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  • 📣 Is the Online Car Market Softening? (Spoiler: It's Not)

📣 Is the Online Car Market Softening? (Spoiler: It's Not)

PLUS: The most incredible sale of the day BaT have EVER had...

The Daily Vroom

Good morning, Vroomers!

I often hear the question: is the market softening? There's no simple answer; however, my view is that today's market can't be directly compared to the COVID era. We can, however, look at last year and the pre-COVID years. And as you'll see below, many makes and models are reaching new highs!

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.

The reserve sell-through rate is just for cars that are listed with a reserve. The full sell-through rate includes all auctions, reserve and no-reserve.

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

Yesterday saw $6 million worth of vehicles sold online. Big shoutout to Cars & Bids—they had one of their best days this year, maybe their best ever, in terms of sales. They listed and sold more cars than usual, averaging 30 cars a day this week. But can they push that up to 40 cars a day and beyond?

It's no cakewalk; every listing takes hustle. If they want to grow (and I know they do), they can't afford to backslide to 25 cars a day. They've got to keep aiming for 35, 40, and beyond.

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

The 2001 BMW Z8 is one of those cars that truly holds its value, securing another $200k+ sale despite being driven, especially impressive given its original $130k price tag.

Another highlight was a record-breaking sale for a 718 Spyder. The market is strong and thriving for so many models. Despite the current interest rates, there's still plenty of cash circulating and I don’t see a market that is softening.

Special mention to Collecting Cars who sold three very different Ferrari’s yesterday in Dubai, Netherlands & the UK. There are car enthusiasts in every corner of the globe.

Click on the cars to check out each listing!

2020 Ferrari 488 Pista $434,000

2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia $255,500

2001 BMW Z8 $201,000

2023 Porsche 718 Spyder 6-Speed $161,000

1971 Alpine A110 1600S $160,000

Sale Of The Day

If BaT are looking for their next big thing, boats could be it 😂 This auction received 50,000+ views and hundreds of comments…

Can you believe it? I'm highlighting a boat as the sale of the day! The 1995 Willard Marine Pilot Boat just went for $41,250. I’m not exactly a boat expert myself, and my boat knowledge is pretty much zero.

So, why am I spotlighting this one?

First off, it’s not every day you see a boat sold on a mostly car auction site. Plus, it’s from a seller like Wob, one of the best in the business. Once I saw it up for grabs, I had to dig a little deeper.

According to WOB, this boat’s valued at $250,000. He might be spot on, though I’ve got no clue—and even less idea why he listed it on BaT or why it ended up selling for just $41k!

But honestly, the comments section is where the magic happens. Bill’s story sums up why BaT is so valuable and entertaining, and why folks keep coming back.

OK… many who have heard the story previously keep asking so with plenty of time before the big guns growl, her goes…

As many of you are aware, I was formally an officer in the Navy, sailed merchant ships before and after the Navy and spent 26 years in the Navy Reserves.

In the late 1980s, I was on a ULCC Oil Tanker, which at the time had inherited the title as largest ship in the world due to the demise of a few others.

The ship was in dry dock in Dubai, the only dock large enough in the world to accommodate such a ship.

I had my Chief Engineers Steam and Diesel license and they needed an engineer on another ship in the Pacific that was going to Singapore.

I was flown to Singapore and a few days later boarded the pilot boat and told that we would meet the ship in the anchorage.

The ship was a 105,000 deadweight ton tanker that was empty. Meaning it had about 80 feet of freeboard for me to climb the pilot ladder to get on board.

This was not something I was looking forward to, especially given that the seas were rough and it was in the middle of the night.

We were in the Straights of Malacca and got word that the ship was under attack from pirates and they would not be stopping and I was to quickly jump and get on the ladder and get aboard as quickly as I possibly could.

The pilot and his crew knew their stuff… This however was all brand new to me and I had never attempted to board any ship in this manner.

The pilot maneuvered the pilot boat alongside the tanker and matched the speed of about ten knots. The swells were running 15 to 20 feet and the periodicity of the waves was about equal to the length of the pilot boat, which meant we were heaving up and down like an elevator through two stories every 20 seconds.

A rope was lowered and secured around my duffle bag and it was hauled aboard. In hindsight, that is how they should have gotten me onboard as just grabbing and holding onto the latter was a challenge I never wish to repeat.

It was pitch black and then the pilot boat departed leaving it even blacker. I could see nothing but could feel the latter and slowly made my way up.

Obviously I made it or I would not be here to tell about it.

I don’t know how long it took to finally reach the deck but it felt long and I honestly did not think I was going to make it.

