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Book review: The Enthusiast’s Guide to Collector Cars
This book is aimed at people who are at the beginning of car collecting and sets out clearly the different classes that are available, with recommendations about models and suggested prices. Although based on the current USA scene, the collector car market is global these days and pricing tends to follow international trends.
Greg Stanley with you-know-who
Greg Stanley is well qualified to write this book, because he’s a car specialist at RM Sotheby’s – the world’s leading collector car auction house – and the voice behind The Collector Car Podcast that blends market insight, history and humour to help enthusiasts better understand the evolving collector car landscape. He is also a Ferrari IAC/PFA judge and Mustang Club of America Gold Card judge.
However, although Greg Stanley is highly qualified, he points out in the book intro that it all started for him in the way it does for most of us: with a family connection; a first car and an insatiable curiosity for the stories hidden beneath the sheet metal.
“This book is not meant to be the final word on collector cars: it’s an invitation,” he said.
“An invitation to explore, to learn and to find your place in a hobby that thrives on curiosity and shared passion.
“Whether your dream car is a Miata, a Mustang, or a multi-million-dollar Ferrari, there is a seat at the table for you.”
HV read an on-line version of the book and found that it covered the necessary steps for beginner collectors. It also highlighted the attraction of different classes of cars that include: Veteran and Brass Era Cars (1890s–1915); the Nickel Era (1915–1925); the Classic Era (1925–1948); post-War American Icons (1946–1959); Hot Rods, Customs and Kustom Kulture (1940s–1950s); Muscle Cars and Pony Cars (1960s–1970s); European Sports Cars (Late 1940s–1970s); Supercars and Hypercars (1950s–today); Modern and Contemporary Classics (1980s–2000s); Motorsport-Derived Road Cars (1960s–2000); Asian imports and the JDM movement (1960s–today); the Muscle Car Revival (1990s–today) and Trucks, SUVs, and Off-Road Icons (1960s–today).
We noted that for non-US readers the ‘JDM’ segment covers Japanese Domestic Market cars that were never officially exported to some markets. (Australia and some other markets got many of these officially, including the legendary Nissan Skyline GT.) Another footnote we’d make is that ‘Trucks” refers to US-market pick-ups that we Down Under call ‘utes’.
HV reckons that anyone considering a collector car or a car collection should get hold of this book: Amazon
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