Few things are certain in life, but seeing a car that was once commonplace on Britain’s streets going for a small fortune a few decades later is pretty likely.
That’s the moment when you wish you’d snapped one up for a few quid all those years ago, kept it in good nick, and then sold it to pay off your mortgage.
But how do you know it’s going to be worth anything later in life? Auction specialist British Car Auctions has decided to lift the lid on what it thinks will be the classics of the future.
Older examples of iconic British manufacturers, such as Jaguar and MG, will always tempt classic car buyers regardless of who owns the brand, advises the BCA.
BCA’s Tim Naylor said: ‘We know that Jaguars from the 1960s are collectable today, so it is not too bigger stretch of the imagination to believe that some current and recent models will be desirable in years to come.
'The XJ6 and XJS saloon ranges from a few years ago for example, could return a good value in years to come, while the sports models such as the XK8 and XKR are always likely to be desirable.
'Coupe and Convertible models are definitely worth looking out for.’
Cars that are more unlikely future classics are current models such as the Peugeot 206 CC, Ford Street Ka and top-of-the-range versions of the Audi TT, said Mr Naylor.
‘The Mazda MX5 is another strong contender for future classic status as it "re-introduced" the traditional 2-seat Sports Roadster for UK motorists following a long gap,’ he added.
‘However, with a plentiful supply this model will never be scarce and values will of course reflect that.
‘The Honda S2000 is another good bet for the future, and being a rarer sight on UK roads might attract a premium.’
The Mazda RX-8 already has a cult following and its rotary engine and ‘freestyle’ rear doors should keep its interest to collectors, as well as the Toyota MR2.
Finally, like the original, the new Mini should be a future classic, said Mr Naylor.
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