What We Missed: The Untold Stories of the 2025 Collector Car Market

I want to begin 2026, as we await the imminent start of the major early‑season auctions, by revisiting a series of stories that were left on the cutting-room floor. In order to describe the market clearly and without losing sight of its key collector perspectives, some scenes had to be sacrificed. Yet a few of those omissions were truly Oscar‑worthy and as any self‑respecting director would, I couldn’t simply let them go. So, at the dawn of 2026, here is the final film of last year: “What We Missed”.

We start with the oldest cars because the oldest of all is also the earliest auction entry featured in this chapter. Certain cars, when they appear on the market, have an almost magnetic effect. The 1933 Mercedes‑Benz 380K Cabriolet Type A may not rank among today’s most sought‑after models, but in this condition – fully unrestored and very likely completely original – it represents a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity. Just 16 examples were built, and it is widely believed that only a handful survive today.

Its appeal was further amplified by two key factors: the absence of a reserve price and its offering through a smaller auction house, Manor Park Classics in the UK. Bidding was intense and competitive, eventually reaching £262,200 on 19 July 2025.