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When you think about two-seat convertible sports cars, Alfa Romeo, Triumph, and Fiat probably come to mind, but the Mazda MX-5 has outsold them all by a wide margin. Introduced in 1989, the MX-5 was marketed as the Miata in the United States and was an immediate success. At the time, tiny sports cars weren’t in style, but Americans bought them up in droves.
Power, Performance, and Price
The lightweight import had a perfect 50/50 front/rear balance, making them a dream to drive and is the reason why amateur racers embraced it. The MX-5 got a facelift in the second-gen as well as more powerful engines, making these cars even faster and sportier. In 2002, the top trim for the Miata was SE, which didn’t come with any extra power or performance but did include a backpack and a couple of baseball hats.
4 2003 Nissan 350Z Track Coupe
Collector Value: $9,642
The 2003 Nissan 350Z not only counts as a classic in the technical definition, but in the spirit of the term. Introduced in 2002 for the 2003 model year, this legendary two-seat sports car became a favorite of street racers and drifters alike. It hit superstardom by gracing the movie poster for The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and was the main ride for film antagonist Takasi (DK). Actually, it was a Fairlady Z, but it’s the same car.
Power, Performance, and Price
When the 350Z hit the scene it was a serious sports car that didn’t stretch the budget too much. It was Porsche power for Miata money, and that resonated with enthusiasts. It was also helpful in that it had nearly perfect steering, braking, and acceleration. MotorTrend loved it after an initial test drive and said, “It’s quick when you want it to be, yet smooth as silk on occasions that require discretion.”
3 2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra
Collector Value: $19,066
The fourth-generation Mustangs are tied with the second-gen for everyone’s least favorite, but unlike the Pinto-esque Mustang IIs, the Fox Body successors came with some serious ponies under the hood. The most juice you could get in a ’74 ‘Stang was a detuned 171cu-in V-6, but a 2003 SVT Mustang Cobra had a piston-pumpin’ supercharged 4.6-liter V-8, that made it one of the fastest muscle cars of the decade.
Power, Performance, and Price
It was nicknamed the “Terminator” Mustang and there are a lot of different stories as to why, but basically, it was designed to kick the Chevrolet Camaro’s ass, which it did, sort of. Chevy Discontinued the Camaro a year before in 2002, so maybe it was pure coincidence, or perhaps the SVT Cobra actually did terminate it, or at least scare it into hiding for a few years.
2 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Collector Value: $22,402
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car people think about when the term “classic” is thrown out, but there was a whole lot of really blah ‘Vettes made since its introduction in 1953. The underpowered C3s of the late 1970s and pretty much the entire C4 generation come to mind as uninspired examples. The C5 was from a transitional period, between the design malaise of the C3 and the radical supercar styling of the more recent gens.
Power, Performance, and Price
It’s also a fairly underrated era because the 2003 Corvette Z06 was a hell of a sports car. As a replacement for the Z1, the Z06 was a tribute to the performance of Sting Rays of the early ’60s. It did quite a good job honoring that heritage with a powerful 405 horsepower engine as well as superior suspension and handling. Those who are good with math and dates may notice that 2003 is 50 years after 1953, so this half-century anniversary car has some potential collector value.
1 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10
Collector Value: $60,063
A Dodge Viper from any generation or year is a classic for the simple fact that it’s the most awesome American sports car ever built. With the 20-year rule in place, however, the 2003 Viper SRT-10 just officially became a classic and the ones to follow will have to wait. 2003 is the first year of the third generation, and it’s when Dodge bumped the legendary V-10 up to 8.3 liters, so this one’s a keeper.
Power, Performance, and Price
The average used price is less than the original MSRP, but not by much, and the truth is that a pristine example will fetch top dollar. Unlike a lot of “classic” cars on this list, the 2003 Viper will only increase in value in the coming years. It’s highly unlikely that there will ever be a 100-point Saturn Ion at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but Vipers will always be fender-to-fender with the top exotics and vintage cars at the best shows for eternity
