Recently, there has been a vibrant trend in the automotive industry to establish brand identities by inheriting the heritage of historical models. In the used car market, classic cars evoke nostalgia and memories for older generations, while gaining attention as trendy ‘hip cars’ for the MZ generation, leading to a growing consumer interest in the original ‘classic cars’.
Encar.com analyzed the Top 10 newly registered models from January to July, classifying them into two categories: models from the 1980-1999 period and those from 2000-2010. According to big data analysis, models from the 1980s and 1990s mainly featured authentic SUVs, while early 2000s transactions leaned towards sedans and compact cars, with popular classic models such as the Hyundai Galloper and Kia New Morning being highlighted.
For classic cars produced in the 1980s and 1990s, the era was known as the time of traditional SUVs, and thus, models like the Galloper and Korando, which showcase outstanding durability and powerful performance, actively trade in the used car market.
Hyundai’s first SUV, the Galloper, and its successor, the Galloper 2, took the top two spots in the registration rankings for the first half of this year. The Galloper has become a highly sought-after model among classic car enthusiasts, and interest from the general public is also growing due to the recent release of the new fifth-generation Santa Fe that inherits its design.
Following this, the third to fifth places included the Pride, which marked Kia’s ‘Pride Era’ from the late 1980s, the first-generation Grandeur, known as the ‘real Grandeur’, and the Korando Jeep from Ssangyong (now KG Mobility), renowned as authentic SUVs. From sixth to tenth places were taken by the Tico, Acadia, Avante, New Grandeur, and Elan.
Additionally, the Hyundai Pony, the first independently produced model of domestic cars and the centerpiece of Hyundai’s heritage, is consistently featured among the top registrations from the 1980s and 1990s, maintaining steady transactions in the used car market.
In the early 2000s, the market transitioned to a sedans’ popularity era with models like Grandeur, Sonata, and Equus taking center stage. During this time, a significant number of sedan models were actively traded. Also, the number of registered compact cars like the Matiz and Morning was notably high.
Among the 2000-2010 model registrations, the Kia New Morning had the highest registration figures. Following it in second place was the YF Sonata, with the Grand Starex, Genesis, and New SM3 respectively holding the third to fifth positions. Sixth to tenth places were filled by the Equus (new model), New SM5 (new model), Avante HD, Matiz Creative, and Sorento R.
A representative from Encar.com stated, “With the heritage trend in the automotive industry along with classic cars’ scarcity and emotional value, these vehicles are gaining popularity. Particularly, the Galloper, Pony, and Grandeur are in high demand in the domestic market as popular models for restoration, and well-maintained or scarce models tend to have a premium value attached to them despite their age.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr