I'm lucky ... wanted an XJS when it first came out ... wanted it more when face lifted and relaunched .... never thought I'd own one. But they're incredibly unfashionable and enough around to make them stoking good bargains so I got one.

Some things seem underpriced some overpriced - and, as per the OP, it doesn't make much sense.

And I'm now off to the classified - having had a few Celicas the thought of a GT-Four at bargain money is very tempting ....

Classic car values have reached the point where they make so little sense, I've lost interest. I've never cared much for a 250GTO, 275GTB's or the pig ugly (imo) DB5.They're no longer cars, but investments and I wouldn't cross the road to look at any of them.

However - start talking to me about a 1963 split window Corvette Stingray, a 512BB Boxer, an original 911 Turbo, a 1969 Fastback Mustang, a Citroen SM, an Aston Martin V8 from the seventies or even an early Alfasud and you have my interest.
I've always said that even if I won the lottery and had a 2 million quid car collection, I would have fifty less valuable cars and not four silly money ones. For the cost of some mega bucks stuff, I'd rather buy a an old B17 Flying Fortress and take some flying lessons. Beats the hell out of some Ferrari relic fouling its plugs in traffic.

Agree with you abou E types, never floated my boat. The "commomn " stuff, MGBs /Midgets etc seem to be stady but early Spitfires / Mk1 GT6s are on the rise. Morris Minors have dropped about 20% in the last five years [too may about] What seems to be on the rise are really nice examples of once common place stuff that has almost vanished. PB /PC Crestas, Ventoras etc, Mk 4 Zodiacs, Westminsters, etc.So many ended up on the banger tracks, tey're all horribly rust prone, and they all like a drink!

They were better received in the US, I believe, and that is probably the most desirable model. You could probably pick up 20 of the least desirable model for that money here.

The anniversary factor ?

50th year of the E Type, MGB and Lotus Elan pushing up prices for events and tours as a wider audience become aware of the models, especially those who could not afford then when younger but can now.

A UK Lotus Elan Sprint for £45k ! - madness. That easily gets a very nice late Ferrari 328

It baffles me that cars from my younger days of the 60's-70's-80's that were rubbish when new are now worth so much money. They have not improved after all this time yet the likes of stags,mk1+2escorts fetch such high prices while cars of the same era that were much much better fetch peanuts in comparison.

like what?

In the case of Stags I guess that enough people have liked them to workout how to make the engine work properly now.
A mate used to have one back in the early 80s, once debugged it was a great car.
I'm with you on Dolly's but one of the places I used to work in the 80s had a Manta in the pool, it was a bit of a hoot as a pool car when you knew you'd only have it a day or too while you're hack was in the garage or something, but it was amazing that something that agricultural had managed to stay in production so long.

The answer is in the eye of the beholder. It isn't original having modified brakes and an uprated engine, so concours is completely out (well, in proper judging anyway) and while it has but 15,000 miles on the clock, is the clock correct? I mean, in my day we disconnected the speedo to reduce the mileage for resale purposes and drove by the rev counter.

For me it is a modified driveable car and the "1" should be knocked off the fron of the price.

To be honest I think hats part of the fun with classics ......... They drop in and out of popularity. Buying something when it's low and selling when on a high feels good.............but not as good as driving, fettling, polishing, loving and smelling them.