MARKET LEADERBOARD

💰 The figures shared below don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc..

I only include websites that have sold 5+ cars in the chart below. Which means Hagerty, PCarMarket and many others did not sell 5 cars yesterday!

It seems the unexpected has happened. After enjoying a vibrant and bustling two days of sales across various platforms, we observed a noticeable dip in activity yesterday ☹️.

Aside from the big four you see in the chart above, Hagerty wrapped up deals on two cars, accumulating a total of just $18k, whereas Hemmings had a slightly busier day with three cars sold (out of 11 listings), bringing in a combined $41k. In contrast, platforms like PCarMarket experienced a quiet day with not a single sale recorded!! Overall, the total sales across all platforms amounted to $5m, marking a deviation from what we typically expect to see.

On an average day, the market tends to see around 20 sales hitting the six-figure range. Yesterday, we saw this number cut in half. It's crucial to note that this wasn't due to a lack of listings; the cars were present, but the buyers were not.

In light of this, I've literally just decided to shift my focus on what I was going to write and take a closer look at some of those six-figure cars that were on the cusp of selling. By delving into these “almost” sales, we can begin to dissect and understand the factors that might have influenced the buyers' decisions.

Together, let's analyze these market patterns, learn from them, and strategize for future success. The aim is to unravel the intricacies of these fluctuations, ensuring we are better equipped to navigate the market's highs and lows.

Let's cut through the noise. You've heard the murmurs – the market's in a slump, interest rates are sky-high, and the proverbial sale well is about to run dry. It's true, interest rates have taken their seat in the stratosphere, and if you're looking at the sell-through rates, they've taken a nosedive off a very steep cliff over the last six months.

But here's the kicker – while the naysayers have been busy predicting doom, our numbers are telling a different story. In the world of online auctions, we're not just surviving; we're thriving. Last month, we saw a surge past 4,200 sales, pushing past September's numbers with nearly 200 more vehicles sold. That's right, despite the market's ups and downs, collectors and enthusiasts are keeping the digital hammer busy with a total transaction value soaring to $168.3 million in October – a solid $7.2 million leap from September.

So, to the Debbie Downers out there, I say: Online auctions aren't just sticking around; they're setting the pace. These figures are hot off the press from virtually all major auction sites – and I mean the ones we trust. Sure, I've left a couple out of the mix, and our sharp readers might have a hunch about the names I'm dancing around. But hey, this is The Daily Vroom – we deal in horsepower, not hearsay.

Stick with us. We're not just watching the market; we're on the pulse of it.

In the echelon of top-tier sales this October, the above 20 cars stood out on the auction block. Porsche and Ferrari raced neck and neck for the title of most coveted, each brand boasting 7 sales in the top 20. Ford wasn't far behind, securing 3 spots with some iconic pieces of Americana. The remaining three slots were claimed by Chevrolet, Maserati, and AC, each with a single sale that broke into our leaderboard.

When it comes to the platforms facilitating these top transactions, 'Bring a Trailer' led the charge with an overwhelming 17 of the top 20 sales. 'Collecting Cars' waved the checkered flag for 2 of the top sales, while 'Cars & Bids' made a notable appearance with 1 sale making the cut. In fact in the top 100 sales only 1 other platform made some sales and that was PCarMarket.

Understanding the Price Range of Popular Car Makes Sold at Auction

In our latest auction data (my new favorite chart), we’ve visualized how the prices of cars from the most popular makes compare. Think of each make like a brand of car, like Ford or Ferrari.

Here's what the chart with the boxes and lines shows us:

• Boxes (The Thick Part): Each box represents most cars sold by a brand. The top and bottom of the box show the higher and lower price ranges where many cars are sold. A tall box means there's a big difference between the pricier and more affordable cars of that brand. A short box means most cars of that brand sell for around the same price.

• Middle Line in the Box: This is the middle price for each brand's cars. It's not the average but the price that's right in the center, with half the cars selling for more and half for less.

• Lines (or "Whiskers") Above and Below the Boxes: These lines stretch out to show the very expensive or very affordable sales that don’t happen as often. They give us an idea of the full range of prices for each brand.

• Dots: Sometimes, you'll see dots way above or below the rest. These are the surprises — cars that sold for way more or way less than we'd expect.

Here are a few key takeaways from our latest data:

• Luxury Brands: Some brands, especially the luxury ones, have a wide range of prices. They can sell average-priced cars, but sometimes, they have cars that sell for really high prices, likely because they’re rare or special.

