Dear Classic Car Enthusiasts, Collectors and Followers,
Half the year is already behind us, and the number of events and rallies still popping up is surprising, with some concours/show new starters becoming quite interesting.
This month has flown, from the glamour of the London Concours to the excitement of Le Mans and the appeal of the Mille Miglia. It will be a secret relief to get the old feet back on the ground.
Having just returned from the “most beautiful race in the world”, the 2025 Mille Miglia was, as always, packed with an unusual selection of alluring pre-1957 cars and liked-minded enthusiasts, all with a beaming smile and proud to be with their well-prepared machines.
All have a story to tell, and all will be prepared to tell you if you have the time. This year was exceptionally warm and some of the priceless machines suffered as did the crew, but my hat lifts to the support teams who never get to wave at the crowds and sip the odd glass here and there; they are a great bunch of guys with lots of knowledge, and never rest.
The market is still a little uneasy: we are seeing some top-end cars moving under the radar, but there are still plenty of mediocre offers, and a hell of a lot of unsold auction vehicles.
The auction world is NOT making things easy for the classic car market, but do they care? As long as they get paid, “what's the problem?”, they ask, and move on. Is this attitude really helping the owners and the future market?
Sometimes we struggle with how a number of these auction cars is described in catalogues, with finer details missed, and still wonder as to WHY anyone would be prepared to make a serious purchase from an auction without a full in-depth check and inspection.
The dealer network is, in the meantime, dealing with real, focused buyers, experiencing a lot more inspections and being asked about the cars’ history in an effort to gather facts.
Maybe auction buyers are bargain hunters, but are those real bargains? Who knows whether the right decision was taken? When is a bargain no longer a bargain, and for which side?
The wheels keep turning and there are more events to attend, sleeves to roll up and people getting ready for Classic Le Mans. We do love that event, with so much to see and do.
If you are thinking of buying or selling a classic car and need good friendly advice or are looking for that next restoration project, we are here to assist.
Safe and happy motoring
Keith
keith@classicmobilia.com
+44(0)7889 805432
+44(0)1908 270672
