Personalizing your car has been one of the hottest trends for the last 10 years, especially in iconic California. But did you know that dear old Dad’s Toyota Corolla Hatchback could be a more sought after ride for today’s custom car enthusiasts than a new muscle car? So before donating the old compact car do a little research.  It may be worth much more than you imagined.

Flip a few pages of certain car magazines, or search popular custom car websites like and you’ll know that tuning “old school” Japanese imports as well as some unexpected American models has become a cottage industry. So tear off that old car cover and get your money’s worth for holding onto to that dusty old compact.

Generally, the old school scene refers to Japanese cars from late 60s through the mid 80s without an exact delineation. However, lots of different models are worth money on the block, particularly rear wheel drive cars because of the popularity of the new sport of drifting. Other four-cylinder cars that have been grand fathered out of emissions control regulations from the early 70s are also popular. 

For example, a 1986 two Door Toyota Corolla GT-S Hatch in good condition is valued in Kelley Blue Book for around $1,200, but they are quite often sold both through on line auctions or via the forums and even local papers for anywhere from $6,000 to $7,000. 

With the rising popularity of drifting, a past-time consisting of real wheel drive cars in a sort of competitive side-ways-burning-rubber sport, even more recent models are a good way to pocket money.  Nissan 240s, one of the most popular cars for amateur drifters, also known as Silvia’s in Japan, are now making a strong suit for “post old school,” because they are from the early 90s. The adage, "that what’s old becomes new again," definitely rings true for this scene and quite possibly your wallet.

Some of the nostalgic American cars like the AMC Pacer bubble car or the much-maligned Hornet/Gremlin, are also a good way to make some extra money.  The Pacer is not currently listed in the Kelley Blue Book, but because of some kitsch value features, such as the fishbowl view from within, a longer passenger door than driver door on two-door Coupes, or the fact that many of them were converted to electric cars, they are selling for more than $3,500 in some metropolitan markets like Los Angeles and New York.

Whether it’s a Datsun B210, 510, or 240Z, true-school rotary Mazda RX-2 or the diminutive Toyota Corolla, it’s fun to see them on the road, in the websites and magazines and at the shows.  But it’s more fun to know that folks are buying these unexpected models for good money. 

For a great up to the minute look at what enthusiasts are doing in the old school scene check out Yahoo! Autos Custom on Military.com's Road Warriors link or http://custom.autos.yahoo.com. For Kelley Blue Book values for trade-in, dealer and private values, go to http://www.kbb.com and for more information on the definite California show on the old school Japanese Classics check out http://www.japaneseclassiccarshow.com

Copyright 2006 Jennifer Dulski. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.