GOING GLOBAL: Collector car culture around the world
March 22, 2017
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Written by Barbara Toombs
With Barrett-Jackson being the first collector car auction to be broadcast more than 20 years ago and now with the addition of an ever-growing international television audience, the auctions are covered widely by journalists all over the world. The hobby is spreading its wings far and wide.
“Barrett-Jackson adds a lot of dynamism to the collector car culture, the way that cars are perceived and seen and sold,” says U.K. native Mike Brewer, one of the hosts of Velocity’s “Wheeler Dealers” television series, which airs globally. “That’s very much uniquely American. Barrett-Jackson car auctions are like no other car auction anywhere in the world, because in America you have this ‘razzmatazz’ that goes along with the car culture. If you’ve got a collectible that’s going to run across the auction block, you’re more likely to have a lot more excitement built up around that car at Barrett-Jackson than, say, a shed in East London, where a similar car is running across an auction block.”
Globally, tastes of collectible automobiles vary as widely as the distance between continents, yet similarities abound. According to an article in the U.K. publication The Spectator, the most desirable of all collector cars in the U.K. are the sports cars of the 1960s: Ferraris, or those from British manufacturers like Aston Martin or Jaguar. Austin-Healey, Triumphs and MGs also make the list. Interestingly, the taste of women buyers in the U.K. is very different to that of men. Older Fiat 500s are popular with the ladies, as are Mercedes 190SLs from the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Across the Channel in France, the collector car culture is very important – perhaps not surprisingly, considering the country was one of the very first to build automobiles. By 1900, there were 600 different French automobile makes on the market. While those French classic cars are popular there, a segment of enthusiasts turn more toward other European cars and American cars. “The Mustang is one of the ‘American dreams,’” says French automotive writer Vincent Juvenelle. “After World War II, French people were dreaming of the American life, and the Mustang or Corvette symbolizes that for many collectors.”
In the Netherlands, there is not a specific collector car scene, no doubt caused by the absence of any significant domestic car industry there since motoring began. “Yet there are a number of collectors and interesting automotive museums, of which the Louwman Collection is by far the most prominent,” says Pieter Melissen, editor for the Holland-based UltimateCarPage.com and writer for the Dutch magazine Autoweek Classics. “Collectors basically follow European/global trends.” Although there are several Dutch dealers who specialize in bringing rust-free California vehicles into the country, Melissen says American collectible cars are not as popular with the mainstream populace, probably due to the higher gas prices.
Over in Asia, the collector car culture is still “in its infancy, compared to Europe and the U.S.,” says Taro Koki, president and co-founder of the online automotive network GTChannel, who collaborated with the Japanese Motorhead Magazine to cover a noted Japanese collector during his visit to Barrett-Jackson’s 2017 Scottsdale Auction. “There are only a handful of classic car collectors,” says Koki. “Although in recent years, a market has sprung up for those who want to differentiate themselves from others and have started to take interest in classics.” Koki points out that up until now, collector cars were only for the rare enthusiast, but now they are starting to take hold as somewhat of a status symbol, and the number of collector car owner and Concours d’Elegance events, as well as road rallies, has grown dramatically in the country. European models from Germany, Italy and the U.K. are popular in Japan, with Porsche and Ferrari the most sought-after. American muscle cars from the 1960s and ’70s also have a steady following. “The Japanese are interested in Barrett-Jackson because of the strength of American cars,” says Koki. “Also, many cars are not out of reach for the average buyer. But the biggest attraction is that Barrett-Jackson is very entertaining with its approach.”
Africa, too, has its share of collector car enthusiasts. In East Africa, the Kenya Alfa Romeo Owners Club has been putting on popular Concours d’Elegance events for many years, attracting more than 100 entries from a number of African countries. Joe van Zyl, a writer for the South African publication SA Hot Rods, says car collectors in that country are “a curious bunch,” with many preferring to remain unknown to avoid scrutiny by the “tax man.” The most well-known South African car collector is Johann Rupert, who owns the Franschhoek Motor Museum, home to his personal collection of over 200 specialty cars, including a 1963 Ferrari Lusso GT. “That’s just the cars he shares with the public,” says van Zyl. “Beyond the museum and off-limits to the public lies a massive building housing a variety of historic classics as far as the eye can see.” Van Zyl reports that South African collectors are moving away from the classic Ferraris and Porsches these days, and into long-present American cars like 1970s Chevrolets and Fords, with a niche market for ’70s Nissans, Datsuns and Hondas. Interestingly, the first Ford to be sold in South Africa was the Ford Model A of 1903, which was purchased by Arthur Youldon of Johannesburg from Henry Ford himself, and General Motors South Africa was established in 1913.
Peruvian racing driver Jorge Koechlin, who provides commentary on Barrett-Jackson for Discovery en Español, says there are more “car aficionados” than car collectors in Latin America. “We still see American automotive history in our everyday lives in most Latin American countries,” he points out, “especially in Uruguay, Peru and Cuba.” The market is ripe, however, considering the tax-free import duties for vehicles 35 years and older in some countries in that part of the world. “Through our coverage of Barrett-Jackson,” Koechlin says, “we are introducing to Hispanic millennials how to start collecting as a hobby, and how that hobby could turn into an exciting and profitable business.”
Closer to home, the Vancouver-based Alyn Edwards – columnist for the Canadian news agency Postmedia News – says Canadians look at Barrett-Jackson to establish the North American market for special-interest vehicles. Edwards says tastes in Canada are fairly similar to those in the United States when it comes to collector cars, with enthusiasts often drawn to convertibles, muscle cars and full classics. Matthew Guy, a writer for the website Wheels.ca, based in Nova Scotia, says classic pickup trucks – particularly Resto-Mods – are really starting to become popular in his part of the country. “A lot of them are barn – or field – finds, sitting idle for years after enduring a lifetime of hard work,” says Guy. “Canadian-only models are also very popular north of the 49th parallel,” adds Edwards. “My own collection includes 1953 and 1956 Canadian-made Mercury convertibles called Monarchs.”
As Barrett-Jackson continues to spread the collector car passion throughout the globe via international broadcasts and newsworthy auctions, it’s exciting to think about the future of the hobby as younger generations around the world yield to the call of a classic Cadillac or the magic of a muscle car.
To view the docket for the upcoming Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction, click HERE.