Future Classics Turning 20 Years Old In 2025

In the week when Oracle Car Finance turned 20 years old we thought we would take a look at the notable vehicles that also reached that milestone in 2025. 20 years ago, no one would have predicted that the combustion engine could be being phased out, your car would be unlocked by your mobile phone or that you could stream whatever television programme or movie you liked on the screen in your car.

There was however a buzz about hybrid motoring in 2005. With Toyota forecasting 100,000 sales of their second-generation Prius, Lexus hoping their RH hybrid was the luxury hybrid of the future and everyone from Ford to GM, Honda, Mercedes Benz and BMW announcing their plans for their new hybrid models. Porsche even confirmed that they were considering licensing Toyota’s hybrid technology to put in their Cayenne. Strange times.

There was also a push towards electronic stability control becoming more mainstream as standard fit on vehicles and much was said about Land Rover’s innovative ‘Terrain Response’. Diesel still made up a large portion of a brand’s sales, with Mercedes Benz stating over 40% of their cars globally were powered that way. However then-Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger was making headlines by stating that the new hydrogen fuelling station at LAX was to pave the way for a new ‘Hydrogen Highway’ of clean refuelling possibilities. We assume Los Angeles residents are still wating for that one.

So which notable cars were also making headlines in 2005, many of which we have funded over the years and continue to fund as they become classics of the future:

Bugatti Veyron

2005 saw a vehicle the likes of which many thought wouldn’t be seen again in our lifetimes. That is how ground-breaking and industry affecting the Bugatti Veyron was considered. With a quad-turbocharged 8.0-litre W16 engine producing the iconic power output of 1,001HP and offering a top speed in excess of 250mph, the Veyron redefined what was possible in a road car.

The statistics were mind blowing. 0-62mph took just 2.5 seconds, 0-124mph only 7.3 seconds and 0-186mph was reached in 16.7 seconds. A full tank of fuel could be all used up in just 12 minutes at full speed and it took 10 radiators to cool everything from the engine oil to the axle oil and the hydraulic oil for the rear spoiler. An oil service costs in excess of £20,000 and a full set of the bespoke tyres can be £30,000-£40,000, which incidentally are recommended to be replaced every 2,500 miles.

It wasn’t just the power and the speed that impressed however, it was the opulence and grandeur that came with it. Only the finest materials and finishes were used on the whole car and owners could basically customise anything they liked to suit their tastes. A ‘basic’ Veyron cost £925,000 when it was new though surely none ever left the factory without many tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds in optional specification and customisation. Even at prices well in excess of £1million or £1.5million, the company is estimated to have lost over £5million on everyone they sold. Yet values continue to rise even at those prices, such is the iconic status of the Veyron.

Porsche Boxster and Cayman (987)

Following the success and many plaudits of the first generation of Boxster model (986), the second generation (987) arrived in late 2005. It also brought the introduction of the Cayman as a coupe version of the roadster and the rest is history. The Boxster and Cayman 987 update saw new engines and revised styling taking cues from the 356, 550 Coupe and 904 Coupe models from the 1950’s and 1960’s, as well as the Carrera GT hyper car.

Widely considered as the benchmark when it comes to sports cars, the updated Boxster and Cayman took that benchmark even further away from its competitors adding more power, better handling and the option for bigger wheels to fill the arches. Inside the models drew closer to the interior of the 997 generation 911 of the time, especially when it came to the prominent rev counter, just as a sports car should.

Superseded by the 981 and 718 iterations, the Boxster and Cayman models are rumoured to be heading for EV powerplant only for the forthcoming generation to be released later this year. However, many manufacturers are making U-turns with their EV plans at the moment and Porsche have not been reserved about their continued development of the combustion engine. What it does mean is that either way, the 987 Boxster and Cayman are fantastic value for money for a very accomplished and capable sports car.

Aston Martin Vantage

In a bid to offer an alternative to the Porsche 911, Aston Martin decided they needed a smaller, more affordable and driver focused addition to their line-up. Their cars had traditionally focused on grand touring, comfort and cruising ability so it was a definite change of direction. The Vantage name had been seen before on an Aston Martin, but this was the first time it was used for a standalone model.

They meant business too. With a bonded aluminium structure for strength and lightness, a hand-built 4.3-litre V8 (later 4.7-litre) producing nearly 400hp and a racing-style dry-sump engine mounted low down for a lower centre of gravity. This meant that 0-62mph was possible in 4.8 seconds and the top speed of 175mph was competitive for the time. It did however also offer something to satisfy Aston Martin purists, an abundance of luxury, refinement and comfort to the interior.

