12. to 14. MARCH 2010

• Classic cars coveted as a financial investments

• Youngtimers with great potential for value appreciation

• Pre-war Bugatti to be auctioned at Retro Classics

The more the stock market is in crisis, the more material assets come to the fore as a financial investment. In addition to property and works of art, classic cars are currently very popular. Many a car buff with the necessary funds and a dry extra parking space invests his/her savings in this so-called "garage gold".

Youngtimers (Hall 5), i.e. older cars which have not yet reached the classic car age of 30 years are some of the highly coveted speculation objects. Although relatively cheap to purchase due to "age reasons", these cars occasionally achieve astonishing value increases - up to 10 per cent per annum for some top models. German marques such as Mercedes ("Young Classics") or Porsche are well on the way - provided they are in good condition - to becoming an almost (safe) investment. Models from Aston Martin or Jaguar are also regarded as crisis-proof. Racing cars and sports cars normally attain higher yields than saloon cars. Prices for Formula 1 cars or rare prototypes now often surpass the €1 million mark.

The decisive factor always is that the cars are in their original condition. Concealed accident damage, non-standard engines or unusual paintwork reduce the value of the car and make resale more difficult. Caution is also urged in regard to the investment volume since, just like the share or property market, the youngtimer market cannot actually keep expanding for evermore. The purchase of an old car has also long been no guarantee that a top price will be obtained at a later date. People are therefore well-advised to obtain information about the car in advance so as to prevent mispurchases. The value of exotic Japanese cars from the 1970s, for example, is hardly likely to rise. Just like all second-hand products, the following principle applies: look closely when buying a car

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