“If you want a really good, original V8 Monaro GTS, be prepared to wait for the right car and pay between $9000 and $10,000.”

Now, don’t get too excited: that quote was from a 21-year-old buyers’ guide to classic cars in Australia.

It shows the tremendous changes the classic car market has undergone over the past two decades — and not all values have gone up.

In the case of the Monaro, you’d need to add a zero to those 1990s prices to reflect their values in 2017, and these would be entry-level prices.

The guide dates from 1996 — long before the muscle-car boom of the mid-2000s — when values of staple European classics such as the Alfa Romeo 105 Series coupes and Triumph TR models generally outstripped Australian classics.

After their surge in value 10 years ago and a readjustment back to vaguely sensible prices, Australian classics are now considerably more valuable than many of their European contemporaries. But the Euros have not been sitting idle.

So, we thought it was time for a look at five classic cars that have undergone big changes in values in the past 21 years in the Australian market.

Sources are the 1996 Unique Cars Value Guide and Australian auction results.