The 5 common cars in UK 'destined' to get classic status - from just £15,500

With the car industry rapidly moving towards electric power, one expert has highlighted five models that are "destined" to become future classics. Classic cars are notoriously expensive, with collectors often paying extraordinary sums. The current record was set in 2022, when a Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold for an astonishing $142million (£115million).

Of course, not every classic reaches such astronomical heights. Most began life as modern cars before their rarity, design, or cultural impact elevated them. With a huge change on the horizon towards electrification, the CEO of automotive platform Car.co.uk, William Fletcher, believes several cars are destined for classic status.

He said: "Right now, we're living through the biggest change in automotive history since the invention of the car itself. Internal combustion engines, manual gearboxes, and pure mechanical engineering are all heading for the history books.

"In twenty years' time, when everything's electric and autonomous, people will look back at the F-Type's V8 roar or the Civic Type R's manual gearbox with the same nostalgia we have for carburettors and chrome bumpers today.

"Smart collectors know it's not always the priciest or flashiest cars that become icons. Some of our greatest classics were affordable when new, such as the original Golf GTI, the BMW E30 M3, and even the Ford Escort RS."

He predicted five modern vehicles that he believes future generations will treasure.

1. Jaguar F-Type - The Last Roar of British Sports Car Heritage

Production ended in 2024 as part of the brand's transition to electric. He believes the combination of heritage-inspired design and modern engineering makes it perfect for classic status.

"The F-Type perfectly captures what made British sports cars special," said Fletcher. "It's got that long bonnet, aggressive stance, and most importantly, it sounds absolutely magnificent.

"When you hear that V8 growl, you know you're experiencing something that won't exist in ten years' time."

There are no more new models being produced, but Jaguar's approved sellers showed the cheapest modal being sold at £29,850.

2. Suzuki Jimny - The Tiny 4x4 with Giant Appeal

With Suzuki deciding to discontinue the Jimny in Europe due to the stricter upcoming emissions regulations, he explained it creates the scarcity that classic car values thrive on.

This is the cheapest model on the list, with a used model retailing on the official Suzuki website for £15,495. All new models are currently sold out.

"The Jimny represents something pure that's disappearing from the automotive world," Fletcher noted. "It's simple, honest, and incredibly capable off-road. Plus, it looks like nothing else on the road. That retro styling isn't trying to be clever. It just works."

3. Toyota GR Yaris - The Rally Car for the Road

With its three-door body, all-wheel-drive system, and three-cylinder turbo engine, the GR Yaris was built for rallying. Fletcher said the racing pedigree, combined with limited production numbers, has "already made it a collector's darling".

"The GR Yaris is special because it exists for one reason: to go rallying," explained Fletcher. "Toyota didn't compromise or try to make it appeal to everyone, but instead built exactly what they needed for competition, and we got to buy it."

The cheapest new model being marketed by Toyota is £46,045.

4. Honda Civic Type R - The Manual Transmission's Last Stand

"This Type R is the last of its kind," Fletcher emphasised. "It's manual, it's front-wheel drive, and it's absolutely bonkers fast. When everything goes electric and automatic, people will remember this as the peak of the naturally-aspirated hot hatch."

He said the 2025 European-spec model delivers "raw, unfiltered performance that stands in stark contrast" to modern cars. Prices for new cars start at £51,905.

5. Caterham Seven - Timeless British Engineering

As a direct descendant of the original Lotus Seven, he said the minimalist approach with no roof, no doors, and no extra weight "delivers a driving experience that modern cars simply cannot replicate".

"The Seven is already a classic that's still in production," Fletcher pointed out. "It's the purest driving experience money can buy, and that purity becomes more valuable every year as cars get heavier and more isolated from the road."

The cheapest model on its website is being marketed at £29,450.