Not every classic car has to set you back an arm and a leg, and missing a kidney. Some pretty desirable and unique classic cars can be found for under $10,000 if you’re willing to put in a little bit of elbow grease. Looking for a classic car you can work on? You’re not alone.
I didn’t grow up around cars, but I had always wanted, very specifically, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird that I saw from the road one day while I was in the car with my parents. As a child born at the cusp of a new century, I was stuck between worlds as a car enthusiast, learning to appreciate older, classic cars and still enjoying the rising tuner scene. It wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s that I started working for a collector car auction, Barrett-Jackson, and realized that even though I owned several cars I worked on and cherished dearly, I still wanted to buy a classic car.
What Made the List
Now, I don’t need anything high value or “collectable” by any means; in fact, the cheaper, the better. This list is composed of cars that I’ve been on the lookout for in my search to find the perfect affordable classic project car to build with a budget of under $10,000 to start.
The list of possibilities is seemingly endless for classic cars, with every year that passes putting more distance between us and older models. You can get a great one-off deal for many reasons, too, but my focus was to keep an eye on the market for options that I could consistently find for an affordable price, so that I wasn’t going to be completely upside down in a car so early in.
In case anyone cares, that ’56 Thunderbird is still not in my price range…
1966 Ford Mustang Convertible: $4,995
You can blame one of my favorite childhood movies, The Princess Diaries, for my love of the 1966 Ford Mustang Convertible, a classic car that leaves Princess Mia stranded in the rain with the top down.
Two doors and eight cylinders of pure American pony car in a chassis that was common enough that I could reasonably find parts for it, both factory-spec and some aftermarket enhancements. According to Classic Cars, I can find some in pretty rough shape for as low as $3,000 at asking, but we will up the price to the options closer to $4,995 for a more reasonable project platform to start out with.
1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce: $9,000
I love small, two-door sports cars, so the 1991 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce fits right into my idea of a cool little classic car. The headlights and body lines are iconic ’90s styling, but they’re uncommon enough that you’re unlikely to park next to another one on your weekend trip to the store, with the top down, because I’m pretty sure they are all convertibles.
They may only have a modest 120 horsepower 4-cylinder engine, but they look like they drive on rails. And, according to Bring a Trailer, I can find one in not-deplorable condition for around $9,000.
1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia: $8,600
I rarely find others who share my love for the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, but I think there is just something really special about them, and I can’t keep them off my Facebook Marketplace. In fact, I tried to purchase one with no engine or transmission, and a lot of rust, and no glass, for a few hundred dollars just a couple of months ago before I came to my senses.
I think there is just something so well proportioned about the front fascia and long body lines of the car, and combined with the fact that they aren’t very common the road today and you’ve got a pretty neat collector car for under $10,000 according to some records by Bring a Trailer (in project car condition, at least).
1967 BMW 1600-2: $9,100
I feel like a 1967 BMW 1600-2 could ruin my life, but I might be happy about it anyway. The boxy shape and angular body lines of older BMWs really do something for me. Imagine what I could do with about 85 horsepower and the four-speed manual transmission in this classic little car. Potential racecar? I think so.
Prices for these vary greatly based on condition, and the same could be said for every single vehicle on this list, buuuut, according to Bring a Trailer, I can find one in need of some TLC for around $9,100.
1975 Bricklin SV-1: $7,500
This may be my “hear me out” moment on this list, and you’d have to keep an eye on the market to find one for under $10,000, but it’s possible to find a project-condition one for around $7,500, notes Bring a Trailer.
This lesser-known vehicle is powered by a Windsor V8 and has some quirky features like gullwing doors and pop-up headlights. Production for the SV-1 ran for only a few years, with numbers totaling at a reported 2,854, making it one of the rarest cars on this list.
1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer: $7,200
Okay, so you’d have to find one that doesn’t run and is in pretty poor condition, but the 1972 Chevrolet K5 Blazer deserves to be on this list. Increasingly popular for its boxy body shape, classic SUV design, and utility, the K5 Blazer can fetch a pretty penny if you can find one to restore.
You could find a cheap one on Bring a Trailer, or maybe hidden away in a barn somewhere, but the good news is that with steadily increasing values, there is no harm in picking up a rough one if you are willing to do the work to fix it up.
