Is your car a potential money making machine or in 50 years time will it be an old banger waiting to be disposed of? Before you start searching for old cars the Beckham’s owned or those featured in the latest blockbuster film, leading auction specialist BCA (British Car Auctions) advises motorists on which cars might become the classics of the future.

Older examples from iconic British manufacturers such as Jaguar and MG have always tempted classic car buyers and are likely to do so in the future – whoever owns the brands.  Despite recent news of Ford planning to sell Jaguar, the cars themselves remain hugely aspirational and the flowing lines of the bigger saloons are timeless.

BCA’s Tim Naylor commented “We know that Jaguars from the 1960s are collectable today, so it is not too bigger stretch of the imagination to believe that some current and recent models will be desirable in years to come.   The XJ6 and XJS saloon ranges from a few years ago for example, could return a good value in years to come, while the sports models such as the XK8 and XKR are always likely to be desirable.   Coupe and Convertible models are definitely worth looking out for.”

Naylor continued “The Mazda MX5 is another strong contender for future classic status as it "re-introduced" the traditional 2-seat Sports Roadster for UK motorists following a long gap.   However, with a plentiful supply this model will never be scarce and values will of course reflect that.  The Honda S2000 is another good bet for the future, and being a rarer sight on UK roads might attract a premium.”

The Mazda RX-8 already has a cult following and is quirky enough with its rotary engine and ‘freestyle’ rear doors to lay a marker down for the future. Becoming a star in the films X-Men 2 and Fast & the Furious – Tokyo Drift will also increase future popularity.

Cars with real driver satisfaction, such as the mid-engined Toyota MR2 are sure to be highly sought after in years to come.  Following Toyota’s announcement to discontinue the MR2 model after 22 years, don’t be surprised to see values firming on older models.

History tells us that it is the cars with character that keep the buyers coming back for more, but it is a rare quality to pin down.  Recent models such as the MG RV8, MGF and MGTF have it and are likely to be admired by classic car enthusiasts in the years ahead.

The UK has a strong market for convertibles and these always attract collectors. Current models such as the Peugeot 206 CC, Ford Street Ka and the Quattro Sport version of the Audi TT, could all gain cult classic status. And last but by no means least, we have the fun-loving Mini, which is hugely desirable now and it is hard to see that ever changing.  Once again, convertibles should be the pick of the bunch simply because of their relative scarcity while the Mini Cooper’s antics in the Italian Job remake will no doubt help its collectability in the future.  And keep an eye on the new Countryman as a future classic prospect.

However, the sad fact is 99.99% of the time cars depreciate and this goes from the highest priced luxury marques to the volume manufactured family saloon.  And even for the small percentage that do appreciate in real terms, by the time you’ve taken into account holding and running costs, your money would surely be better off elsewhere if ‘making a mint’ is your aim.