There are big changes happening at the sharp end of the collector car hobby. Collector cars that for decades were considered to be correction-proof, blue chip buys have been seeing a decline and an overall lack of interest in the past year, especially with younger buyers.
If you had asked me five years ago what cars in the hobby were the best ones to purchase (with the idea being that what you bought would likely be a very safe bet), I would have listed cars such as the Ferrari 250 GTO, Aston Martin DB5, most classic Bugattis, and the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL — of all the cars on that list, only the 300 SL has proven to be a truly solid investment over the past five years. As of 18 months ago, most people would place the value of the Ferrari 250 GTO at somewhere around $50 million, but now it looks like those days may now be over. No, I am not saying that the purchase of the white 250 GTO (which sold at auction this past January for $38.5 million after actively being offered for years on the private market for $50 million without any takers) makes a market, but at this moment there are several more 250 GTOs for sale. This in itself speaks volumes as, five years ago, word-of-mouth was the way to find one for sale, yet now you have several to choose from on the open market.
Today’s younger buyers are, for the most part, looking to buy the cars that they grew up with — not only cars that they wanted but ones that they also can actually drive instead of trailering them to the next show. This has made modern limited-production supercars the hottest part of the hobby, and prices for the best models are increasing in value quickly. Among these cars, which one is the heir apparent for the Ferrari 250 GTO? I think the answer to that question is simple: McLaren F1.
If you have read this far, you do not need a history lesson on what just may be the ultimate supercar. The McLaren F1 was a cost-is-no-object effort to build the best sports car the world had ever seen. Gordon Murray and his team were so successful in their project plan that the F1 remains the measuring stick for excellence.
The elements that make a car so desirable were there from the beginning: a total production of 106 cars, 64 being road cars; a competition history that includes wins at both Le Mans and Sebring — with a car that was never conceived to be a race car. The F1’s story is so bonkers crazy that it is hard to believe, but its narrative is true. Not only has this made the F1 a very expensive car to buy, but it also has become one with a process that requires potential collectors to wait until the rumor of one for sale hitting their ears, then requiring many meetings with the current owner and exchanging hands for tens of millions of dollars. This is exactly the way 250 GTOs were sold for decades, and the F1 is the car that is replacing it. Yes, Ferrari only built 36 GTOs, but it is more difficult to buy a F1 today than probably any other collector car in the world since demand much outstrips supply.
Beneath the F1 are a slew of other iconic supercars, mostly from Maranello. These include the F40, F50, Enzo, and La Ferrari among them. They are easier to buy than a F1, as you are likely to find many of these at a high-end dealer or a collector car auction near you. My advice: if one of these is your dream car and you are in the position to afford one, you might as well do it soon as prices don’t seem to be decreasing, with many having almost doubled in price over the past 60 days.
On the other side of the coin, if you also love historic 1950-60s sports cars (especially Ferraris), this is the time to pay close attention to the market, as I have already seen some bargains and fully anticipate seeing more soon.
Like all things in the world, the popularity of certain collector cars changes over time. For 2026, we are in the throes of a modern supercar explosion like we have not seen before. How long it will last is anyone’s guess, but right now it is here and is something to be reckoned with. I honestly think that, within the next year or so, we will see prices of the McLaren F1 eclipse that of the 250 GTO. While I cannot day we will again witness a time when a GTO sells for $70 million, we someday may see an F1 achieve that price.
