Fiat panda to corvette – these inexpensive cars could soon be expensive classics
U nder the beautiful cars there are many usual suspects. Examples? The porsche 911, the mercedes SL "pagode", BMW 507 or the jaguar E-type. Their design appeals to many, but they are traded at a high price. In 2018, a ferrari 250 GTO showed just how much hype can cause prices to skyrocket when it came under the hammer at auction for more than $48 million.
but in the slipstream of such ravishing, well-known and often sinfully expensive classics, there are also design pieces or cheaper character types that do not require winning the lottery. Seven examples with expert assessments as well as price examples and typical weak points from market observer classic data.
The closed triumph GT6
the open-top triumph spitfire is not only familiar to fans of british classic cars, but the closed-top GT6 version is far less well known. the coupe was sold between 1966 and 1973. the italian giovanni michelotti was responsible for the design of the two-seater with the crisp rear and the long front hood. He was also active for BMW or maserati.
Marius brune from classic data points out the external similarities to the jaguar e-type, which were already striking at the time. The two-seater with the heavy six-cylinder under the hood, which drove the TR6 to a maximum speed of 180 km/h, was soon nicknamed the "poor man’s E-type.
Price tag: the market value for a GT 6 mk III with 77 kw/105 hp (year of manufacture 1970 to 1973) is 16.700 euro (state of preservation 2) and 9300 euro (state of preservation 3).
Typical weak points: rust in the sill area, drive train undersized for the six-cylinder engine (drive shafts, universal joints, differential). The spare parts supply is good and at a surprisingly low level.
Fiat panda – "living wage on wheels
The small car from italy is pure mass-produced, millions of them were built between 1980 and 2003. For design professor paolo tumminelli from the TH cologne, the "great car" designed by giorgio giugiaro (advertising slogan in germany) is something like "the subsistence level on wheels" – but much more than that. He sees in the boxy small car "a maximum of utility, sustainability and sympathy" – the former advertising campaign already sounded the same horn.
In the meantime, however, giugiaro’s design object enjoys the highest recognition among collectors and is even "admired by automotive gourmets around the world. Moritz driven around demonstratively as an "everyday car. Cult without a crass cost factor: "hardly any other automobile can be purchased and maintained more cheaply."
Price tag: the market value for a three-door panda 45 with 33 kw/45 hp (1980 to 1985) is 5900 euro (2) and 3400 euro (3).
Typical weak points: rust is the main problem and can be found everywhere. Minor faults, such as with the electrics or door locks, are part of everyday life on the panda.
Sports car icon corvette C6
With the corvette, chevrolet created a sports car icon in the 1950s. movie stars drove it and still drive it today. over the decades, the glamour of the pioneering days has faded – making the sixth edition, the C6 built between 2005 and 2013, something of a secret tip among full-fledged sports cars.
Design professor lutz fugener attests to the u.s. car’s "classic, undecorated form."the model is "relatively timeless and therefore durable," says the head of the mobility and design course at the hof university of applied sciences. The high-torque and high-capacity V8 engines show that the aluminum-chassised "vette," as it is known by fans, has inherent sports-car genes. Fugener advises to buy unbuilt examples as far as possible. Otherwise, the classic image would quickly be overturned. The C6 was built as a coupe with a removable targa roof and as a convertible cabrio.
Bentayga hybrid in the test
Price tag: the market value for a C6 coupe with 297 kw/404 hp (2005 to 2013) is 30 100 euros (2) and 20 000 euros(3).
Typical weak points: the interior with cheap-looking plastic is often outdated. beware of later US imports, these often have worse brakes and suspension. models marketed in europe were specially modified.
Renault twingo with goggle eye headlights
When the small car was presented in 1992, many car fans were more enraptured than they had been for a long time. For a long time, no model had looked so friendly to the world as this french car with the goggle-eye headlights, drawn by patrick le quement. Its name, a contraction of "twist – swing – tango", also contributed to its lively cuddly image.
The interior design with the reduced digital cockpit display was both innovative and practical. Still unusual today: the seats and rear bench can be folded down to form a two-meter-long bed. Marius brune sees the twingo as a distinctive minivan. the twingo original type was built until 2007.
Price tag: the market value for a three-door twingo with 40 kw/54 hp (1993 to 1996) is around 2000 euro (2) and 1100 euro (3).
Typical weak points: the plastic used in abundance becomes brittle and often breaks. otherwise surprisingly robust small car, many defects were eliminated during its production period. The younger the model, the better.
Mazda MX-5 tuned to the driver
When it came out in 1989, the Japanese model was credited with nothing more and nothing less than the renaissance of the roadster. At the time, the small, low-slung two-seaters based on the English model had almost completely disappeared from the market.
Paolo tumminelli describes the compact and rounded body as a "functional-emotional" design: "there are bigger and more powerful sports cars, but no other car is so perfectly tuned to the driver," he says.
Japanese engineering ensures the reliability and durability of the early NA and NB series. With a maximum 107 kW/146 hp in-line four-cylinder engine, its top speed is still 208 km/h.
Price tag: the market value for an MX-5 with 85 kw/115 hp (1989 to 1994) is 9800 euro (2) and 5500 euro (3).
Typical weak points: the plastic hood is often cracked, window regulators are prone to wear and tear. Otherwise, with good maintenance, a very flawless vehicle, so pay attention to the service records.
The volvo C30 is a true exotic
The volvo C30 follows in the footsteps of the famous volvo P1800 ES "Snow White’s Coffin," which was given this nickname because of its frameless glass tailgate. The two-door estate coupe, with which volvo made a new start in the compact class, was launched in 2006 and produced until 2012.
Lutz fugener calls the C30 an "exceptional car at amazing prices". The interior is modern and uncluttered. As was typical of volvo for a long time, the squat two-door model with the taillights extending to the edge of the roof was also equipped with powerful five-cylinder diesel and gasoline engines. Unlike the VW golf of the time, with which it competed.
Price tag: the C30 seems to be a real exotic, classic data is not available. on relevant sales platforms you can find examples of early years in good condition starting at about 2500 euro.
Typical weak points: turbocharger on diesel models and wear and tear on rear axle rubber bearings. diesel particulate filters tend to clog, as the tuv found out.
Subaru XT has a body without compromise
Folding headlights and extreme wedge shape, plus all-wheel drive and exotic status. The sports coupe of the japanese manufacturer has the potential to become a cult car. In germany, the coupe, produced from 1985 to 1991, was hardly sold at the time, which is why it is rare on the used market.
In addition to the uncompromising bodywork, marius brune particularly emphasizes the cockpit design with control planets, which could be a mixture of a car and an airplane. Under the hood works a boxer engine like the porsche 911 or VW beetle.
Price tag: the market value for an XT turbo with 100 kw/136 hp (1985 to 1987) is 12 200 euros (2) and 6800 euros (3).
Typical weak points: the biggest problem is the rust, if you can find a XT at all. The search for spare parts requires patience.
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