PRNEWSIRE — A study by collector car insurer Hagerty reports the hottest segment of the classic car market are models built 1980 through the early 2000s. According to analysis of public auction data and Hagerty’s proprietary database, this emerging segment experienced the largest year-over-year increase in average sale price for the public auction market as well as private transactions.

North American collector car auction sales have reached a record $1.45 billion total for the year, an 11-percent increase over the prior year’s $1.31 billion. This figure was driven by a 21-percent increase in the average price with 9 percent fewer cars sold this year compared to 2014. While the average sale price increased significantly, the median sale price only increased by 4 percent.

The top gainers were:

— 1974-1977 Porsche 911 (+154 percent)

— 2004-2009 Aston Martin DB9 (+141 percent)

— 1984-1996 Ferrari Testarossa/512 TR/F512 M (+98 percent)

— 1975-1985 Ferrari 308 GTS/GTB (+69 percent)

— 1990-2001 Lamborghini Diablo (+65 percent)

The cars with the largest drop in average sale prices were:

— 1946-1952 Hudson Commodore (-36 percent)

— 1968-1975 BMW 2002 (-33 percent)

— 1976-1986 American Motors CJ-7 (-32 percent)

— 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk (-30 percent)

— 1955-1957 Chevrolet 150 (-27 percent)

According to the Hagerty study, collectors added 17 percent more 1980s-and-newer vehicles to existing Hagerty policies versus a 2.3-percent increase for pre-1980s classics.

Overall growth for the broader market experienced more modest gains. The Hagerty Market Rating reached an all-time high of 72.11 in May, but decreased over the latter half of the year to its current 70.84. While still well within the “expanding market” range, the slight decrease demonstrates a slower pace.

“The market is still growing, but at a slower rate than we have witnessed in the past three years,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty.“The notable exception is rapid growth among younger buyers who have entered the market and are exercising their buying power by spending on the poster cars of their youth. A new era of later model performance cars from instantly recognizable brands have irrefutably proven that the term ‘collector car’ is not synonymous with ‘old car.’”

The top 10 2015 North American auction individual sales were:

1. $28,050,000 – 1956 Ferrari 290 MM Spider – sold by RM Sotheby’s, New York, Dec. 10

2. $17,600,000 – 1964 Ferrari 250 LM – RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, Aug. 13

3.$16,830,000 – 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California SWB Spider – Gooding & Co., Monterey, Aug. 15

4.$16,830,000 – 1962 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Speciale – Gooding & Co., Monterey, Aug. 15

5. $14,300,000 – 1962 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Coupe – RM Sotheby’s, New York, Dec. 10

6. $13,750,000 – 1998 McLaren F1 LM – RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, Aug. 13

7.$13,200,000 – 1956 Ferrari 250 GT TdF – RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, Aug. 13

8. $10,120,000 – 1982 Porsche 956 – Gooding & Co., Monterey, Aug. 15

9. $9,625,000 – 1965 Ferrari 250 LM – RM Sotheby’s, Phoenix, Jan. 15

10. $9,405,000 – 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione – Bonhams, Scottsdale, Jan. 15