The term 'classic motor' is changing - and it has emerged that a string of cars worth just £2,000 today could be set to rake in THOUSANDS in the coming years.

A car-leasing firm has revealed the ten cars its experts believe will be worth thousands of pounds in the future, without their current owners even realising it.

Mark Tongue, director of vehicle leasing firm Select Car Leasing, revealed all to our sister title.

He told WalesOnline there's ten cars that are regarded as ‘future classics’ which could soon be worth a lot more than you think.

He said: “The modern car market is radically different to what it was 15 years ago.

“Government-led drives to improve emissions has led to more and more scrappage schemes, with many cars from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s being ditched in favour of more economical vehicles.

“Car ownerships as we know it is also changing, with many switching from purchasing to leasing.

“That big shift means that some cars from the early noughties are now already being considered ‘classic’, because of how far and how quickly the motoring industry has changed.

“But there’ll always be nostalgia for everything ‘retro’, and even if you’ve got a lease car as your daily driver, there’s always room for an appreciating classic on your driveway.”

ALFA ROMEO 147 GTA (2004, £8,500)

Yes, the Italian styling on display in the Alfa 147 is unique.

But the engine is equally impressive - a 250 brake horsepower, 3.2 litre V6, giving a 0-60mph time of just over six seconds.

There were around 5,000 sales of these worldwide, meaning they’re already becoming an attractive rarity.

AUDI TT 3.2 V6 (2003, £3,500)

Audi TT
Audi TT

Audi TTs sold like hot cakes when they were first unleashed in 1998.

And in 2003, Audi upped the ante by putting a 3.2 litre engine under the bonnet, creating the most desirable of all the Mk 1 TTs.

FORD MONDEO ST-220 (2002, £2,500)

Ford Mondeo

Fast Fords have been dominating the affordable classic market in recent years, particularly anything with an ‘RS’ badge - largely because people who couldn’t afford them growing up now can.

And one of the unsung future classics is the Mondeo ST220, which features a 3.0 litre engine with 223 brake horsepower.

BMW Z4 3.0 i (2003, £4,000)

The BMW Z3 - which preceded the Z4 - is already well and truly in classic car territory. And there’s everything to suggest the Z4 will follow.

It’s got all the ingredients - good looks, rear wheel drive and two seats.

RENAULT CLIO 182 (2004, £2,500)

Renault Clio Dynamique 1.5 MediaNav dCi 90 ECO
Renault Clio Dynamique 1.5 MediaNav dCi 90 ECO

Not all Clios are made equal - and the Renaultsport Clio 182 is simply one of the best hot-hatches of the last 20 years.

They’re cheap to pick up and they’re also fast, doing 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds.

MAZDA MX-5 Mk1 1.8i (1997, £4,000)

If you can find a good rust-free example of a Mk1 Mazda MX-5, whatever you do, keep hold of it - because prices are already rising fast!

The MX-5 has had numerous style changes over the years, but none has been more easy on the eye than the original.

HONDA CR-X DEL SOL (1995, £2,000)

If you can’t find a Mazda MX-5, perhaps you can get hold of a Honda CR-X, another quirky two-seater sports car that is rare, and therefore attractive to collectors.

CITROEN C6 (2006, £4,000)

Citroen know a thing or two about hydraulically-sprung cars, and the C6 was the long-awaited successor to the previous wedge-shaped XM.

Critics loved them, but few punters bought them, which means they’re now amassing a cult following.

VOLVO 850 R 2.3 (1995, £7,000)

It might look like a family load-lugger, but the Volvo 850 R is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, boasting blistering performance - 0-60mph in around seven seconds - and racing credentials.

Again, they’re absolutely loved by enthusiasts and prices are already rising rapidly, with some examples on the market for around £13,000.

SAAB 900 TURBO (1993, £4,000)

Swedish giant Saab famously went bust in 2012, as fans mourned the firm’s quirky looks and aircraft-building ancestry.

With the number of SAABs on the road now dwindling, there’s a growing market for them.

One earmarked for future desirability is the 900 Turbo, which is considered the ‘last true Saab’ before the US’s General Motors took control.