Are "continuation cars", i.e. newly built classics, a good investment?
11/12/2020
Jaguar, Aston Martin, BRM, Lister, Lola, Chevron, and so on, they all build so-called "continuation cars", cars like back then, but brand new. Often, they even use serial numbers that were "left over" from back then. Nonetheless, these cars are new, have no history and are simply modeled as closely as possible on the original from back then. In this context, the term "tool room copy" is often used because original blanks and plans are used.
The interesting question is, of course, whether such factory replicas are a good investment, especially as they sell for considerable prices.
There is not yet too much data to answer this question, but at the RM/Sotheby's auction of the so-called "Elkhart Collection " , three of these replicas came under the hammer and were all sold.
The Jaguar XKSS Continuation( 1957) pictured above performed best, selling for USD 1.985 million. A few years ago, this replica had cost USD 1.5 million when new.
The Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Continuation (1963), which found a new owner for USD 1.71 million, was somewhat less convincing. The car had recently cost USD 1.6 million new, if you could get hold of one of the few replicas.
Surprisingly, however, the Jaguar D-Type Continuation(1955 ), which was born for the racetrack, was the worst performer, selling for only USD 1.325 million, even though the car had to be paid around USD 1.5 million two years ago when the owner took it over from Jaguar.
Nevertheless, the seller would have made some money. In reality, however, the former owner went bankrupt and the entire profit went to the auction house RM/Sotheby's to pay for the brokerage.
Apparently, however, these continuation cars are sufficiently rare and well enough made that they are still worth their original price "used". This is certainly good news for those who have added such an expensive piece, which normally cannot be registered for road use, to their collection.
