Cars That Were Flops Back Then but Are Cash Cows Now
Some cars flopped so hard when they came out, you’d think they’d be junkyard-bound forever. But, thanks to time, rarity, and a little nostalgia, even “losers” turn into goldmines. Buckle up and join us for a ride through 35 vintage flops that are now worth serious cash.
1981 DeLorean DMC-12
When the DeLorean hit the streets, people weren’t too thrilled. It had no real power and was too pricey. But then, Back to the Future came along and turned this misfit into a legend. Collectors today gladly shell out up to $100k for one.
1978 BMW M1
The M1 was BMW’s first shot at a supercar. Sure, it was fast, but nobody really knew what to do with it. It also came with a pretty big price tag. Now, you can expect to see this forgotten gem sell for a cool million or more, depending on its condition.
1967 Toyota 2000GT
Back in the day, nobody wanted to drop big bucks on a Japanese sports car that cost more than a Jaguar. Only a few hundred Toyota 2000 GTs were made, making them pure gold in today’s market. It regularly pulls in over a million dollars at auction.
1960 Ford GT40
The now-legendary GT40 didn’t start out as the winner it is today. Earlier versions had reliability issues. Thanks to a bit of fine-tuning and an impressive win over Ferrari at Le Mans, the GT40 will set you back a whopping $4 million.
1960 Chevrolet Corvair
Ralph Nader once called the Chevrolet Corvair “unsafe at any speed.” Sales crashed, and GM pulled the plug on production. Bad PR or not, the scandal gave the car staying power, and a clean Corvair can bring in up to $40,000.
1967 Mazda Cosmo Series I
Mazda went all out with the Cosmo. They packed it with a rotary engine and gave it some futuristic styling. But the world wasn’t ready for it, and barely anyone bought one. Only 343 were ever made, making it a unicorn worth $150,000 today.
1976 Aston Martin Lagonda
The Lagonda looked like a spaceship, cost a small fortune, and came with electronics that barely worked. People simply didn’t want it. Fast forward a few decades, and the Lagonda’s weird shape is what makes it cool and worth hundreds of thousands.
1987 Cadillac Allanté
Cadillac thought they’d wow the world with Italian style and American luxury when they released the Allanté. Spoiler alert: they didn’t! And the Allanté flopped hard. Today, though, this odd mix is a collector's dream, and prices hover at around $30,000.
1970 Porsche 914-6
When Porsche teamed up with Volkswagen in the early ‘70s, the result was the 914-6. People weren’t impressed, though, calling it the “poor man’s Porsche.” Thankfully, it’s no longer the underdog it was, and collectors shell out six figures for clean versions.
1970 Lamborghini Jarama
Even die-hard Lamborghini fans shrugged their shoulders at the Jarama with its square styling. Today, that V12 engine and rarity have people seeing it in a whole new light. You can expect to pay $100,000 to $200,000 for a good one now.
1968 AMC AMX
The AMX was too short to be a muscle car and too tough to be a sports car. It just didn’t really fit in. But that’s what makes it so special today. It’s unique, fast, and full of attitude that collectors love. The price? A cool $40k.
1962 Studebaker Avanti
Studebaker’s Avanti looked like it came from the future. Back in the ‘60s, though, it wasn’t much of a compliment, and sales tanked shortly after it was released. Today, the car’s sleek design and low production numbers make it a collector’s dream.
1987 Buick GNX
The GNX didn’t get the love it deserved in the ‘80s, which is surprising. It was faster than a Ferrari, but nobody believed it because it looked more like Grandpa’s car than anything else. This sleeper is now a legend, and clean ones sell for $100,000+.
1966 Fiat Dino Spider
The Dino Spider had a trick up its sleeve that nobody cared about - a Ferrari engine. To everyone, it was just another Fiat. These days, however, it’s getting the love it deserves, and its V6 heart is worth $100k and climbing.
1965 Iso Grifo
Most people haven’t heard of the Iso Grifo, and that’s why it flopped. It had raw American V8 power, but nobody paid attention back then. Now, collectors drool over this mix of beauty and power that’s valued at $400,000.
1970 Citroën SM
The Citroën SM had a Maserati engine and hydropneumatic suspension, but not even that was enough to make it popular. It bombed in the U.S. because it was too weird and too fancy. This cruiser now goes for $60k to $100k if you can even find one.
1992 Jaguar XJ220
Jaguar promised a V12 and all-wheel drive with the XJ220. In reality, all buyers got was a turbo V6 and rear-wheel drive. People felt betrayed, and the car sadly flopped. Now, decades later, it's a sleek speed machine that sells for no less than $500,000.
