Photo credit: Rich Pearce/Hagerty UK
Hagerty’s expert market insight pinpoints ten cars representing excellent value for enthusiasts and collectors in 2026
Selection covers all eras and genres, from the iconic Ford Transit Mk 1 to the Ferrari F430
Modern classics include the Volkswagen GTI Mk 2 in the year the GTI celebrates its 50th anniversary
Modern classics continue to be popular with the Mercedes-SLK R171 and the Porsche 911 996 making the list for 2026
Classic car insurer Hagerty UK is proud to announce its highly anticipated 2026 UK Bull Market List, ten cars that its experts and extensive market data predict to be rewarding buys this year. The list features cars for all budgets, from a few thousand pounds to nearly £100,000, all of which hold a special place in motoring history.
Each car has been selected by the expert valuation specialists at Hagerty UK who compile the industry-leading Hagerty Price Guide, the resource behind the respected Hagerty Valuation Tool. Using extensive market data and knowledge, the cars have been selected not only for their excellent value for money, but also for their desirability and ownership experience.
The 2026 Hagerty UK Bull Market List features cars of all eras, from the pre-war Riley Nine Imp to the extremely collectable Ferrari F430. The UK’s favourite van, the Ford Transit makes the list with the Mk 1 celebrating its 60th anniversary last year. The immensely popular Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 2 is on the list in the year that the world’s most famous hot hatch, the Golf GTI turns 50. Finally receiving the recognition it deserves, the 996 generation of the Porsche 911 also appears on the list for 2026.
“The 2026 list really does have something for everyone,” says John Mayhead, Editor of the Hagerty Price Guide. “These are not high-end collector cars, but rather the cars that we perceive as offering the ultimate in value in 2026 when it comes to affordability and the ownership experience. These are the cars that deliver genuine value in more ways than just financial returns, cars that have written their own chapters in motoring history and enable owners to write theirs.”
The 2026 Hagerty UK Bull Market List with average ‘excellent’ prices is as follows:
1966 – 1986 Alfa Romeo Spider (average price 2000 Veloce £21,200)
The Alfa Romeo Spider has always had an element of mystique about it, a car to enjoy summer days or embark on scenic road trips. It achieved cult Hollywood status when it starred in the movie, The Graduate and is surprisingly practical with a big boot, simple soft-top, comfortable interior and plenty of specialists to keep it in good shape.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
Hagerty believes the 1970s 2000 Veloce is now a great buy, with an ‘excellent’ condition price of £21,200 for a car that has no rust, a relatively decent engine and taut suspension. A usable classic with its comfortable interior, it represents the sweet spot between classic styling and practicality. Prices are unlikely to soar but at their current level they offer excellent value.
2004 – 2009 Ferrari F430 (average value for the Spider £95,400)
The Ferrari F430 was a step up from its 360 predecessor both in terms of powertrain and design with its 4.3-litre F136 V8 engine setting the standard for future models. Designed by Frank Stephenson and Pininfarina it took visual styling cues from many previous iconic Ferraris. Values have risen 19% over the past five years, making it a safe and extremely enjoyable buy.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
Compared to its 458 successor, the F430 is good value with ‘excellent’ examples with low mileage, manual gearboxes and great specification available for around £95,000, significantly more than those with F1 gearboxes. Extremely popular with GenX and Millennials, the F430 is likely to be a car that will be prized in the future.
1965 – 1977 Ford Transit Mk 1 (average value 2-litre petrol £17,200)
The Ford Transit has been the UK’s most popular commercial vehicle for over 60 years, regularly lauded as being the backbone of the UK’s economy. First introduced in 1965, it has been the tradesperson’s choice, as well as being popular with Police forces, logistics companies and famously in the 1970s, bank robbers. Values of the first generation Mk 1 have increased by 6.2% over the past five years and while the extremely rare 3.0-litre V6 is the most desirable, Hagerty’s experts have chosen the 2.0-litre petrol as the one to watch.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
Survivors are rare and there have been some recent strong asking prices that could nudge the market upwards. As ever with British-built Fords, the Transit has a very strong and passionate following of enthusiasts, good news for anyone wanting to maintain one. Hagerty feels that the Mk 1 Transit has room to increase in value.
2004 – 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLK R171 (average value £5,200)
Mercedes-Benz’ passion for performance and quality ensures that eventually every convertible that bears the three-pointed star becomes collectable. Values have remained flat for the 2004-2011 R171-generation SLK over the last five years as the car sits between being a used car and a classic car, but this currently makes it excellent value for those seeking a quality roadster that is great to drive all year round.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
A supercharged Mercedes-Benz convertible with a retractable hard top, sporty performance even in the entry-level 200 Kompressor model and typically comfortable interior seems an absolute steal at the prices they are currently available for. Even the latest, low-mileage, high-spec examples of this model top out at around £10,000 and Hagerty’s ‘excellent’ value is around half this. Even the high-performance SLK 55 AMG version with a 5.5-litre 350bhp V8 is roughly double the price of the 200, a huge amount of car for the price.
