10 Vintage American Cars That Are True Collector's Gems
By: Robert Percy (HotCars)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
10 Vintage American Cars That Are True Collector's Gems
Here are the best pieces of classic Americana most collectors can still get their hands on.
Like many other types of classic cars , a lot of vintage American cars end up becoming seriously collectible. Some of them, in fact, become so iconic that collectors positively lust after them. This can be due to several different reasons. They may have been genuinely brilliant cars for their day, holding up to even modern standards with what they give you. They may also give you a kind of driving experience that a modern car just can't. Some of these cars become collector's gems too for having a place in popular culture, such as being featured in movies or TV shows. There is also the ever-present trend of the homologation special becoming iconic, something which has happened with a few American classics!
The cars on this list are all classic American cars from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. Quite a few of them are sports cars or muscle cars , but there are also a good few luxury land yachts. One thing is shared between all of them, though, and that's that they're all real gems for anyone who wants to collect classic Americana.
10 Lincoln Continental (1961-1969)
There have been many American luxury cars over the years that have become iconic classics. Perhaps one of the most well-known (and most beloved) is the fourth-generation Lincoln Continental. This generation was produced from 1961-1969 and was the only Lincoln Model available at the time due to cost-cutting measures. The most iconic version of this generation of the Continental has to be the 4-door convertible. This is the one that's appeared in most instances where a Continental of this generation has been in a movie, on TV, or in a music video. It also gained infamy as the car that President John F. Kennedy was in when he was assassinated.
These 1960s Lincoln Continentals are now proper collector's cars. As a result, they can go for stupendous amounts of money if they're in great condition. But, they are absolutely worth it, because this iteration of the Continental is a true collector's gem.
9 Chevrolet Bel Air (1955-1957)
There are a lot of iconic American sedans from the '50s. Perhaps none are quite as iconic, though, as the Chevrolet Bel Air that was produced from 1955-1957. The 1957 ones are especially prized, with their distinctive fin-tailed styling. But, that doesn't mean that the 1955 and 1956 models aren't proper collectors gems too! All the iterations of this generation of the Bel Air are fantastic-looking cars, with all the '50s American charm you could possibly ever want. Some of the models are also decently powerful, thanks to them being available with big V8s!
If you want to be a serious collector of classic American cars, you definitely should think about getting a Bel Air from this era in your collection. These cars really are absolute collector's gems, and they'll only become cooler and more desirable with time.
8 Ford Mustang Boss 429
The first-generation Ford Mustang is one of the biggest icons to come out of American car culture. Perhaps the ultimate version of that iconic pony car is the Boss 429. This was a homologation special that was built so that Ford could use a huge 429 cubic inch (7 liters) V8 in Nascar. The result was a car that was incredibly fast even for modern standards, and had a fantastic soundtrack thanks to that enormous V8 engine.
Like all homologation specials, the Mustang Boss 429 has become an automotive legend. As a result, it's a real collector's gem and possibly one of the best collector's gems out there when it comes to vintage American cars. If you're a serious collector of classic Americana and you have the money to burn on a Boss 429, you should definitely think about picking one up!
7 Chevrolet Impala (1965-1970)
The Chevrolet Impala is a model that seems to just endure, at least in terms of its popularity. That's especially the case with those classic models from the '50s, '60s, and '70s. The Impala has everything you could want in a classic American land yacht. That includes various iterations of big, burbly V8s, and the various styling trends of the eras the Impala passed through.
While there are quite a few generations of the Impala that are collector's gems, perhaps the most iconic generation is the one that was made from 1965-1970. These have become iconic in recent years, thanks to a 1967 example being a major feature of the TV series Supernatural . Thanks to the '67 Impala's star appeal from that series, the 1965-1970 generation has become the biggest gem for any collector of classic Americana to have.
6 Chevrolet Corvette StingRay
Mecum Auctions
The Chevrolet Corvette is one of America's most famous sports cars. Indeed, it could be the most famous sports car to ever come from an American manufacturer! It's been a constant presence in Chevrolet's model lineup since the '50s, and there have been several generations of it that have since become iconic. Perhaps the biggest gem for collectors, though, is the Sting Ray. This version was produced from 1963-1967 and has become renowned for its distinctive shark-nosed styling.
