerly cheap Grand Am has gotten some attention this year. Median #2 values are at an all-time high of $24,600.

1968-84 Saab 99 (+89 percent)

Saab 99 front golden yellow
Saab

A formerly slept-on Swede, the Saab 99 was an important model that took the company upsize and upmarket. It was an early adopter of turbocharging and was Saab’s last factory rally car, serving up home-team WRC wins at the International Swedish Rally in ’77 and ’79. The 99 is a handsome, comfortable, and well-made car. As a classic, though, its values had been nearly flat for a full decade before the end of last year. Then there were some big sales in 2024, including a one-owner car sold for $29,504 and a very clean ’78 Turbo sold for $46,725. The condition #1 (“concours”) value for these cars at the beginning of the year wasn’t even 20 grand, so those were massive sales.

1983-92 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk II (+40 percent)

VW Golf GTI front three quarter
Volkswagen

VW’s Golf Mk II launched in 1983 as a larger, slightly more curved version of the original Giugiaro-designed 1974 best seller. Peppy performance and hot hatch practicality from both eight- and 16-valve Golf GTIs made them strong sellers in 1980s America, though there aren’t many clean Golf GTI Mk IIs left. Prices had been creeping up on these cars throughout the 2010s, but they took off in 2021 and currently sit at an all-time high with a median #2 value of $30,800.

1964-66 Honda S600 (+44 percent)

Brendan McAleer

While not technically Honda’s first four-wheeled vehicle, the S600 marked an important shift for what had primarily been a motorcycle company. Similar in size, style, and performance to the MG Midget and Triumph Spitfire, the S600 is more sophisticated, more significant, and quite a bit rarer than its British rivals. S600s and the S800s that succeeded them have been steadily increasing in value for over a decade, but recent sales, including a record $109,000 result in March, have seen them continue upward in 2024. Their #2 value currently sits at $79,200.

Losers:

1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird (-24 percent)

Plymouth Road Runner front three quarter
Bryan Gerould

Plymouth’s aero warrior was a huge winner during the pandemic boom, seeing its median condition #2 values more than double from mid-2021 to mid-2023. Superbirds routinely hit big auction results, particularly at Mecum sales. Two examples of its Dodge siblingthe Charger Daytonasold for over $1M in that time. Summer of 2023, however, was the peak and the winged wonders have fallen off since. Over 30 Superbirds came to auction in 2024, with mediocre results compared to the two years prior. Condition #2 values for Hemi-powered and 440-cid/390hp Six Pack cars are down 24 percent, while the lower output 440/375hp cars are down nine percent. That said, Superbird values are still 42 percent higher than they were this time five years ago.

1963-68 Maserati Sebring (-24 percent)

Maserati Sebring Studio front three quarter
Maserati

Named for Maserati’s 1957 win at the 12 Hours of Sebring, based on the capable 3500 GT, and handsomely styled by Giovanni Michelotti at Vignale, the Maserati Sebring is a beautiful 1960s gran turismo, and it’s priced accordingly. These have been six-figure cars for over a decade, and they were big winners when everything from E-Types to Enzo-era Ferraris got more expensive during the early- to mid-2010s. Since peaking in late 2021, however, they’ve been trending down, and 2024 saw several auction results for under $200K in the E.U., U.K., and U.S. Their current median #2 value is $207,500.

There probably isn’t one sole reason for the big drop, but as a brand Maserati isn’t on top of the world in 2024. Like Jaguar and Alfa Romeo, Maserati has enough heritage to fill a library but hasn’t done much to be proud of lately. And there are plenty of more recent corporate missteps that overshadow the great stuff in the back catalog.

1968-78 Lamborghini Espada (-26 percent)

Lamborghini Espada front three quarter
Lamborghini

Values for the long and low Lamborghini Espada have been on quite a ride. From 2010-15 their value more than doubled. Then they dipped during the slowdown in the market of the late 2010s. Then they shot back up again during the hot pandemic-era market. And now they’re back down again.

A little over a year ago, values for these four-seat V-12 Italians were at an all-time high with a median #2 value of $159,000, but multiple Espadas sold in 2024 for under $100K.

