Classic & Sports Finance

What Classic & Sports Finance does

Classic & Sports Finance is a UK-based finance intermediary (trading as Auto GB Ltd) founded in 1999 that specialises in arranging finance for classic, sports, vintage and racing cars, and has extended into adjacent asset classes including marine, aviation, motorcycles, jewellery, plant and machinery and commercial assets. The company is FCA-authorised and regulated as a broker (not a lender) under reference 729087, working with an unrestricted panel of specialist lenders and private banks, and earning commission as a percentage of advance on each placed agreement. Its product suite spans Hire Purchase, Balloon Payment HP, Lease Purchase, Personal Contract Plan, Interest-Only Finance, Refinance and Equity Release (up to ~90% of asset value), with transaction values from £20,000 to over £10,000,000 and standard 2-5 year terms.

The business operates a relationship-driven, enterprise-field-sales go-to-market targeting HNW collectors, classic car enthusiasts, motorsport teams and privateers, and asset-rich individuals seeking capital release without disposal. Distribution is primarily direct (phone, email, enquiry forms) augmented by an approved dealer network, auction-house partnerships, motorsport sponsorships (Motorsport UK, ROKiT British F4, Bugatti Owners Club, Aston Martin Racing) and a dedicated motorsport sub-brand (CSF Motorsport / financemotorsport.com). The firm is led by Managing Director Rob Johnson (27 years tenure, 43 years in the industry) and Commercial Director Ali Matthews (joined 2025), with a headcount of 1-10 based in Chipping Norton, UK. The competitive position rests on 25+ years of specialist relationships, FCA-regulated status, and category-level motorsport visibility rather than proprietary technology or scale.

Name

Classic & Sports Finance

Legal name

Auto GB Ltd

Website

https://classicandsportsfinance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirtlington

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Broker Commission - Finance Intermediation: Classic & Sports Finance operates as a finance broker/intermediary, not a lender. They receive commission payments from finance providers when a customer enters into a finance agreement. Commission is a percentage of the advance and varies across their panel of lenders. Working with an unrestricted number of lenders, they match customer profiles to appropriate specialist lenders.
2. Regulated Finance Agreements: Revenue generated from arranging regulated hire purchase agreements, balloon payment hire purchase, lease purchase, personal contract plans, interest only finance, and refinance products for classic, sports, vintage, and race cars as well as broader lifestyle assets. The company earns commission on each agreement placed with lenders on their panel.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Classic & Sports Finance is a UK-based FCA-regulated finance intermediary that arranges bespoke car and asset finance solutions for enthusiasts and collectors, specialising in classic, sports, vintage and race-car finance. The firm matches customer profiles to lenders on an unrestricted specialist panel and structures deals through Hire Purchase, Balloon Payment HP, Lease Purchase, PCP, Refinance, Interest-Only and Equity Release facilities, with finance values from £20,000 to over £10,000,000 and 2–5 year terms.

Product overview

Classic & Sports Finance operates as a finance intermediary offering a unified portfolio of specialist vehicle and asset finance solutions. The core offering spans six finance verticals: Classic Car Finance (for vehicles from 1946), Sports Car Finance (all ages including new), Vintage Car Finance (pre-war veteran/vintage vehicles), Motorsport Finance (race cars and equipment), Asset Finance (marine, aviation, motorcycles, jewellery, plant & machinery, commercial), and Finance Options (structured products including Hire Purchase, Balloon HP, Equity Release, and Restoration Finance). The company works with private banks, specialist lenders, and approved dealers to provide bespoke loan structures with 2-5 year terms, balloon payments, and values ranging from £20,000 to £10,000,000+. CSF Motorsport operates as a dedicated division for motorsport-specific funding needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CSF Motorsport: The dedicated motorsport division of Classic & Sports Finance, providing competitive and uncomplicated finance options for race car purchases, trailers, transporters, and pit or garage equipment

