About the UK’s Most Experienced Classic Car Valuer
Born into a family music business in Ireland in the late 1960s, my passion for cars ignited at a young age. Autocar magazine was my favourite, with writers like Steve Cropley and Phil Llewellin, who inspired dreams of working as an automotive journalist.
I began my motor trade career in Ireland, as a mechanical apprentice with a local Renault dealer. Balancing an apprenticeship by day and playing music at night, I realised that I would have to be in England to stand any chance of writing for a living. At 19, I moved to London to pursue this journalist dream. Following my innate curiousity, I gained extensive motor industry experience, working with car dealers, finance companies, in retail and fleet purchasing, and selling hundreds of cars. But not writing.
After a decade in the motor trade, my desire to write about cars remained strong. An Assistant Editor’s position with Glass’s Guide—the leading motor trade publisher—caught my eye. I served a challenging apprenticeship, mentored by the Chief Car, Motorcycle, and Commercial Vehicle Editors, and supported by a thoroughly brilliant MD. I eventually spent over ten years running Glass’s Guide to Older Cars and Modern Classics, also developing and managing the UK’s first online valuations platform.
In 2003, I ventured to the south of France to buy my first air-cooled Porsche 911; an adventurous purchase that sparked a sideline in journalism. This led to the founding of an online community for Porsche 911 fans and a wonderfully creative collaboration with the now world-famous photographer, James Lipman, culminating in our book, “The Cult of Porsche.”
A Glass’s Guide press release about a 1970s Cadillac of mine caught the attention of my boyhood hero, Steve Cropley, Managing Editor of Autocar magazine. This led to my first feature for Autocar, achieving my dream of becoming a car journalist. Following years of journalism, I realised that my true passion lay with vehicle valuations for interesting owners. I founded my freelance vehicle valuations consultancy in 2004 and, in 2010, left Glass’s to build my own valuations business.
Now 57, with over 70,000 hours of high-level market experience, I am the go-to expert for insurers, lenders, solicitors, and private clients needing impartial expert support in court. My extensive experience includes historic motorsport, co-owning Twinspark Racing in Amsterdam, and 15+ years with Tuthill Porsche. I maintain long-standing relationships with UK fabricators, car preparers and classic car restorers and curate a personal collection of 17 cars and motorcycles.
Explore my YouTube channel to learn more about my journey from mechanic to professional buyer, trader, valuer, and consumer journalist to classic car author and esteemed professional valuer. Join me as I share insights and stories from the fascinating, complex, and specialist automotive arena.
Classic Car Valuer Career Highlights
- Ten years as Valuations Editor of Glass’s Guide to Older Cars and Modern Classics
- Creator and Valuations Editor of Glass’s Consumer Values: the ‘We Buy Any Car’ database
- Over 70,000 hours of professional valuation experience with thousands of bespoke valuations created
- Appearances on BBC media including Radio 4 and as a consultant to ‘Antiques Roadshow’
- Former Assistant Valuations Editor on Glass’s Motorcycle and Commercial Vehicle guides
- Creator of Glass’s Part Exchange Values: as seen on many car and motorcycle manufacturer websites
- Freelance valuation consultant since early 2000s
- Several years in professional retail and fleet car purchasing
- Over thirty years activity in the classic car field
- Acknowledged motor trade and used car expert via Autocar, Top Gear, MSN Cars, BBC Radio 4 and more
- Published Porsche author and community leader
- Highly experienced and widely referenced used car journalist
- Author of many car magazine ‘Buyers Guides’ and used car features
Expert Witness Experience
- Vetted member of the UK Register of Expert Witnesses
- Consistent provider of classic car valuations since 2000 with no break in practice
- Experienced court expert witness in divorce valuations and civil cases, working for insurers, solicitors, Trading Standards and private clients
- Experienced Single Joint Expert to divorce courts across the UK
- Experienced in creating case reports, adding insight as an Expert Advisor, supporting mediation/arbitration or assisting counsel with cross-examination preparation
- All Expert Witness reports completed to FPR Part 25 or CPR Part 35
- Previous single cases into the millions of pounds
- Previous court reports for collections of over 50 vehicles
- Cost estimates, detailed CV and availability/report timescales on request
My Work in the Press
Personal Classic Car History
My classic car history includes:
- Lifelong classic car and motorcycle enthusiast
- Hundreds of cars sold personally
- Published classic car journalist
- Experienced classic car and motorcycle trader and restorer
- A personal collection of 16 classic cars and motorcycles
My expertise as a classic car valuer is underpinned by extensive market intelligence and deep insider knowledge of how the motor trade operates. Over three decades of market valuation experience gives me the confidence and credibility that matters in court.
The scope of data I have overseen means that I have supplied many thousands of vehicle valuations to hundreds of highly critical users over the course of my career. Such experience is rare and priceless, and my hard-earned expertise as a classic car valuer is in constant demand.
What our customers say about our online Classic Car Valuations:
john@classic-car-valuations.com
PHONE/WHATSAPP
07565 348453
HQ
1 Percy Road
Woodford Halse
Northants NN11 3RN
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8AM - 5PM
Friday: 8AM - 1PM
Valuations EXPERT
Classic Car Valuations Specialist is part of Specialist Car Valuations Limited: UK company number 07983578. Values on this site are an opinion: markets can go down as well as up.