By Paul Kramer · January 26, 2026
“Where horsepower meets conversation”
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Short version: collector-grade Longhoods are still strong, but enthusiast-grade cars (drivers, not concours showpieces) are mostly flat or sideways. Values in the classic car world are stratified right now — meaning price moves aren’t uniform across every condition.
Think of it like this: a pristine concours Longhood and a driver-grade Longhood are living in different markets.
📈 Collector-Grade Models = Still Healthy Demand
Top-condition Longhoods — cars with:
Matching numbers
Original paint
Documented history
Fresh, sympathetic restorations
…are still drawing serious interest at high-end auctions and specialist dealers. Rare, ultra-clean examples continue to be bid aggressively and keep value elevated. Even Hagerty data shows that classic 911s remain a highly quoted and valued enthusiast vehicle overall.
Auction headlines also confirm this: high-profile long-hood 911s (especially rare S models) still command strong prices.
That means collector-grade cars likely still have room on the upside — especially the rarest, most original ones.
📉 Enthusiast-Grade Cars = Flat or Softening (except tasty hotrod builds)
If your 911 is a driver, not a museum piece — think:
Older restoration
Some patina
Minor mechanical tweaks
Normal wear
…then recent trading patterns tell us this segment hasn’t been booming. Hagerty valuation charts show that long-hood 911s in typical “Good” or “Excellent” condition have traded in big sample sizes but haven’t exploded in value. The difference between concours and enthusiast pricing is huge — far bigger than in many other vintage segments.
This means:
Enthusiast cars can be easier to find
They still hold value relatively well compared to broader used markets
But they don’t tend to appreciate sharply unless something rare or notable about them changes
Essentially, the enthusiast segment is mostly flat or only mildly up unless the car ticks collector premium boxes.
WHY THIS DICHOTOMY EXISTS
1. Collector Market = Scarcity + Hype
People with deep pockets chase the most original, unmolested cars, pushing the top tier upward.
Restored and rare cars benefit most, which are few and far between.
2. Enthusiasts Want to Drive Their Cars
Cars with some wear or history actually get used — and that usage keeps prices more realistic.
3. Classic Market Is Selective
Not every vintage car rises in value equally. Focused demand for truly special cars (rare specs, documented provenance) outstrips interest in everyday drivers.
SO WHERE ARE VALUES HEADED?
Here’s the cool (and realistic) outlook:
✔ Collector-grade Longhoods — likely to continue slow, steady growth, especially the rarest and most desirable specs.
✔ Driver/enthusiast cars — more likely to stay flat or inch up gently rather than explode.
✔ Originality still matters most — condition stratification is the biggest value driver right now.
BOTTOM LINE
If you’re holding a Longhood that’s crisp, original, and well-documented?
You’re in the top tier of the market that’s still drawing serious money.
If it’s a daily-driven enthusiast ride, it’s not losing value quickly — it’s just not being bid up like the museum pieces.
In classic Porsche land, prestige and condition still create a two-speed market — and that’s the biggest driver of how values behave.
— Paul Kramer
Paul Kramer is the voice behind AutoKennel, decoding car culture one European sports car at a time. For his takes on all things fast, rare, or slightly unhinged, visit AutoKennel.com or follow @autokennel.
You can reach Paul via voice, text, or WhatsApp at 714-335-4911.
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