The Case For Investment in Great Classic Cars – Guest Post By Christopher Renwick

In my line of business, I am constantly asked “What is my car worth?” Or, “Is the market up or down?” These are vital questions to be sure, given the buoyancy of today’s classic-car market in general and the unprecedented interest it continues to generate today. But is there much more to the picture?

The answer is an unqualified “yes.” Today’s guest post is by Christopher Renwick, one of the earliest and longest-running experts in the classic-car field. In fact, a high proportion of the great cars on today’s market or residing within the world’s finest collections have been handled by Christopher since the 1960s, when he began his career with Coy’s in the UK. Christopher is also a veteran publisher, with over 50 titles in print.

In the following and very concise guest article, supported by complete data and information sources, Christopher makes a compelling case for the truly great cars as a proper alternative investment/asset class on their own, with long-term performance and growth characteristics far outpacing such more traditional financial assets as stocks and bonds, which carry far greater degrees of risk and uncertainty, rewarded only by incredibly poor long-term results. As Christopher says, while classic-car values may certainly rise or fall, you are still left at the end of each and every day with a beautiful tangible asset – an object of undeniable intrinsic value. And one with incomparable design, engineering, and history.

Here is Christopher’s article and I wish to extend my sincere thanks to him for sharing his insights and for graciously allowing me to post them here. If you are in the market and wish to receive expert advice on how to diversify and strengthen your portfolio with this increasingly recognized asset class, do comment or ask questions in the “Comments” section below this post. 

Most importantly, the following comments are the considered and cogent thoughts of a recognized professional with approximately 50 years in the business. However, this material is in no way intended to replace the advice of the usual professional advisors, including your accountant, attorney, lawyer, solicitor, or tax professional. Accounting, legal, and tax requirements and considerations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and must be considered first.