Gitnux/Report 2026

Classic Car Industry Statistics

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12Sections
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Classic Car Industry Statistics
Samuel NorbergWritten by Samuel Norberg·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson
Published
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

Before any source is gathered, an editor locks the question, what qualifies, and how the piece will be judged.

02Source Research

Search agents collect the source set and pull each data point out with its provenance attached.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The classic car industry at a glance

The classic car industry remains a high-value, globally fragmented market: public auction turnover reached $3.54 billion in the 2025–2026 season, with 76% of lots sold.

$3.54B[18]
Global auction turnover, 2025–2026
76%[18]
Auction lots sold, 2025–2026
$1B+[63]
RM Sotheby’s sales, 2025
35%+[64]
Ferrari auction share, 2025–2026
Market size
The U.S. classic car market was valued at $2.05 billion in 2025. This estimate covers the U.S. market rather than the full global collector-vehicle economy.[67]
Forecast & CAGR
The U.S. classic car market is projected to reach $4.22 billion by 2035, implying a 7.5% compound annual growth rate from 2026 to 2035.[67]
Market share & regions
The available auction data indicates an international market rather than a single-country market: RM Sotheby’s 2025 sales attracted bidders from 82 countries and buyers from 54 countries. No reliable current source located a consistent regional market-share split.[63]
Segmentation
The market is segmented by vehicle age and type, including pre-war cars, post-war classics, muscle cars, sports cars, supercars and modern collectibles. CLASSIC.COM reported that dollar volume increased year over year across every production decade in the first half of 2026, while sales counts grew most strongly for cars from the 2010s and 2020s.[17]
Key players & concentration
Major international auction and marketplace operators include RM Sotheby’s, Gooding Christie’s, Bonhams, Barrett-Jackson, Mecum, Broad Arrow and CLASSIC.COM. RM Sotheby’s alone generated more than $1 billion in 2025 sales, while Gooding Christie’s reported more than $234 million, illustrating substantial scale among leading specialist houses but not a complete industry concentration ratio.[63][33]
Pricing
Pricing is highly dispersed and depends on marque, model, originality, provenance, condition and documentation. In the first half of 2026, CLASSIC.COM reported an overall median decline of 1.6% for cars below $1 million, while 1970s cars gained 8.3% and 1990s cars gained 10.8% at the median.[17][68]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Growth is being supported by online sales, broader interest in younger collectible vehicles and continued demand for rare Ferrari, Porsche and racing models. At the same time, market performance is uneven: the typical sub-$1 million car was not appreciating in the first half of 2026, while high-end auction activity remained concentrated in a small number of exceptional vehicles.[17][18]
Consumer behavior & competition
Collector participation is broadening internationally and attracting new buyers. At RM Sotheby’s in 2025, 46% of bidders and 47% of buyers were participating for the first time, while the company recorded a 92% sell-through rate across its live auctions.[63]
Latest news
The latest available auction-yearbook data reported $3.54 billion in global classic-car auction turnover for the 2025–2026 season, with 76% of lots sold. Ferrari accounted for more than 35% of total sales, while the number of seven-figure results increased by 91%.[18][64]
report visual · Breakdown

Share of CLASSIC.COM classic and exotic car auction total dollar volume by auction type

Live auctions holds the largest share at 52.8%.

47.2%
Online auctions
52.8%
Live auctions
source-verifiedclassic.com

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Classic Car Industry

The leading companies in the classic car industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Singer Vehicle Design leads Gitnux's 2026 classic car ranking with an Overall score of 9.9, with Porsche 911 restoration and reimagining, global footprint. Kindred Motorworks is the highest-ranked restoration and modernization provider at 9.4, with classic-car restoration and modernization in the US segment.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in porsche 911 restomods

    Singer Vehicle Design

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.9 · Porsche 911 restomods

    Why we picked it: It focuses on Porsche 911 restoration and reimagining across a global segment.

    See in ranking ↓Visit singervehicledesign.com ↗

  2. Leader in modernized classic cars

    Kindred Motorworks

    US

    Ranked #2 · 9.4 · Modernized classic cars

    Why we picked it: It serves the classic-car restoration and modernization segment based in the US.

    See in ranking ↓Visit kindredmotorworks.com ↗

  3. Leader in classic Land Rover restoration

    ECD Automotive Design

    US

    Ranked #3 · 9.0 · Classic Land Rover restoration

    Why we picked it: It concentrates on classic Land Rover restoration and customization, flagged with 29.1% revenue growth.

    See in ranking ↓Visit ecdautodesign.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Picks 2 and 3 are the highest-ranked companies in the top 5 that add a new segment.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the classic car industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Singer Vehicle Design

Porsche 911 restomods · US

9.9
2

Kindred Motorworks

Modernized classic cars · US

9.4
3

ECD Automotive Design

Classic Land Rover restoration · US

9.0
4

Canepa

Collector-car restoration · US

8.8
5

Theon Design

Porsche 911 restomods · GB

8.4
6

Alfaholics

Classic Alfa Romeo restoration and performance, global · GB

8.1
7

Eagle E-Types

Jaguar E-Type restoration and remanufacture, global · GB

7.9
8

Everrati Automotive

Electric classic-car conversions and restomods, global · GB

7.8
9

Gunther Werks

Porsche 911 restomod production, global · US

7.7
10

Emory Motorsports

Classic Porsche restoration and custom builds, US · US

7.2

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Top 10 companies in the classic car industry. In Classic Car Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/classic-car-industry-statistics/#top-companies

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

Executives report a high share of AI adoption and investment, but only 36% say initiatives scaled beyond pilot stage in 2026.

