From French design icons and British luxury barges to beefy German muscle cars and everything in between; These are the cars we think will be in the spotlight in the new year.
BMW Touring of the 1990s
While Porsches have been generating a lot of hype with the Touring badge for a while now, we have a feeling that a different kind of Touring is coming into the spotlight, particularly the BMW variant from the 1990s. M-badged cars will always appeal to a wider demographic, but lately we’ve found ourselves drawn to Bavaria’s more understated station wagons; Both the E30 3 Series and E34 5 Series Touring offer fantastic styling, responsive handling and tons of practicality, making them our pick for everyday-driving modern classics for 2024. Additionally, the M-badged Bimmers have long been big-ticket items, cars like the 325ix Touring have remained relatively affordable, while the E34 M5 Touring is, in our humble opinion, worth any price.
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Bentley Continental GT
This is probably the first controversial entry on our list, and we can’t blame the naysayers. Not long ago we would have turned our noses up at the oval silhouette of the first-generation Continental GT, but now, as modern grand tourers increasingly move toward the sportier (and larger) end of the spectrum, the cleaned-up original is starting to look sweeter to the point Year. Prices for Bentley’s post-Millennium GT appear to have bottomed out, while well-maintained examples with desirable specifications are already trending upwards. So be quick if you want one of the cleanest cross-continental soap bars on the market.
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Ferrari 348
An awkward middle child between the gorgeous 328 and the ever-popular F355, the 348 has long been overshadowed by its more popular counterparts. Prices also appear to have reached an all-time low, with 348s fetching shockingly low prices at auction. Yet we just don’t seem to understand why. We love the little Testarossa design of the 348, and while it’s certainly not as fast as the 355 or a later horse, you don’t buy a 1990s Ferrari on performance alone. We say: Forget the spec sheet at home, fire up the orchestral V8 and enjoy every gear change knowing you’ve landed yourself one of the biggest bargains on the collector car market.
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Lance Fulvia
Is there another car as widely accepted and admired as the Fulvia, which can be bought for around 20,000 euros? Thanks to the plethora of fabulous restomods from Kimera Automobili and Automobili Amos, the Lancia name has never been more relevant, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the Fulvia increased in value as a result. Piero Castagnero’s fabulous FWD coupe is always a fitting choice, whether you’re attending a world-class concours or a car and coffee meet in the parking lot. So why not buy one of these V4-powered pocket rockets before the price starts? to reflect the very appealing package?
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Lotus Elise S1
If one of Lotus’ creations has recaptured the magic of the legendary, lightweight Elan, it is the Elise S1. These composite-bodied sports cars offer one of the sweetest driving experiences at any price, and with the Emira marking the demise of the brand in all but name, this could be your last chance to experience one of these featherweight wonders without breaking the bank. The total production run of the Series 1 Elise was well under 10,000 units, and with a wealth of special editions to explore, you’re sure to find a niche Elise that will find approval from connoisseurs around the world.
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Maserati Khamsin
Like a horde of car-obsessed zombies in 2023, we picked the brains of every industry expert we could get our hands on, and if there’s one car that keeps popping up, it’s the Maserati Khamsin. Maserati is looking healthier than ever in 2024, and a number of drool-worthy models like the MC20 and GranTurismo are helping to sharpen the Trident’s image. Maybe now is the time to add one of the most underrated cars of the 1970s to your garage. The Khamsin features the whiplash-inducing “origami” design so typical of Gandini’s work, and underpins this visual feast with a mechanical beast hiding under the huge hood in the form of a 4930cc V8. As far as grand tourers from the 1970s go, it’s hard to beat.
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Mercedes-Benz AMG Black Series
Much like Porsche’s RS models, every Black Series Mercedes guarantees equal rarity, bombastic design and ridiculous performance. The CLK has long been the automotive mascot for the Black Series badge, but if we had to choose just one (and we couldn’t quite afford the SLS Black Series), we’d jump at the chance and get an SL65 Black Series. Not only is it capable of rearranging continents with the seemingly endless torque pool of that monstrous V12, but it was also the first and only fixed-roof incarnation of the SL since the legendary Gullwing. The SL65 Black Series has continued to break auction records in 2023, and we wouldn’t be surprised if this trend continues into 2024. So don’t wait if you want to experience one of Affalterbach’s most beautiful creations for yourself.
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I’m going to get a 900 Turbo
They say you don’t appreciate what you have until you don’t have it anymore, and that’s definitely the case with the endearingly strange (and extinct) Swedish brand Saab. Although they never quite achieved the fighter jet-like driving experience promised in the marketing, cars like the 900 Turbo are still undeniably cool even without afterburners. Featuring a turbocharger before it was an everyday efficiency-focused add-on, the 900 Turbo offered 50 percent more power than its naturally aspirated sibling, making it the top choice of Swedish performance enthusiasts. Also available in sedan and convertible versions, it’s the coupe we wish we had parked on our road trip this year.
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Porsche 997.1 Turbo manual
It’s no secret among collectors that each brand’s models generally have to be the first or last of their kind, and the 997.1 generation 911 Turbo is exactly that. Not only is the 997.1 one of the last small-bodied 911s, it’s also the last car to feature the twin-turbocharged Mezger flat-six engine, inherited from the unit that helped Porsche to a Le Mans victory in 1998. A less powerful variant of the same engine can be found in the 996 Turbo, and while we loved some fried eggs, we understand that the 996 isn’t to everyone’s taste. In comparison, the 997.1 Turbo offers a much more manageable body and interior, and that’s why we think this rear-engined marvel is special this year.
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Renault Twingo
It’s not often that our collective subconscious wakes up with a sudden and intense infatuation with a once-overlooked model, but that seems to have just happened with the first-generation Renault Twingo. Maybe it’s all the doom and gloom in the news, but the sight of the Twingo’s undeniably cheerful front end certainly brings joy to everyone in the Classic Driver office. Offered in a range of cheerful colors and some 1990s-inspired special editions, the Twingo is the perfect holiday runabout or city cruiser. However, because these cars have been dirt cheap for so long, finding a well-maintained, low-mileage example is much easier said than done. So if you do, we say: hold on and don’t let go!
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Photo credit: Alexis Bataillon / Autostorico / Bentley / Bonhams / DK Engineering / Eleven Cars / Mechanikus / Renault / RM Sotheby’s
This article was first seen on classicdriver.com
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