Have Cars & Bids Found A New Superstar?

PLUS: Why This 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Is Getting So Much Traction

The Daily Vroom

Good Morning, Vroomers!

Awesome to see so many new faces joining us over the weekend—welcome aboard!

For those of you who are new, Mondays are usually a bit off-script here at The Daily Vroom. We mix it up before diving into our regular programming Tuesday through Friday, where we bring you the latest sales, trends, and insights.

Enjoy and as always, I love to hear from you -so please do email me if you have any thoughts, questions etc…

See you tomorrow,


Sam

How a P38 Range Rover is Helping Cars & Bids Strike Content Gold

Let’s talk about the Range Rover P38 that’s currently lighting up the bidding boards on Cars & Bids. But we’re not just here to geek out over this Borrego Yellow beauty—though we could. We’re diving into something bigger: the way Cars & Bids is quietly but effectively starting to build a content empire with a little help from Doug’s not-so-secret weapon, Nick.

Doug DeMuro is, without question, the face of Cars & Bids. His deep dives into quirky car features and engaging narratives have set a high bar. But this time, it’s Nick who’s been holding the reins. And let’s just say, he’s proven he’s much more than a sidekick. Nick’s been chronicling the restoration of this P38, and the content has been nothing short of binge-worthy.

The beauty of this series isn’t just in the details of the restoration—though anyone who’s dealt with the quirks of a P38 knows it’s no small feat. It’s the storytelling. Nick’s journey with this Range Rover feels genuine, approachable, and let’s be honest, relatable to anyone who’s ever loved a car that’s not exactly a “sure thing.” You’re not just watching a car auction; you’re invested in the narrative of this vehicle.

Cars & Bids hit a sweet spot here. By putting Nick front and center, they’ve not only given us a fresh face to follow but also a series that’s compelling enough to make even the casual viewer care about the fate of this P38. Comments like “Nick went from being a funny friend of Doug’s to a seriously good creator” and “This was such a clever series for Cars & Bids to produce...extremely entertaining, Nick was likable and relatable, and a fantastic piece of evergreen marketing for C&B!” sum up the sentiment perfectly.

The production quality? Spot on. The series is well-crafted, with just the right balance of humor, information, and that all-important car enthusiast passion. It’s clear that if Cars & Bids can roll out more series like this, they’re onto something special. This could be the start of a new era in content for them, one where Doug’s legacy extends through a network of creators who each bring their own flair to the table.

So, while the final bid on this Range Rover will be interesting to watch, the real win here is for Cars & Bids. They’ve unearthed a new star in Nick, and if this series is any indication, we’re in for some seriously good content in the future. Keep your eyes peeled—this might just be the beginning of something great.

In the meantime, whether you’re bidding on this P38 or just along for the ride, you’re witnessing the start of a new chapter for Cars & Bids. It’s not just about the cars; it’s about the stories we tell with them. And that, my friends, is how you keep people coming back for more.

Update On Ronnie Wood’s Porsche Auction

Remember that 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo I mentioned in Friday’s edition of The Daily Vroom? The one with the rock 'n' roll pedigree that Bring a Trailer seemed to overlook? Well, the auction has wrapped up, and boy, do we have some things to unpack.

First off, let's talk numbers. The hammer fell at $133,000 - and in my opinion, that's a steal for the buyer. This isn't just any 930 Turbo; it's a piece of rock history. The new owner could easily flip this car and make a tidy profit if they wanted to.

Now, credit where it's due: BaT did eventually cotton on to what they had on their hands. They slapped a note on the auction and changed the title to "Ex-Ronnie Wood 1979 Porsche 930 Turbo". But let's be real - it was a classic case of too little, too late. With just one day left in the auction, there was no time for the full-court press this car deserved. No feature articles on Car & Driver, no social media blitz, nada.

The response to my original article on this auction was eye-opening. Many of you chimed in with insightful comments (see below), highlighting just how significant this oversight was. As some of you pointed out, all it would've taken was one die-hard Stones fan with deep pockets to turn this into a truly remarkable sale. The potential was there, but the execution fell flat. I'll be sharing some of your comments below this article - they really drive home the missed opportunity here.

Now, I'll play devil's advocate for a moment. As some of you pointed out (and I'll admit, I didn't consider this initially), there's a chance the BaT rep simply didn't know who Ronnie Wood is. If you're of a certain age, that name might not ring any bells, no matter how many arenas he's packed. So if that's the case, you can't entirely fault them for the oversight.

