Jan's List - 10 Legendary Cars for 2026: Last minute to buy "future classics" before prices explode

If you think the best investment is cryptocurrency or a stock in a tech company run by a sociopath in a pool, you're wrong. The real investment is on four wheels, smells like gasoline, and probably leaves a small oil stain on your garage floor. Welcome to 2026 - the year we'll be shopping with our eyes open and our wallets closed. 10 Legendary Cars for 2026.

The automotive world likes to be divided into warring tribes, who throw used carburetors and charging cables at each other. But the truth is that those of us who are truly knowledgeable understand both worlds. As the founder of the largest Facebook community for electric vehicles in Slovenia I enjoy the instant torque and silence of the digital age every day – it's like wearing a top-of-the-line smartwatch: it's precise, efficient and full of features that make your life easier. But let's be honest: Sometimes you don't want a smartwatch. Sometimes you want a heavy, mechanical classic where you can hear the ticking of gears and feel the pulse of the mechanism. Electricity is for moving the body, but gasoline still moves the soul. That's why here's a list of legendary cars that you shouldn't miss.

Right now we are in a unique, almost a magical moment in history, when we can – and should – enjoy the best of both worlds before that analog “mechanical watch” becomes an unattainable luxury. We’re talking about the cult status zone. This is the point on the graph where a car stops being just a “used old car” and becomes an “interesting youngtimer.” Depreciation (the decline in value) has stopped, the curve is turning upwards, but prices haven’t yet skyrocketed into the stratosphere, as happened with air-cooled Porsches.

I did my homework. I analyzed the market, checked the specs, and picked 10 cars that are currently undervalued, mechanically fascinating, and will likely be worth more in 2026 than they are today.

My list – 10 legendary cars for 2026

1. Porsche Boxster S (986) – A ticket to the world of the elite

Many called it a “fresh egg” because of the shape of its headlights and called it the “poor man’s Porsche.” What fools. Porsche Boxster S (986) it has a mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, and a hydraulic steering wheel that communicates with your palms better than your wife.

Why now? Because people are finally realizing that this is a purebred sports car.
Specifications: 3.2-liter boxer engine, 185 kW (252 hp), 305 Nm (225 lb-ft) of torque.
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 5.9 seconds, final speed 260 km/h (161 mph).
Macarolo's advice: Buy it, replace the IMS bearing, and laugh at those in the new 911s who paid four times as much for less fun.

2. BMW 330Ci (E46) – The Last Real BMW

Before BMW started designing cars to look like angry beavers, they made the E46. The coupe shape is timeless elegance. It's the pinnacle of the analog era - a straight-six, no turbo, just pure mechanics. No list of legendary cars would be complete without this car.

Why now? Because good examples disappear faster than beer at Oktoberfest.
Specifications: 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder, 170 kW (231 hp), 300 Nm (221 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.5 seconds, final speed 250 km/h (155 mph).
Truth: It will probably rust a little on the fenders, but when the engine is singing at 6,000 rpm, you won't care.

3. Jaguar XK (X150) – Aston Martin for sale

Look at it. It was designed by Ian Callum, the same guy who designed the Aston Martin DB9. And guess what? They look almost identical, except the Jaguar costs as much as a well-equipped Golf. It has an aluminum body and a V8 engine.

Why now? Because this is a British aristocrat who likes to fight in the pub.
Specifications: 4.2-liter V8, 219 kW (298 hp), 411 Nm (303 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.2 seconds, final speed 250 km/h (155 mph) limited.
Atmosphere: Driving in it makes you feel like you just robbed a bank, but you did it in a custom suit.

4. Alfa Romeo Brera 3.2 V6 Q4 – A beautiful disaster

Jeremy Clarkson once said that you can't be a true "petrol lover" if you've never owned an Alfa. The Brera is a work of art on wheels. Is it too heavy? Yes. Is the engine as thirsty as a sailor on vacation? Absolutely. But look at that rear! The list of legendary cars wouldn't be any worse without this car, but still. It's special.

Why now? Because no one makes such beautiful cars anymore. And the prices are at rock bottom.
Specifications: 3.2-liter V6, 191 kW (260 hp), 322 Nm (237 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.8 seconds, final speed 240 km/h (149 mph).
Irony: It'll probably break down. But you'll be able to admire it while you wait for the towing service.

