Classic Cars That Are Insanely Overvalued For What They Are

36: 1998 Toyota Tacoma SR5 – $11,950

With the high prices of new cars, more consumers are gravitating toward the used car market. The Tacoma is experiencing a rise in used prices and the 1990s models are popular. This was the first generation of the Tacoma and is often credited as the most reliable model (via Trinity Auto).

The 1998 model was extremely reliable, and it did offer decent features for the price. You’ll seldom find a pickup truck line as bulletproof as the Tacoma, but that doesn’t justify the high price tag. There’s no doubt that Tacoma is another victim of the “Toyota” tax.

35: 1996 Buick Riviera – $10,500

The Riviera was one of the last supercharged V6 two-door cars to be sold in the Buick lineup. The appetite for these large two-door cars was all but gone in the 1990s, and the Riviera didn’t sell well. But nowadays, the car has found an entirely new audience and values have been creeping up (via Trinity Auto).

Drivers are not going to get their hands on one of these for cheap anymore. In the 2000s, these cars were essentially worthless. That has changed drastically and now people will pay a pretty penny if they want a Riviera from this generation. Topping it off, GM cars from this era were plagued with all kinds of reliability issues.

34: 1990 Chevrolet 454 SS – $10,000

The 454 SS is another seemingly basic appearance package that GM slapped onto one of their vehicles in the ’90s. This time, it was turning the run-of-the-mill Cheyenne pickup truck into a power-hungry performance vehicle. The 454 SS was a great product for what it was, but this is no modern truck by any stretch of the imagination (via Trinity Auto).

The build quality on the 454 SS was poor at best, from its cheap interior plastics to the carburated motor. Paying the prices that these trucks are going for nowadays is obscene, and there were better options later on. Time will tell if the prices for the 454 SS start to go down or if they stay high.

33: 1995 Ford Bronco – $13,500

The big-body Bronco was a mainstay in the Ford lineup for a long time until full-size two-door SUVs became a thing of the past. The Bronco was incredibly famous after the OJ Simpson arrest in 1995, but Ford still discontinued the model. In recent years, however, the Bronco, once an affordable used car, has become sought after (via Trinity Auto).

A clean 1995 model, the year before the final production year, can command $13k or higher. Some models are going for as high as $60K, and the quality of this SUV just doesn’t justify that high price tag. The interior quality was cheap at best, and the motors and transmissions are problematic.

Related: 20 Things Ford Did Horribly Wrong With The New Bronco.

32: 1989 Ford Bronco II – $16,499.00

Even the lowly Bronco II has become a sort of collector’s item in recent years. Yes, that Ford Bronco II, the one no one wanted. But just because of the Bronco name alone, these things have started to creep up in value. The Bronco II was certainly not the most capable car for off-roading (via Trinity Auto).

The engine setup was simple as a clone of the Ford Ranger truck, and the top on the Bronco II wasn’t removable. Ford would discontinue this SUV in favor of the Explorer, which was a completely new design. There is no reason for the Bronco II to be going for the high price tag it’s currently fetching.

31: 1993 Jeep Grand Wagoneer – $16,500

The Grand Wagoneer was for a long time one of the only family-friendly SUVs that you could get. When the ’90s rolled around, the platform was quite dated and it was time for a redesign. The final product was the Grand Cherokee, but for a year, there was a Grand Cherokee with the Grand Wagoneer name on it (via Trinity Auto).

The finished product was a handsome vehicle to look at that was capable of off-road. But there is no way that a Jeep product from this era should justify the high price tags drivers are currently seeing. The Wagoneer continues to rise in price, and there is no method to the madness.

30: 1990 Jeep Commanche – $16,500

A Jeep pickup truck was a novelty item and something that very few people wanted. But there was a Jeep pickup truck sold for a short period. That truck was the Commanche and it was a Cherokee with the back half cut off. The truck had many unique features, but there is no way it’s worth the current price tag (via Trinity Auto).

