Cool Collectibles for Less Than $10,000
Image caption: One of the most affordable classics is the 1975 Buick Electra – the brand’s longest car. It measured 233.7 inches from bumper to bumper.
For many, owning one or more classic cars can be a far more rewarding pursuit than, say, collecting paintings, coins or stamps that can only be appreciated from a distance or are stashed away in a safe deposit box. That’s because a vintage vehicle can be taken out for a quick spin on a sunny summer’s day, and there’s no other type of collectible that can boast the same degree of satisfaction.
Needless to say, only the wealthiest auto aficionados can afford some of the rarest Ferraris and Porsches, but astute investors looking to get some skin in the game can ante up for $10,000 or less these days. Specifically, you’ll find bargains among older pickup trucks and SUVs, which are emerging as bona fide collectibles, especially among younger buyers.
Here’s 10 classic models collectible car insurer Hagerty in Traverse City, Michigan, says can be found in average condition for well under $10,000 that should appreciate in value down the road:
• 1971-1976 Buick Electra: $5,900. This is the quintessential long-as-a-block American car, available in two- and four-door models with a big V8 engine under a sizable hood.
• 1973-1979 Ford F-Series: $6,300. This era’s F-Series pickup truck featured clean lines and a modicum of chrome, and was built in exposed wheel-well Flareside and the more car-like Styleside models, with V6 and V8 engines.
• 1973-1987 Chevrolet C/K Series: $7,400. This is Chevy’s big pickup from the same era as the above Ford, likewise coming in classic Stepside and the more modern-looking Fleetside models, with most packing with a V8 engine.
• 1965-1970 Oldsmobile 88: $7,750. A popular family car of its era, the 1965 88 started out in evocative Jetstar 88, Dynamic 88, and Delta 88 trim levels in coupe and sedan versions, each motivated by a potent V8 engine.
• 1972-1980 Dodge D/W Series: $7,800. Dodge’s big pickup truck from the 1970’s spawned a host of coveted special editions like the “Li’l Red Express” and the “Macho Power Wagon Top Hand.” At that, a standard version in top shape can still be a good investment. You’ll find them with “slant six” or V8 powerplants, but with emissions-restricted horsepower ratings.
• 1978-1987 Chevrolet El Camino: $8,200. Discontinued after 1987, enthusiasts are still clamoring for General Motors to bring back this beloved car/pickup truck hybrid with modern underpinnings. Don’t expect decent examples to be found under $10,000 for much longer.
• 1973-1991 Chevrolet C/K Blazer: $8,400. This full-size SUV began as more or less an enclosed pickup truck and was originally sold to tradespeople and hunting/fishing types. The standard top was originally made out of fiberglass and could be unbolted, and the Blazer was also offered with a vinyl soft top.
• 1960-1966 Chevrolet C/K Series: $8,800. This is the model that launched the C/K Series pickup line (with the “C” denoting two-wheel-drive versions and “K” used for 4x4s), and was the first generation to feature a full-width cargo box. It was initially offered in Stepside, Fleetside, and Panel Truck iterations, with six or eight cylinders under the hood.
• 1946-1949 Willys-Jeep CJ2A: $8,800. The first civilian Jeeps were little more than the original World War II workhorses, but with a tailgate added and all the military hardware stripped out.
• 1957-1960 Ford F-Series: $9,900. This was Ford’s “modern” pickup truck, and was its first to feature smooth Styleside car-like rear fenders, in addition to the exposed wheel-well Flareside models that dominated previous truck generations. All were offered in two-door models with either a V6 or V8 engine.
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