Rover 75, Aston Martin Cygnet, Ford Focus RS ‒ future classic cars that will be worth a fortune

Dealers give their views on which cars will be the classics of the future.

Cars are somewhat unusual compared to other assets, in that generally new cars lose value from the moment you drive them away from the dealership.

And over time, most cars simply continue to drop in value.

This isn’t universal, however; classic cars today can be worth many times more than they cost when they were first purchased.

Is it possible to spot the future classics though? The cars that may well be worth a packet years down the line?

That’s what car-buying platform Motorway has attempted to do, polling the various car dealers it works with to get an idea of what vehicles might increase in value in the coming years.

What makes a future classic?

Before we get into the cars themselves, it’s worth highlighting the features that make some vehicles stand out from the crowd over time.

The feedback from the dealers was that quirky and unique features can go a long way to adding potential value, on the basis that they are actually useful and sought after. 

Rarity is another big factor; a car isn’t going to increase in value over time if there are absolutely loads of them on the roads. However, if they are somewhat scarce, that scarcity can help to drive up the value.

Styling is important too, as is desirability.

This last feature is the key one really; a car will only be worth money in the future if people want to buy it.

Of course, working out what cars will be desirable 10 or 20 years down the line is an inexact science, but let’s take a look at the 10 cars named by the dealers in Motorway’s research.

Rover 75 V8, 2004

The dealers reckon this is a car that has been soaring in popularity in recent years, offering a “refined and effortless performance.”

This is somewhat echoed by the reviewers at WhatCar? who described it as a “relaxed, effortless long-distance motor.”

Alpine A110S, 2019

The Alpine A110S is a coupe that benefits from a powerful engine, refined design and a focused chassis setup. 

It’s known for its sharp handling and stability at high speeds, while the dealers argued that its smart styling helps boost its potential to become a future classic.

Aston Martin Cygnet, 2011

Aston Martin is a brand with immediate credibility, but the Cygnet ‒ a small city car ‒ might not jump out as an obvious candidate for being a future classic.

However, it’s the combination of heritage and practicality that make it stand out according to the dealers surveyed.

Jaguar XKR-S GT, 2014

This motor is described by Motorway as “beastly looking”, but that is part of its appeal.

It shares some of the design of the XK coupe, but the changes made to its shape and suspension, as well as the introduction of carbon-ceramic brakes, meaning it delivers the sort of performance you might expect from a race car.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, 2018

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio is described by the experts at WhatCar? as “an impressive piece of kit”, which is somewhat understated.

The reviewers reckon it not only offers the comfort and practicality to be suitable for everyday use, but the drive is also so good that you’ll happily drag yourself out of bed at the weekends just to get behind the wheel.

That combination of design, performance and the technology incorporated within it is what the dealers reckon will ensure it’s worth serious amounts in the years to come. 

Ford Focus RS, 2016

The 2016 Focus was the first 'rally sport' (RS) equipped with selectable drive modes, such as the industry-first ‘drift mode’.

The car dealers reckon this feature is likely to add to its value down the line.

One thing to bear in mind, as pointed out by the WhatCar? team is that the RS sits in insurance group 40 so car insurance will be costly.

Abarth 695 Biposto, 2014

The Biposto is apparently not only the “most extreme” version of the Abarth, but it is also the only road-legal production car with an optional ‘dog-ring gearbox.’

That unique feature, combined with its beefy engine and cracking speeds, means it is likely to be desirable over time.

Fiat 124 Spider, 2017

This motor pays homage to the original open-top 124 Spider that launched five decades ago, and according to the dealers offers drivers an “authentic Italian roadster experience.”

Once again, it’s that combination of cracking performance, great design and up-to-date tech which hands it potential future classic status.

Edition 1 Mercedes, 2016

This is a special edition version of the Mercedes-AMG C63 coupe, and that adds to the appeal. It boasts unique design and equipment

Lotus Exige S1, 2000

Finally, we have the Exige S1, a lightweight sports car. It has an incredibly powerful engine, which combined with its lightness means that you can shoot off to 62mph in under five seconds.

Show your future classic some love

It’s important to bear in mind that these cars will only be ‘future classics’ ‒ and therefore worth some real cash ‒ if they are in good condition. No car buff is going to end up forking out for one of these motors if it’s beaten up and been poorly maintained.

Cars of all kinds retain more of their value if they are properly looked after, and shown some love by their owners. 

For more on depreciation, check out our guide to the 10 factors that wipe the most value from your motor.