Classical automobiles are becoming increasingly popular as investments. Not every classic car is suitable as a strategic investment, of course. The growth rates for grandfather’s old Opel Rekord Diesel are limited. Former mass-produced cars such as the VW Golf II or Audi 80 (B3, B4) are not becoming sought-after classics simply because of their age.
A Golf with plenty of horsepower under the hood, by contrast, is attractive, for instance, as a GTI. And not every Audi 80 is a bore either. For one, the coupe version of the B3 has become highly sought-after among collectors. The result: The Audi Coupé Quattro 2.3 20V (1988 to 1992) market value has nearly doubled in the past five years.
Generally nippy youngtimers from the late 1980s and early 1990s have recently seen particularly strong increases in value. Why are models like the BMW 5 Series E34, Mercedes W124 or even the Volvo 850 T5-R so attractive?
On the one hand, this is because those who thought these cars were great in their youth want to buy back a piece of that youth – and are now financially able to do so. For these customers, it’s all about the driving pleasure and not about tinkering with the old darlings themselves. They’d therefore rather buy a car in good condition now and pay more money for it than if in a few years there are only restoration objects left on the market.
Automobiles from the 80s and 90s not only stand for driving fun; they are also suitable for everyday use and relatively wrench-friendly. Starting in the noughties, many models went into electronic overkill. In the following are seven classics that have seen particularly strong gains in value over the past five years.
BMW 540i (E34) Touring (1993 to 1996)
Introduced back in 1988, the E34 5 Series represents an era of legendary engines. The inline sixes BMW built back then run silky smooth and are virtually indestructible with a little care. From 1992, however, BMW went one better with the two eight-cylinder models, the 530i and 540i. For the first time, customers could order a midsize BMW with a V8, and they were happy to do so.
Anyone with a choice today should go for the 540i with its 286 hp. The 530i, with its 218 hp, is not lame either. But in terms of driving values, it is hardly any different from a 525i six-cylinder. Although the latter only has 192 hp, it has a lighter engine. By the way, the touring also made its debut in the E34 as the first station wagon in the 5 Series family.
Sedans now predominate on the youngtimer market, and a Touring requires a premium, irrespective of the engine. The 540i as the top model is particularly sought-after, while manual transmission models are scarce.
This is what you should watch out for:
- Frequent rust nests in the lower edges of the doors, the sills, and the fuel filler cap area.
- The wiring harness of the tailgate of the Touring often breaks with age.
- The weak point of V8 engines: Fluids from leaking servo reservoirs eat away at the engine mounts.
- Tighten the oil pump bolts regularly to prevent oil pump failure.
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Opel Calibra 16V Turbo 4×4 (1992 to 1994)
The Calibra became a sales hit for Opel 30 years ago. In contrast to its predecessor, Manta, this new sports coupé from Rüsselsheim not only looked sleek – it also drove like one. A Calibra 2.0i 16V with 150 hp (later 136 hp) can already run at more than 220 km/h.
The C20XE is also used in the Kadett GSi 16V, the Vectra and the Omega and is considered to be one of the best four-valve engines of its time. In 1992, an additional turbocharger was added to the 2.0i 16V – the result was the new top model: the Calibra Turbo 4×4.
With four-wheel drive, six-speed manual transmission and a whopping 204 hp, the sports coupé put the fear of god into the competition. Its top speed was 245 km/h, which was sheer madness for an Opel back then. Today, well-kept turbo candidates are rare and sought-after – especially if they are one of the coveted special editions.
The Calibra has several of these. They are called “Keke Rosberg,” “Cliff Motorsport Edition”, or “DTM Edition,” because the Calibra was also successful in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in the 1990s. A tip: The 2.5 V6 with 170 hp is also a good alternative to the rare Calibra Turbo 4×4.
You have to pay attention to this:
- Check the sills, the wheel arches and the longitudinal beams at the spring mounts of the rear axle for rust.
- Regularly change the timing belts of the engines.
- There are plenty of replacements for wear parts, but it gets more complicated with the sheet metal and interior.
- Caution tinkerers: Many Calibra were a victim of tuning.
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Audi Coupé Quattro 2.3 20V (1988 to 1992)
Both the sleek Audi coupe and the convertible are based on the Audi 80 (B3) introduced in 1986. This model became a real endurance runner with a fully galvanized, rust-tuned body and robust technology. Many saloons are still regularly on the road today. The coupe presented in 1988 took over the technical advantages of the B3 but was much snazzier in appearance. The shorter wheelbase, in particular, makes the two-door model more dynamic. In addition, there is a chic hatchback with a spoiler.
The coupe can already be cruised casually with the two-liter four-cylinder engines (113 and 115 hp). An Audi specialty at the time was the five-cylinder. Its sonorous 2.3 E produces 133 hp. The power unit with four valves per cylinder is even more enjoyable. Under the hood, the 2.3 20V has 170 hp (later 167 hp). For a midsize Audi, that is an enormous amount of power 30 years ago. And many a Mercedes or BMW driver looks irritated when overtaken by the initially inconspicuous coupe.
