• Had a famous owner
• Proven race/rally history. Both recent and historical.
• Unrestored. A car can only be factory new once, originality is a great thing.
• Skilled restoration. When a car has been restored, have an expert check its quality.
• Last or first car in a model series. Unique serial numbers are often popular with buyers and have a positive impact on value.
• A unique feature or option. A well-known example are modern supercars with a manual gearbox. Roughly 3,500 examples of the Ferrari 599 Fiorano have been built, 30 of which come with ‘manual transmission’. These have been in extra demand for years. Another example is the Porsche Cayman/Boxster with 6-cylinder boxer. Since the ‘regular’ Cayman comes with a 4-cylinder boxer engine these days, the 6-cylinder models are on the rise.

Besides the aforementioned factors, several trends can be observed in the classic car market.

• The Porsche effect: Whereas certain Porsche models were previously somewhat undervalued, almost all models are currently on the rise. Think of the 914 and 996 series. Previously unloved, now popular!
• Launching a new type of car based on its predecessor, this allows the predecessor to increase in value. Especially when the new version (in terms of design or performance) is not as impressive as its predecessor (e.g. due to laws and regulations). An example is the first-generation Audi TT, where a spoiler was added because of instability. However, the original ‘pure’ design is now a collectible model.
• As in fashion, popularity for certain eras grows and shrinks. Whereas cars from the 1980s were once seen as boring and square, they are now actually popular.
• The poster car effect: Research shows that people value cars from their youth (16 to 25 years old) the most. This is why the focus on prewars is declining somewhat and 90s supercars are rising!

When buying a collectible car, you want to make sure you pay a good price. Doing research will save you a lot of money on your car.

• Research the average price of the chosen model, for example using the links at the bottom of this page or by comparing prices from different providers yourself
• Is it possible to drive the car already? Take a test drive in advance and experience the condition of the car for yourself.
• Ask within (online) communities or clubs to get more information about the car provider

Of course, with collectible cars, maintenance costs also come into play. Prior to your purchase, you can consult various sources to find out the maintenance costs appropriate for your preferred car. For example, you can contact car (make) clubs or specialised garages experienced in servicing your chosen car.

Of course, your personal preference is the deciding factor. Before you start your buying process, it is therefore very important to be aware of the different brands, parties offering collectable cars and models for sale.

Have you seen a car you are interested in? Ask the seller for maintenance documentation. The moment this is tracked, you can use this data to make a better estimate of the costs you need to incur to maintain the car in question.

The moment you go to buy a new- or vintage car, there is an important factor you need to consider as a buyer. Indeed, some cars are (fully) restored, while other dealers offer cars in original condition.

When you buy an original car, you are aware that the car still needs to be restored. Either by doing this yourself or having it done at a garage. When the car is in original condition, all authentic parts are still present and the car represents the time when it was produced.

Increasingly, cars are being labelled as ‘barn finds’. Note that a car that has been stationary for 30 years will usually not start easily. Thereby, not every dusty car is a barn find. Sometimes the romance story is mentioned to artificially drive up the price.

The moment a car is fully restored, the parts have often been replaced and the car is seen as less authentic in some cases. This has the advantage of making the car more usable. Perhaps certain parts have been modernised or replaced for better variants than were available at the time (think power steering or air conditioning).

Of course, the choice between an original collectable car and a restored collectable car depends on your personal preferences as to what you intend to use the vehicle for.