The Daily Vroom

Good morning, Vroomers!

The big auctions show no signs of slowing down for the holidays. You’d think ending an auction so close to this time of year might hurt sales, but plenty of high-end cars are still finding buyers. Will that momentum carry into next week, right in the middle of the holidays? Time will tell. That said, we’ve got some serious heavy hitters wrapping up at the start of the week, so sellers and platforms clearly aren’t worried.

For those asking about the Market Leaderboard—it’ll be back next week!

Enjoy your weekend, and I’ll catch you Monday.

Sam

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

Yesterday, I was in a meeting talking shop, and someone shared a story about the early days of eBay Motors. Apparently, the CEO was all-in on car parts but didn’t believe people would ever buy a car online. That story came to mind when I saw yet another $1M+ sale happen in the online auction market. It's wild to think about: people trusting platforms enough to drop huge sums on cars they’ve never seen in person, all with the click of a mouse. It’s crazy—but also, not so crazy anymore. It’s also a reminder that what seems impossible today might just be commonplace tomorrow.

Big congrats to SOMO with their biggest sale ever: a whopping $1.8M. If you check out the auction, there’s a great bonus experience for the winning bidder that’s just as wild as the car itself.

I was also planning to feature in the top 5 a €319,000 sale from SBX. They sent an email to (I assume) everyone, announcing the reserve on the 2022 Zyrus had been met. But when I clicked through to their site, the listing—and all mention of the sale—was gone. Sales fall through quite a bit, but why not just update the listing instead of scrubbing it altogether? Seems like a missed opportunity to tell the full story.

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

Bargain Sale of the Day

Earlier this week, we talked about the risk vs. reward of no-reserve auctions. While this 2006 Porsche Cayenne S wasn’t exactly a high-stakes gamble, the final sale price of $5,500 seems like an incredible deal. Comparing it to other recent sales of similar specs and mileage, I found one that went for $11,000 on BaT.

The seller, a highly reputable one, summed it up perfectly: "It runs and drives great. No warning lights are on. Body has some minor cosmetic flaws as shown in the photos. Thousands and thousands spent—when with most others, you'd be the one spending after acquiring :)"

Deals like this pop up across all platforms on a daily basis—you just need to spend some time in front of your screen to find them. In my view, someone just got themselves a lot of car for the money.

Auctions To Keep An Eye On

We’ve talked before about how weekend auctions bring out some of the best in the car world, and today, I’ve got two to share with you: one that’s shaping up to be a great deal and another that’s just pure automotive art. Let’s dive in.

2005 Mercedes-Benz CL65 AMG

This one’s a no-reserve listing, and it’s the kind of car that makes you sit up and take notice. A twin-turbo V12, 604 horsepower, 738 lb-ft of torque—all wrapped in that classic, understated CL65 AMG body. It’s finished in black with a charcoal leather interior and has the kind of features you’d expect from a flagship Mercedes: heated and ventilated massaging seats, Parktronic, Active Body Control suspension, and even a Bose sound system.

What stands out for me, though, is the condition. It’s got 121,000 miles, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at it. The last owner barely drove it—just 2,000 miles in five years—and the seller has taken care of the essentials with a new battery, engine mounts, and starter. At $13,500 right now, this is a car I’d jump on without hesitation.

And if you need convincing, just dive into the comments on the auction page. Enthusiasts are buzzing about its potential value, with one saying it “should sell for 3x the current bid.” I tend to agree—this is a car I’d pounce on in a heartbeat.

2021 Ferrari 812 GTS

Now let’s switch gears to something a little more exotic: the Ferrari 812 GTS. This is the open-top version of the 812 Superfast, and it’s every bit as outrageous as you’d expect. A naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 pushing 800PS (that’s about 789 horsepower) paired with Ferrari’s seven-speed automatic. It’s a proper supercar that also gives you the thrill of open-air driving.

What I love about this one is how beautifully it’s spec’d. The Grigio GTS paint paired with Terra Bruciata leather and Alcantara interior is pure elegance. It’s got all the right options, from carbon-fiber trim to Daytona-style seats and a JBL sound system. Oh, and it comes with a few extras from Ferrari—a scale model of the car, a custom leather briefcase, and even a thank-you note from the manufacturer. Classy.

What makes this even cooler for me is its international story. Delivered in Belgium, now in Germany—it’s a reminder that the car world is so much bigger than just what we see in the U.S. Every time I visit Europe or Asia, I’m struck by the variety of cars and how enthusiasts across the world celebrate them differently. This 812 GTS fits right into that mindset.

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