Alpine A110 

The globally-adored Alpine A110’s production run will end this year, much to the dismay of enthusiasts everywhere — including everyone in the Classic Driver office — as the successor will be electric only, meaning more weight and less driver engagement. Therefore there’s never been a better time to add one of these featherweight French sports cars to your garage and discover just how much fun can be had with a 1.8-litre, 250 horsepower four cylinder propelling just 1,100 kilograms. 

Audi S3 8L

The combustion engined hot hatch is slowly being phased out in favour of their electric counterparts, which has us longing for Audi’s first attempt at the genre. The 8L-generation Audi S3 combined a manual gearbox, four-wheel drive, and a 225 horsepower 1.8-litre inline four cylinder with designer Dirk van Braeckel’s wonderfully curvaceous soap bar styling for a timeless hot hatch that still causes us to stop and stare to this day. As well-kept, low mileage examples become increasingly scarce, we would jump at the next opportunity to acquire a prime specimen of these new millennium Audi hot hatches. 

BMW M5 Touring E60

A V10 in a family estate? In 2026, it sounds like pure fantasy, but back when the E60-generation M5 Touring hit the roads in 2007, it represented the pinnacle of fast-paced people haulers from BMW. Both the M division’s first estate and the last hand-built M car, just 891 examples of these power wagons were built, boasting a 500 horsepower V10 connected to a seven speed SMG gearbox. Sure, the V10 is complex and expensive to fix if something goes wrong, and the M5 Touring isn’t exactly fuel efficient, but we feel almost no price is too steep for something capable of hitting 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds with your whole family and a dog or two in tow, not to mention that glorious exhaust note!

Jaguar F-Type S 

When the F-Type’s production ceased in 2024, it brought an end to nearly a century of Jaguar sports cars, known for their stunning looks, powerful combustion engines, and comfortable cabins. Of the F-Type range, we would pick an early pre-facelift F-Type S Coupe equipped with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 engine powering the rear wheels only via a good old fashioned manual gearbox. This was the most powerful manual F-Type ever offered, and we feel the post-facelift cars can’t hold a candle to Ian Callum’s styling on these early examples. Considering the next Jaguar will be electric only, time is running out to snap up one of the last and most accomplished big cats at a decent price.

Maserati Quattroporte V Sport GT S 

The fifth generation Maserati Quattroporte — designed by none other than Ken Okuyama of Ferrari Enzo fame — is now ageing gracefully into its executive saloon looks, especially in post-facelift GT S form, which was first introduced at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. In addition to the Pininfarina bodywork, the GT S was blessed with a Ferrari-derived 4.7-litre V8 capable of producing 444 horsepower and one of the best noises of all time. Just 1,847 examples of these incredible saloons were ever built, making them quite the rarity and a must-have for any discerning collector of Italian modern classics. 

Maybach 57

The Maybach 57 and its long-wheelbase sister, the Maybach 62, were the first models produced by the marque after the brand’s revival at the hands of DaimlerChrysler AG. Named after their respective lengths in decimetres, these imposing executive sedans represent the stealth wealth alternative to the Bentley Mulsannes and Rolls-Royce Phantoms of the world. Based on the W140 S-Class, these land yachts were financially ruinous for the marque, being both extremely costly to produce and difficult to sell, with a little over 1,100 examples ever built. Nevertheless, if any car on earth could represent the concept of old money, it would be a Maybach 57, which makes it the perfect choice for (somewhat) unassuming luxury transport in 2026. 

Mercedes-Benz SLK 32 AMG

Designed by Michael Mauer under the guidance of the legendary Bruno Sacco, the first generation SLK has slowly become — to our eye at least — one of the best looking two-door convertibles on the open road, especially in the case of the AMG-fettled SLK 32. Powered by a supercharged 3.2-litre V6 with a respectable 349 horsepower on tap, the SLK 32 may be quick, but it is by no means a Mazda MX-5 or Porsche Boxster replacement. Better suited to weekend cruises or road trips, these early post-merger AMG sports cars are mini grand tourers at heart, and an excellent choice for a modern classic daily. However, with just 4,333 examples ever built, you’ll want to add one to your garage before everyone else realises just how cool they truly are. 

Porsche 968 

The Porsche 968 represented the final chapter for Porsche’s water-cooled front-engined sports cars, capping off a lineage that dates right back to the humble 924. Powered by a surprisingly large-displacement 236 horsepower 3.0-litre inline four cylinder engine, the 968 was available in coupe or cabriolet form, and boasted variable valve timing and an improved 6-speed manual gearbox. Despite their good looks and exceptional handling, just 12,780 examples were sold between 1992 and 1995, achieving less than 10 percent of the 944’s production run. If we had to pick a specific model, a 968 Club Sport with colour-matched wheels would be very tough to beat. 

Toyota Century 

Toyota is set to expand the Century brand from a Japan-only run of executive saloons into a full-blown global luxury powerhouse, potentially capable of rivalling Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Maybach. That makes it the perfect time to add one of these JDM limos to your garage before the world wakes up to these velour-trimmed masterpieces. While all variants are exceptional, if you ask us, the second-generation G50 Century is the sweet spot, boasting a silky-smooth 276 horsepower 5.0-litre V12 (Toyota’s first V12, in fact), reclining rear seats, and those ever-appealing fender-mounted wing mirrors. 

Volkswagen Passat W8 

It’s not often that the engineers at Volkswagen get to let their hair down and have a bit of fun, but when they do it results in automotive legends like the Passat W8. Aside from the quad exhaust tips at the back and the modest W8 badge on the grille, there’s very little to give away this all-wheel drive wonder, making it the ideal sleeper. Under the bonnet, two VR4 engines were combined into the W8’s oddball heart, resulting in a 275 horsepower output, a sub-7 second 0-60 mph time, and an electronically limited 155 mph top speed. We’ll take one in Deep Blue Pearl with a manual gearbox, please!