The Vantage may not have quite matched the driving standards of the 911 but it did appeal to a new sector of buyers, sports car drivers. It became the brand’s most successful model ever in terms of sales and its appeal shows little sign of disappearing any time soon. With models currently available for around £30,000 on websites such as Car & Classic, it is a great alternative sports car for those wanting something that isn’t a Porsche 911.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur

After the success and demand for their recently launched Continental GT grand tourer coupe, two years later in 2005 Bentley introduced a four-door saloon version based on the same platform, the Flying Spur. Hand-built at Bentley’s Crewe factory, the Flying Spur was at launch the fastest and most powerful production saloon car. With a 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged engine producing 552hp and all-wheel drive, the luxury saloon could accelerate from 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds and had a top speed of 195mph.

Despite its huge power reserves, the Flying Spur was the Continental’s even more luxurious and opulent sibling. Technological features such as adaptive air suspension and continuous damping control meant that the ride was as smooth as possible whilst the abundance of veneer, leather and carpet choices meant that the interior could be tailored just the way customers wanted. Even the dashboard clock was manufactured by Swiss watchmaker Breitling.

In its first year alone, Bentley sold over 4,000 examples, contributing to the brand’s best ever production figures in its then-88-year history. Now in its third generation, the model remains by far their biggest selling model of all time and it is easy to see why. As a model, the Continental GT/Flying Spur brought the Bentley name forward from small volume numbers to mass-production manufacturing techniques, and is many people’s dream ‘one-car-garage’ choice when asked the question.

Mercedes Benz S-Class (W221)

The dawn of a new Mercedes Benz S-Class has often been much heralded amongst car enthusiasts and manufacturers alike. As well as offering one of the most luxurious and relaxing vehicles on the road to be in, it often is a market leader in advanced technology demonstration before it filters down to more mainstream cars.

The W221 generation released in 2005 was no exception. For the era the car came with some very forward thinking features such as Night View Assist, Pre-Safe collision prediction and avoidance, Radar guided cruise control, Brake Assist radar sensing automatic emergency braking and much more.

As well as the more modern aesthetic to the exterior, it also featured an overhaul to the interior. Material choices were improved across the board and the levels of customisation possibilities were seemingly endless. Comfort and refinement is obviously a key focus for the S-Class and this time the integrated abundance of technology meant that it appeared more like the digital interiors of vehicles today rather than one from 20years ago. These days the W221 S-Class remains a modern looking vehicle that many would struggle to differentiate between much later models, the perfect way to cruise around in total comfort for not that much of a purchase price at all.

Range Rover Sport (L320)

Such is the familiarity of the Range Rover Sport name and popularity on the roads that it is easy to forget that it didn’t exist before 2005. Despite sharing its name with its bigger ‘full-size’ Range Rover sibling, the underpinnings of the original model were actually taken from the Land Rover Discovery 3. Not only did this save costs for production reasons but meant that the Range Rover Sport could offer the best of both worlds when it came to refinement yet structural rigidity on the road. It also meant that despite styling being based on the Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport was actually smaller than its bigger relative and the Discovery in every dimension.

Despite initial concerns to the appeal of a sportier focused Range Rover derivative, the lower price point, smaller external dimensions and better on road performance meant that the Range Rover Sport became an instant sales success. Offering all the luxury and refinement of the Range Rover yet in a more dynamic and driver focused model meant that it opened the door to many first-time customers to the brand, becoming one of the factors that saw the boom in the luxury SUV sector.

The brand image, on-road performance and genuine off-road ability, should you need it, of the Range Rover Sport meant that the model has become one of the biggest selling in its history. From the first generation through to the third generation of today, a Range Rover Sport is a very attractive prospect. Despite the abundance of competition from other manufacturers the model remains one of the best money can buy, from the streets of the city to the fields at the point-to-point.

Audi Q7

At the same time as Range Rover were preparing their Sport model to rival the recently launched and much talked about Porsche Cayenne, Audi were throwing their hat in the ring with the all-new Q7. Utilising the underpinnings of the popular Porsche, the Q7 brought the same driving appeal and on-road characteristics in a more affordable and stylish package. The first Cayenne had many critics of its controversial styling yet the Q7 was a much more attractive and palatable prospect.

