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Top 8 Brands of Classic Cars You Can Loan Against at Luxury Pawn Shops

December 18, 2024

1. ASTON MARTIN

Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford are to be thanked for the founding of Aston Martin, way back in 1913. However, the cars the majority of people associate with Aston Martin came under the David Brown era, who took over the company in 1947. The iconic and highly collectible series of “DB” cars bare his initials. The DB2, DB 2/4, DB MK III, DB 4, DB 5, and DB 6 all enjoy revered status among car lovers everywhere.

Valuation of your Aston Martin

The value you can borrow against your Aston Martin depends on a variety of factors:

• The model
• Is it a special edition?
• Age
• Condition
• Mileage
• Registration documents
• Proof of significant alterations
• Proof of significant owners
• Anything else which you think will impact the value of your Aston Martin

For any Aston Martin, its value at pawn shops is always based on, first and foremost, the desirability and condition of the car, and its current price at auctions. Some of the most popular Aston Martin cars are those which were produced to a certain specification, like the Aston Martin V8 Vantage cars which were produced to what is now known as the Prince of Wales spec. This includes different wheel arches and a lack of the usual side skirts.

What type of Aston Martin can you pawn?

Let’s look at just a few of the Aston Martin models high-end pawn shops often loan against when you need additional funds.

Aston Martin DB4

When it comes to classic Aston Martins, there aren’t too many that look or feel more classic than the Aston Martin DB4. The DB4 dates right back to 1958, so let us know what year your DB4 is when you talk to us because it could have a huge bearing on the value you can borrow at our pawn store. Maybe you have the DB4 GT or the Vantage- any of these details can make a difference.

Aston Martin DBS V8

A car that was launched at the end of the sixties, it retains the classic stylings of the V8 with the huge “power bulge” instead of an open scoop, which was later smoothed down somewhat to make a more streamlined design. There are at least five versions of the DBS V8 widely available, so if you have full details as to which yours is, we’d be excited to know.  Automobile experts have a depth of knowledge about classic Aston Martins and can use any of those details to better value your vehicle for you and get you the maximum amount of loan possible.

Aston Martin DBS

The original Aston Martin DBS was in production from 1967 to 1972, and just 787 were produced making this a desirable and collectable car. It’s a classy grand tourer with the classic, curvy Aston Martin look, plus it’s another piece of cinema history. James Bond took a break from his usual forays with an Aston Martin DB5 to jump into the driving seat of the DBS in the midst of the 1969 movie, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. It also has a tiny cameo in Diamonds are Forever. Does your Aston Martin DBS have a famous past? Let the pawnbrokers know as it may affect the financing amount they provide against your Aston Martin DBS vehicle.

Aston Martin DB5

The Aston Martin DB5 is an icon of cinema and a remarkable car in its own right. First appearing on screen in James Bond: Goldfinger, and many more since it’s an almost instantly recognizable automobile. If you’re lucky enough to own any of the DB5 range, produced in its original form for just two years from 1963 to 1965, you own one of the most well-known and popular cars in the world.

2. BENTLEY

Walter Owen Bentley – known as “W. O.” – founded the brand in 1919. His talent for engineering and love for racing shone through in the first Bentley model he produced – launched in 1926 it was a touring car that also had the power to gain excellent results in racing competitions. Combining luxury with performance still defines Bentley today.

The brand grew, becoming famous for the “Bentley Boys”, a group of dashing car racers who drove Bentley cars to spectacular results on the track in the 1920s and 1930s.

To this day, Bentley continues to push the limits of what can be achieved on land. In 2015 actor Idris Elba broke the “Flying Mile” UK land speed record, reaching a top speed of just over 180 mph in a Continental GT Speed.

The Bentley retains its reputation today as the classic British car, the embodiment of understated style and outstanding engineering. It is favored by royalty, celebrities, and those who simply understand the worth of an expertly crafted, high-performance vehicle that holds its value at pawn shops through the years.

Owning a Bentley car is a reflection not only of impeccable taste but also an understanding of how a beautiful possession can become a useful asset, releasing capital quickly against a loan when required.

Recent auction results show how the value of Bentley cars remains impressive, hence the high valuations too, when pawning it. In September 2016 a 1956 Bentley S-Type Continental Sports Saloon sold in the UK for £281,500 ($362,000). This magnificent Caribbean Blue example sporting red leather upholstery and restored to pristine condition was clearly a cherished example of a highly appreciated privately owned car.

More contemporary models also fare well. In 2017 a 2002 Bentley Continental R Mulliner “Wide Body” reached $165,000, showing that the brand is valued whether the model is a vintage classic or a newer example.

