KEEP YOUR MOTOR RUNNING

Classic cars and the world of automobilia are going from strength to strength

With well over half a million classic cars on the road in the United Kingdom, classic motoring is an enduring passion that inspires many of us, and for a number of reasons.

David Barzilay is chairman of Classic Motor Cars Ltd. (classic-motor-cars.co.uk), and says: “Most people have fond memories of certain cars, especially the ones their family members owned. For example, the Jaguar Mk2 that uncle Harry had was also the car of choice for both villains and the police, so it had an edgy appeal!”

“The growing interest in classic cars exists for a number of reasons but much of it is about nostalgia and happy memories, they are the vehicles that took us on holiday or the ones that we drove when we fi rst started work.”

And, with their perenial popularity, classic cars are also proving to be a strong performer in these days of low investment returns.

Will Smith, of Silverstone Auctions ( silverstoneauctions.com), says of the continuing performance of this market:

“Over the past five years an index tracking the performance of 50 rare classic cars rose by 142%. Although Porsche, Jaguar and Ferrari prices seemed to be levelling off, the more affordable 70s to 90s classics perform well.”

The traditional view of a classic car enthusiast is perhaps of a chap in cravat and blazer, gently pootling along on a sunny Sunday afternoon but, with the new

“Moden cars just don’t have the uniqueness; classic cars are all so beautiful, each with their own character generations of classic car fans fi nding their feet, there is a new sector of enthusiasts.

“The lower end of the market from £5,000100,000 is flying at the moment. There are no shortages of multi-generational buyers that

ADVERTORIAL have cash in the bank, and receive very little return on their traditional investments,” says Smith.

At the more classic end is James Guess, director at Feathers Lifestyle ( featherslifestyle.co.uk), a classic car and motorsports experience company. He says:

“There is increasing interest in the scene and I believe this stems from classic cars having that ‘boyhood’ appeal. The owners now were the young boys dreaming of these cars in their youth. Modern cars just don’t have the uniqueness; classic cars are all so beautiful, each with their own character. In

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