In the past decades, exploits in motorsports earned a car instant recognition as a classic. Others, like the Jaguar E-Type, stood out for being the finest in engineering design, performance, and styling. They were also desirable in their day and turned into highly coveted collectors’ items long after production ended.
Today, it is much harder for a car to earn recognition as a classic. More new cars enter the market every year than ever before, and technology is ever-changing. Also, current regulations call for conformity across the industry, and standing out with individuality, and rarity is a rare occurrence. Still, some modern models get to cut against the grain and have the potential to become future classics. They have the uniqueness and ability to conjure nostalgia to see their value and desirability skyrocket in a few years. Here are some cars from the last decade that are guaranteed to be future classic cars.
10/10 Land Rover Defender
The original Land Rover Defender is an off-road icon, and its successor is shaping into a potential future classic. The British automaker introduced the new iteration in 2019 with the same toughness, capability, and unstoppable demeanor of its predecessor, albeit in a new design.
It benefited from years of innovation and improvement and now comes with a monocoque chassis instead of the traditional body-on-frame. It was a hit once it hit the market, which gives it enough credibility to become a future classic.
9/10 Ford Fiesta ST
The Ford Fiesta ST will become a future cult collector’s item thanks to its rarity. Ford sold just 5,000 Fiesta ST copies each year in the North American market between 2012 and 2019, translating to about 35k cars across the US, Canada, and Mexico.
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In a couple of years, there will be fewer examples showing up in the used car market, seeing those in great condition sell out fast. It is a true performance bargain with race-bred cred.
8/10 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
Many Porsche 911 models have become classics since the iconic nameplate first appeared in 1964. The 911 is arguably the world’s most recognizable sports car, yet it has had several rare and highly coveted iterations, like the Porsche 964 Turbo Flatnose. In recent times, we recon the 991.2 911 GT3 RS stands a great chance of joining its older siblings in the automotive hall of fame.
Its 4-liter naturally-aspirated inline-six engine is among the last of a dying breed, and after electrification has taken over, these cars will be highly coveted.
7/10 Mazda MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary
Of all the man models of the Miata, the original first-generation model seems to capture enthusiasts’ hearts in every way. It isn’t the most powerful, but it was a complete package. The fourth generation, built between 2017 and 2020, is on its way to becoming a future classic.
Our favorite pick is the MX-5 RF 30th Anniversary model built in 2019. Mazda built 550 examples to celebrate three decades of the Miata, and they have a high chance of becoming classics.
6/10 Mitsubishi Evolution X
Mitsubishi discontinued the Evolution X in 2015, but it remains one of the best-known performance compact sedans we’ve driven. The X marked the tenth and last generation of the highly successful and celebrated nameplate conceived from humble underpinnings but with supercar rivaling performance.
There are many reasons why it could become a future classic. It poses as the everyman’s supercar killer, cheaper to run than a Nissan Godzilla, much rarer than its main rival, the WRX, and that it is a capable sedan, and their demand has declined, making it unique.
5/10 BMW i3
BMW ended production of the i3 in July 2022 after a run of nine years. It holds great sentimental and historical value for being the Bavarian automaker’s first all-electric vehicle, arriving eight years earlier than the iX SUV.
BMW designed the car to be ahead of its time. After everyone has gone electric, it will be a coveted pioneering car for collectors to safely store in their climate-controlled underground garages.
4/10 Alpine A110
The Alpine A110 is one of those future classics that hide in plain sight. Their timeless greatness is quite obvious that many don’t notice. It simply doesn’t involve the public consciousness with a lack of flashy badging and is a car for the car nerds. But soon, the common folk will catch up and appreciate its classic worthiness.
The A110 is a small, almost car built upon a sophisticated extruded-aluminum chassis weighing just 2425 pounds. And it is the great Gordon Murray’s favorite daily driver.
3/10 Toyota GR Yaris
The Toyota GR Yaris didn’t take long to earn a cult following. Certainly, its WRC exploits didn’t get in its way. It is a stripped down, raw performance car in a practical hot hatch body. It can carry through sharp bends at high speed thanks to incredible traction and handling balance.
They don’t make them like the GR Yaris anymore, and it is bound to become a future classic for enthusiasts after dominating rallies worldwide.
2/10 Dodge Viper ACR
The Dodge Viper is an absolute monster that gets from zero to 60mph in a mere 3.3 seconds. It has a big shout for the best American supercar, ahead of the iconic Corvette, which guarantees it as a future classic.
Dodge ended production in 2017 after over a quarter of a century run. Still, there are only 32,000 Vipers ever made, and we’ll never see a new one again thanks to the car’s zero regard for safety and a thirsty V10 to consider. It is arguably wise to invest in one, especially one of the 100 copies-only Viper ACR trim before prices skyrocket.
1/10 McLaren 12C
The McLaren F1 remains the benchmark for road-going supercars from McLaren. The 12C debuted in 2011 as the MP4-12C, and now it holds great historical significance for being the first production road car since the F1 and the first production car developed. So, it was the first to be built fully in-house by McLaren and should become a coveted classic in a few years.
It came in the Spider and coupe body styles featuring exotic swan-wing doors and a mid-mounted turbo V8 pushing 606hp. It is one of the easiest supercars to live with while delivering pure McLaren-like performance.