3. BUGATTI

Ettore Bugatti founded his eponymous company in 1909 and went on to have great success racing with a variety of models, including the famous Type-35 Grand Prix cars. Following that there was the Type 41 Royale, Type 55 Roadster, and the Type 57 Atlantic to name but a few. All of these  Bugatti vehicles carry exceptional value on the classic market today and are very desirable at pawn shops.

Ettore died in 1947, and the death of his son eight years previously meant that the company all but died with him. Only one more model would be produced before the company was swallowed up in the early ’60s. The brand was bought by Italian entrepreneur Roman Artioli in 1987 and the high-performance, and highly valuable, EB110 was developed and produced. The Bugatti name was ultimately acquired by the Volkswagen group in 1998, leading to the Veyron, and now Chiron, hypercars.

4. FERARRI

Ferrari 355 F1 Spider

Enzo Ferrari founded his eponymous company in 1939, however, many consider the company as we know it today to have begun in 1947 with the introduction of the first car bearing its name – the Ferrari 125 S. It’s said that Enzo himself considered building and selling road cars to be a grim necessity, and did so purely to fund the company’s racing endeavors.

What that led to was some of the most exhilarating and valuable performance cars of all time. The 250 GT, the 308, 328, Dino, Daytona, Testarossa – all of these Ferraris and more continue to be highly sought after and valued by performance and classic car enthusiasts around the world. As such, borrowing funds against Ferrari classic cars are popular with many owners who have been considering pawning their automobiles.

Ferrari vehicles are held in incredibly high regard and most luxury pawnbrokers are happy to offer loans against the value of all types of Ferrari automobiles. However, it’s worth noting that classic Ferrari models, such as the 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO, generally command higher price tags as they are more sought-after. The law of entropy dictates that older models tend to get damaged or completely scrapped over time, thereby increasing the value of the remaining models still out there.

Regardless of whether your Ferrari is a classic model from the 1960s or a brand-new vehicle straight off the forecourt, pawnbrokers like New Bond Street Pawnbrokers will do their best to offer you competitive financing offers, based on auction prices.

Below are some of the most popular classic Ferrari cars that you can pawn with New Bond Street Pawnbrokers and other similar pawn shops:

• Ferrari 166 Inter
  • Ferrari 195 Inter
  • Ferrari 212 Inter
  • Ferrari 212 Export
  • Ferrari America
  • Ferrari Superamerica
  • Ferrari Superfast
  • Ferrari 250
  • Ferrari 275
  • Ferrari 330
  • Ferrari 365
  • Ferrari 550
  • Ferrari 599
  • Ferrari F12 Berlinetta
  • Ferrari Spyder
  • Ferrari Berlinetta Boxer
  • Ferrari 458 Italia
  • Ferrari Mondial
  • Ferrari Roma
  • Ferrari Portofino
  • Ferrari GTC4 Lusso
  • Ferrari 488 Pista
  • Ferrari SF90 Stradale
  • Ferrari F8 Tributo

One-off and few-off Ferrari models tend to command much higher price tags at auction than regular models. For example, Ferrari concepts like the 1971 3Z Spider, the 1987 Ferrari PPG Pace Car, the 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina Coupe Speciale, and the 1996 Ferrari F50 Bolide are so rare that they could significantly increase the amount you could borrow.

Concept cars like the 1965 Dino Berlinetta Speciale, the 1989 Colani Ferrari Testa d’Ora, and the 2005 Ferrari Ascari will also pique the interest of our specialist valuations team. Each of these classic vehicles has provenance and rarity which means you can expect to borrow more than usual against their value.

Please note that this list is by no means exhaustive – pawnbrokers are always willing to help customers to secure borrowing against their Ferrari automobiles, and the easiest way to do so is to contact them.

5. JAGUAR

Jaguar, as we know it, has been around since 1945 when the company rebranded from its former S.S Cars. Over the following few decades, Jaguar would mark itself out as one of Britain’s most enduringly popular manufacturers, with a range of sporty and luxurious vehicles – many of which are now collectible.

6. MERCEDES

Mercedes-Benz can trace its roots right back to what many believe to be the first “car”, the Benz Patent Motorwagen. Since then the company has developed a range of beautiful, luxurious, and fast cars that appeal to all types of enthusiasts. Pawnbrokers generally lend against Mercedes classic cars that cater to all models from the marque’s illustrious history.

For example, there’s the effortlessly beautiful 500K, now highly prized. Or what many consider to be the ultimate classic car, the 300SL. Their “Pagoda” SL series of cars have been consistently regarded for their elegant looks and stout mechanics since their inception in 1963. If you’re looking to borrow funds for classic Mercedes cars, there are certainly many different models to choose from.

7. PORSCHE

Ferdinand Porsche began his company in 1931, and many people don’t know the company’s first car didn’t even actually bear their name – though it’s one you’ll have no doubt heard of. The German Government commissioned Porsche to build their “Volkswagen”, or people’s car, and that would become the ever-famous Beetle.

