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For Under $30K, Here’s What We’d Have Bought at the 2025 January Auctions
The first month of the year is also the busiest when it comes to classic car auctions. Over 6400 vehicles were on offer this January between the mega-sales in Florida and Arizona, and that’s not including the never-ending flow of collector cars bought and sold online. Since we like car shopping, both theoretical and real, our team perused the plethora of cool cars and trucks, gave ourselves an imaginary stack of 30 grand, and made some choices. Which would you pick—or did another sale catch your eye last month?
1983 BMW 320i, $9350
A friend of mine in high school had a tired old 320i named Bessie that just wouldn’t quit. We set out in Bessie countless times with no particular place to go, just wandering the Virginia foothills while listening to a tape that had CCR on one side and Tom Petty’s Wildflowers on the other.
Aside from my having a soft spot for these cars, they’re handsome, fun to drive, and sit in between the more popular 2002 and E30 3-Series, making them a solid value for the money. Seeing that this really clean example sold for $9350, I’m bummed I didn’t scan the Mecum listings beforehand—I’d have happily brought this home.—Eddy Eckart, managing editor
1972 Volkswagen Camper Van, $12,925
The snow and the fog this morning in Michigan are putting me in the mood for the beach, so I’m choosing my $30K cruiser accordingly. This ’72 VW camper van fits the bill nicely: You wouldn’t get to any beach quickly with that original air-cooled four-cylinder, but that’s kind of the point. (Plus, no coolant leaks!) The two-tone paint job and chrome wheels are such a cheerful combination. The camper conversion means you’ve got a place to go out of the sun (and sand) if you want to eat lunch or cool off. I imagine this meandering between Michigan’s smaller lakes than road-tripping across the mitten, making people happy wherever it goes.—Grace Houghton, senior editor
1960 Ford F100, $22,000
I like simple and rugged, or exotic and fast. Nothing in between. For $30k it’s hard to get something exotic and fast that isn’t an extremely questionable purchase (prove me wrong if you have some options) so I’ll settle on something that is simple and rugged, and one of my all-time favorites. I have a soft spot is for the second and third-generation F-100s, and this one checks many of the boxes. Not overly restored but looks ready to go for years to come, painted in a beautiful blue with a stance to match, and enough dings and dents that you don’t feel bad about driving it. This one is going on daily driver duty while the fast exotic gets fixed weekly!—James Hewitt, operations manager, valuation services
1993 Toyota Camry, $8250
James likes simple and rugged or exotic and fast. I’m more of a practical and mundane man, myself. So let’s talk about this ’93 Toyota Camry XLE. At just $8250 from Mecum Kissimmee, has there ever been a car so ideally suited to the Wednesday docket? With 50,000 miles on the odo, that 3.0 V-6 is just getting warmed up. Add in an ultra-precise automatic transmission, sharp gold exterior accents, and a set of Honda hubcaps in the trunk, and it’s hard to go wrong here. You don’t often see these things at collector car auctions, and they are so rare, in fact, that they don’t even register a mention in the Hagerty Price Guide. Someone got lucky.—Stefan Lombard, editor at large
1983 Toyota Pickup SR5, $23,100
It’s great to see Stefan give the XV10 Camry some love. My first car was a 1996 Camry V-6 that held up to all the abuse a 16 year old could throw at it and still made it to 265k miles before an accident took it off the road. But I really wish my first car was this—a 1983 Toyota Pickup SR5. I’ve always loved the 3rd-gen Pickup with its timeless design and legendary 22R 2.4L engine, which in this case is still getting broken in at 168k miles. With one-owner and tasteful modifications, it is a lot of truck for $23k.—Adam Wilcox, senior information analyst
1965 Fiat 850 ‘Abarth 1000 OT’ Spider, $28,000
While not a lot of car for the money according to the standards of American cars of the 1960s, this 1965 Fiat 850 Spider looks like a lot of fun! It has an uprated 982 cc (60 cid) four-cylinder engine in the back, Campagnolo magnesium alloy wheels, and perhaps a 100 mph top speed. The carbon fiber dash might have to go, but that’s it. If anyone asks about it as they look down from their passing Toyota Camry, I can tell them it has Lamborghini Miura headlights.—John Wiley, director, valuation analytics
2016 Chevrolet Silverado, $20,900
I’ve got pickup trucks on my mind something fierce lately, so naturally, it was straight to the pickup aisle for this choice. I need a crew cab because we’ve got a giant golden retriever who’s part giraffe, and he needs some space in the rear.