There are clean examples of this truck creeping up into the double-digit price range. For that price, you could get a Toyota product that is much more suitable. The Commanche is a great truck, but you can’t justify this obscene price tag. This truck seriously needs to come down in price.

29: 1990 Nissan 300ZX $21,800.00

Remember the days when you could find this late ’80s-’90s Nissan sports car for next to nothing? Those days are long gone as drivers spend a pretty penny on one nowadays. What made the 300ZX such an expensive vehicle? It’s because the price of the Toyota Supra has become astronomical (via Trinity Auto).

With the 300ZX turbo, you get the same performance for half the price, so most people just gravitated toward this car. But now, the price of a 300ZX is almost what you’d pay for a brand-new Nissan Z model. This car is well built and fun to drive but its high price tag is questionable at best.

28: 1990 Nissan 300ZX Convertible – $21,800

Even rarer than the standard model of the 300ZX is the convertible version that was produced in very small numbers. You may be surprised to see that there was a convertible model of this car but it had all the bells and whistles you’d expect (via Trinity Auto).

The convertible model is not as structurally sound as the two-door hardtop, but that doesn’t matter when it comes to collectors. These cars are being bought more and more every day and prices continue to rise. With the popularity of the drifting scene, these cars will only become more desirable as time goes on.

27: 1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT – $19,980

Another car experiencing a rise in pricing is the 3000GT and it’s again due to the popularity of the Supra. The 3000GT was sold with a twin-turbo engine and could compete with the Supra in every sense of the word. That meant that when the Supra prices started to rise, the 3000GT also became a much more expensive sports car (via Trinity Auto).

We’re not saying the 3000GT is a bad car because it’s one of the best sports cars ever built. But the 3000GT is not worth the high price tag it’s currently being sold for and that price will only continue to rise. The same thing is also going on with the Mitsubishi Eclipse.

26: 1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Convertible – $21,700

Even rarer than the standard 3000GT was the convertible model. If you’ve never seen one of these, you aren’t alone. The 3000GT is a beautiful car, especially in convertible form, but that doesn’t mean it is worth the high price tag. It’s rising in price because of its turbocharged engine and that isn’t sustainable (via Trinity Auto).

The convertible version had a lot of build quality issues and maintenance can be expensive. You will spend more time trying to keep this thing on the road than enjoying the ride. The 3000GT was a great sports car, but the prices drivers are seeing are out of this world.

25: 1996 Lexus SC300 – $19,995

The Lexus SC300 and SC400 were well received by the automotive press when they were introduced. The build quality was on-par with even the most expensive luxury cars of the period. The SC300 was the V6 version of the sports car, while the SC400 had the V8 engine. In recent years, the SC300 has become popular because it shared underpinnings with the Toyota Supra (via Work & Money).

Drivers did get all the same attributes that make the Supra great but in a far cheaper package. The only problem is that the SC300 is starting to become overpriced and this problem only looks to be getting worse. The SC300 is a great car in every sense of the word but its price tag isn’t worth it.

24: 2000 Lexus SC400 – $23,000

The SC400 was another highly desirable sports car and the 2000 model is perhaps the rarest. With its V8 engine, this is a smooth-riding sports car. And even rarer was the manual transmission model. The value of this model has gone astronomically high considering how old the car is now (via Work & Money).

That’s not to say the SC400 was a bad car by any means but its high price tag is just not justified. The V8 power plant is fairly limited in what you can do and finding one of these with low mileage is becoming more difficult. The SC400 will undoubtedly continue to rise in value as used car prices become more inflated.

23: 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4 – $21,995

The Dodge Neon SRT-4 was sort of a surprise when it was released by Chrysler as it was conceived as the tuner scene became popular. It had unique features like a stock speaker box in the trunk and a turbocharged motor. When this car was new, it was only in the $20,000 range but now the price tag is almost the same (via Work & Money).

For a cheap car like this to come full circle shows just how backward the used car market is right now. There are so many better options for the price, and the SRT-4 was not the most reliable car on the market. There’s no way that today’s drivers can justify paying this kind of money for something that is essentially a fancier Neon.