1980s Lotus Esprit Turbo
The Lotus Esprit Turbo had it all - the looks, the Bond car cred, and power. But it never quite clicked with buyers. People clearly didn’t know what they were missing out on, because this hot ticket sells for $60k and up today.
1970 Saab Sonett III
We’re not too sure what Saab was doing when they released the Sonett III. It was boxy, had no real power, and looked odd. It’s no wonder it flopped. But, it had one thing - quirkiness. And it’s this that has made it so rare and valuable today. The price? $25k.
1974 Bricklin SV-1
Canada gave us the Bricklin SV-1 in the ‘70s, but it had questionable build quality that no one could quite make sense of. It didn’t sell, and it didn’t last. Today, though, a well-kept one goes for about $50k. Not too shabby for a failed safety car.
1970 Plymouth Superbird
People laughed at the pointy nose and giant wings of the Plymouth Superbird when it was released. Nobody wanted to buy them! But collectors today know the value of this racer with its 440 engine and are happy to pay $300,000 for one.
1984 Ford Mustang SVO
Ford tried going high-tech in the ‘80s with the release of the Mustang SVO, but buyers just wanted Vs. So the SVO flopped - hard. These days, fans love how lightweight it is and happily pay $40,000 plus to own a quick and rare Mustang.
1973 Volkswagen Thing
With a name like “Thing,” it’s no wonder the Volkswagen Thing flopped. It totally confused buyers with looks like a refrigerator on wheels. Now, though, it’s the definition of funky and turns heads at every car show.
1978 Subaru Brat
The Brat was nothing more than a tiny truck with jump seats in the bed. Subaru tried hard to market it, but it was just too weird of a car to catch on. It’s this weirdness that collectors love today, with prices hitting up to $30k depending on the condition.
1968 Opel GT
The Opel GT quickly earned the nickname “baby Corvette.” Unfortunately, it was nothing like a Corvette. It wasn’t fast, didn’t handle like a sports car should, and just didn’t sell. The body has aged well, though, and collectors pay up to $40,000 for the Opel GT.
1960 Renault Alpine A110
Back in the day, nobody in the U.S. really knew what the Renault Alpine A110 was or what it could do. Now, the little French rally car is a cult classic that has collectors shelling out up to $110k for a good one. And that price is climbing!
1960 Datsun 1600 Roadster
Earlier Datsuns had a hard time competing with the 240Z, and even the 1600 Roadster flipped. But not anymore, as these vintage cars with their preppy engines have caught the attention of collectors who see no problem in paying $50,000 to own one.
1970 Peugeot 504 Coupe
This French coupe had Americans scratching their heads as they just didn’t know what to think about the styling. Lucky for collectors today, the comfy ride with old-school charm is in high demand, with prices reaching $30,000. Talk about cool!
1960 Mercedes-Benz 600
The Merc 600 was the car of dictators, rock stars, and Bond villains. It was way too expensive for most people back then, and it flopped when no one could afford it. Today, that over-the-top luxury makes it legendary, and you’ll need $150k+ if you want one.
1970 Alfa Romeo Montreal
The Montreal might have had a V8 engine and eye-catching design, but it had a weird name for a car not sold in Canada. Nobody paid much attention to it, but all that’s changed now. Collectors are lining up to own one, despite the whopping $100k price tag it comes with.
2003 Chevrolet SSR
The Chevrolet SSR is not as old as other cars on this list, but is still considered vintage in today’s terms. The problem is that no one knows what it was - a truck, a convertible? People today love its V8 power, and they are worth up to $50,000.
1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati
Not even Maserati design and styling could save the Chrysler TC from flopping when it was released in the late ‘80s. But now, it’s so rare and odd that collectors fight each other to pay $25,000 to own one. Talk about coming full circle, right?
1965 Lancia Fulvia Coupe
The Fulvia Coupe was way ahead of its time, but was mostly ignored outside Europe. Now, with rally cred and good looks, it’s finally getting the attention and worth it deserves. It’s now selling for $40k+, depending on its condition.
1971 De Tomaso Pantera
The De Tomaso Pantera looked like a Ferrari, had a Ford V8, and was mostly sold at Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. It had everything going for it until people got a look at its build quality. Today, this muscle is worth $200,000!
1975 AMC Pacer
AMC’s Pacer was the butt of every car joke for years. It was wide, round, and kind of ridiculous-looking. All in all, it was a flop. But it’s nostalgia that makes it so lovable now. Thanks to cameos in movies like Wayne’s World, it’s worth around $30,000.
