Once upon a time, the much-maligned Ford Capri was dubbed ‘the poor man’s sports car’. And yet last month (May 2022) a 1972 model went under the hammer with a guide price of £60,000.
At Almagrove, we’ve more than three decades of experience in lending against classic vehicles and a tale of redemption like this gets our revs up. So we thought we’d pay homage to the kitsch motor by celebrating 5 other cars that have turned out to be unlikely classics.
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With that, here are our 5 surprising collectables…
Peugeot 205 GTI
Often thought of as the ultimate hot hatch, the Peugeot 205 GTI was a favourite amongst boy racers. Throughout the 80s and early 90s, suburban supermarket car parks were the scenes of late-night drag races between these souped-up superminis. Much like the Fast & Furious film franchise, only in place of Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez you had Darren and his mates!
They were onto a good thing as the 205 GTI was highly rated for its performance. In 1983, What Car? magazine named it their Car Of The Year. It handled like a dream and petrolheads loved its potency – 1.9-litre models could go from 0-60 in under 8 seconds.
But arguably, the best thing about the motor is its styling; the red go-faster stripes, the sunroof, the boxy interior… it doesn’t get any more quintessentially 80s than this.
These days, the best examples – early, limited editions – can fetch as much as £30,000 at auction. If you have one lurking around in a garage somewhere, you might want to think about getting it valued. Or better still, take it out for a spin – you’ll have a great time reliving your youth!
Mazda MX5 Mk1
Back in the 90s, a certain type of brash, blokey motorist would have described this speedy two-seater as ‘a hairdresser’s car’, a pejorative that hasn’t aged particularly well. But if there are any hairdressers still in possession of one, they’re having the last laugh as the MX5 Mk1’s value has been on the rise in recent years.
The agile soft top was first launched in 1989 and is known for its pop-up headlights, durable engine and excellent handling. It was marketed as an affordable sports car and became an instant hit.
These days many older models have succumbed to rust, which means the value of those that are still roadworthy has started to creep up; an early Eunos Roadster model could fetch as much as £10,000.
Toyota MR2 Mk1
If you like your two-seater classics a little more, hmm… boxy, then the Toyota MR2 is the car for you.
Launched in 1984, it was like the Mazda MX5 – affordable, reliable and fun – except it was designed by someone who clearly enjoyed using a set square. And you can get more in the boot, although if you’re taller than 6 feet you may need to perform some contortionism just to sit in the cockpit.
An early UK MR2 in excellent condition could fetch up to £10,500; anyone lucky enough to own a rust-free, supercharged Japanese import with a 4A-GZE engine could demand north of £16,000.
Land Rover Defender
Something as functional as a Land Rover Defender probably wouldn’t be the first thing you’d associate with the words ‘classic car’. You think they’d be too muddy, full of tools or covered in dog hair.
But the iconic British vehicle is in demand right now, particularly in the US. According to classic car insurer Hagerty, the UK has exported more used Defenders across the pond over the last 10 years than any other vehicle.
Clearly, one of the benefits of being a workhorse is that the Defender is virtually indestructible (one of the reasons it’s a favourite of the British Army). And the car’s longevity certainly helps it retain value. While the average auction price is around £34,000, a V8 ‘70th Anniversary’ model has fetched as much as £160,000.
Ford Escort Mk3
There was a time when you wouldn’t bat an eyelid if a Ford Escort pulled up next to you at the traffic lights.
While the car wasn’t without its problems (those fitted with automatic chokes often refused to start on chilly mornings) Ford’s iconic CVH engine made it easy and enjoyable to drive.
These days, the Mk3 is a less common sight on the roads and nostalgia has started driving the prices up. A standard 1.3 model can cost as much as £7,000 and a couple of years ago an RS1600i sold for an incredible £31,000.
Sounds a lot doesn’t it? But bear in mind that for the price, you’ll be able to get in the front seat, wind down the windows and load up the cassette deck with some Culture Club. And they say time travel doesn’t exist.
