Ten classic cars likely to rise in value in 2026, picked by one of the industry's leading experts

Ten classic cars likely to rise in value in 2026, picked by one of the industry's leading experts
By: dailymail Posted On: January 12, 2026 View: 43

Some cars become instant hits and spawn immediate cult followings that make them desirable for years to come. 

Whereas others can be slow burners, sometimes taking decades to be appreciated by collectors - and reflected by a sudden rise in price.

But which classic motors are currently representing the very best value with attainable prices - or are on the verge of exploding in price in the coming months?

Classic car pricing experts at Hagerty have named ten cars they believe with soar in price starting in 2026 in their latest Bull Market report.

The annual data-crunching exercise helps to earmark motors from the past that are ripe for appreciation. And some cost only a few thousand pounds to purchase today.

While a few are predicted to rise in value in the future, others have been selected for their superb value for money and rewarding ownership experience.

'Of all the Bull Market lists that I have compiled, this one is my favourite,' explains John Mayhead, the UK editor of the Hagerty Price Guide. 

'A changing market means that cars that were once out of the price range of many people are now becoming more affordable, and there are some superb examples here for all budgets.'

1. Alfa Romeo Spider (1966 – 1986)

Average value today: £21,200

The Alfa Romeo Spider epitomises the great sixties era of open-top sports cars
It's appearance in hit sixties film The Graduate cemented the sporty Alfa Romeo as a firm favourite. And values are set to rise
Petrolheads have long loved it for its classy Italian looks, surprising practicality and comfortable interior, and the broad availability of specialists who can keep them in good running order, especially in Britain

The Alfa Romeo Spider epitomises the great sixties era of open-top sports cars.

Helping it to achieve cult status was its appearance in 1967 hit film The Graduate but petrolheads have long loved it for its classy Italian looks, surprising practicality and comfort and the broad availability of specialists who can keep them in good running order, especially in Britain.

John and the Hagerty team believes the 1970s 2000 Veloce is now a great buy, with an 'excellent' condition example with no rust valued at £21,200.

'A usable classic with its comfortable interior, it represents the sweet spot between classic styling and practicality. Prices are unlikely to soar but at their current level they offer excellent value,' John says.

2. Ferrari F430 (2004 – 2009)

Average value today: £95,400 (Spider)

The words 'value' and 'Ferrari' typically aren't used together that often. But given the low price of the F430 today, Hagerty thinks there is plenty of room for prices to rise
Designed by Frank Stephenson and Pininfarina, the F430 took visual styling cues from many previous iconic Ferraris
'Excellent' examples with low mileage, manual gearboxes and great specification are available for around £95,000, significantly more than those with F1 gearboxes

The Ferrari F430 was a step up from its 360 predecessor both in terms of powertrain and design with its 4.3-litre F136 V8 engine setting the standard for future models. 

Designed by Frank Stephenson and Pininfarina, it took visual styling cues from many previous iconic Ferraris. 

Values have risen 19 per cent over the past five years, making it a 'financially safe and extremely enjoyable buy', according to the Hagerty valuation team. 

'Excellent' examples with low mileage, manual gearboxes and great specification are available for around £95,000, significantly more than those with F1 gearboxes.

'Extremely popular with GenX and Millennials, the F430 is likely to be a car that will be prized in the future,' John says.

3. Ford Transit MkI (1965 - 1977)

Average value today: £17,200)

The Ford Transit has been the UK's most popular commercial vehicle for over 60 years. Find a good example of the original and it will be worth a lot of money soon
Values of the first generation Mk 1 have increased by 6.2 per cent over the past five years
While not your typical classic car investment, a MkI Ford Transit - even the 2.0-litre petrol - should be ripe for appreciation

The Ford Transit has been the UK's most popular commercial vehicle for over 60 years, regularly lauded as being the backbone of the UK's economy. 

First introduced in 1965, it has been the tradesperson's choice, as well as being popular with Police forces, logistics companies and famously in the 1970s, bank robbers. 

Values of the first generation Mk 1 have increased by 6.2 per cent over the past five years and while the extremely rare 3.0-litre V6 is the most desirable, Hagerty's experts have chosen the 2.0-litre petrol as the one to watch.  

'As ever with British-built Fords, the Transit has a very strong and passionate following of enthusiasts, good news for anyone wanting to maintain one,' John says.

