Best Instagram accounts for classic car enthusiasts

Did you know that more than 30 million people in the UK are now using Instagram, the photo and video sharing social networking service? And numbers are growing year on year. Classic car enthusiasts are not wasting the opportunity to utilise the platform either, posting thousands of pictures of rare and classic vehicles for us all to enjoy.

If you’re already signed up to Instagram, you might have discovered some great Instagram accounts for classic car enthusiasts. In this article, we’ve brought together some of the best classic car influencers on the platform for you to follow. It’s not an exhaustive list, however, so any suggestions would be very welcomed!

Here at Lancaster Insurance, we’ve managed to build up a following of more than 1,000 enthusiasts posting pictures of some of our favourite classics. We also run some great competitions over on our Instagram account, so make sure you give us a follow to be in with a chance of getting your hands on some terrific prizes.

While you’re at it, check out what we can offer you in terms of a classic car insurance policy. We are specialists at providing insurance for all manner of retro and historic vehicles including classic cars, campervans, and 4x4s. The majority of MG owners in the UK, for example, trust us with their insurance.

Regardless of what classic car you have, you want to make sure you’ve got the most comprehensive classic car insurance policy behind you. That’s exactly what we aim to give you. With the right policy protecting you and your pride and joy, you can get out there and enjoy it – taking pictures to post on Instagram as you go! Who knows, you might start gathering a loyal following of your own!

New to Instagram?

If you haven’t signed up to Instagram yet – and don’t really understand what all the fuss is about – this section is for you. We’ll guide you through what to expect, plus a few tips on how to use the social media channel to its fullest.

As we’ve already touched on, Instagram is built almost entirely around sharing images and videos. Sure, you can caption your post with a few words, but it’s the visuals that people will see first if they’ve chosen to follow your account.

Owned by Facebook since 2012, Instagram attracts users from all age groups. While it’s true that the majority of users are aged between 25 and 34, 40% of users are older than this, demonstrating its wide appeal.

So, don’t be fooled into thinking that Instagram is a young person’s preserve – no matter what your age or interests, you will be able to find accounts which will appeal and resonate with you.

You can use Instagram on just about any internet-enable device. Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up your Instagram account:

• Download the Instagram app onto your smartphone from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android).
• If you're on a desktop computer, click "Log in with Facebook", or fill in the form with mobile number or email, name, username, and password. Then click "Sign up".
• On Android, click "Sign Up with Email or Phone Number".
• On an iPhone, select "Create New Account".
• Input your email address and phone number, then click "Next". For ease, you can also sign up with your Facebook account on the app.
• Once you've inserted your username and password, you will be invited to fill out your profile info. Then, tap "Done".

To get the full Instagram experience, you should opt for the smartphone app, if you can. While the desktop experience has steadily improved over the years, you won’t be able to post photos and videos from your computer. This is fine if you just intend to follow other accounts, but there might come a time when you, too, want to share your own content.

When you open the app, you'll be greeted with a main feed of recent posts from the accounts you follow. At the bottom is a menu bar which you can navigate to get the optimum Instagram experience.

Here's what each button does, from left to right:

• Home: By pressing this button, you will return to your main feed and scroll through all the photos and videos posted by the accounts you follow
• Search and explore: The magnifying glass icon brings up the Explore page, where you can browse content from accounts like the ones you follow and search for Instagram handles of accounts you wish to follow.
• Upload: The large plus button is what you press when you want to upload and edit photos and videos. You can either choose a pick that’s already on your phone’s camera roll, or open the camera within the app.
• Activity: By pressing the heart icon, you can see all the likes and comments on your posts, among other activity updates.
• Profile: This icon takes to your profile page that shows your bio and posts. It's also where you can access your settings.

Well, there you have the basics of Instagram. Hopefully it doesn’t seem such an alien concept now? Once you know how to use it, Instagram is what you make it.

6 of the best Instagram accounts for classic car enthusiasts

Now, we’re about to make your Instagram experience all the better by suggesting some of the best classic car-themed accounts to follow on the platform. Take a gander at these five and see which ones tickle your fancy:

The Classic Motor Hub (@theclassicmotorhub)

Based at the historic site of RAF Bibury in the Cotswolds, The Classic Motor Hub are a bunch of classic car gurus. They have expertise in the selling, storage and transportation of historic vehicles.

Whether you're interested in buying a classic, running an event, or have a need to store your pride and joy, The Classic Motor Hub can point you in the right direction. Founded by Martin Chisholm, an authority in the collector’s car world for more than 30 years, The Classic Motor Hub is the accumulation of all of his experience and ventures in the classic car world.

Their Instagram page is everything you might expect it to be: showcasing historic vehicles, memorabilia, old photos and snaps from classic car events. You might even see yourself! Dive in for all things classic cars.