Digital Transformation in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive, 36% of executives said their company is entering a phase of deep transformation affecting business models, products and operations over the next three years in 2025.[1]
  • Across automotive, 47% of companies use AI and other advanced technologies today, a share expected to reach 72% by 2030, according to executives surveyed in 2026.[2]
  • Across automotive manufacturing, technology investment rose 35% year over year, from 23% to 31% of operating budgets, in 2024.[3]
  • Across automotive, 52% of executives said continuous transformation is now the industry norm rather than a program with an end date in 2026.[1]

Technology Adoption in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive, 86% of companies reported investing heavily in AI and emerging technologies in 2025.[4]
  • Across automotive manufacturing, 48% of surveyed companies were not using AI in production in 2024, while 18% used it for supplier search.[5]
  • Across automotive, only 36% of AI and software initiatives had scaled beyond pilot stage and been adopted across the organization in 2026.[1]
  • Across automotive manufacturing, 56% identified quality control as an AI application, while 45% identified process optimization and 45% robotics in 2025.[3]

Cloud Computing in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive OEMs and suppliers, 44% reported that 50%–74% of infrastructure was in the cloud in the 2022 study.[6]
  • Across automotive OEMs and suppliers, 67% reported cloud spending below 1% of annual revenue in the 2022 study.[6]
  • Across midsize automotive businesses, 39.8% cited cloud migration as a priority for simplification and process improvement, compared with 37.8% across industries, in the reported study.[7]
  • Across automotive and manufacturing organizations, 10% described themselves as cloud-evolved, the most advanced cloud-adoption category, in 2026.[8]

Big Data in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive executives, 81% reported collecting connected-vehicle telemetry, while 40% had an automated pipeline linking data collection, insights, validation and deployment in 2026.[9]
  • Across automotive businesses, 50.8% prioritized new or updated analytics products and decision-making tools to simplify work and processes in the reported study.[7]
  • Across automotive manufacturers, 76% viewed manufacturing analytics as very or extremely valuable in the 2021 smart-manufacturing survey.[10]
  • 36% of automotive manufacturers say industry leaders use collected data for process optimization, globally in 2024.[3]
  • 30% of automotive survey respondents have implemented AI-supported real-time factory analytics, according to a 2025 global automotive industry survey.[11]
  • 36% of automotive manufacturers say industry leaders use collected data for artificial intelligence, applied AI, generative AI or machine learning, globally in 2024.[3]

IoT in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive manufacturers, 44% had adopted or planned to adopt Industrial IoT in the cited smart-manufacturing survey.[12]
  • Across automotive manufacturers, 66% viewed Industrial IoT as very or extremely valuable in the 2021 smart-manufacturing survey.[10]
  • 16% of automotive and mobility enterprises expect IoT to rank among their top five digital-transformation spending areas during 2024–2026, across 21 countries surveyed.[13]
  • 37% of automotive OEMs have currently deployed IoT-enabled asset monitoring for static and stationary assets, according to Verizon’s 2025 global survey.[14]
  • 20% of automotive and mobility enterprises expect IoT to rank among their top five digital-transformation spending areas during 2027–2030, across 21 countries surveyed.[13]
  • 49% of automotive and mobility enterprises rate IoT as extremely important to digital-transformation success, across 21 countries surveyed in 2024.[13]

Innovation in the classic car industry

  • 46% of classic-car auction dollars were spent online in 2021, while live auctions accounted for 54%.[15]
  • 40% of U.S. owners of pre-1974 vehicles said their ultimate goal was a pure restoration in 2020.[16]
  • 5% of classic owners obtained their vehicle through an online auction site in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 59% of classic-vehicle auction listings sold online in 2021, compared with 41% sold through live auctions, according to Classic.com.[15]
  • 45% of enthusiast classic-car owners in the United States were comfortable tackling complex work themselves in 2020, versus 13% of non-enthusiasts.[16]
  • Almost 100% growth in online classic-car listings was recorded in 2021, when online listings first surpassed live-auction listings.[15]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data coverage is expanding, with 85 graphs in the 2025–2026 Classic Car Auction Yearbook covering 11,824 cars.

Business intelligence in the classic car industry

  • 50% of RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2026 cars sold generated half of the auction’s total dollar volume, according to CLASSIC.COM’s venue analysis.[17]
  • 85 graphs were included in the 2025–2026 Classic Car Auction Yearbook, covering 11,824 cars, 428 marques and auction results in three currencies.[18]
  • 59 of the 536 million-dollar cars sold during the 2025–2026 season were sold online, showing the online channel’s share of high-value transactions.[18]
  • 37% of cars offered at auction and 28% of cars sold were accounted for by Bring a Trailer in the 2025–2026 international auction season.[18]
  • 6,000 collector-car markets were analyzed in CLASSIC.COM’s 2024 taxonomy to identify value-tier and market-structure trends.[15]
  • 14% of cars sold at Monterey in 2026 generated 74.4% of August auction dollars, according to CLASSIC.COM’s market analysis.[17]