Corvettes of almost any generation can become proper gems for collectors. But, the Sting Ray of the 1960s is definitely one of the biggest gems out of the lot. Its styling has stood the test of time and is still loved today. The fact that the C3 and C4 generations that came after it don't tend to get as much love as the StingRay is also proof that people just really love this iteration of the Corvette.
5 Dodge Charger (1968-1970)
The heyday of the muscle car era produced some absolutely fantastic muscle cars. Many of them have since gone on to be icons of American car culture. There aren't many, though, that have received as much of an iconic status as the 1968-1970 generation of the Dodge Charger. Thanks to a 1969 example being one of the main cars used in the movie Bullitt , this era of the Dodge Charger gained a proper place in pop culture. Some seriously awesome engines were available in this generation of the Charger, including the huge Magnum V8s that are powerful even by today's standards.
Whenever you see one of these Chargers out and about, it's hard not to feel wowed and be reminded of its ridiculously cool appearance in Bullitt . For that reason, and the ability for these cars to have some proper old-school big block V8s, they are real collector's gems.
4 Cadillac Eldorado (1959-1960)
There are plenty of classic Cadillacs that could be a real gem for a collector. Cadillac is possibly one of the most enduring car brands ever, and it's produced a lot of cars that have gone on to become truly iconic. But, one of the most iconic Cadillacs has to be the 1959-1960 Eldorado. Whenever people think of a classic Cadillac (or even a classic American land yacht in general), they'll likely imagine one of these. In particular, they'll probably think of the super stylish Biarritz model.
The Cadillac Eldorado of this era may not set the world on fire with its performance. It's not even that luxurious by today's standards, either. But, it more than makes up for that with its absolutely iconic styling. Everyone will stop and stare if you take one of these out for a drive! Because of that, it's a proper collector's gem, and definitely worthy of any collection of classic Americana.
3 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (1970-1981)
The 1970-1981 Pontiac Firebird is a pretty special car just in its regular form. The Trans Am version, though, takes that to a whole other level. Popularised thanks to its appearance in the classic movie Smokey & The Bandit , the Firebird Trans Am was genuinely one of the fastest-accelerating cars you could get back in the '70s. It was able to go from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds, something that's great even by today's standards!
While a lot of other American sports cars have gone somewhat forgotten or underappreciated, the Pontiac Firebird Trans Am never has. In fact, you can make a case for it being one of America's most iconic sports cars! It's a real gem for any collector to have, especially if you can manage to get one in the classic black and gold Smokey & The Bandit color scheme.
2 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
The Dodge Challenger is a product of the muscle car heyday that sometimes isn't as remembered as its peers. But, that doesn't mean that it hasn't gained a place as an iconic American car! A white Challenger R/T arguably made the movie Vanishing Point as iconic as it is today. Because of that, the car has become a part of pop culture. The car came with a standard 383-cubic-inch Magnum V8 good for 335 horsepower, but it could also be equipped with a monstrous Hemi 426 V8 and produce 425 horsepower.
The '70 Challenger has earned its place both in pop culture and in the hearts of enthusiasts of classic Americana. A higher-performance version of the Challenger is definitely worth a spot in any collector's garage, as it's a real gem that's only going to continue to appreciate.
1 Shelby Cobra
A list of collector's gems from the world of vintage American cars would be very weird if it didn't include the Shelby Cobra. This British-American hybrid of the platform and body of a classic British sports car with a throaty American V8 heart has become one of the most famous cars ever made. There's a very good reason why that is, and it's because Carroll Shelby's idea to put an American V8 in a proper British sports car actually worked! Whether it's in 289or 427 form, or even as the ferocious Super Snake, the Shelby Cobra gives a raw and brilliant driving experience that a modern sports car just can't give you. It's also such an icon that even replicas of the Cobra made by reputable companies can be seriously valuable!
It's not even an argument at this point that the Shelby Cobra is the American classic that pretty much every collector lusts after. That's especially the case if it's an actual, confirmed Shelby-built Cobra instead of a replica, and if it's unrestored. Original Shelby Cobras are real gems for any collector out there, and anyone who manages to get hold of one is incredibly lucky!
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I know the Corvette Sting Ray has been much lauded for its design, but I prefer the looks of the earlier Corvettes. As well I much prefer the more subtle fins on the 1960 Cadillacs, cause I think the ones on the 1959 models are a little too extreme.
I agree with you. But what surprises me on that car is the suicide doors.
From 1961 to 1969 Lincoln Continentals had suicide doors...