Archive
13/02/2020
Bonhams. North Star or seafarer’s deception?
Bonhams achieved a near-doubling of last year's results, with €19.4m made from car sales at the Grand Palais auction. One reason for the success was the flexibility of the sellers, as demonstrated by the sale of the 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster for €1.03m after the auction. The sale also included a high proportion of pre-war cars, with eight of the 12 most expensive vehicles sold dating from before World War II. The top lot was a Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport with Figoni bodywork, which sold for €4.6m, while second place went to a 1931 Invicta 4.5 litre S-Type Low Chassis that sold for €1.61m.
12/02/2020
It's all about D-tails
The Retromobile auction held by RM saw a 48.5% decline from 2019, and while some top lots remained unsold, the event still revealed interesting trends. The estimates for the 1955 Jaguar D-Type and the 1972 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider were deemed optimistic, resulting in no sale for the former and a lower price for the latter. Meanwhile, the 1956 BMW 507 Roadster commanded a 51% revaluation in just six years, and the 1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8-Litre revealed how rare features were once coveted but no longer command a premium. Despite the market's unpredictability, the auction reflects the trend of returning to the basics of driving, where beautiful and fun cars take precedence over intricate details.
11/02/2020
Dallara, Giugiaro and Stephenson. Three men and a masterpiece: the MC12
In the late 1990s, Maserati was in dire need of revival, and Ferrari was tasked with bringing the brand back to life.
10/02/2020
Aerodynamics. Over 100 years of evolution.
The article explores how air, once considered an enemy of car design, has become a valuable asset for optimizing car speed and performance.
05/02/2020
The Mysterious Death of Rudolf Diesel
The cause of Rudolf Diesel's death remains a mystery, despite being known for inventing the engine bearing his name. His unslept bed, a diary with a cross on the day of his disappearance, financial difficulties.
03/02/2020
London to Brighton, full steam ahead!
RM Sotheby’s has announced a ten-year sponsorship agreement with the London to Brighton car run, in an effort to promote the veteran car market and liven up the industry. The agreement is aimed at encouraging the use of classic cars and giving their owners real pleasure. The move is seen as a positive marketing initiative for the industry.
02/02/2020
New Logo
The Classic Car Trust (TCCT) has a new logo with the T's incorporated into the two C's. The abbreviation TCCT will be used for effective communication on the website and social media.
31/01/2020
“America first"
The American automotive auction house, Gooding, achieved an impressive $36,098,000 in sales, selling 36% of the cars on offer at or above their initial estimates. The most expensive car sold was a 1995 Ferrari F50 for $3,222,500.
28/01/2020
On the pitch with the B team, RM wins anyway.
RM Sotheby's saw a drop in total sales this year at their Scottsdale auction compared to 2018, stopping just short of $30m. They sold 90% of lots on offer but had only one blue chip for sale, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet S1, which stalled at $5.5m and remained unsold. The auction was saved by a 2018 Huayra Roadster, which was sold for $2.37m, and a rare 1991 Vector W8 Twin Turbo, which was sold for $720,000. Other sales included a 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS and a 2002 Dodge Viper, both selling for more than their estimated value, but a 1967 Maserati Mistral 4.0 Spider sold for significantly less than expected.
27/01/2020