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Most people think of stocks or retirement accounts when it comes to investing. But tangible assets, like gold or collectibles, are another option. Take classic cars, which, if they’re kept in excellent condition, can sometimes outperform traditional investments.
A recent study by A1 Auto Transport looked at which high-value classic cars have delivered the strongest long-term returns. The figures below show how much a $5,000 investment would have grown if it increased the same percentage as these cars.
While it’s not a direct comparison, since the majority of investments earn dividends, interest and other returns that cars don’t, it gives a sense of how dramatically some cars can appreciate over time.
1936-37 Cord 810/812
- Original price: $2,420
- Average value today: $159,000
- Price increase: 6,474%
- What $5,000 would look like today: $328,512
The Cord felt ahead of its time in the 1930s, and it’s obviously still seen as something special all these decades later.
1909-27 Ford Model T
- Original price: $615
- Average value today: $16,560
- Price increase: 2,593%
- What $5,000 would look like today: $134,634
The Model T is a classic part of transportation history, and its parts are still easier to find than for most classics, making ownership and maintenance more manageable.
1962-66 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider
- Original price: $5,091
- Average value today: $107,015
- Price increase: 2,002%
- What $5,000 would look like today: $105,132
Third on the list is this Italian classic with elegant bodywork and a six-cylinder engine that give it lasting appeal.
1957-58 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz
- Original price: $7,393
- Average value today: $120,000
- Price increase: 1,523%
- What $5,000 would look like today: $81,047
As the most expensive car on this list when it was new, the Eldorado continues to attract buyers “who want the ultimate expression of post-war optimism,” according to A1 Auto Transport spokesperson Joe Webster.
1966-70 Oldsmobile Toronado
- Original price: $4,804
- Average value today: $21,165
- Price increase: 341%
- What $5,000 would look like today: $22,004
Front wheel drive in a large American coupe was rare then. While the Toronado doesn’t have quite the gains the other models on the list do, it could still offer solid returns.
Are Classic Cars a Good Investment?
The real returns on a classic car are unique to the situation, with things like storage and maintenance affecting its worth. Climate-controlled storage alone, for example, can cost hundreds per month, and collector vehicle insurance is more expensive than standard coverage.
Hagerty’s 2025 Blue Chip Index, which tracks the most sought-after collectible cars, shows values are mostly flat or down a little this year. That’s a change from recent years, when, according to Hagerty, top collector cars often beat the market. Rare and iconic models can and do still sell for big money, but for most people, classic cars are better thought of as passion projects, not a shortcut to fast gains.
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