Classic cars operate and compete on different levels. It’s not only about speed and efficiency but also craftsmanship, exclusivity, style, and experience. All these factors are timeless and universal. These vehicles appeal to everyone, including car enthusiasts and lovers of history, art, and engineering.
Most classic sports cars represent a touchstone from an earlier era, allowing people to experience what it was like to drive, race, and own these cars. Here are a few classic sports cars that were made to last forever, with everything just working now as it did then.
10 Toyota Corolla AE86
The AE86 was a rear-wheel-drive car with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Thanks to this formula, the AE86 became a star in the modifying and drifting scene. The rev-happy engine encouraged drivers to push this sports car to its maximum.
In return, drivers could enjoy responsive steering and agile handling. Like most classic cars, the only issue with the AE86 is rust. However, if you come across a well-maintained sample, you can get by with only a few modifications.
9 Nissan Skyline R31
If you’re not a car enthusiast, chances are you still recognize the Skyline name. It was first introduced in 1957, with the Nissan Skyline being a prestigious model with a powerful engine, above-average performance, and elegant design.
The Nissan Skyline R31 doesn’t get much attention compared to the earlier and later models. However, it’s a unique classic car and is among the pinnacles of JDM engineering. Nowadays, the R31 is still a reliable classic that’s not expensive to own and maintain.
8 BMW E30
The E30 was one of the best sports cars of its era. It offered cheap and reliable fun for all sports car enthusiasts. Over the years, the E30 has become a legend among most car enthusiasts worldwide. That’s because it was among the cars that didn’t show much on paper, especially considering its middling performance figures.
The BMW E30 was available in four and two-door options, all featuring its beautiful wedge-shaped styling. Besides, the E30 was driver-oriented, making the driver an integral part of the machine. This is something modern sports cars don’t deliver appropriately due to the overindulgence of electronic aids.
7 Saab 900 Turbo
The 900 Turbo was a well-built sports car available as a characterful hatchback, convertible, and salon. All models had some prominent bumpers and a sleek body. The first generation of the Saab 900 was in production from 1978 to 1994.
Unlike the standard 900, the Turbo had improved wastegate technology, making it a great daily driver and track weapon. Anyone who owns this classic can attest that it’s still wonderful to drive all year round. It’s, however, bittersweet, given that Saab is no longer around.
6 Volkswagen Golf GTI
The Golf GTI was a revolutionary model for Volkswagen since it helped invent the hot hatch genre. It was a small, durable, comfortable, well-made, conservative sports car that would work for all occasions. The GTI started as an angular hatchback to break from the Beetle’s iconic rounded profile.
It also used a water-cooled front-wheel drive engine that was fuel efficient and inexpensive to maintain. Besides its contemporary style, the Mk1 possessed a rare trait among other cars of its era; it was fun to drive. The GTI was engaging and quirky in a way, unlike other compact cars.
5 Toyota MR2
The MR2 is among the sports cars that can easily keep up with traffic and easily attack your favorite B-road. Mk1 and Mk2 versions had reliable engines the only issue being with the pre-2003 models, where the catalytic converters would break up in the exhaust manifold.
Most owners opted for a de-cat pipe to quickly solve the issue. Other than that, all the other aspects of the MR2 were great, especially the bodywork where the exterior panels would bolt directly on the shell, making them trouble-free to fix.
4 Plymouth Valiant
The Valiant was one of the best-selling sports cars in the 60s and 70s. It was famous for its excellent reliability and durability. Its purpose was to give Plymouth entry into the compact car market. Plymouth achieved this by fitting one of their most reliable slant-6 engines.
The Valiant was available in multiple body styles over the years to suit any taste. It was also available with a six-speed manual transmission, upgraded front, and rear suspension, and 12-inch discs with four-piston calipers front and rear.
3 Porsche 911
For over 50 years, the 911 has been a sports car benchmark. In the ever-changing car industry, the 911 is remarkably constant, with its rear-mounted flat-six. With over eight generations and countless variants, the 911 is the perfect sports car for about every buyer.
Whether you’d want to cruise down a highway or run laps around the Nürburgring, the 911 is always up for the task. The 911 is one of the most reliable exotic classics that won’t break as long as it’s properly maintained. These models also get a lot of attention and don’t lose much value.
2 Ford Mustang
The Mustang is considered to be the original pony car. It was a sexy fastback that, over the years, helped revive affordable American performance in the 80s and 90s. The Fox Body platform was introduced in the late 70s, featuring a lighter muscle car and a redesigned interior.
This made the Mustang an instant hit and grew more in popularity. The Fox Body models were sophisticated, reliable and stylish, causing drivers to fall in love with them. Nowadays, the Mustang can still offer reliable performance, and with little care, it can take you anywhere.
1 Datsun 280Z
With the development of the 280Z, Datsun faced heightened safety requirements and more stringent emission standards. These changes saw the 280Z add more weight than the original Z and receive bulkier front and rear bumpers.
To compensate for this, the 280Z got an increased bore 2.8-liter engine and a fuel injection system that moved the Z away from carburetors. These changes helped make the 280Z a reliable daily driver that would always crank up every morning
