The market for vintage cars - France

The French collector vehicle market showed remarkable resilience in 2020 despite the crisis, posting a modest 13% decline, with a significant proportion of transactions taking place before the confinements (71% of sales realized in January and February). Specialist auction houses such as RM Sotheby's, Bonham's and Artcurial dominate the market. Although Artcurial is the only major French auction house among them, the national market could suffer a setback if the activities of British auction houses Sotheby's and Bonham's are not accounted for in France by 2021.

Resilience of the French collector car auction market against a backdrop of uncertainty

The French collector car auction market has shown remarkable resilience in times of crisis, overcoming the economic uncertainties of recent years with considerable robustness.

The market remained concentrated around three major auction houses that established a strong presence. RM Sotheby's, Bonham's and Artcurial lead the pack, the latter being a proud French competitor amidst its British counterparts. Even during the pandemic, their dominant market position remained stable, accounting for around 85-95% of the market in the country, indicating little change from the previous year.

going forward, the French market landscape may present a different picture, particularly with online sales considerations from British auction houses that may not be registered in France following the Brexit. Nevertheless, Artcurial, the leading French player, is likely to remain firmly established in the domestic market.

Quantifying the French collector car auction market on the basis of the data provided, we can deduce that the overall value of the collector car sales market via auction houses is approximately between €320 and €400 million. This estimate assumes that the proportion of classic cars sold through the major auction houses remains the same as before, at around 20-25%.

Moreover, the classic car market is not limited to vehicle sales alone. Collectors also spend considerable sums on their most prized possessions. If we take into account what collectors spend each year on their vehicles, the total value of the market could be in the region of 4.3 to 5.5 billion euros, if we consider the number of collectors multiplied by the average annual expenditure per collector.

RM Sotheby's, Bonhams and Artcurial

Collector car sales in France are dominated by three illustrious auction houses: RM Sotheby's, Bonhams and Artcurial. These prestigious players have established themselves as benchmarks in the classic and rare car auction sector, underlining their expertise and influence on the national and international market.

• RM Sotheby's, a British company, is renowned for its specialization in particularly high-end collector cars. It is an auction house with a worldwide reputation for its catalog of exceptional pieces and for organizing auction events that attract collectors from all over the world. Its sales are marked by the presence of rare vehicles and iconic models, prized by a demanding and passionate clientele.
  
  
• Bonhams, also based in the UK, has a wealth of experience in the sale of classic and collectible vehicles. Bonhams combines tradition and expertise in the auction world, offering classic automobiles as well as valuable motorcycles and automobilia. It is the diversity of its sales and the rarity of certain lots that contribute to the prestige of this house.
  
  
• Artcurial, the French auction house par excellence in the classic car segment, has established itself as a major player in the national market. With its strong cultural identity and in-depth knowledge of the French market, Artcurial has built its reputation by organizing auctions that regularly make the headlines in the specialized media. With an approach that combines passion and knowledge of the French art of living, Artcurial appeals to a local and international public in search of pieces with a rich history, often linked to France's automotive heritage.

Inforamtion

• Number of pages : 30 pages
• Format : Digital and PDF versions
• Last update : 25/04/2024

Summary and extracts

List of charts

• Marché français des voitures de collection
• Répartition du parc automobile français
• Véhicules de collection
• Taille de marché mondial des voitures de collection
• Revenus annuels moyens des ménages français propriétaires de véhicules de collection
• Genre des collectionneurs
• Age des collectionneurs
• Nombre de véhicules de collection possédés par propriétaire
• Milieu d'habitation des propriétaires de voitures d'époque
• Cote de la Renault Clio I
• Cote de la Peugeot 205 GTi
• Part des entreprises exportatrices sur le marché des véhicules de collection
• Prix moyen par véhicule vendu
• Commission prise sur les ventes d'automobiles
• Produit vendu live d'Interenchères dans la catégorie véhicules
• Dépenses consacrées par les collectionneurs à leur véhicule d'époque par an
• Energie utilisée pour propulser les véhicules de collection
• Distribution des véhicules de collection par année de production
• Ages moyens des véhicules de collection
• Utilisation des voitures de collection
• Nombre de Porsche Clubs