These 19 models are favorites among classic car enthusiasts and have made famous appearances in the James Bond and Back to the Future films. Some are relatively inexpensive, but they all have painfully high maintenance costs.
Porsche 911 (1963–1973)
The first generation of Porsche 911 is famed for being rear-engined and air-cooled and was a popular racing car at the time. Today, regular maintenance costs for the air-cooled engine and frequent electrical issues make it impractical for most Americans.
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
This full-size luxury car is often called the “First Modern Rolls-Royce” and is celebrated for its elegant design. Although relatively inexpensive, the high repair costs for issues in its hydraulic suspension system can be off-putting.
Jaguar E-Type
The Jaguar E-Type is one of the most beloved classic cars and is highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors. Hagerty argues, “Today, a good E-Type is a very valuable machine, but to drive one is to be reminded just what a brilliant car it is.” However, they regularly sell for over $100,000 and can have high maintenance costs due to rusting if they haven’t been adequately restored and wax injected.
Lamborghini Miura
The Lamborghini Miura often sells for close to $2.5 million, and only 762 cars were produced. It’s often called the world’s first supercar and is prized for its unique bodywork and revolutionary mid-engine design, but spare parts are extremely costly.
Maserati Ghibli (1967–1973)
The original Ghibli is one of the most popular sports cars from the ’60s. It was famed for its V8 engine and low, shark-shaped nose. They often sell for over $200,000 and are known for their frequent electrical and mechanical issues, leading to high maintenance costs.
Chevrolet Corvette (C1)
When the Chevrolet Corvette (C1) was released in 1953, customers had mixed reactions, complaining of water leaks and doors opening when driving. Later years addressed these initial flaws, and today, the C1 is a beloved classic car, but its aging fiberglass body drives up maintenance costs.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing
This sportscar is famed for its gullwing doors and lightweight tubular-frame construction. MotorTrend notes the Gullwing has an American connection because “the idea for the car was floated by Mercedes-Benz’s American importer, Max Hoffman, at a board meeting in Stuttgart in 1953.” However, sourcing authentic spare parts is difficult and expensive, and restoring its iconic gullwing doors also comes with high costs.
Alfa Romeo Spider Series 1
The Spider was launched in March 1966 and sold for $3,950 in America, the same price range as the Lotus Elan. It famously appeared in The Graduate, but its rare and costly parts make it expensive to repair today.
BMW 507
BMW planned to export thousands of 507 units a year to America, but it was too expensive, and only 252 cars were produced. Today, it’s incredibly rare and expensive, making it a collector’s item for wealthy classic car enthusiasts.
Aston Martin DB5
This grand tourer is perhaps best known for being James Bond’s car of choice in Goldfinger. Aston Martin argues, “James Bond’s gadget-laden Silver Birch DB5 in Goldfinger became many a schoolboy’s dream.” The DB5 can sell for close to a million dollars, and its frequent need for professional tuning coupled with costly repairs for its aluminum body panels make it unattainable for most.
Ford GT40
Only 105 units of this high-performance endurance racing car were produced between 1964 and 1969. In 1966, Ford became the first American manufacturer at Le Mans to win a major European race with the GT40 since the 1921 French Grand Prix. It can sell for over $10 million, making it more expensive than the average American mansion.
DeLorean DMC-12
The DeLorean DMC-12 is best known for appearing as a time machine in the Back to the Future films. It’s celebrated for its iconic gullwing doors, but they’re heavy and costly to repair and maintain.
Cadillac Eldorado (1950s Models)
The first four generations of the Cadillac Eldorado are beloved classic cars prized for their distinctive styling. However, spare parts for their complex suspension system are expensive, and due to their outdated wiring, they suffer from frequent electrical issues.
Austin-Healey 3000
The Austin-Healey 3000 is the best-known of the “big Healey” models and is popular in classic car races today. It requires regular tuning for optimal performance and costly part replacements for the suspension and braking systems.
Ferrari 250 GTO
Just 36 of these cars were produced, making them incredibly expensive to buy and maintain. CNN reported in 2023 that a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO sold for $51.705 million, making it “the most expensive car the Italian manufacturer ever sold at auction.”
Shelby Cobra 427
The AC Cobra 427 is a popular classic racing car known for its wide fenders and high top speed of 185 mph in the semi-competition model. It’s an expensive car, with genuine replacement parts being extremely rare.
Triumph TR6
Most TR6s were exported to America from the UK over their production period between 1968 and 1976. The TR6 is a favorite of classic car enthusiasts, but its transmission requires regular maintenance.
Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
The Volkswagen Karmann Ghia is noted for its unique exterior styling, which was strongly influenced by Virgil Exner’s work. It’s a relatively affordable classic car, but spare parts for its unique body can be expensive.
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS is celebrated for its now retro-futuristic body design and unorthodox technology. It was the first mass-produced car equipped with disk brakes and hydropneumatic suspension, which can be costly to maintain today.