22: 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – $29,995

You’ve seen this car everywhere in video games, print, and movies. The Lancer Evo is everyone’s favorite tuner car. Its performance is among the best in the segment for this era, but its prices have also become expensive. When the Evo was brand-new, it was an expensive toy, and that price has only continued to balloon today (via Work & Money).

The performance the Evo puts out is nowhere near the price tag you can expect to pay for this car. Another problem with the high price tag is that most of these cars have been raced and beaten up. So you most likely won’t get an Evo that has been babied or well taken care of.

21: 2005 Subaru Impreza WRX STI – $23,995

Another car that competed head-on with the Lancer Evo was the Impreza WRX STI. This was another car paraded in all street racing movies, video games, and the automotive press. There’s no doubt that this car is exciting to drive but it doesn’t justify the extremely high price tag (via Work & Money).

The WRX STI has only continued to rise in value as the market for these cars starts to shrink. Finding a clean one is not as easy as you’d think because most of these cars have been raced or abused. You won’t find a WRX STI for a cheap price tag and that price only looks to be rising higher.

20: 2001 Integra Type-R – $31,000

There was something special about the Integra and that’s why it resonated so well with consumers. The Type-R was a special beast with a high-revving motor and flashy job. The Type-R has continued to be popular among collectors and the price of these will only go up (via Work & Money).

The problem is that the Type-R was not a car that should command such a high price tag these days. In fact, the interior of the car is fairly basic and so were the features. The look and feel of the car are every bit the 1990s Honda that you’d expect. When it comes to shelling out tens of thousands of dollars for one of these, it’s just not feasible for what the car is.

19: 2004 Toyota MR2 Spyder – $32,500

You probably don’t remember the Toyota MR2 Spyder from the 2000s well. It was sort of shoehorned into production and was a barebones sports car. But that’s what made the MR2 so special and sought after. However, this generation of the MR2 didn’t sell well and was put out of production (via Work & Money).

Nowadays, with the rising price of used cars, the MR2 Spyder is increasing in value. The problem is that the price these cars are going for is more than what they were brand new. The MR2 doesn’t offer much refinement, and maintenance can be quite difficult. There were better options from this generation than the MR2.

18: 2005 Chevrolet Silverado SS – $32,500

In the 2000s, General Motors released many interesting sports cars, and one that caught the attention of consumers was the Silverado SS. The truck had some unique features like an AWD design and a Whipple supercharger. This truck was a monster on the track and the street (via Work & Money).

But aside from the excellent power plant, this was just your run-of-the-mill Chevy truck. Its build quality was questionable, like most GM trucks from this era. Plastic interior pieces would fall off after time, and there were many electrical issues. The 2005 Silverado SS has exploded in value recently but it just isn’t worth the high price tag.

17: 1990s Chevrolet Tahoe & Suburban – $33,000

The square-body GM SUVs from the 1990s have been on a good run lately. It appears more consumers are looking for these older SUVs. What were once cheap have now ballooned to extreme prices, and a low mileage example costs even more. These trucks were great when they are new, and even as a used cars, they were solid enough (via Work & Money).

But for the price being asked for a clean, low mileage example, drivers could get something much more modern. These trucks had a lot of build quality issues as most GM vehicles from this era did. The interiors were cheap and the performance isn’t the best considering the large motors that were standard.

16: 1993-1995 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning – $35,000

The original Ford F-150 SVT Lightning was a barebones truck. The purpose of this truck was to be a fast sports car in a truck’s body and it did exactly that. The basic build quality of this truck is the first thing that will knock it down a few notches. On top of that, reliability was questionable at best and repairs aren’t cheap (via Work & Money).

The original SVT Lightning is also a truck that has been beaten up and raced. Finding one in original condition that hasn’t been abused is tough. For the price being asked for a clean example, there are so many better options. You could get a used Ford F-150 Raptor for that price and have a nice modern truck.

Related: 25 Exciting Facts We Know About The 2021 Ford F-150.

