Picture yourself arriving at a classic car show in 2046. The sun’s shining, rows of beautifully preserved vehicles stretch across the field and the familiar sound of old engines fills the air. There’s an MGB pulling into the entrance, a Triumph Stag parked beside a Morris Minor and perhaps a Jaguar E-Type drawing its usual crowd of admirers.

It’s a familiar scene, except for two rather important questions: What will those cars be running on, and who’ll be driving them?

The classic car industry is facing an interesting period of change. As the wider motoring world moves towards electric vehicles and lower-carbon alternatives, questions are being raised about the long-term future of petrol-powered classics. At the same time, many of the enthusiasts who grew up with Britain’s most recognisable classics are getting older, leaving the industry wondering who’ll take their place.

Could sustainable petrol provide a way to keep traditional engines running for decades to come? Will younger generations develop the same affection for classic motoring, or will the cars we treasure today gradually become museum pieces?

There’s plenty to be optimistic about, although the answers might not be quite as straightforward as we’d like.

Could Sustainable Petrol Be the Answer for Classic Cars?

For many classic car enthusiasts, the engine is an essential part of the experience. The sound of a V8, the distinctive character of a twin-carburettor sports car or the familiar mechanical noises of a decades-old engine are all part of what makes these vehicles special.

Replacing that engine with an electric motor might make sense to some owners, but others would argue that doing so removes an important part of the car’s identity.

Sustainable petrol could offer an alternative solution. Unlike conventional petrol, which relies on fossil fuels extracted from underground, some sustainable fuels are produced using renewable materials such as agricultural waste. Others, known as synthetic e-fuels, can be manufactured using hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide, although their environmental benefits depend heavily on how they’re produced.

One example is SUSTAIN Classic, developed by British fuel specialist Coryton. Its Super 80 fuel contains 80% renewable content derived from agricultural waste and is designed to work in existing petrol engines without modification.

According to Coryton, this particular blend can deliver a reduction of at least 65% in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared with conventional fossil petrol. That doesn’t mean a classic car suddenly becomes emission-free. It still produces exhaust emissions when driven, but the fuel’s production and carbon sourcing can reduce its overall climate impact. This technology has already moved beyond laboratory testing.

In 2023, Mazda announced that its 15-car UK Heritage Fleet would use SUSTAIN Classic fuel, demonstrating its potential across vehicles ranging from older rotary-engined classics to more modern petrol-powered cars.

For owners who want to preserve their car’s original engine, that could be an attractive prospect.

You can find out more about this with Hagerty UK’s report on sustainable petrol for classic cars.

The Cost of Keeping Classics Running: Would Owners Pay More for Sustainable Petrol?

Of course, developing a fuel that works in a classic engine is one thing, making it affordable and readily available is quite another.

When SUSTAIN Classic launched in 2023, its Super 33 fuel was priced from £3.80 per litre, while Super 80 cost £4.65 per litre. These were launch prices rather than a verified current national average, but they demonstrate the considerable difference between specialist sustainable fuels and ordinary forecourt petrol.

For someone who only takes their classic out on sunny Sundays, that additional cost might be manageable. Someone regularly attending shows, taking long-distance touring holidays or using their classic throughout the year might feel differently.

Availability is another obstacle, sustainable fuels remain a specialist product rather than something owners can expect to find at every petrol station. There are signs of progress, however. In January 2026, the Classic Motor Hub in Bibury introduced a SUSTAIN Racing C50 pump, offering fuel containing 50% sustainable components for road and competition vehicles.

As the technology develops and production potentially increases, prices could become more competitive. There’s no guarantee of that happening quickly, particularly while renewable feedstocks and production capacity remain limited.

There’s also an important distinction between keeping classics on the road and replacing the fuel used by millions of everyday vehicles. The quantities involved are vastly different.

