Swiss bankers: Geneva show cars that have rocketed in value

With this year’s Geneva Motor Show cancelled due to the coronavirus, we look back at the fastest-appreciating Geneva debuts of the past

Geneva show week is almost over. This year, floodlit motor show stands were replaced by video streams due to the threat of coronavirus. New supercars have debuted from McLaren, Koenigsegg, Pagani, Aston Martin and more. But which cars of past Geneva shows past have stood their buyers in best stead? Here are the 10 greatest Geneva climbers.

Aston Martin One-77 – up 25 percent

This list comes courtesy of JBR Capital, which has compared the price of the cars now with when they were new (not accounting for inflation), then calculated the percentage increase in value. In ascending order, we start with the Aston Martin One-77. While an Aston Martin hypercar seems to be revealed every other month these days, the One-77 was the first. With a 7.3-litre V12, carbon fibre tub and 215mph+ top speed, you could be forgiven for imagining an Italian mid-engined supercar. But it’s a traditional front-engined, long-bonneted grand touring Aston, albeit taken to the extreme.

Aston Martin One-77 – £1,500,000

When it debuted in 2009, one of the 77 One-77s produced would have cost you £1.2million. Given how limited it is, it sounds like a surefire way to make serious money. The increase is more modest than you’d imagine, though: it’s up 25 percent to £1,500,000.

Ford GT – up 77 percent

The newest debut on this list, Ford was critical of buyers of its Le Mans class-winner who tried to sell for a profit. There was even talk of legal action against the so-called ‘flippers’.

Ford GT – £800,000

We can’t blame these owners, though. The 650hp GT cost from £450,000 at launch. Cars that went to market when availability was scarce approached seven figures. Their average value now, five years on, is £800,000 – up 77 percent. A tidy profit and a good investment for those who want to move their GT on.

Porsche Carrera GT – up 96 percent

The Carrera GT is considered to be one of the greatest Porsche road cars of all time. With a high-revving 600hp V10 hooked up to a manual transmission, in a carbon cradle with a carbon tub, it’s a hero of analogue evangelists. It was part of a star-studded era for hypercars, joining the Pagani Zonda, Koenigsegg CC, Ferrari Enzo, Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, Maserati MC12 and Bugatti Veyron. They dominated Monaco car parks and the bedroom walls of 10-year-olds alike.

Porsche Carrera GT – £650,000

In spite of the critical acclaim, the Carrera GT was criticised for its cost when new in 2003, at a then-shocking £330,000. If those first buyers kept their cars, they could well have doubled their money. CGTs now go for £650,000 or more, and could soon break seven figures.

Alfa Romeo SZ – up 100 percent

Now for something more Italian and more affordable. The Alfa Romeo SZ was controversial at first, but today is almost universally loved. Now more than 30 years old, the Sport Zagato has doubled its money.

Alfa Romeo SZ – £70,000 or more

In the early 1990s, £35,000 was a lot of money to spend on something so odd. But an SZ can now go for more than £70,000, having increased in value by 100 percent.

Maserati MC12 – up 300 percent

Maserati’s incredible hypercar reclothed Ferrari Enzo underpinnings and swapped the prancing horse for a trident. It was Maserati’s shot at Le Mans GT racing glory. To homologate the racer, a limited run of 50 road cars was made.

Maserati MC12 – £2,000,000 or more

If the Carrera GT was shocking with its £330,000 price in 2003, the MC12 was unbelievable in 2004. Each car cost £500,000, and you couldn’t even have your own custom specification. But this exotic gem, 20 times rarer than the Porsche, has now increased in value by 300 percent, with prices starting at £2,000,000.

Ferrari F50 – up 328 percent

Like the Porsche, the Ferrari F50 is another analogue hero. With an F1-derived V12, carbon chassis and open-gated manual gearbox, it’s a near-irresistible recipe. Unfortunately, it suffered in the shadow of its predecessor: the legendary F40.

Ferrari F50 – £1,500,000

How wrong we were at the time, though, and what a win for those that bought in. Yes, £350,000 was a lot of money in 1995. But F50s now sell for upwards of £1,500,000.

Ferrari Dino 246 GTS – up 2,172 percent

We’re now looking at cars that have leapt up in value by thousands of percentage points. The first is the Ferrari 246 Dino GTS. This represented the genesis of the so-called ‘affordable’ Ferrari. It remains one of Maranello’s most iconic machines.

Ferrari Dino 246 GTS – £250,000 or more

Named after Enzo Ferrari’s son Dino, who passed away at a very young age, the Dino became a near-instant pin-up. While a GTS would’ve set you back £11,000 in 1972, you’ll be lucky to find one for less than £250,000 today. That’s a jump of more than 2,000 percent, not considering inflation.

Range Rover – up 5,135 percent

The Range Rover has to be one of the most iconic debuts in Geneva show history. Indeed, this year, it’s 50 years since the Range Rover’s 1970 Geneva reveal. What the modern Range Rover certainly isn’t known for is earning its owners money. Quite the opposite, in fact. The original, however…

Range Rover – £80,000

This Range Rover has rocketed in value. Contrast the £1,528 it cost when new to the price of a classic Range Rover in restored condition today: around £80,000. That’s a jump of more than 5,000 percent. If a current Range Rover does that, in 2070 it’ll be worth more than £8 million.

Lamborghini Miura P400 – up 6,566 percent

The Lamborghini Miura is considered by many to be the original supercar. Gandini’s masterpiece debuted at Geneva in 1966, and set the precedent for more than 50 years of V12 flagships for the raging bull. It’s also one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Little surprise, then, that it’s gone up quite spectacularly in value over the decades.

Lamborghini Miura P400 – £1,000,000 or more

By ‘spectacularly’, we mean it’s up over 6,000 percent on its 1966 list price of £15,000. You’ll be spending seven figures for the privilege of a Miura in your garage.

Porsche 356/2 – up 26,566 percent

Porsche is often at the heart of speculation when it comes to making money with cars. The 911, nevermind being an iconic sports car, has also become a staple of auction houses. But there would be no 911 without the 356: Porsche’s first model. The 356/2 variant debuted in 1949 at the Geneva Motor Show.

Porsche 356/2 – from £800,000

Back then, a 356/2 would have set you back £3,000. Today, if you spot one at auction, you’d better have at least £800,000 burning a hole in your pocket. That is a 26,566 percent value jump. Cripes.

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Ethan Jupp
Ethan Jupp
I'm Content Editor at MR. Road trips music and movies are my vices. Perennially stuck between French hot hatches and Australian muscle cars.

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