These 10 cars will be 2021’s hottest classics

For a car enthusiast, nothing trumps the gratifying experience of owning a classic car. There are a few who keep their classics under wraps in their garage, but these beauties are best enjoyed when driven as often as possible. While it’s important to find, buy and drive a vehicle that tugs at your heartstrings, it doesn’t hurt to know that the car your buy will hold its value, or even better, will likely appreciate over the years. UK-based collector car insurer Hagerty has come out with its Bull Market List, a compilation of classic and modern-classic cars that its believes are rising in value and increasingly in demand among drivers. The list has been drawn based on market valuation data and insurance quotes and policies, among other indicators. Here are the top-ten smart-buy classic cars from the 2021 Hagerty UK Bull Market List.

Aston Martin DB7: Although the DB7 range has seen its value drop from £37,680 in 2019 to £31,580 today, Hagerty believes the Aston Martin will surely bounce back. It says well-preserved examples should become more sought-after, so now may well be the time to buy as prices are relatively low.

Ferrari 328: While the Ferrari 328’s value shot up in the first half of the 2010, it has witnessed an annual drop as the appetite for modern-classic Ferraris diminished. In fact, from 2016 to 2019, values fell at roughly 11 per cent per annum. However, last year this reduced to just 2 per cent.

Ford Focus (Mk1): Understandably the Focus is much less valuable than the previously mentioned cars: even an ‘excellent’ example can be purchased for around the £1,400-mark, with fair ones going for much less. Hagerty says for this very small outlay, what buyers will get is a piece of automotive history that drives as good as it looks.

Jaguar Mark II: An icon in the classic car world, that jaguar Mark II has seen its prices going relatively steady in recent years. However, values have already risen by nearly a third this year making the Mark II Jaguar a classic with lots of potential for growth.

Land Rover Discovery (Series 1): Classic Range Rovers have seen their values skyrocket over the last five years, and things won’t be different for the Series I Land Rover Discovery either. Until recently, even the best could be bought for a few thousand pounds, but in recent months, exceptional examples have achieved much more, with one being sold for £12,320 in June this year.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: Until very recently advertised prices for the SLS AMG were dropping each month compared with 12 months previously. However, from September 2020, asking prices have risen, by 2.3 per cent for the convertible and by 2.5 per cent for the coupe. As Mercedes gears up for the era of electrification, Hagerty believes the SLS could be a high-tide mark from the petrol era.

Mini Cooper: All variants of the Mk 1 Austin/Morris Mini Cooper have been increasing in value over the last few years, but Hagerty believes they have the potential to rise again in 2021, thanks to its 60th birthday.

Porsche 944 S2: Still available for just a few thousand pounds, the pick of the bunch in the 944 range is the naturally aspirated S2. More drivable than the Turbo but with just 10hp less, the 3.0-litre S2 briefly shot up in value in 2016, and after a quick correction has been gaining steadily in value ever since, according to the report.

Renault 5 GT Turbo: Still obtainable and more powerful than all other modern classic hot hatches, the 115bhp Renault 5 GT Turbo has a current value of £12,900 and has significant potential to climb.

Toyota MR2 (Mk3): Even a rare unmolested example of the iconic MR2 will only set you back a few thousand pounds. It has Toyota’s robust mechanicals and leather or Alcantara options for the cabin. Hagerty believes at its current price, the roadster from Japan is undervalued.