Jensen Interceptor (1966-1976)
A British-built grand tourer with Italian styling and American V8 power sounds like a world beater, right? Yet the Interceptor has been worth peanuts for decades and only now are prices starting to increase. But they’ve still got a long way to go before the Jensen is correctly valued. Prices are from US$40,000 and £50,000, which suggests that Interceptors in the US are especially good value, relatively.
Lancia Delta HF Integrale (1987-1994)
Lancia won the World Rally Championship six years in a row thanks to the Integrale, so just like the Audi Quattro that pre-dated it, classic and collectible status were guaranteed. The later (Evo) models are by far the most collectible but earlier editions are much more affordable. From US$40,000 and £25,000.
Citroen SM (1970-1975)
Okay, so this one is a bit of a wild card, but there are worse ways of spending money. Combine Citroen hydro-pneumatic suspension with a Maserati V6, way-out styling and limited build numbers and you’ve got a sure-fire recipe for collectability. Decent ones from US$40,000 and £40,000.
Chevrolet SS (2014-2017)
Much more than a BMW M5 for boot-wearing Texans, the SS was Chevrolet’s first V8-powered, rear-wheel drive sedan since the 1990s. It was an attempt at putting the extra production capacity at Holden’s Australian factory to good use while giving American muscle car fans a four-door option.Holden built just under 13,000 examples of the SS, so finding a good one is going to get tough in a few years’ time. Don’t wait for a successor, either. It’s likely Chevrolet’s last rear-drive V8 saloon, at least in the foreseeable future, since Holden’s factory has just closed. A lightly used one commands US$45,000. It was never sold in the UK, though it’s related to the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS, which cost from £50,000.
Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat (2015-)
Drive a Dodge Challenger in the US and people will stop jogging, mowing, driving, or eating to ask if it’s a Hellcat. This 707hp monster has already gone down in popular culture as one of the most extraordinary muscle cars ever built. It’s a niche model by definition, and an excellent one at that, so expect it to become sought-after in a couple of decades. Pricing for a lightly used example starts at US$45,000, which makes it the performance bargain of the century – at least for the time being.