Some cars vanish from the market almost as soon as they appear. Savvy collectors recognize these legends instantly and move fast to secure them. Each model marks an engineering milestone that shaped automotive history, and the values shown here reflect that legacy. Price ranges come from multiple trusted sources, including Classic.com. Read on.
Acura Integra Type R (DC2): $40,000–$67,000
You know what made the DC2 Integra Type R special? It was Honda’s first Type R export. They put in a hand-assembled 1.8-liter VTEC producing 197 horsepower at 8,000 rpm. When it first arrived in the U.S. under the Acura name, there was only one color available—Championship White.
BMW E9 3.0 CSL “Batmobile”: $200,000–$381,000
Long before Batman’s sleek ride hit the big screen, BMW’s E9 3.0 CSL was earning its “Batmobile” nickname on real roads. With a massive trunk-mounted wing and lightweight panels, this car focused on more than just looks; it dominated European Touring Car Championships with style and speed.
Ford Bronco: $55,000–$275,000+
Ford saw Jeep and International owning the off-road scene and said, “Not anymore.” Solid body-on-frame bones, punchy six-cylinder and V8 choices, zero compromise on capability. That original recipe from 1966 to 1977 created icons that collectors today will pay serious money to own.
Datsun 240Z: $25,000–$125,000+
While European sports cars cost a fortune, Datsun had other plans. Their 1969 240Z brought a refined 2.4-liter six-cylinder with 151 horsepower to everyone’s driveway. Same thrills, way smaller price tag. It made Nissan a household name in America and “established a collector legend still burning bright today.
Lamborghini Countach: $555,000–$897,000+
The Countach dominated from 1974 to 1990, and honestly, nothing else looked like it. That sharp wedge design, scissor doors doing their dramatic thing, V12 engine sitting in the middle making all the right noises. Even its name is an expression of amazement in Italian. Collectors still feel that amazement when bidding on one.
Chevrolet Corvette (C4) ZR-1: $22,000–$71,000
Endurance at nearly 176 mph for 24 hours—that’s what the 1990-1995 Corvette ZR-1 pulled off. Behind that record sat a Lotus-engineered 5.7-liter V8 making 375 horsepower initially, then 405 in later models. European brains met American brawn perfectly. Today, collectors view this C4 as the performance bargain everyone slept on.
Porsche 911 (964) Carrera RS: $297,000–$485,000+
Track dominance was the only goal when Porsche created the 1992 911 Carrera RS. This 964 variant packed 260 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 3.6-liter flat-six, paired with thinner glass and almost no sound deadening. Every gram mattered in this stripped-out weapon. Now it’s one of the most hunted 911s around.
Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ40 Series): $25,000–$125,000
Bulletproof reliability made the FJ40 Land Cruiser a legend from 1960 to 1984. Toyota built this thing with beefy inline-six engines—3.9-liter or 4.2-liter options—that just wouldn’t quit. It conquered terrain other trucks feared, thereby earning a reputation that turned these workhorses into highly sought collector pieces today.
Acura NSX (First Generation, Na1/Na2): $103,000–$325,000+
When the first-generation Acura NSX debuted in 1990, it changed the supercar game. As the first mass-produced all-aluminum car, it paired a mid-mounted V6 engine with VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control), giving both smooth everyday driving and thrilling high-rev power. F1 legend Ayrton Senna even tuned the chassis.
Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster (W198): $1.0M–$2.2M+
In an era where most cars barely reached 100 mph, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster stunned the automotive world by hitting 155 mph. It earned the title of fastest production car in 1957. This remarkable performance came from a revolutionary 3.0-liter straight-six engine featuring mechanical fuel injection, all housed in an elegant convertible body.
