2024 Classic Car News
It was a great year for anyone who enjoys the beauty and nostalgia of classic cars. With thousands of shows and auctions across the country, there was an opportunity to indulge in a hobby that prizes both originality and customization.
For the purist, Concours events offer some of the most original, rare vehicles in existence. The widely acclaimed Pebble Beach and Amelia Island Concours always draw the finest vehicles in the world.
This year vintage Italian race cars and a flamboyant French show car were judged the best on the field. At the Detroit Autorama and Los Angeles Grand National Roadster Shows, two of North America’s long-running custom car shows, the imagination and craftmanship of builders were showcased in vehicles that can only be described as works of art. To see our pick of the top custom Builds for 2024 based on judging at these and other top National car shows, follow this link.
Here’s a recap of the major news stories from 2024, including award winning cars, auction highlights, a 24-karat gold car, a Jimmy Buffett Falcon, the invasion of the Cybertruck, and the state of the classic car market. But first we want to recognize George Poteet, a lost ambassador to the hobby.
George Poteet (1948-2024) – The Ultimate Hot Rodder
The hobby lost a much beloved and prominent member with the passing of George Poteet in 2024. He was a self-made businessman with a love for motorcars, and in recent decades he commissioned several award-winning custom builds, winning coveted awards such as the Ridler and AMBR. But this was only part of his legacy. George was also a speed demon, in the literal sense. He piloted his specially built Salt Lake racer, setting multiple records, and being one of the few who was a member of the 400 MPH club. His contributions to the hobby will not be forgotten, and he will truly be missed.
Concours d’Elegance Winners at Pebble and Amelia
For the first time in the 74-year history of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Best in Show was awarded to a preservation car, a 1934 Bugatti Type 59. While on the east coast, at The Amelia, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO received Best in Show, Concours de Sport and a 1947 Delahaye 135 MS was awarded Best in Show Concours d’Elegance.
Show Car Circuit
On the show car circuit, 2024 also proved to be a banner year for introducing some of the most incredible new custom builds. Here are the winners for the top four most sought-after awards in the hobby – Ridler Award, Al Slonaker Award, America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, and Battle of the Builder Award. This year’s Ridler Award winner was a reimagined Motorama concept Corvette, built by Kindig-it Design, that some are calling the best show car ever built. For more about this incredible car, click here and for more on these top builds click here.
Auction News Highlights
C1 and C2 Corvettes
First and second-generation Corvettes have long been the starting point for high-end custom builds, resulting in many prized one-off sports cars. What became most apparent this year was how valuable these special cars are now, drawing $400,000 or more. With the integration of modern technology, these cars are much safer, more fun to drive, and super cool looking, making them far superior to the originals. Perhaps their growing value was never more apparent than when Jeff Hayes’ 1967 Corvette work of art sold at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction for $1,100,000. It is believed that this is the first custom car to pass the 7-figure mark.
GMs Golden Car
The guys at Snodgrass Chevy Restoration have been restoring (and customizing) Tri-Five Chevys for years. For 2024 they unveiled a very special recreation. A 1955 Bel Air that was a tribute to GM’s “Golden Car,” which was built BITD to celebrate the companies 50 millionth vehicle. All the bright work of this car (inside and outside) was trimmed in 24 karat gold plating. It toured the major show circuit with stops at the 2024 Detroit Autorama and Chicago World of Wheels wowing crowds and picking up awards along the way. In May the Golden Bel Air crossed the auction block at Mecum Indy and was sold for $434,500. In the below interview, Mike Wisnewski, of Snodgrass Chevy Restoration, gave us a walkaround tour of the car before it was revealed to the public. Thanks Mike!
Jimmy Buffett’s Falcon
It was definitely 5 o’clock somewhere when a powder blue Falcon convertible, formerly owned by Jimmy Buffett, rolled up on the auction block at this GAA Classic Cars winter auction. Based on the number of in-house and remote bidders, it was obvious from the start that several people wanted this droptop, the surfboard, and a signed guitar that went along with it. Enthusiasm for this piece of Jimmy Buffett history drove the final selling price to $235,000, an all-time high for a Falcon. The below video shows the excitement in the room when the car owned by the man from “Margaritaville” sold.
Dave Kindig’s CF1 Corvettes
Dave Kindig, of Kindig-it Design, is one of the most sought-after builders in the hobby. In 2021 he completed a design-from-scratch roadster patterned after the 1953 Corvette, which he called the CF1. With a modern drive train and wider carbon-fiber body to make it driver-friendly, the roadster debuted on his popular TV Show, “Bitchn Rides.” The audience’s response was overwhelming, and orders came in for him to build additional CF1s. Dave’s shop has now turned out over ten, each one built to his client’s personal taste. A few of these are starting to find their way to the auction blocks. Sale prices in 2024 of the CF1 ranged from $600,000 to well over $700,000.
1967 Corvette L88 – The Rare One
Since only twenty (20) race-ready 1967 Corvette L88s were built, it’s always newsworthy when one comes up for sale. At the 2024 Mecum Monterey auction, the very first production L88 with extensive race history crossed the auction block. Not surprisingly, this highly sought-after car sold for $2,352,000. Also, in 2024 another 1967 Corvette L88 sold for $1,815,000 at the Mecum Glendale auction. For more about the history and sales of the super Corvette L88, click here.
1903 Mercedes-Simplex 60 HP – Brass Era Big Sale
This 1903 Mercedes-Simplex, which was 1 of only 5 ever produced, changed hands after 121 Years of single-family ownership. It’s considered one of the finest and most significant cars of its day, recording wins in speed racing and hill climbing. This unrestored time capsule sold for $12,105,000 at the 2024 Gooding & Co. Amelia Island auction.
Mecum Kissimmee Ferrari Room
Mecum Auctions built its reputation with its inventory of muscle cars, but in recent years, they have been adding high-end European sports cars and even late model supercars to their docket. Nevertheless, it was a surprise to find a purpose-built Ferrari display room at their Kissimmee January auction. This collection included some of the most coveted models of the Italian automaker. One of the most prized models was a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder, which received a high bid of $23,500,000, but did not meet the reserve. However, it sold after the auction for an undisclosed price, making it the top sale of the auction (and the highest sale in Mecum history). Not too far behind, at $17,875,000, was a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder.
Note: All auction prices include sales commission.
Cybertrucks
The cybertruck may be the latest electric vehicle you love to hate. It is about as far as you can get from the definition of a classic, but in 2024 these aliens started showing up in many auctions as well as car shows. This unique vehicle always attracts a crowd out of sheer curiosity if nothing else.
Classic Car Market Value
In 2024, although the number of vehicles offered for sale grew, vehicle prices on average were down. This was particularly true for pre-70s vehicles, as the number of buyers in that market segment passed the torch to a younger generation. However, there were some exceptions. For example, vintage European sports cars, highly customized restomods, and hot collectibles, such as Z28 Camaros and Hemi-powered Mopars generally increased in value. So, despite the somewhat depressed market in 2024, there is some good news for buyers. There are plenty of classic cars on the market, such as that long-coveted Road Runner, GTO, Mach 1, Caddy, or restomod pickup offered now at more attractive prices.
