Modern cars may be quicker and smarter than ever, but they don’t always deliver the kind of driver connection as previous models. Even though they’re faster, safer and more capable than ever, something gets lost along the way. So, petrolheads turn to older models to fill that gap, also known as classic cars. These machines from the past remind us why we fell in love with driving in the first place, when engines had personality, steering wheels talked, and every journey felt like an event.
This list isn’t about investment potential or concours perfection. It’s about the kind of classic cars every man should own to feed that pure driving experience. These cars shaped automotive history. From lightweight icons and muscle car legends to motorsport-bred heroes, these are the best classic cars that reward the driver for getting behind the wheel.
This is a list of the best of classic cars every true petrolhead should experience at least once in their lifetime. While many of these would also make for cool collectors cars, we’re not looking at the rarest breeds that attract seven-figure price tags. Here’re our picks.
Mini Cooper (Classic Mini, 1959–2000)
Average sale price: AUD $20,000–$50,000
The Mini proved that size has absolutely nothing to do with character. Designed as a humble economy car, it went on to become one of the most influential vehicles ever built. Its front-wheel-drive layout, lightweight build, and tiny wheels pushed to the corners for go-kart-like handling changed the way small cars were engineered forever. For what it represents and its impact on future cars decades later, the old-school Mini Cooper is arguably one of the greatest cars in the world.
Behind the wheel, a classic Mini feels alive at any speed. You’re never going fast, but it always feels like you are. That playful driving experience is why enthusiasts still adore it decades later. Add its motorsport success, including multiple Monte Carlo Rally wins, and you’ve got a car that punches far above its weight. It’s a classic car every man should own at some point in their life and experience what true lightweight classic car fun feels like.
Jeep CJ7 (1955–1986)
Average sale price: AUD $20,000–$55,000
The Jeep CJ7 is one of the best oldtimer cars that instantly earns respect, even if you’re not a hardcore off-roader. It’s simple, rugged and unapologetically mechanical, built in an era when durability mattered more than refinement. With its ladder-frame chassis, solid axles and boxy proportions, the CJ7 feels honest in a way modern SUVs rarely do.
This is the kind of great vintage car you buy for the experience rather than outright performance. The steering is vague, the ride is agricultural, and that’s exactly the point. Whether it’s crawling over rocks or cruising with the doors off, the CJ7 delivers a sense of freedom few cars can match. For any petrolhead, it represents the pure, utilitarian roots of four-wheel driving.
Ford Mustang (1965–1968)
Average sale price: AUD $45,000–$70,000
The first-generation Ford Mustang is pure automotive theatre. Long bonnet, short rear deck and a V8 soundtrack that defines American muscle, it’s one of the most great vintage cars that are still attainable, also as one of the cool collector cars. When it launched in the mid-1960s, the Mustang created an entirely new segment and became a cultural icon almost overnight.
Driving one of the best classic cars from America – the first-gen Ford Mustang – isn’t about finesse or precision. It’s about presence, noise and effortless charm. Even today, it feels special just idling at the lights. This Mustang represents freedom, rebellion and the golden age of affordable performance. It’s not perfect, but that’s part of the charm. Few classic cars capture the spirit of their era quite like it does.
Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (1989–1994)
Average sale price: AUD $65,000–$90,000
Could there really be a list of the best classic cars without a Skyline? Granted, it’s the R34 GT-R that usually makes it onto a list for classic cars every man wants to own, but that popularity is what makes them a lot more expensive and hard to find. Instead, we’ve picked a Skyline that’s a little more attainable and is a true member of the Nissan sports car lineage. The R32 Skyline GT-R didn’t just dominate racetracks, it rewrote the rulebook. Nicknamed “Godzilla,” it embarrassed far more expensive European machinery using advanced technology that was years ahead of its time. All-wheel drive, four-wheel steering system and the legendary RB26 engine made it brutally legendary.
What makes the R32 special today is how raw it still feels. There’s turbo lag, mechanical noise and a sense that the car is always ready to attack. It’s not a delicate car, it’s a weapon. The R32 represents Japan’s golden performance era, when manufacturers chased racing dominance rather than spreadsheets and emissions targets. Although one of the youngest names on this list, the Nissan Skyline GT-R as a whole is certainly one of the greatest cars in the world, and the R32 is one of the best classic cars from Japan.
Ferrari 308 GTB/GTS (1975-1985)
Average sale price: AUD $80,000-$140,000
Now we’re moving onto the finer choices of great vintage cars, and the prices reflect that. The Ferrari 308 is one of the best classic cars that made mid-engine exotica feel attainable. With its wedge-shaped styling and naturally aspirated V8, it perfectly captures the spirit of Ferrari in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It’s elegant without being intimidating, and dramatic without being excessive.
