The Daily Vroom

Good morning Vroomers!

Not every day is filled with blockbuster sales. Yesterday, total sales across all platforms came in just shy of $5.2M, with the majority of transactions happening at $40K or below. One key indicator we track for high-end sales is whether the $100K+ segment hits 10% or more—Tuesday cleared that mark, but yesterday fell well short.

No surprises in brand dominance—Porsche led the pack, accounting for 22.7% of all sales.

And when it comes to decades, the 2010s were the most popular, proving once again that modern classics are in strong demand.

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.

I only include websites that have sold 5+ vehicles in the chart below. (no mishaps today)

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

Leading the sales yesterday, SOMO made a statement with the sale of this ‘23 Porsche Dakar.

Want to dive deeper into any of these listings? Just click on the car to take you directly to the listing.

Nearly Sale of the Day

Some cars trade hands quickly, and then there's this Speedster. Picked up at RM Sotheby’s in Monterey last August for $224,000, it has resurfaced just months later on BaT, where it bid to yesterday for $195,000—falling short of reserve. That alone makes for an interesting flip attempt, but the seller’s approach is what really stands out.

This isn’t your typical private seller or dealer listing. The seller appears to have built a business around sourcing “blue-chip” collector cars, offering enthusiasts a chance to participate in the resale process. Essentially, they operate a crowdfunded flip model, where cars are acquired at wholesale valuation, listed on platforms like BaT, and profits are shared. Not the usual dealer markup game—this is a structured resale operation with a community-driven element.

The seller explicitly offered pre-approved trades, something rarely, if ever, seen on BaT. Didn’t know they allowed that—but credit where it’s due, these guys seem to be full-fledged car nuts who have turned their passion into a viable business, kudos to them.

As for the car itself, it’s a real-deal vintage racer, once campaigned in SCCA events, later tucked away in Germany, and now back stateside. With a 912-sourced engine, disc brakes from a 356C, and a striking orange-and-black livery, it’s the kind of Speedster that begs to be tracked, not parked. Whether it finds a new home soon or cycles back through the seller’s system remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear—they know how to keep things moving.

Alumni Listings

Alumni cars often return to a market that’s evolved since their last sale. Sometimes, buyers hesitate to push past the previous price—but yesterday, that wasn’t an issue for most of these listings.

Of course, alumni sales come with plenty of variables. To truly analyze them, we’d need to compare past sale prices, factor in modifications, timing, and other key elements.

Here are yesterday’s top 5 Alumni sales, showing how their recent sale prices compare to their previous listings, along with the date of the original listing.

Timing is everything in this market…

Back in October, when this 1995 Ferrari F355 Challenge bid to $120K without meeting reserve, plenty of voices chimed in, claiming the market had spoken and values were heading south. And on that day, they weren’t entirely wrong. The market had spoken—just under specific conditions.

But external factors can play a huge role in any given auction, and this relisting proves it. Fast forward a few months, and the same car just hammered at $177K—a massive jump that suggests the right timing, the right bidders, and the right momentum can make all the difference.

For the seller, it’s a well-executed move. They ran it back, got the exposure, and walked away with the price they were after. That’s the kind of result that keeps sellers coming back to BaT.

Of course timing can go the other way. Take for example the 2009 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG that sold for $30k yesterday. In January 2024 a high bid of $30,250 was turned down, but in the end they decided to take the lower bid this time.

So many factors come into play when auctioning a car. Will be having more to say on this in the coming weeks & months.

Auctions To Keep An Eye On

The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition is everything enthusiasts could want in a modern hot hatch—manual transmission, all-wheel drive, a stiffened chassis, more torque than the standard GR Corolla, and a limited production run of just 200 units in the U.S. This particular example, #115 of 200, finished in Smoke, has 850 miles on the clock and is currently up for grabs.

But before getting swept up in the excitement, there are a few so-called potential issues worth noting.

Warranty and Fire Concerns

The GR Corolla community has been buzzing with concerns regarding Toyota’s handling of warranty claims, particularly in cases where engine fires have been reported. One widely discussed case involved Toyota denying a claim, citing the owner's manual’s warning about exceeding 85 mph without high-speed-rated tires. While the GR Corolla Morizo Edition does come with performance tires from the factory, the ambiguity surrounding Toyota’s stance on high-speed driving is enough to make any prospective buyer hesitate.

Beyond warranty concerns, there have been isolated reports of GR Corollas catching fire, though details on the root causes remain unclear. Toyota’s response to these incidents has been inconsistent, leaving some owners frustrated and uncertain about their coverage.

Unanswered Questions from the Seller

Adding to the uncertainty, the seller of this particular Morizo Edition has yet to address multiple questions from interested buyers. As of Wednesday afternoon, questions about top speed, tire specifications, and potential modifications have gone unanswered. Given the recent discussions about Toyota’s strict approach to warranty claims, a clear response from the seller would go a long way in reassuring buyers.

For a limited-production performance car, transparency is key. Buyers looking at this Morizo Edition deserve clear answers, especially when dealing with a car that carries potential concerns about warranty coverage and manufacturer-backed support.

At the moment, it’s an exciting listing—but also one that raises more questions than answers. Hopefully, the seller steps up before the auction ends.

We’ve seen it time and again like the Toyota auction above—if a seller isn’t engaged in their own auction, the odds of success drop fast. But not every seller on these platforms is a seasoned pro, and that’s what makes this 1983 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 stand out.

The truck itself - beautifully presented, finished in Copper Metallic, and clearly well cared for. But the real difference here is the seller. Answering questions, providing details, even replacing small parts mid-auction—this is how you do it.

Buyers notice. Bidders feel confident. And in the end, that engagement could be worth thousands. Kudos to this seller for running a textbook example of how to list a car the right way.

Yesterday, we featured the unicorn R129 SL600—187 miles, pure insanity. Today, another low-mileage classic, though not quite on the same level. This 1984 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC has just 10,900 miles, a one-family ownership history, and a period AMG body kit.

Why do I like this one? First, the SEC was the coupe of its era. Big V8, pillarless windows, and an unmistakable stance. It’s the car that screamed success in the ‘80s—whether you were a banker, a pro athlete, or, let’s be honest, someone with questionable business dealings.

Then there’s the AMG treatment. The early days of AMG were a wild west, long before Mercedes bought them outright. Kits were dealer-installed, parts were hand-picked, and no two cars were exactly alike. This one’s got the full look—body kit, AMG Aero wheels, even an AMG steering wheel. Period-correct and just the right amount of aggressive.

The backstory makes it even better—the owner’s son says this car was tucked away and only taken out for special occasions. And it shows. The interior looks untouched, the mileage is absurdly low, and you just don’t find these in this shape anymore.

One last thought—this seller lists cars on Bring a Trailer but chose to auction this one elsewhere. A strategic move? Testing the waters? Either way, it’s great to see sellers diversifying across platforms.

With rarity like this, expect a big number when the hammer drops.