Data analytics in the classic car industry

  • 37.6% was the increase since 2020 for the Chevrolet Bel Air second-generation four-door station wagon market tracked by Classic Car Ratings.[19]
  • 43% of all million-dollar collector-car sales in the first half of 2026 were Ferraris, representing 114 cars worth $543 million.[17]
  • €59,867 was the average auction lot price in the 2024 collectible-car market overview from Classic Car Ratings.[19]
  • 25% was the increase in average collector-car sale price to $75,173 in the first half of 2026, according to CLASSIC.COM.[17]
  • 1990s cars recorded a 10.8% median-price increase from the first half of 2025 to the first half of 2026, according to CLASSIC.COM.[17]
  • 56,770 collectible vehicles were sold at auction in 2024 in the Classic Car Ratings market dataset.[19]

Data Quality in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • 30% of tier-one and tier-two automotive suppliers use real-time statistical process-control software, while 12% run software checks manually, in a 2021 survey.[20]
  • 5% of automotive firms fully use 76–100% of their collected data, according to the 2025 global automotive manufacturing survey.[3]
  • 55% of tier-one and tier-two automotive suppliers still conduct capability studies in Excel, based on a 2021 survey of 215 suppliers.[20]
  • 57% of automotive quality leaders estimate total quality costs exceed 5% of revenue, based on a 2026 survey of 65 leaders.[21]
  • 68% of automotive respondents identify data and technology adoption as a priority, according to Hexagon’s 2025 advanced manufacturing survey.[22]

Data Governance in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • 78% of automotive OEMs use metrics and KPIs to govern customer-privacy efforts, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[1]
  • 34% of automotive manufacturers report complete visibility of data flows across all processes and IT-OT systems, based on a 2019 survey of 100 firms.[9]
  • 42% of automotive OEMs employ a chief privacy officer to oversee systemic handling of sensitive data, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[1]
  • 40% of automotive manufacturers have established a data-governance framework covering data flow, access control and retention, according to a 2019 survey of 100 firms.[9]
  • 67% of automotive OEMs report to the board on customer-privacy efforts, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[1]
  • 84% of automotive OEMs use a cross-functional steering committee to govern customer-privacy efforts, according to KPMG’s 2024 global survey.[1]

KPIs in the classic car industry

  • $1.01 billion was spent at auction in August 2026, up 51% from August 2025, according to CLASSIC.COM.[17]
  • 76% of lots sold during the 2025–2026 international classic-car auction season.[18]
  • 9,923 vehicles were listed for auction in July 2026, down 6% from July 2025.[17]
  • $1 billion-plus in sales was achieved by RM Sotheby’s across 44 auctions and private sales in 2025.[23]
  • 74.3% was the online auction sell-through rate in August 2026, also a monthly record.[17]
  • 75% was the August 2026 auction sell-through rate, the best August result in five years.[17]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Auction turnover reached $3.54 billion in the 2025–2026 season, with 76% of lots sold.

Growth in the classic car industry

  • 300,000 cars transacted for approximately $12.5 billion through Hagerty’s insured vehicle book over the twelve months reported in 2022.[24]
  • 15% was the reported increase in major international classic-car auction turnover from 2024 to 2025, rising from €521 million to €591 million.[25]
  • $3.54 billion was generated by the international classic-car auction market in 2025–2026, according to the annual auction yearbook.[18]
  • €45 billion was the estimated annual transaction volume of the global classic-car market in 2024.[26]
  • 1.6 million U.S. classic-car insurance policies were represented in Hagerty’s market funnel in 2025, compared with approximately 650,000 in 2012.[27]
  • 29% was the share of public-auction cars from the 1980s through 2000s in the first half of 2024, up from 13% for cars from the 1970s.[28]

Differentiation in the classic car industry

  • 14% was the decline in older cars shipped from the United Kingdom to the United States in 2025 compared with 2024, reaching a six-year low.[29]
  • 16% was the 2025 increase reported for classic BMW values in the HAGI Top 50 market commentary, led by modern classics such as the E30 M3 and Z3 M.[30]
  • 5% was the reported maximum annual value loss experienced by classic cars in the cited historical valuation analysis.[28]
  • 9% was the share of classic-car auction lots from the 1980s–2000s identified as youngtimer vehicles in the 2024 category factsheet, within a reported 29% auction-volume share for that age grouping.[31]
  • $65,000 was the reported average classic-car auction sales price in 2024.[31]
  • 77% of entries at selected 2025 auctions were pre-1994 cars, while 23% were post-1994 cars.[32]

Mergers and acquisitions in the classic car industry

  • 5 million-plus monthly online visitors were reported for ClassicCars.com and AutoHunter.com after Barrett-Jackson’s acquisition of their parent, Collector Car Network.[24]
  • $48.3 million was the fair value assigned to Hagerty’s pre-existing 40% Broad Arrow interest immediately before the 2022 acquisition closed.[24]
  • $121.6 million was the total consideration and value allocated to net assets in Hagerty’s staged Broad Arrow acquisition.[24]
  • 2003 was the founding year of Gooding & Company before its acquisition by Christie’s in 2024.[33]
  • 2024 was the year Christie’s agreed to acquire Gooding & Company, a recognized classic and collector-car auction house.[33]
  • $15.0 million was the purchase price Hagerty reported for acquiring classic-car software company Speed Digital in April 2022.[24]

