Most people believe that all cars depreciate over time. However, in some extremely rare cases cars can actually hold or even increase their value. This usually happens to the rarest and most expensive cars, with many supercars holding their value over time.
Supercars that hold their value tend to be the rarest models. They are often one-off builds, or are limited edition models that will never be superseded by a newer version. Custom-made supercars also tend to hold their value over standard models of the same car.
The top 7 supercars that hold their value are:
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
- Lamborghini Veneno
- Ferrari LaFerrari
- Pagani Zonda Cinque
- McLaren P1
- 2005 Ford GT
- Ferrari Enzo
These are cars that you can buy as collector’s items, use in car flipping, or even to keep for a few years without losing money on. Either way, these cars are all special in their own way, and they are a huge part of automotive history.
Why Do Some Cars Hold Their Value?
Unlike your average car, some special cars can hold their value for long periods of time. These cars are usually in high demand which means that the price can stay high.
In most cases these cars are also very rare, which increases the demand for them even further. Some cars are limited to a specific number of models, some are custom built, some could even be one off builds that will never be made again.
These cars do not depreciate or appreciate in value, and for the most part they can be bought for the same price throughout their entire lifespan.
Why Do Some Cars Increase In Value?
Some cars also see their value increase over time. These are particularly special cars, and it’s extremely rare to find a car that rises in value. These are very rare and famous cars that you won’t find on your average public roads.
In fact, most of these cars are collectors’ items that may never even be driven at all. While the value of the car might rise, it’s unlikely that the owner would ever sell it. It’s almost like an expensive painting; you keep it for years even if you’re not using it. This is very common for iconic classic cars, like the Lamborghini Diablo.
Car Flipping
This concept has promoted the practice of car flipping. This is a business model that involves buying cars that they believe will rise in value. Once the value of the car has risen, they then sell the car for a profit.
This has become a successful and profitable business for many people. However, it takes a lot of money to start, and some patience to wait a couple of years for the car’s price to rise. In most cases, the value of a rare car will only go up once the manufacturer has stopped producing that specific type of car, so car flippers can end up holding onto cars for years before they see a rise in value.
Factors That Affect Resale Value On Supercars
There are a number of factors that determine the value of a supercar. Some of these factors are similar to those of your average road car, but some are completely different. Below are some of the elements of a supercar that influence its value.
Mileage
Just like any other car, the mileage on a supercar affects the value of the car. Higher mileage causes the value to go down, whereas lower mileage will help to keep the value higher.
Supercars tend to hold their value quite well up to 50,000 miles though. After 50,000 miles they tend to drop in value very quickly. The curve then plateaus toward the 100,000-mile mark, and the value of the car remains steady again.
Condition
The overall condition of a supercar is crucially important. When people spend a lot of money on a car, they want it to be in a good condition, especially if the car is several years old. The most important parts of the car that need to be in good condition are the engine, interior and the structure of the car.
These are the integral parts of the vehicle and if they are changed or altered in any way it can significantly affect the value of the car, especially if the parts are no longer manufactured (common with limited-edition vehicles).
Color
Although it may not seem like it, color actually has a big impact on the value of a supercar. Iconic colors, for example a red Ferrari or a green Aston Martin, will add more value to the car than other colors.
Many rare cars are released with a special color of the manufacturer’s choosing. This might be a specific shade of red for a Ferrari, or a neon green for a Lamborghini. In most cases, if a car is painted in this special edition color, the value of the car will be higher.
Year Of Production
The date the car was manufactured is important to the value of a supercar too. This is because some models may have malfunctions or recalls. This makes it important to verify the car’s age before you buy it. If you’re unsure, you can always look for the VIN number, which will give you all of the details about that vehicle. You can use an online VIN decoder to decipher it.
Rarity
The rarer the car, the more its price will rise. Rarity causes the value of a car to increase thanks to naturally higher demand for the car. A rare car will attract car collectors, car enthusiasts and car flippers, and so the price of the car can be pushed up.