1972-76 Ford Thunderbird (-24 percent)

Ford Thunderbird front three quarter
Mecum

With a hood the length of an aircraft carrier and a monster motor underneath it (up to 460 cubic inches—a 429 was the small engine), the sixth-generation Ford Thunderbird weighs over 5000 pounds and is the biggest the ‘Bird ever got. It was also a big seller when new, offering buyers much of the panache of the mechanically similar Lincoln Continental Mk IV but at a much lower price. But those aren’t the only big things about this T-Bird. It was also one of the biggest losers of 2024 in terms of value. As some of the exuberance in the market died down, so did Thunderbird prices: after some big sales in 2021 and 2022, values peaked in the summer of 2023. These are inexpensive cars, though, and what looks big in percentage terms only equates to anywhere from a few hundred to a couple thousand bucks. Condition #2 values for these huge personal luxury coupes currently sit at just $13,700.

2002-06 Mini Cooper S (-26 percent)

Mini Cooper S front three quarter driving action
James Lipman

Well, this is a little awkward. We just put the 2002-06 Mini (aka the “new Mini” or “BMW Mini”) on our annual Bull Market list. That means we expect it to gain significant value in 2025, and yet it lost a ton of value in 2024. What gives?

Part of selecting newer cars for the Bull Market list is watching for cars that are still on that downward slope of used-car depreciation, and predicting when they’ll hit the bottom of that depreciation curve before the start of their collector-car upswing. That’s our basic calculation with the Minis. These charismatic pocket rockets have offered cheap fun for quite some time, and are less expensive than both the classic original and many of its contemporary sport compacts with a median #2 value of just $13,300. The oldest of them are over 20 years old, so attrition has knocked many cars off the road. The vast majority of Hagerty insurance quotes for Minis come from younger buyers, which suggests sustainable long-term interest. Basically, the market still treats them as used cars, but plenty of signs point to them being modern collector cars in the not-so-distant future.

Click below for more about
Read next Up next: How Jay Leno Resurrected His Chrysler Turbine Car

Comments

    I see your “new Mini” or “BMW Mini” and raise you the 2016-18 ford focus RS. I feel these were always classics in the making considering its the one that American’s finally could buy after our friends across the pond had there’s as all we could do was salivate. thoughts?

    The RS was a great car tarnished by the head gasket issues. Time will wash that away it will be a while longer and cars will need documentation the repairs were done.

    You are right about the Mini. Mine has been very reliable since I bought it 20 years ago and is the only car I have had that is as much fun to drive as my Porsches, An incredible value at today’s prices.

    I see 1965 to 69 Corvairs selling for huge prices. The 65 Corsa is the hot seller now with 4-carb or Turbo 4-speeds bringing the best prices.

    I have a 1967 Corvair Monza (the 5th one I’ve owned) in my garage waiting to be restored to its former glory. The plus now is it’s been long enough that people don’t give me Ralph Nader comments.

    There was a nice Corvair pictured in a car magazine years ago with the personalized license plate F NADER. Ralph’s brother maybe?

    I’ve driven quite a few Corvairs as I was a mechanic throughout all the 70’s. I even took a couple in on trades against their bill. Fixed ’em till they broke again, then fixed ’em again & sold them.
    NOT a fan, never was.

    The Maserati Sebring will never be as desirable as others of its type because it is only handsome and not beautiful and only a 6 when there are v8 and v12 alternatives. I’d rather have a Mexico any day.

    Drive my ’83 at a good clip into a wide open NJ traffic circle, got wheel lift…and pulled over. The officer said “You had a back wheel in the air!” Me, “It’s built to turn in that way.” Him, “Well, What? Really? Ok try to keep on the ground. Here a warning.”

    Had three GTIs ’83, ’86, and a ’04 R.:32

    I spent a lot of time autocrossing in the 1980’s and that is when I learned about the lifting inside wheel on VW GTI’s. But, it did not matter, because those cars did more on 3 wheels than most cars could do on 4 wheels.

    That just means you have a very stiff-framed car. If the right rear lifts, you don’t need it as the other three are doing the job.

    The 1972-76 Ford Thunderbird is not an exciting car for me. I rarely see any of them around. Not surprised to see there is declining interest in them.

    I have a 76, basically a one owner that had a few issues. Just about everything is sorted out and it is a great road car. If going to a car show a few hundred miles away who won’t want a car with cruise control and A/C? So if you want to see one, not concours, come on down. The cars were cheap when sold as used cars, so most of them got used up. Who knows, with fewer of them around the value may go back up.

    None of the mid 70’s large American personal luxury coupes like the Thunderbird & its competition were built for excitement. They were all bloated land yachts with ridiculously soft suspensions, over assisted steering, and huge but low horsepower smog controlled engines returning poor gas mileage. They did however deliver a cushy, isolated ride for pleasant long distance road trips and were a classy status symbol in their day. I enjoy the rare occasion when seen at car shows.

