December 2024: Looking Forward Through the Rear-View Mirror
The end of 2024 brings the opportunity to look back at the highlights of the collector car industry and offer a few predictions for the coming year. Many trends that were set will continue to grow while others may shrink or disappear altogether.
The Digital Revolution in Collector Car Sales
In 2024 the internet and digital transactions dominated the collector car marketplace. This will continue to grow in 2025. 25 years ago, eBay led the way in buying and selling collector cars online. Where eBay succeeded in getting the general consumer to buy and sell online, Bring-a-trailer has become the go-to online resource for buying and selling collector cars. What started as a niche site, where people would post local finds to a national audience, BAT has grown to 1000’s of transactions monthly and is now the information hub for the collector car community. The ease of selling, the real-time critiques of cars for sale, and the low cost of transactions are the 3 pillars of their success. This will continue in 2025 and dent the effectiveness of in-person auctions and other live sales platforms.
Market Values and Trends
Traditional Collector Cars
Prices for the majority of traditional collector cars were flat to down in 2024. This trend, in general, will continue in 2025. With sites like BAT, the ability to quickly shop around the country for a specific car has never been easier. Also, selling has never been easier. More buyers and more sellers equal lower values. It is the American Pickers syndrome. People see the pickers paying big money for a rare lunch box and realize they have one exactly like it and try to sell it online. Overnight something rare becomes something common. Collector cars are the same way. Lost cars are coming to light every day and are being presented to more buyers who are now more patient with their spending.
The SUV Market Peak
2024 may have marked the peak for collector SUVs, with prices expected to decline in 2025. Vintage Broncos, which commanded six-figure prices throughout 2024, showed signs of market saturation. This pattern mirrors the 1932 Ford Roadster Street rod trend from two decades ago, where high initial values eventually declined as supply increased. Manufacturers have ramped up production to meet demand, suggesting better buying opportunities for patient collectors in 2025.
Shifting Collector Preferences
The collector car world has experienced a significant shift in buyer preferences. While pre-war cars continued their price decline in 2024, vehicles from the 1980s and newer, particularly coupes and convertibles, saw notable value increases. Japanese classics like Datsun Z cars and German Porsches experienced some of the strongest price gains, offering collectors an attractive combination of rarity, driving enjoyment, and maintainability.
Car Events and Community Engagement
Despite fluctuating values, the collector car community remains vibrant. Cars and Coffee events gained further popularity in 2024, offering a flexible, low-cost venue for collectors to showcase their vehicles. It’s fun to take your Lamborghini to a Lambo meet where there might be 20 other cars just like yours. But taking that same Lambo to a Cars and Coffee, you might immediately become the star of the event, making it very special. Apart from the top 2 or 3 Concourses, the top shows in 2025 will see a decline in spectators and the quality of the cars on display. While some established events have seen declining participation due to increasing costs and time commitments, the overall participation in car events continues to grow, indicating a healthy hobby going into 2025.
The Bottom Line
2024 proved to be a positive year for the collector car hobby, with the digital transformation making participation more accessible than ever. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just entering the hobby, 2025 offers exciting opportunities across all market segments. As values adjust and new platforms emerge, the passion for collector cars continues to drive the community forward. Let’s hit the road and enjoy it.
Happy Motoring!