Able to seat 7 in comfort, the Q7 offered more practicality than not just its sibling but many of its rivals too. Despite its rather sizeable dimensions it hid its mass well and didn’t look as large or ungainly as many other models at the time did. It also received a lot of praise for its luxury and refinement to the interior, with the only major concern being the less than impressive fuel consumption thanks to the range of supercharged and turbocharged engine choices. There was even a 500hp 6.0-litre V12 diesel engine at one point based on technology taken from their all-conquering Le Mans racing cars at the time.

The Q7 may not have been the most capable SUV off the road but on the road, it was one of the very best to drive. Starting with the Cayenne was always going to help in that respect but the big Audi managed to offer the same package in a more mainstream product, and it ensured the brand became one of the front runners in the luxury SUV sector.

Chevrolet Corvette (C6)

The Corvette has always been the definitive American sports car. From the first iteration in the 1950’s to the C6 introduced in 2005, the Corvette is an icon for performance vehicles across the pond. Now on its sixth version the flagship Chevrolet has always remained effortlessly stylish, instantly desirable and the only real American model that is said to hold a candle to its European rivals.

The C6 generation brought some radical changes to those familiar to the models that had gone before it. From a design point of view it was the first model to feature uncovered headlights since the very first model, for improved handling had much revised suspension geometry and the interior was much more refined than the C5 model it replaced. Some things remained true to the brand though, the exclusive use of V8 engines remained as did the front engine rear drive layout.

Compared to previous iterations the C6 is far more advanced, more driver focused and more capable whilst upping the levels of refinement and comfort at the same time. Its appeal has not dwindled over the years and as such is a great used purchase for any sports car fan. It might not offer the dynamic capabilities of some rivals, but the sound of that V8 and the stunning styling is sure to keep a smile on anyone’s face.

Citroen C6

Now for a completely different type of C6. French car maker Citroen were looking for a replacement for their ageing XM and decided it was a good opportunity to go from dated to radical. Aimed as a luxury executive saloon to rival the BMW 5-Series and Audi A6, the manufacturer knew it would have to think outside the box to offer something completely different. What resulted was something that looked years ahead of its rivals, drawing on the impact of previous style icons from their past such as the DS of the 1950’s and SM of the 1970’s.

The styling was sleek and contemporary both inside and out. Features such as the concave rear windscreen and single-spoke steering wheel may have been fundamentally unnecessary but showed the attention to detail lengths the designers had gone to. It focused on comfort and innovative technology thanks to its Hydractive 3+ electronically controlled springing and damping and features such as head up display, lane departure warning system and directional headlamps.

Ultimately it worked. The C6 was French executive comfort at its very best. At a time when design was fairy bland for mainstream cars the Citroen stands out a mile and could easily go down as a style classic. Its quirky features and levels of refinement were a breath of fresh air in a usually dull segment. The only problem was no one noticed and not many cars were ultimately sold. Still, it does mean if you can find one it will most definitely be rare and could find its way on to the list of appreciating classics.

Gumpert Apollo

At the turn of the century, German engineer Roland Gumpert proposed that he was going to create a new era of sports cars that were street-legal yet genuinely more than ready for a racetrack. The result was the Gumpert Apollo. Looking every part like a racing car complete with huge rear wing and roof scoop, gullwing doors and clamshell opening front and rear bonnet and engine cover. It certainly looked the part.

With a mid-engine, rear wheel drive, carbon fibre bodied supercar for the road with racing-car engineering and capability. Under the exotic bodywork was a 4.2-litre bi-turbo Audi V8 engine producing either 640hp, 690hp or 790hp depending on your preference and specification. Impressive power statistics but made all the more mind boggling when you realise the whole car weighs only 1,100kg-1,200kg again depending on specification. The immense power and light weight means that the performance figures were seriously impressive. 0-62mph took just 3.1 seconds, 0-124mph just 9.1 seconds and the top speed is 224mph.

Whether or not the Apollo translated this performance well on the road is something not widely reported, but it wasn’t exactly going to be used to go the shops and back every day. What could be said though was that its performance around a track was better than almost everything else out there. Its record around the Top Gear test track stood for two years until the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport knocked it off the top. A testament to how impressive a spectacle it was. Just 150 Apollo’s were built and cost around £250,000 depending on how it had been specified. A lot less than you would expect for something that can perform that well. Finding one for sale may be a rare thing, but you are definitely unlikely to see another one going the other way.

Classic Car Finance

If you are looking at purchasing your first classic car or your 100th, our expert team have over 20 years of experience in sourcing tailored car finance products, including the models mentioned above. Whatever type of car you’re looking for, you can get in touch with us either by calling 0800 012 6666 or clicking here.

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