Strategic partnerships in the classic car industry

  • 3,200 ticketed attendees participated in Hagerty’s Motorlux event, which previewed a Broad Arrow auction during Monterey Car Week in 2022.[24]
  • 2025 was the year Hagerty announced a new partnership with Liberty Mutual and Safeco for classic-car insurance distribution.[24]
  • 460,000-plus classic-car policies were associated with State Farm’s network when Hagerty announced the partnership in 2022.[24]
  • 243,000 dollars was raised for classic-car restoration scholarships through four Bring a Trailer auctions conducted under the Piston Foundation partnership in 2023.[34]
  • More than 50 sponsors supported Hagerty’s Motorlux event during Monterey Car Week in 2022.[24]
  • 19,200 State Farm agents were identified as a distribution network for Hagerty’s classic-car policies under their planned partnership in 2022.[24]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce pressure persists, with U.S. technicians projected to grow by 4% annually, alongside plans to place up to 500 skilled technicians annually.

Hiring in the classic car industry

  • 21% of UK historic-vehicle trade businesses expected to recruit precision machinists in 2016.[35]
  • 18% of UK historic-vehicle trade businesses expected to recruit trimmers in 2016.[35]
  • More than 7,000 new technicians were projected to be required by the U.S. collector-car industry by 2028.[34]
  • Nearly 15,000 new technicians were projected to be needed by the U.S. collector-car industry by 2029.[34]
  • 23% of UK historic-vehicle trade businesses expected to recruit panel beaters in 2016.[35]

Employee retention in the classic car industry

  • 43% of historic-vehicle businesses needing precision machinists cited retirement as a recruitment cause in 2016.[35]
  • 33% of historic-vehicle businesses needing specialist fitters cited routine staff turnover as a recruitment cause in 2016.[35]
  • 33% of historic-vehicle businesses needing trimmers cited retirement as a recruitment cause in 2016.[35]
  • 33% of historic-vehicle businesses needing traditional coachworkers cited retirement as a recruitment cause in 2016.[35]
  • 33% of historic-vehicle businesses needing retail sales staff cited routine staff turnover as a recruitment cause in 2016.[35]

Remote Work in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across global automotive companies, 2% of corporate employees worked fully remotely in 2024, according to a survey of 120 automotive CEOs.[4]
  • Across automotive and other transportation companies, 61% said in 2024 that they were seeking more remote workers in low-cost-of-living areas.[36]
  • Across U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturers, 3.4% of positions were fully remote in 2024, based on employer recruiting data.[37]
  • Across automotive and other transportation companies, 63% said in 2024 that they were mandating employees return to the workplace.[36]

Hybrid Work in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across global automotive companies, 96% of corporate employees worked in-office in 2024, leaving 4% in fully remote or hybrid arrangements.[4]
  • Across global automotive companies, 3% of corporate employees worked in hybrid arrangements in 2024, according to a survey of 120 automotive CEOs.[4]
  • Across U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturers, 32.6% of positions were fully hybrid in 2024, based on employer recruiting data.[37]
  • Across U.S. motor-vehicle manufacturers, 64% of positions were fully in-person in 2024, based on employer recruiting data.[37]

Upskilling in the classic car industry

  • The Piston Jobs Program targets an 80% job-placement rate for Piston Scholars within its first five years.[34]
  • The Piston Jobs Program aims to place up to 500 skilled technicians annually within five years of launch.[34]
  • 3,800 trainees or apprentices had been added to the UK classic-vehicle craft workforce since 2011.[38]
  • 31,100 full-time or part-time paid jobs were involved in UK classic-vehicle maintenance, repair and restoration in 2016.[38]
  • The U.S. collector-car industry was projected to grow its technician workforce by 4% annually.[34]

Employee Engagement in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 73% of surveyed employees said their work was purposeful in 2025.[39]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 79% of 312 surveyed employees said they felt respected and valued by colleagues, teammates, or peers in 2025.[39]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 70% of surveyed employees were satisfied or very satisfied with their job in 2025.[39]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 60% of surveyed employees intended to still work for their current company two years later in 2025.[39]
  • Across the U.S. automotive workforce, 70% of surveyed employees said they were empowered to make decisions at work in 2025.[39]

Change Management in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across automotive and supplier companies, 72% of employees were classified as having a transformation-related skills gap in 2023.[40]
  • Across global automotive executives, 36% said their companies were entering a phase of deep transformation in 2025.[1]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Information sourcing is split between professional consulting and search engines, with 44% rating consulting as very useful in 2020.

