Data from one of Europe’s leading website for classic car sales, Car & Classic, highlights a significant shift in the volume and type of cars enthusiasts are searching for after a year of restrictions and lockdowns.
Popular classics such as MGB GT, Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Cortina, the latter falling from second to ninth when comparing Q1 2020 and Q1 2021, have slipped down the rankings, with ‘dream’ sports cars moving up.
The Porsche 911 is now the most searched for vehicle on Car & Classic, followed by the Jaguar E-Type. The 911 replaces the Ford Capri on the site that has seen a 39 percent rise in vehicle searches of its top 200 cars, with buyers feeling now is the time to search for the dream car they always wanted.
The data comparing Q1 2020 and Q1 2021 highlights other substantial movements that reflect trends in the wider European classic car market.
Young timers or modern classics have risen in popularity with the 1980s E30 BMW 3 Series now the third most searched for car on the site. Japanese classics have also experienced a surge in interest.
Enthusiasts have also warmed to 80s hot hatches with a 25 percent rise in the number of searches for an XR2 and 44 percent for the Ford Escort XR3i.
Japanese marques are also increasing in favour, with the Toyota Supra, Mazda RX-7 and Toyota MR2 now featuring in the top 16 with the Nissan Skyline moving up 131 places to 27thplace.