But here's where I lay most of the blame: at the seller's feet. Sure, they might be new to the BaT rodeo, but they knew exactly what made this car special. It's right there in their comments and the listing details. The moment that listing draft hit their inbox, they should've been all over BaT about the lack of Ronnie in the title. They should've been asking about special promotion given the provenance. It was a massive missed opportunity, and while BaT's commission might've only seen a modest bump from a higher sale price, the seller potentially left tens of thousands on the table.

You all know how bullish I am about the online auction market, but I can't help but wonder: given that it was Monterey week, might this car have fared better with one of the traditional auction houses? It's food for thought, at least.

Let's hope BaT and other platforms have learned their lesson from this oversight. It wouldn't surprise me if they start implementing processes to flag potentially special sales in the future. A quick Google search on any mentioned celebrities could make all the difference. It's a simple step that could prevent leaving money on the table and ensure that unique pieces of automotive history get the attention they deserve.

In the end, this whole saga serves as a reminder: in the classic car world, provenance is king. Whether you're a seller, a platform, or a buyer, never underestimate the power of a good story - especially when that story involves a rock legend and a Porsche. Let's hope the new owner gives this 930 Turbo the rockstar treatment it deserves.

Below are a selection of your comments:

Some years ago, we had an intern in the office who did not know who the Rolling Stones were. Kids are dumb, but especially dumb today, when the world is niche-cast by social media and there is no universal shared culture. The BaT "specialist" for this sale was probably just ignorant of what a legend Ron Wood is.

As a past VP of Consignments for Barrett-Jackson Auctions, it has been my experience, celebrity ownership if documented is a significant wild card for added value. This was a huge missed opportunity by BaT. Perhaps you catching this will be helpful before the auction closes

I don't think most developers or content writers under the age of 35 know one member of the Stones outside of Mick - and I'd say Mick is a 50/50 shot.

BaT is just another huge corporate entity now. No special attention, other than to their big sellers. I seldom follow their site anymore.

Celebrity owned adds to simply bragging rights and great conversations.. We have seen vehicles come on auction sites where it made no difference if it was celebrity owned due to age and condition and the type of vehicle being offered.. But it only takes one bidder...........

How to Nail a Celeb Auction

As you read above, we saw how one celeb auction can go ‘wrong’ when crucial details are overlooked—like forgetting to mention that a Porsche was once owned by Ronnie Wood. But here’s a shining example of how to do it right: the ex-David Letterman 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi.

This auction is everything the Ronnie Wood one wasn’t in how to market a celebrity-owned car, and the results speak for themselves. With the bidding already at $201,000, 15k views and 4 days still to go, this Ferrari is well on its way to breaking records.

Let’s talk about the car itself: This 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi is finished in the iconic Rosso Corsa and has just over 10,500 miles on the odometer, making it a pristine example of one of Ferrari’s most revered models. The 512 BBi is the final evolution of the Berlinetta Boxer series, featuring a fuel-injected 4.9-liter flat-12 engine that delivers 340 horsepower. With a gated dogleg shifter, this Ferrari is as thrilling to drive as it is to look at. The interior is a timeless mix of beige leather Daytona-style seats and classic Veglia instrumentation, all of which are in superb condition given the car’s 41 years.

BaT didn’t just slap Letterman’s name on the listing and call it a day. They leaned into the connection, ensuring that the car’s celebrity provenance was front and center. But it’s not just the famous former owner that’s driving interest; it’s also the meticulous presentation of the car’s history and condition, good job seller. Recent services, including an engine-out major service, have been thoroughly documented, adding even more value to this already exceptional vehicle.

The engagement in the comments section is through the roof, with fans eagerly discussing everything from the Ferrari’s specs to their favorite Letterman moments. It’s clear that this auction has captured the imagination of both car enthusiasts and pop culture aficionados alike.

So, while one celeb auction might have missed its mark, this one is hitting all the right notes. With its combination of celebrity history, iconic design, and meticulous marketing, this 512 BBi is poised to become a record-breaking sale, showcasing exactly how to do a celebrity car auction right.

It’s not lost on me that we have two old guys selling their cars… Are there any younger celeb auctions happening?

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