According to the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs’ 2025 National Historic Vehicle Survey, historic vehicles account for just 0.2% of all miles driven in the UK, with the average vehicle covering approximately 837 miles annually.

That relatively small fuel requirement could make classic motoring a practical specialist market for alternative fuels, even if those fuels remain too expensive for widespread everyday use.

Would you pay £4 or £5 per litre for a suitable sustainable petrol if it meant keeping your classic’s original engine running for another 20 or 30 years? Or would you rather continue using conventional petrol for as long as it’s available?

Who Will Own Britain’s Classic Cars in 20 Years?

Fuel might be one of the challenges facing classic motoring, but there’s another that’s arguably just as important. Who’ll actually want to own these cars in the future?

The latest figures make interesting reading. Heritage Insurance’s 2026 Classic Car Report surveyed 841 classic car owners across the UK and found that 64% of respondents were aged 65 or over. Just 2.5% were under 45, while the estimated average age was approximately 66 to 67.

Those figures are certainly thought-provoking, although it’s important to remember that they reflect the people who responded to one particular survey, rather than every classic car owner in Britain.

Interestingly, the same research found that 84% of respondents wanted to see more young people getting involved in classic cars. That suggests existing enthusiasts recognise the importance of passing their passion on to another generation.

The FBHVC’s research provides a more encouraging perspective. Its 2025 survey found that more than 9.7 million people would like to own a historic vehicle, with those under 35 showing particularly strong interest.

Perhaps the problem isn’t that younger people don’t appreciate classic cars; perhaps it’s that wanting one and being able to own one are two very different things.

Is Classic Car Ownership Becoming Too Expensive for Younger Generations?

Think back to how many enthusiasts first became involved in classic motoring. For some, it started with a cheap second-hand car bought for a few hundred pounds. It might have needed welding, a replacement clutch or a weekend spent trying to get the engine running properly.

The car wasn’t necessarily valuable or particularly desirable, but it provided an opportunity to learn. Today, finding an affordable project can be more difficult, particularly when you’re considering the total cost of restoration.

A relatively inexpensive classic can quickly become a costly undertaking once you’ve factored in replacement panels, mechanical repairs, specialist labour and somewhere suitable to work on it.

Storage presents another challenge. Younger people renting accommodation or living in flats may not have access to a garage or driveway, let alone the space required for a long-term restoration.

Insurance costs can also vary significantly by age. Heritage Insurance’s 2026 data recorded an average premium of £257.58 for classic drivers aged 25 to 34, compared with £141.46 for those aged 65 to 74. These are averages across different owners and vehicles rather than like-for-like quotations, but they illustrate another potential financial hurdle.

Then there’s the question of mechanical knowledge. Many experienced enthusiasts learned to maintain their cars because they had little choice. Modern cars have changed the way mechanics are trained, and some traditional skills are becoming harder to find.

The FBHVC has highlighted the need to train future engineers and restorers, noting that specialist knowledge must be passed on if the historic vehicle industry is to remain healthy.

The good news is that younger enthusiasts have access to resources previous generations could only have dreamed of. Online forums, video tutorials, specialist suppliers and social media communities make it possible to learn from experienced owners around the world.

Classic car clubs and workshops also have an opportunity to encourage younger people into the hobby. Perhaps the biggest question is whether the industry is doing enough to welcome them.

Are the Classics of Tomorrow Already Here?

There’s another possibility worth considering. Maybe younger generations aren’t losing interest in classic cars at all, they’re simply interested in different ones. For somebody who grew up in the 1960s, a Jaguar E-Type or Triumph TR4 might represent the ultimate dream car.

Someone who learned to drive in the 1980s might have fond memories of a Ford Capri, Volkswagen Golf GTI or Peugeot 205. While for enthusiasts who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s, the cars that capture their imagination might be Subaru Imprezas, Mitsubishi Evos, Honda Civics or early Mazda MX-5s.