15: 1993-1998 Toyota Supra – $50,000

It’s hard to believe Toyota stopped making the Supra even 25 years ago because consumer interest had waned. Yet here we are in 2022, and the car is being sold for thousands more than it was new. The final generation of the Supra was a beautiful car and there is no denying that (via Work & Money).

The twin-turbocharged version was one of the most fun-to-drive cars on the road. The build quality of the Supra was impeccable, but deep down it’s just a 1990s sports car. There is no way this car should command the high price tag it does. The price of the Supra might come down in the future, at which point it would be worth looking at.

14: 2000 Ford F-150 Lightning – $50,000

The 2000s F-150 Lightning was a more modern rendition of the first-generation truck, but the basic formula was still there. But for the price at the time, you couldn’t beat the excellent performance that this truck was pushing out. Nowadays, the second generation Lightning has also ballooned in price to ridiculous amounts (via Work & Money).

At its core, this is just a single cab F-150 with a supercharger; there is nothing remarkably special here. You can build a clone F-150 Lightning for a lot less, and the average person will never tell the difference. The truck was a great one, but it definitely isn’t worth its ridiculously high price tag today.

13: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle – $57,000

When it comes to iconic muscle cars, the Chevelle is one driver shouldn’t underestimate. The unique styling of the car and the great performance from the factory made it an iconic muscle car. But the prices of the Chevelle are 10 times what they were when the car was new and that only appears to be getting worse (via Work & Money).

There are some instances where the Chevelle costs as much as a brand-new Ferrari. We don’t think this old muscle car is worth that. It’s nice and there is a huge aftermarket parts catalog for it. But at the end of the day, there are better options for the price as the Chevelle is ridiculously expensive right now.

12: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette – $60,000

The C2 Corvette is undoubtedly the one that broke the mold. This was the Corvette model that introduced the world to the high-performance ‘Vette models we have today. The sheer design of the car was beautiful and the split window was even better looking. But the 1966 Corvette is way overpriced for what it is (via Work & Money).

Sure, it’s a classic, but that doesn’t justify almost being as much as a house. These older Corvette models had many reliability issues and replacement parts are hard to come by and expensive.

Also Read: Rare Corvettes Only True Chevy Fans Will Recognize.

11: 1969 Dodge Coronet – $70,000

The Coronet wasn’t an expensive muscle car or the most desirable muscle car on the market. But the Coronet did have a loyal following as a patrol vehicle, especially with the California Highway Patrol. The lightweight design of the car made it take off from the start line quickly (via Work & Money).

The Coronet is not the type of muscle car that invokes reactions like the Challenger or the Charger, but it has a unique style. However, there is no way the Dodge Coronet is worth the crazy high price tag it commands nowadays. The Coronet is a cool-looking project car but not for the current price.

10: 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle – $72,000

The Chevelle is a noteworthy muscle car that has become iconic over the years. While the Camaro was the flagship pony car for the brand, the Chevelle catered to a slightly different crowd. The Chevelle SS is perhaps one of the most iconic muscle cars of all time with its angry-looking stance and stellar performance (via Work & Money).

But the Chevelle has ballooned to extreme heights in terms of pricing and even a junkyard Chevelle will fetch a pretty penny. Time will tell if the prices on these will start to drop. There is no justification for such a high price tag. While the Chevelle was a decent-looking muscle car, it’s not groundbreaking.

9: 1969 Pontiac GTO $75,000.00

The GTO is another iconic muscle car that needs no introduction. It was originally an accident. John Delorean wanted to sell a powerful sports car under the Pontiac line, but GM wouldn’t let him. So the GTO was sold as an appearance package instead. Whenever Pontiac is brought up, this is the car that comes to mind first (via Work & Money).

What made the GTO so great was the lightweight design and the powerful engine, but that would only get the car so far. Nowadays, the GTO commands an extremely high price tag, and the only reason for this is the brand name. Junkyard models are going to ridiculous amounts and it appears to be stopping.