Products and services

• Classic Car Finance Bespoke finance solutions for classic and collector cars from 1946 onwards, arranged through an unrestricted panel of specialist lenders for enthusiasts and collectors ranging from first-time buyers to seasoned multi-car collectors.
• Sports Car Finance Finance packages covering all ages of sports cars including brand-new models, with bespoke structures, flexible terms and competitive rates arranged through the specialist lender panel.
• Vintage Car Finance Specialist finance solutions for veteran (1905-1918), vintage (1919-1930) and post-vintage (1931-1945) vehicles, addressing the unique financing challenges of pre-war cars where few lenders understand or appreciate such vehicles.
• CSF Motorsport Finance Dedicated motorsport-finance division providing competitive finance options for race-car purchases, trailers, transporters, pit and garage equipment, simulator packages and motorsport team commercial funding, serving racing teams, privateers and specialist motorsport businesses through structures such as HP with terms up to 7 years.
• Asset Finance Finance solutions spanning high-value lifestyle and commercial assets beyond cars, including marine (Riva boats), aviation (Cessna, Bombardier, Bell Helicopter), motorcycles, jewellery/watches, plant and machinery, commercial assets and mortgage-equity capital raising, arranged through specialist lenders on the unrestricted panel.
• Equity Release on Hard Assets Capital-release facility allowing owners and collectors to unlock up to 90 percent of current value from a single car or entire collection while retaining possession, with interest-only options available for 12–60 months and standard transactions completing in 5–7 working days.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% of current asset value can be released through equity release facility
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Base Performance SimulatorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Funding partner providing full support for the purchase of Base Performance Simulators' high-quality simulator packages and driving experiences. The partnership supports motorsport participants in acquiring simulator equipment.
• Motorsport ShowroomminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Official finance partner of Motorsport Showroom, a specialist online motorsport listing platform developed by experienced racing and rallying professionals. Serves owners, teams, dealers, collectors and enthusiasts globally to buy and sell competition cars, spares, equipment, memorabilia and transport-related products.
• Feathers MotorsportminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Team sponsorship of Feathers Motorsport in the GT Cup Championship. Classic & Sports Finance provides sponsorship support to the Northamptonshire-based team competing with an Aston Martin Vantage GT4.
• ROKiT British F4 ChampionshipcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Official Finance Partner and Technical Sponsor of Britain's FIA Formula 4 series. The company logo features on every car on the grid. The partnership supports the championship's new Tatuus T-421 car with Abarth engine and provides funding solutions for teams and drivers.
• Motorsport UKcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Classic & Sports Finance is an official Funding Partner of Motorsport UK, the national governing body for four-wheel motorsport in the UK. This partnership provides visibility across UK motorsport and access to the motorsport community. The company is also a technical sponsor of British motorsport championships.
• Aston Martin RacingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDealer partner offering Classic & Sports Finance clients access to exclusive 24 Hours of Le Mans hospitality experiences. Limited places offered to clients for the 94th 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 2026) at £4,220 per person.
• HagertycoreOthersValuation partner used by Classic & Sports Finance for assessing specialist vehicle values. Hagerty, the specialist insurance provider, assists with motorcar valuations to remove time restraints from normal valuation channels. Used extensively in capital release and loan restructure exercises.
• Bugatti Owners ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship partnership with the Bugatti Owners Club and Prescott Hill Climb. The company has been welcomed into the club as a partner for 2020 and subsequent years, supporting hill climb events and the classic Bugatti community.
• Redline Engineering LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved dealer partner within Classic & Sports Finance's approved dealer network. Specialises in high-value classic car sales and works with CSF to provide finance solutions to customers.
• The Market (Online Auctions)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline auction partner enabling customers to buy and sell classic and specialist vehicles. Particularly relevant during lockdown periods when traditional auction houses shifted to online formats.
• Prestige Driver AppminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTechnology partner providing a new way to browse collectable cars. The Prestige Driver App partners with Classic & Sports Finance to offer integrated car discovery and finance capabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JBR Capital: UK specialist finance provider focused on prestige, classic and sports cars, often cited as the most direct rival to Classic & Sports Finance in the broker-arranged classic/specialist car lending market. Operates a similar panel-of-lenders model targeting HNW collectors and enthusiasts.
• Oracle Finance: UK specialist finance broker arranging funding for high-value, classic, sports and luxury cars plus other lifestyle assets. Directly comparable in product mix (HP, PCP, lease purchase, refinance, equity release) and customer profile (collectors and HNW buyers).
• Redstone Asset Finance: UK-based specialist vehicle and asset finance broker with significant exposure to classic, prestige and sports car lending. Comparable in arranging regulated hire-purchase and refinance facilities through a lender panel for enthusiast and collector customers.
• Real Finance: UK specialist finance broker focused on high-value, classic and sports car funding plus asset finance. Closely comparable target customer (HNW collectors), product set (HP, balloon, refinance), and broker-intermediary model.
• Marsh Finance: UK specialist motor finance provider offering hire purchase and refinancing for prestige, classic and performance cars. Competes with Classic & Sports Finance in the same niche customer segment via a broadly similar broker-arranged lending model.
• Asset Advance: UK specialist finance provider arranging loans secured against prestige, classic and exotic cars, often through equity release and refinance structures. Directly comparable product set and customer segment to CSF's capital release / refinance offering.

Broad incumbents

• Close Brothers Motor Finance: Large UK motor finance division of Close Brothers Group, serving dealer and broker channels across mainstream and prestige markets. A broader incumbent with overlapping capability in specialist vehicle finance but operating at much larger scale and across the full motor market rather than the classic/specialist niche.
• Black Horse (Lloyds Banking Group): Major UK vehicle finance provider within Lloyds Banking Group, offering motor finance through dealer and intermediary channels. Overlaps with CSF on prestige car lending but is a high-volume mainstream operator rather than a specialist classic/sports broker.

Others

• Hagerty (UK): Specialist classic and collector car insurance provider that also operates valuation, media and live-auction services. Functions as a CSF partner for valuations but is an adjacent ecosystem player rather than a finance competitor — useful as a comparable for understanding the specialist classic-car services market CSF serves.

Emerging players

• Bumper: UK fintech offering point-of-sale car finance and payment solutions across dealer networks. Not a direct classic-car specialist but an emerging digital broker/fintech that competes for some of CSF's dealer-channel relationships and could expand into specialist segments over time.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/classicfinance

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Classic & Sports Finance