Vintage Cars With Massive Maintenance Costs
Even if you’re not a motorhead, you can’t deny the charm and appeal of vintage cars. They just ooze style, with an undeniable aura that attracts collectors like moths to a flame. That said, you’ll need to be sure that you can afford to keep up with maintenance and repairs when it comes to these vintage beauties.
Ferrari 250 GTO (1962)
We couldn’t think of a stronger way to start off our list than with the Ferrari 250 GTO. This highly-coveted collectible classic has it all - lush and exotic Italian style, incredible performance, and ridiculously rare and expensive parts, not to mention the highly specialized labor required to repair it.
Jaguar E-Type Series 1 (1961)
The renowned E-Type series began right here with this lush Jaguar produced way back in the 60s. It’s an iconic British roadster that wouldn’t seem out of place in a Bond film and is highly sought after as a result. If you manage to get your hands on one, however, be prepared to pay a hefty sum for repairs and maintenance due to the complex electrical systems.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing (1954)
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL almost single-handedly made gullwing doors cool, and its iconic design has made it a rare and expensive collectible. Unfortunately, it’s not just the upfront costs you’ll have to worry about, as the original 300SL demands specialized attention when it comes to maintenance and repairs.
Porsche 356 Speedster (1954)
The 356 was Porsche’s first production car, one that initially made use of VW parts for cost-effectiveness but quickly evolved into its own refined style. Original parts are, however, difficult to come by, and the 356 Speedster requires specialized mechanics for even the most basic of repairs.
Aston Martin DB5 (1963)
While you could easily picture any of the cars on this list in a Bond film, the Aston Martin DB5 is one of the only vehicles to actually have a starring role. That alone makes the DB5 incredibly pricey, and its luxury components - produced in a limited quantity - only further inflate the costs that come with owning one.
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B (1937)
Many of the cars featured here were produced after the Second World War. That makes the Alfa Romeo 8C even more unique. It was a pre-war racer with exceptional style and engineering. Parts are exceptionally rare, however, and restoration requires a highly bespoke touch.
Duesenberg Model J (1928)
Even when it first hit the roads, the Duesenberg Model J was already a symbol of wealth and prestige. Its luxury status has not diminished in the slightest in the nearly 100 years since then, but its exceptional age has only made its maintenance costs that much higher.
Packard Twelve (1933)
Like the Model J, the Packard Twelve was a luxury vehicle by design, renowned for its incredible bodywork and powerful V12 engine. Parts don’t come easily or inexpensively, however, and even then, you’ll need to find an expert mechanic to make sense of it all.
Lincoln Continental Mark II (1956)
Over the years, the Lincoln brand has gradually fallen from grace, but back in the 50s, it was still known for its supreme luxury. The Continental Mark II was a luxury coupe that was both elegant and powerful, but its unique parts and low production numbers have made it incredibly expensive to repair and maintain today.
Cadillac V16 (1930)
The Cadillac V16 featured - you guessed it - a V16 engine and was Cadillac’s most prestigious model when it first hit the roads. Unfortunately, due to the rarity of its parts and the nigh unfathomable complexity of its engine, keeping one running today incurs a high price.
Delahaye 135M
Delahaye isn’t around anymore, and chances are that many younger readers will have never heard of them until now. The 135M was pure luxury, but its sporty performance also saw it become a popular racer. Parts are exceptionally scarce, however, so you can expect to pay dearly for repairs and maintenance.
Talbot-Lago T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe (1937)
Like Delahaye, Talbot-Lago isn’t around anymore, and their appeal was never exceptionally broad to begin with. That said, the T150-C-SS Teardrop Coupe (which is, admittedly, a mouthful) was renowned for its aerodynamic design and luxury features, but its rarity has made maintenance and repairs a pricey endeavor.
Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante (1936)
Now, here’s a company we guarantee you’ve heard of. Indeed, Bugatti is still going strong today, and the Type 57SC Atalante was one of the company’s most renowned pre-war models. Of course, parts are expensive, and maintaining this rarefied relic of Bugatti’s past demands nothing short of expert attention.
Ferrari 512 TR (1992)
Although the 512 TR is comparatively much more recent than many of the other cars on this list, that hasn’t made it any less sought after. Despite this, parts are still quite rare, and the level of expertise required to maintain this luxurious vehicle is, well, exceptional, to say the least.
Lamborghini Miura (1966)
Lamborghini is pretty much only known for its supercars, and that trend began way back in 1966 with the Miura, which was considered to be the very first supercar - ever. Its complex structure and specialized parts, however, make maintaining this demon-on-wheels a pricey affair.
Ferrari 275 GTB/4 (1966)
The 275 was a series of V12-powered grand tourers, with the GTB/4 having a 4-cam engine, a front-engine layout, and rear-wheel drive. If you have no idea what any of that means, take it as an indication of what you’d be getting yourself into if you ever get your hands on one.