On the back of that success, however, Porsche was able to design and develop their own cars, which have all become highly popular for their brilliant driving dynamics. There is, of course, the highly popular 911, their early 356 coupe and Spyder, and what many consider to be the last true analogue supercar, the Carrera GT.

Air-cooled models are particularly buoyant, value-wise, at the moment, making financing your Porsche classic car highly popular at pawnshops.

The high-end reputation of Porsche as a classic car brand means that the value of a Porsche car tends to deviate from the norm for your standard vehicle. While certain models can depreciate in value over time, Porsche is the home of a catalogue of many timeless models that gain value and prestige as the years go by. Providing the condition of your Porsche car meets the exacting standard, and your car has not been serviced or repaired with the use of third-party parts, your used Porsche car could secure you a loan within the realms of six figures, depending on the model.

Used Porsche cars that have not yet entered the classic canon are valued differently, due to the varying nature of the market, but are still attractive propositions to many pawnbrokers. As the supply of used Porsche cars tends to be higher than the supply of classic models, depreciation can accelerate between the car age of 5-10 years. Before pawning your Porsche vehicle, you must ascertain as part of your agreement that your total loan will not be adjusted for inflation, interest, changes in market value or other outliers.

If you have an outstanding agreement with a dealership or bank regarding car loans, finance payments, or if you have an alternative arrangement in terms of owning your car, there may be barriers to being able to take a loan on your Porsche car. Other types of legal documentation that can be accepted include those relating to wills, probates or inheritance of any kind, which is more common when securing a loan for classic cars.

How pawnbrokers appraise your Porsche 

Porsche 911 Targa

The highest valuations are likely to be reserved for the GT variants, particularly the  2020 model. To maximize the value of your 718 Cayman, pawnbrokers will be looking for minimal to no damage, particularly for models over 3 years old. Models manufactured in 2017 or before will have also exceeded their warranty plan, which also greatly impacts value at pawn shops.

Mileage is also a large factor, with drops in valuations starting from 25km, and seeing further increase once reaching the realms of 50-60km. This can be balanced against if certain components show less wear and tear as expected for a car of said mileage, such as clutches, air conditioners, and condensers.

Pawnbrokers will be trained to identify warning signs that mileage has been de-authenticated. This can usually be ascertained by the quality of the disc brakes, the condition of the rims, and also the depth of the tire tread. New disc brakes present on a 718 Cayman that has a 10km mileage or under are commonly rejected. In terms of the value of the loan to expect, the variances will go by engine size and date of manufacture. 2016 and 2017 2.0l models are valued at the average price of £30,000. Later models of the same engine size have a higher value, with the best condition models valued in excess of £50,000.

Any models that are as close to the present-day release date can be valued near to the sale price, which varies between £60,000 – £81,000. The highest value model on the market, the 2019 4.0l 718 Cayman GT, is frequently valued at over 6 figures, with the average valuation coming to £109,000. All of these figures are set averages within the industry and can vary depending on the condition of your car. If you feel your Porsche 718 Cayman can meet standards close to those described above, you can safely assume that you can borrow within the established financing prices.

A standard used Porsche car still available on the market can fetch an average sale price of £95,000, with the highest value sale of a standard used Porsche being within the region of £160,000. The highest-value models of Porsche cars are currently Porsche 911 Cabriolets, usually in silver and black colourways.

In terms of standard used Porsche cars, the more recently your date of manufacture, the higher the loan you will secure at pawn shops. This trend can deviate depending on the type of model, for example, the 2010 edition of the Porsche 911 (the 997) can be valued at over £100,000 depending on condition and specialist design features.

The amount of money you can pawn your Porsche car for is further complicated if you are dealing with a classic model. Getting exact valuations of classic models is extremely difficult, due to the staggering amount of model variations over the decades, as well as unique vehicle properties that can only be identified by experts.

Following market trends, the highest lending value on Porsche classic cars usually goes to historic variants of the Porsche 911 and the Porsche 356 Coupe. Being the first developed car in Porsche’s history, the Porsche 356 Coupe is often considered an antique in the entire automotive history. Those lucky enough to have a 356 Coupe can easily sell for an excess of £500,000, especially for models as close to the launch date of 1963 as possible. The ultra-rare proto-models from the 1950s, including the 356 Cabriolet, have been known to have valuations around £700,000.

The Porsche 911 remains the brand’s flagship model, with many rare variants being part of its history. As such, certain variants of the Porsche 911 catalog are highly sought after at pawn stores and can fetch more than £1,000,000, especially if the model was attached to a specific event or cultural moment.

Other notable models from early in Porsche’s history include the 904 and 912 of the 1960s, which can get equally high valuations as their 911 sister models within certain markets.

8. ROLLS ROYCE