13 Classic Sports Cars That Are Surprisingly Affordable
Classic cars, and classic sports cars especially, represent major objects of desire for a lot of enthusiasts. Due to their historical significance, low production numbers, or simply the hype surrounding them, it’s a common belief that classic sports cars are completely out of reach for most people.
For a lot of them, that’s unfortunately and completely true. Think of the BMW M cars of 20 years ago, old Porsches, and so on and so forth. That kind of stuff is out of reach for most car enthusiasts. It sucks, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. One look at the sports car market shows that there are plenty of both future classic and currently classic sports cars that are surprisingly affordable.
Audi TT (8N)
We start with an obvious one. Making its first debut in 1998 and being virtually unchanged from the original concept car, the original Audi TT was a sports car with a difference. From the timeless exterior styling to some of the best powertrains from the VW Group, the Audi TT is a classic car for a reason.
Or at least, it’s certainly on the way to becoming a classic car. However, while the prices have certainly started going up, you can still find a decent TT for not too much money. If you do opt for a TT, you’ll have a great time, and considering values are going up, this is a great sports car investment.
Porsche Boxster (987)
The original Porsche Boxster was a great start to a proper entry-level Porsche model, and the 987 took things to the next level. In addition to introducing a hardtop Cayman, the 987 offered more power, better styling, and better dynamics.
Despite this, due to the fact that the numbers 9, 1, and 1 are not found on the back of this car, it’s almost comically cheap for a Porsche. Really, for one of the finest handling RWD sports cars ever, it’s a complete no-brainer.
Ford Mustang (Fox Body)
Introduced in the late 1970s, the Fox Body Mustang was Ford’s attempt to clean up the stain left by the disaster that was the Mustang II, one of the worst muscle cars ever made. While it had a somewhat slow start, by the end of the run, the Fox Body redeemed itself with V8 power and the return of the iconic Cobra name.
The Fox Body has somewhat of a cult following today, and while some examples do fetch a lot of money, you can still find a decent Fox Body GT for a pretty good price.
Fiat Coupe
While Alfa Romeo had the revived GTV, Fiat’s FWD sports car in the 90s came in the form of the Coupe. Often referred to as a mini Ferrari, the Coupe may have used a modified version of the Tipo platform, but it was a completely different animal.
As well as the usual four-cylinder engines, the Coupe was also available with a turbocharged 20V five-cylinder. You can still find one for pretty cheap, and they’re becoming legal to import to the States, but they likely won’t remain affordable for very long.
Volkswagen Corrado
A failed attempt to capture the spirit of the brilliant Scirocco, the Corrado had a very similar recipe. Underpinnings from stuff like the Golf and the Passat, but a much sportier exterior and sportier driving dynamics.
This was also reflected in the available powertrains, which included a supercharged four-cylinder and a sweet VR6. Corrados are going up ever so slightly, but even a VR6 will set you back less than $20,000.
BMW Z3 Coupe
We all know the BMW Z3, a comparatively conventional but nevertheless super fun small sports car launched in the late 90s. Everyone always talks about the regular Roadster and the sneaker-sized (and shaped) Z3 M Coupe, but it’s time we gave the regular Coupe some love.
It has the sneaker styling, and while it may not have the M3’s powertrain, the six-cylinder engines on offer were still fantastic. Not having an M badge on the back comes with an additional merit: it’s about half of what you’d pay for a Z3 M Coupe.
Aston Martin DB7 Vantage
Officially labeled by Jeremy Clarkson as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, the Aston Martin DB7 has been long forgotten about in favor of Aston’s most recent efforts. The earlier six-cylinder cars were nice, but the Vantage was the one you wanted.
The Vantage was one of the first AM vehicles to carry the famous Aston V12 engine. The lack of enthusiast love combined with simply being a British car, the DB7 Vantage is now worth about a quarter of its original asking price.
Porsche 911 (996)
The collective outcry from Porsche enthusiasts when the 996 debuted has had one important and interesting side effect. With the 996, the circular headlights disappeared, and so did the air-cooled powertrains.
Purists shunned it because it was water-cooled, and almost everybody else shunned it because it wasn’t particularly good-looking. Despite that, the 996 is still a Porsche 911, and it’s still a brilliant car. This gateway drug into Porsche 911 ownership is pretty cheap, as long as you’re mindful of the maintenance.
Honda Beat
Most Japanese sports cars are either too expensive or drifted and crashed into oblivion to the point they’re really not worth buying. That’s where kei sports cars like the Honda Beat come into play.
The Beat is part of the famous trio of kei sports cars, along with the Autozam AZ-1 and Suzuki Cappuccino. It’s mid-engined, and its 660cc 63 hp three pot revs to a stratospheric 9,000 rpm. Even though they have to be imported from Japan, Honda Beats are still a total bargain on the used market.
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class (R129)
One of the finest examples of two-door Mercedes models of all time, the R129 was one of the last Mercedes models that demonstrated the automaker’s inability to save money on anything: everything was the best and most durable it could possibly be.
The R129 SL, despite being so loved by Mercedes enthusiasts, is still a relatively affordable machine. With a plethora of engines on offer, including the M113 V8 and a V12, the R129’s icon status is perfectly justified
Toyota Supra (A70)
The Mk4 Toyota Supra fandom has been claimed by children and people who are into cars exclusively for the hype. Let’s leave the fanboys with the Mk4 and give the Mk3 Supra some attention.
Its boxier 80s design is certainly very distinctive, and being significantly lighter than the Mk4 means better cornering prowess. The 1JZ engine is still a fantastic, highly tunable powertrain, so no worries about that. Did we mention the Mk3 has pop-up headlights? All that for a quarter of a sorted Mk4. Maybe even a fifth.
Mazda Miata (NA)
It’s the Internet’s favorite small sports car. We’ll spend as little time as possible talking about the pop-up headlights and the big smile on the front, and instead focus on other aspects of the Mazda Miata that really matter.
Despite an endless supply of ratty Craigslist Miatas out there, you can still find some well-preserved examples for a good price. The NA Miata serves as a reminder of the core pillars of unadulterated driving fun: a revvy engine, RWD, a manual transmission, and a completely minuscule curb weight. It’s easy to see why there’s so much hype around it. Plus, the NA Miata can make you a drifting pro.
Chevrolet Corvette (C5)
The fifth generation of the Chevy Corvette was one of the last ever production cars to feature pop-up headlights, so it immediately gets a lot of brownie points. It gets further brownie points in one other important aspects: it’s one of the most affordable ways to have a RWD V8 sports car.
Regular C5 Corvettes are already cheap as it is, but even the Z06 and its uprated 400 hp small block and six-speed manual is also a pretty huge bargain. Unlike some other V8 RWD sports car, the Corvette shouldn’t really give you that many maintenance and reliability headaches. It’s a win-win.
