The 2010s Classic Cars
Modern performance icons, bought today as tomorrow's classics.
Buyers are increasingly treating limited-run and high-performance cars from the 2010s as future classics, purchased ahead of the curve rather than after decades of appreciation. The calculus is different here than for older classics — most cars from this decade are still well within their useful mechanical life, so buying one is closer to buying a well-specced used car than acquiring a restoration project.
Notable Models
Dodge Viper
1992–2017The Viper was conceived by Bob Lutz and Carroll Shelby as a spiritual successor to the Cobra — brutal, analog, and unapologetically extreme. Its 8.0-liter V10 produced 400 hp at launch and grew to 645 hp by the final generation. The ACR (American Club Racer) variants set production car lap records at tracks worldwide. No car captures the raw American performance ethos more directly.
Land Rover Defender
1983–2016Introduced in 1983 as the One Ten and 1984 as the Ninety (named for their wheelbase in inches), the range adopted the "Defender" name in 1990 to distinguish it from the new Discovery. It carried the Series III's basic formula into the modern era with coil-spring suspension and permanent four-wheel drive.
Buying Tips
- 1.Focus on documented maintenance and remaining warranty coverage over "originality" debates, which matter far less for a car this age.
- 2.For performance and track-capable models, ask directly whether the car was track-driven — service records, tire wear patterns, and brake wear can help confirm what a seller tells you.
- 3.Confirm all factory recalls and technical service bulletins have been addressed, which is straightforward to check for cars this recent.
- 4.A full vehicle history report is worth the small cost for any car this age — accident and title history are far more reliably documented than on older classics.
