The Daily Vroom

Good morning Vroomers!

I don’t usually dive into the political deep end here—honestly, I’d rather talk horsepower than horse-trading in DC—but there’s something buzzing around that a lot of us gearheads are chewing over lately: those 25% tariffs hitting on April 3rd. Whether you're flipping JDM oddities or hunting down Euro unicorns, the question’s the same—what now for imports?

We’re still a bit in the dark on the fine print. No full official text of the executive order has dropped yet—at least not widely—and the news reports floating around aren’t crystal clear on whether second-hand cars are in or out of this 25% hit. That said, based on what’s trickling out, it’s looking likely that used cars from places like Canada and Europe could get slapped with this too, on top of the existing 2.5% for European rides, jacking it up to 27.5%. No exemptions called out yet, no “get out of jail free” card for your dream E30 M3 or that clean Land Cruiser from across the border. Until we get the full scoop, it’s a safe bet this is gonna shake things up.

So, what’s that mean for the car world—especially for platforms like Bring a Trailer, who’ve been eyeing the foreign market with their European Partner Program? Well, it’s a curveball, no doubt. BaT’s been dipping their toes overseas, signing up some solid sellers in places like Germany and the Netherlands—key spots for Euro classics. But if us Americans are staring down a 27.5% tariff wall, a lot of us might think twice before bidding on that Porsche 964 or Alfa Spider from abroad. That’s cash on top of shipping, taxes, and whatever else you’re already shelling out. Suddenly, that “bargain” isn’t looking so hot.

For BaT, this could mean pivoting hard. They’ve got some of the sellers lined up—great start—but now they’ll need to dig deeper into each market, not just to find cars but to hook buyers over there too. If U.S. bidders are out of the game, they’ll need German enthusiasts, Dutch collectors, maybe even folks in the UK or beyond, to keep those auctions popping. It’s not just about listing a car anymore; it’s about building a bidder base in every corner they touch. They’re at the outset of this European push, and while they’ve got momentum, this tariff could force a rethink on how they grow.

Then there’s Collecting Cars, who’ve already got a leg up here. They’re not U.S.-based, and they’ve been planting flags in a ton of countries—UK, Australia, UAE, you name it. With a global presence already locked in, they’re not sweating the U.S. tariff as much. Their buyers and sellers are already spread out, so a hit to American wallets doesn’t tank their whole operation. They’ve got the infrastructure to keep the party going, whether it’s a Skyline in Japan or a Lancia in Italy. BaT’s got some catching up to do if they want to match that kind of reach.

Don’t get me wrong—BaT’s still THE heavyweight, and their European Partner Program has serious potential. They’ve got the brand, the community, and some killer cars already in the pipeline. But this tariff mess might mean they need to double down on the buyer side overseas, not just the sellers. Think local marketing, maybe even regional partnerships to pull in those Euro bidders who don’t blink at a €250k reserve. It’s a taller order than they might’ve expected when they kicked this off.

For us Stateside folks, it’s a bummer. Those dream imports might stay dreams a little longer, or at least cost a whole lot more. But for the platforms? It’s game on—just not the game they planned. Collecting Cars might be cruising ahead, while BaT’s got to shift gears and go deeper into each market. Either way, we’ll be watching how this plays out—probably with a coffee in one hand and a wrench in the other.

Table of Contents (links below are clickable)

• Market Leaderboard

• Yesterday's Top 5 Sales

• Sale of the Day

• Potential Bargains

MARKET LEADERBOARD

I might’ve jinxed C&B by calling out how strong their sell-through rate’s been lately. Yesterday was still solid—but not without a few bumps. One seller pulled two listings right at the end after selling offline, which led to a couple late cancellations. Add a few that just didn’t quite clear reserve, and the day wrapped at 68% sold.

Still—let’s keep it in perspective. That’s better than most platforms on a good day, even if it’s slightly below their own daily average. Everyone gets a reset day.

💰 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.

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

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

Sale of the Day

A Targa. A manual. And not just any Targa—one of around 80 ever made in this spec.

Today’s sale was a reminder that when rarity meets taste, buyers show up ready to swing. This 2012 997.2 Targa 4S was optioned like someone checked every box Porsche offered and then called up Exclusive Manufaktur for good measure. Cream White over leather-to-sample brown, ruffled comfort seats, Makassar wood, Sport Chrono, clear lights, and a 6-speed manual. The ultimate glass-ceiling sleeper.

Bidding was fierce, a full-on battle between two heavyweights in the final stretch. And the hammer fell at $163,500, which, let’s be honest, feels both high and totally justified.

Some people still sleep on the 997 Targa. Maybe it's the weight. Maybe it's the C4S base. But here’s the thing: this is not a compromise car. This is an event car. You get the coupe rigidity, cab visibility, AWD security, and a spec list that just doesn’t exist anywhere else.

There are plenty of fast 911s. Plenty of rare ones. But when you stack up mileage, condition, options, and market timing, this one checks every box—and then some.

Expect more Targa 4S owners to test the waters after this result.
But very few will have a build like this.

Potential Bargain Of The Day

I don’t think I’ve drooled over a sub-$10K car like this in a long time.

It’s a turbocharged, manual-swapped Plymouth Voyager. Yes, a minivan—with a 5-speed A-555, blow-off valve, intercooler, boost controller, exhaust cut-out... the works. It sounds like it should be parked behind a Speedway with three cracked windows. Instead? It’s clean. Way too clean.

White on red. Body-colored Shelby Pumper wheels. California-kept. Nearly 200k miles, but you wouldn’t guess it. Red interior with overhead gauges, stripped insulation, and just enough weird to make it magic.

No cat. No A/C. No smog compliance. Doesn’t matter. You’re not buying this to pass emissions. You’re buying it because it makes you grin like an idiot every time you hit boost in second gear.

Currently at $6K with a few hours left. If you’ve ever wanted to own something that makes zero sense and all the right noises, this is it.