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Collectible Sports Cars

The good, the bad, and the beautiful

You're driving along in your new computer-calibrated super-comfy techno-rocket, and all seems right with the world. But then you see it. A bright red roadster from the past goes zinging by in the fast lane, top down and the occupants grinning from ear to ear as heads swivel in each car it passes. Sure, you could easily outrun the roadster's antique European engineering with any number of modern Japanese imports, but, boy, does it bring back memories!

Nostalgic Appeal

Classic sports cars are still in plentiful supply, with prices ranging from free to well into seven figures. Although these nostalgic rides are no match for a modern car in terms of performance, durability or comfort, they have strong personalities and clean, uncluttered styling frequently lacking in modern mass-market automobiles. And they usually hold their value or even appreciate over time, a positive experience compared to watching the value of a new car drop like a stone as you drive it off the dealer's lot.

Buying an older sports car is more difficult, though, than walking into a shiny showroom and plopping down your checkbook. Some models are relatively reliable while others are prone to frequent breakdowns, even when properly maintained. All older sports cars require mechanical attention in the form of regular tune-ups and adjustments, and finding parts and service will be more of a challenge than with current models. Sports cars built in the 1980s and later usually require less mechanical attention than earlier ones, with 1970s models generally being the least durable due to driveability problems relating to the primitive emission control systems introduced at that time.

You may already have a favorite car that you've wanted since the cutest blonde in town had one when you were in high school. Or maybe it's a fire-breather that dominated the racetracks when you were too young (and poor) to afford one. Or you may not have a particular model in mind, but the idea of tooling around in a classic convertible sounds like fun. In any case, some sports cars are better deals than others.

Best First Sports Cars

Many sports cars that are still excellent choices for fun driving and can be had for $2,500 to $10,000. MG built the highly successful MGA, MGB and Midget sports cars for years and parts are both available and affordable from a number of sources. They are also easy to work on, so any competent mechanic can figure them out (or you may opt to do your own service).

Triumph, another popular sports car builder, is known for its TR-3, TR-4 and TR-6 models which are hot with collectors today. Among newer models, Porsche's 914 handles great and can be had for a song, while Datsun's original 240Z was a groundbreaking car that won races all over the world. Mazda leaped into the sports car biz with rotary-powered RX-7, then followed its success with the Miata, which broke all records for two-seater sales. It would be hard to go wrong with a good example of any of these inexpensive classics.

Upmarket Choices

Moving up in price also involves more maintenance and parts expenses. The Austin-Healey 100-6 and 3000 models are currently appreciating faster than a speeding Corvette.

Speaking of Vettes, they're a good deal too. Although the 1967 and earlier versions are pricey, the 1968 to 1975 versions are just starting to be appreciated by collectors, so they're still affordable.

For looks alone, Jaguar's XKE is a world-class beauty, but make sure to pick a solid example as restoration costs can be very high. An often-overlooked classic is the Sunbeam Tiger, a traditional British sports car that used a Ford V-8 to good advantage. And any Porsche 356, 944, 912 or 911 can be a good choice, but have it inspected by an expert to avoid buying a rusty or tired example.

Bad News

Not every sports car is a classic, and some are worse options than others. Although there are fans of every car ever built (including Edsels), inexperienced buyers should avoid some models. In the 1970s, the British car industry was in financial trouble and they came out with several inferior models. Triumph replaced the successful TR-6 with the TR-7, an underpowered and poorly made junker with quirky styling and virtually no resale value. An improved model, the TR-8, at least had a decent Rover V-8 engine, but they are rare today. In 1974 Triumph and MG replaced the engines in their low-priced Midget and Spitfire models with a new 1500cc unit that was anemic, unreliable and saddled with a bad gearbox. Opt for the earlier models of both.

Other dogs to avoid include the Mercury Capri convertible introduced in 1990, which resembled a sports car but was actually a bad economy car in disguise. The mid-engined Fiat X1/9 was pretty and had superb handling, but keeping them alive was a full-time job. If you like Italian cars, look into the Fiat 124 Spyder series or earlier Alfa Romeos with carburetors instead of fuel injection, but avoid the visually tempting Maserati Biturbo, which was a mechanical disaster.

Exotic Heights

Some once-expensive exotic cars can be had at what seems like bargain prices, but they can turn out to be budget-breakers when they need repair or service. The Porsche 928 was a lovely touring car, but cost a fortune to repair if anything major goes wrong. Ditto the Jaguar XJ-S, which has low resale value combined with high repair costs. Even some Ferraris (such as the Mondial and 400A) can be had for less than the cost of a new Miata, but will likely cost several times the purchase price to repair engine problems. It's possible to spend over $20,000 going through a Ferrari engine, even if not much has gone bad.

Picking a sports car is frequently an emotional decision, and you probably already have something in mind. In the next installment, we'll take a look at how to objectively assess the mechanical condition of a prospective sportster.