Jaguar XKSS (1957)
The XKSS was a road-going version of the Jaguar D-Type. Only 16 models were ever built, one of which was owned by none other than Steve McQueen. That alone should tell you how much the car is worth - and how much you’d need to pay for even the most basic of repairs or maintenance.
Porsche 911 Turbo (930) (1975)
The 911 series of Porsche models is still going strong today, but the Turbo (930) was the first one to introduce turbocharging to the lineup. The mechanics and components that went into making it were specialized and complex, so don’t expect maintaining it to be cheap.
BMW 507 (1956)
The 507 is a classic roadster with a luxurious pedigree behind it. It may, in fact, be the most valuable BMW ever built, according to some people. Either way, it’s expensive to maintain, and its relatively low production numbers don’t help.
Mercedes-Benz 600 (1963)
The Mercedes-Benz 600 is widely regarded as the finest luxury vehicle ever made. It was a regular fixture in the fleets of many celebrities and dignitaries, but while there are many things that made the 600 great, one thing is for certain: it ain’t cheap!
Aston Martin DB4 GT (1959)
A lightweight, high-performance version of the Aston Martin DB4, the GT saw extensive use in races. Its high-performance parts are what make it so expensive to maintain, however, and you’ll need to acquire some specialized labor to make sense of it all.
Ferrari 330 P4 (1967)
The 330 P4 is a legendary sports car. Its performance alone makes it a highly sought-after vehicle, while its iconic styling allows it to stand out from the crowd. Its rarity and specialized components, however, are what make it so expensive to maintain.
Maserati Ghibli SS (1969)
The Ghibli nameplate was only recently retired in 2023, and it’s possible that it may see a return. The SS was the car that gave it its exceptional pedigree and is a highly sought-after piece of automotive history. Its complex engine and rare parts make it expensive to maintain, however.
Jaguar XJ220 (1992)
The Jaguar XJ220 was only in production for two years, from 1992 to 1994, and for the first year after it hit the roads, it was the fastest production vehicle in the world. Despite being a fairly modern vehicle, parts are difficult to come by, while its complex, advanced engineering will befuddle less experienced mechanics.
Lamborghini Countach (1974)
The Lamborghini Countach was known for its “Italian Wedge” design, characterized by sharp angles and scissor doors. Its limited production numbers have made it a pricey collectible, not to mention the difficulty that comes with trying to maintain it.
Ferrari F40 (1987)
In contrast to some of the Ferrari models that came before and after, the F40 was decidedly conservative in terms of design. It didn’t skimp on performance, however, and the specialized care that went into making it pretty much guaranteed that it would be costly to maintain.
Porsche 959 (1986)
Despite its relatively quaint exterior, the Porsche 959 was a powerhouse in terms of performance and speed. Its complex systems and the limited availability of parts, however, make it expensive to maintain.
McLaren F1 (1992)
The McLaren F1 was the company’s first road-going sportscar and was the last road-legal vehicle to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans while also being the fastest production car when it launched. In short, it was very fast and very cool, but upkeep is a costly endeavor.
Bugatti Veyron (2005)
The original Bugatti Veyron just barely qualifies as a vintage vehicle, but it’s still a highly sought-after machine that was once the fastest production car in the world. Unfortunately, its high-performance parts make it expensive to maintain, even if it is a much newer car than many of the others on this list.
Rolls-Royce Phantom VII (2003)
Like the Veyron, the Phantom VII is a fairly modern vehicle, but one with so much pedigree that it almost instantly qualified for classic status when it was released. That said, its bespoke components are difficult to come by and require specialized expertise to work with.
Bentley Continental GT (2003)
The Continental GT nameplate is one of the few on this list that is still in use. The original was a luxury grand tourer with exceptional performance for its class, but its components are expensive and difficult to come by.
Ferrari F430 Scuderia (2007)
We’re probably pushing the definition of vintage to its limit by including the F430 Scuderia on this list, but it’s rare and exotic enough to be a highly sought-after collectible even now, with parts and maintenance costs that’ll set you back a few mortgages.
Lamborghini Diablo (1990)
The Lamborghini Diablo had aggressive styling and performance to match its menacing moniker. It’s also a monstrous money eater, with expensive parts and maintenance costs.
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (1965)
The Silver Shadow was considered to be the “first modern Rolls-Royce”, keeping the elegant style the company was already known for while updating its mechanics. It isn’t the most expensive vehicle on this list, but its sometimes inscrutable hydraulic suspension can jack up the cost of maintenance.
Chevrolet Corvette C1 (1953)
It doesn’t get more iconic than the original Chevy Corvette, a beloved symbol of American engineering and style. Unfortunately, the C1’s tendency to leak and its fiberglass body makes keeping it in good shape expensive.
