Asking prices are one thing, but what are people actually prepared to pay for classic cars?
Spend any time browsing classic car adverts and you’ll find some ambitious prices. But it’s when the bidding starts at auction that things can get particularly interesting.
We’ve seen immaculate-looking classics struggle to attract buyers, while cars needing considerable work have sparked unexpectedly enthusiastic bidding.
If you’re interested in classic car auction prices and values, there’s another side of UK Barn Finds you might enjoy.
Alongside our main UK Barn Finds YouTube channel, which now has more than 270,000 subscribers, we also run a separate channel called How Much?! Classics.
It’s dedicated to classic car auction results, using footage we’ve filmed at sales around the country.
Rather than simply telling you what a car sold for, we take you through the auction itself. You can see the car, hear the bidding and discover what it actually fetched.
We’ve covered everything from everyday family cars to desirable performance models, restoration projects and the occasional rarity.
And some of the results might surprise you.
You can explore the channel here:
Visit How Much?! Classics on YouTube
We’ve recently started bringing some of our individual auction recordings together into longer videos, allowing viewers to compare several cars in one sitting.
Our first compilation features four very different Ford Cortinas, all filmed at Anglia Car Auctions, but at sales held on different dates.
There are different generations, different conditions and, of course, different auction results.
Which one would you expect to fetch the most?
Watch the four auctions unfold below and see how your predictions compare with the actual hammer prices.
Auction results can provide a useful insight into the classic car market, particularly when you’re comparing similar vehicles sold at different times.
But there’s more to a car’s value than its badge or model year.
Condition, originality, mileage, history and even the particular buyers in the room can make an enormous difference.
A car that attracts fierce competition at one auction might receive a much cooler reception elsewhere.
And it’s worth remembering that the hammer price isn’t necessarily the total amount paid by the buyer, once auction fees are taken into account.
That’s why following actual classic car selling prices over time can be so interesting. They provide evidence of what buyers were prepared to pay, rather than simply what sellers hoped to achieve.
We’re planning plenty more compilations for How Much?! Classics.
Some will compare the same models over several years, while others will bring together different makes, eras and auction venues.
With years of auction footage in our archive, there’s no shortage of interesting cars and occasionally surprising results to revisit.
If classic car prices interest you, take a look at How Much?! Classics and see how your own predictions compare with the bidding.
At UK Barn Finds, we’re always interested in hearing about classic cars, restoration projects and long-forgotten vehicles looking for a new home.
Whether you’ve got a complete car or something that’s been sitting untouched for decades, we’d be pleased to hear about it.
Get in touch with UK Barn Finds if you have something you might like to sell.
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