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Often, when we think of classic cars, it is most likely that we picture exclusive and expensive classic cars, some of the most expensive sports cars ever sold at auction, such as the $26.4 Million 964 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Speciale, the $38 Million 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO Berlinetta or the $29.6 Million 1954 Mercedes-Benz W196 Silver Arrow sold at the auction. However, did you know that you can snag some pretty good classic cars for under $15,000 in 2021? Yes, you can.
Updated June 2021: If you’re looking to add some classic cars to your collection, or maybe just a cool little runabout, we’ve got good news for you. This article has been updated with the latest prices from Hagerty’s Valuation Tool, and we’ve also included some new sports cars on the list to help you make a better and more well-informed decision when purchasing your next classic.
Surprisingly, the selection of affordable classic cars available for under $15,000 is a lot bigger and more varied than you might think. It turns out that just because a car is rare or a classic, they’re not necessarily as expensive as most people would assume. It’s still possible for aspiring collectors to find rare classics that look great and perform well without having to dig too deep into their pockets. Here are 25 classic cars you can purchase under $15,000 in 2021, but you might want to act quick, as some cheap classic cars are appreciating in value real fast.
After only building rear-engined cars for three decades, Porsche all of a sudden decided to experiment with more conventional configurations in the 1970s. The first front-engined Porsche was the 924 in 1976, soon followed by the 928 in ’78, and the 944 in 1982. The Porsche 944 was the sportiest of the bunch and featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horses on tap. Car and Driver named it the “Best Handling Production Car in America,” and now you can get your hands on one of these beauties for a mere $7,500.
In 1974, Bricklin introduced its SV-1, a sports car that was designed with safety first in mind. The car actually looked quite cool with its wedge-styling, gullwing doors, and pop-up headlights, but that’s where the coolness ends. The gullwing doors were heavy and awkward, the car was hampered by emission regulations, and it was severely overpriced. What could’ve been a serious Corvette competitor ended up as a footnote in automotive history. At least the $13,500 buys you a car that’s somewhat unique, only about 1,700 still exist today.
The Alfa Romeo Spider is one of the most stunning as well as iconic Italian classic sports cars. Sure, it’s not particularly fast, and the handling isn’t the best, either, but it’s still a car most gearheads should own, or at the very least drive, at some point in their lives. The 1973 version is part of the second-generation and features a 129 hp 2.0-liter twin-cam four-cylinder engine, and it’ll only set you back $14,000.
The Fiat 124 Spider is the aforementioned Alfa’s cousin, and it’s just as cool but even cheaper. Yes, it turns out it’s possible to buy a cool, rear-wheel drive Italian roadster with a Pininfarina-styled body and a 102 hp, 2.0-liter DOHC engine for under $10,000. The Fiat 124 Spider was introduced in 1966 and stayed in production until 1981. This is a truly beautiful classic roadster that needs to be experienced.
The Austin-Healey Sprite MK II replaced the popular ‘Frogeye’ Sprite, a nickname it earned due to its peculiar headlights. The Sprite was an affordable and simple sports car that offered superior fuel economy. Even to this day, this is one classic most car enthusiasts can afford to get behind the wheel of. The engine is a tiny 948-cc inline four-cylinder unit that only produces around 47 hp, but this car isn’t about top speed, it’s all about driving pleasure on a nice, twisty piece of tarmac.
The 1981 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe might not be the most stylish Corvette ever made, but that kind of plays in our favor as this car can be picked up for $13,000. It is powered by a naturally aspirated, carburetor-fed V8 engine that cranks out 190 hp and 280 pound-feet of torque, that drives the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. Sure, that doesn’t sound like a lot of power – because it isn’t – but the Corvette can be tuned and upgraded thanks to a massive aftermarket. The Corvette Coupe has a top speed of 137 miles per hour and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, which is respectable, considering its age.
