Mecum Spring Classic, Indianapolis, May 14-22, 2021
If there was any doubt whatsoever that the collector car market was weathering Covid the results for Mecum’s Spring Classic at Indianapolis should put that to rest. Not only in dollar terms but also in the quantity and variety of vehicles offered Mecum Indy was an unalloyed success. Coming after the blockbuster success at Kissimmee […]
RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, May 2, 2021
Any concerns that the collector car auction economy wasn’t coming roaring back were left for dead after RM Sotheby’s sale on Saturday at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island. There were, it must be admitted, fifty No Reserve lots, but only five of fifty-nine lots with reserves failed to find new owners, a 91.5% sale rate […]
Bonhams, Amelia Island, May 20, 2021
Amelia 2020 was the last pucker before things froze up for Covid and amazingly fourteen months later the delayed Amelia Concours and auctions from Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s signaled the beginning of the end of lockdowns, masks and social distancing. Mecum Auctions was selling cars live, online and on television in Indianapolis this week but […]
Gooding & Company, Geared Online, May 7, 2021
Gooding & Company has adapted with some enthusiasm to the online only auction format after dipping its toes into the medium in place of the Covid-cancelled 2020 Monterey auctions and then, achieving outstanding results with the September 2020 “Passion of a Lifetime” live/online auction in London. That was followed by now four online only auctions, […]
Mecum Auctions, Houston, April 8-10, 2021
83.21% Sale Rate. That’s probably all that’s necessary to say about Mecum’s latest iteration of its Houston auction venue. The overall sale total was modest, but even that is impressive in light of Mecum having held the 2020 Houston sale at a postponed December date, five months ago. What is important to note is that […]
Bonhams, Supercars on Sunset, April 10, 2021
At first glance this appeared to be a smashing good idea: Gather a selective consignment of low mileage, late model, expensive high performance cars at a receptive and attractive venue. Bonhams leveraged the exclusivity by applying a reduced flat 8% buyer’s commission rate that reflected the six- and seven-figure pre-sale estimates. The late model high […]
The Branson Auction, April 16-17, 2021
Branson Spring was six weeks after my second Coronavirus vaccination shot. After thirteen months huddled in front of computer screens viewing virtual auctions the trip was liberating. It wasn’t without trepidation that I set out, but Logan Airport in Boston was calm and organized. Masks were universal, if negligently worn by some. The American Airlines […]
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale 2021, March 23-27, 2021
This report is updated with full auction results and changes to some of the transactions. Don’t let something like Covid-19 interfere with a long-standing tradition like Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. Just push it back two months as Covid-fatigue and vaccinations of older Americans (B-J’s primary market) opens up the gates to WestWorld for bidders and spectators. […]
RM Auctions, Online Only, Open Roads, March 24-25, 2021
RM Auctions is accelerating its Online Only auctions, on a path to conduct one a month in early 2021 between Scottsdale’s Live/Online auction and the upcoming late May Amelia Island auction. Expect more Online Only auctions between Amelia and Monterey. Recent RM Online Only auctions have introduced a new wrinkle: Auctions conducted in multiple currencies. […]
Bonhams Les Grandes Marques du Monde á Paris, March 10, 2021
No, it wasn’t at the Grand Palais des Champs-Élysées, it wasn’t during Rétromobile, nor in fact was it even in France. Les Grandes Marques du Monde á Paris was literally aethereal and online only. It also didn’t share the usual exceptional collection of rare, valuable and famous European cars and obscure French marques and models […]