Buy the full study
Summary of our market study
to understand this market
Detailed content of our market study
Inforamtion
- Number of pages : ~ 40 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update :
Summary and extracts
1 Synthèse du marché
1.1 Introduction
In Italy, a car is defined as vintage when it is over 30 years old. The government practically identifies them as movable pieces of art, they do not have to pay road tax, they can often enter restricted traffic zones even though their polluting characteristics would not allow it, and they also have particularly low insurance costs. But why should a historic car be preserved? And what drives an increasing number of enthusiasts to collect them?
Investments are not always rational; in the last period, especially after the financial crisis of 2007, we have seen an increasing search for so-called alternative investments. These are all those categories of collectibles that acquire value not so much for their production capabilities, but for the emotional connection they create with buyers, combined with their inherent rarity. Classic cars in particular are among the categories of alternative investments that have gained the most value. The automobile industry has changed profoundly from its popularity in the 1900s to the present. Innovations in this market have made cars safer, more efficient, faster, and more environmentally friendly. But something has been lost. Classic cars are witnesses of a time that is no more, of aesthetic care that prevailed over rationality, of a quest for freedom and a kind of irresponsible immaturity. The world has undeniably changed radically. If there is something certain, it is that a growing number of people still seek the thrills of yesteryear, and classic cars are a great way to remember past eras.
The global market was worth $31.1 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow to over $51 by 2032. The largest auctions and private car sales are held in America, which is the largest market for it. Italy ranks fourth, but the history associated with the country's many historic manufacturers drives many investors, including foreigners, each year to events such as the Concorso d'Eleganza di Villa d'Este, which hosts one of the most important auctions nationwide in the striking villa on Lake Como, or the Auto e Moto d'Epoca Fair in Bologna, one of the most important in Europe.
Lately, young timers, which means cars aged between 25 and 35 years, are becoming more and more popular, which is also a sign of a growing interest on the part of a younger public, which, in addition to the collection, is also interested in the daily use of the cars. The Italian market is divided between online marketplaces, auction houses, both foreign and Italian, and dealerships that often deal in both resale and maintenance and restoration. The study also includes an in-depth analysis of some of the most iconic models on the market: Ferrari 250 GTO, Porsche 356, Lamborghini Miura, Aston Martin DB3, Lancia Stratos, etc...
1.2 The global market
The global automobile market is changing, especially in developed countries. The electric transition is getting closer, with more and more countries implementing plans to discontinue production of heat-engine cars in the coming decades. In this transitional climate, a wistful feeling is growing among many enthusiasts toward what used to be the ...
1.3 The Italian market
The Italian classic car market, although less large than the American or British markets, is one of the most important in the world, thanks to the presence of a large number of prestigious manufacturers and the historical importance that cars have in our country.
Sales of classic cars through auctions, which ...
1.4 The impact of Covid
The impact of covid on this sector has been considerable, not so much because of the decrease in demand per se, but because of the impossibility of conducting physical auctions. Historica Selecta's study, on classic cars and their auctions in particular, points out that "A classic car cannot be properly evaluated ...
2 Analyse de la demande
2.1 Domestic demand
Trends in car registrations in Italy clearly show that classic cars are much rarer than recent ones, with output not growing for the first time until the past decade. Production was particularly limited until ****, then there was a definite upswing that lasted until the early ****s, and then there were alternating ...
2.2 Demand drivers
Classic cars are a so-called passionate investment, the characteristics that fuel their demand are therefore not only rational but related to a prospect of future price increases justified by objective data. The investors' choices are mostly led by the very passions and emotional movements that drive a person to see the ...
2.3 The geographical distribution of demand
The demand for classic cars in Italy is concentrated in northern regions. To support this assertion both the online sale ads can be analyzed, where we find more than half of the offers at a distance of less than *** km from Milan [***], and the geographical distribution of the major events related ...
2.4 New demand trends, youngtimers
One category of cars that has recently gained recognition as classic cars, or will gain it in the coming years, is the youngtimer. These are cars between ** and ** years of age. Recently, this category, which includes the likes of the Ferrari F** and F** or the Lancia Delta Integrale, has been ...
3 Structure du marché
3.1 The market structure
The Italian classic car market is divided between online ads and physical auctions. Often the former category deals with sales of cars with lower prices, while the latter is reserved for dealing with rarer and more expensive pieces.
The main sites for classic car sales are:
Autoscout**: is one of the ...
3.2 The value chain
3.3 The maintenance market
A survey conducted in **** by FIVA shed light on the expenses that Italian owners of classic cars incur each year for the maintenance of the vehicle. Owning such a car involves an average expenditure of *,*** euros, while expenses directly related to maintenance and use (***) is *,*** euros.
Breakdown of annual expenses related ...
4 Analyse de l'offre
4.1 The type of supply
In the Italian market, the most popular classic cars, considering both online and physical channels, are [***]:
Fiat, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen, Lancia, Mercedes, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Aston Martin.
Here is an in-depth look at some of the most iconic in Italy:
FIAT
Fiat was Italy's first major automaker, founded in ****. It ...
