‘THE '70s AND 80's ARE COMING INTO THEIR FORE RIGHT NOW
Ahead of the new Bangers and Cash: Restoring Classics series, Jesse Billington chatted with Derek Mathewson about the show's classics
Classic Car Weekly: What can we look forward to in this latest series?
Derek Mathewson: Well from 21 July we’ll see some of the same, a peek behind the curtain of classic car auctions, but now with a focus on the restorations side of things. We wanted to show people more of the world of classic cars and take the viewer beyond the auction house to show the trials and tribulations of restorations and repairs. There’s the added jeopardy where you might lose financially but gain from the joy of it and the experience. With a restoration you never know what you’re going to learn or who you’ll meet.
CCW: What ignited this spin-o series with the restorations?
DM: The restoration side was something that we hadn’t covered in any detail to this point, but instead of focusing on the how side of it, we’ve pivoted to look more at the financial aspect as well as the restoration process. If you do the work yourself, it’s a lot cheaper than paying for someone else’s time; but not everyone can do that. When we show this in the programme, we cover an index of options and people for those looking to restore a car. It serves to remind people that there are more options than just lobbing your project at a specialist.
CCW: There’s been an uptick in sales of project car sales as well as a growing trend of restored cars selling well – what’s your view?
DM: Both categories are doing okay. We’ve got a name for barn finds in a way, so often see more of the project side of things. There’s just a good market for project cars because they represent a blank canvas for people looking to put in the work. Mint condition cars are always going to be strong sellers – many people want a car they can enjoy from the o. Restored projects are strong, but for the right vehicle. It depends on the model. There’s not quite a trend on that yet, but I’m sure one will emerge as the market settles.
CCW: What’s selling well at the moment and what’s dropped o the radar?
DM: I’d say we’ve seen pre-war cars hitting a bit of a dip. It seems harsh to use the phrase, but it’s natural wastage in a way. The buying generation isn’t quite so interested in this era of vehicles. Only the topquality examples are really selling at auction. Will they come back? Not really. The 1970s and '80s are coming into their fore right now. There’s a generation that grew up