It also allows room for negotiation. If a car is particularly hard to find, it can be auctioned for an even higher price. Bidders push up their offers when they know that a car will be difficult to find elsewhere.
Popularity
A famous car will sell for a higher amount than other, non-famous models. If a car is made famous by a TV series or a movie, it can push the value of the car up. For example, the Aston Martin DB5, made famous by James Bond, now sells for around $5.6 million. That’s almost double the price of a Bugatti Chiron!
Iconic cars’ values can rise significantly, and this is not always determined by a movie or a TV series. Some cars are made popular by a specific community, which can also add value to a car. For example, the JDM community will pay a higher price for a Toyota Supra or a Mazda MX5. But what are some of the top supercars that hold their value over time?
Top 7 Supercars That Hold Their Value
1. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
The Mercedes SLS AMG is the revival of the classic Mercedes-Benz 300 SLS from the 1980s. This car was a huge hit from the moment it was released in 2010. It was built with the assistance of ex Formula 1 driver David Coulthard, and was adopted as the Formula 1 safety car from the 2010 season onward.
Not only does the car look incredible, but it also handles incredibly well and has superb performance. With a 6.2-liter V8 engine, it uses up to 622 horsepower. In 2013, Mercedes released an electric drive version with 805 horsepower.
The SLS AMG can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in 3.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 196 MPH. Its performances on track are just as impressive, with it earning the F1 safety car role, as well as being adopted into sports car racing teams across the world.
This car is iconic because it’s a reminder of the past, and it’s one of the best cars ever to be built by Mercedes-Benz, therefore its value has appreciated over time. When it was first released in 2010 it cost around $88,000. Currently you can find an SLS (second hand) for around $150,000.
This is due to the car being iconic, having a meaningful backstory and being a rare machine on the road. A select number of these were produced between 2010 and 2014, and they will never be built again. The SLS model was replaced by the Mercedes-Benz AMG GT, perhaps another car that will appreciate in value over the next few years.
2. Lamborghini Veneno
The Lamborghini Veneno is an extremely rare, limited edition supercar. When it was first revealed in 2013, it had a launch price of $4 million.
The Veneno has a 6.5-liter V12 engine that can produce 740 horsepower. The entire shape of the car was designed to maximize airflow in the most aerodynamically efficient way possible. This has created a car that produces an incredible amount of downforce.
The Veneno has a top speed of 221 MPH and can launch itself from 0-60 MPH in just 2.9 seconds. The massive amounts of downforce hinder it slightly in terms of its top speed, but that is made up for in its cornering ability.
Since its release and limited production run from 2013 to 2014, the Lamborghini Veneno has risen in value by about 180%. The current price of a Veneno is around $10 million, and that is expected to grow even more in the future.
Only 14 of these cars were built in total; 5 coupes and 9 roadsters. This makes it not only one of the most expensive production cars ever, but also one of the rarest.
Over time, it will only continue to grow in value. The Veneno will become an integral part of automotive history, and in 50 years’ time we will look back at it the same way we look back at a Ferrari F40.
3. Ferrari LaFerrari
The LaFerrari was first released in 2013 and it was instantly seen as a modern classic. It has every ingredient that makes a Ferrari such a special car. It is fast, eye-catching and it has all the latest tech of its time.
Some might think that “LaFerrari” is a strange name for the supercar, but in Italian it translates to ‘The Ferrari,’ insinuating that this is the ultimate Ferrari.
Ferrari used their Formula 1 technology and adapted it for road cars, so the LaFerrari features the fastest gearbox of its time, KERS (kinetic energy recovery system), and a massive 6.3-liter Ferrari V12 engine that can produce a staggering 950 horsepower.
The LaFerrari was the Italian supercar manufacturers first attempt at a hybrid car. The KERS system generates extra horsepower at the push of a button. The top speed of the LaFerrari is 220 MPH and it can accelerate from 0-60MPH in just under 3 seconds. The KERS battery can aid the car in acceleration or in pushing its top speed.
The LaFerrari is also the end of an era for the Italian giants, with this model being the last Ferrari with a mid-mounted V12 engine. If Ferrari does not use this set up in one of their cars again for a long time, it will only add to the value of this car.
