💰 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+ cars in the chart below.

We're thrilled to share a key update to our market leaderboard, directly influenced by your recommendations!

A new column has been added to display the sell-through rate for vehicles with a reserve. This development is poised to significantly benefit enthusiasts keen on tracking the success rate of reserved car listings.

It's important to note that BaT and Cars & Bids lead the way with the highest number of No Reserve listings. While other platforms might occasionally feature a limited number of such listings, our current analysis will focus on the sell-through rates for cars with reserves primarily on these two platforms. This strategic focus will remain until there's a marked increase in No Reserve listings across other platforms.

To provide an example of our approach to data tracking and analysis: On BaT yesterday, of the 125 listings, 55 were without a reserve, meaning 70 listings had a reserve price. From these, 43 reserved listings were sold, achieving a sell-through rate of 61% for cars with a reserve. This statistic is essential for understanding market trends and the appeal of reserved listings. 

Please keep suggesting new features/ideas for The Daily Vroom. You can email me directly - [email protected] 

Congratulations to Sotheby’s Motorsport who had the most expensive sale yesterday.

We had yet another awesome low-mileage manual GT3 fetching way over MSRP, ($164k) there’s no stopping them!

Click on the cars to be taken directly to the listing.

Thank you to everyone for their overwhelming positive feedback on this new feature.

Below are the top 5 Alumni sales yesterday. The arrows in the diagram below show whether the vehicle sale has gone down or up in value.

In yesterday’s roundup of Alumni auctions, among the 13 cars listed yesterday, a striking 11 found new homes. However, only two vehicles stood out, surpassing their original listing prices. Let’s dive into these two:

First in the spotlight is the 1971 Lancia Fulvia 1.3S, which commanded a sale price of $19,001, ascending from its last sale at $15,000 in 2017. This classic Italian masterpiece has been lovingly maintained, accruing just 3,000 miles since its previous sale. Its journey of care included crucial maintenance and thoughtful upgrades: an oil change, coolant flush, and the replacement of the water pump, oil pan gasket, and valve cover gaskets. These meticulous efforts have not only safeguarded its mechanical excellence but have significantly enhanced its value, making it a coveted gem for its new owner.

Another vehicle that captured the spotlight is the 2001 Mercedes-Benz SL600, which sold for $32,250, slightly edging out its previous sale price of $32,000 in 2020. This luxury icon has only been graced with 150 additional miles on its odometer, reflecting its immaculate condition and one would hope the extraordinary care it should have received while nestled in a private storage club in Miami.

In the realm of our latest alumni listings, one sale stands out not for its gain but for the substantial depreciation it endured, marking it as the most significant decrease in value among all cars sold yesterday. This tale is a poignant reminder of the unpredictable twists in the world of car auctions, especially when an auction fails to attract the anticipated traffic or the right buyers. Conducted as a no-reserve auction, this particular sale ended in a scenario that the seller might have least expected.

The car in question is this 2007 Mercedes-Benz S600 a model boasting a very rare color combination and kept in pristine condition in a garage, was initially purchased two years ago for $41,650 but took a drastic turn, selling for merely $24,000 yesterday. This outcome is especially bitter given the seller's dedication to the vehicle's upkeep and their clear intention for long-term ownership. Driven only on local roads, avoiding highways, and accruing approximately 8,000 miles over two years, the car was more than just a mode of transport; it was a passion project for the seller, who has invested over $50,000 in maintaining and upgrading it since the purchase. YES you read that correctly, $50,000!! He has the receipts to show it all!!

The car had a professional-grade wet sand treatment aimed at eradicating all paint swirls and a professional-grade ceramic coating to protect the vehicle's exterior. Additional unlisted investments include replacing the windshield with an OEM version to address tiny chips from age, installing a new engine cover to replace one missing the V12 emblem, and updating the tint to rectify minor peeling signs of wear. The seller's meticulous attention to detail extended to inspecting every button, light, and feature, listening for any interior or engine squeaks, and ensuring every minor issue was addressed.

This narrative is a stark illustration of the risks inherent in car auctions, particularly no-reserve auctions, where the outcome can be as unpredictable as the market's whims. Despite the seller's profound care and substantial investment in the vehicle, aiming to preserve its condition and enhance its value, the auction did not reflect these efforts in its final sale price. This scenario underscores the emotional and financial stakes of car ownership and trading, highlighting the delicate balance between personal attachment to a vehicle and the market forces that ultimately determine its value. I feel for the seller on this one.

Cars & Bids yesterday unveiled their very own Concierge service, a move that aligns perfectly with their evolving platform. This development is particularly fitting, given their regular listings of high-end vehicles. With this service, they're stepping up to provide a 'white-glove' experience, catering specifically to those users looking for a hassle-free process. This initiative not only aims to attract a more discerning clientele, perhaps those with a collection, but also opens up new avenues for revenue generation.

It's worth noting that Cars & Bids isn't breaking new ground with this concept, as concierge services are offered by other platforms. However, as the second-largest platform in terms of sales volume, introducing such a service is a logical step. It reflects a keen understanding of market needs and customer preferences. For context, BaT's concierge service is priced at $3,500, sparking curiosity about the pricing strategy adopted by Cars & Bids for their version of the service.

For anyone interested in learning more about this offering or considering listing their car through the Concierge service, here’s the link to the page.

A few weeks ago, I brought to your attention the ambitious move by AutoTrader, a behemoth in the automotive sector, to dip its toes into the auction platform waters. Now, with their platform officially up and running, it's painfully clear: the launch has been nothing short of a catastrophe.

As it stands, there are 25 auctions live, with deadlines looming as soon as tomorrow. Yet, a staggering 20 of these listings are languishing without a single bid. The few bids that have trickled in are embarrassingly low, hovering around the $100 to $200 mark. This isn't just a stumble out of the gate; it's a full-blown nosedive. The launch, execution, and particularly the user experience (UX) have been disastrous.

One has to wonder, what was the thought process here? It seems as though the decision-makers at AutoTrader grossly miscalculated, perhaps assuming that their platform's inherent traffic and the current auction market's heat would guarantee a seamless entry into auctions. Likely, the internal pitch was something along the lines of, "We're a traffic powerhouse, and auctions are the rage—let's just slap together an auction feature, and they will come."

This assumption has proven to be a monumental misjudgment, demonstrating a critical lack of understanding of the auction domain's nuances and complexities. The current state of affairs highlights not just a failure in strategy but a profound disconnect with the needs and expectations of the auction audience.

This debacle serves as a stark warning about the perils of underestimating the challenge of entering new markets, emphasizing the necessity for meticulous planning, user-focused design, and strategic foresight. For a brand as established as AutoTrader, this episode is more than a misstep; it's a glaring testament to the importance of respecting the intricacies involved in launching and nurturing a successful auction platform.