On deck, I was greeted by one of the deck officers and two crew with fire axes and hand made machetes.

The pirates were still in pursuit, trying to board and the ship’s firehoses were going full bore out the rear and stern of the ship.

They never did get aboard that time and I never had to use a pilot ladder again to board any ship.

Keep that in mind when you think about how many trips this boat would have made over the years and efforts it took for the pilots to board some of the really good size container ships that frequent the West Coast.

Now bid like you mean it and own a piece of real maritime history!

Cheers,

Bill

This has to include a first for BaT—a deep dive video.

Auction Length Feedback

Yesterday, we posed the question: "Do you think vehicle auctions should extend beyond the traditional 7-day period, or should they be limited to maintain excitement?"

The response was evenly split between those favoring a cap at 7 days and those suggesting 10 days as the maximum duration for an auction. Here’s a selection of your comments:

Look at Hemmings. The auctions seem endless. Who maintains the focus needed - especially with their usual offerings.

You know if you want the car from the start. The only reason, given you know you want it, not to buy ,is price. Review with one day left, if your in the bidding fine, bid, if not move on.

7 days is more than enough time for a serious buyer to make a decision and access funds. Any longer might weed out those serious buyers that don't want to wait around for all those armchair buyers. Also the pain of a week of enduring the keyboard warrior army of nitpickers is more than any buyer should have to endure.

Auction Spotlight

Today we’re shining the light on five very different cars that all end today.

As of the writing of the newsletter this forgotten Fourginette has no bids. The listing states that "This 1979 example, previously employed as a delivery vehicle in Argentina, embarked on a remarkable journey to Montreal before undergoing a meticulous restoration by a local Citroen Specialist." Translated into English, that means that this chassis was beaten to crap for 40 years as a delivery vehicle, purchased and shipped to Canada where a Francophile lovingly rescued it and restored it in a drab greenish beige color.

Don't get me wrong, this thing is charming as heck. I have no idea what I would use it for, but I would love to own it. If you have never driven and shifted a CITROËN, they are unique, to say the least. This particular version, with cloth seats, enclosed cargo area and no AC is pure utility in its simplest form. That being said, it is timeless and classic utility. Know someone who owns a bakery? Have you always wanted to own a bakery? Well, here we have the right car for you. 

This 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0—number 005 out of 600—is a jaw-dropper. With just 920 miles under its belt, it feels like finding a unicorn that’s been chilling in a climate-controlled dreamland. The original owner babied this Carrera White beauty, and it shows. This isn't just any Porsche—it's the swan song of the Mezger engine, delivering an intoxicating 500-horsepower punch that makes your spine tingle.

Inside, it's all about the vibes: black and red leather wrap you up like a rock star, while the carbon fiber trim and premium features make you feel like you've won the lottery.

This could be the best car SOMO's ever auctioned. Every inch oozes with personality and prowess, from the aggressive aero kit to that unmistakable exhaust note.

This 1959 Edsel Villager Station Wagon is a nostalgic head-turner, and I'm loving it. It’s a true survivor, boasting a robust 332ci V8 engine with an automatic transmission that has only clocked 57,000 original miles. That alone is impressive, but wait until you see this beauty's stunning white-and-red two-tone paint job paired with those immaculate chrome accents. The curved rear window is like a time capsule, and the American Racing wheels add a dash of modern flair to the classic vibe.

What makes this Villager special is how it captures the era's optimism and design ethos—a time when wagons were more than just utility vehicles; they were symbols of freedom and adventure. Whether you're a collector yearning for that elusive piece of automotive history or simply someone who appreciates the irresistible nostalgia of a well-preserved station wagon, this Edsel is as rare as they come. Get behind the wheel, and you’ll understand why this gem deserves every bit of love it gets.

Cars that have been owned and cherished by a single family for decades are often special vehicles.

This 280SL is no exception. With over 50 years of ownership in the same family, this is an interesting find. Many in the comments section do not believe the 23K miles that are shown. There is a rare tonneau cover and, of course, the pagoda hardtop. This will not be cheap to restore, but that may deter other bidders and it would make an amazing driver until you decide to. It is not the cleanest SL out there, but it looks like a car that has been stored, sparingly used and generally looked after. Note that a brake issue was found on a test drive, but the owner will sort it out post sale and before delivery.

An affordable future classic, this 25k-mile 2011 Mercedes-Benz E350 Cabriolet offers a combination of modern conveniences, timeless style, and an irresistible Capri Blue Metallic finish paired with a sophisticated beige leather interior. The power-operated blue soft top completes the chic aesthetic, making this cabriolet a true head-turner on the road.

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