Customer experience in the classic car industry

  • 44% of classic-car owners rate consulting with professionals as a very useful source of information, according to a 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 23% of classic-car owners rate attending auto shows or events as a very useful information source, according to a 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 33% of classic-car owners rate online videos as a very useful source of parts or restoration information, according to a 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 17% of classic-car owners rate visiting retail stores, auto shops or garages as a very useful information source, according to a 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 43% of classic-car owners identify search engines as their most useful online information source, according to a 2020 U.S. survey.[16]

Customer retention in the classic car industry

  • 15% of classic-car owners have owned their vehicle for five to nine years, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. owner survey.[16]
  • 7% of classic-car owners have owned their vehicle for one to two years, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. owner survey.[16]
  • 20% of classic-car owners have owned their vehicle for 10 to 19 years, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. owner survey.[16]
  • 9% of classic-car owners have owned their vehicle for two to three years, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. owner survey.[16]
  • 55% of classic-car owners aged 65 and over have owned their vehicle for at least 20 years, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]

Customer acquisition in the classic car industry

  • 32% of classic-car owners bought their vehicle from a friend or relative, the largest acquisition channel in SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 5% of classic-car owners bought their vehicle through an online auction site, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 27% of classic-car owners bought their vehicle from a dealership, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 10% of classic-car owners bought their vehicle through a private-party transaction, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 44% of classic-car owners under 45 bought their vehicle from a friend or relative, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]

Customer loyalty in the classic car industry

  • 32% of Gen Z respondents had owned or currently owned a classic enthusiast vehicle in Hagerty’s 2024 U.S. survey.[41]
  • 60% of Gen Z respondents expressed interest in owning a classic car in Hagerty’s 2024 U.S. survey, compared with 31% of Baby Boomers.[41]
  • 30% of Millennial respondents had owned or currently owned a classic enthusiast vehicle in Hagerty’s 2024 U.S. survey.[41]
  • 47% of Americans surveyed by Hagerty in 2024 expressed interest in owning a classic car.[41]
  • 57% of Millennials expressed interest in classic-car ownership in Hagerty’s 2020 U.S. survey.[42]

Lead generation in the classic car industry

  • 16% of classic-car owners use online product reviews as their most useful online information source, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 26% of classic-car owners use parts-manufacturer websites as their most useful online information source, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 27% of classic-car owners use auto-retailer websites as their most useful online information source, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 29% of classic-car owners use enthusiast or specialty websites as their most useful online information source, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]
  • 34% of classic-car owners use online marketplaces and general retailers as their most useful online information source, according to SEMA’s 2020 U.S. survey.[16]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Classic-car businesses emphasized event and trade exhibits in 2020, with 31% focusing marketing on exhibits at auto events.

Marketing in the classic car industry

  • 23% of classic-car businesses focused their marketing on magazines in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 31% of classic-car businesses focused their marketing on exhibits at auto events in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 37% of classic-car businesses focused their marketing on exhibits at trade events in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 17% of classic-car businesses focused their marketing on enthusiast forums in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 9% of classic-car businesses focused their marketing on blogs or sponsored content in the United States in 2020.[16]

Digital marketing in the classic car industry

  • 14% of classic-car owners obtained automotive-themed content from news websites in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 2% of classic-car owners obtained automotive-themed content from YouTube in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 8% of classic-car owners obtained automotive-themed content from TikTok in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 4% of classic-car owners obtained automotive-themed content from other channels in the United States in 2020.[16]
  • 35% of classic-car owners obtained automotive-themed content from Facebook in the United States in 2020.[16]

Branding in the classic car industry

  • €14,900 was the estimated value of the typical Citroën historic vehicle worldwide in FIVA’s 2020 survey.[43]
  • €18,600 was the estimated value of the typical Triumph historic vehicle worldwide in FIVA’s 2020 survey.[43]
  • 53 years was the average age of historic cars worldwide in FIVA’s 2020 survey.[43]
  • 25% of historic cars worldwide were estimated to be Citroën, MG, Mercedes-Benz or Triumph in FIVA’s 2020 survey.[43]
  • €60,900 was the estimated value of the typical Jaguar historic vehicle worldwide in FIVA’s 2020 survey.[43]

Social media in the classic car industry

  • 1.9 billion social impressions were reported by Hagerty in 2024 for its classic-car media brand.[44]
  • 30,000-plus LinkedIn followers were reported by Hagerty in 2024 for its classic-car media brand.[44]
  • 118 million post engagements were reported by Hagerty in 2024 across its classic-car social channels.[44]
  • 1.9 million-plus social-media impressions were generated by the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance in Connecticut in 2024.[44]
  • 4.4 million Facebook followers were reported by Hagerty in 2024 for its classic-car media brand.[44]

Influencer Marketing in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among US Pinterest users planning to buy a car in 2024, 42% noticed sponsorship of a social-media post, such as an influencer post.[45]
  • Across automotive shoppers in the US, UK, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 69% said creators made them more aware of vehicle brands in 2025.[46]
  • Across automotive shoppers in the US, UK, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 61% said they trusted vehicle recommendations and reviews from creators in 2025.[46]
  • Across automotive shoppers in the US, UK, Germany, Norway and Saudi Arabia, 63% said creators made them consider buying a vehicle brand or model in 2025.[46]
  • Among US Pinterest users planning to buy a car in 2024, 44% noticed sponsorship of user-generated content, such as a YouTube video or podcast.[45]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Operating scale remains small in historic-vehicle businesses, with 56% reporting only one or two employees in the 2020/21 worldwide survey.

