Classic followers tip turbodiesel modern classics as buys to watch in an enthusiast-driven market
Market experts reckon that diesel-engined classics will be ones to watch carefully throughout this year – despite concerns over fuel prices and city centre emission zones.
The vast majority of the derv-burning vehicles being sold by classic auctions and dealers tend to be more recent models that aren’t yet eligible for ‘Historic’ vehicle status, meaning that they’re liable for many of the clean air zones being introduced in urban areas across the UK. However, their relative rarity compared to their petrol equivalents has helped to drive demand from buyers, especially where the cars are in good condition. South Western Vehicle Auctions’ auctioneer and classic car specialist, Owen Shepherd, says: ‘Diesel-engined classics are a strange one and personally I think it really comes down to what car it is. I think there are circumstances where diesels are desirable.
‘One example would be the early noughties Jaguar S-Type that we sold in January, seen as a piece of motoring history coming from the era where Jaguar first started producing diesel-engined cars. Examples like this catch the eye of most punters because there is an era-related piece of history with their purchase.’
Charterhouse’s Richard Bromell says: ‘While I have yet to see significant interest in classic oil burners, they are gaining traction. It seems to be geared more towards European motors, such as the Peugeot 306 D-turbo, Citroën CX2500 turbo diesel and Mercedes-Benz W124 300TD. As usual they are all the better specified cars, and all of them have a turbocharger fitted.’
Manor Park Classics’ sales director, James Gregory, says: ‘I suppose in time diesel cars will be treated as classics in the same way that petrol-engined cars are – especially as growing EV ownership will mean that all internal combustion vehicles will become rarer. In fact, diesels may well become more collectable simply because they were never preserved for the future in the same way that even mildly sporting petrol models were – and that makes well cared-for examples thin on the ground now.
