Nobody wanted them: these Italian cars from the 80s are going up in value!

For a long time, they were regarded as simple old-timers, complicated to maintain, sometimes capricious and often shunned by collectors. In recent years, however, attitudes have changed radically. The large Italian saloons and coupés of the 80s are fully entering the young-timer era, and their prices are following a clear upward trend.

The reason is simple. Healthy examples are becoming rare, nostalgia is on the rise and, above all, enthusiasts are rediscovering an era when Italy produced cars of character, full of mechanical and sonic personality, a far cry from today's standardization.

Alfa Romeo Alfa 6: the rebirth of the Busso V6

Long misunderstood, the Alfa 6 is now one of those Alfa Romeos that enthusiasts wish they'd bought sooner. Produced at the crossroads of the 70s and 80s, it represented Alfa Romeo's attempt to enter the luxury segment against the Germans.

Its main argument was not its finish, but its mechanical heart: the legendary Busso V6. A silky, metallic, singing engine that transforms every acceleration into a sensory experience. At the time, this sedan never really found its clientele. Too expensive for an Alfa, not status-enhancing enough to rival Mercedes. As a result, it was ignored for 30 years.

Today, that's exactly what makes it so interesting. Produced in small quantities and often poorly preserved, a clean Alfa 6 is becoming rare. Its value has already risen, and specialists consider that it has not yet reached its peak, not least because it embodies the last high-end Alfa Romeo before the Fiat era.

Lancia Thema 8.32: the Ferrari in a civil servant suit

One of the most unlikely sedans in automotive history. A wise four-door designed for executives... with a Ferrari engine. Under its hood lies a V8 derived from that of the Ferrari 308, softened for greater flexibility but retaining a mechanical nobility unique in the segment. The contrast between its discreet appearance and its exotic mechanics makes it a fascinating car for collectors today.

When it first came out, it was very expensive and suffered from an ambiguous image: too sporty for businessmen, too bourgeois for Ferrari enthusiasts. As a result, few examples were sold, and even fewer were properly maintained.

Today, it's one of the most sought-after Italian youngtimers. Its retractable spoiler, Alcantara interior and Ferrari engine set it apart. Its value is slowly but surely rising, typical of connoisseurs' cars.

Maserati Biturbo: from bad reputation to future auction star

The Biturbo is probably the best example of a reputation reversal. In the 90s and 2000s, it was almost derided as fragile, complex and poorly maintained. Many ended up abandoned or modified. Yet it represents a crucial moment in Maserati's history: the first Maserati to be produced in larger series, the one that was to democratize the brand. Compact, elegant and very fast for its time, it offered a nervous twin-turbo V6 and typically Italian luxury, with leather, wood and the famous oval watch in the center of the dashboard.

Today, collectors realize that there are very few left in original condition. And, as is often the case, rarity is everything. Fine examples are beginning to be actively sought after, especially the early carburetor series.

This is probably just the beginning: historically important for the brand and highly representative of the '80s, the Biturbo followed the same trajectory as other once-despised classic cars... before exploding in value.

A generation still within reach... but not for much longer

These three models share one thing in common: they've been ignored for decades. Too new to be classics, too old to be modern. Today, they enter the perfect collector's zone: 80s nostalgia. And unlike Ferraris or Lamborghinis from the same era, their prices are still affordable. But the trend has begun. Clean examples are rapidly disappearing from the market, often bought by enthusiasts who never resell them.