25 cars losing steam as summer 2019 nears

Another set of data was tabulated by Hagerty’s valuation specialists, and the numbers are in. Many beloved muscle cars, British roadsters, and imported sports car made our Bottom 25 list, and many of them follow trends we’ve noted for the past several Hagerty Vehicle Rating tallies.

The latest Hagerty Vehicle Rating uses insurance quoting activity, the number of new policies purchased, sales data, auction activity, and other metrics to rank vehicles compared to the overall collector car market. Based on a 100-point scale, a vehicle that matches the overall trend of the collector market will score 50. Those that are trending better will score higher. The models here are the 25 lowest scores, which means they are well below the market average.

At the very bottom of the list is the 1988–91 Buick Reatta. Despite unique looks and low production numbers, it never really managed to become a desirable collector car. At least not yet. Perhaps its day will come as ’80s cars are beginning to hit their stride and Reatta’s devoted fan base keeps alive the tribal knowledge needed to restore the unique coupes and convertibles.

1969 Lincoln Continental Mk III
1969 Lincoln Continental Mk III Mecum

Once again, the 1976–89 Porsche 911 Carrera (Turbo 930) made the list, as did the 1955–63 Mercedes-Benz 190SL. Their presence can likely be attributed to the same reason that the 1963–67 Chevrolet Corvette, 1968–70 Plymouth Road Runner, and 1970–74 Plymouth Barracuda are here: potential buyers, many of whom are younger and newer to the collector car scene, are being priced out of the market. The median price for a #3-condition (Good) car on this list is, on average, more than double the vehicles found among the current Top 25: $35,000 vs. $15,000.

The Shelby GT350, which made the list several times in a row, is now gone. In its place are the Plymouth Barracuda and Road Runner. Like the Shelby, both have more affordable alternatives—namely the Challenger and Satellite—that offer an easier entry and very similar looks. Buyers who want to enjoy their muscle car on the road often shy away from rare, high-dollar versions and instead opt for their doppleganger.

The Sunbeam Tiger remains on our Bottom 25 list. Gone are the days when it was a much more affordable alternative to the other Ford-small-block-powered British roadster, the Shelby Cobra. It’s still far less expensive, although nowhere near a bargain.

As we’ve noted previously, we’re not disparaging the vehicles on this list, just know that if you own one you plan on selling, it may take a bit more time and effort. If you’re planning on buying a car that keeps making this list, it might mean the price is about to head down.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette 3/4 low
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Bonhams

Here are the vehicles with the lowest HVR scores:

Vehicle
1988-1991 Buick Reatta 8
1963-1971 Mercedes-Benz 230SL 10
1976-1989 Porsche 911 Carrera (Turbo 930) 14
1967-1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 16
1968-1971 Lincoln Continental Mk III 17
1968-1982 Chevrolet Corvette 17
1975-1980 MG MGB 17
1965-1970 Cadillac DeVille 18
1965-1980 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 18
1976-1979 Cadillac Seville 18
1955-1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL 19
1963-1967 Chevrolet Corvette 19
1968-1970 Plymouth Road Runner 19
1975-1985 Ferrari 308 19
1997-2005 Acura NSX 20
1955-1958 Cadillac Eldorado 21
1964-1967 Sunbeam Tiger 21
1946-1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster 22
1970-1982 Alfa Romeo Spider SPICA 22
1977-1988 Porsche 924 22
1987-1993 Cadillac Allante 22
1953-1954 Chevrolet 210 23
1962-1969 Austin-Healey Sprite 23
1964-1967 Pontiac Tempest 23
1955-1957 Ford Thunderbird 24
1970-1974 Plymouth Barracuda 24
1980-1983 Lincoln Continental Mk VI 24
Click below for more about
Read next Up next: Racing’s darkest day: June 11, 1955
Your daily pit stop for automotive news.

Sign up to receive our Daily Driver newsletter

Subject to Hagerty's Privacy Policy and Terms of Conditions

Thanks for signing up.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *