2023 – Another Brilliant Year For Classics

First of all, this is going out on Christmas Day, so if you celebrate, merry Christmas to you and yours. If you don’t, I hope you’re enjoying you’re time, whatever it may entail. For me, Christmas Day brings with it thoughts of the year gone by – 2023 – more than New Year’s Eve itself. Every year I take the time between now and then to think on what has been, and also what is to come. And in the case of 2023, it’s been really rather good.

Of course, I’m talking about the goings on in the classic car world. And given that our world has never had to work so hard due to the change and pressures around it, it’s deeply pleasing to be able to look back on a year of activity that has done nothing but further cement its validity, position, strength and popularity. From events looking at ways to power into the future with classics at the helm, through to boutique manufacturers giving classics new and exciting leases of life, we’ve seen it all in 2023. And of course, whether you love them or hate them, electrified classics and their supporting industries have grown exponentially, too. It’s all been go, go, go to channel the late, great Murray Walker.

I’m sure I’m not alone in this, but every now and then some anxiety creeps in about our hobby. Mainly because like you, it’s more than just a hobby, it’s a passion. In fact, classic cars are my life, I know very little about anything else. So when I see pressures piling on, I can worry about the future of classics. But here’s the thing I’ve finally taken on board this year. The places that cause these worries – predominantly online – are just echo chambers. Social media being the worst, where there are no opinions, only arguments. Happily, when out in the real world and experiencing and enjoying classics, it’s obvious that the passion for our cars has never been stronger.

Events this year seemed to carry with them a more exciting, motivated atmosphere. This is of course partly down to being in a post-Covid world. However, rather than just reset to the previous status quo, we seem to have worked harder and been more excited about events and sharing our passion than ever before. The calendar this year has been packed with events to satiate every automotive want, and 2024 promises much of the same. And with it, we will welcome incredible, ground-breaking leaps forward like the Goodwood Revival being powered entirely by sustainably fuel. Our cars my be old, but they are extolling the potential virtues of the future in a fashion we can proudly shout about.

Then there are the manufacturers. Small outfits like KAMManufaktur with their frankly incredible carbon-bodied, 699kg Porsche 912c prove that innovation and forward thinking are still a driving force for classic cars. Rodin is testing a new supercar with a 4.0 V10 engine, while companies as big and as advanced as Bentley are still embracing their past with models like the new, period faithful, Speed Six Continuation.

And then of course, there’s you. 2023 has been an incredible year for us here at Car & Classic. But, we are in the business of connecting you with your dream classic, and if you weren’t buying cars left, right and centre, we would have no business. But that’s not that case, as we have been instrumental in thousands and thousands of your transactions this year. You’re browsing, you’re buying and most importantly of all, you’re driving. You are all proving, with aplomb, that there has never been a better time to buy a classic. And hopefully our secure Auction Platform and unique Make An Offer function, both with the industry’s most secure payment platform, has made it that little bit easier for you.

In conclusion, 2023 has been an amazing year, and that’s something you should be proud of, because you have been a part of making that the case. So here’s to 2024, which promises to be even bigger, even better and even more laden with glorious classic car adventures, sales, content and more. I’ll see you on the other side.