In 2022, there was an explosion of online classic car auctions where many Classic British Cars were purchased, some sales were of very expensive cars which was surprising in its self, with the clients possibly regretting their purchase soon after.

 The typical classic car buyer has many pitfalls to try and avoid and as much as we all seek to purchase a bargain at auction, all online auction platforms need to be approached with caution. Remember, caveat emptor – buyer beware – and ensure you do your due diligence to avoid falling victim to buying a vehicle that is not as advertised. This is because you don’t have the same consumer laws as when you purchase from a professional classic car business where many are supported by an after sale no quibble warranty such as ourselves.

2022 has proved to be an interesting year as not only has the number of companies offering electric classic car conversions increased but traditional petrol powered drivetrains are also preparing for changes in legacy fuel. Ethanol percentage increases in today’s modern fuel are now being addressed with alternative synthetic fuels for classic cars being offered by independent companies.

 Alternative synthetic fuels, such as ethanol and methanol, are also being developed as a way to reduce the carbon emissions of classic cars which can be used in place of petrol in internal combustion engines and can help to reduce tailpipe emissions.

As for classic car values there hasn’t been a real fall in values par se, instead cars are being advertised at unrealistic figures and after a few weeks of being advertised are then reduced to be more in line with the true market value.

This year there have been articles circulating reporting that Barn find classic cars are becoming increasingly hard to restore due to the unavailability of component parts making them unviable. This isn’t the case with a British Classic Car as the network of suppliers and manufacturers that are dedicated to supporting the British classic car industry, movement and preservation of classic cars is second to none.

 Currently it is true that the classic car industry, like many other industries, are facing a skills shortage as older restorers retire and there is a void in the traditional skills necessary to complete the vehicle’s restoration. This can be a concern for those who are passionate about classic cars and wish to preserve and restore them, as it can be difficult to find skilled professionals who are able to work on these older vehicles

 However, it is encouraging to see that some classic car companies such as ourselves and heritage motor museums are offering apprenticeships to give access to these needed traditional skills to help address this skills shortage within the industry for the future of classic car preservation.

There is now a growing interest in EV Conversions for classic cars, with more companies offering to remove the classic cars original petrol drivetrain and have their own preferred engineering solutions to achieve the EV conversion.

 With that said, our view is that at some point in the near future there will be legislation that will come in that will require the conversion companies to meet certain standards in order to be considered safe and reliable. This could potentially be a challenge for smaller companies or start-ups that may not have the resources or expertise to meet these standards.

 As a company at the frontline of classic Jaguar cars we are excited about electrification of Classic Jaguars and the potential benefits of an EV conversion for a classic Jaguar, such as the improved performance, with little maintenance there after and reduced environmental impact that electric powertrain can provide. With this in mind, we have chosen our partner wisely, one that is established market leader in EV drivetrains who have a safety-first ethos providing the ultimate reassurance that the conversion will be reliable and fitted correctly with zero body interference, enabling our clients to enjoy all the benefits of owning an all new electric car in the 21st Century.

 Our investment and research continues relentlessly of legacy Jaguar 6 and V12 cylinder engines in order to find the best solutions for the future of being able to run on modern ethanol unleaded petrol as well as synthetic alternative fuels. This starts with rebuilding all our classic Jaguar engines with 10.1 pistons allowing for better compression when using today’s unleaded fuel to maintain the performance you expect from your Jaguar.

We can report the market remains strong and with interest rates expected to fall by mid summer along with fuel prices falling back from their recent highs, there is no reason for investors and enthusiasts not to continue their passion, and enjoyment of owning and driving a classic car.

Although, you might not see the financial gains of the past, your investment risk remains low and the choice of drivetrain you choose will be very much your personal preference and motoring needs.

As a leading Jaguar specialist for 3 decades and with the launch of our new websites for 2023, we will continue to help preserve Jaguar Cars rich heritage of automotive history for our clients enjoyment into the future and beyond.