1955 – 1962 MG MGA (average value £25,700)
Like many British sports cars of the 1950s and 60s, values of the MG MGA has declined over the past five years, but Hagerty’s market data and Collectability Algorithm both agree it is good buy. It certainly has a lot going for it with a race-derived design, plenty of parts suppliers and specialists and an incredible ability to put a smile on your face whether on a quick jaunt to the pub or even a long distance road trip.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
The MG MGA is a much-loved British classic and we’ve selected the 1600 as the sweet spot between the early 1500 and the more expensive Twin Cam and Deluxe models.
1997 – 2006 Porsche 911 996 (average value £17,800)
The 996-generation of the Porsche 911 has often been maligned as the first water-cooled version of the iconic sports car and the one with the “fried egg” headlamps. It also suffered from mechanical issues, but with the 996 now over 20 years old, these will all have been sorted out resulting in a really good sports car with a great interior, superb performance and sound and with plenty of upgrades available to enhance the ownership experience.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
The 996 Porsche 911 is excellent value for money compared with any other 911. We’ve chosen the early 3.4-litre Carrera 2, as prices start in the low-teens and even for an excellent one, you’d be hard pressed to pay more than £25,000. For that, you get a car with such a pedigree that Hagerty’s Collectability Algorithm scores higher than any other car in this year’s Bull Market list, including the Ferrari. As ever with Porsche, make sure you buy the highest spec you can find, a car that has been meticulously maintained by the right people, and one with relatively low mileage and matching numbers.
1934 – 1935 Riley Nine Imp (average value £60,100)
Values of pre-war cars have dropped significantly in recent years, but while values of the Riley Nine have declined around 20% during that time, the experience of driving one is utterly exhilarating. Fitted with a 1087cc straight-four engine, the Riley Nine Imp was almost a lightweight version of Riley’s MPH, a car that took on MG on the race track.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
The Riley Nine Imp is loved by older owners, but even Gen X’ers are increasingly enjoying the fun it provides. It offers the sweet spot between a tourer that can be used at weekends or in the summer, and an out-and-out sports car for use on track. Prices are now at the level that one that has been very well maintained by one of the very best restoration companies will probably offer great value for money.
1993 – 2002 Toyota Supra A80 (average value £40,000)
The A80 was the fourth iteration of the Toyota Supra and the one that became a poster car for an entire generation who watched The Fast and the Furious movies, or spent ages tuning one in the Gran Turismo or Forza console games. Sold in limited numbers in the UK, prices have risen 41.8% over the past five years, although down from their peak after prices shot up when the famous Candy Orange Supra from the movie sold for $550,000 in 2021.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
The A80 Toyota Supra offers offer good value for money compared with its two period competitors, the Honda NSX Type-R and the R33 Nissan GT-R. The ownership demographic is also very young, with 64 percent born since 1981, often a sign that cars will continue to grow in value as those owners reach peak earning potential. Its rarity and the fact that the UK variant was the most powerful made with 326bhp, means that UK cars are increasingly being sourced by international buyers, which together with the model’s racing history makes the A80 Supra highly ranked by Hagerty’s Collectability Algorithm.
1971 – 1979 Vauxhall Viva HC (average value £4,300)
The epitome of a Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional car, the Vauxhall Viva was immensely popular in its time, with over 650,000 produced. Today it is an extremely rare car, often overlooked by all but the most dedicated of enthusiasts, but it is a benchmark of 1970s British motoring that has a lot going for it. Notoriously robust for the time, both mechanically and in the bodywork department, the Viva’s simplicity makes it relatively easy for an enthusiast to maintain and a great option for those seeking an affordable, enjoyable and practical classic.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
Compared with its flashy siblings, the Firenza and Magnum, the Vauxhall Viva is great value for money, especially as prices have dropped over the past few years. It isn’t a car that will make you rich, but as a usable, excellent value British classic that will make you stand out from the crowd, it is hard to beat.
1983 – 1992 Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk II (average value £15,300)
The Volkswagen Golf GTI is one of the most iconic cars of motoring history and it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. The second generation Mk 2 GTI features a larger, more modern body than the original, as well as improved handling, comfort and from 1986, a 139bhp 16-valve engine. Regarded by many as the benchmark hot hatch compared to the Ford Fiesta XR2, Peugeot 205 GTi and Renault 5 GT Turbo, the Golf delivers that ideal combination of a spirited driving experience with modern classic styling and everyday comfort, ensuring it will continue to be one of the most loved of the hot hatch genre.
What the Hagerty Valuation Team says:
Prices of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk 1 have risen nearly 25% since 2020, making the Mk 2 great value for money, with prices for both the 8-valve and 16v remaining relatively flat, despite a marked increase in the overall Hagerty Hot Hatchback Index over the past 12 months. Scoring higher on the Hagerty Collectability Algorithm than its predecessor, the Golf GTI Mk 2 is incredibly popular with younger owners. Its good looks, fun, quick and nimble performance, as well as a vast network of clubs and specialists makes ownership a truly rewarding experience.
“The launch of the Hagerty UK Bull Market List is always extremely exciting for us and for car enthusiasts of all ages,” says Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty UK. “The Bull Market List is a long-standing tradition for Hagerty in the US and the UK and it was wonderful to see so many people join Paul Cowland and John Mayhead as they announced the 2026 list at Bull Market Live during the extremely popular Bicester Scramble. Once again it is a fantastic list of cars that represent great value in so many ways and we look forward to celebrating these cars with owners at numerous Hagerty events throughout the year.”
