Author: Paul Cowland
I always think that your mindset towards a certain endeavour or activity can have a very real effect on its outcome. For that reason, I like to enter into everything I do with a positive mental attitude and a feeling that things are probably going to turn out just fine. Life’s a lot more fun that way, particularly when it comes to ‘talking up’ the job of motoring and classic cars.
The year could have started badly. The perennial season starter of the Autosport show was a sad loss to the calendar, indicating that perhaps all was not as rosy as we’d hope in the paddock of British club racing. Never a good sign. As the perfect way to start the year, meet old friends, salivate over motor cars and sort the deals and details of the months ahead, a lot of us were left distraught that we had nowhere to go. And, who doesn’t love a trip to the NEC?
Thankfully, faith, enthusiasm and drive would be restored just a few days later with a trip to the Autosalon in Brussels. This relatively fresh motor show in the global line-up is fast becoming the new Geneva, by all accounts, and as I walked the halls, noting the beautifully constructed stands, and the sheer weight of big brands and new releases at the event, it really felt that the new car market was in a good place.
As you might imagine, much of the new fayre is electric, but that didn’t mean that there weren’t some fun motors on show. Renault had the Turbo 3E on its stand, which a fabulous hat-tip to its wide-arched, Ragnotti-pedalled past, but for those of us on a more meagre budget, the fabulous new Twingo also looked like a lot of fun. And, like all good reboots, it contained just enough back references to keep the fans happy.
I had popped over in a Subaru, to see the good folks at Subaru, and they also had a raft of new EVs to tempt buyers with. Funnily enough, I was more drawn to a jacked-up Crosstrek ‘Wild’, which if you examine the Subaru family tree is basically a WRX hatchback that’s spent significant time at a gym. Call me old-fashioned, but I still like my Subarus with a Boxer up front, wherever possible.
On that note, much talk on the stands was of the EU’s ICE ‘U-turn’, meaning that targets for manufacturers to go fully EV were now officially out the window, suggesting that we might see all manner of exciting new small and sports cars coming out over the next few years. But for me, the overwhelming joy came from taking in the sheer size, execution and quality of the show. If, like me, you’re old enough to remember the British Motor Show at the height of its powers in the 80s and 90s, then Autosalon had a very similar vibe and aesthetic. From dancers on the Mini stand, through to an entire hall devoted to Mercedes and AMG… and that’s before we even start to talk about the vans and motorbikes. I’ve already added it to next year’s diary, and bearing in mind that it’s a mere 2 hours drive from Calais, I suggest you do the same.
The very next day, it was back to business as usual, joining Hagerty UK’s very own valuation guru John Mayhead at the Clubhouse in Bicester to launch the 2026 Bull Market List to a packed and sold-out Scramble. As usual, John and his diligent team had scoured and scraped the data to reveal a list of fantastic cars representing exceptional value to enthusiasts and investors.
Interestingly, and unlike most previous years, the Hagerty UK Bull Market list has changed a little to reflect the gentle softening of the classic car market overall, noting the slow cooling of the superheated Covid price spikes. Nature is definitely healing, and many classic car prices are also following suit.
That’s not to say that there aren’t appreciation rockets in there to strap yourself to, though. Predictions for superstars like the A80 Toyota Supra and Ferrari F430 are doubtless sure-fire ways to turn your £50k into £80k, or your £100k into £150k, but the 2026 Bull Market list also showcased cars like the HC Vauxhall Viva and Riley 9 which without doubt cost less to buy than they did 5 years ago. A great investment on paper? Probably not. But a fabulous way to get an even nicer car for less cash. And that seems like something to get very excited about.
Outside, on the packed Bicester Motion campus, guests and exhibitors had bought one of the finest selections of motors I’d ever seen. The main hangar was chock-full of TWR masterpieces, the roads were littered with rarities and exotica and the car park was eclectic as you could ever hope. Chatting to fellow show-goers also made me realise that a lot of us are very excited about what’s coming down the road this year, car-wise, too. I’ve got a good feeling about this one.
I haven’t even mentioned our own events, of course. If you’re not on our mailing list, you might want to do something about that as we’ll all be revelling in the sheer diversity of the Hagerty Show Calendar for ’26. Whether you prefer the beautiful blandness of FOTU, the excessive entertainment of RADwood, or the scenic speed of the Hillclimb, there are going to be a ton of ways to get your fix this year, and that’s before we talk about the superbly chilled vibe of Hangouts at the Clubhouse.
2026 looks good then, my friends! Fill your tanks, charge your glasses and let’s toast to the rude health of a truly classic season ahead.