The Collector Cars Were Once Favorites but Are Now Considered Lemons
Collector cars are the best of the best, but that prestigious market is fickle. As soon as one car falls from grace, it risks becoming obscure. With that in mind, click through these former collector favorites that are now hard to sell. How many do you recognize?
Maserati Sebring
The Maserati Sebring is an iconic beauty that has slipped behind the scenes since its days in the classic luxury car spotlight. The average Sebring costs over $200,000, and therein lies the problem. Collectors could get a newer, more innovative Maserati for the same price.
Ford Thunderbird Sport Roadster
Where has all the muscle gone? That's probably what you're thinking while looking at this nimble little Thunderbird Sport Roadster. It once intrigued casual Thunderbird fans and collectors alike, but it hasn't endured the test of time as well as the original design.
Pontiac Chieftain
Sometimes, even historical icons go out of fashion. Such is the case with the beautiful Pontiac Chieftain, which was discontinued back in 1958 and shortly eclipsed by the Catalina. It’s a lot harder to sell a collector car that few people properly remember.
Acura NSX
On the outside, the Acura NSX is everything a modern collector car should be: high-performance, technical, and noisy as hell. But its valuation, which starts at around $170,000 for a new model, is hard to pitch to pickier collectors who usually prefer more retro cars.
Cadillac Eldorado
We can see why so many people love the Cadillac Eldorado, but widespread fame isn’t always a good thing on the collector market. To some people, Eldorados are a dime a dozen, so they’d rather spend their money on something rare and interesting.
Mercury Marauder
While the classic Mercury Marauder still has some charm, the brand made a big mistake by attempting to redesign it in 2003. The result was lacklustre and lacked the vintage character of the original. This so-called future classic experienced terrible sales that have still not recovered.
Ford Edsel
Any Ford fan will know that the Edsel was a massive flop, but we had to include it on our list because it became a cult favorite in some niches. While its styling is nice enough, most collectors know better than to waste their money again.
Dodge Magnum
One thing we’ve learned is that just because a car is collectible, it doesn’t mean it’s good quality. Take the Dodge Magnum, for example. It runs okay and looks nice enough, but that’s simply not enough to compete for sales against better collector cars.
Lamborghini Jalpa
Back in the ‘80s, they called this the baby Lamborghini, but it has now grown up and lost its youngest child privileges. Collectors find the Jalpa dated and unimpressive compared to other Lambos, so it’s now fairly rare to see one driving around.
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Any vintage Alfa Romeo would have been an instant collector favorite years ago, but today’s collectors are far fussier. They can see the lack of quality in many of the components, and changes to the design over the years have also detracted from the Giulietta’s beauty.
Ferrari 512 TR
There will never not be a market for Ferraris, but are they the top sellers they used to be? Not all of them. The 512 TR is stunning but too expensive for most people, and Testarossas don’t have the same chokehold on the sports car niche anymore.
Sunbeam Tiger
You’ve probably never heard of the Sunbeam Tiger, but you can clearly see why it used to be a collector favorite! Sadly, it’s no longer so desirable because of its notorious issues, which include rusting and overheating. That’s a lot of risk for potentially little pay-off.
Chevrolet Camaro Iron Duke
The third-gen version of the Chevrolet Camaro was a little controversial, but people still collected them because they were Camaros. However, the Iron Duke engine hasn’t aged well at all, and it’s hard to sell a performance that’s now famous for being slow.
DDR Trabant
Quirky used to be a requirement for collectors, but it’s now far harder to sell cars that are all quirk, no substance than something more mainstream. That’s why the DDR Trabant has lost its lustre, becoming outdated, and slipped into obscurity.
Plymouth Valiant
Once collectors begin to get excited about how cheap an old car is, you know they’re no longer a favorite. It’s now possible to get an original Plymouth Valiant for a few thousand, so putting a collector price tag on this classic won’t yield lucrative sales anymore.
Austin-Healey Sprite
We’ve got to hand it to the Austin-Healey Sprite: it’s as adorable and quintessentially British as ever! Unfortunately, collectors have seen past its delightful design and are no longer willing to take a chance on an old car with questionable reliability.
Triumph Stag
It’s an oldie but a goodie, so we’re sad to see that the Triumph Stag is no longer a firm collector favorite. The biggest problem is its dated manufacturing, which is full of flaws that more modern cars simply aren’t, and that curbs its appeal.
