In this week's roster of exceptional auctions, it’s a tough choice to spotlight just one vehicle. However, a standout has to be this marvel – a 1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A Split-Window Coupe. An absolute rarity, it's the first time I've seen such a classic pop up on the auction scene, making it an extremely special find.

Why This Porsche is a Must-See:

• Historical Gem: This Porsche is as close as it gets to the original Gmünd era, built just after Porsche returned production to Zuffenhausen. It's a tangible piece of Porsche’s storied history, meticulously handcrafted in the Porsche family shop in Gmünd, Austria.

• Refinement and Design: Unlike the more rudimentary Gmünd 356s, this Split-Window variant showcases significant improvements in build quality, fit, and finish. Thanks to Erwin Komenda's design genius, it boasts a streamlined shape that marks a significant evolution in Porsche’s design language.

• Upgraded Performance: Equipped with a later 1500cc engine and a fully synchronized gearbox, this car is a thrilling blend of classic charm and enhanced drivability – far surpassing its original 1300cc engine setup in performance and enjoyment.

Modifications and Extras:

• Comes with the original seats and a set of five 1952 date-stamped Lemmerz wheels, adding to its authenticity and value.

This 1951 Porsche 356 Pre-A Split-Window Coupe is not just a car; it's a masterpiece of automotive history, combining Porsche's early craftsmanship with significant historical value. Its rare Maroon paint, significant historical value, and upgraded performance make it an auction highlight not to be missed.

This weekend, we hit another remarkable milestone, with total sales surpassing the $6.5 million mark. Notably, the 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS featured below achieved the highest sale price for this specific model since 2022, outperforming 10 other sales of the same model in the interim.

To explore each auction, simply click on the image.

Cars & Bids, a platform many of you are familiar with, truly embodies what I like to call Mr. Consistency. This site, operational five days a week, boasts an impressive average of selling 20 cars daily, with a sell-through rate often hitting the 80% mark. The average price tag of these vehicles hovers around $30k. It's noteworthy that the highest bid recorded was a whopping $740,000 for a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, with the highest sale reaching $710,000 for a 2007 Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Coupe—both milestones achieved in the span of July & August last year.

The brainchild of Doug DeMuro, Cars & Bids later saw a significant shift when The Chernin Group took over the majority stake, bringing on board Ro Choy as the CEO, who has now been steering the ship for 16 months. Under his leadership, not only has the number of cars sold seen a slight uptick, but the sell-through rate has also improved. Enhancements such as the excellent shipping widget, a recently featured section on the homepage, and various other under-the-hood additions have significantly bolstered the site's user experience, arguably making it the best in its class. I’m sure there is more to come.

The burning questions I have revolve around the platform's scalability and its ability to list—and sell—higher-priced vehicles. Can Cars & Bids elevate its game to sell 30/40/50 cars daily on a consistent basis?

Well, they’ve answered one of those questions with the best possible answer. The listing of an epic 2014 McLaren P1, which has already surpassed the record bid on the site at $1,325,000, suggests a promising horizon for selling more high-ticket items. The incredible epic car had a limited production run of just 375 units, (chassis number #069). Everything you want in a hypercar is here.

I'm wondering, and probably others are too, if seeing these big sales will get more people thinking, "Hey, maybe I should list my high-end car on Cars & Bids." Will those million-dollar bids spark a trend?

This achievement is particularly significant when you consider the prohibitive fees charged by traditional auction houses, compared to Cars & Bids' maximum fee of $4,500. This differential underscores the platform's value proposition and hints at a future where more transactions move online, driven by the desire to avoid hefty fees. (this is inevitable). This is one auction that is probably breaking records for them in the number of comments, although crazily still way off the top listing for views, which is this one. (not one you expected, but understandable once you see the seller).

There’s more… Additionally, the very recent introduction of a community section is a move I applaud. Community engagement has been a cornerstone of success for BaT, and while replicating such a formula is challenging, the updated forum-like space with a 2024 vibe seems like a step in the right direction, go check it out and let us know what you think.