This 2016 Chevy Silverado is a bit corny, what with the Cheyenne Super graphics package on the side, but there’s a decent amount here that I do like: Decent wheels with tires that actually have a solid amount of tread and sidewall, a fabric interior that should be easy to install aftermarket seat heaters onto, a fold-down center console that could still be a seat in a pinch, and perhaps most important, no eight-speed automatic that’s currently subject to a class-action lawsuit. I’d prefer the 6.2-liter over the 5.3, but that’s just being picky. I can get an aftermarket plug-in to deactivate the Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation that ends up harming the reliability of these engines in the long run) and everything else there seems deeply workable.
Maybe I’ll even grow to enjoy the cheesy blue graphics.
Maybe.—Nathan Petroelje, editor
1965 Sunbeam Tiger “Get Smart” Re-creation, $24,200
I’m not a Get Smart fan, but I know a good deal on a Sunbeam Tiger when I see one. I spent a week as a passenger in a Tiger from Maryland to Florida a few years ago and have been keen to Tigers since. Is it truly a budget Cobra? Probably not, but that doesn’t take away the fun of having too much power under your right foot in an inarguably too-small chassis.
This one came with a lot of Get Smart memorabilia and it seems buyers could not look past the modified hood since this car realized half of our #3 (“good”) condition estimate. For the savings I bet I can find a regular hood to swap on, put the signed visors into storage, and have a lot of fun driving.—Kyle Smith, editor
1946 Dodge WD-21 Pickup, $27,000
I am a sucker for an inline-six, even in an 80-year old flathead Dodge pickup. (Not my usual vibe.) Most of my driving is local, just puttering around town and doing errands at city speeds. Ain’t nothing wrong with a four-speed, either. This looks to be an older restoration but a good one that has lasted. Color combination is lovely, timeless, and not too flashy. These old Power Wagons are tough, rugged machines that proved their worth in World War II and met the hungry demand for workhorse trucks that followed. This is the type of old metal that everyone loves, and at $25,000 it’s within most budgets.—Eric Weiner, executive editor
1959 Austin-Healey Sprite, $22,400
I’ve been having a hankering for a Bugeye Sprite lately, even casually shopping online for one until I clear some space in the garage. That’s why my first stop in Scottsdale was at the Bonhams auction, where there were not one but two Bugeyes on offer. There was a white one that was all period correct with its original 948cc A-Series engine and original-style wheels. Then, there was a red one with tasteful upgrades like a 1275cc engine from a later Sprite with an aluminum head and Weber carburetor, upgraded exhaust, electronic ignition, alloy water pump, and Minilite wheels.
I’m not a purist, so the red one caught my fancy even if it’s not my favorite color. Really, though, I would have been happy with either one since they were both in clean condition with no signs of rot or rust. The white one sold for $19,000 and the red one brought $22,400, both modest and temptingly low prices for the condition, in my opinion. Should’ve brought my checkbook.—Andrew Newton, senior auction editor
A Camry survivor on the list. Not something I would ever expect to see
It really is a brave new world of car collecting anymore. But that’s just fine with me. Whatever floats the old boat, says this old muscle car gearhead.
Good daily driver car. Collector? Not so much.
People said the same thing about Tri-5 Chevys at one point in history. Every collector car was “just a used car” at some point in it’s life.
Never understood the draw of the average tri-five Chevy or any other of the shoebox cars. Nomad was another story.
