Key Facts:
- Australian Cameron Jurd founded RetroRides, the country's first ID-verified classic car website, after losing $16,000 in an online scam
- The platform requires all users to verify their identity through the Attorney-General's ID Check system before buying or selling vehicles
- RetroRides offers free listings with Standard, Premium and Boosted options, plus a Platinum service featuring concierge support and professional media
- The site includes free vehicle valuation data across most listings, providing real-time market insights for buyers and sellers
- Australians lost over $3 billion to scams in 2024, with vehicle sales being one of the most affected categories
"I Thought I'd Done Everything Right"
When RetroRides Founder and Managing Director, Cameron Jurd lost $16,000 in an online scam, he never imagined that gut-wrenching experience would one day lead him to create Australia's first ID-verified Classic, Collector and Performance car site.
Despite taking every precaution, from checking the ABN and speaking with someone on the phone to reviewing what looked like a legitimate business website, Jurd still fell victim to a sophisticated and professional operation.
"I checked everything, the ABN, the website looked legitimate, and the person I spoke to on the phone had all the technical knowledge," Cameron Jurd recalls.
"Once I transferred the payment, everything went dead. My calls were blocked, my emails went unanswered. It made me feel sick."
When police confirmed that his money was gone and could not be traced, Cameron realised just how vulnerable even experienced buyers could be in today's digital landscape.
"I considered myself a savvy online buyer. I'd done all the right things. But the truth is, scams today are extremely well-organised and believable. These people know exactly how to build trust, until it's too late."
That experience became the catalyst for creating RetroRides, a platform designed to protect car buyers and sellers through digital ID verification, using the same government-backed identity tool adopted by major Australian institutions.
RetroRides requires every user to verify their identity through the Attorney-General's ID Check system before they can buy or sell, ensuring genuine people are on both sides of the transaction.
"We know people can be hesitant to share ID details online," Jurd admits. "But it's far better than the alternative. I'd rather verify once through a secure, government backed process than risk losing thousands to a scammer."
Australians lost more than $3 billion to scams in 2024, according to Scamwatch, with vehicle sales among the hardest-hit categories.
Fake listings, cloned websites, and sophisticated impersonation tactics are becoming increasingly common, even fooling those who believe they've done the right checks.
"Our community is made up of genuine enthusiasts who just want to trade safely, and we want to make sure they can."
Beyond verification, RetroRides offers sellers a full-suite platform built with enthusiasts in mind. From its "Sell My Car" tools, where users can list for free and choose from Standard, Premium or Boosted listings reaching millions of Aussie enthusiasts each month to its bespoke "Platinum" service for serious classic and collector car sales, featuring concierge support, professional photography and video, dedicated specialists and global marketing reach, the platform is designed to deliver far more than a typical classifieds site.
A key feature setting RetroRides apart, is the free vehicle valuation data, included across most listings. This feature empowers both buyers and sellers with real-time insights into market value, ensuring every deal is backed by data rather than guesswork.
The valuation system automatically analyses comparable listings, displaying a clear benchmark range under each vehicle's price, helping buyers determine whether a car is well-priced, overvalued, or represents exceptional value. Sellers can also use this data to set realistic, competitive prices that attract genuine interest while maintaining transparency.
"This is about bringing honesty and confidence back into the market," explains Jurd.
"Whether you're buying your dream classic or selling your pride and joy, you deserve to know what it's truly worth. Our valuation data helps both sides make informed decisions and that is a big part of rebuilding trust in online trading."
The RetroRides team are not just operators, they are collectors, journalists and market-watchers themselves, and their passion and expertise underpin every listing and interaction.
About us:
About Retro Rides:
Retro Rides was created because we knew the collector, classic and performance car world deserved something better, a place where buyers and sellers aren't lost in a sea of clutter, scams or low-effort listings. We saw a gap in the market for a highly curated, high-quality platform that genuinely understands the emotional and financial value of special cars.
What sets Retro Rides apart is our investment in storytelling. Every car has a story, and we make sure it's told the right way, through professionally produced, high-quality video content, expert photography and detailed articles that bring vehicles to life. Whether you're selling a barn-find classic, a heritage Japanese icon, or a rare homologation special, your car is presented with the care and detail it deserves.
But Retro Rides is a living, breathing community, built by enthusiasts, for enthusiasts. We speak your language, we attend the same events, and we obsess over the same market trends. That's why we also track and monitor collector car values and movements, not just in Australia but around the world, giving our users real insights and confidence when buying, selling, or investing.
About Cameron Jurd:
Cameron is a life long car lover, hence the reason he saw the opportunity to create a dedicated classic car content led business to satisfy the Australian Classic Car enthusiast. He is a collector with a somewhat eclectic taste featuring American Muscle, Aussie Muscle and Euro Performance cars from the 60's through to the 2000's. Cameron has over 30 years experience in media and content strategy and creation including Executive Producer of multiple Motor (PCOTY) Performance Car Of The Year videos and Wheels magazine (COTY) Car Of The Year announcements. He also created Cruise Mode an automotive lifestyle programme that aired for two seasons on Network TEN.