4.2 I Prices
Concerning the cars listed above, average prices as of March **** are given, as identified by classic.com, a site that groups together the leading international classic car bids and auctions.
Record-breaker: it is worth mentioning at this point that it was precisely in **** that the record previously held by the Ferrari ...
4.3 New supply trends, the rise of classic cars
All available data on the registration of cars in the past decades reveal that the ****s and **s were the years with the highest production, for this reason, it is likely that in the coming years, the supply of classic cars will increase considerably, as these vehicles will progressively turn ** years ...
5 Règlementation
5.1 The regulation
Laws concerning classic cars in Italy concern [***]:
Circulation of historic vehicles: Art. ** Highway Code, defines the characteristics of vintage vehicles. Art. *** and *** Implementation Regulations to the Highway Code Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Decree December **, **** Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Circular No. ***** of October *, **** Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport Circular No. ...
6 Positionnement des acteurs
6.1 Segmentation
The classic car market is segmented into:
Online sales sites, Auction houses, Sales and maintenance dealerships.
Online sales sites:
Auction houses:
Dealerships:
- AutoScout24
- Subito.it
- Classic Trader
- RM Sotheby's
- Bonhams
- Artcurial
- Finarte S.r.l.
- Aste Bolaffi S.p.a.
- Ruote da Sogno S.r.l.
- Luzzago 1975 S.r.l.
All our studies are available online in PDF format
Take a look at an example of our research on another market!
Latest news
Artcurial wins out over Christie's and Sotheby's - 08/08/2023
- Artcurial was founded in 2002 and became the third-largest player in the French art market in 2005.
- In 2022, Artcurial achieved record sales of €216.5 million.
- Arqana, a racehorse auctioneer affiliated to Artcurial, achieved a sales volume of 225 million euros and sold almost 5,000 horses in 2022.
- It ranks second in the European market.
- Artcurial set up operations in Monaco in 2015, Morocco in 2019 and Switzerland in 2022.
- Artcurial also owns the John Taylor real estate group, acquired in 2017, with a portfolio of 6,000 properties worth €16 billion.
- The Artcurial group's consolidated sales in 2022 were €1.6 billion, making it one of Europe's leading intermediaries for exceptional properties.
Art: how auction houses compete in the middle market - 12/07/2022
- Bonhams aims to consolidate the mid-range segment
- Bonhams has 14 auction rooms (London, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Paris, etc.) and experts in some sixty sectors
- Purchases from well-known houses in their respective countries, such as Bukowskis in Sweden, Bruun Rasmussen in Denmark or Cornette de Saint Cyr in France.
The art market is in turmoil: England's Bonhams has just acquired France's Cornette de Saint Cyr. - 28/06/2022
- In 2022, Bonhams acquired the French institution founded in 1973.
- It has offices in Paris and Brussels.
- Since its takeover by the Epiris fund in 2018, Bonhams has been shopping in Europe and the United States.
- 31.8 million in sales in 2021, ranking 10th in France.
- Fierce competition and the costs generated by this exceptional Parisian location have eroded margins.
Companies quoted in this study
This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :
Choosing this study means :
Access to more than 35 hours of work
Our studies are the result of over 35 hours of research and analysis. Using our studies allows you to devote more time and added value to your projects.
Benefit from 6 years' experience and over 1,500 industry reports already produced
Our expertise enables us to produce comprehensive studies in all sectors, including niche and emerging markets.
Our know-how and methodology enable us to produce reports that offer unique value for money.
Access to several thousand articles and paid-for data
Businesscoot has access to all the paid economic press as well as exclusive databases to carry out its market research (over 30,000 articles and private sources).
To enhance our research, our analysts also use web indicators (semrush, trends, etc.) to identify market trends and company strategies. (Consult our paying sources)
Guaranteed support after your purchase
A team dedicated to after-sales service, to guarantee you a high level of satisfaction. +44 238 097 0676
A digital format designed for our users
Not only do you have access to a PDF, but also to a digital version designed for our customers. This version gives you access to sources, data in Excel format and graphics. The content of the study can therefore be easily retrieved and adapted for your specific needs.
Our offers :
The collector car market | Italy
- What are the figures on the size and growth of the market?
- What is driving the growth of the market and its evolution?
- What is the positioning of companies in the value chain?
- Data from several dozen databases
5 reports pack (-15%) IT Italy
- 5 reports at €75.6 excluding VAT per study to choose from our Italian catalogue for 12 months
- Save 15% on additional studies purchased
- Choose to be refunded any unused credit at the end of the 12-month period (duration of the pack)
See the terms and conditions of the pack and the refund of unused credit.
Our customer references
They have consulted our studies
Discover the opinions (+500)
Malcolm Vincent
Astoria Finance
Gregoire de Castelnau
Stags Participations
Timothé Huignard
PWC
Paul-Alexis Kebabtchieff
BCG
Aymeric Granet
Publicis Consultant
interviews & case studies
All interviews and case studies (45)
