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Browsing in secret or already negotiating a remortgage plan, a gearhead will do anything it takes to own these German Classic cars.

Taking a tentative step into classic car ownership is just the beginning of what is sure to be an expensive vice. Narrowing down your search to something stylish, old, and German isn't going to make matters any easier either. Porsche has dozens of interesting models in its back catalog including a few older "budget" cars that recently have peaked well into six figures. The unloved front-engined 924 in GTS Carerra Clubsport is a prime example at auction fetching over a quarter million dollars. German classics for sure aren't getting any cheaper.

Sky-high prices are not just reserved for sports cars either. Utilitarian VW buses with their air-cooled engines extensive glass area and simplistic interiors are a hot commodity provided the year and condition are correct.

If you're reading this, then we're guessing your bank manager has approved your remortgage plan, and you're one step closer to classic car heaven.

Related: 9 German Performance Cars From The 2000s That Can Easily Be Daily Driven

Porsche's first attempt to turbocharge the 911 cemented the brand's reputation as a supercar maker. Forty years later the 911 turbo is still one of the most sought after performance cars money can buy. The original holds a special place among gearheads in part due to its sometimes deadly reputation.

At the time, forced induction was a misunderstood concept. Early adopters unused to the extra performance afforded by the 911's laggy power delivery deemed the Porsche too dangerous, labeling it the Widowmaker. In truth, gearheads needed time to acclimatize themselves with the 3.3-liter turbocharged engine's tail happy character. Sure, a modern Porsche will handle better, but the 930 turbo is way cooler.

Touring car homologation special turned road legal sports coupe, the BMW 3.0 CSL is a legend both on and off the track. Launched in 1971, it required buyers to complete the assembly process with BMW supplying the "Batmobile" rear wing in the trunk to circumvent the wing's legality in Germany.

With or without its rear wing, the 3.0CSL is one of the finest looking BMWs ever made. And it's not even a case of all show and no go. Under the hood, the BMW straight-six engines put down 206 hp powering the coupe to an incredible six European Touring car titles. In total, just 795 cars were produced, making the 3.0CSL one of the rarer German classics.

RELATED: Here's What Made The BMW 3.0 CSL So Cool

Lacking the 300SL's star-studded appeal and multi-million dollar price tag, the 300S is a bargain at $450k. However, rather than play the underdog card, this rarer Mercedes is every bit as well engineered and built. Manufactured between 1951-58, the 300S featured a handcrafted two-door body available in either coupe or cabriolet amounting to 787 cars.

Unlike its more famous relative, the 300S is about comfort over speed. Under the hood, Mercedes fitted a 3-liter W186 based straight six kicking out 150hp. At lower speeds, the 300S is nimble enough reaching 60 mph in 11.9-seconds, beyond these speeds and things are a little more sedate.

BMWs Mid-engined supercar racer turned road car, the M1, arrived too late to be a commercial success. A lengthy and complicated manufacturing process involving the German carmaker along with some surprising business partners was to blame. By the time production wound up in 1981, BMW had managed to find 453 buyers.

In hindsight production woes have had a dramatic impact on values. In the right condition, collectors are willing to handover $500k upwards. However, given the combination of Giugiaro styling and mid-mounted 3.5-liter V6, this is one BMW worthy of staking your house on.

The Mercedes 190E isn't as you might expect, just a four-door sedan in a Widebody kit. In 1990, Mercedes, like other carmakers turned DTM competitors, had to produce identical machinery for public use. The result was the 190E Evolution II.

Wearing a bodykit and huge rear wing only tells part of the 190Es creation. Under the hood, AMG/Cosworth 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines cranked out 235 hp transforming an otherwise ordinary sedan into a championship winning race car. As the saying goes, competition improves breed, Mercedes cashing in on track success with 502 EVO IIs.

RELATED: Here's What Made The Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution I And II So Awesome

The 356A Speedster is where Porsche's production started in earnest, with a prototype running as early as 1939. Mass-produced from 1948 onwards with 346A models featuring significant updates improving both handling and performance. The VW connection, while widely known, doesn't mean the 356 was a badge engineered Bug. Porsche citing the engine and suspension were based on VW parts.

The 356A reached its pinnacle with a larger 1.6-liter boxer engine sporting twin downdraft Zenith carburetors boosting power output and increasing top speed to 87 mph. Hugely popular, more than seventy years later, the 356 speedster enjoys a cult following that has seen values surge in recent years. Mint restored examples regularly top $300k.

Admittedly, "Bus" doesn't quite fit the classic car title, but don't dismiss the Samba too quickly. In creating the Samba, Volkswagen combined Beetle mechanicals with a van body shell, punching out numerous windows in the process. The number of windows plays a huge role in values.

Prices vary wildly depending on year and condition, even a more common 21-window Samba can fetch eye-watering prices. At auction in 2017, one collector with a love for air-cooled minivans splashed out a record $302k.

A huge commercial flop in the making, BMWs iconic 507 almost bankrupt the German carmaker. Now, sixty years later, any gearhead alive at the time with deep enough pockets would be looking at a cool $2 million. The 507's optimistic manufacturing cost, combined with BMWs unwavering attention to quality and detail were to blame.

It wasn't a case of poor value for money, rather an instance of broken promises. Launched in 1956, offered with an initial asking price of $5,000 that quickly escalated twice over by the time production began. In hindsight, the 507 was worth every penny.

RELATED: A Detailed Look Back At The BMW 507

Fast, bonkers, and truly unique, only gearheads with deep pockets need to apply. The Porsche 962 inspired shape might be familiar, but this road-legal Le Mans racer comes from Koenig Specials. Despite the allure of a 3.4-liter turbocharged flat-six spitting out 642 hp, Koenig struggled to find any takers with production reaching three C62s.

Like all Koenig Specials, the C62 is an example of letting your imagination run riot. Koenig attempted to make the C62 easier to live with, adding more user-friendly bodywork and stiffer chassis. However, the C62 was a purebred racer down to its last nut and bolt.

The Audi Ur Quattro is one of the most legendary performance cars of all time. While other carmakers dabbled with turbocharged engines and all-wheel-drive, Audi perfected the technology. Off-road, nothing could live with the sheer level of grip and speed.

For road use, the Ur Quattro spawned a shorter SWB version. Smaller, more agile and packing an uprated five-cylinder turbocharged engine cranking out 306 hp, the SWB coupe maxed out at a limited top speed of 155 mph. Now, for the bad news, unlike its bigger Ur Quattro that found some 11,000+ buyers, Audi limited the SWB coupe to 214 cars.

Raised in a car-obsessed environment from an early age ensured a keen interest in anything car-related. first and foremost an F1 fan, but also an avid follower of other motorsports. Professional background working closely with a well established UK based Supercar manufacturer in recent years.