Mitsubishi Starion
Back in the 1980s, sports cars were becoming extremely popular, so it’s no wonder the Mitsubishi Starion parked itself right in people’s hearts. Sadly, the Starion no longer sells for premium prices, though hobbyists still love them as cheap project cars.
Skoda Rapid
No, we’re not talking about the modern car, but if you can’t picture the original Skoda Rapid, we suppose we’ve made our point. People used to collect them because they were quirky, but now their appeal is outweighed by their performance flaws, which aren’t worth paying for.
Mercury Cougar
Years ago, collectors couldn’t get enough of the beautiful Mercury Cougar’s Mustang-inspired design, so what happened? Time simply moved on. The Cougar doesn’t have the fame or reputation of the Mustang, so it has slowly begun to fade away from the market.
Isuzu Piazza
When the Isuzu Piazza made its debut back in 1981, it was already flawed, but its attention-grabbing design gave it an edge. Nowadays, it’s hard for collectors to look past basic mechanical issues, and they certainly won’t pay to experience them!
Citroen GS
Small cars used to rule the collector market, and the Citroen GS was particularly favored because of its innovative suspension system, which gave it an edge. However, modern technology has more than improved, and one selling point is no longer enough to maintain the GS' popularity.
Dodge Coronet
‘70s cars are either collector favorites or often-forgotten vehicles, and the Dodge Coronet has, sadly, become the latter. While it’s not obscure, it doesn’t have the clout that the Road Runner, Cyclone, or Torino do, and it’s hard to stand out against such similar competitors.
Audi A8
We don’t think that collectors will ever not buy Audis, but they aren’t buying them all. The A8 is a “modern classic”, yet its sales have dropped dramatically, and collectors are staying loyal to nostalgic classics over wannabe supercars with eye-popping prices.
Bugatti Chiron
The Bugatti Chiron was introduced as a limited-edition powerhouse, so of course collectors were clamoring to get their hands on one. And while the Chiron is utterly magnificent, the novelty has worn off, especially with that million-dollar price tag!
Mercedes-Benz W126
The W126 was part of the iconic Mercedes-Benz S-Class, so, naturally, collectors fell in love with it. But things have changed a lot since the 1980s, and the strong lines and refined build that made the old W126 so iconic now make it look old-fashioned and unappealing.
Tesla Roadster
We can’t deny the roaring impact that the Tesla Roadster made back in 2008. It was one-of-a-kind and helped launch the brand worldwide. However, Tesla’s recent shift towards bigger, more futuristic designs means that the Roadster is no longer in demand.
Lamborghini Espada
This once-bestselling Lamborghini just doesn’t have the same effect on buyers anymore. It’s ironic that the weird build that once made the Espada hot property has now been passed over in favor of more mainstream designs. Nowadays, it’s a rather underrated collectible.
Jaguar XJ220
The Jaguar XJ220 was truly something different back in the ‘90s. It was an opulent supercar with every luxury you could possibly want, and collectors went wild. That is, until Jaguar made changes to the spec, resulting in fewer and fewer sales over the years.
Ferrari Mondial
We’ll admit that the Ferrari Mondial always had some haters, but it was a commercial success for a long time, and many people found its polarizing design beautiful. Unfortunately, that support has dwindled, and it’s rare to see Mondials being bought and sold now.
Buick Grand National
If there’s one thing that collectors have always valued, it’s luxury. That’s likely why the Buick Grand National was once such a coveted collector car. But while it’s still a favorite of some people, others have moved on and want something that isn’t so expensive to maintain.
Studebaker Hawk
While the Studebaker Lark remains a collector darling, whatever happened to the Hawk? It’s still around, but far rarer to see, so many people have simply forgotten about it. It’s a shame because the Hawk is a vintage beauty and deserves more love.
Jensen Interceptor
Sometimes, even the best cars can’t satisfy shifting collector preferences, which is why many, like the iconic Jensen Interceptor, are now harder to sell. Many collectors don’t have time for older cars that need more attention, so they choose modern models over known classics.
AMC Matador
In the 1970s, AMC replaced its famous Rebel with the Matador in a bid to appeal to consumers. It worked, but the Matador has struggled to stand the test of time. Nowadays, collectors want something cool like the Rebel, so the Matador remains unappreciated.
Chrysler 300 Hurst
Finally, we couldn’t end this list without mentioning the Chrysler 300 Hurst because many people won’t recognize it, but they should. It’s a luxury muscle car, so it should be an easy sell, but it was never well-marketed, so outside of its following, it has flown under the radar.