1978 AMC Gremlin: $10,000
The AMC Gremlin may not be a highly desirable collector car at the auction, but I think the body lines make it pretty unique and interesting. Fans of the Gremlin know it has a capable inline-six-cylinder engine with rear wheel drive, and with two doors, its a proper sports car with shooting brake proportions for additional rear headroom and cargo space. Haters say they’re ugly.
You can find them in fine, running condition at Bring a Trailer for around $10,000 and cheaper in project-car condition, making them a perfect contender for this list.
1960 Austin-Healey Sprite MK1 Bugeye: $7,600
I am fully aware that, objectively, this 1960 Austin-Healey Sprite MK1 Bugeye is a homely car, but I think that’s part of its charm. I mean, look how happy it is to see you! It’s a two-door convertible with classic ’60s body lines and a very distinct front fascia that certainly won’t be mistaken for anything else.
The “Bugeye” name comes from the headlights protruding from the hood line of the car, giving it an eccentric appearance that is novel in its own right. According to Hagerty, the fair market value for the Bugeye sits around $7,600 or cheaper in project-car condition.
1965 Pontiac Catalina: $7,100
I maintain that Pontiac deserved better than the slow fade-out it got. Back in the 1960s, Pontiac was the cool kid on the block, and the 1965 Pontiac Catalina is a perfect, affordable project car. A two-door sports car with eight cylinders and long, flowing body lines brings this car on the cusp of being considered a muscle car, though we will leave the official categorization up to you.
According to Hagerty, you can find a 1965 Pontiac Catalina for an average of $7,100, so if you want something affordable that you can still drive around and not have to do extensive repairs and a complete overhaul on, this might be the car for you (or for me).
1972 Dodge Dart: $8,300
You might have made it this far in this list thinking, “Where is the MOPAR?” but trust me, I didn’t forget. Unfortunately for us average car enthusiasts, the prices of many classic Dodges have gone up over the years, leaving us in the dust, daydreaming about what we can’t afford to have in our garage. Perhaps my mistake was not being born in the 1960s or 1970s to purchase some of these cars new. Regardless, sports cars like the 1972 Dodge Dart still have some decent pricing, with a Hagerty valuation of $8,300 on average in good condition.
Two doors and eight cylinders wrapped into a sharp body make the Dart the perfect muscle car to work on in your own garage, even if it’s a far departure from the modern Dodge Dart models we see on the road today.
1972 Ford Gran Torino: $7,500
There is something about the Gran Torino I’ve always liked. It’s got classic 1970s muscle car body lines and an eight-cylinder engine under the hood. According to Hagerty, you can find one in good condition for an average of $7,500 — need I say more?
It fits the bill for being a perfect collector item, so why the Gran Torino isn’t more valuable is beyond me, but I’d sure love to have one sitting in my garage on jack stands for two to three years while I tinker with it.
1964 Chevrolet Chevelle 300: $9,500
My love for the Chevrolet Chevelle comes from my mother, and I’d love to buy a project-condition Chevelle to work with her as a gift. Luckily for me, the Hagerty valuation tool shows that the average sales price for a 1964 Chevelle 300 is $9,500 in good condition, so maybe one day I’ll find one cheaper.
What’s not to love about the Chevelle? Classic 1960s muscle car proportions, an eight-cylinder engine, and windows that roll down for a cruise down the highway or to our local car meet.
1965 Ford Falcon: $9,400
Another American classic? Sign me up. A 1965 Ford Falcon can be found in good condition for around $9,400 according to Hagerty, or for less in project-car condition. It doesn’t have the most unique, dramatic styling or body lines, but I think the modesty works well for the car.
Why did it make the list? Simply because I like them, and that’s what cars are all about — our different opinions and likes that give us such a wide variety of options, body styles, trim levels, and engines.
Finding the Perfect Classic Project Car
If you couldn’t tell by now, this list was biased towards cars I would personally own and buy, and that’s perhaps the most important part of buying a project car: your passion for the car itself. When you get into a project, especially an older classic, you may never really know what you’re getting into until you’ve started, and if you aren’t ready, it can drain your morale and desire to keep going with the restoration or build.
These are just some ideas to get you started and show that despite collector car auctions and groups that sell pristine examples at the highest dollar, there are still plenty of affordable project cars on the market to be had by everyday enthusiasts and DIYers.