When we talk about classic cars, oftentimes we're discussing fairly common pieces of automotive history. You might have known someone whose dad owned a Corvette growing up, or maybe you got to drive around someone's classic Mustang for a parade, or even take it to prom if you were trustworthy enough.All of those options are fine and dandy, but there's one important thing to note - those cars are still being made today. You can go pick up a new Mustang or Corvette off the lot anytime you please, so long as you've got the scratch. Those cars aren't what this list is about; instead, this list focuses on some true relics. These cars have been nearly forgotten in the pages of history by some, but were, and still are, adored by those who got to see one in person or, even better, sit behind the wheel, mash their right foot to the floor and feel the excitement that these bargain classic cars can bring.To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Classic.com, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds. These entries are listed in descending order from most to least expensive. Auburn Automobile Best Classic Bargain: Auburn Six | $36,209 1935_auburn_653_img_12981-31182Auburn was an American manufacturer that produced vehicles stateside from 1900-1937. The company manufactured some of the most luxurious motorcars the country had seen right up until the stock market crash in the late 20s and throughout the 30s. Before the crash, Auburn's cars were big, beefy, fast, luxurious, and above all else, expensive. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what happened next - there weren't enough people around with the money to afford a new Auburn, and the company went under before the turn of the decade, filing for bankruptcy.That wasn't the end of the story, though. Auburn merged with a company called Central Manufacturing to become Auburn Central Manufacturing, or ACM for short, and quickly got into the business of war. Do the math, and you should be able to tell that business was in no short supply in the early 1940s. ACM became so good at it that the company re-branded to American Central Manufacturing, and is now known as the company that manufactured most of the World War II-era Willys Jeeps. 1935 Auburn Six Performance Specifications While Auburn did make some beautiful roadsters, including the famed Speedster, those don't quite fit into the 'budget' category. Instead, if you're after a classic Auburn without having to refinance your mortgage, the Six deserves a look. At just over a $35,000 average listing price, the Six is a true collector's classic that can be bought without breaking the bank if you're lucky enough to find one floating about the secondhand marketplace.The Six isn't going to impress anyone once you open the hood, but then again, not many classics do. That isn't exactly the point here. The Six was designed to be the ordinary person's car from a luxury manufacturer, and the ordinary person didn't need over 100 horsepower back then. Instead, they needed a reliable car with four seats, and if you were, say, the manager of a local bank, the Auburn Six meant you were doing just fine in getting those two requirements knocked out. Packard Motor Car Company Best Bargain Classic: Packard 200 | $22,840 1952_packard_200-deluxe_img_5561-2-21379Packard had a much longer history as a company than Auburn did, as the organization was founded just before the turn of the 20th century in 1899. Owning a Packard was seen as a status symbol, especially before World War II, and boy, do their cars just scream it. Packard is credited with a few designs that we still enjoy today, such as the modern steering wheel and air conditioning in passenger cars. Just think about how hot your summer drive would be without these folks in Detroit all those years ago.Packard shut its doors in 1956, meaning that we're approaching the 70th anniversary of the company being forced to shut its doors. By the time the 1950s rolled around, Packard's design language had remained the same as it was before the war, and newer, fresher competition began spreading its roots throughout a young customer base. Additionally, Ford and General Motors sought to buy up every Packard dealership they could, essentially cutting the Detroit staple out of the loop when it came to direct-to-consumer sales. 1952 Packard 200 Performance Specifications Personally, I find it a bit odd that nobody has purchased a Packard 200 through any of the large auction sites in two years, but according to Classic.com, that appears to be the case. However, that does mean that there are currently a few models listed for sale across the country, and both of them are listed underneath the $20,000 mark at this moment.The 200 is not meant to be like its larger, waftier older brother, and was the predecessor to the Clipper, one of the final cars that Packard produced. Instead, the 200 was meant to be a smaller, comfortable runabout that looked good from any direction, and that's exactly what the company delivered on before shutting its doors. Oldsmobile Best Bargain Classic: F-85 | $20,041 1963_oldsmobile_cutlass_15768572348db7e804b64dbb6IMG_0532Oldsmobile was an American staple that produced well over 35 million vehicles during its long tenure as a company, which