Classic cars (and one motorcycle) to put on your 2020 watch list

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Hagerty magazine's annual Bull Market list of the enthusiast vehicles rising fastest in value and popularity resembles a 1990s high schooler's wish list, reflecting the powerful influence of younger generations on the classic car hobby, said Larry Webster, the magazine's editor-in-chief.

“The high school graduates of the late '90s are now in their late 30s, and like every generation before them, they are investing in the cars of their youth,” said Webster. “The difference is they love imports, SUVs and cars that are more modern, affordable and fun to drive than conventional classics. It's great to see them put their stamp on the hobby.”

Curated by the valuation experts at Hagerty, the third annual Bull Market list this year includes 11 vehicles, including a Viper, an Acura and a Ducati motorcycle. The list was compiled using data from the Hagerty Price Guide, Hagerty Valuation Tools, Hagerty auction research and requests for insurance quotes.

“While placing emphasis on a car's monetary value over other virtues is not always a top priority, our team carefully tracks the value trends throughout the year to build this list,” said Brian Rabold, vice president of valuation services of Hagerty. “It not only keeps car enthusiasts well-informed on their investments but also helps them to learn more about their interests and car culture in general.”

The 2020 Bull Market list includes:

• 1996-2002 Dodge Viper GTS. Hagerty's take: “Generation Xers and millennials are now 64% of the quotes on this car. Vipers have a reputation for being crude and uncompromising, but it's a driver's car and a visceral experience. The outlandish design has aged well, and attrition has worked in the Viper's favor, meaning there aren't a lot of good ones left. The early cars are now seen as desirable.”

• 1990-95 Volkswagen Corrado. Hagerty's take: “This car appeals equally to all age groups. With cars in excellent condition going for $6,500, it's a cheaper entry point than a GTI of the same vintage but rarer. Our insurance quotes are up 25% on this car from 2018, so the interest is growing.”

• 1999-2005 Ferrari 360. Hagerty's take: “More of these cars are coming off normal insurance policies and onto Hagerty policies, with the number rising 211% in the past three years. They are gaining more of a reputation as an enthusiast or collectible car rather than a used exotic. The design has aged well and looks elegant in a way a lot of cars from that era don't. The F1 transmissions were more common, but the gated shifter is what collectors want.”

• 1994-98 Ducati 916. Hagerty's take: “Plastic fairings are becoming accepted in the collectible motorcycle world, and which fairing would buyers want more than the red one gracing the Ducati 916? Motorcycle rider or not, buyers are moving on these for both aesthetics and pleasure.”

• 1971-80 International Harvester Scout. Hagerty's take: “The vintage SUV craze has been going strong for eight years, but Scouts haven't really popped yet like the FJ40s, Broncos and Blazers. Most Scouts rotted away, but you're starting to see them being restored. Gen X is 56% of the quotes, and if Gen X likes it, the values are going to go up.”

• 1988-91 Honda CRX Si. Hagerty's take: “These filled every high-school parking lot in the 1990s, and millennials are now 60% of the quotes. As one of the first front-wheel-drive sporting Japanese cars to get widespread recognition from enthusiasts, they are symbolic of the golden age of Honda, quick and go-kart-like and able to make any drive fun.”

• 1997-2001 Acura Integra Type R. Hagerty's take: “Although front drive is generally shunned, the Type R is widely considered the best-handling front-driver of all time. These are huge with millennials; half the quotes are from them. Type Rs are super rare and hard to find in good shape, and only newly added to our price guide because three years ago sales were scant.”

• 1984-2001 Jeep Cherokee. Hagerty's take: “A relative bargain compared with other legitimate SUVs of its era such as the FJ60 Land Cruiser. Everyone loves a Jeep, and this one has classically rugged good looks in a reasonably-sized package with tons of aftermarket support. Definitely appeals more to younger buyers than the same vintage Ford Explorer.”

• 1998-2002 BMW M Roadster. Hagerty's take: “M Cars are way up, but the M roadster was overlooked for a long time because it looks so much like a regular Z3. They are getting their due now. The coupe has already popped, and the roadster values are up 22% on the later 315-horsepower cars and 31% (starting from a lower value) on the earlier 240-horsepower cars. Yet, good M roadsters are still half the price of good M coupes.”

• 1970-76 Porsche 914. Hagerty's take: “Only the third car that Porsche ever designed is still the cheapest way to get into a vintage Porsche, and the 914 is being re-evaluated for its great handling and affordability. The VW association that once tarnished it carries less of a knock now among younger buyers.”

• 1970-95 Land Rover Range Rover. Hagerty's take: “This is a vehicle that appeals to millennials and Gen Xers, and they're affordable because they're known to be troublesome. The brand's current success gets people to look back at the catalog of past vehicles, and this one established a lot of the design cues that guide Land Rover now and have been copied by other manufacturers.”