Going head to head
Enthusiasts and investors continue to lock horns
How has 2018 been for you?
We have experienced another busy year and a lot of interest was generated from our support and attendance at classic events across Scotland and the UK. Attendance at these events allows people to meet us and put faces to names. In addition to this we have also increased our advertising campaigns across the board, which has worked well for potential buyers and sellers alike.
Do you sell mainly to buyers in Scotland and northern England?
Our customer base has become widespread, with customers buying and selling with us from across the UK, Europe and beyond. The majority are based in Cheshire through the country to as far as the Scottish Highlands. Being located centrally, it’s not unusual for us to locate cars that have not been seen for many years, which for us is one of the most interesting parts of the job.
Are your buyers enthusiasts or are investors buying, too?
The nature of this business attracts lots of enthusiasts along with its share of investors and often both will go head-to-head in our auctions.
Is demand for modern classics on the increase? And what about traditional classics?
In my opinion it can be a generational thing. People relate to cars that they remember so the demand for more modern classics will continue to grow in a healthy way. Cars that can be linked to certain eras will always be recognised – the Mini and the Morris 1000 are two examples that are obvious, with the younger generation also very enthusiastic about the Ford Anglia 105E through its modern cultural links. I also believe that any marque that has its own historical connections (such as, for example, Jaguar and Porsche) will continue to fuel its own classic popularity.
How is demand for pre-war cars?
This is quite a specialist area of the market with buyers knowing exactly what they are looking for, and as such demand remains stable. Recently we had an 18-year old customer intending to buy an Austin Seven, which he successfully did.
Looking ahead, how many sales are you holding next year, and are you planning any at other venues?
For 2019 we intend to hold four classic sales, with published dates of 23 February, 25 May, 17 August and 23 November. Currently we don’t have any plans to hold any offsite classic sales but this may change as the New Year rolls in.