began way back in 1897 when the company was dubbed "Olds Motor Vehicle Company." When the company shut its doors back in 2004, it was a subsidiary of General Motors and was one of the oldest manufacturers left at that time.The 1960s were littered with good cars for Oldsmobile, and for that reason, if you're looking for a bargain, you'll need to stay away from the muscled-up cars that were produced during the company's heyday. Instead, it's an entry-level "compact" car with some smooth body lines that gets the nod here. However, on an interesting note, the spec table below will be for the 1963 F-85 Jetfire, which was a turbocharged two-door based on the Cutlass with one of the earliest turbo systems ever fitted to a production car. 1963 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire Specifications Now, it's very much worth mentioning that the Jetfire is wildly more expensive than any other F-85 out there. In fact, many F-85s are for sale at this very moment for well under $10,000. For reference's sake, the lone Jetfire that I can find on the market right now is priced at just under $55,000 in Tampa, Florida. DeSoto Best Bargain Classic: DeSoto Custom | $19,710 1949 Desoto Custom Club CoupeFounded in the late 1920s as a part of the Chrysler corporation (that will be a trend, stay tuned), DeSoto manufactured mid-priced cars for mid-priced people. However, this was a competitive marketplace, and the company's founder, Walter Chrysler, wanted a piece of that action.Thus, the cars had to stand out. DeSoto tried to do this with interesting features like hidden headlights in the 1950s and a compressed air engine starter before World War II, along with a powerful engine that would go on to become the HEMI V-8, and for a spell, these all worked. However, the company eventually got too big for its britches, so to speak, and simply couldn't hack it by the time the 1960s rolled onward. 1949 DeSoto Custom Specifications I was shocked that DeSoto Customs could be bought in good condition for such reasonable prices. This is a classic piece of mid-20th-century design that can be purchased in stellar condition for well under $15,000 in some cases. Sure, they aren't performance monsters, and they're not going to be able to serve as a hot rod anytime soon, but they sure look good for their age. Studebaker Best Bargain Classic: Champion | $17,682 1955 Studebaker Champion DeluxeThis forced the company into some unsuccessful merger attempts, and the Indiana factory shut its doors in 1963.The Champion is the best bargain of the Studebaker lot, but in my opinion, that's because it's the least pretty. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk about one of my favorite cult-classic cars, so stay tuned for an honorable mention from the excellent Studebaker design team. 1955 Studebaker Champion Specifications The Champion was one of the longest-tenured models in the Studebaker lineup, and began as a mid-sized model until the fourth iteration of the platform, which is photographed above. At that point, it became a compact option, offering a more nimble feel and tighter body lines to keep up with current design trends of the era. The Champion in the photo actually sold for $9,000, while some are currently listed for upwards of $30,000. The market fluctuation is something to watch with these cars, but if a good-looking classic at a bargain price is what you're after, the Champion fits the bill. Honorable Mention | Studebaker Commander 1953 Studebaker Commander Starlight CoupeI had to include the Commander here based on looks alone. Powered by a classic American V-8, the Commander was a higher-performance model that was meant to be a take on the family sports sedan. That's not the reason I wanted to talk about this car, though. I wanted to bring this up because, well, just look at it. It's enough to make a grown man cry. This one was tastefully modified to include a Dodge Magnum V-8, even. What a car. Imperial Best Bargain Classic: Imperial 3rd Gen - $11,620 1968 Imperial CrownNow, here's where things might get weird with our second subsidiary of Chrysler. Imperial was the company's brand made to compete with the likes of Lincoln and Cadillac at General Motors, and they churned out some absolute classics during its prime. However, the company only lasted from 1955-1971 and experienced a short revival from 1981-1983. Where it gets weird, though, is the fact that the Imperial began as a high-end model for Chrysler, which then branched off into its own brand, even if it only produced one car.So you have to be careful when deciding whether you're referring to the brand or the car. For this entry, we're looking at the car itself, particularly the third iteration. The Imperial itself came in three trims. Pictured below is the mid-tier of the car - the Crown. The car also came in the Custom (entry level) and LeBaron (top level) trims. 1968 Imperial Crown Specifications Now, the Lebaron trim runs quite the price in comparison to the other two, and aside from the much cooler name, it doesn't come with world-changing extras. As a result, the Imperial Crown is the best bargain buy in the company's classic catalog, and it can have you feeling like you're driving a classic Lincoln Continental for a fraction of the price.