Process optimization in the classic car industry

  • 86% of historic-vehicle businesses traded via the internet in the 2014 FIVA business-professional survey, supporting digital customer and operating processes in Europe.[43]
  • 20 years was the average age of an apprentice in historic-vehicle businesses in the 2020/21 worldwide survey.[43]
  • 92% of historic-vehicle businesses with apprenticeship programmes expected to need at least the same number or more apprentices during each of the next five years in 2020/21.[43]
  • 56% of historic-vehicle businesses had only one or two employees in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey, indicating highly small-scale operating structures.[43]
  • 60% of historic-vehicle clubs used electronic newsletters in the 2020/21 worldwide survey, compared with 22% using paper newsletters.[43]

Operational efficiency in the classic car industry

  • 44% of historic-vehicle businesses reported a serious impact from the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]
  • 28% of historic-vehicle businesses exported products or services internationally in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]
  • €905,000 was the average annual turnover of a historic-vehicle business in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]
  • $1.45 billion in U.S. economic output was generated by car-restoration businesses in 2026.[16]
  • $32.88 billion in economic output was generated by U.S. specialty-equipment distribution in 2026.[16]

Quality management in the classic car industry

  • 94% of historic passenger cars were stored in a private or rented garage in the 2014 FIVA owner survey.[43]
  • 54% of collectors owning six or more cars wanted to use the best specialty service center regardless of its global location, according to McKinsey’s survey.[28]
  • 35% of collectors with fewer than six cars wanted to use the best specialty service center regardless of location, according to McKinsey’s survey.[28]
  • Nearly 60% of historic-vehicle owners performed maintenance and repairs themselves or with friends in the 2014 FIVA owner survey.[43]
  • 1% of historic-vehicle owners viewed their vehicle as an investment object in the 2014 FIVA owner survey.[43]

Supply chain in the classic car industry

  • 47% of historic-vehicle businesses struggled to find staff with the necessary job knowledge when recruiting in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]
  • 40% of historic-vehicle businesses expected difficulty recruiting staff with the required skills over the following five years in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]
  • 12 million pre-1990 classic vehicles were estimated to be on U.S. roads in the 2023 SEMA market report.[16]
  • 63% of historic-vehicle businesses expected future problems from regulations affecting vehicle use in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]
  • 29% of historic-vehicle businesses expected future problems from regulations affecting business or employment practices in the 2020/21 worldwide trade survey.[43]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the automotive sector (sector benchmark)

  • 79% of U.S. automotive respondents were likely to add North American product or raw-material suppliers within the next 12 months in 2023.[5]
  • 22% of automotive procurement by dollar value is projected to come from offshore locations globally in 2025, according to automotive supply-chain executives.[47]
  • 66% of U.S. automotive respondents sourced at least half of their products and raw materials domestically in 2023, while 40% sourced 75% or more domestically.[5]
  • 36% of automotive procurement by dollar value came from offshore locations globally in 2021, according to a survey of 592 supply-chain professionals.[47]
  • 80% of U.S. automotive respondents sourced at least half of their services domestically in 2023, while 51% sourced 75%–100% domestically.[5]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Prices show both high-value concentration and uneven outcomes: $26,400 was the median completed collector-car auction sale in the United States in 2026 Q2.

Pricing strategy in the classic car industry

  • $26,400 was the median completed collector-car auction sale in the United States in 2026 Q2.[48]
  • 76% of tracked collector-car auctions sold in 2026 Q3, compared with 80% in 2025 Q3.[48]
  • 72% of lots sold at Monterey Car Week auctions in the United States in 2024.[49]
  • $479,899 was the average sale price at the Amelia Island classic-car auction in March 2024.[50]
  • €59,867 was the average lot price in the international collectable-vehicle auction market in 2024.[19]

Cost reduction in the classic car industry

  • $38 per hour was the reported bodywork charge covering consumables at KMA Restoration in the United States in 2026.[51]
  • $120 per hour was Valor Automotive Centers’ published restoration-paint labor rate in the United States in 2024.[52]
  • $125 per hour was the reported national average restoration-shop labor rate in the United States in 2026.[53]
  • $145–$160 per hour was the reported labor rate for a Los Angeles classic-car restoration specialist in 2026.[53]
  • $5,775 was the reported upfront restoration deposit for approximately two weeks of work at one United States shop in 2026.[51]

Profitability in the classic car industry

  • $165.9 million was Hagerty’s sales expense in 2025.[24]
  • 17% was Hagerty’s year-over-year top-line growth in 2025.[24]
  • 9.6% was Hagerty’s increase in sales expense from 2024 to 2025.[24]
  • $285.4 million was Hagerty’s losses and loss-adjustment expenses in 2025.[24]
  • 39.3% was Hagerty’s loss ratio in 2025.[24]

Financial planning in the classic car industry

  • €800 billion was the estimated value of the worldwide classic-car stock in 2024.[31]
  • €65,000 was the average worldwide classic-car auction sales price reported for 2024.[31]
  • $3.064 million was Hagerty’s net investment gain in 2025.[24]
  • 6.3% was the average annual consumer-price inflation rate over the three-year period discussed by the source.[54]
  • 42.1% was Hagerty Re’s loss ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2025.[24]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Parts suppliers and retailers increasingly offer modern-fit and custom fabrication services, with 33% offering modern parts made to fit.

