The fusion of German engineering and Italian artistry — Capricorn 01 Zagato.
December 24, 2025
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Not every legendary investment car started out as a million-dollar exotic. Some of the biggest automotive success stories were once overlooked performance cars sitting quietly in garages. Meanwhile, we’ve prepared a list of 5 cars that exploded in value over the recent years. We compare the price when new, to the value it is considered worth today. So, let’s dive in.
Back in the early 90s, the Mercedes 190E Evo II already looked special. For example, the aggressive body kit, massive rear wing, and motorsport pedigree made it one of the wildest sedans Mercedes had ever built.
When new, it cost around £40,000.
Today, clean examples regularly exceed £215,000.
The Porsche 964 Carrera RS was built for purists.
Lightweight, raw, and completely driver-focused, it delivered the kind of analogue experience enthusiasts obsess over today.
For years, these cars hovered around £50,000, and now? Many examples are pushing £200,000.
As modern sports cars become more digital and isolated, collectors continue chasing cars like the 964 RS. Machines like this still feel mechanical, connected, and alive.
The Subaru 22B STI has become one of the biggest Japanese collector car success stories of the last decade.
Originally priced around £40,000, these cars now easily command £175,000 or more.
Built to celebrate Subaru’s rally dominance, the 22B combined aggressive styling and turbocharged performance. In result, it made extreme rarity into one unforgettable package.
Today, it’s considered one of the greatest JDM icons ever created.
The Ford Escort RS Cosworth was never subtle.
Its massive rear wing and rally-inspired styling instantly made it a hero car for an entire generation of enthusiasts.
Back in the day, it cost around £21,000.
Today, prices have climbed beyond £50,000. Many believe they’re still heading higher.
As clean, original examples become harder to find, demand keeps increasing among collectors who grew up idolizing these cars.
The Lotus Carlton was one of the most outrageous sedans of the early 90s.
Built through a collaboration between Lotus and Opel/Vauxhall, it combined executive-car practicality with genuine supercar performance — something almost unheard of at the time.
When new, it cost around £48,000.
Today, clean examples are worth roughly £85,000 — and values continue climbing as enthusiasts rediscover just how special these cars really were.
The most valuable cars are often the ones nobody fully appreciates at first.
That’s what makes these stories so fascinating. And before you move on, let’s consider some of the most underrated 90s cars to invest in now, — the ones with serious potential to rise in value over the next few years. Because somewhere out there, the next great collector car is probably still sitting unnoticed in someone’s garage.
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Original price was: £45.00.£40.00Current price is: £40.00.
Original price was: £45.00.£40.00Current price is: £40.00.
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