4. Mercedes-Benz SLK MkII (2004 – 2011)

Average value today: £5,200

If you're looking for a fun convertible car for the summer that's becoming increasingly rare and therefore more likely to increase in value, a second-generation Mercedes SLK is a solid choice
Values have remained flat for the 2004-2011 'R171' generation SLK over the last five years
A potential modern classic? Buy the right Mercedes SLK and you could be onto a winner

Hagerty has earmarked the second-generation Mercedes SLK as one to watch in 2026.

Values have remained flat for the 2004-2011 'R171' generation SLK over the last five years as the car sits between being a used car and a classic car, but this currently makes it excellent value for those seeking a quality roadster that is great to drive all year round.

'A supercharged Mercedes-Benz convertible with a retractable hard top, sporty performance even in the entry-level 200 Kompressor model and typically comfortable interior seems an absolute steal at the prices they are currently available for,' Hagerty explains. 

'Even the latest, low-mileage, high-spec examples of this model top out at around £10,000 and Hagerty's 'excellent' value is around half this. 

'Even the high-performance SLK55 AMG version with a 5.5-litre 350bhp V8 is roughly double the price of the 200, a huge amount of car for the price.'

5. MG MGA (1955 – 1962)

Average value today: £25,700

Like many British sports cars of the 1950s and 60s, values of the MG MGA has declined over the past five years. But don't let that put you off...
Again, there a strong pool or specialists across the UK who can keep an MGA maintained
Fun to drive and relatively cheap to run by classic car standards, the MGA would make a cute addition to any garage

Like many British sports cars of the 1950s and 60s, values of the MG MGA has declined over the past five years.

However, Hagerty says it is still a good buy, with its own 'Collectability Algorithm' suggesting there is still scope for it to go up in value. 

This is aided by the desirability of its race-derived design and there being plenty of parts suppliers and specialists to keep them maintained well into the future.  

'The MG MGA is a much-loved British classic and we've selected the 1600 as the sweet spot between the early 1500 and the more expensive Twin Cam and Deluxe models,' John says.

6. Porsche 911 996 (1997 – 2006)

Average value today: £17,800

The 996-generation of the Porsche 911 has often been maligned as the first water-cooled version of the iconic sports car and also suffered from a number of notoriously high-profile mechanical issues. But most models on the road today will have these problems fixed
John earmarked the early 3.4-litre Carrera 2 as one to watch, as prices start in the low-teens and even for an excellent one, you'd be hard pressed to pay more than £25,000
Buyers of older 911s should always find the highest spec they can find and hunt for cars that have been meticulously maintained by previous owners

The 996-generation of the Porsche 911 has often been maligned as the first water-cooled version of the iconic sports car and the one with 'fried egg' headlamps. 

It also suffered from a number of notoriously high-profile mechanical issues.

However, the 996 is now over 20 years old and many cars on the road will have these issues sorted out, resulting in a really good sports car with a great interior, superb performance and sound and with plenty of upgrades available to enhance the ownership experience.

Yet its reputation means the 996 is still excellent value.

John earmarked the early 3.4-litre Carrera 2 as one to watch, as prices start in the low-teens and even for an excellent one, you'd be hard pressed to pay more than £25,000. 

'For that, you get a car with such a pedigree that Hagerty's Collectability Algorithm scores higher than any other car in this year's Bull Market list, including the Ferrari,' he says.

'As ever with Porsche, make sure you buy the highest spec you can find, a car that has been meticulously maintained by the right people, and one with relatively low mileage and matching numbers.'

7. Riley Nine Imp (1934 – 1935)

Average value today: £60,100

Values of pre-war cars have dropped significantly in recent years, making cars like the Riley Nine more affordable than they've been for a long time
Fitted with a 1,087cc straight-four engine, the Riley Nine Imp was almost a lightweight version of Riley's MPH, a car that took on MG on the race track
There's an increasing demand for these cars, even among Gen X collectors

Values of pre-war cars have dropped significantly in recent years, making cars like the Riley Nine more affordable than they've been for a long time.

A 20 per cent fall in price over the last decade means they're becoming more attainable, offering the chance to experience driving something that is utterly exhilarating. 

Fitted with a 1,087cc straight-four engine, the Riley Nine Imp was almost a lightweight version of Riley's MPH, a car that took on MG on the race track.