Indeed. Back when I was in college in the late 80’s four friends had early 70’s Camaros. Not because they were collectible. It was because they were cheap beaters back then.
Its the RadWood movement. Anything that’s survived and a solid number 3 or better from the 80s and 90s will have somebody wanting it. I saw an 80s base model Chevy Chevette (with less than 100 original miles) go for 30 grand at one of these auctions. Crazy.
Thanks for the report!
Now I don’t feel nearly so bad at all about the $8k I spent on an overlooked, cute, little, triple-black ’97 Z3 Roadster (1.9L, 5-spd., 66k mile, rust-free creampuff), that cheerily followed me home from the pound last summer. 138 HP is adequate in a go-kart, especially since I had experience driving air-cooled VW’s with less than half the HP, for several years, decades ago.
After installing a new AGM battery, and 2k miles later, it runs like a top (well, a tiny bit of lope at hot idle), everything works on it (well, except the passenger side central-locking pdl switch balks in cold weather, and also in cold weather, the thermostat tends to stick open, I think, but I don’t smell a rich exhaust, and it doesn’t affect the in-town 25 mpg fuel mileage I’m getting).
Anyway, it’s my 1st BMW, and almost to my surprise, it’s been one of the most reliable (so far, and, not to mention: fun) car that I’ve ever owned, so I’ve definitely become an old BMW fan (I’m already old; I meant the Z3).
I’m going to keep my eyes peeled for another overlooked, “underpowered”, bone-stock, low-mile 3-Series, like an E36 318is 2-door, maybe.
I have a 1997 BMW Z3 1.9 litre 5 Speed that I purchased used in 1999 with 1000 miles. Silver with red leather. I have now had it 25 years and it has 35,000 summer only miles. Aside from normal maintenance I have never had a problem. It is stock except that I had a shop swap out the speakers with Bavsound (HIGHLY RECOMMEND, they are plug and play and fit in the existing speaker grills like OEM), added a blue tooth connection (hidden) and put an Alpine amp in the truck (also hidden). I will never sell it! And it proves the old adage that it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow! Congrats! Enjoy it!
27,00 is kind of a wierd price for the Dodge Pickup.
What price rare and wonderful?
That’s for sure, thank you for spotting that error.
Hey I see it was updated to $27,000
I had a one ton WD21 back in 1976 exactly like this but in #4 condition, bought for about $500. It ran well as my everyday driver until it would only start if I parked on a hill, coasted down and put in 2nd, released the clutch. I used to take numerous children and adults for rides in the back down dirt road trails along a creek. Times have changed, but I did attract my wife with the truck, married 45 years. We did see the truck a couple of years ago, still local, in for service with two paint color changes. The metal on these trucks last. By the way, this is NOT a Power Wagon (has just rear drive) but has the same cab.
Yup it sure is.
It was a little over the price point set here, but Mecum sold a 68 Chrysler 300 convertible in triple black that was a really clean car. Really nice big 60’s convertibles aren’t cheap any more. I thought that one was a bargain.
2016 Chevy truck? NAW!
Sue’s “Get Smart” Sunbeam… I figured it was hers. An old friend of mine. She also wrote a book on the series “Wild Wild West”.
That 60 F100 makes me sick for
My 1957….
Clean 57 F100 short step V8 (312 not original 272) 3 tree, purchased by me in Texas 1985 now in N Ga
The Dodge pickup would be my first choice. You get twice the truck for half the price of a new one. Maybe not the best for long treks on the freeway, but perfect for daily chores with the bonus of no electronic gadgetry.
Agreed, ML. The ’46 Dodge wins hands down in my book. Install a modern 6.4L Hemi and drag the other cars and trucks to the scrap yard.
Skip the Hemi. It will just grenade itself from the bad cam and lifters. That flathead 6 will run FOREVER.
