PistonHeads Data Parser & API

PistonHeads is the UK’s enthusiast and classic-car portal — owned by CarGurus — and Carapis extracts its specialist used, classic and performance car listings through one REST API. Its enthusiast and classic focus surfaces vehicles you will not find on mainstream portals, and Carapis serves them without you building a scraper.

What is PistonHeads?

PistonHeads is a UK car community and marketplace owned by CarGurus, known for its enthusiast, performance and classic-car focus. Its classifieds carry used and classic vehicles from both private sellers and dealers, making it a specialist source for the higher-end and collectible segments of the UK market.

Market Position

PistonHeads sits mid-traffic but holds a distinctive niche: it is the UK’s enthusiast and classic-car portal, owned by CarGurus. Where mainstream portals focus on volume used cars, PistonHeads surfaces performance and collectible vehicles — a complementary dataset valuable for the specialist and classic-car segments rather than mass-market supply.

Data Fields Available

Carapis extracts a structured record from each PistonHeads listing:

• Vehicle identity — make, model, trim, model year
• Specification — fuel type, transmission
• Condition — mileage
• Pricing — listed price
• Listing context — seller type (private vs dealer), location, photo gallery

The enthusiast and classic focus makes PistonHeads valuable for the specialist and collectible UK segments, distinct from mainstream used-car supply.

API Quick Start

import requests
 
resp = requests.get(
    "https://api.carapis.com/v2/listings",
    params={"source": "pistonheads", "limit": 20},
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"},
)
for car in resp.json()["results"]:
    print(car["make"], car["model"], car["year"], car["price"])

const res = await fetch(
  "https://api.carapis.com/v2/listings?source=pistonheads&limit=20",
  { headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.CARAPIS_API_KEY}` } },
);
const { results } = await res.json();

curl "https://api.carapis.com/v2/listings?source=pistonheads&limit=20" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $CARAPIS_API_KEY"

Get an API key at my.carapis.com  and see the full API reference. Pricing is on the pricing page.

Use Cases

• Market research — track the UK enthusiast and classic-car segment. See market research.
• Pricing intelligence — specialist and collectible pricing for dealers.
• Import / export — source UK performance and classic vehicles remotely. See import & export.

Frequently asked questions

Related platforms