Grand Prix Classics specializes in the buying, selling and consignment of historic racing cars and sports cars. Located in La Jolla, California, with a beautiful showroom and workshop. The business is run by founder, Mark Leonard, who is truly passionate about his work.
Mark has assembled a team of dedicated professionals who contribute specific talents ranging from buying and selling to an international market, researching automotive history, to running the workshop. There are always approximately 20 cars in inventory as well as a collection of rare automotive posters, a large library of books, magazines, videos and other memorabilia.
Grand Prix Classics began with a story…
It all started with a little red car. Inheriting his passion from his father at an early age, Grand Prix Classics Founder, Mark Leonard, was fascinated with the thrill of racing and sportscars. From that joy and excitement, Grand Prix Classics was born.
Having grown up during the golden age of automotive design & with the unique sports cars my father owned, along with having attended the great Grand Prix at Europe’s best racing circuits, I acquired the passion for the historic sports car.
Mark Leonard, Owner
Giving back is important
Through our participation in numerous fundraising events, Grand Prix Classics has contributed to many charities. They include Make-a-Wish, Special Olympics, Multiple Sclerosis, Breast Cancer, Lung Cancer, and Wounded Warriors.
Pictured below is a 1955 Chevrolet Ice Cream Truck that we lovingly restored and drove to various local events in our community of La Jolla, California, distributing free ice cream to children.
Participating in historic racing events, rallies, and concours, and with 35 years in the trade, they have gained the experience to give their clients good advice in many areas of the car collector hobby. Historic car racing, rallies, and concours are sports that are growing with events across the USA and Europe. These events are an opportunity for passionate collectors to enjoy using their cars as the original designers intended, in competition. As both an entrant and judge in Concours d’Elegance they understand the collector’s love affair with sharing these beautiful cars with others.
In the small historic racing and sports car community, Grand Prix Classics is a trusted, leading authority in car values and market direction. They understand what makes a car collectible and what gives it value. Years of experience have given them the credibility to contribute to automotive price guides in the Sports Car Market and the Vintage Race Car Journal. Even USA Today and Forbes Magazine quoted Grand Prix Classics’ opinions on the investment of collecting cars. They have written formal appraisals for finance and insurance purposes and have been called upon as an expert witness in complicated automotive cases.
Their business and the specialty cars they sell have been featured in a variety of automotive publications including: Automobile Quarterly, Autoweek, Excellence, F1 Racing, Porsche Panorama, Sports Car International, Motorsport, Victory Lane and Vintage Motorsport. Mark appeared as a historian on the DVD re-release of the 1966 film Grand Prix. They are privileged to be a guest speaker for many automobile clubs as well as hosting clubs at their business.
Their goal is to get you the right car for your needs. If Grand Prix Classics does not have what you are looking for in our inventory, they can locate it for you – their client base is worldwide. Their standards are high, motivated by a desire to do repeat business with their clients. Their clients look to them as the experts who will guide them to not only a car they love, but one that is an investment they can enjoy. Let them steer you in the right direction with their wealth of experience and personalized service. Getting good advice is crucial to a happy purchase, pride of ownership and a good investment. If you have a car to sell or are looking for a special car to buy, feel free to contact them. Find out more
The Grand Prix Classics Showroom
Inventory
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