Product development in the classic car industry

  • 5% of classic-vehicle parts manufacturers offer full vehicle builds or rebuilds in 2020, United States.[16]
  • 10% of classic-vehicle parts manufacturers offer refurbishment or restoration of parts in 2020, United States.[16]
  • Collectors surveyed by McKinsey preferred classic cars retaining their original spirit while adding modern usability features such as safer brakes, hidden power steering and improved air conditioning in 2024.[28]
  • 33% of classic-vehicle parts manufacturers offer modern parts made to fit classic vehicles in 2020, United States.[16]
  • 31% of classic-vehicle retailers or installers offer full vehicle builds or rebuilds in 2020, United States.[16]

Product lifecycle in the classic car industry

  • 35% of historic cars were described as restored worldwide.[43]
  • 53 years was the average age of historic cars in the worldwide FIVA survey, based on vehicles manufactured around 1967.[43]
  • 43% of historic cars used during the survey period were used for travel to events worldwide.[43]
  • 52% of historic cars used during the survey period were used for short runs worldwide.[43]
  • 30% of historic cars were described as being in original condition worldwide.[43]

After-sales in the classic car industry

  • 39% of classic-vehicle retailers or installers offered custom fabrication in 2020, United States.[16]
  • 48% of reported historic-vehicle accidents worldwide were small bumps in 2019.[43]
  • 10% of British classic-car owners spent £2,500–£5,000 annually on their vehicle excluding insurance in 2026.[55]
  • 31% of classic-vehicle retailers or installers offered full vehicle builds or rebuilds in 2020, United States.[16]
  • 38% of classic-vehicle retailers or installers offered refurbishment or restoration of parts in 2020, United States.[16]

Value proposition in the classic car industry

  • 30% of British classic-car owners cited aesthetic and design as an attractive aspect of ownership in 2026.[55]
  • 8% of British classic-car owners cited investment potential as an attractive aspect of ownership in 2026.[55]
  • 23.7 thousand euros was the average value of a historic vehicle worldwide in the FIVA survey, with cars averaging 29.2 thousand euros.[43]
  • 69% of British classic-car owners were members of at least one classic-car club in 2026.[55]
  • 19% of British classic-car owners cited a sense of community as an attractive aspect of ownership in 2026.[55]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Emissions focus is measurable, with 0.07% of modern-vehicle distance represented by historic vehicles on public roads worldwide in 2026.

Sustainability in the classic car industry

  • 0.07% of the distance travelled by modern vehicles is represented by historic vehicles on public roads worldwide in 2026.[43]
  • 81% of worldwide historic-vehicle owners belonged to a historic-vehicle club in the 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • €5.1 billion per year was the conservatively estimated economic value of Europe’s historic-vehicle movement in 2014.[43]
  • 1.8 million U.S. pre-1990 classic vehicles were modified or accessorized in 2021.[16]
  • 95% of Aston Martin cars ever constructed are estimated to remain on the road or capable of being so, according to the company.[56]

ESG in the classic car industry

  • 42% of worldwide historic-vehicle owners were retired in FIVA’s 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 54,948 surveys from historic-vehicle owners and enthusiasts were collected worldwide for FIVA’s 2020/21 socio-economic survey.[43]
  • 97% of worldwide historic-vehicle owners were male in FIVA’s 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 35% of worldwide historic-vehicle owners lived in an urban city setting in FIVA’s 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 44,026 car-owner surveys formed the car-owner base of FIVA’s worldwide 2020/21 historic-vehicle survey.[43]

Ethics in the classic car industry

  • 81% of historic vehicles were described as original in FIVA’s worldwide 2020/21 survey, supporting authenticity-focused preservation practices.[43]
  • 43% of reported historic-vehicle accidents involved damage to panels in FIVA’s worldwide 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 3% of historic-vehicle owners reported an accident in their historic vehicle in 2019 in FIVA’s worldwide survey.[43]
  • 48% of reported historic-vehicle accidents were small bumps in FIVA’s worldwide 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 19% of historic vehicles were described as modified in FIVA’s worldwide 2020/21 survey.[43]

CSR in the classic car industry

  • 120,000 jobs were estimated to be supported by Europe’s historic-vehicle movement in 2014.[43]
  • €3,800 was the average annual direct spending per European historic-vehicle enthusiast in 2014, including insurance, repairs and servicing.[43]
  • 53% of worldwide historic-vehicle owners stayed overnight at events in FIVA’s 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • €888 was the average annual event spending per worldwide historic-vehicle owner in FIVA’s 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 6.1 historic-vehicle events per year were attended on average by owners in FIVA’s worldwide 2020/21 survey.[43]

Circular economy in the classic car industry

  • 50% was the reduction in Ferrari aluminum-melting slag after scorifying salts were introduced in 2023.[57]
  • 11% of worldwide historic vehicles were reported as needing restoration in FIVA’s 2020/21 survey.[43]
  • 80% of the engine-related CO2 emissions were estimated by Ferrari to be reducible through the planned recycled-aluminum alloy approach.[57]
  • 100% recycled aluminum alloy was Ferrari’s planned target for internally produced engine parts weighing more than 80% of the engine from 2026.[57]

Carbon footprint in the classic car industry

  • 2,502,563 miles had been offset through Hagerty’s Enthusiast Carbon Offset program when the company reported the figure.[58]
  • 1,000 miles was the average annual distance driven by a collector car in Hagerty’s carbon-offset program.[58]
  • 3,525,530.2 pounds of CO2 had been offset through Hagerty’s Enthusiast Carbon Offset program when the company reported the figure.[58]
  • 1,284 pounds of CO2 was the estimated annual emissions from a collector vehicle driven at Hagerty’s stated average mileage.[58]
  • 48 pounds of CO2 was the annual amount Hagerty estimated one mature tree absorbs in its collector-vehicle offset program.[58]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

International participation widened, with RM Sotheby’s 2025 sales attracting bidders from 82 countries and buyers from 54 countries.

