The Best, Most Reliable Classic Cars

For many of us, our first love had steel curves and a throaty howl when you stepped on the accelerator. Whether it was a 1967 Corvette or a 1980 Fiesta, you’ll never forget that first teenage crush. Now, the car you fantasized about is considered a classic, and you may have the means to buy it. But the price for recapturing your youth could be higher than you expect, unless you pick a reliable model.

Generally, insurers and car clubs consider vehicles that are more that 25 years old as “classic,” which also covers much older vintage and antique cars (think ’55 Chevys and Ford Model Ts from 1908). That broad definition means there is a broad price range too — encompassing cars from a $115,000 1980 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole (like the one Tom Selleck drove in Magnum P.I.) to a $15,000 Chevrolet Vega. But no matter what the technical definition or price is, classic cars are like beauty: Ultimately, it’s in the eye of the beholder.

“It’s what people remember in the flower of youth when they have a great deal of imagination,” says Leslie Kendall, chief historian for the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. But nostalgia can lead you astray, with fond memories that betray what on the outside appeared to be gorgeous works of metal and glass but where in reality unreliable clunkers, like the 1961 Corvair.

Fortunately, there are some classics that are considered to be reliable enough to be used as daily drivers. Several such models consistently make the list on surveys from Road & Track, Progressive Insurance, and American Collectors including:

- Volkswagen Beetle, introduced in 1938

- Plymouth Valiant, introduced in 1960

- Porsche 911, introduced in 1963

- Saab 900, introduced 1978

- Mazda MX-5 Miata, introduced in 1989