The Best Collector Cars on the Market Today

This year has been a difficult one for many car collectors. Despite a slowing economy and stock market correction, classic car prices have held their values reasonably well. That’s good news and bad news for collectors. The good news is collector cars have provided a nice hedge against other asset classes that haven’t done as well. The bad news is that collector car values may be the next asset class to experience a correction. There’s often no way to know until the bottom drops out.

While I’m not advocating 2022 as a good entry point per se, if you have more money to allocate to your collection this year, I think there may still be several reasonably “good” buys in the current market.

1969–74 Ferrari 246 Dino

Ironically, the 246 Dino was not considered to be one of the more desirable vehicles built during the Ferrari era. In fact, it wasn’t even considered to be a Ferrari at the time. However, it seems to have been given a pass in recent years – perhaps in response to the stratospheric prices of other Ferrari vehicles from the same era.

As Haggerty notes, the 246 Dino was a radical departure from the classic road cars that the company produced in the mid-1970s. It is much lighter than Ferraris of the time, and it is powered by a six cylinder – with about half the displacement of the company’s namesake V-12s of the time. The engine was also mounted behind the driver, a departure from the company’s traditional front-engine design.

The Dino’s beautiful Pininfarina surfaces and curves are still pleasing to look at 50 years later. Its smooth handling and impeccable steering also make you wonder what other people were thinking about when they denigrated the Dino as a “lesser” car.

My advice: If you are looking for a Dino, get one with the “chairs and flares” option. It’s a bit more rare and the look is stunning.

1966–67 Pontiac GTO

I’m not a muscle car fan, per se. Unless you count vintage Shelby American racing cars, some of which treaded a fine line between muscle car and sports car. But the early Pontiac GTO still has a spot in my heart after a high school friend scared the bejesus out of me in one that he’d modified for drag racing.

During the dark days of General Motors’ ban on participation in auto racing, Pontiac was not known for its performance cars. Although some of its performance options were on the market, such as the 421 Super Duty, Pontiac still lacked a clear identity. This was mainly because the company’s previous Stodgy cars had been trendy.

In 1964, entrepreneur and car designer John DeLorean wanted to create a performance version of the second-generation Pontiac Tempest. He and his team could take advantage of a rule that prevented the displacement of engines for intermediate cars from being more than 330 cubic inches. Instead, they developed an option package that featured a 389-cubic-inch engine.

In response, the company introduced a new package called the GTO, a reference to the 250 GTO. The success of the new package led to the development of a new type of car: the muscle car.

The new package introduced in 1966 completely changed how the car was perceived. It gained a new look, which included a more prominent rear window, a slightly wider track width, and a more prominent louvered tail. That year, the company also introduced the Tri-Power package, an optional feature made famous by Ronny & the Daytonas. Regardless of the engine’s power level, the Tri-Power units were equipped with single four-barrel carburetors.

For more on the early GTO, here’s Haggerty’s perspective.

2004-2005 Porsche 911 GT3

Most of the Porsche GT cars have seen their prices soar over the past three years. But somehow, the MkII GT3 has largely been ignored during this period of irrational exuberance. That’s a shame because it is the last Porsche GT car without nannies.

The 996 GT3 is a raw beast. A pure enthusiast’s car, with an 8,500 redline, 380 HP, and no traction control to save you if you make a mistake.

The handling is sublime, without any need for aftermarket modifications. With adjustable front and rear swaybars, you can tune the handling exactly to your liking. It doesn’t have adjustable dampers. But it doesn’t need them. They strike a perfect balance between street and track use.

Another key benefit of the 996 GT3 is its limited production. Approximately 1,000 units were produced for the U.S. from 2004-2005. That’s far less than the other GT3 generations.

And here’s the kicker, according to classic.com, the current market price is just barely over $100,000. For more on the 996 GT3, here’s a good primer on the car from classicmotorsports.com.