The Last Affordable Decade: What 1970s American Cars Are Worth in 2026 and Which Ones Ship Cheapest | 2026 Guide
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on September 25, 2026 at 11:07 AM
Six of the ten 1970s American cars below average under $30,000 on classic.com as of September 2026. A 1973 to 1977 El Camino averages $13,543. A Lincoln Continental Mark V averages $19,539 and gives you 230 inches of car for the money.
Leno's Law Is Signed: What California's New Classic Car Smog Exemption Means for Collectors
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on September 16, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Leno's Law is officially on the books. On September 16, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1392 at Jay Leno's garage in Burbank, giving California collectors the smog check exemption they have been asking for since the original bill was introduced in early 2025. Starting J …
Kei Truck Import Guide 2026: Legal States, 25-Year Rule, Cost & Best Models
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on September 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
About $7,500 gets a running 2000 Daihatsu Hijet from a Japanese auction to the door of our Richmond, California warehouse, duty paid. That figure surprises most first-time buyers in both directions. The truck itself costs less than they expect. The 25% duty and the state registration …
Monterey Car Week Is Misunderstood: 241 Lots Sold Below Estimate
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on September 3, 2026 at 10:55 PM
At Monterey Car Week 2026, held 13–16 August in Monterey, California, 241 of 467 verifiable lots sold below their low pre-sale estimate across Gooding Christie’s, Broad Arrow, Bonhams and Mecum. 148 of them cost under $150,000.
The 50% Canada Tariff and Your Classic Car: What You Actually Pay | 2026 Guide
By Dmitriy Shibarshin, Alex Naumov on August 24, 2026 at 11:40 AM
A 50% tariff on Canadian goods went live at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on August 22, 2026, covering more than 500 tariff lines. Passenger cars are on none of them. We pulled the actual covered-article list, and the short version is that a collector car coming out of Canada pays the same 2.5% …
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE at Monterey: What Is It, What It Costs, and How It Gets Into the US | 2026
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on August 11, 2026 at 7:24 PM
McMurtry brought the production Spéirling PURE to California this week, and we got to stand next to one at Canepa two days before the public does. It is 40 inches tall, weighs 2,980 lbs, makes 1,000 hp through one rear axle, and generates 4,400 lbs of downforce while sitting perfectly …
Where to Buy Classic Cars in Europe in 2026
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 24, 2026 at 4:55 AM
The math on importing a classic car from Europe just changed again, and this time it moved in the buyer's favor. On July 24, 2026, the Section 122 global surcharge expired. The new Section 301 framework that replaces it leaves European classics at a combined 12.5% duty and drops UK cl …
Where to Buy Classic Cars in the UK in 2026: Auctions, Dealers & the New Tariff Math for US Importers
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 24, 2026 at 4:54 AM
If you have been waiting on the sidelines while US tariff policy sorted itself out, this is the moment to start shopping again. As of July 24, 2026, the temporary 10% global import surcharge under Section 122 has expired, and new country-specific rates under Section 301 have taken its …
Trump's 50% Tariff on Canadian-Built Cars
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 21, 2026 at 10:12 AM
President Trump signed three proclamations on July 20, 2026 imposing an additional 50% tariff on Canadian-built motor vehicles, dairy, and alcohol. The duties take effect August 19. Here is what the new Canada tariffs actually cover, how they stack with existing US auto tariffs, and w …
Rare Classic Muscle Cars and Their Modern Counterparts: Values & Import Costs | 2026 Guide
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 14, 2026 at 6:37 AM
The Yenko Camaro prototype sold for $1,815,000 at Mecum Kissimmee in January, the most expensive Camaro ever auctioned. Four months later, a 1969 Camaro ZL1 brought $1,430,000 at Indy. Behind every number like these sits the same story: the muscle cars pulling seven figures today were …