Vintage car collecting, known to its enthusiasts simply as “the hobby,” is a beloved pastime that’s catching on with younger generations. Canada’s harsh climate hasn’t dampened our enthusiasm. Some of this country’s most prolific collectors have dozens of classic cars in far-flung locations like the B.C. interior and Newfoundland!
Whether you’re just getting started with vintage cars or you’re an car show veteran, there’s always another car to bring home. In this article, we’ve rounded up the best vintage cars to buy in Canada in 2026. Our list covers domestics and important, mainstream and luxury, and a variety of price points. We’ve considered the cool quotient, fun factor, and availability to purchase somewhere within Canada through CarGurus.ca as of this writing.
Best Vintage Cars to Buy in Canada in 2026
What is Considered a Classic Car in Canada?
The definition of a classic car varies across Canada. For insurance purposes, CAA defines a classic car as an unmodified vehicle that’s at least 20 years old. Most provinces will issue a historic plate for a vehicle once it’s 30 years of age.
For the purposes of this list of the best classic cars for sale in Canada in 2026, we’ve stuck with the 30-year designation. If you’re of a certain vintage yourself, we apologize in advance: this means we’re looking at vehicles with a model year of 1996 or earlier.
BMW 3 Series
Looking for a labour of love? Look no further than the E30 generation of the BMW 3 Series. These have the classic BMW grille and were the first 3 Series cars built with four doors to serve the family set. Several mid-1990s units that would make excellent project cars are listed on CarGurus.ca for less than $10,000. This is one situation, though, where the car is cheap to buy but upkeep will cost you significantly more. To own a key piece of German automotive history, you may decide it’s worth it.
Bonus points if you can score a BMW 2002. The role this car played in BMW’s evolution makes it a highly desirable collector car today. These are much more expensive and harder to find. You’re most likely to come across them as turnkey restomods.
Chevrolet Camaro
If you want to do your part to ensure muscle cars live forever, seek out a classic like the Chevy Camaro. Prices at CarGurus.ca span from under $10,000 to deep into six figures and across all four generations that qualify for classic car status. Fourth-generation models from model years 1993 to 2002 are the most common in Canada, which makes sense: these cars were built at the now-defunct General Motors assembly plant in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec.
Once you’re at the high end of the price range amongst the earliest model years, you could also consider adding the Chevelle SS to your search. It’s another of Chevy’s early forays into muscle car territory, and its six-figure pricing is similar to early Camaros.
Chevrolet Corvette
America’s sports car remains plentiful and popular on the classic circuit today. You can dive down endless internet rabbit holes when deciding which Corvette will grace your garage and how rare (read: expensive) you want to go. The most common era on CarGurus.ca during our research was the C4 generation, which ran from 1984 to 1996. It’s also the most affordable with prices averaging between $15,000 and $25,000. On the other end of the spectrum, it’s not unusual for the earliest Corvettes to fetch well over $100,000. Whichever Corvette you choose, you’ll immediately be part of a club.
Ford Mustang
Speaking of iconic fast cars, the Ford Mustang is one of the most sought-out classic cars around. Used Mustang inventory is more varied in Canada than for most classic cars with cars spanning every generation and ranging from fully stock to hot rods and complete restorations.
If you want to rock the ‘80s aesthetic, you’ll find second-hand Fox body Mustangs on the used market in abundance with some priced as low as $5,000. But it’s not unusual to find first-generation Mustangs in Canada for less than $100,000. Whichever way you choose, affordable Mustangs make great project cars that will provide returns for years to come.
Mazda RX-7
Mazda fans don’t need to be sold on the automaker’s rotary-engine RX-7. In fact, those lucky enough to have one will often only give it up if you pry it from their cold, dead hands. You’ll have three generations of RX-7 to shop from as classics with cars built from 1978 to 2002. The rare examples we found in our research were from the early third-generation cars, produced in the mid-1990s and priced in the $30,000 to $50,000 range. Easy to modify, affordable to maintain, and fun to drive, the RX-7 is popular among enthusiasts for good reason.
