Dodge Viper Headlines Hagerty’s List of Collectible New Cars

Ten machines, all under $100,000, almost guaranteed to rise in value. And, yes, the Dodge Viper is one of them.

byA.J. Baime|
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Each year, automakers flood the market with fresh metal, but only a select few ever become collectable. But which ones? Nobody who bought a Datsun 240Z could’ve imagined that a mint example would later fetch over $50k. Even fewer could imagine that a Shelby Mustang GT350 (original MSRP: $4,547) would be worth nearly a half-million today. So which of 2016’s new cars will be the classics of tomorrow? Hagerty thinks it has an answer.

The nation’s largest insurer of classic cars puts out an annual Hot List. It includes 10 cars, all with an MSRP under $100,000, that will “stand out likely as collector cars within the next 25 years.” This year’s Hagerty Hot List has just been released, and there are some big surprises. The Drive has tested most of thm, so we can weigh in with our own impressions, too.

“Despite all the negative talk about the future of the car,” says CEO McKeel Hagerty, “this is one of the most exciting times to be a car enthusiast.”

Let’s take a closer look.

MAZDA MX-5 MIATA ($24,915)

The Drive’s chief auto critic Lawrence Ulrich picked the plucky little Mazda as his Car of the Year. All new for 2016, the MX-5 “costs half what you’d spend for an Audi TT Roadster, a Mercedes-Benz SLK or a BMW Z4,” he says, “and it’s more fun to drive than any of them.” Hagerty agrees. The downside? So many of these cars will be built, and so few will be in mint condition in 2040.

FORD FOCUS RS ($35,730)

Ford’s Fiesta and Focus sport models are riotously fun, and understated enough to avoid the gaze of your local highway patrolmen. This new iteration is “the Focus from Hell,” says Hagerty, promising “everything but the moon and a World Rally Championship trophy in every garage.” It’s also the second-cheapest, behind the Miata.

CHEVROLET CAMARO SS ($37,295)

It has been a banner year for pony car fans, no matter which team you’re on. Our chief auto critic hailed the 2016 Camaro SS as a near-masterpiece, a clear choice over the Mustang GT, looks aside. Times are changing, and the new sixth-gen Camaro is available with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. Still, in the words of Hagerty, “traditionalists will be glad to know that the SS badge remains in all its 455-horsepower V8 glory.”

BMW M2 ($51,700)

Hagerty’s throwing us a curveball here, because the M2 hasn’t even arrived in this country yet. Still, people are hoping it’ll a throwback to the beloved 3-Series of old—the M2 will be the smallest car in the current M-line. Pricing falls right around the base Porsche Cayman. But, if production is limited, it’ll be the better choice as a long term investment.

FORD SHELBY MUSTANG GT350R ($62,195)

This one is a no brainer. The Mustang GT350R has it all: a 5.2-liter flat-plane crank V8, huge Brembos, gorgeous styling and handling, and heritage that’s second to none. The original Sixties GT350s are skyrocketing in value right now; an example in only fair condition is still bound to pull in over $200k at auction. What will the new ones be selling for years hence? Lord knows. But we agree with Hagerty: This is a good investment.

ALFA ROMEO 4C SPIDER ($84,600)

“We love the pureness and simplicity of the 4C,” claims Hagerty. “It’s a refreshing reminder that great cars don’t have to be complicated. This car is more alive on the racetrack than the open road, so we predict well-preserved examples to dominate the vintage races in the future.” Even in convertible Spider form, the Alfa weights just 2,487 pounds. The real reason it’ll increase in value is simple: There’s so little out there like it, doubly so at a sub-$100k price point.

PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 ($84,600)

Why didn’t Porsche do this sooner? The company took its mid-engine Cayman and gave it what we all wanted: more aero, more power, and a mandatory manual gearbox. And yet, since it’s not the flagship 911, it’s the cheapest GT-badged Porsche ever to arrive in America. Hagerty sums up this car’s allure succinctly, at least in terms of its ability to appreciate in value: “We needn’t remind you of how high-performance, low-production Porsches have done in the collector car world.” Truth.

DODGE VIPER SRT COUPE ($89,090)

Even the Viper’s detractors have come around to this latest generation appeared. The styling is improved, sure, but it’s the driving experience that has really come around. One thing has stayed the same, though: A price that makes it irresistible in comparison to competition. Hagerty admits that this is the lone car on this list that’s not new for model year 2016. But who cares? “If words like ‘bludgeon,’ ‘eviscerate,’ and ‘trounce’ appeal to you, this is your car.” Stretching the budget to $120k, we’d say the special-edition Viper ACR is safe best for future collectability, too.

CADILLAC ATS-V ($60,465)

The ATS-V might have a leg-up here: It’s not just made in America, it’s built in Michigan, Hagerty’s home state. That aside, this is a proper driver’s car with gobs of power (464 horses) and polarizing styling. There will always be a crowd of Cadillac enthusiasts come auction day.

LOTUS EVORA 400 ($89,900)

This is Lotus’s quickest and most powerful production car ever. It has all the cache of the small British sports car’s handsome badge. Also: the comfort of a Toyota engine, and that sound. Yes, the car’s price tag puts it in the crosshairs of some serious competition. It’s got everything that makes the Alfa 4C so collectable, plus another degree of rarity. “We were worried about you for a while, Lotus,” says Hagerty. “It’s good to have you back on the Hot List.” Agreed.

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