At its launch in 2013, the LaFerrari was valued at $1.6 million. Currently the LaFerrari holds a value of around $3.3 million, which is an increase of 109%.
4. Pagani Zonda Cinque
Pagani is a car maker that many people have never heard of. That’s because you very rarely see these cars on public roads. Horacio Pagani designs his cars by looking at race cars. They’re meant to be the ultimate performance machines, being completely hand built, with aggressive lines that make these cars look like they belong on the starting grid of a race track.
Paganis are known for being outrageously expensive and fairly scary to drive. The Cinque is no different, and it was built to become the ultimate Zonda, the last model ever to be built. The Zonda is illegal in the United States since it is unable to pass safety ratings!
The Cinque has a V12 Mercedes-Benz AMG engine capable of producing 678 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in just 3.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 217 MPH.
Its value upon release in 2009 was $1.8 million. It’s currently valued at close to $2.8 million with a price increase of 54%.
5. McLaren P1
McLaren built the incredible F1 model in the 1990s and went fairly quiet in terms of their road car ventures. Their focus was on motorsport and Formula 1 for many years. However, towards 2010, McLaren came back with a vengeance. They released numerous production cars including the mighty P1. In 2013 the P1 was released in order to rival the LaFerrari.
The P1 is packed with some of the latest tech and some great performance specs to back up their fight with Ferrari. McLaren also adapted some of their Formula 1 technology into this road car and matched the LaFerrari comfortably.
With a 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 engine, and an electric motor that can produce 903 horsepower, this is no slouch. With a top speed of 217 MPH and 0-60 MPH time of 2.8 seconds, McLaren showed that you don’t need a bigger engine to go faster.
The McLaren P1 was put up against the LaFerrari and the Porsche 918 in a race around the Silverstone F1 circuit in the UK. The P1 finished first, with the 918 second and the LaFerrari last. However, they were all incredibly close, all finishing within half a second of each other.
At the time of its release in 2013 the McLaren P1 cost $1.2 million. Currently, the McLaren P1 is valued at about $1.5 million, corresponding to a price increase of 27%.
6. 2005 Ford GT
The 2005 Ford GT is no doubt a legendary car. It’s the remake of the original GT40 which had a huge amount of success in motorsport. The ford GT has always been a go-to car for collectors and fans. The second-generation Ford GT initially declined in value due to many GT40 owners buying the newer model. Sales on the GT have since slowed down and the car has become increasingly rare.
The second-generation Ford GT featured a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine that produced 550 horsepower. The car could hit a top speed of 205 MPH, with a 0-60 MPH acceleration time of 3.5 seconds.
At the time of its release in 2004, the Ford GT had a value of $162,000. Currently the value of a 2005 Ford GT stands at around $338,000. With the Ford GT, mileage is key when looking to buy or sell. Being a collector’s item, potential buyers will always go for the vehicle that is in best condition.
7. Ferrari Enzo
The predecessor of the LaFerrari is a legendary supercar that most people have heard of. Named after the founder of the company, the Ferrari Enzo was a limited-edition supercar built by the Italian giants from 2002 to 2004.
Only 400 Ferrari Enzos were ever built, and it is the last flagship Ferrari to have been built before the introduction of hybrid technology. This car is extremely special, and it holds a high ranking in automotive history.
This modern classic features a 6-liter V12 engine that produces 650 horsepower and can reach a top speed of 218 MPH. The Enzo can accelerate from 0-60 MPH in just 3.3 seconds.
The price of the Ferrari Enzo when it was released stood at $630,000. Currently you won’t be able to find an Enzo for under $2.2 million. With the price going over four times higher than its originally value, the Enzo’s value is set to increase even further due to its fame and rarity.
Final Thoughts
Supercars are expensive, but some of them can be a good investment. These are just a few of the modern supercars that have appreciated in value. There are more out there that have the potential to appreciate, but buying the right one before the value rises is difficult. The number one factor is rarity, and the rarer the supercar, the better its chances are of rising in value.