🏁 Will This Pagani Sale Set New Records?

😱 PLUS: Why the seller turned down $1.7m for his Lexus LFA

The Daily Vroom

Good morning Vroomers! 👋

Usually, I aim to keep this newsletter short and sweet, focusing on delivering concise, to-the-point content. I'm aware that many of you prefer visual summaries over lengthy, text-heavy updates. However, today I've written a bit more than usual. I decided to give the charts a break for the day while still ensuring the newsletter remains a quick, roughly 5-minute read.

MARKET LEADERBOARD

💰 The figures shared below don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc..

I only include websites that have sold 5+ cars in the chart below. Which means Hemmings and many others did not sell 5 cars yesterday!

We didn't catch the million-dollar sale that went down yesterday – you'll find the details below – but we did witness an impressive $6 million worth of vehicles changing hands, which is pretty remarkable. The auction scene remains vibrant with more high-end sales concluding today, along with some unique and quirky ones. The pace of sales certainly isn't slowing down!

YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES

Each of the top five cars from yesterday's auctions is a story in itself, worthy of individual attention.

Take, for instance, the two 2005 Ford GTs that were sold. Both had comparable mileage, yet their selling prices were notably different. The red Ford GT, part of the George Foreman collection, surprisingly didn't fetch a premium price, which I found intriguing. This, I believe, underscores the impact of the auction platforms themselves. The red GT, sold on Hagerty, couldn't match the exposure offered by Bring a Trailer, which facilitated the sale of the white GT.

However, the viewing statistics paint a curious picture: Hagerty's listing for the red GT shows 43,000 views, compared to BaT's 14,000 for the white one. This discrepancy in numbers seems odd to me – could it be that Hagerty's view count started at 40,000? 😉

2005 Ford GT $360,000

The Lexus LFA Auction: When Belief Outweighs The Bid

Yesterday's auction on Bring a Trailer for the 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package was nothing short of a spectacle. Here's a car that was initially bought for $454,000 in 2012, sold for $1,625,000 in 2022, and now, the seller just passes on a jaw-dropping $1,720,000 bid. That's a decision that really makes you sit up and take notice.

We're not talking about just any car here. This Lexus LFA is a marvel, one of only 500 ever made. It's even more special with the Nürburgring package, making it one of roughly 25 in the U.S. Every aspect of this car screams 'exquisite' – from its 4.8-liter V10 engine to the carbon-ceramic brakes and the pristine condition with only 2,100 miles.

So why did the seller hold back? It's easy to cry 'greed', but I see something different here. I see a seller with an unshakeable belief in the value of what they have. This isn't just about the profit margin; it's about the intrinsic value they see in this car. They're not just looking at numbers; they're looking at history, legacy, and the unique allure of this automotive masterpiece.

This story goes beyond the usual narrative of buying low and selling high. It's about believing in the true value of something extraordinary. Whether or not this belief aligns with the market's current valuation, it's a bold and admirable stance.

In a world where quick gains often overshadow deeper values, this seller stands as a reminder of the profound connections and beliefs we can have in objects like this Lexus LFA. It's a fascinating intersection of economics, passion, and personal conviction, showing us that sometimes, the worth of something isn't just in its price tag but in the value we personally assign to it. Hats off to the seller for their courage and conviction, showcasing a belief in something they see as more than just a car, but a piece of automotive legend.

Oh, and just a heads-up for those in the loop - there's another Lexus LFA ending today on Bring a Trailer. So, if you're in the market for one, today might just be your lucky day.

Pagani Power Play On BaT

While the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package I mentioned earlier didn't hit the expected heights at auction, the ongoing Bring a Trailer auction for a 2014 Pagani Huayra is shaping up to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. With the current bid already at $2.4 million and five days left, the excitement is palpable. It's unlikely to surpass the BaT record set by the 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta at $5,360,000 in 2022, but it might just eclipse this year's top sale from Collecting Cars, a 1997 Ferrari F50 that went for $3.7 million.

