💰 The figures shared below account only for auction-time sales. Any post-auction deals (nice hustle!) aren't included in our weekly total. I also don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc..

I only include websites that have sold 15+ cars in the chart below.

📊 Weekly Auction Insights:

This week, sales clocked in at $38.5 million, aligning closely with last week's figure and showing a minor dip from two weeks back at $40 million.

🚗 Bring A Trailer: Consistent as ever, raking in $26.4 million from 599 cars. This figure, albeit a marginal rise from their preceding week, showcases a steady pace in their market trajectory.

🚙 Cars And Bids: Garnered $3.2 million with an average sale price of $26.3k. A slight decrease from last week's $3.4 million and $27.5k average.

🚘 Hagerty: The numbers tell a story of decline - from 12, to 11, and now 9, totaling just $217,106 this week.

🚙 Sotheby’s Motorsport - the new player in the market sold 2 cars at a total of $345,000.

🏎️ Collecting Cars: Chipped in with a solid $3.8 million from 71 deals.

For the regulars here, you'd recall the optimism in "Hagerty sales numbers under the microscope". The year's tone suggested nothing but growth. Yet, recent numbers hint at a pullback. Is this just the market catching its breath or something more? I'm on it, and you'll get the scoop right here. For a deeper flashback, check my previous post here.

The chart vividly illustrates the popularity hierarchy of car makes for the week. Dominating the scene, Porsche stands out as the most sought-after make, followed closely by Mercedes-Benz and BMW. While the likes of Jaguar, Chevrolet, and Ford maintain a stable presence, it's evident that European brands, particularly German manufacturers, have a significant foothold in this week's sales.

1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello $240,000

The 911 from Porsche is the undisputed leader in this week's sales, demonstrating its timeless appeal. Other models like the SL-Class from Mercedes-Benz and the 3-Series from BMW also have a significant presence. Interestingly, the variety in this list, from luxury to classic, speaks to the diverse tastes and preferences of buyers in the auction market.

Today I’m introducing a brand new type of chart above, called the ‘Violin Plot’. I’ve summarized below what you are seeing.

The white dot in each "violin" represents the median price for that platform, offering a quick reference point.

Summary:

1. Bring A Trailer: The most diverse platform in terms of price range, it caters to both budget-friendly and luxury markets. The densest region indicates a strong concentration of sales in the $20,000 to $60,000 bracket, with a median price around $30,000.

2. Cars And Bids: This platform is skewed more towards the budget-friendly segment. A high density in the sub-$30,000 region with a median price hovering slightly above $20,000 suggests it's a go-to for more affordable options.

3. Car & Classic: The distribution is relatively even, with sales spanning from budget to mid-range prices. The median price is just under $30,000.

4. Collecting Cars: Exhibiting a similar pattern to "Bring A Trailer", this platform has a wide range of offerings. There's a notable peak around the $25,000 to $55,000 range, with the median slightly below $40,000.

5. Hemmings Auctions: The platform demonstrates a fairly even distribution, but with a higher density in the $10,000 to $40,000 range. The median price is around $25,000.

This visual provides a clear representation of the top car makes each platform leans towards.

Summary:

• Bring A Trailer: Porsche dominates, with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, and Chevrolet also making strong appearances.

• Cars And Bids: While Mercedes-Benz leads, it's closely followed by Porsche, BMW, Chevrolet, and Ford.

• Car & Classic: Here, Porsche reigns supreme, with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ferrari, and Jaguar completing the top five.

• Collecting Cars: This platform sees Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ferrari, and Ford as its top sellers.

• Hemmings Auctions: Chevrolet leads the sales, with Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Buick, and Cadillac following suit.

This visualization provides a detailed view of the specific car models that resonate most with buyers on each platform.

Summary:

• Bring A Trailer: The Porsche 911 leads the pack, with Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, BMW 3-Series, Chevrolet Corvette, and Porsche 356 also making notable appearances.

• Cars And Bids: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is a favorite, followed by Porsche 911, Ford Mustang, BMW 3-Series, and Chevrolet Corvette.

• Car & Classic: Porsche 911 is the top seller, with Ferrari 308, Jaguar E-Type, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, and Porsche 356 trailing.

• Collecting Cars: Porsche 911 reigns supreme, followed by BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz SL-Class, Ford Mustang, and Porsche 356.

• Hemmings Auctions: Chevrolet Corvette takes the lead, with Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, Buick Riviera, and Mercedes-Benz 200-Series also being popular.

It's evident that each platform has its own market niche and attracts a distinct clientele, leading to variations in average sale prices.