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
There are plenty of Mercedes-Benz models out there that are great classics to own, but few represent the pure joy of driving like the SL-Class. This grand tourer’s history has endured through seven generations and has been in production continuously since 1954.
During our research, we found nearly all SL-Class vintage models in Canada to be late ‘80s examples from the R107 generation. Prices vary widely but average roughly $40,000 to $50,000. Seek out the 560 SL with the 5.5-litre V8 if you can find it. You may also find cars from the fourth-generation R129 SL-Class that ran through the 1990s. This was offered as a two-door roadster, a convertible, and a hardtop.
Porsche 944
It goes without saying that a Porsche 911 is about as iconic as a European classic car comes. But these can also be expensive and hard to come by, so some collectors turn to alternates. For something more attainable, check out the Porsche 944. Celebrated for its better-than-average fuel economy and relative reliability when well-maintained, the Porsche 944 is regularly wrenched on as a project car today. We saw prices averaging a very reasonable $20,000.
Toyota Supra
The latest Supra may be more common on Canadian roads, but it’s nostalgia for the original that created interest for it in the first place. The Canadian run for the OG Toyota Supra ended in 1998, which means every one will qualify for historic plates in two years.
Many of the Supras you’ll find on the used market were originally sold here, including some later models with the turbo engines. But the era of Supra in question also qualifies for import exemptions as a Japanese Domestic Market car. This means you can bring one in yourself or find one that’s already landed. (It also means you should also be vigilant about filtering for right-hand drive cars in your search if that’s not something you want.)
The third generation Supra, which ran from 1986 to 1993, is by far the most common. Prices can run the gamut but average roughly $30,000. One benefit of choosing a later-model classic like the Supra is you’re guaranteed to get helpful features like power steering.
As an aside, Japanese enthusiasts with a higher budget may also want to look into classic Z cars. We found a small handful of examples like the Datsun 240Z and 260Z listed in the $70,000 to $85,000 range.
Honourable Mention: Canadian-Built Classics
There are some highly desirable classic vehicles that were originally built in Canada and therefore may be easier to find here than in other markets like the United States. The Bricklin SV-1 with its signature gullwing doors, McLaughlin-Buicks, and Studebaker trucks are among the more famous examples.
Before the Auto Pact, there were also some Canadian-exclusive marques based on American cars. Acadian, Beaumont, Meteor, and Monarch are a few examples. Some models were built exclusively for Canada such as the Mercury M47 pickup. By owning any of these cars, you’ll hold a piece of automotive history that’s nearly impossible to find anywhere else in the world.
Another Honourable Mention: High-value Exclusives
If you’ve got a very healthy budget — think deep into six figures — you’ll have access to a completely different segment of collector vehicles. At this point, you can consider models such as the first-generation Acura NSX, a pristine Dodge Charger 500 or Chrysler New Yorker, the Plymouth GTX or Chevy Bel Air, or the original-run Ford Bronco in fully restored condition. You could even expand to British marques like Aston Martin supercars and Rolls-Royce saloons, or Italian classics such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, De Tomaso, Maserati, and more. At this point, the sky is the limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most expensive vintage car ever sold?
The most expensive vintage car ever sold was a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut coupe, one of only two in the world. The automaker sold it at auction to a private buyer for 135 million euros, or nearly $200,000,000 Canadian.
What are some popular vintage car models?
Pony cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are very popular vintage car models. The Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Model T and Model A, Volkswagen Beetle, and Mercedes-Benz SL are also popular classic and antique cars.
How to determine the value of a vintage car
A professional appraiser can help you determine a fair market value for your classic car or for a vintage car you’re interested in buying. You can also use online appraisal tools to get an estimated price range.
How do you insure a vintage car in Canada?
Some mainstream insurers will provide policies for classic cars in Canada, including CAA as well as public insurers where they exist. However, most enthusiasts find Hagerty to be the lowest-cost and most thorough option.
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