British motorists who looked after their Ford Sierra during the 1980s could have been sitting on a nice little nest-egg 30 years later after the price of popular modern classics soared.

The value of some vehicles have risen by up to £30,000 in the last 12 months according to analysis from automotive intelligence firm, Hagerty UK, with souped-up sports cars in vogue more than ever.

The classic Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, which was a force to be reckoned with at traffic lights towards the end of the 1980s is now worth £48,550, which is a 71 per cent rise from its pre-pandemic valuation of £28,350. Other vehicles which have seen a big boost include the Audi Quattro Sport, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale and the BMW E30 M3 Evo II.

“Hagerty Price Guide Values of many high-performance 1980s and '90s modern classics have been rising quickly. We spotted a trend: that homologated cars seem to be very attractive to buyers at present,” said John Mayhead from Hagerty.

“Hagerty believes that the combination of low production numbers, high performance and solid motorsport credentials gives these cars exactly what the market wants.

The 1980s and '90s were decades that divided opinion. Were they absolutely fabulous, or do we look back at our youthful years with a sense of misguided nostalgia? For petrolheads though, one thing is beyond doubt: this was the era of some of the best motorsport ever seen,” John continued in a This Is Money report

“This spawned some of the most stripped-out, turbo-charged, box-arched cars ever to hit Britain's roads.

“These cars are cooler than ever, and the most recent update of the Hagerty Price Guide shows their attraction has translated into rising prices.”

Analysts believe that the impact of Covid lockdown has driven prices high, with many enthusiasts spending more time online and those with a vehicle to sell keen to get rid at a time when a vehicle is more of a commodity.

Sell or part ex your car today