DEALER TALK
Hendon Way Motors has been London’s go-to independent retailer of classic and modern-classic sports cars for the seven decades. We returned to the capital to quiz company boss, Anthony Pozner, on the current state of the market and how the pandemic has ch
Anthony Pozner at Hendon Way Motors.
For the benefit of our recent influx of readers, a crowd who might not be familiar with the background to your business, tell us a little about Hendon Way Motors.
The company was established in 1951 and has been selling Porsches, Ferraris, Jaguars and AC Cobras since the mid-1960s. We are one of the longest established independent retailers of sports cars in Europe and our experience and expertise in finding the most appropriate cars for our discerning clients has been our hallmark over the years. We strive to offer the best cars available — examples with the lowest mileage and most complete histories in order for our customers to buy with complete confidence
What’s your take on the market right now?
It remains pleasingly buoyant. Enthusiasm for the 911 in particular remains strong, with good examples from the 1980s and 1990s now highly sought after. We’ve been in business long enough to see this as a generational cycle: buyers reaching their thirties or forties find themselves in a position to buy the sports cars they lusted after in their teens.
How has Hendon Way Motors had to change the way it does business during the pandemic?
We are taking more photographs and filming more videos of the cars we have in stock. Many buyers are currently working from home, meaning the time available to them as a consequence of not having to commute to and from work each day has enabled them to indulge their interests by spending a higher percentage of their free time online. This has resulted in a spike in enquiries from prospective customers keen to find out more about the cars we’re offering, whereas in times away from periods of lockdown, they might arrange to visit our showroom and have a good look in person. Having a high number of photos and video available enables interested parties to view our cars without the need to wait until lockdown restrictions are relaxed, plus it enables us to answer questions about the condition of each vehicle with a reassuringly high volume of photographic evidence.
At the dawn of an all-electric motoring era, what makes interest in classic cars so strong?
Nostalgia is a powerful thing. The cycle of buyers I described earlier is proof of this, as is the antiques market, but when you invest in a classic sports car, you’re in possession of something more than an item to dust every now and again. A classic car can enrich your life no end, as evidenced by the massive number of activities you can engage in as an owner. When I think back to the early days of Hendon Way Motors, there was nothing like the high volume of shows, rallies, concours events, motorsport competitions, track days and club gatherings you can take advantage of on an almost weekly basis across Europe and other parts of the world today.
Classic car ownership is as much a way of life as it is being in charge of “the last word on wheels”, then?
When buying a classic or modern-classic sports car, you’re entering into a healthy community of like-minded enthusiasts ready to welcome you into a whole new social scene. It’s fantastic.
Does Hendon Way Motors get involved in club and motorsport events?
One of the highlights of our year is our visit to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. We showcase a selection of exciting cars and warmly welcome visitors to browse our selection and join us in refreshments. In addition to our long history in the classic and sports car retail business, we have been staunch supporters of club and international motorsport events. Hendon Way Motors has participated in every outing of the Tour de France Auto (now called Tour Auto) since its reintroduction in 1992. We have campaigned a 911 Carrera RS 2.7, AC Cobra 289, 4.2 E-type Jaguar (winning our group and never being placed outside the top ten) and, most recently, in a Ferrari 275 GTB/4, also with success. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, our 308 GTB dominated the Maranello Challenge and finished in first place (with Robbie Stirling behind the wheel) on no less than three occasions. At the more esoteric end of the events programme, our 1966 ex-john Woolfe AC Cobra 427 was invited to the 1999 Louis Vuitton at the Hurlingham Club, gaining distinction, and to Goodwood, with former Le Mans star, Tony Dron, driving the hill.
What Hendon Way Motors stock should we be getting excited about right now?
We’re currently offering a gorgeous 993 Targa with only 15k miles on its odometer, and we’re excited to have a 997 GT3 RS 4.0 (with even less distance travelled) in our London showroom. We’re also about to advertise a beautiful one-owner Ferrari Dino. Visit our website at hendonwaymotors.co.uk for a full stock list. ●