When we think about classic cars, the cars that strike our minds are Lamborghinis and Ferraris. But, apart from these, there were many other cars manufactured at that time that were absolute a hit. Some of them were performance-oriented like Corvettes and luxury sedans like Lincolns. Planning to buy a classic car? You will be surprised to know that some popular names are sold for quite low prices. Based on your choice, you can either choose to buy cars that need a restored or rebuilt, or you can even go with well-maintained cars that are costly. However, there is no shortage of affordable classic cars in the market. Here is a list of best classic cars to buy in 2020.
Different types of Classic Cars for Sale
The first important thing to note is there is no specific definition of what makes a classic car. It is a subjective market. Until all of us are flying personal vehicles, classic cars are what we consider them to be. However, these are a few terms that you will hear when someone talks about the best classic cars of all time.
Modern classic- A car that is about 10 years old and less than 25 years old. Some of the examples of the modern classic car are BMW M3, Audi RS5, Mazda MX-5 MK1, and Audi TT.
Future Classic- Possibly one of the most speculative and subjective terms you will come across. These are the cars that could be modified to affordable classic cars in the future. Some of the popular future classic cars are Alpine A110, Porsche Cayman GT4, and Alfa Romeo 4C. Its unique design, heritage, rarity, and desirability are some of the attributes of this car.
Vintage Classic- These can be viewed as pre-war and post-war classic cars. Charm is possibly the word that represents these kinds of classic cars. Some of the popular vintage classic cars include Rolls Royce Silver Cloud, BMW 327/28 convertible, and Cadillac Model 353.
We can say that with time, all cars become classic in their way. Whether it is a memory of that car that your parents drove in their teenage days, your first car, or the car that you drove to bring your child home.
Best Classic Cars to Buy in 2020
1971 Lincoln Mark III
You must have seen this car in the Grand Theft Auto (GTA). It is the same thing, though the year is different. The 1971 Lincoln Mark III was a coupe that comes with two-door and a long body. The length of this car was 216 inches and had a wheelbase of 117.2 inches. This 1971 model was the third and final year of the Mark III creation. So, this is the newest Mark III you can buy today. This model was popular and gave a tough competition to The Cadillac Eldorado -A market leader at that time.
This is one of the affordable classic cars powered by a massive 7.5-liter, V-8 engine that whipped out 365 ponies and 500-pound feet of twist. Power was sent to rear wheels through a three-speed automatic transmission. However, this car consumed a lot of gas. It delivers not more than 11 miles per each gallon. Nevertheless, a perfect classic car that you can own at an affordable price.
Mercedes Benz E class
If you are looking for classic cars for sale, then the W124 generation of the Mercedes E Class can be a perfect option. It has already started attracting the crowd on the classic car scene. It was the first generation to come with the E-Class moniker, and rapidly gained a reputation for nearly faultless reliability; it is reported that many of these cars have traveled over a million miles during their life, and you might still see W124 cars operating in many countries. The first E-class was also quite safe; it was crash tested into a concrete barrier at 35 mph and the Mercedes made sure that it could withstand front and rear effects, which was more rigorous than the Euro NCAP safety test of the time. The W124 model was available in five different styles. The price of this car starts at $3-4,000, but it will be expensive in the future.
1981 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe
This is one of the best classic cars to buy in 2020. It belongs to the third generation of the Corvette Series that was manufactured from 1967 to 1982. This car went through more than five facelifts in the era, and the 1981 coupe belonged to the last facelift of the C3 series. The bumpers were redesigned, and this car came with an incorporated aerodynamic spoiler that resulted in a lesser coefficient of drag. It came with stainless steel exhaust manifolds, an auxiliary electric cooling fan, and a computer control system.
This was the first Corvette to make use of fiberglass rear leaf springs. It would be wrong to say that it was a tech-savvy car. The car included a 5.7-liter, V-8 mill that produced around 190 horses and around 280-pound feet of torque. Power was sent to the wheels through a four-speed manual transmission and it could run to 60 mph from a halt in 8.1 seconds. You can purchase this car for less than $10,000.
1978 Lincoln Continental
If you found the Lincoln Mark III too long, have a look at this classic car. The 1978 Lincoln Continental was a sedan with four doors that focused on royalty and luxury, and not merely on performance. It includes a muscular body and a Rolls Royce-Esque grille upfront. Even a coupe version of the same with two doors was sold in the Mark V series.
The length of this car is 233 inches and was considered as the longest coupe sold by Ford. It also includes an LED display in the instrument collection with a distance-to-empty feature. The car was popular in the ’70s! The 1978 Lincoln Continental came with two engine options, 6.6- liter, V-8, and a 7.5 liter, V8. The former was the popular one and shook 166 horses and about 319 pound-feet of torque. The rear wheel received is power through the three-speed automatic transmission. Today, you can find this for as low as $9,500. But, before you choose this beauty up, ensure that you have a big garage to fit this mess in.
Mini
There are very few cars that have made an impact on the automotive world like the original Mini. First released in 1959, this car enjoyed a 41-year production run that ran to the start of this new millennium. Ensuring that there was enough space for four people, along with the running gear, in a car that was only three meters long was not easy, so the engineering team had to think about some more creativity.
Escalating the engine transversely resulted in a lot of space and became the blueprint for several small cars that followed it. More than 5 million were produced in its lifetime, though many have rotted away or have been even displayed in collections and museums. You might think that the prices to be less, but they are rapidly increasing. You can expect to pay more than $6,000 for a good car or more.
Is the market for classic cars dead?
No, it is not. The classic car market is alive in 2020. The only thing which has changed is the demand in various sectors of the classic car market. Classic cars along with many other collectibles like wine, handbags, art, and watches all offer an alternative investment prospect. The demand and supply of classic cars is a cliché when it comes to these kinds of investments. So, it is better to choose wisely. So, if you are planning to buy a car, have a look at this list of best classic cars to buy in 2020.