9 Sports Cars With Pop-Up Headlights That Are Absolute Steals

Pop-up headlights are one of the most beloved quirks in sports car history, and they’ve become increasingly rare in modern designs. Surprisingly, several classic and modern-era sports cars with pop-up headlights remain affordable, offering style, performance, and nostalgia at a bargain price. These nine models prove you don’t need a massive budget to own a piece of automotive cool.

Mazda MX-5 Miata (NA)

oh come on, this one’s obvious. everyone’s first “real” car fantasy at some point. tiny, cute, unreliable in the most lovable way. the pop-ups wink at you like “hey, wanna go for a drive?” you could find one, what, around ten grand if you hunt well. smell of gasoline and beige vinyl seats that squeak if you move wrong. I swear every Miata owner has at least one story that starts with “so the top was down and it started raining…”

Toyota MR2 (AW11 or SW20)

man this thing feels like driving a roller skate with anxiety. mid-engine, super twitchy, weirdly fun when you stop being scared. prices are creeping up but some are still out there under $15K if you don’t mind rust. it feels like something someone designed on purpose to test your reflexes. reminds me of the kind of car you accidentally fall in love with because you were planning to buy something more sensible. you never do.

Honda Prelude (4th Gen)

you know what’s funny? nobody talks about these anymore. but back in the day, it was like the “cool cousin” car if you couldn’t afford a skyline or something exotic. pop-ups that flicker like they’re waking up. smooth engine, a bit heavy, but who cares. $8K maybe? I sat in one once, radio crackled like old vinyl, smelled like damp carpet and faded ambition. it was perfect.

Chevrolet Corvette C4

okay so, not the prettiest, right? kinda plasticky, dashboard looked like an early 2000s printer. but then you hit the throttle and it’s like “oh, so that’s where the personality is.” big attitude for under $20K usually. pop-ups like two little eyebrows of menace. I never liked the seats though, way too firm, felt like sitting on the car, not in it. but I’d still take one, not gonna lie.

Porsche 944

yeah, this one gets me. there’s something classy and sad about it, like a forgotten star from an old ’80s movie. those pop-ups rise super slow, almost like they’re sighing. prices? $15–20K depending on condition, but you’ll spend that again fixing it anyway. that smell inside—like aged leather and cigarette ghosts—feels oddly comforting. I think I’d just park it somewhere and stare at it till it rained.

Nissan 300ZX (Z32)

this one looks serious. like, it takes itself way too seriously and kinda earns it. twin-turbo models? forget about it, price keeps climbing. but base ones, eh, maybe $12K if you’re lucky. they were like the video game dream car in the 90s. I remember making vroom noises as a kid every time one cruised by. pop-ups so slick they barely blink. feels like tech from a decade that promised flying cars and gave us dial-up instead.

Ferrari 348 (yeah, the “cheap” Ferrari)

okay, okay, hear me out. I know it’s still like $55K or something, maybe a little more, but for a Ferrari that’s wild. it’s temperamental, moody, looks incredible in red (obviously), and those pop-ups? art. I saw one once at a gas station, and the dude looked like he was both proud and terrified. probably for good reason. but that smell, that metallic oil-on-clutch thing? pure therapy.

Pontiac Fiero GT

controversial, I know. it caught on fire a lot back in the day but, uh, those were the early ones, right? still, they look kinda futuristic if you squint. mid-engine, pop-ups, cheap—like $6K cheap. feels like a car from a world where optimism still existed. the seats feel like somebody’s old office chair though. I have a weird soft spot for how it hums like it’s trying its best.

Acura NSX (first gen)

yeah, I saved the obvious one for last. every kid that had Gran Turismo dreams knows this car. it’s perfect, like alien-level perfect. balanced, smooth, timeless, scary expensive now but if you find a nice one under $100K you’re winning. the pop-ups blink like some anime hero about to monologue. smells like premium fuel and someone’s old cologne. I’d sell a kidney if kidneys were worth more.