Summary:

• Porsche 911: Unsurprisingly, the Porsche 911 fetches the highest prices on "Bring A Trailer", with an average price of approximately $103,281. "Collecting Cars" and "Cars And Bids" follow with average prices of $79,452 and $49,800, respectively.

• BMW 3-Series: This model sees fairly consistent pricing across platforms. "Bring A Trailer" leads with an average price of $26,930, while "Cars And Bids" and "Collecting Cars" have average prices around the $23k-$22.5k range.

• Chevrolet Corvette: "Bring A Trailer" again leads with an average price of $89,660. The Corvette's average price on "Collecting Cars" is $15,028, followed by "Hemmings Auctions" at $17,376 and "Cars And Bids" at a notably lower $10,700.

Summary:

• Porsche 911:

  • Bring A Trailer: This platform offers a broad selection of the 911, ranging from the 1960s to recent years. There's a pronounced concentration in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

  • Cars And Bids: Their selection primarily focuses on 911s from the 1980s to recent years.

  • Collecting Cars: The offerings are similarly inclined towards the 1980s onwards.

• SL-Class:

  • Bring A Trailer: A diverse range is evident, spanning from the 1960s to the 2000s. Peaks are observed in the 1970s and 1980s.

  • Cars And Bids: The SL-Class cars from this platform predominantly hail from the 1980s and 1990s.

• 3 Series:

  • Bring A Trailer: This platform showcases a varied range from the 1980s to the 2000s, with a concentration in the late 1980s and 1990s.

  • Cars And Bids: They offer a tighter range, mainly from the late 1980s to the 2000s.

From the data, "Bring A Trailer" emerges as a versatile platform, offering a wide spectrum of car years across these popular models. In contrast, "Cars And Bids" and "Collecting Cars" seem to gravitate towards more modern classics, particularly from the 1980s onwards. Which makes sense as Cars & Bids ONLY list modern cars!

Interestingly, "Car & Classic" didn't make a prominent appearance in our earlier average sale price chart. The reason? Their eclectic mix of offerings. Unlike other platforms that might lean heavily towards specific car types, "Car & Classic" serves up a diverse platter, ensuring there's something for every car enthusiast.

Diving into their portfolio, some patterns emerge:

Most Popular Makes:

• Mercedes: Clearly a favorite among "Car & Classic" patrons, Mercedes clinched the top spot with 17 sales.

• Jaguar and Ford: Both makes tied for the runner-up position, each clocking in 6 sales.

Price Ranges:

• On the luxury end, an Aston Martin Vanquish S (above) took the crown as the priciest acquisition, going for a cool $97,500.

• For those seeking more budget-friendly options, a Mercedes 300 SEL provided incredible value, with its sale price tagged at a mere $1,105.

This variety underscores "Car & Classic" as a unique marketplace, catering to both high-end collectors and those looking for more economical finds.

AUCTIONS TO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS WEEK

Last week, I shone the spotlight on a seller attempting to flip the 2024 Acura Integra Type S, attributing family reasons for the sale. Fast forward to auction end: the vehicle managed a mere two bids, with the highest being $49,500 - lower than the MSRP. Seller was probably looking for $60-$70K.

📉 A Flip Gone Wrong? 📉

Upon its release, the Acura Integra Type S may have been a hard catch, fueling demand and allowing dealers to inflate prices. But times change. Now, securing one for MSRP is fairly straightforward. The bidders knew this, and the lack of bids beyond the base price speaks volumes.

• Seller's Take: "The new Acura Integra is an excellent daily driver... skip the line at the local Acura dealership."

Lessons Learned: The auction underscores the importance of understanding market dynamics and buyer sentiment. While the initial scarcity might offer a window for premium pricing, as availability normalizes, prices stabilize too.

🔮 Forecasting Flips: Before attempting a car flip, it's vital to gauge its current market demand and availability. Otherwise, you might just end up with just two bids, as seen with this Acura Integra Type S.

I was asked the following questions from Nate W. over the weekend, which I though you’d enjoy reading about.

My answer:

While many models from the 1980s and 1990s are gaining traction, the BMW 3 Series, particularly the E30 variant, stands out. Its timeless design, coupled with a perfect balance of performance and luxury, has always resonated with enthusiasts.

The E30, with its rich racing heritage and iconic status, is not just a car but a piece of automotive history, making it a prime candidate for future classic stardom. In terms of pricing trends, recent sale over the past 6 months has shown prices to be rising.

Let me know what cars you think are future classics?

Do you have a question you’d like an answer to?

Do you have a car story you want to share?

Do you have a picture of your first car?

I would love to hear from you on any of the above and more. Just reply to this email and you can be featured right here in The Daily Vroom!