8: 1965 Ford Mustang – $80,000

The Mustang was the original pony car, and without it, we wouldn’t have the V8-powered sports cars that we have today. While the 1965 Mustang was one of the more affordable classic cars that you could get, its price has been skyrocketing. A clean, low mileage example will set you back around $80k (via Work & Money).

Considering the Mustang was not the most well-designed pony car at the time, this is shocking. Most classic car buyers would undoubtedly put a modern engine in the Mustang, and at this price, you can’t afford to do anything. The ’65 Mustang is becoming one of the most expensive classic cars on the market.

7: 1985 Ferrari 308 GTS – $85,000

Everyone is feeling nostalgic these days and one of the most nostalgic decades happened to be the 1980s. This was a time when everyone lived life and had fun, and the cars were rapidly changing. Gone were the gas hogs of the 1970s, drivers now had digital dashboards and butterfly doors (via Work & Money).

There’s no doubt that the Ferrari 308 was the epiphany of the decade, but the car didn’t offer anything too unique. The performance of the 308 was mediocre at best and the car certainly doesn’t command the high price tag it’s going for nowadays.

6: 1962 Chevrolet Impala – $82,000

The Impala is one of the most iconic cars on the road as it’s been featured in hundreds of movies and magazines. But the 1962 model has been featured a lot in the last couple of years. What made the ’62 models so special? Just take one look at the two antennas on the trunk and you’ll see (via Work & Money).

But the price for the Impala has also been going up dramatically and there seems to be no end in sight. The price for the car is continuing to go up, and you can’t find a good deal on one anywhere. The Impala is a great car, but the high price it commands just doesn’t make sense.

5: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS – $90,000

The 1970 Chevelle SS was a defining moment for the brand as the car got completely new styling. Some would argue that this is perhaps the most sought-after generation for the Chevelle. There is a lot to love about the Chevelle SS from its performance to the styling (via Work & Money).

The 1970 Chevelle SS is a car that commands a high price tag in the classic car community. But at its core, this version of the Chevelle is not worth these extremely high price tags being asked for it. The Chevelle was a basic muscle car and not something that could be construed as a supercar.

4: 1970 Maserati Indy – $90,000

Maserati has come back into the spotlight recently, but it’s some older models that are garnering the attention. The Indy is one such car that definitely doesn’t need an introduction. The one-of-a-kind engineering and design that went into this car make it one of the most notable performance cars (via Work & Money).

But at $90,000, the asking price for the Maserati Indy is daunting. There are brand new exotic cars that you can get for half that price. The performance of the Indy was not the best, and many parts are tough to come by.

3: 2009 Nissan GT-R – $90,000

When the Nissan GT-R was introduced to the American market, there was a lot of press around it. The car was one of the most iconic models in the Nissan lineup and still proves to be one of the most popular to this day. But the production version of the new GT-R was a letdown for many loyalists (via Work & Money).

The car had an immensely high price tag when it was new and that price hasn’t gone down any. The GT-R was not the bare-bones race car it had been in the previous generations, and consumers were disappointed with that. There is no way the modern GT-R is worth the high price tag it commands.

2: 1964 Lincoln Continental – $95,000

Whether it was because of the suicide doors or the big engine design, there was something about the car that resonated with consumers. Likewise, the car has become a commodity on the used car market (via Work & Money).

The Lincoln Continental is a great classic car but for the price being asked, there are better options. There is nothing about this car that should justify the high price tag, and it only seems to be getting worse.

Check this out too: 30 Expensive Cars In Jay Leno’s Collection.

1: 1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 – $95,000

Another car based on the Chevelle platform, the 4-4-2 was a specialty performance car from GM. The car had a unique engine designed exclusively by Oldsmobile, and there were many luxury features. This wasn’t enough to make the 4-4-2 worth the price it is going for today (via Work & Money).

These cars just keep going up in value, but at their core are very basic muscle cars. The 4-4-2 was an exciting car to drive, but for over 90K there are better options on the market. Oldsmobile cars are becoming rarer, but we can’t justify the high price tag for the 4-4-2.