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After years of growth, the collector car market is seeing a correction as auction prices fall and sell-through rates decline across major platforms.
The collector car market is undergoing a significant correction, with average sale prices at both live and online auctions dropping 17% in October 2023 compared to the same month the previous year [2]. This shift follows a period of historic growth, signaling a move away from the high valuations seen during the pandemic era [2].
Key takeaways
The current cooling of the collector car sector is being felt globally, with industry leaders characterizing the change as both rapid and aggressive [2]. Edward Lovett, founder of The Collecting Group, noted that the speed of this softening is often faster than many sellers are willing to accept [2]. This trend is not isolated to automobiles; similar contractions have been observed in other asset classes, including fine art, wine, and high-end watches [2].
At Hemmings Auctions, prices have retracted by 5% over the same period, even as the platform saw an 8% increase in overall sales volume due to a higher number of vehicles being offered [2]. Doug DeMuro, founder of the auction site Cars & Bids, attributes the softening to a combination of rising inventory levels and declining retail prices in the broader used-car market [2]. Despite these adjustments, DeMuro maintains that the enthusiast car market remains strong when compared to the era preceding the COVID-19 pandemic [2].
The collector car market is adjusting to broader economic uncertainties and the end of the "cheap money" environment that fueled speculation over the last few years [1, 2]. While some market participants remain optimistic, others suggest that the current environment is a necessary correction after a period where traditional economic rationality was suspended [1, 2]. As inventory continues to rise and buyers exercise more patience, the market may see further price adjustments in the coming months, particularly if a recession occurs [1, 2]. For those currently looking to buy, the shift suggests that the aggressive, opportunistic pricing seen during the pandemic may be fading, potentially creating more favorable conditions for future acquisitions [1, 2].
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 2 outlets · Jun 3, 2026 · How we report
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