Any previous fears that interest in pre-war classics might be waning now appear unfounded, according to research carried out by Classic Car Mart. Regular contributor Paul Guinness has been speaking with classic car dealers and auctioneers in recent weeks – the majority of them reporting an increase in demand for well-presented pre-war cars.

“There was a time when pre-war motoring seemed to appeal to older enthusiasts,” explained Paul. “But many of the experts in the trade are reporting a new interest in pre-war cars, with values rising in line with later classics as a result. The consensus seems to be that enthusiasts in their forties and fifties are now turning to pre-war models – contradicting the traditional image of pre-war motoring.”

Rob George of Anglia Car Auctions agrees, and has seen increased interest in pre-war models at the company’s last few sales: “A really nicely preserved or well-restored pre-war car is now in high demand, whether it’s a Model T Ford or a later Austin 7 or Morris 8,” he says. “There’s definitely been an upturn in interest, with extra bidding and high prices achieved as a result.”

Yorkshire-based owner of the Classic & Sportscar Centre, James Szkiler, has also seen the trend, with pre-war cars among the easiest to sell in the right condition: “Whenever we have an excellent example of a popular pre-war model in stock these days, we have no trouble finding it a new owner.” Current stock at the time of writing includes a superb 1930 Austin 7 Chummy Tourer, priced at £12,995.

It’s a similar story in Somerset, where the biggest problem faced by Thornfalcon Classics is locating enough cars to satisfy demand. Garry Dickens told us: “We find a lot of buyers are very discerning now, and will pay good money for one of the best examples of just about anything. We have no problem selling pre-war cars these days, many of them going to people who are new to the pre-war scene. This bodes well for the future of pre-war motoring.”

ARE YOU A FAN OF PRE-WAR CLASSICS? Are you new to the scene, or thinking of buying your first pre-war car? Then tell us why – and if you’ve already bought one, be sure to send us a photograph. Write to us at the usual address, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .