There’s nothing wrong with a bit of sportiness. For car enthusiasts, there were endless possibilities to achieve this in the automotive field during the 60s and 70s. Some of these dreams are still affordable today. We’ve listed the sporty classics that have increased the most in value for you.
We ask you not to scroll down immediately. Indeed, an Abarth OT 1000 is rare and a Lamborghini Miura is unaffordable for most of us. But the price increases of these two exotics are equally interesting information. An increase of €650,000 in the case of the Lambo in just six years is quite impressive… The other models in this article are also attainable for car enthusiasts with a more limited budget. We asked the market specialists of the German market analysis firm Classic Data which sports coupes from the 60s and 70s have increased the most in value over the past six years. The cars that ordinary mortals can finance, with or without some help from the bank, can be found from third place onwards. Why not just buy dream cars from your youth, such as the Opel Manta GT/E or the Volkswagen Scirocco GTI? For less than 20,000 euros, that is still possible with these models. A Ford Capri, the third in the lineup of German sports coupe rivals from back then, is even cheaper. So you don’t need to be a millionaire to realize your dream of a sports coupe. And being a bit sporty can’t hurt at all.
1. Abarth OT 1000
1965-1970, 982 cc, 68 hp
If you enter the brand Abarth on an average sales site and limit the search to models from 1965 to 1970, mainly 595’s based on the Fiat 500 appear on your screen. But the manufacturer also built this creation: the basis is formed by the Fiat 850 Coupé. So it’s a 2+2 seater, but with much more power than normal. If you can say that, given the modest one-liter four-cylinder engine with 68 hp. At the time, the Abarth was almost twice as expensive as the Fiat 850 Coupé.
2. Lamborghini Miura P400
1966-1970, 3,929 cc, 350 hp
Do you fancy a Miura? Then know that such a classic Lamborghini costs 1.5 million euros today. A small consolation: with a height of 1.05 meters, getting in is only an option for particularly agile types. They can bring the 3.9-liter V12 to life, try to reach the top speed of 274 km/h, and meanwhile think about how they will get out again.
3. Renault Alpine A310
1973-1976, 1,605 cc, 127 hp
You don’t always need many cylinders to have fun, four cylinders are enough in this case. The French built 2,340 examples of the Renault Alpine A310 with the small 1.6-liter engine, with a height of 1.15 meters it was an exceptionally low car. Because the engine is in the rear and it only weighs 840 kilos, driving pleasure is guaranteed.
4. Triumph GT6
1968-1970, 1,998 cc, 105 hp
At Triumph, they took a Spitfire as a basis, then turned it into a combi-coupé, mounted a 2.0-liter six-cylinder under the hood, and the GT6 was ready. Of all the versions built between 1966 and 1973, prices are currently rising. The prices shown here apply to the Mark II.
5. Opel Manta GT/E
1977-1983, 1,956 cc, 110 hp
The Opel Manta celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. We are now talking about the second generation, the Manta B, which saw the light of day in 1975. The GT/E was equipped with a two-liter four-cylinder injection engine, and a spoiler adorned the rear. Enthusiasts loved that, and certainly not only in Maaskantje.
6. Dodge Challenger
1969-1974, 7,206 cc, 375 hp
What a monster of a car! The Challenger is not only a real muscle car, as an R/T it is powered by a 7.2-liter large V8 engine. But there are also versions with a smaller displacement and less horsepower, in case you find this a bit too much of a good thing.
7. BMW 633 CSi
1976-1982, 3,210 cc, 197 hp
The E24 model series is considered by many to be among the most beautiful BMWs ever. If it says 633 on it, the inner qualities are also in order: a 3.2-liter inline six, rear-wheel drive. The E24 was built until 1989 – making it longer in production than any other BMW.
8. Ford Mustang
1964-1966, 4,735 cc, 210 hp
This car comes from a time when cars were like suits – every year there was a new collection, something always changed about the outfit. What always remained the same with the Mustang: the V8 roars wonderfully, even though it has a modest displacement by American standards.
9. Volkswagen Scirocco GTI
1976-1977, 1,577 cc, 110 hp
The first Volkswagen to bear the magical three letters still had chrome bumpers. Such early examples are rare – and therefore expensive.
10. Ford Capri
1974-1977, 2,293 cc, 108 hp
This is what a GTI looks like if its parents are American: the 2.3 is of course a V6. With a power of 108 hp, the 4.24-meter-long car reaches a top speed of 178 km/h and sprints to 100 km/h in 11.2 seconds. It is gradually becoming more expensive.