market focus 26

For each focus, click the title picture to view the assessment. Click the other pictures to zoom in, they are just here to illustrate the assessment found in the title picture.

2026 August

Citroën ZX

WHERE  The market.

CAR  Citroën ZX (1991-1998, without China).

PRICE  Worth almost nothing (forget the Rallye Raid versions).

COMMENT  What is a car worth if nobody really wants one? The simple answer is: almost nothing. A car can be extremely rare, but if nobody wants one, its rarity alone will not make it valuable.

I think the ZX perfectly illustrates this phenomenon: a good car that hardly anyone wants, and one that will gradually disappear from the market and the roads. The ZX was a genuinely good car when it was launched: practical, comfortable, and fun to drive. I particularly remember its rear suspension (rear-wheel steering), which allows the rear wheels to turn slightly, significantly improving handling. It gave the car that distinctive "toucher de route à la française".

You can still find a very nice example for just a few thousand CHF. Of course, it is unlikely to appreciate in value, and any money you spend on it should be considered the cost of enjoying the car rather than an investment. But who cares? Your neighbour doesn't have one, it suits the "dare to be different" mindset, and it has enough room for you and your partner to pack plenty of luggage for a European road trip. Convinced?

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Porsche 911 996

WHERE  The market.

CAR  Porsche 911 996.

PRICE  Valuation around CHF 35'000.- for a Gen1 Carrera (condition 2).

COMMENT  Currently, this is the cheapest way to get into a 911. For some, it's not a "real" 911. Purists criticized its water-cooled engine after decades of air-cooled tradition, and its "fried egg" headlights, shared with the Boxster.

That said, I think this is a great 911 and a good time to buy one. From a financial perspective, values are likely to rise. They won't reach the prices of air-cooled models, but they have already appreciated somewhat in recent years.

However, finding a good example isn't easy. You'll need to make sure all the infamous Porsche acronyms have been addressed or are functioning properly, most notably the IMS, RMS, and IMS issues. Did I mention the scored pistons?

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

2026 July

Chevrolet Truck AD

WHERE  Hemmings Motor News, issue August 2026.

CAR  Chevrolet Truck Advance Design 1947-1955, half-ton.

PRICE  Valuation around USD 65K for a good one (condition 2).

COMMENT  I like Hemmings Motor News and its buyer's guides. They're usually well written, comprehensive, and genuinely useful. This is a good example.

The Advance Design was a series of light- and medium-duty trucks built by Chevrolet (called New Design by GMC). It was marketed as a stronger and sleeker successor to the earlier AK Series. As the owner of a 1952 GMC 100-22 (pictured), I think this guide is well put together, although it focuses primarily on Chevrolet models rather than GMCs.

That said, I don't agree with all of the advice. For example, I don't see the final-drive gear ratio as a major issue, and while swapping a 216 for a 235 may offer some advantages, I wouldn't do it. If your truck still has its original 216, that's how it left the factory, and I'd keep it that way. And don't even think about dropping a V8 into one of these trucks. GMCs are much rarer, and they come with the 228 inline-six, which is an excellent engine in its own right and compares well with both Chevrolet options.

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Silver Shadow

WHERE  H&H Classics, Kelham Hall, June 2026.

CAR  1977 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow I. Single ownership, incredibly low mileage, very nice color combo.

PRICE  Approximately GBP 83K including the buyer's premium.

COMMENT  Indeed, an exceptional price for a Shadow. CCW - famous British magazine - suggests that Shadows may be now back in a bull market. I am not so sure. To me, this shows that the market is willing to pay a high price for cars with extreme low mileage. In this case, because it is especially in good condition, but also with "barn finds" very often in poor conditions.

What we’re seeing here is more the result of the current market situation than of the model Shadow itself. That being said, I think the Shadows are superb cars ticking a lof of boxes.

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

LVA

WHERE  Valuation Guide.

CAR  1957-1962 Simca Plein Ciel.

PRICE  Trend of 19% between 2016 and 2026.

