As markets crash and struggle across the country amid a nationwide economic crisis, collecting classic cars is proving to be a fruitful and fulfilling venture for many Australians.
While property prices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies have plunged, the value of classic cars has continued to rise and only went up during Covid-19.
A prime example is the 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, worth $68,000 a few years ago.
But by 2021, that 23-year-old second-hand car was valued at $240,000 before jumping by a further $155,000 just this year alone.
A 1990 Mazda RX7 also went from costing $46,000 a couple of years ago to $99,000 last year before being valued at $250,000 in 2022.
Camera IconThe value of classic cars only went up during Covid-19. Melanie Whiting Credit: News Regional Media
Managing director of Supercar Secrets Mark Haybittle has identified more than 80 other specific car models set to experience similar increases, claiming “the growth is just outstanding”.
“It’s just phenomenal; the value of these things is just going up and up,” he told NCA NewsWire.
“Unlike shares, property, bitcoin, or any of the other things that are crashing and tanking, the value of these cars just goes up and never drops.
“All through Covid, when it could have turned sour and gone south, the acceleration in the value of these cars was even greater.”
Mr. Haybittle attributed this rapid growth to Australians investing their assets into things they knew and trusted once the pandemic hit.
He said “trusted fallbacks” like cars, gold, art, and jewelry are the safest investments because they are real.
“If you invest in Bitcoin, you’re investing in something that doesn’t technically exist, apart from a couple of servers in a country or domain you probably don’t have a connection with,” he said.
Camera IconManaging director of Supercar Secrets Mark Haybittle said Australians value investing in something real. NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia
“The difference with cars is they’re real. You can sit in them, touch them, drive them, store them in a nice area of your house, look at them, and talk about them over a beer. You can do all those things.”
But while the industry is exploding as prices continue to soar, it is fuelled by a genuine love of cars.
Unlike other countries where collecting cars has become fully commercialized, a demand for national icons like Holden Commodores and Ford Falcons has kept the industry true to its roots.
“The whole of the collectible car industry began and is supported by people who just love the cars; that’s where it starts,” Mr. Haybittle said.
“Here in Australia, we’re fortunate because the whole industry is in its infancy; it’s still supported by people who love the cars.
“You’ve got people who love the Holdens and Fords, and that’s accelerated by the fact that they don’t make them here anymore.”
Camera IconHolden Commodores and Ford Falcons are popular among Australian collectors. David Caird Credit: News Corp Australia
He also said while other markets are volatile, classic cars’ value will continue to increase.
Mr. Haybittle cited his success as proof after he went from having just one car when he started the business in 2014 to now having nearly 420 vehicles worth more than $30m.
“The only way we’ve done that is through the accelerating values of the cars. They’ve always gone up – except for one that we got wrong, which is still worth the same as what we paid for it,” he said.
“When you invest in the right cars, they only go up.”