Huseyin Erturk (@huseyinerturk)

Based in Los Angeles, car enthusiast Huseyin Erturk is spoilt for choice when it comes to indulging his passion of snapping classics. What started out as a hobby now sees Erturk take photographs for car manufacturers all over the world. Not bad work if you can get it!

With a philosophy to capture what makes cars unique and beautiful, Erturk has snapped some wonderful photographs over the years – many of which can be seen with a simple scroll of his Instagram page.

“It’s all about the design of the car,” he says. “It doesn’t have to be beautiful, but it has to be interesting to me. Let’s say I see a car from the 80s or 90s – it’s not necessarily beautiful, but it might be interesting to me, especially all these American cars. It just happens – I see a car and start shooting it. For me it’s a natural process.”

The photographs are made to look like the classic cars are just going about their business amongst the stunning backdrop of LA. Whether they are or not – or the whole thing has been organised with precision – it makes for some stunning pictures.

If there are any photographs on Erturk’s Instagram page that really take your fancy, check his website to see if you can buy them as a print.

Amy Shore (@amyshorephotography)

Self-described ‘photographer of life and wheels”, Amy Shore makes landscapes look like a soft oil painting. Based in England, you’ll see plenty of the beautiful British countryside on her Instagram page – usually with a wonderful classic car set in the foreground.

It’s fair to say that Shore’s pictures will make you want to jump in your own classic and go on a road trip.

Aston Martins and Renault Alpines really float her boat – but you’ll see all kinds of historic vehicles in her Insta feed, even some automotive unicorns such as the 1967 Ferrari P4, of which only four were made and only one exists in original condition.

As well as capturing classic car enthusiasts out on the road, professional photographer Shore is hired to cover events such as the Goodwood Revival and Guy Martin’s attempt to become the fastest ever Triumph rider.

Fun fact: Shore’s dream classic is a MGB GT. A woman after our own heart!

Valve & Piston (@valveandpiston)

Valve & Piston is a page curated by a mysterious New Yorker called “Hootie”. That’s the thing about Instagram – you don't always need to know who’s behind an account to enjoy it.

Created in 2016 with the goal of “introducing the beauty and uniqueness of classic cars to everyone”, Valve & Piston has undoubtedly come good on that objective. Hootie has a “never ending” passion for classic cars and it shines through in his Instagram page.

There are quite a few modern classics on display, for those classic car enthusiasts who prefer a high-end performance. In a recent post, Hootie gets up close and personal with a Ferrari F40 and Carrera GT. For some of us, it’s as close as we’ll get to these vehicles…

Classic Driver (@classicdriver)

We’d hazard a guess that as a classic car enthusiast, you will have heard of Classic Driver magazine. It’s the leading international market and magazine for classic and performance cars and the surrounding lifestyle.

With its Instagram page, it claims it can convert people who aren’t fussed about classic cars into enthusiasts. It has more than 400,000 followers, so it must be doing something right.

Cars from just about every era make an appearance in the Classic Driver feed, displayed in a way which makes you wish you were behind the wheel of the vehicles in the spotlight. You’ll also get to peek behind the curtain of the press launches and shows it gets invited to.

Classic & Sports Car Magazine (@classicandsportscar)

Another great mag worth following on Instagram is Classic & Sports Car magazine. Fans of the print edition will be able to indulge their love of classics with even more pictures of beautiful retro rides over on their Instagram page.

You can also see what’s coming up in the latest issue, get information on subscription offers and select some classic car wallpaper for your smartphone.

Curating your own Instagram page

All these accounts now have a following of thousands of people. But they, like you, all started on zero. If you want to build your own following of classic car enthusiasts on Instagram, here are a few tips:

• Create a great bio and profile – make the most of the 150 characters to say something about yourself. Perhaps you’re a first-time classic owner? Perhaps you’re documenting a classic restoration? Say something about what people can expect to find in your feed here.
• Make sure you use the relevant hashtags when posting your content e.g., #classiccars and #automotivephotography.
• Use Instagram’s filters on your photos to draw your users’ eyes to your content.
• Give it a snappy and personalised caption to add some personality to your photos.
• Encourage comments – who knows, you might find your next classic purchase through one of your followers.

Classic car insurance from Lancaster Insurance

The Lancaster Insurance team has been proudly arranging classic car insurance for more than 35 years.

Some of the many reasons you should choose classic car insurance from Lancaster Insurance include:

• Hard-to-insure classics and classics without MOT considered
• Classic Car Club member discounts of up to 25%
• Static show cover
• Historical rally cover
• Choice of repairer
• Salvage retention
• EU cover up to 90 days
• Two-year agreed valuation available for £18
• Laid up cover available
• Limited mileage discounts

With a policy arranged through Lancaster Insurance, you will also receive 24-hour access to our claims line and UK call centre, so your case will be dealt with as swiftly as possible.

If you’d like to speak to one of our specialist classic car insurance experts about covering your vehicle, call 01480 484826 or request a call back today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.