The 1971 Lincoln Mark III is a 2 door hardtop coupe, and you can get your hands on one of these bad boys for as low as $13,000. The Lincoln is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 365 hp and 500 pound-feet of torque. Those are some seriously impressive numbers, but keep in mind that this is not a small car. The Mark III manages a top speed of 131 mph and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.9 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 11.1 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 1996 Chevrolet Camaro is a 3 door hatchback coupe, and you can get it for as low as $7,000. Granted, this isn’t the best-looking Camaro to ever see the light of day, but it’s a decent car with decent power. Speaking of power, the Camaro has a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 285 hp and 335 pound-feet of torque. The Camaro manages a top speed of 160 miles per hour and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 20 miles per gallon, which isn’t too bad for a V8-powered car from that era.
The 1994 Jaguar XJS is a 2 door fastback coupe, and you can get it for as low as $11,000 if you go for the six-cylinder version. Of course, the V12 is much cooler, and not all that much more expensive. In fact, at $14,500, it’s one of the cheapest V12 cars on the market. Neither version is particularly fast or sporty, It is powered by a naturally aspirated, inline-6 engine cranks out 219 hp and the V12 has around 295 hp.
The 1976 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow II is a 4 door full-size luxury car, and you can get it for as low as $12,000. This was pretty much as luxurious as a car could get back in the 1970s, and even today it’ll cause some heads to turn. The Rolls Royce is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 247 hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The Silver Shadow has a top speed of 115 miles per hour and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 10.5 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 10.7 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 1978 Lincoln Continental was available as a 4-door full-size luxury sedan and a 2-door full-size luxury coupe. It might be humongous and luxurious, but it can be bought surprisingly cheap. These cars are available for as little as $6,000, and for that amount, you get a huge car powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 166 hp and 319 pound-feet of torque. The Lincoln Continental has a top speed of 106 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 14.0 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 14 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 1988 Chevrolet Corvette is a 3 door coupe, and you can get it for as low as $6,400, which makes it quite a performance car bargain. It may not have aged well, but it’s still a cool car. The ‘Vette is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 245 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque. The Corvette has a top speed of 160 miles per hour and goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 19 miles per gallon and comes with a 5-speed manual transmission.
The 1967 Ford Galaxie was available in a range of different body styles, ranging from a convertible, to a 2-door coupe, and a 4-door sedan, and you can get it for as low as $7,500. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 150 hp and 234 lb-ft of torque. The 1967 Ford Galaxie has a top speed of 100 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 13.3 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 16 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed manual transmission.
The 1975 Dodge Charger is a 2 door hardtop coupe, and you can get it for as little as $7,500. Granted, it’s nothing like the model that preceded it, but it is still powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 150 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque. The Charger has a top speed of 109 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 13.6 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 1972 International Harvester pickup has grown immensely in popularity the last couple of years. 3-4 years ago, you could find them for less than $10,000, but these days, that kind of money will only get you a rusted-out wreck. It was powered by a range of different engines, ranging from 4-cylinders to inline-6s and V8s.
The 1962 Ford Thunderbird is a stylish 2-door coupe or convertible and you can get your hands on one for as little as $8,000. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 300 hp and 427 lb-ft of torque. The Thunderbird has a top speed of 129 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds. Not too shabby for a car that old, although, it must be said, it’s better for cruising than sporty driving.
The 1970 Chevrolet Impala was available as a 4-door executive sedan or a 2-door coupe, and you can get your hands on one for under $12,000. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 250 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque. The Impala has a top speed of 117 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 9.2 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 12.4 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed manual transmission.
The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle is a 2 door hardtop coupe, and for just $13,000 one of these bad boys can be yours. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 350 hp and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Chevelle has a top speed of 132 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 10.7 miles per gallon and comes with a 4-speed manual transmission. This is easily one of the coolest muscle cars ever created and most gearheads want one of these.
The 1964 Pontiac Grand Prix is a 2-door grand tourer, and you can become the proud owner of one for $14,000. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 230 hp and 386 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Prix has a top speed of 117 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 11.8 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 10.9 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
The 1972 Buick Electra can be yours for $7000-8000, which isn’t bad for such a stylish classic. It is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 engine that cranks out 225 hp and 360 pound-feet of torque. The Electra has a top speed of 117 miles per hour and goes from rest to 60 mph in 10.2 seconds. It has an average fuel consumption of 10 miles per gallon and comes with a 3-speed automatic transmission.
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