4. Is it entertaining to drive?  It doesn’t have to be – see the DS example above – but it genuinely helps if it is. This can be such a strong determinant of future classic status it can override shortcomings in other areas. I bought my Peugeot 205 GTi not just because it is fabulous fun to drive but because I truly believe that in time this will make it a genuinely collectable car.  5. Does the model have a competition heritage?  An important and often overlooked component in establishing a car’s pedigree. If a car is of a type that has done impressive work on track or rally stage, that goes a long way to conferring proper credibility on its road-going brethren. Look at the prices now being paid for 1960s Minis and 1970s Escort MkIIs to how well this theory works in practice. VW Beetles do not enjoy the same status.  Critical. However wonderful it is, it still has to fit into the life of its owner and if you can only drive it twice a year and have to trail it to a specific location before you do, that may well affect its value. Taken to extremes, this is why 1950s F1 cars are as a rule less valuable than their sports racing stablemates: because of the regulations at the time, sports cars had to work both on the race track and the public road and it is this very versatility that is so valued today.  7. Does it have a great badge on its nose?  This shouldn’t matter but it does. To use a Ferrari example once more, you’ll now pay over £200,000 for a 330 GT Mk1 from the mid 1960s despite the fact it is ugly, not very quick and wasn’t that great when it was new. But it’s a Ferrari and a 1960s V12 Ferrari at that. And in this case, that’s enough.  If you apply these rules to the Ferrari 250 GTO you will see it ticks every box save the one marked technical significance, for despite its giant-killing ways and incredible V12 engine, the GTO was actually a very conventional car. But that’s the point: not even the GTO ticks every box, so if you can find a car that manages even a few, you may just be on to something.
Is it possible to predict which old cars will make you money? Andrew Frankel reveals his top tips