The nostalgia is much the same, even if the cars are different. A beautifully preserved Vauxhall Cavalier might attract just as much attention from someone who remembers family holidays in one as an E-Type does from an admirer of 1960s sports cars.

This doesn’t necessarily mean traditional classics will become unwanted. There’ll always be enthusiasts who appreciate engineering, craftsmanship and design from periods long before they were born.

It does suggest that the definition of a desirable classic will continue to evolve though. The FBHVC has recognised this changing landscape through its Youngtimer category, covering vehicles aged 20 to 30 years, as a way of engaging owners of more recent classics.

Perhaps the future of classic motoring won’t be about replacing one generation of cars with another, it’ll be about making room for all of them.

Can Sustainable Petrol and a New Generation of Owners Secure the Future of Classic Cars?

When we consider sustainable petrol and the next generation of classic car owners together, it becomes clear that neither issue can be solved in isolation.

Developing lower-carbon fuels could help protect the future of combustion-engined classics, particularly for owners who want to preserve their vehicles in their original mechanical form. However, affordable fuel won’t achieve much if there aren’t enough enthusiasts willing or able to maintain the cars.

Equally, a new generation of passionate owners will need access to parts, specialist knowledge, suitable fuels and reasonable opportunities to enjoy their vehicles on public roads.

It’s worth addressing one common concern here. The UK’s planned phase-out of new petrol and diesel car sales doesn’t mean existing petrol-powered cars will become illegal to drive in 2030.

In a parliamentary answer dated 17 September 2026, the Government confirmed that it has no plans to phase out petrol and diesel vehicles already in use or sold before the relevant deadlines. That provides some reassurance, although it doesn’t remove every longer-term question about fuel availability, local emissions restrictions or changing public attitudes.

There’s also a wider environmental argument. Classic cars already exist, keeping a vehicle maintained and in occasional use avoids the immediate need to manufacture a replacement, although the environmental balance depends on mileage, emissions, maintenance and what vehicle might otherwise be used.

The FBHVC’s finding that historic vehicles account for just 0.2% of UK road mileage also puts their contribution into perspective. Sustainable petrol could further reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with enjoying these cars, but it isn’t a complete solution to air pollution or the environmental impact of motoring.

The future may involve a mixture of conventional petrol, sustainable fuels, electric conversions and other technologies. For some enthusiasts, originality will remain everything. Others will embrace modifications that make their classics easier to use.

There should be room for that discussion without assuming one approach is right for everybody.

What Will the Classic Car Scene Look Like in 2046?

Twenty years might seem a long way off, but consider how much the classic car scene has changed since 2006. Cars that were once everyday transport are now attracting attention at shows, while vehicles that were already considered classics have become increasingly valuable, rare or difficult to restore.

By 2046, the cars filling our show fields could look very different again. We might see a beautifully preserved Morris Minor parked beside a first-generation Audi TT, with both owners sharing stories about why their particular car matters to them.

Perhaps the MGB arriving at the show will be running on sustainable petrol. The Triumph Stag beside it might still be using conventional fuel, while another classic has been converted to electric power.

The technology may change, but the enthusiasm doesn’t necessarily have to. What matters is whether the next generation has the opportunity to experience the same enjoyment that has kept classic motoring alive for decades.

There’s something rather wonderful about the idea of a young enthusiast in 2046 taking their grandfather’s classic out for a Sunday drive, hearing the same engine, changing gears through the same gearbox and creating a completely new set of memories. The real challenge is making sure that remains possible.

Now it’s over to you, we’d love to hear what you think. Would you pay more for sustainable petrol if it meant keeping your classic’s original engine running for decades to come?

Do you think younger generations will continue to treasure traditional British classics, or will the cars of the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s dominate future shows?

Perhaps most importantly, if you could pass one classic car on to the next generation, which would you choose and why?

Let us know in the comments. After all, the future of classic motoring belongs to the people who’ll be driving these cars long after we’re gone.