COMMENT  I just bought the latest special issue of LVA on the prices of 4000 cars. Overall, I like this magazine, even though it’s full of little typos and errors that the editors should have caught.

The presented value trends between 2016 and 2026 are interesting. The problem is that they also reflect the euro’s decline rather than a genuine movement in the car values. These trends should have been corrected to take into account the currency weakening. They should have been in real terms, to use economists' jargon.

Let’s use the Swiss franc, for simplicity’s sake. Over this period, the euro has depreciated by 19% against the Swiss franc. Still as an example, let’s look at the (splendid) Simca Plein Ciel pictured, which shows a 19% increase. Therefore, its value has remained stable over the past ten years, in Swiss francs, rather than having risen, as the magazine suggests.

So if you want to know whether your car has increased in value over the past decade, as rule of thumb, subtract 19 percentage points from the published trends. Otherwise, the trends are nothing more than a monetary illusion.

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

MG K3

WHERE  RM Sotheby's, Woodcote Park, July 2026.

CAR  1934 MG K3 Magnette, pointed-tail Works car, chassis K3020. One of just 33 K3 Magnettes built, the first chassis configured with this bodywork. It has an illustrious racing history, is now eligible for many of the world's most prestigious historic events.

PRICE  Approximately GBP 511K including the buyer's premium.

COMMENT  Obviously, that's a lot of money for an original chassis. But what does originality really mean? These racing cars often retain little of their original specification apart from the chassis, as many components have been replaced during their long and eventful competition careers. That is why some Specials, built from original period parts, can in many ways be just as authentic as the real cars. And cheaper. Conclusion: When you see the value of the genuine cars, don't be ashamed to drive a Special.

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Iso Rivolta

WHERE  Currently on the market in Zurich, Switzerland.

CAR  1966 Iso Rivolta IR 300 GT. Exhibition car at the Geneva Motor Show. Design by Bertone. Produced in very limited numbers. Very rare. Corvette engine.

PRICE  CHF 109K as of writing.

COMMENT  The market is not very liquid, so setting a value is not easy. But I saw this car at the Swiss Classic Word in 2024 for sale for... CHF165K (other dealer). Yes, now the car is a third cheaper. This brutal drop illustrates the bear market for cars, which were among the best... when I was young.

How do you buy classic motor cars which are on the drop? As an investment, the door is open to loses. Therefore, you buy them because you want to enjoy them. Now. So the financial aspect is second consideration. That is how it should always be with our passions.

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Bentley R-Type

WHERE  RM Sotheby's, Woodcote Park, July 2026.

CAR  1952 Bentley R-Type Saloon Rallye Monte-Carlo. Prepared by Bentley as a factory trials car, campaigned by Bentley Boy Mike Couper in the 1953 Rallye Monte-Carlo. Powered by its matching-numbers six-cylinder engine with a factory-installed high-performance cylinder head. A significant post-war competition Bentley.

PRICE  EUR 42K including buyer's premium.

COMMENT  Cars like this Bentley are firmly on the downside. A similar example without this competition history would likely have sold for even less. More interestingly, the decline is now affecting historically significant cars like this one as well.

On a personal note: tackling the Monte-Carlo Rallye in a car like this... what were they thinking?

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.

Porsche RSR

WHERE  RM Sotheby's, Woodcote Park, July 2026.

CAR  1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8 Strassenversion. One of only two examples built by Porsche Motorsport with a fully trimmed interior. Original, showing delivery mileage, odometer reading a mere 10 kilometres. Delivered new to a Porsche VIP client in 1996, it remained in storage for two decades before being rediscovered in 2015.

PRICE  Approximately EUR 4 million with commission.

COMMENT  Without question, this was a unique opportunity. That said, I have never really understood the fascination and the exaggeration with "barn finds." Much of their value is based purely on speculation.

Clean the car, you reduce its value. Drive it, you reduce it even further. In the end, it becomes something to admire like a painting. Hopefully, one day, someone will remember that this beauty was built to be driven. And yes, recommissioning it would also be a very expensive undertaking.

CONTACT  We are happy to help you plan your next classic motor car journey. Do not hesitate to contact us.