This Huayra isn't just any car; it's a monumental first for BaT. It's the first Pagani ever listed on the platform and possibly the first Pagani to be sold in an online auction. The buzz around this sale is undeniable. Imagine the chatter in exclusive clubs worldwide, where the elite are stunned to hear that such a masterpiece is available not at Mecum or Barrett-Jackson, but on an online auction platform like Bring a Trailer. And the cherry on top? BaT's maximum $5k fee is a game-changer, saving the buyer easily over $100k in fees! (wonder why online auction platforms are on the up? 😀)

Interestingly, this auction has even attracted a first-time bidder on BaT, highlighting the exclusivity and allure of the Pagani brand. It's a name that resonates with only a select few around the globe, those who understand and appreciate the unparalleled craftsmanship and engineering that go into each Pagani.

The 592-mile 2014 Pagani Huayra listed is a marvel of automotive artistry, boasting a carbon-titanium monocoque, clear-coated exposed carbon fiber, and active aerodynamics. The tan leather upholstery and the black-painted alloy wheels add to its exquisite appearance. Under the hood lies a 6.0-Liter Mercedes-AMG V12 with twin turbochargers, paired with an Xtrac seven-speed automated manual transaxle. This car isn't just about luxury; it's about peak performance and engineering excellence.

Adding to the excitement, the seller has announced that the reserve is off, guaranteeing this beauty will find a new home. This is a significant detail that BaT might consider highlighting more prominently in future auctions. A simple feature indicating when a reserve is lifted could be a game-changer for bidders who unlike me, don't always scroll through the comments.

Would you be interested in BaT introducing a feature that indicates when a reserve has been removed?

(I think it would encourage more bidders)

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In conclusion, this 592-Mile 2014 Pagani Huayra auction on Bring a Trailer isn't just an auction; it's a landmark event in the online luxury car auction space. It's a testament to the growing acceptance and enthusiasm for high-value, prestigious online car sales, a trend that's reshaping the collector car market. This auction is not just about the car; it's about making history.

Contentious Auction For The 2020 Hydratrek

The recent auction for the 2020 Hydratrek XTB66, an exceptional amphibious 6x6 vehicle equipped with a 2.4L Turbodiesel I4 engine and capable of accommodating seven passengers, concluded with a high bid of $42,750. However, the auction's highlight was not the vehicle's impressive features or the final bid, but the intense back-and-forth between the seller and a bidder.

The tension escalated when a bidder questioned the seller about the reserve price and the purpose behind their purchase of the vehicle. The seller, sharply replied, dismissing the questions as irrelevant and inflammatory. The situation intensified when the bidder pointed out a previous lower sale price for a similar unit, to which the seller countered by mentioning a prior auction where the vehicle reached $70,000 without meeting the reserve.

Following the auction's conclusion, the seller first revealed the selling price which was $55,000 & then posted these two additional comments out of sheer frustration which might give us some indication on what the bidder was after.

From the seller's responses, it appears that the bidder might have been aiming to secure a bargain during or after the auction. Whether these comments negatively impacted the final auction result is debatable. It's important to note that Cars & Bids isn't at fault here, as they effectively manage the comments section. I hope that the seller experiences more success in any future auctions.

Who do you think was in the wrong during this heated exchange?

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Your Feedback

Yesterday I asked you Do you think the final bid for the 2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 of $122,800 was a fair price? 

63% of you believed that the seller should have taken the deal, which is about two thirds. Here’s a select few comments.

It's still a cooling market for non special edition cars.

Personally, I think even GT Porsche might suffer from some mild fluctuations - and like you said, that's especially true for the non RS. But if we get into spring and allocations are still thin on the ground, this seems like a 130k car? What else would someone buy if they can't get a new one? Still dirt cheap for what it is.

Some sellers are greedy, it has to be said! They still think the market prices is 2021, when in reality it is a lot different. Each to his own, but I know i wouldn’t have turned down $122,000…

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