While the sale of new cars dropped sharply during the recent collapse of the automotive industry, owners of used cars found that their assets actually increased in value as a result of a fortunate confluence of events.

Last year’s Cash of Clunkers program incited many Americans to buy newer, more fuel efficient cars, and took many used vehicles off the road, ABC affiliate KFBB 5 reports.

In addition, as many automakers responded to the recession by pulling older models out of production, owners of used cars found that some of their vehicles actually gained value after their purchase.

For instance, Jerome and Patricia Fuller, a South Carolina couple, recently purchased a 2005 Dodge Durango, says CBS affiliate WSPA. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), the value of the used car has increased by 16 percent, or roughly $1500, in the last six months.

NADA reports also indicated that used cars that have experienced the greatest increase in value since December 2008: Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Navigator, Chevrolet Tahoe, Dodge Ram 1500, Ford F150, Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Chrysler Town & Country.

While there may be plenty of used car deals out there, none may surpass the sale of 30 Bugattis that were sold for $85,000 in 1964.

According to the New York Times, the freight load of 30 vintage French sport cars was loaded onto a train in a small Illinois town to be shipped to an unknown seller in France. When the price of the cars are converted to today’s economy, the news provider stated it was still a “giveaway” since the amount came to $600,000.

To put in context, a Bugatti Type 41 Royale sold for $28 million, Katie Hellwig from the auction house Gooding & Company told the Times.

Though it may be rare for a garden-variety consumer to find such a deal as astounding as the 1964 Bugatti one, there is still something to be said for finding great deals on used cars for their value.

The editors at Edmunds.com say used BMW 3 Series from 2002 to 2007 are a great used car buy because it “embodies everything a coupe should be: sporty, stylish and with a level of practicality closer to that of a sedan than a dedicated sports car.”

Recently released statistics from the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) reveal that more Americans in some regions may be opting to buy used cars over new ones.

In its 2009 Economic Impact Report, CADA revealed that the state registered only 104,540 new cars and light trucks in 2009, the Denver Business Journal reports. This figure is almost half of the annual rate 10 years ago – the state recorded about 208,000 new car registrations in 2000,

“The industry, and indeed the entire state and U.S. economy, declined to depths not seen in modern history” last year, Tim Jackson, CADA’s president, said in a statement.

Despite the recession, which peaked only in the last several years, Jackson mentioned that the decline in new vehicle registrations has been most significant over the last four years.

According to the report, new car dealerships made $410 million in state and local tax revenue in 2009, while sales on new cars in Colorado totaled $9.62 billion, or an average of $34.2 million per dealership.

In light of the recession, drivers may be compelled to purchase new cars to save extra money.

The consulting firm A.T. Kearney has projected that car sales in the U.S. will top 11.7 million in 2010 and the positive economic outlook will bring sales to historical levels next year.

According to a Reuters report, this year’s car sales volume will range from 11.4 million to 12.3 million units, and is expected to hit 12.9 million vehicles to 16.8 million vehicles in 2012.

Analyst Daniel Cheng of Kearney told the news provider that the increase will be fueled by pent-up demand and the availability of more credit sources.

“If you look at the 1980s and the recovery from the low point then, the steepness of the return is much like our forecast,” Cheng said.

He added that the average age of cars in the US is about 9.9 years and will rise to 10.1 years in 2011. After that, more cars are expected to be scrapped and consumers will more likely send buyers to the market.

More than 16 million cars were sold between 1999 and 2007 in the U.S. When the recession hit the industry, sales volume dived to 13.2 million in 2008 and to 10.4 million in 2009.

Cars are lasting longer now than ever before, making used cars a sound investment for consumers planning for the future.

While many automotive experts once estimated that cars typically are spent when they hit about 100,000 miles, some are changing their tune, MSN Money reports. According to Edmunds.com, cars can now easily endure about 200,000 if their given regular maintenance.

Steven Lang, the owner of two used-car lots, told MSN, “A conservatively driven and well-maintained $5,000 car should last 10 years.”

He added, “Cars are engineered today so that you’ll get tired of them long before they tire you out.”

A study by CNW Market Research found that the average value of a new car in the U.S. is $30,266, and is financed for an average of 58 months with a monthly payment of $411.

Analysts suggest that by that the savings gained by purchasing a used car are compounded by poor interest rates on car payments.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, about 41 million used cars are sold each year, about half of which are purchased from new car dealers.