Bad roller lifters ruin the cam. Not limited to the Hemi-the Pentastars have similar issues. I’ve experienced it with LS motors too. Synthetic oil and frequent changes don’t seem to help-internals clean as a whistle but the cam is still ground down to a dowel rod. Not sure if the rollers are under engineered or under built but they sure wreak havoc when they fail
absolutely agree with the Dodge as my first choice as well. And, no, do not screw it up with a modern drive line of any kind!
i am so sick and tired of computers in todays vehicles, with chinese chips, and failing sensors. These things, in spite of any efforts to the contrary, cannot survive the harsh conditions over time in Northern Ontario!
Flatheads forever!
24,200 for a Tiger. If it is a “real” Tiger that is a great price. Same for the VW camper!
Totally agree on the $24K Tiger and VW camper. Maybe even the 320i. I could pass on the rest.
Not a real Tiger it is an Alpine recreated to look like the Get Smart Tiger. Barrett-Jackson description states it has a 260 V8 when it obviously has a V6 under the hood. Also has an Alpine VIN. Not a Tiger!
Not a real Tiger – Alpine with Tiger badges and V6 engine…
The VW camper is not a Westphalia “Campmobile” so the value is lower. I think it’s a “Sportsmobile” but I’m not sure. These were US conversions but the layout mirrored the Westphalia.
Sue’s “Get Smart” Sunbeam… I figured it was hers. An old friend of mine, now passed. She also wrote a book on the series “Wild Wild West”.
She bought a ’68 Corvette in the ’80’s and we took it to dinner one night, I drove. That 12 mile bumpy drive convinced me that I’d never want a Corvette.
I think the 46 Dodge Pickup wins this, but the Sunbeam Tiger is also pretty cool. Then the Toyota pickup followed by the VW camper van.
My first car was a Fiat 850. As a result, I have first-hand knowledge of why Fiat left the country and couldn’t return until people had forgotten how truly awful they really were. Seems like it wouldn’t start unless the temperature humidity index was just right. Couldn’t exceed 70 miles an hour downhill with a tail wind. Once while driving down the street I thought I threw a rod when I heard an explosive noise coming from the engine, which was in the rear. Turned out the fan belt pulley had basically exploded. Another time I went to turn the car off and the ignition key was red hot. Oh, and then there was the time I attempted to replace a rear shock and had to hacksaw off the bolt because it was inserted from a side that subsequently had part of the unibody frame blocking it making it impossible to back it out. There’s a reason people always said Fiat was an acronym for “fix it again Tony.” I traded it for an old Volkswagen beetle that never let me down. In my opinion no Fiat is well bought. I wish the new owner all the best.
I confess to having owned (curated?) two Fiat 850 Spyders, one a new 1968 model and the other a new 1970 model. The 1970 was junk in various ways, not least the water pump shaft, two examples of which broke on one cross-Canada road trip. And the stylish magnesium wheels literally crumbled apart on Ontario winter roads. And the Pirelli tires burned through to the cords on the cross-country trip. Yet I still have a soft spot for the good aspects of these cars’ “Italianness” (or is that the very cause of the problems???). At least my 850s didn’t have a chance to rot out, unlike the bigger and more glamorous 124s, which came out at about the same time — and quickly succumbed to the Great Northern rustworm.
“In Hell, the mechanics are Italian.”
$28,000 plus 10% auction fee = $30,800! Hmmm…
More likely 20%, then state sales tax if applicable added to the subtotal. Things bidders rarely consider during the frenzy of the auction, and auctioneers carefully never mention.
I’d go for the red Bugeye Sprite. I bought my first one, a completely original 1959 model in red for $650 in 1962. I drove it year around and won a club driving skill championship with it in 1964 then sold it for $500. I’ve always wanted to drive one again but I’m not sure have the skills or the tools to keep one running now. If I ever see one locally I would ask for a chance to drive it just for old-times sake.
Goes to show !!! There is still a place for the “Little Guy” car enthusiast to join the fun and camaraderie !!!!!