Was the Market Crash a High-End Auction Killer?

PLUS: Why This 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster Didn't Sell...

The Daily Vroom

Hey Vroomers!

Man, yesterday was nuts with the stock market taking a nosedive. Everyone and their dog was saying it'd mess up the auction scene. And yeah, it might've played a part - we saw a bunch of fancy rides not making the cut (more on that below). But get this - we still had a ton of sales, way more than your average Monday. So who the heck really knows if the stock market tanked someone's decision to pull the trigger on that sweet 911?

I'll catch you guys tomorrow with more auction madness,

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.

What do we have here? A new contender climbing up the leaderboard. Big shoutout to PCarMarket for boosting their sales. I honestly can't recall the last time they made the list, so kudos to them. Remember that potential bargain I mentioned yesterday from PCarMarket - the 1991 Audi B3 90 Quattro 20V, an insurance write-off with some potential. It went for $4,250—not bad at all for a car that just needs a bit of TLC.

Overall, we had a pretty solid sales day, raking in $6.8m compared to the usual $5.5m on a typical Monday. It's always surprising how the average sale price hovers around $42k across all platforms, and yesterday was no exception. BaT's average was a little over $40k, Cars & Bids came in just above $21k, and Collecting Cars shot past $105k—thanks to that hefty $890k sale!

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.

1984 Porsche 956 $890,500

2005 Ford GT $370,000

1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL $214,500

2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Convertible 3LZ Z07 $159,000

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Coupe $138,000

High-End Hesitation

Alright, let's dive into the non-sales of some high-end beauties we saw today. Now, don't get me wrong, plenty of metal changed hands, but we're seeing some interesting trends that deserve a closer look.

First up, that 2022 Ferrari 812 GTS that stalled at $528k. With an MSRP of $523k, you'd think the seller would be jumping for joy. But the last online sale that went significantly over sticker was back in February, a cool $50k over. Since then, we've seen a slowdown in over-sticker sales. To me, this bid was bang on the money for current fair market value. But hey, the seller's prerogative, right?

Now, onto one of my personal favorites - the 2011 Porsche 911 Speedster. High bid hit $275,997, but no dice. With only 356 made worldwide and a measly 101 in the US, I can't blame the seller for holding out. Last online sale north of $300k was in January, fetching $317k. These babies were hot stuff back in 2021, regularly breaking the $300k barrier. Given its rarity, I wouldn't be surprised to see prices climb again. Sometimes, patience pays off.

The 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 is a different story. Bidding topped out at $218k, but no sale. Here's my take - too many mods. A lot of folks want their GT2s straight from the factory, no frills. Originality is king in this market.

Remember that 2024 Aston Martin DBX 707 AMR23 Edition I was raving about yesterday? Well, it hit $206k but couldn't seal the deal. Sticker price is $288k, but let's face it - Astons aren't exactly known for holding their value. I reckon if the bidding had inched closer to $250k, we might've seen some action.

Now, let's not forget the bigger picture. Even the best auction platforms don't move 20% of their inventory every day. Throw in a stock market that's doing its best impression of a roller coaster, and you've got a recipe for some hesitation on those big-ticket items. And that's not even considering the usual suspects - vacation seasons, day of the week, you name it.

Bottom line? The high-end market's feeling a bit of a squeeze. But don't call it a crash just yet. We're seeing some recalibration, sure, but there's still plenty of life in these luxury wheels. It's just a matter of sellers and buyers finding that sweet spot in a market that's a bit more... let's say, discerning.

Not Your Standard Auction Vehicles

In general I’m not a big fan of promoting a previous ‘celeb’ owner. (unless it’s a ‘89 Lebaron Convertible by Jon Voight, if you know, you know 😉). 

Here we've got a truly wild 1996 Mauck MSV 1120S Elite on our hands. This thing is a rolling work of art, with butterfly doors, a 6.3L V8, and looks straight out of a sci-fi flick. It's one of only about 100 ever made, which makes it rare as hen's teeth.

Now, I know what you're thinking - there's an elephant in the room. Yes, Kanye West's company supposedly owned this at some point. But let's be real: it's 2024, and that association is about as welcome as a skunk at a garden party. So let's focus on what matters.

This RV is a conversation starter without needing any celebrity nonsense. It's got leather seats, a full entertainment system, and enough quirks to keep you discovering new features for years. Sure, it's got some wear and tear, but that just means you won't feel bad actually using it.

It's a no reserve auction. That means you've got a shot at owning one of the weirdest, coolest RVs ever made without some inflated "celebrity tax" on the price.

Bottom line: Forget the baggage and focus on the vehicle. Who cares about its past when you could be its future?

Wow, this Alfa Romeo SZ is wild. I've never seen anything quite like it before. It's like someone took a wedge of cheese and turned it into a car. But you know what? I kind of dig it.

This thing is super rare - only about 1,000 made and barely any in North America. It's got that classic Alfa V6 engine that everyone raves about, and apparently handles like it's on rails. The previous owners barely drove it, so it's only got 8,000 miles on the clock.

The interior is pretty sweet too, all tan leather with these funky Zagato-designed seats. And check out that dashboard - it's like something out of a sci-fi movie from the 80s.

From what I'm reading in the comments, this car is a blast to drive. Owners are going on about how responsive it is and how great it sounds. But it's not without its quirks - sounds like you sit really high up in it, and you've gotta watch out for scraping that low front end.

I love that it's so divisive. People either think it's the coolest thing ever or absolutely hideous. Personally, I'm leaning towards the "cool" camp. It's just so weird and unique.

The seller, Wob, has done an awesome job with the presentation. Those studio shots really show off every detail. And it sounds like this is one of the best examples out there.

This isn't just some run-of-the-mill classic - it’ll turn heads wherever it goes. Plus, how often do you get the chance to own something called "The Monster"?

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