Believe it or not, the dream of owning a slice of automotive history isn't reserved for the elite anymore. In 2026, a surprising number of once-unattainable performance legends—the kind that once sent shivers down the spines of supercar owners—are trading hands for the price of a brand-new family sedan. We're not talking about tired old beaters, but genuine future classics in 'Original' or 'Highly Original' condition, all found for under the $29,000 mark of a new Toyota Camry. The market has spoken, and it's whispering some incredible deals.

Let's kick things off with the misunderstood gentleman: the Porsche 928 S4. Truth be told, this front-engined V8 flagship had its work cut out from the start, facing purist disdain. But oh, what a machine it became. With the S4, Porsche bolted in a 5.0-liter, 32-valve V8 good for 316 horsepower. Paired with the (highly recommended) five-speed manual, it could sprint to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds. The aero tweaks and fatter tires only enhanced its sublime, transaxle-balanced handling—a trait even the wild Testarossa struggled to match. It's this unique blend of V8 muscle and misunderstood pedigree that makes it a compelling, and now affordable, piece of Porsche history.

Next up, a car that redefines 'understated menace': the Mercedes-Benz SL600 Biturbo V12. This isn't even an AMG, folks, but it will shock you. How does 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds sound? That's two-tenths quicker than the more powerful SL65 AMG and on par with the legendary SLR McLaren supercar. Its 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 delivered 493 hp and an elephantine 590 lb-ft of torque, all managed by a surprisingly resilient five-speed automatic. The absurdity? You get all this brutal acceleration wrapped in a full-leather, heated-seat, premium GT cruiser. And the kicker? We found over 160 examples for less than a new Camry. Let's see the Toyota try that party trick.

Don't let the recall headlines fool you. The 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra is a landmark car. Yes, its advertised 320 hp was... optimistic, leading to a famous apology from Ford. But this was the first Mustang to feature an independent rear suspension. The result? A wider track, better weight distribution, and handling that transformed America's favorite quarter-miler into something far more maneuverable. The nose dove less under braking, and the rear end became predictable. It was a legally complex warning shot to the establishment that the pony car could play in the corners, too.

Is the BMW E39 M5 the greatest M car of all time? Many would say yes. When it landed, it was the first M5 with eight cylinders—a 394-hp 4.9-liter V8. It wasn't the most powerful, but it blew its contemporaries out of the water. Based on a stock 5 Series platform, magic was worked with a limited-slip diff, bespoke suspension, and sharper steering, creating the ultimate sleeper sedan. It could hit 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, hustle a Porsche 993 through corners, and then cruise home in sublime comfort. Finding a clean one under $29K is a gamble, but for potentially the most beautiful M sedan ever, it's a bet worth taking.

Okay, we couldn't find a mythical 22B in budget. But don't sleep on the first-generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Literally born from Subaru's racing division, these rally-bred weapons are pure joy. Powered by the iconic 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer engine, power quickly grew to the Japanese 'Gentleman's Agreement' limit of 276 hp. With a limited-slip front diff and telepathic steering, the STI proved—and still proves—that sideways, incredible performance and icon status don't have to break the bank. Finding one between $13K and $28K is entirely possible.

Remember the pickup truck that humbled a Ferrari? Meet the 1991 GMC Syclone. Its 4.3-liter turbocharged V6 made 280 hp—only 16 hp less than the Ferrari 348ts's V8. With 350 lb-ft of torque, permanent all-wheel drive, and a clever torque converter to combat lag, the Syclone could blast through the quarter-mile in just over 14 seconds, a half-second quicker than the Prancing Horse. It's a legendary piece of American performance history that paved the way for trucks like the Ford Lightning, and clean examples can still be found for a fraction of a new car's price.

We're playing a bit fast and loose with 'supercar killer' here, but the 1997 Honda Civic Type R EK9 earns its stripes through purity. With just 182 hp, it wasn't about straight-line speed. It was about cornering. A seam-welded monocoque added rigidity, and Honda stripped out everything non-essential, even the sound deadening. The result was a car lighter than a feather, powered by a high-revving VTEC engine that lived for punishment. On a twisty track, this red-badged hatchback could dance with Europe's finest, proving that driver engagement trumped raw power.

How is a Bond car and the last project overseen by Lotus legend Colin Chapman available for around $21,000? It's legitimately crazy. The Giugiaro-designed wedge shape of the 1988 Lotus Esprit Turbo is timeless. Its steel chassis was beautifully rigid, and its handling was as predictable as a metronome, allowing it to challenge Ferrari's 328. The 2.2-liter turbo four had minimal lag (unlike its 911 Turbo rival) and could hit 60 mph in 6.4 seconds. All this, for less than $29K, from a brand famous for its... well, let's just say character-building ownership experience.

If minimalism is your mantra, the Ariel Atom 3.5 is the ultimate budget supercar assassin. This is a car stripped to its performance bones: an exoskeleton chassis, no doors, and a windshield that's an optional extra. Its 2.4-liter four-cylinder, sourced from Honda's performance parts bin, sends over 230 hp to the rear wheels. The result? A staggering 0-60 mph time of around 3 seconds flat. On a track like Top Gear's, it has out-cornered giants like the Porsche GT3 RS and McLaren 600LT with less than half the horsepower. It's a pure, undiluted driving experience.

Finally, we have the beast that reminded the world of Dodge's soul: the 1992 Dodge Viper RT/10. It was rudimentary—no driver aids, exhausts that cooked the door sills, and a brace bar that blocked the rear view. But that massive 8.0-liter V10, producing 400 hp, gave it a 179 mph top speed, enough to cruise past a Corvette ZR-1. By 1996, with 420 hp and a refined chassis, it could hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, beating a Lamborghini Diablo. It was raw, brutal, and unforgettable. Between this American icon and a new Camry... well, which one really gets your blood pumping? The hunt for these future classics is on, and in 2026, the deals have never been sweeter.