    Talk about hitting the nail in the center of the head! They were great for cruising, but about as exciting as sitting on an overstuffed sofa in your living room on a lazy Saturday afternoon.

    This is good news in my case, as I have a gorgeous ’73 Pontiac Grand Am for sale with a 455, cold AC, and loaded with options, all of which work, down to the factory clock. It is an exemplary-driving sport coupe, and should make the new owner very happy. Guess we’ll see if the trend continues…

    I’ve never seen any discussion of the Avanti. The rage of prices is surprising from four to six figures. It still remains a great bargain for an advanced and rare collectible. Seems to be regarded as an orphan like the C4 Corvette. What gives?

    The Avanti is basically a 1940s car with an awesome space age body & great interior. I lusted after one since I was a kid & it was one of my biggest disappointments of all the collector cars I have been fortunate to own. Compared to a 55 Chevy as an example, the 55 feels like a 60s car , the Avanti feels like the King Pin era chassis it is even with disc brakes , it drive like a post war car. Not top mention the rust issues. As a side not I drove it from ATL to INDY for the 1st F1 race & discovered the tail of the dragon in it @ 4 am on lark (pun intended) That was an adventure . It finished the trip with no issues, on my return I took it to the office & as I pulled into my spot, the brake pedal went to the floor & total brake failure due to a caliper seal blow out . Luck was with me. My neighbors kid T boned me in the drivers door & the built in Roll bar & mercedes Lock assembly saved my butt

    Back in the day I worked at a local gas station and this elderly lady had a pristine 1963 Avanti with a Paxton supercharger. I always asked her if she was ready to sell it yet. Always loved that car, though I never had an opportunity to actually drive it.

    I have yearned for years for a wing car. Every time I thought I could swing one, the price went up and out of my price range. The last one I tried to buy back in 21, I bid $175,000 for and lost out. Maybe if the price keeps falling, one will come in under $200k. In the meantime, I’ll continue driving my 70 Roadunner with. 6-pak and a 4-speed.

    The older Mini Coopers were absolutely junk . We stopped taking them on trade because they were so bad. The automatic transmission were joke and the cost to replace them was more then the car was worth. Now they are much better now but BMW should be ashamed of their early cars .

    We had a 2005 Mini Convertible – six speed, “sport” suspension. Was fun to drive, handled great, good mileage. And then… the garage door opener wouldn’t work. Took it to the dealer. Turns out the factory workers had neglected to include the wiring harness up to the mirror.
    By 20,000 miles or so the AC had slowly lost its cool. Dealer replaced the compressor. The service writer took me aside on pickup and told me to bring it back in a month or two because they had put in a “reconditioned” compressor that he believed was on the verge of failure, and if I complained at the right time, it would justify an actual “new” compressor.
    New, it didn’t come with a spare or a jack, just a can of fix-a-flat. We were told that convertibles didn’t have room for a spare. But, up on a lift a bit later, I discovered a spare under the rear of the car. It didn’t come with the tool to extricate the spare though.
    My daughter left the car in a parking lot, in neutral – it was a stick – and after she walked away the car slowly rolled backwards, about twenty feet, and bumped into a parked truck. Cracked the windshield.
    And the coup de grace… one day the convertible top wouldn’t retract more than halfway, or close completely. A frame crossmember had cracked in half. New frame part cost was over $4500. Repair total cost was over $7K.
    We donated it to charity.

    I would like to know if the 93-02 Cadillac Eldorado will ever reach collector’s status? I own a 99 ETC, and while I know the Northstar engine gets a bad reputation because of the head bolt issues, mine is relatively pristine with 95,000 original miles.

    Was at an auction just before covid, and picked up a mint 2002 anniversary edition ETC with pearl white and 25k miles, for $4k. Just too nice of a car to let tit run free and get trashed, live inthe garage but take it out every couple months for a few mile run.

    The problem with Northstars and the head gasket, is if not done properly get bubbles in the coolant system and coolant doesn’t flow= boom. Also bubbles can form under the thermostat, it doesn’t open= boom. Change the coolant every couple years, change oil at 5000 and they’ll last.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Your daily pit stop for automotive news.

Sign up to receive our Daily Driver newsletter

Subject to Hagerty's Privacy Policy and Terms of Conditions

Thanks for signing up.