When it comes to making money on automotive investments, getting there early is critical. There’s no point jumping on the bandwagon after the value of a certain model has already rocketed by 50% in a year because you’ve likely already missed the biggest gains. If you want to be really successful, buying a mint example before it enjoys a boost in popularity is the way to go.
These four collectible American machines illustrate the kinds of gains you can make if you time the market just right.
For this list, we’re featuring four American performance cars that have drastically increased in average value over the past 12 months.
2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca
+16%
The Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca was a special track-focused version of the Mustang Boss 302, which was itself an enhanced version of the normal Mustang GT. Sporting the same 440-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 found in the Boss 302, Ford primarily focused on the Mustang’s chassis to create the Laguna Seca. With revised rear suspension settings, a new rear X-brace that stiffened the car by 10%, and updated aerodynamics, the Laguna Seca was the meanest GT-based Mustang you could get at the time.
It was rare too, with just 1,514 examples produced over a two-year run. This exclusivity, combined with its enhanced performance, means they’re becoming more valuable year after year. According to Hagerty’s Valuation Tool, the Boss 302 Laguna Seca’s value has increased by 16% over the last 12 months, and 24.7% over the last three years. That’s a gain of around $20,000 in that short period. Indeed, auction cars, such as a black example sold through Bring a Trailer, are starting to sell for these revised values.
We expect that the Boss 302 Laguna Seca’s value could rise even further over the coming years.
1987 Buick Regal GNX
+38.2%
The 1987 Buick Regal GNX is one of the coolest performance machines ever produced by the General Motors-owned brand. The GNX was only offered for the 1987 model year, and due to its special nature, just 547 specimens of the turbocharged 3.8-liter V6 beast were ever built. The GNX was one of the rarest Buicks ever created, and its reputation for being one of the wildest performance cars of the 1980s has caused its value to go through the roof.
Worth around $276,000 just a few years ago, a concours-level GNX is now worth $369,000 according to Hagerty. That’s a 38% boost, and this is showing up at auction as well. While only the most valuable, near-perfect cars crossed the $200k barrier a few short years ago, it’s practically impossible to get one for less than that today. For example, a stunning car that covered just 30 miles in its lifesold through Bring a Trailer for an impressive $427,000.
If you can find a car in good condition for less than $200k, don’t think twice about buying it.
2017 Dodge Viper ACR Extreme
+86.3%
The automotive world wept upon the death of the Dodge Viper in 2017, but the model left a stunning parting gift before it went away. Named the ACR Extreme, it was the most hardcore Viper ever produced. Designed utilizing the know-how Dodge had gained from racing the Viper in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, the 645-hp V10 behemoth was able to tear around corners as quickly as possible. A commanding carbon-fiber aero package produced over a ton of downforce, while race-spec Bilstein suspension and an uprated Brembo carbon-ceramic braking system ensured this Viper was no uncontrollable demon like some of its predecessors.
Just 904 ACR Extremes were built in 2017 before the Viper went away. The limited number made it a vehicle that would be worth something special in the future. This idea was only further bolstered by the romanticism of this being the last Viper, as well as its breathtaking performance potential. Indeed, Hagerty reports that interest in the car has exploded over the past 12 months, with concours cars worth 86.3% more in October 2026 than a year prior.
That’s an increase of $321,000, with the car rising from $372,000 to $693,000 during that time. The increased value is clearly visible when you look at auction listings. Having frequently sold for between $230,000 and $300,000 a few years ago, you’d do extremely well to find an ACR Extreme for less than $400,000 today. For example, a low-mileage black-and-red example sold on Bring a Trailer for $591,000 in August 2026.
2006 Ford GT Heritage
+91.6%
The GT was Ford’s way of tipping a hat to the legendary GT40 racer, which managed to claim four 24 Hours of Le Mans victories in the late 1960s. By 2006, Ford was winding down GT production, and the company developed a special variant to give the vehicle a worthy send-off.
Ford called it the Heritage. The models had no technical changes, but each one came in a blue-and-orange paint scheme that referenced the Gulf racing livery the GT40 wore when it won the 1968 and 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford selected 343 customers to purchase a Heritage model, and they were able to select the number on the hood, flanks, and rear deck.
Despite lacking any under-the-skin changes versus the base GT, meaning its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 pumped out a familiar 550 hp, the Heritage’s rarity and unique position as the final variant of the first-gen GT have made it ultra-valuable in recent times. Concours-quality examples were worth $746,000 at the start of 2024. Hagerty now estimates such a car’s value at $1.5 million. That’s an amazing 111.3% increase in just under three years. Plus, 91.6% of that boost came in the past 12 months alone.
Yep, the GT Heritage’s value has nearly doubled in just six months. Recent auction listings back that up, with several cars selling for between $650k and $800k throughout 2025 on Bring a Trailer. In 2026 alone, two of these cars topped the $1-million mark, with one of these securing an eye-opening $2.1 million in April. This one had just eight miles on the odometer and a single owner. Still, it’s a massive amount of money for a car valued at less than half that a year ago.
If you manage to find a final model-year special edition that was produced in small numbers, but hasn’t exploded yet, you may have just stumbled on a goldmine.
2023 Ford GT Mk IV
MSRP
$1,700,000
Engine
3.5L Twin-Turbo V6 Gas
Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Transmission
6-Speed Sequential
Horsepower
800 hp
Sources: Bring a Trailer, Buick, Dodge, Ford, Hagerty Valuation Tool