5. Renault Clio RS 197/200 (Gen 3) – Pocket Rocket – hint – top of the list – legendary cars

Forget supercars. On a winding road, a good driver in this Clio will overtake you and show you the middle finger. This is the latest naturally aspirated Clio that revs high into the sky.

Why now? Because modern hot hatches are too digital and sterile.
Specifications: 2.0-liter naturally aspirated engine, 145 kW (197 hp), 215 Nm (159 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.9 seconds, final speed 215 km/h (134 mph).
Fact: The suspension is rock hard. Your spine will hate you, but your heart will sing.

6. Audi TT Quattro (Mk1 225) – Bauhaus on wheels

When it came out, it looked like a spaceship. Today it is a design icon. Look for the version with 225 horses and Quattro drive. The interior still looks better than in most modern cars. A list of legendary cars would not be complete without this car.

Why now? Because it is becoming a collector's item of the “Youngtimer” scene.
Specifications: 1.8-liter turbo, 165 kW (225 hp), 280 Nm (207 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.6 seconds, final speed 243 km/h (151 mph).
Special feature: Baseball stitching on leather seats. If you find them, buy them now.

7. Toyota GT86 / Subaru BRZ (1st generation) – Drift School

People complain that it's slow. These people don't understand driving. This car has Prius tires for a reason - so it can slide through corners at 40 km/h and make you feel like a hero without dying.

Why now? Prices of the first models have dropped to the level of a used Polo.
Specifications: 2.0-liter boxer engine, 147 kW (200 hp), 205 Nm (151 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 7.6 seconds, final speed 226 km/h (140 mph).
Thought: This is the Mazda MX-5 for people who are afraid of being peed on by a bird (because it has a roof).

8. Volvo C30 T5 – Swedish eccentric

Remember the glass rear? The Volvo C30 was unusual, as T5 engines (same as in the Ford Focus ST) was a silent killer. It's comfortable, safe, and sounds like a war machine when you step on the gas.

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Why now? No one thinks of Volvo when they're looking for fun. Be different.
Specifications: 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbo, 169 kW (230 hp), 320 Nm (236 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.7 seconds, final speed 240 km/h (149 mph).
Style: A design that ages better than George Clooney.

9. Mercedes-Benz CLK 500 (C209) – Autobahn locomotive

No pillars between the side windows. When you roll down all the windows, it's almost a convertible. Under the hood, an indestructible V8. This is not a sports car, this is a car for a gentleman who is in a hurry to a meeting in Munich.

Why now? V8 engines are dying out. Getting one for a pittance is a privilege.
Specifications: 5.0-liter V8, 225 kW (306 hp), 460 Nm (339 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 6.0 seconds, final speed 250 km/h (155 mph).
Warning: Fuel consumption? Yes.

10. Maserati Quattroporte V – Gambling with the Devil

This is the riskiest purchase on this list. Under the hood is a Ferrari engine. The sound is a symphony. The maintenance can put you on a beggar's pole. But, oh my god, what a car.

Why now? Because it costs less than the new Dacia Sandero.
Specifications: 4.2-liter V8, 295 kW (400 hp), 451 Nm (333 lb-ft).
Capacity: 0-100 km/h 5.2 seconds, final speed 275 km/h (171 mph).
Jan says: Only buy it if you have nerves of steel and a good mechanic. But it's a car you should own at least once in your life, even if it's just for a week.

Conclusion: Buy Now, Cry (With Happiness) Later – My List of Legendary Cars

In a world that is rushing towards autonomous driving and the silence of electric motors, these cars are monuments to another era. (That's why they will be worth a lot someday) An era when it mattered how a car feels, not how many apps it has on its touchscreen. The list I put together is not a list of the fastest or most expensive vehicles. It is a list of cars with characters.

Each of these has its own quirks. The Alfa will have electrical blackouts, the Maserati will eat clutches, the Jaguar may leak oil. But these are not faults. These are personality traits. In 2026, it may be the last time you can afford one of these machines at a “normal” price. They are a ticket to the club where smiles per kilometer count, not kilowatt hours. You will have it in the garage for 30 years and then sell it for 10x the amount.

Therefore, I ask you: Don't buy a boring SUV. Buy something that will make you look back every time you park. Life is too short for boring cars. And if your wife asks why you bought a 20-year-old BMW – tell her it's an investment. She might even believe you.