True blue classic cars from a forgotten era are falling in price (2024)

Ask the British public to name a classic car and you can be sure that certain makes and models will be on the list.

Some cars, it seems, are what I like to call 'true blue classics'.These are the ones that resonate with people even if they don't consider themselves petrolheads.

But some of these famous classic cars may have become more affordable over the past few years as the number of people who remember them when new dwindles, according to new data from Hagerty.

Here's 10 head turners from an increasingly forgotten era that may be more accessible today than you think.

1. Jaguar E-Type Series 3 Roadster

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £59,475

Value trend: Average value down nearly £10k since 2020

An older friend of mine once told me that he can remember the first time he saw a picture of the Jaguar E-Type. He was a young boy in 1961, and the flowing lines of the big cat were like nothing he'd ever seen before.

Many people from the generation, like him, that remembers this car from new are reaching the end of their driving lives and, except for a few high-profile sales of very special early cars, values have been flat or falling.

We've chosen the Series III roadster which, although it lacks the design finesse of the original, makes up for it with sheer power and drivability, and you get a lot for your money.

2. Austin Healey 3000 Mk1

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £45,000

Value trend: Average value down £1,450 in past 3 months but previously static since 2019

The Austin Healey 3000 is another dead-cert classic, and one that has seen values stagnate over previous years.

The Mk 1 2+2 is the most affordable of the big Healeys, and although it lacks some of the performance of later models, it benefits from front disc brakes and upgrades are a simple fix.

One will still turn heads in any pub car park.

3. MG TC

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £29,650

Value trend: Values flat since 2017

There's a thriving racing and rallying scene for pre-war 'MMM' MGs (Midget, Magnette and Magna cars) but the entry level can be quite steep and crash gearboxes, friction dampers and cable-operated brakes can put off those used to more modern cars.

The answer is the MG TC, launched in 1946 and using MG's pre-war design but with the benefit of synchromesh gear changes, hydraulic brakes and a revvy 1250cc engine.

Values have been flat for a long time now, but the gap between top cars and those needing work is growing. A really good one can be purchased for the mid-£20ks, and will bring a huge amount of motoring joy.

4. Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint 101 Normale

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £43,175

Value trend: Tiny rise of about £500 in past 3 years

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint is a wonderful car, lightweight, sports, and very easy to drive over long distances.

Parts are in plentiful supply and the engines easy to upgrade if you so wish, with later 105-series engines and gearboxes a drop-in upgrade.

Less expensive than their more elegant 750-series predecessors, the 101 Sprint offers really good value for money. Find another competent and beautiful 1950s Italian coupe at this price.

5. Daimler V8 250

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £17,250

Value trend: Flat since 2016

With all the looks of the Jaguar Mk II without the price ticket, the Daimler V8 has been somewhat forgotten. It now offers great value for money, especially as the Edward Turner-designed V8 packs a real punch.

Some were fitted with manual/overdrive gearboxes, but most left the factory with automatic 'boxes, but as long as they are regularly maintained, they are renowned for being long lasting.

Parts are available but can be costly, but with the very best cars only just topping £30k, they are a lot of car for the money.

6. Fiat 124 Spider 1.6

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £12,725

Value trend: Slowly dropping since 2019, when average was £14,175

If you want an Italian droptop for the summer, the Fiat 124 Spider offers a massive amount of value for money, with the equivalent Alfa Spider worth about four times that of the Fiat.

The older versions have chrome bumpers and cleaner lines, but don't benefit from the predictability of fuel injection or the power of the 2.0-litre twin cam.

A great fun option at a very sensible price.

7. 1969 Ford Mustang small block V8

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £17,000

Value trend: Slight rise of £450 since 2021

Fancy yourself as Steve McQueen in Bullitt or screeching around street corners as John Wick?

The solution may be a small-block V8 Ford Mustang, offering all the style at a fraction of the cost of some of the more high-profile classic Mustang editions.

We believe that 1969 was a sweet spot, with average values much lower than '68 models and before the ugly 1970 grille took over.

8. Morris Minor 1000 Convertible

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £10,575

Value trend: No perceptible change in value for 8 years; average in 2016 was £10,100.

Like the E-Type and the Austin-Healey 3000, the Morris Minor is a car that most members of the general public would instantly identify as a classic.

Hagerty values have been almost totally flat for many years, meaning that after inflation, these cars are now much more affordable than they once were.

The 1098cc convertible combines wind-in-the-hair motoring with a bit more power, and is a great fun car.

9. Sunbeam Alpine Series III

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £13,300

Value trend: Almost entirely static since 2017 when average was £13,450

Another great British roadster, the Sunbeam Alpine offers a huge amount of motoring for the money.

We chose the Series III, the rarest of the lot, which is still affordable but combines the more traditional 'high fin' looks with some practical advances such as a larger boot, improved shocks and better brakes.

Values have fallen gently for nearly 9 years, and in real terms that's a significant saving.

10. Volkswagen Karmann Ghia 1600 Coupe

Average Hagerty Price Guide value today: £15,000

Value trend: Big drop since peak in November 2019 of £23,125

The VW Karmann Ghia may not be as instantly recognisable as some of the other cars on our list, but its status as a true classic car is beyond question.

The Karmann Ghia coupe is a rare beast, especially in original form, as many have been modified.

Values peaked in 2019 and have dropped considerably since then.