Brexit. Negotiations between Great Britain and the EU begin. What will it be? A hard or a soft exit? And what are the concrete consequences for the economy, trade and the people on the island? This is being discussed right now. But what are the prospects for enthusiasts of British items such as Scottish whisky or classic cars? And what should supporters of British music expect from the EU-exit? We advise fans and collectors to make good use of this period leading up to the EU-exit. Our experts here at Catawiki explain how to do so and what is worthwhile to invest in now.
Classic cars: Now is the time to buy, but take your time to consider your options
The classic car market of Great Britain is one of the largest in Europe. This applies not only to trade with British classic cars but also to the market for accessories and suitable spare parts. Stephan Hommel, Catawiki Classic Car Expert has this to say about the impending Brexit: “This is the right time for everybody who loves British classic cars. The weak pound is heavily stimulating the market. Many cars are being traded, including some exceptional and rare specimens. A good example is the Rolls-Royce Corniche. Three months ago you could buy this model for between €35,000 and €38,000, but an increasing demand has made its value increase in a very short period of time. On Catawiki in July, the Rolls-Royce Corniche was auctioned for a total of €44,000. Therefore, now is the time to check out the classic cars being offered and make the most of any good offers you can find. Another argument is that if a hard Brexit becomes a reality in a few months, due to new export formalities, purchasing a classic car will most likely not be as easy as it is right now.”
Scottish whisky: For a favourable price when the time is right
Just as beer belongs to Bavaria, whisky belongs to Scotland. World famous and exclusive brands such as Macallan and Bowmore originate from here. Distilleries such as Glenfiddich and Glenmorangie produce noble whiskies, which are appreciated by whisky enthusiasts all over the world. Whisky trading has, so far, benefited from the open European market. Should Brexit bring new regulations and additional costs, the whole market could become more difficult for sellers and buyers. Whisky expert at Catawiki, Anne-Sophie Bigot says: “For fans of Scottish whisky, the currently favourable exchange rate is a reason to celebrate. You can buy for the best prices. We also see this trend occurring on Catawiki. Currently, more whiskies are being offered up and auctioned off. Smart collectors are using this time to their advantage and are buying special whiskies now, especially bottlings which only can be bought in the UK. Therefore my tip: get your hands on special whiskies right now because after Brexit, there will be more difficult purchasing conditions and prices are therefore expected to rise.”
“The popularity of Scottish whisky will not decrease even with Brexit. It is all about tradition and quality. Those who are interested should not simply buy randomly but make sure they are informed about what they are buying. How rare is the bottle? What condition is it in? Be sure to stay away from opened bottles or bottles with poorly preserved labels. This all is very important. It is also worth it to keep trends in mind. Whiskies from other countries such as Australia, India, Taiwan or Germany could increase in popularity. There are also very good distilleries in France, whose whiskies have not been distributed worldwide and in Sweden, exquisite single malts are being produced.”
Music made in the UK – music enthusiasts should get hold of special pressings
The list of legendary British bands and musicians is long. Music made in the UK has always been a hit. Especially special pressings, from the pre-digital age, are highly sought-after and valuable pieces for every record cabinet.
Vinyl expert at Catawiki, Denny Hoekstra, tells us this: “Music fans are definitely benefiting from the favourable pound-euro rates as the result of Brexit. Now is the time to find a special record for a fair price and you'll be able to reap the rewards later, once the British pound has recovered. It is then that your piece of British music history will be more valuable. Records by iconic British bands and artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Queen or Pink Floyd are the ones to go for. In addition, first pressings of records and limited editions that were released in Great Britain are particularly interesting.”
Denny also give the following advice for those shopping for records: “The record should be functional and show slight signs of usage. The same applies to the cover. Another important factor is how many copies are still available. The rarer, the better. A good example is the original UK pressing of ‘The Rolling Stones - Out of Our Heads’, which was released on 24th September 1965. This pressing was recorded in mono and a later stereo version followed. The first pressing is particularly interesting for collectors. Anyone who owns this piece of music history owns an absolute gem.”
Conclusion
Great Britain still offers countless treasures for collectors and fans of particular British items such as whisky and English records. So far, collectors have benefited from the announcement of Brexit and the accompanying weak pound. So right now is a good time to buy collector’s items from the island and what better place to start than at Catawiki.