The Daily Vroom

Good morning Vroomers!

Huge sales day yesterday, as you'll see below. When I say huge, I mean total dollar volume, not actual car volume, which was down from a regular average Tuesday. It seems from all the out-of-office emails I've received that people are on their travels or have switched off from work for the week.

But those savvy buyers are still out there spending big bucks when the right cars come along. Take that top buy, the 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster - that price is certainly a lot higher than previous online sales and many live auction sales!

Sam

MARKET LEADERBOARD

💰 The figures shared below don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc… All online auction sites are analyzed to put this leaderboard together.

I only include websites that have sold 5+ vehicles in the chart below.

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

Want to dive deeper into any of these listings? Just click on the car to take you directly to the listing.

Nearly Sale of the Day

Let’s talk about this 1973 Porsche 914 V8 that hit a high bid of $28k but failed to sell. It’s easy to jump to conclusions—blame the seller for unrealistic expectations or the platform for not delivering the right audience. But sometimes, the stars just don’t align. This is one of those cases where it wasn’t about the car or the bid—it’s about timing and circumstance.

This isn’t your average 914. Far from it. Renegade Hybrids stuffed a Chevy 350 V8 into this thing back in 1989, turning it into a genuine rocket ship. With 300 horsepower, a reinforced chassis, upgraded brakes, and a killer color—Adriatic Blue—it checks all the right boxes. It’s the kind of car that deserves more love but, for some reason, just didn’t connect this time around.

Why It Deserves More

Let’s be clear: this isn’t one of those “deserves more but isn’t worth more” situations. This car is worth more. It’s a beautifully executed build with invoices and a history that show the effort and quality behind it. The comments section was buzzing with admiration, with many pointing out the rarity and excitement of a properly done Renegade swap.

So why didn’t it sell? Timing could be one factor—holiday weeks can sometimes thin the audience. Another? Maybe the V8 swap put off purists, even though it’s been done right. But let’s not ignore the possibility that the right buyer just wasn’t in the room (or on the platform) at the time.

What’s Next?

Don’t be surprised if this one reappears on another platform soon. And if you’re in the market for a unique 914 with serious punch, this is the one to watch.

The bottom line - sometimes, it’s not about the car or the platform—it’s about catching the right wave. For this 914, that wave is still out there. Here’s hoping it finds its rightful owner next time around.

Cars & Bids Unveils New Service—Is It Worth It?

You’ll know that closing a deal isn’t always as simple as clicking "Bid." Payments, titles, registrations—these things can get messy. That’s why platforms are rolling out services to smooth the process. But not all services are created equal, and the costs vary wildly. Let’s break it down.

Cars & Bids has introduced a service called SafePay, powered by KeySavvy. For $198, it handles payments, title transfers, and documentation entirely online. If the seller has an outstanding loan, there’s an additional $99 fee to take care of that as well. It’s a clean and efficient process that makes post-auction headaches a thing of the past.

Now, let’s talk about Hemmings. Their Pay + Title service is also powered by KeySavvy and offers virtually the same functionality. But Hemmings charges $299—$101 more than Cars & Bids. Given Hemmings’ smaller presence in the auction space, this pricing feels out of step.

Meanwhile, Bring a Trailer has taken a different approach with its Verified Checkout service, powered by Caramel. The standout detail? It’s free. Yes, free for payment and title verification. If the buyer wants BaT to handle the full title and registration process, there’s a $129 fee. Even then, it’s a bargain compared to the other platforms.

So why does Hemmings charge so much more for essentially the same service? Buyers don’t typically choose a platform based on these fees—they go where the cars are. But the fee does add a layer of comparison when it comes to trust and convenience. When you’re already not leading in volume, charging a premium feels like a puzzling move.

For Cars & Bids, SafePay is a strong addition, offering a well-priced, convenient option for buyers and sellers. For BaT, their Verified Checkout service continues to reinforce their position as a dominant player in the market. Hemmings, on the other hand, may need to rethink how they position themselves in this competitive landscape.

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