Choosing our next classic is where the rational brain does battle with the emotional, and barn-find fear isn’t far away
What unites an Austin 7, Jensen Interceptor and a Fiat 8V Supersonic? What if I were to add a Porsche 930 Turbo, Alfa GTA and Ferrari F40? No? Apart from the fact that owning all six and a barn large enough to store them would make for one very happy editor, they’re all cars that our panel of six market experts think you should buy now or forever regret missing the opportunity.
Along with the rest of their Hot 30 choices, these cars are hugely rewarding to own. They share the virtues that normally drive up value but, helpfully, have either stalled, slipped back or managed to duck below the market’s line of vision. Our panel of experts for 2018 includes newcomers Maarten Ten Holder of RM Sotheby’s and Edward Bridger-stille of Historics to bring an even broader mix of knowledge, experience and personal taste to the mix. Because no matter how objective we all try to be when advising on how to navigate the world of old cars, the heart can’t help butting in on the conversation. Naturally we want to help you make wise choices, but it doesn’t mean that they have to be entirely rational. Let’s face it, when we commit to owning any classic, we do so in the knowledge that an emotional and financial journey awaits with all of the joys and occasional out-of-control moments of an Alpine black run on an icy morning.
The barn-find E-type on page 35 serves as a chilling reminder of the fate that’s forever snapping at my own car, if I don’t overcome the maintenance challenges that it sportingly throws at me most years. Spookily, it’s also a 1962 fixed-head coupé that started life in Opalescent Dark Blue, but has just been plucked from 35 years in dusty storage. It makes the seven-month internment of my E-type seem minor, assuming that I prevail over the latest head-scratcher played out on page 115.
I hope your classic car is spending more time on the road than in the garage during this fabulous summer.
Enjoy the issue