Supercars and superyachts go hand-in-hand but, while all cars get old, a few mature beautifully. Simon de Burton selects five true collectables...
Porche 911 Speedster
A late 80s/early 90s homage to the original 356 Speedster of the 1950s. Most featured the wider wheel arches of the 911 Turbo; only 171 examples came in a more elegant narrow-body guise. Fifteen years ago, a good Speedster could be picked up for around £20,000. Now they fetch 10 times as much.
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
It first hit the streets in 1955, stopping passers-by in their tracks with its futuristic “gullwing” doors and swooping coachwork. A three litre, six cylinder engine with fuel injection offered a top speed of more than 130mph. Just 1,400 were built, a mere 29 with all-alloy bodywork – don’t expect much change from $1 million.
Lamborghini Miura
Made famous by the 1969 movie The Italian Job, the Lamborghini Miura was the first mid-engined, road-going supercar. Featuring a 12 cylinder, four litre engine crammed in behind the two-seater cockpit, Miuras are known for their brutal power, weighty gearshift and over-light front end. On a twisting mountain road with a good driver behind the wheel, thrills are guaranteed. Add wild colour options and past owners ranging from Frank Sinatra to the Shah of Iran, and you can see why values have risen from $400,000 five years ago to more than $1.2 million today.
Ferrari Testarossa
Wide, low and radical, with signature side strakes and high-level door mirrors, the Testarossa was famously driven by Don Johnson’s character Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice. Produced from 1984 until 1996, it fell from favour in the early 2000s but is now regarded as a milestone in Ferrari history. Valued at around $100,000.
Bugatti Veyron
Produced between 2005 and 2015, its eight litre, quad turbo W16 engine was tuned to produce a minimum of 1,001hp and pushed the hand-built Veyron from a standstill to 62mph in just 2.5 seconds. Superseded by the Chiron, the Veyron already seems like yesterday’s supercar, but its old-fashioned dashboard and traditional interior make it all the more worthy of a place in any collector’s garage. Prices are now $1.5 to $2 million.