With more baby boomers retiring in large numbers, many classic car owners are cashing in on their collections for extra income. However, as newer car models become classics, the market for vintage rides grows each year as enthusiasts of all ages start investing in pre-owned antique autos.

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If you’ve been putting off buying a classic car until you’ve hung up your work boots, now is a great time to take the plunge.

“Suddenly there is a lot of supply in the market and that’s driving prices down for a lot of vehicles that, frankly, have probably been a little overvalued,” said Brook McGuire, strategy lead for specialty products at Safeco.

With used inventory on the rebound, the major obstacles to buying a classic car are a lack of knowledge about price and payment options. Luckily for retired buyers, there’s a wealth of resources available online for those on a fixed income, according to Justin Byrd, president of the progressive auto retailing platform provider Team Velocity.

“The beautiful thing about that now is that there are many websites today that actually allow you to search by payment,” Byrd said. “By searching by payment, it allows buyers to narrow their search down to vehicles that they know that they can afford, because it’s very easy in the car business to get attracted to something that you can’t really afford when it’s time to do the deal.”

The sky’s the limit for what you can spend on a classic car. Here are eight models for retirees who don’t want to break the bank.

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Ford Mustang

For such an iconic car, Mustangs have always been fairly affordable. A brand new 2025 Mustang starts at just over $30,000 and, according to Hagerty, a primo 1965 Mustang GT coupe should set you back around $50,000. Ford manufactured so many Mustangs between 1965 and 1973, so you could potentially get a great bargain and, according to Road & Track, parts are still plentiful too.

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Saab 900

The Saab 900 is an affordable auto with a devoted following that covets a quirky design and turbocharged engine. However, those looking for an elusive 900 in retirement not only need to do their research but also budget wisely. While you might be able to wrangle one at a decent price and in decent shape, parts can be tough to source and expensive to buy.

Mazda Miata

It’s cheeky to classify the Miata as a classic, especially those dating back only a few years. But the cheap and surprisingly reliable, lightweight sports cars are beloved by their owners, so much so that they are commanding excessive prices. According to Jolopnik, you shouldn’t need to pay more than $5,000 for a Miata, but you’ll probably end up shelling out double that, given demand.

Mercedes-Benz W123

Not all the cars listed here are sports cars, per se, but they are certainly sportier than a W123 Benz. As HotCars noted in its 10 Most Reliable German Cars Ever Made article, “There’s a good case to be made that the Mercedes W123 could be the most reliable European luxury car of all time, and when looking at reviews and figures on longevity, it’s hard not to agree.”

My hometown is really nasty in winter (which lasts about half the year), and I still see these indestructible cars all the time. Classic.com’s five-year sales tracker has an average price of $14,556 for a 1977-1986 W123.

Toyota Supra

As McGuire noted, models from the late 1980s through the early 2000s are gaining in popularity and value. These include Miatas, Honda 2000s, Mitsubishi 300 GTs and Toyota’s reliable but sporty Supra. Road & Track suggests narrowing your search to earlier models from 1978 to 1986 (MK 1 and MK2 “Celica Supras”), which are cheaper and more easily found than popular late-generation Supras.

BMW M3

As time passes, it stands to reason that people become nostalgic for newer eras. Although the 1990s are currently experiencing a fashionable revival, car collectors are showing a sentimental longing for the more recent past, as they snap up late 2000s/early 2010s models. A case in point is the BMW M3, which is a popular and affordable compact sports sedan that is a perfect fit for those looking for decent resale value down the road or wanting to rekindle fond driving memories in retirement.

Porsche 944

All used Porsches can be a nightmare to maintain, but if you’re looking to get a classic to drive in retirement, you’ll at least pay less upfront for a 944 than any other Porsche (a 1982-1991 model in great condition will cost you around $40,000, per Hagerty). If a 944 is your dream retirement car, heed caution. 944s were the cheapest Porsches you could buy, and that might mean they weren’t babied by their owners like showpiece 911s were.

Mazda RX-7

RX-7s from 1993 to 2002 are extremely popular among collectors and are valued at around $54,200 on Hagerty’s stock market-style RADindex. For retirees looking to satisfy the thrill of owning an old-school rotary-powered RX-7, second-gen models from 1986 to 1991 might prove to be more affordable.

Photo is for representational purposes only and may not reflect the exact make and model listed.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Most Affordable Classic Cars for Retirees in 2025