Hagerty says even Gen X'ers are increasingly seeking cars of this ilk and says the Nine 'offers the sweet spot between a tourer that can be used at weekends or in the summer, and an out-and-out sports car for use on track'.

John adds: 'Prices are now at the level that one that has been very well maintained by one of the very best restoration companies will probably offer great value for money.'

8. Toyota Supra A80 (1993 – 2002)

Average value today: £40,000

The A80 was the fourth iteration of the Toyota Supra and the one that became a poster car for an entire generation who watched The Fast and the Furious movies. If you can find an unmolested example today, it will be worth good money in the future
Sold in limited numbers in the UK, prices have risen by more than 40% over the past five years
The ownership demographic is also very young, with 64 per cent born since 1981. John says this can be a strong sign that examples will continue to grow in value as those owners reach peak earning potential

The A80 was the fourth iteration of the Toyota Supra and the one that became a poster car for an entire generation who watched The Fast and the Furious movies, or spent ages tuning one in the Gran Turismo or Forza console games. 

Sold in limited numbers in the UK, prices have risen 41.8 per cent over the past five years, although down from their peak after prices shot up when the famous Candy Orange Supra from the movie sold for $550,000 in 2021.

'The A80 Toyota Supra offers offer good value for money compared with its two period competitors, the Honda NSX Type-R and the R33 Nissan GT-R,' Hagerty's valuations experts tell us. 

'The ownership demographic is also very young, with 64 per cent born since 1981, often a sign that cars will continue to grow in value as those owners reach peak earning potential. 

'Its rarity and the fact that the UK variant was the most powerful made with 326bhp, means that UK cars are increasingly being sourced by international buyers, which together with the model's racing history makes the A80 Supra highly ranked by Hagerty's Collectability Algorithm.'

9. Vauxhall Viva HC (1971 – 1979)

Average value today: £4,300

The Vauxhall Viva was immensely popular in its time, with over 650,000 produced. But today it is an extremely rare car
Far from the excitement of a modern-era Ferrari like the F430 listed previously, there is a charm to the Viva that can't be replicated
Hagerty says it now represents great value for money, especially as prices have dropped over the past few years

The Vauxhall Viva was immensely popular in its time, with over 650,000 produced. 

But today it is an extremely rare car, often overlooked by all but the most dedicated of enthusiasts, but it is a benchmark of 1970s British motoring that has a lot going for it. 

Notoriously robust for the time, both mechanically and in the bodywork department, the Viva's simplicity makes it relatively easy for an enthusiast to maintain and a great option for those seeking an affordable, enjoyable and practical classic.

Hagerty says it now represents great value for money, especially as prices have dropped over the past few years. 

'It isn't a car that will make you rich, but as a usable, excellent value British classic that will make you stand out from the crowd, it is hard to beat.'

10. Volkswagen Golf GTI MkII (1983 – 1992)

Average value today: £15,300

Soaring values of the original MkI VW Golf have made the MkII model a very tempting prospect
The second generation MkII GTI features a larger, more modern body than the original, as well as improved handling, comfort and from 1986, a 139bhp 16-valve engine
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI. So, is there a better time than now to buy one?

The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most iconic cars of motoring history and it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. 

The second generation MkII GTI features a larger, more modern body than the original, as well as improved handling, comfort and from 1986, a 139bhp 16-valve engine. 

Regarded by many as the benchmark hot hatch compared to the Ford Fiesta XR2, Peugeot 205 GTi and Renault 5 GT Turbo, the Golf delivers that ideal combination of a spirited driving experience with modern classic styling and everyday comfort, ensuring it will continue to be one of the most loved of the hot hatch genre.

Hagerty says the soaring value of the original makes the sequel Golf GTI all the more attractive. 

'Prices of the Volkswagen Golf GTI MkI have risen nearly 25 per cent since 2020, making the MkII great value for money, with prices for both the 8-valve and 16v remaining relatively flat, despite a marked increase in the overall Hagerty Hot Hatchback Index over the past 12 months. 

The Golf GTI Mk 2 is incredibly popular with younger owners, too. 

'Its good looks, fun, quick and nimble performance, as well as a vast network of clubs and specialists makes ownership a truly rewarding experience,' John says.

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