This isn’t one of the greatest Ferraris ever built, and that’s fine. What matters is the driver’s experience which includes the sound, the gated manual gearbox and the sense of occasion every time you get behind the wheel. The Ferrari 308 is one of the nicer classic cars every man should own. It delivers the badge, the emotion and the connection, without losing itself in modern excess or complexity.
Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray (1963–1967)
Average sale price: AUD $85,000–$150,000
In the golden age of the motor car, America was churning out future icons in the 1960s. One such example of a great vintage car is the Chevrolet C2 Corvette Sting Ray. With its dramatic curves, hidden headlights and aggressive stance, it still looks stunning today. More importantly, it backed up the looks with serious performance thanks to powerful V8 engines and improved chassis dynamics.
This was the Corvette that proved America could build a world-class sports car. It’s fast, loud and unapologetically bold, exactly what a good classic car should be. Driving one feels like an event, even at low speeds. It is often regarded as the sweet spot of Corvette history, making it one of the best classic cars every man should own.
Jaguar E-Type (1961-1975)
Average sale price: AUD $90,000-$120,000
Few vintage cars are spoken about with the reverence reserved for the Jaguar E-Type. When it debuted in the early 1960s, it appeared to be nothing else on the road. Even Enzo Ferrari famously called it the most beautiful car ever made.
But the E-Type wasn’t just a pretty face. It offered serious performance, advanced suspension and disc brakes at a price that undercut many rivals. Driving one today is not just a symbol of monetary status, but also the experience of a long bonnet performance car from that era. For auto enthusiasts, the E-Type represents a moment when style, performance and accessibility aligned perfectly, creating one of the best classic cars out there, and also one of the greatest cars of all time.
BMW E30 M3 (1986–1991)
Average sale price: AUD $100,000–$120,000
The BMW E30 M3 is seen as one of the greatest cars in the world, and it’s hard to argue that it deserves to be seen as one of the best classic cars to drive today. Built to dominate touring car racing in Germany and Europe, it became the most successful entry of all time. On the road, the E30 M3 delivers a balanced, high-revving driving experience that modern performance cars struggle to replicate.
There’s no forced induction surge of torque or electronic trickery here. Everything is about precision, feedback and driver involvement. The steering is sublime, the chassis is communicative, and the engine rewards commitment. The E30 M3 represents peak BMW, a time when motorsport directly shaped road cars. It’s not just a cool collectors car, it’s a benchmark that still influences sports coupes today.
Porsche 911 (1964–1989)
Average sale price: AUD $90,000–$150,000
An air-cooled Porsche 911 is the definition of a lifelong enthusiast car. Although the engine is in the “wrong” place, Porsche has refined the rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive formula over decades into something truly special. Each generation brought subtle improvements without losing the car’s core identity.
Being one of the greatest cars in the world, driving a classic 911 is a unique experience. While the newer 911s are blisteringly quick, it’s the old-school Merger air-cooled engine (both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged) that commands the most affection from petrolheads. The steering feels alive, the engine sound is unmistakable, and the dynamism demands respect. It rewards smooth inputs and punishes mistakes, which only deepens the connection between car and driver. The Porsche 911 is already one of the greatest cars in the world and the generations featuring air-cooled engines are some of the best classic cars to own. Owning an air-cooled 911 isn’t about chasing trends, it’s about appreciating automotive engineering, and a design that remains timeless without ever losing its soul.
Aston Martin DB5 (1963-1965)
Average sale price: AUD $1.4 million-$1.7 million
The Aston Martin DB5 is automotive elegance personified. Forever linked to James Bond, it became an icon not just because of its looks, but because of what it represented: sophistication, performance and effortless cool. Its aluminium bodywork and refined proportions still look exquisite today.
Underneath, the DB5 offered strong performance for its time, but it was always more grand tourer than outright sports car. That balance is exactly why it endures. Driving one feels special without being stressful. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most desirable cars aren’t the loudest or fastest, but the ones with timeless class. These elements easily position the Aston Martin DB5 as one of the best classic cars out there for both enthusiasts and as a cool collectors car too.
Why classics still matter
Classic cars endure because they offer something modern machines often don’t, a genuine sense of involvement. They ask more of the driver, reward mechanical sympathy, and make every journey feel intentional rather than automated.
These cars aren’t perfect, and that’s exactly why they resonate. The smells, the sounds, the quirks and even the flaws are part of the experience. Each model on this list represents a different era, philosophy and approach to performance, but they all share one thing in common they make driving feel special.
For a true petrolhead, owning or even driving a classic car isn’t about nostalgia alone. It’s about preserving the connection between human and machine, and celebrating a time when cars were built to be felt, not filtered.
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