You have to watch out for this:
- There is hardly any rust. If it does, it indicates accident damage.
- Sedan body parts don’t fit because of the different wheelbase.
- Wearing parts come from the well-stocked VW Group shelf.
- A nice alternative to the rare 2.3 20V is the 2.8 E with a six-cylinder (174 hp).
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Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG W210 (1995-2002)
Mercedes’ W210 series is gradually recovering from its bad image. Serious rust problems plagued the E-Class of the nineties. In addition, the car was said to have electronic problems and inferior materials due to the company’s internal cost-cutting drive. Market prices for the W210 were and still are pretty much in the cellar – at least compared to those of its popular predecessor, the W124.
But Mercedes W210s with good engines and fine equipment are now becoming insiders’ tips for youngtimers. This is because the E-Class with the four-eyed face offers S-Class-level comfort and spaciousness. Experts go straight for the V8 models, explaining the rising prices. Even an E 420 or 430 offers a hefty 279 hp. The AMG versions such as the E50 or E55 are even more powerful, offering around 350 hp. For good examples, you have to shell out over 15,000 euros in the meantime. However, this is still a bargain with a new price of around 150,000 marks.
You have to pay attention to this:
- Renew the timing chain guide rails on V8s at around 200,000 kilometers.
- A loud clacking noise indicates a malfunctioning hydraulic tappet.
- Be careful of maintenance backlogs; AMG-specific replacement parts, in particular, are expensive.
- Check bodywork, underbody, engine mounts and suspension strut mounts for corrosion.
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Volvo 850 T5-R (1994 to 1996)
Initially, German customers had a hard time with the Volvo 850. In 1991, the new front-wheel-drive was unusual for a large Volvo. In addition, the middle-class car was initially only available as a sedan. The station wagon was added in 1993. The model sold well from then on: more than 700,000 850s were built, half of them station wagons.
Youngtimer fans today appreciate the edges and corners of the Volvo 850; only the tires are round. In addition, a wide range of engines with pretty sharp types. Even the turbocharged models are no slouches, the 850 R and T5-R with up to 250 horsepower make a real ruckus. This turns the solid Volvo into a real family Porsche. You only need a bit of color courage: The 850 T5-R was only available in green, black and the flashy “Mercury Yellow.”
This is what you have to watch out for:
- The engines are good for very high mileage with regular timing belt changes.
- The solid technology also makes the Volvo 850 a real long-term car.
- The cooling water hoses tend to leak.
- Galvanized sheet metal hardly gives rust a chance.
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BMW Z3 2.8 Coupé (1998 to 2000)
In the early 90s, the renaissance of the roadster comes. Mercedes and BMW followed suit later with the SLK and Z3. The Munich-based company followed up with the coupé version of the Z3 in 1998. “The two-seater actually looks like a smart sneaker,” fans dubbed it the “sneaker.
And it drove in a similarly sporty manner. The 193 hp 2.8 liter entry-level engine is not really weak; it takes less than seven seconds to sprint from zero to one hundred. In addition, the quiet running of the inline six-cylinder is thrilling. The same applies to the 3.0i (231 hp) introduced in 2000.
A special status is enjoyed by the M 3.2 Coupé with 321 hp. All the Z3 coupés are on their way to becoming classics, as their numbers were significantly lower than those of the open-top roadster. A further plus point of the coupe: the body is stiffer, and you also don’t have to deal with worn hoods.
This is what you have to watch out for:
- Z3 Coupé and Roadster are technically virtually identical.
- Many replacement parts come from the volume model Dreier.
- There are rarely any rust problems, except in the case of poorly repaired accident damage.
- Check front axle and brakes for wear.
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Porsche 944 S Coupé (1986 to 1988)
Classical Porsches are expensive – especially if it’s a 911. The 944 is the alternative, and it does have its fans. The reason for this is the transaxle design, which also characterizes the 924, 928 and 968: The weight distribution is very balanced thanks to the front engine and the transmission installed in front of the rear axle. This means that transaxle Porsches sit perfectly on the road and don’t break out so quickly, even in fast corners.
In contrast to the 924, in which the engine initially came from Volkswagen, the engineers in the 944 went for “pure Porsche” right from the start. The range of engines starts at 150 hp, followed in 1986 by the 944 S with a four-valve engine and 190 hp. Thanks to the low unladen weight of fewer than 1.3 tons, these are still quite sufficient for the 944 S to be a sporty car.
This is what you have to watch out for:
- Porsche 944 is a fairly inexpensive entry into the world of classic Porsches.
- Replacement parts are expensive; however, a Porsche is not an Opel.
- Replace the timing belt every 80,000 kilometers.
- Inspect rear axle mounts for rust.
