Redefining Luxury Car Investment For The Next Generation: A Conversation With MCQ Markets Co-Founder Lachlan D...

Born in Toronto and raised under the Fort Lauderdale sunshine, Lachlan DeFrancesco’s zest for speed and style started early. “One Christmas, when I was around six or seven, my dad — a lifetime car enthusiast — surprised my brother and I with go-karts,” Lachlan reminisced with a smile. “It was definitely against my mother’s wishes.”

Before long, he and his older brother Devlin were dedicating every weekend to their newfound love, trekking from Miami to Palm Beach to Orlando to compete in various club races and competitions. It wasn’t long before such a hobby fast-tracked their childhood into a demanding career, with school schedules revolving around races across Europe. “It’s what you had to do to be successful in karting,” Lachlan explained. “But it was a lot of fun, a lot of traveling and getting to meet new people. When I was ten or eleven, I started winning some championships in North America, which led my brother and I to really commit to this.”

While Devlin went on to become one of the world’s top auto-racing drivers, winning the 60th running of the Daytona 24 in 2022 and achieving two podiums and nine top-five finishes in the open-wheel racing series Indy Lights, Lachlan — a three-time U.S. National Karting Champion — opted for a different track.

“I stepped away from racing around sixteen because I wanted to focus on my studies, but I still wanted to remain connected to the racing world. While my brother excelled in racing, I was more interested in following my father’s path into business.”

That entrepreneurial spark ignited with an unexpected detour into cryptocurrency and fractional ownership. After successfully trading sports cards with his friends, Lachlan realized he could apply a similar model to something he was truly passionate about — cars.

My dad couldn’t believe the margins we made on these cards, so I told him the key was fractional ownership. While I enjoyed it, sports cards weren’t my passion. That’s when the idea struck: “How can I do this with cars?”

This revelation laid the foundation for MCQ Markets, a company that Lachlan co-founded at just 21 years old. His mission? To democratize luxury car ownership.

“At a Barrett-Jackson event, there were about 65,000 people cheering, but only one percent was actually bidding,” Lachlan explained. “That’s when the lightbulb went off. I thought, ‘What if we could bring this to the masses?’”

MCQ Markets, which Lachlan helped launch alongside CEO Curt Hopkins, is offering fractionalized ownership of luxury and classic cars, making these high-end investments accessible to a broader audience.

Curt brings a wealth of experience to the table, having previously held senior leadership positions at major companies like Vodafone and Nortel before transitioning to CEO roles in tech firms like Redeem and Telenomics. “With MCQ Markets, we’re creating a platform where everyday individuals can invest in luxury assets — assets that would normally be out of reach,” Curt explained. “This isn’t just about cars; it’s about creating a new way for people to own and invest in something they love.”

Despite being in its early stages, the company has attracted a formidable team and high-profile backers from the world of motorsports and entertainment. Notable names like the Andretti family, several Indy and F1 drivers, and Keaton Hoskins from the Diesel Brothers reality show have all rallied behind the company. Hoskins highlights how the vision of MCQ Markets could create a massive shift in the car market. “Our audience, at the core, is passionate about all things automotive — whether it’s a souped-up diesel or a classic Ferrari. What MCQ Markets is doing really resonates because it takes that shared passion for cars and turns it into an investment opportunity. They’re not just opening the door for luxury car enthusiasts — they’re giving everyday gearheads a chance to be part of something bigger, to own a piece of these legendary machines in a way that’s never been possible before.”

At the heart of MCQ Markets’ model is the ability for multiple individuals to own shares of rare vehicles such as a 1986 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV and a 2012 Lexus LFA. “We are giving people the chance to invest in cars they’ve dreamed of owning but never thought possible,” Lachlan said. “This allows collectors to diversify their portfolios without the need to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars upfront.”

CEO Curt Hopkins echoed this vision, stating, “Fractional ownership dismantles barriers like storage, maintenance, and high price tags, making these investments significantly more accessible.”

By offering fractional ownership, MCQ Markets taps into a growing luxury car market projected by analysts to reach USD 2.79 trillion by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights. Investors can now buy into high-performance cars, which, according to historical industry data, have outperformed traditional stock markets in value appreciation since 2001.

While the financial model is critical, Lachlan’s vision extends beyond profit; he aims to build a passionate community. As part of this community-building effort, MCQ Markets is opening a 10,000-square-foot warehouse in Miami’s Wynwood district to showcase its classic car fleet. Investors will have the opportunity to see the vehicles they’ve invested in, and the space will serve as a hub for car enthusiasts.

“I want to eliminate the velvet rope,” Lachlan said. “I want everyone to have this opportunity. To some people, a classic car is like art. To others, it’s a status symbol. And for some, it’s a dream come true.”

Looking ahead, Lachlan shared, “We’d like to take the company public, and we’re in discussions to do so, with realistic hopes for the end of 2024. But for me, it’s about more than the business. It’s about bringing together people who love cars as much as I do.”