Globalization in the classic car industry

  • More than 1,000 bidders from 41 countries participated in one RM Sotheby’s 2024 sale that generated $65.5 million in vehicle and motorcycle sales.[63]
  • Cars purchased from 54 countries contributed to RM Sotheby’s 2024 global sales, demonstrating the international reach of the collector-car market.[63]
  • 51% of RM Sotheby’s bidders were new participants in 2024, indicating continued international expansion of the collector-car buyer base.[63]
  • The United States was the largest country for collector-car auction turnover, followed by France and Switzerland in the 2025–2026 auction year.[64]
  • 70% of vintage cars sold through Catawiki’s European study reached international buyers, while approximately 30% were sold within the seller’s home country.[65]

Cultural adaptation in the classic car industry

  • 43% of historic-vehicle clubs reported that their average member age was increasing in the 2020/21 worldwide survey, compared with 12% reporting that it was getting younger.[43]
  • 69% of classic-car owners surveyed by Heritage Insurance belonged to at least one car club in the 2026 report.[55]
  • 68% of historic-vehicle clubs operated on social media in the 2020/21 worldwide survey, with Facebook used by 96% of those social-media clubs.[43]
  • Nearly one-third of classic-car owners surveyed by Heritage Insurance belonged to multiple clubs in the 2026 report.[55]
  • 68% of historic-vehicle clubs organised road runs in the 2020/21 worldwide survey, adapting participation around driving experiences.[43]

Supplier management in the classic car industry

  • 52% of classic-vehicle retailers and installers reported increased sales in 2020 compared with 2019, according to SEMA’s industry survey.[16]
  • 5% of classic-vehicle parts manufacturers offered full vehicle builds or rebuilds in SEMA’s 2020 survey.[16]
  • 59% of classic-vehicle retailers and installers offered modern parts made to fit classic vehicles in SEMA’s 2020 survey.[16]
  • 68% of classic-vehicle parts manufacturers reported increased sales in 2020 compared with 2019, according to SEMA’s industry survey.[16]
  • 38% of classic-vehicle retailers and installers offered refurbishment or restoration of parts in SEMA’s 2020 survey.[16]

Stakeholder management in the classic car industry

  • 76% of historic-vehicle clubs were concerned about regulations affecting historic-vehicle use in the 2020/21 FIVA survey.[43]
  • 75% of historic-vehicle club members owned at least one historic vehicle in the 2020/21 FIVA worldwide survey.[43]
  • 51% of historic-vehicle clubs catered for vehicles of many makes, types and ages in the 2020/21 FIVA worldwide survey.[43]
  • 24% of historic-vehicle clubs focused on a single make in the 2020/21 FIVA worldwide survey.[43]
  • 12% of historic-vehicle clubs focused on a single model in the 2020/21 FIVA worldwide survey.[43]

Distribution channels in the classic car industry

  • 96% of RM Sotheby’s lots sold in 2024, indicating a high conversion rate across its live, online and private-sales distribution channels.[63]
  • 54 countries supplied buyers for RM Sotheby’s 2024 collector-car sales across its distribution network.[63]
  • 22% of classic-vehicle retailers and installers offered none of the listed specialist services in SEMA’s 2020 survey.[16]
  • 82 countries were represented among participants in RM Sotheby’s 2025 international classic-car auction market, according to a market review.[66]
  • RM Sotheby’s reported a 92% sell-through rate across its 2025 auction activity.[66]

Key questions about the classic car industry

What is the classic-car market size for the United States in 2025?
The U.S. classic car market was valued at $2.05 billion in 2025.
How fast is the U.S. classic-car market expected to grow?
The U.S. classic car market is projected to reach $4.22 billion by 2035, implying a 7.5% CAGR from 2026 to 2035.
Which companies lead the classic car industry?
Singer Vehicle Design leads Gitnux's 2026 classic car ranking with an Overall score of 9.9, with Porsche 911 restoration and reimagining, global footprint. Kindred Motorworks is the highest-ranked restoration and modernization provider at 9.4, with classic-car restoration and modernization in the US segment.
What technology shifts matter to how classic-car data and valuation get used?
Across automotive, 36% of AI and software initiatives scaled beyond pilot stage and were adopted across the organization in 2026. Auction and marketplace data tools are described as becoming strategic.
How broad is market access and buying behavior across channels?
In the 2025–2026 international classic-car auction season, 76% of lots sold. In August 2026, the online auction sell-through rate was 74.3%, with a monthly record.
What does the auction market indicate about pricing dispersion in this sector?
Pricing is highly dispersed and depends on marque, model, originality, provenance, condition and documentation. In the first half of 2026, CLASSIC.COM reported an overall median decline of 1.6% for cars below $1 million.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Samuel Norberg. (2026, November 10). Classic Car Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/classic-car-industry-statistics
MLA
Samuel Norberg. "Classic Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 10 Nov 2026, https://gitnux.org/classic-car-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Samuel Norberg. 2026. "Classic Car Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/classic-car-industry-statistics.

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