Boring Cars Are Becoming Valuable, Here’s The Best Of Them
June 17, 2021Everyday cars, the unsung heroes that shuttle us between point A and B are becoming more desirable. This is especially true of those built between the 1960s and 1990s. As absurd as this might sound, these vehicles are rising in value faster than certain versions of the Jaguar E-Type. This is evidenced by the latest data obtained from the Hagerty Price Guide.
Once considered mundane, cars like the Ford Cortina, Renault 4 and Austin Princess have reportedly shot up in value to between 4.4 and 20.4%. And unlike valuable classic cars, maintenance costs are reasonably low, which make them sound investments for many people.
These are Hagerty’s Top 10 best performers so far:
- 1965-1970 Triumph 1300 increase: 20.4%
- 1962-1966 Ford Cortina Mk1 increase: 19.4%
- 1973-1982 Austin Allegro increase: 13.6%
- 1962-1980 Renault 4 increase: 10.6%
- 1963-1976 Hillman Imp increase: 10.1%
- 1970-1976 Ford Cortina Mk3 increase: 7.8%
- 1968-1979 Renault 16 increase: 7.4%
- 1948-1960 Peugeot 203 increase: 5.2%
- 1975-1981 British Leyland Princess increase: 5.1%
- 1987-1994 Alfa Romeo 33 increase: 4.4%
By comparison, the Jaguar E-Type Series III, which is considered one of the most desirable cars of all time, has only risen in value by 8.2% in the past year. It has an average sale price in 2021 of £59,500, which was £54,988 a year earlier. The Ferrari 308 GTB has gone from £61,200 to £65,475, which is a gain of 7%.
That said, this isn’t an apples to apples comparison. The aforementioned cars are in a different league, price wise, than something like an Austin Allegro. But the surge in demand for mediocrity seems to baffle the mind. John Mayhead, head of automotive intelligence for Hagerty has an explanation for this bizarre phenomenon.
Mayhead says, “These everyday cars are becoming increasingly rare. For decades the vast majority were unloved workhorses that would eventually be sold for scrap at best.”
He added, “Now, with rarity on their side and nostalgia tugging at the heartstrings, enthusiasts are snapping up the remaining examples sometimes because of an emotional connection and sometimes perhaps because they feel a duty to preserve them for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Many of these rare everyday cars will be on display at the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional, the concours event, which will take place at Grimsthorpe Manor, Lincolnshire, on 31 July.
If you would like to know more about these vehicles, read the full feature on Hagerty’s website with detailed model analysis.