• Consistent Brands: Other brands have most of their cars selling for around the same price, which tells us there's not as much variety in the prices of cars they're selling.

• Median Prices: Looking at the line in the middle of the boxes, we can tell which brands tend to have more expensive cars in general.

This chart helps us see not only which car brands tend to be more expensive but also how much prices can vary within each brand. It's a snapshot of the car auction market, showing us where the deals are and where the collectors might be spending a bit more for something special.

The leaderboard of sales volumes comes with few shocks at the summit, with 'Bring a Trailer' consistently driving the most sales home. However, the race for runner-up is less clear-cut. It's commendable how UK platforms like 'Collecting Cars' and 'Car & Classic' are punching above their weight, considering their target market is markedly narrower than the vast American landscape. 'Collecting Cars' in particular deserves a nod, maintaining a robust presence and ringing up sales across multiple countries.

Shifting our gaze to the vintage of vehicles, 2003 emerges as October's vintage of choice — a year that saw no less than 116 cars changing hands. It's a reminder that the allure of early 21st-century design and engineering still holds sway in the hearts (and wallets) of collectors.

The timeline of Porsche 911 sales in October illustrates a dynamic market with significant fluctuations. The peak average price occurred on October 26th, marked by the sale of a "2019 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Weissach" at $430,000.00, showcasing the high demand for recent, high-performance models.

Conversely, the lowest average price was recorded on October 28th with the sale of a "2007 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe" at $32,800.00, reflecting the more affordable segment of the market that caters to buyers seeking older models or those with higher mileage.

The timeline of 3 Series sales in October paints a vivid picture of the market's ebb and flow. 📈 The peak average price occurred on the 23rd, with the standout sale of "2004 BMW M3 CSL" at $100,875.00.

Conversely, the lowest average price was on the 21st, with "2005 BMW 325Ci Coupe" changing hands at $6,800.00. This illustrates the diverse appeal of the 3 Series, with both high-end models 🌟 and more affordable options 🚗 drawing interest from a variety of buyers.

The timeline of Corvette sales in October paints a vivid picture of the market's ebb and flow. 📈 The peak average price occurred on the 15th, with the standout sale of "2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Coupe 3LZ Z07" at $186,000.00. Conversely, the lowest average price 🏞️ was on the 7th, with "2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06" changing hands at $36,000.00.

The timeline of Mustang sales in October paints a vivid picture of the market's ebb and flow. 📈 The peak average price occurred on the 24th, with the standout sale of "1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429" at $337,000.00. Conversely, the lowest average price was on the 2nd, with "1966 Ford Mustang Coupe" changing hands at $16,000.00

The timeline of SL-Class sales in October paints a vivid picture of the market's ebb and flow. 📈 The peak average price 🏔️ occurred on the 15th, with the standout sale of "1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL 4-Speed" at $165,000.00. Conversely, the lowest average price 🏞️ was on the 3rd with "2001 Mercedes-Benz SL500" changing hands at $10,000.00.

Within the heatmaps, you'll find the rows populated by the top 10 car makes/models and the columns by the top 6 platforms, ranked by the volume of cars sold. Each cell is a cross-section of this data, where the color intensity and the figures provided reveal the sales volume for each make/model on each platform.

This layout is designed for rapid interpretation. Darker shades signify more robust sales figures, letting you instantly identify which makes and models are the top performers on their respective platforms. It's a visual story of popularity and preference, distilled into a straightforward, easy-to-read format.

Diving deeper into the data, I've meticulously crunched the numbers to unveil the average selling price for the most sought-after models and makes across the leading six platforms. Whether you have a go-to favorite among them or you're just browsing the market, the quartet of heatmaps I've prepared will offer you crystal-clear insights.

These visuals serve up a concise view of not only what's moving off the virtual lot but also at what price point they're commanding. More than that, they afford you the opportunity to draw direct comparisons across platforms. It's a side-by-side, model-to-model, and make-to-make analysis that simplifies your decision-making process by laying out the landscape in its most transparent form.

Okay that’s enough Heatmaps for one day!! 😀

Regular readers are well-acquainted with The Daily Vroom's signature deep dives, and they'll attest that no exploration is complete without our community's beloved chart: the most popular day of the week for car sales. Casting your eyes on the chart below, it's evident that Tuesday takes the pole position, outpacing all other days as the prime time for auction action.

I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude. Your time is valuable, and the fact that you choose to spend part of your day with The Daily Vroom doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you for your continued readership and for being an essential part of our community.