Bad Ferraris

Broadly speaking, no other car holds its value as well as a Ferrari. The Prancing Horse is revered. While most sports cars depreciate the moment they leave the lot, Ferraris tend to either hold their value or appreciate with time. These are the exceptions.

The Ferrari 348 is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive V8-powered 2-seat sports car produced from 1989 through 1995. The 348 was Ferrari's low point. The supercar was all bad. The 348 had all the standard Ferrari problems without anything praiseworthy. Extremely expensive maintenance, poor reliability and bad ergonomics, the 348 has it all.

The Ferrari 400I is an embarrassing faux pas swept under the rug. Everyone seems to forget the 400I existed, and for many good reasons. Produced between 1972 and 1979, the Ferrari 400I is boring to look at and slow. Perhaps worst of all, its dull.

The Ferrari Mondial is a mid-engined, V8-powered grand tourer produced between 1980 and 1993, with more than 6,000 built. Some Ferraris depreciate spectacularly. But the Mondial goes above and beyond all others. Overweight and under-powered, the Mondial gets outrun by virtually anything with wheels. It is the poor man's entry into Ferrari world and can be had for $25,000 in some cases.

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

The Ferrari TR, or 250 Testa Rossa, is a race car built by Ferrari in the 1950s and 1960s. They were introduced at the end of the 1957 season in preparation for Le Mans and World Sports Car Championship races from 1958. The cars dominated their competition, with variations winning 10 World Sports Car Championship races including the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958, 1960, and 1961.

In all, thirty-four 250 Testa Rossas were built, from 1956 through 1961. The phrase Testa Rossa means "red head", a reference to the red valve covers. All 250 Testa Rossa are powered by a 3.0-liter Tipo 128 Colombo V-12 that can produce more than 300 horses and push the car to a top speed of 168 mph.

The original 250 TR had unorthodox bodywork by Scaglietti. This model (22 were produced) from 1957 to 1958 is often called the "Pontoon" TR. Ferrari updated the bodywork in 1958 to a more conventional, enclosed "interim" style, making the 1957 pontoon-fender models incredibly rare. The 250 TRs of 1960 and 1961 were dominant racers, obliterating the competition.

The 250 TR is among the most valuable cars in the world. In 2011, a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa sold for $16.39m. In February 2012, a 1964 250 GTO sold for nearly $32m. Later that year, a 1962 250 GTO sold for $35m.

1958. Belgian team Ferrari 250 TR.

400hp under $40K - Hagerty

2009 Pontiac G8 GXP. Base models came with a bland V-6, but stepping up to the GT model delivered a 361-hp V-8, with the GXP model rated at 415 hp. Driving the rear wheels and optional with a six-speed manual, a Condition #2 value is $39,200. The Holden-based GM cars can have headaches in terms of parts, but the GXP is recognized as one of the great sleeper sedans of the 2000s.

2012–13 Ford Mustang Boss 302. Ford revived the Boss 302 package in 2012. Ford gave the 5.0-liter Coyote V-8 ported alloy heads and hotter cams with variable timing. Horsepower rose from 412 in the standard Mustang GT to 444 in the Boss. Beefier suspension with adjustable shocks and struts and bigger tires delivered it to the ground. The 2012 Boss 302 started at a little over $40K when it was new. Good examples are attainable in the mid-$30K range. There was a “Laguna Seca” edition of the Boss 302. Named after the famous California road course, it carries a $10k premium.

2020–21 Chevrolet Camaro LT1. Available as a coupe or convertible and with either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic, the LT1 came with the same 6.2-liter, 455-hp V-8 as the Camaro SS. Early versions of the mid-range LT1 model, introduced in 2020, slid in under the $40k number with Condition #2 values trending $34,400–$39,400.

2005–10 Chrysler 300C SRT8. The 300C SRT8 combined a high-horsepower Hemi with sedan styling and some Mercedes-Benz suspension parts. It's 0-60 was 4.7 seconds and the vehicle hit the quarter-mile in a little over 13 seconds. Respectable numbers even 2 decades later. With a sticker of $42,095, today, an excellent-condition early SRT8, can be had for barely half that sticker price. Values have been steady for the cult classic, with Condition #2 value: $23,700.

1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder - $18,150,000

67,463 miles. 3.0L/276 HP V-12. 4-Speed Manual. Rosso Cina over Pella Beige interior. Chassis no. 4137, the last Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder built on February 9, 1963. Ferrari Classiche certified. 1 of 55 produced from 1960 to 1963.

Ferrari’s V-12-powered 250 GT SWB California spyder is one of the most beautiful postwar automobiles. Featuring bodywork designed by Pininfarina (Pinin Farina until 1961) and executed by Scaglietti, the short-wheelbase California spyder debuted at the 30th Annual Geneva Motor Show in March 1960. These rare cars rank among the most valuable Ferraris in the world.

This example crossed the block at Mecum.

1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Convertible

The most well-known DB5 is the one owned by super-spy Bond, James Bond. But James Bond’s DB5 was just a standard, ordinary saloon model, one of nearly a thousand. For true collector rarity one must have the higher-performance DB5 Vantage convertible, with just seven made.

The high-performance, Vantage-specification DB5 didn't make its first appearance until September 1964. The prototype, DP217, bore the chassis no. DB5/1451/R and came fitted with triple Weber twin-choke, side-draft carburetors along with the five-speed gearbox. The DB5 Vantage's power output was 325 bhp at 5,750 rpm, some 40 bhp more than the standard engine.

The DB5’s reflexes were sharpened in Vantage tune, with 0–60 times dropping to just 6.5 seconds. Chassis DB5C/1924/R is an authentic, factory Vantage convertible.

This DB5C received a comprehensive restoration to concours standards in 2005. The restoration included a professional conversion to left-hand drive. All restorative work was fully documented, and invoices for over $200k are included. This DB5C is a multiple Class Award winner. It carried an estimate of $1.4m - $1.6m.

See ----->Cars of Bond, James Bond

1967 Lincoln Limousine - Elvis - $165k

The Elvis Presley family car. Documented with copy of the original title application in Elvis Presley's name. Presented to Elvis Presley as a wedding gift by his manager Colonel Tom Parker. Elvis Presley owned this car when he got married and his daughter was born. The whereabouts of the car had been unknown for decades. Part of the Petrozzini collection since the 1980s.

When Elvis Presley married Priscilla Beaulieu in May 1967, his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, gave the newlyweds this 1967 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine by Lehmann-Peterson as a wedding gift.

Unlike most of Elvis' cars, this 1967 Lincoln Continental Limousine was largely forgotten over time. It was equipped with air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows, a power antenna, a power front bench seat, an in-dash clock and a host of other luxurious amenities. A 462 CI V-8 with an automatic transmission powered the limousine.

The car made $165k in 2019 at Mecum.

1968 Toyota 2000GT - $850k

Considered the first supercar and first truly collectible car from Japan, the Toyota 2000GT two-seat sports coupe had a production run of 351 units. One of the 109 export models was sold in California on Bring a Trailer. The winning bid in 2022 was $850k USD.

A 2.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine is longitudinally mounted with hemispherical combustion chambers and a cast iron block. That is topped by a Yamaha-designed aluminum cylinder head.

It boasts 148 hp through a five-speed manual transmission. In America, the 2000GT sold for an expensive $6,800, much more than contemporary Porsches and Jaguars. About 60 units reached North America and the others were thinly spread worldwide. Most 2000GTs were painted either Solar Red or Pegasus White.