TCCT Forum Abu Dhabi: The Future of Collectibles. Real and Digital
13 December 2024 3 min read 3 images
Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz
When, back in 2000, Fritz Kaiser left Formula 1 to give the world of automobile collecting not only an economic but also a cultural identity, capable of attracting new generations, he founded The Classic Car Trust with that precise ambition. It was this very vision that came to life at the TCCT Forum “The Future of Collectibles. Real and Digital” held in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday 3 November, during the prestigious Collector’s Week. The Forum, chaired by Kaiser, succeeded in bringing past and future together through leading figures who shared their vision from the vantage point of the key roles they hold in institutions such as Mercedes-Benz Heritage, the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Sotheby’s, the Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Italy, and Disney Science.
After the opening remarks by Duccio Lopresto, Head of RM Sotheby’s Middle East, who underlined how Abu Dhabi brings together in a single narrative culture, beauty, iconic cars, art and design, Fritz Kaiser, Founder and Chairman of The Classic Car Trust and Roarington, outlined how what is “real” and what is offered virtually now belong to the same continuum. He cited the example of Roarington’s simulators which, alongside the tangible elegance and technology of the machines themselves, make it possible to drive digital twins of famous cars from very different eras – perfectly identical and uniquely precious. For Kaiser, the great step forward in collecting in these years lies precisely in the ability to add to the pleasure of the authentic object everything that a perfectly faithful virtual world can offer.
Equally compelling was the contribution of Mohamed Ali AlKamali of the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, who described the Emirates’ growth strategy as a unique ecosystem in which culture, innovation, quality of life and long-term vision are interwoven to build a new global model founded on identity and creativity. He explained that the Abu Dhabi Investment Office supports not only the automotive world, but entire clusters dedicated to luxury, retail, smart mobility, longevity, health tech and novel food. In this way, the city attracts UHNW individuals not merely as an economic opportunity, but by offering a complete ecosystem that also includes the pleasure of the automobile and everything it represents.
If those who are building the new on enlightened foundations such as Abu Dhabi’s are looking to tomorrow and all its opportunities, including the digital realm of which Roarington is part, Marcus Breitschwerdt, the passionate Head of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, addressed the audience on the crucial topic of cultural accessibility. He recalled that the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart welcomes around one million visitors a year but cannot exceed that number for structural reasons. Faced with a world in which billions of people are interested in the Mercedes brand and its history, he sees the decision to create a digital museum as absolutely strategic. This presence in Roarington will begin from the famous racing curve of the real museum and from its most iconic vehicles. This will make it possible not only to faithfully reproduce spaces and cars, but also to allow them to be driven virtually, including otherwise untouchable vehicles such as the 300 SLR, which set the absolute record in the Mille Miglia. Breitschwerdt stressed how digitalization responds to a deep need for authenticity, roots and identity, all fundamental elements in a highly volatile age. For Mercedes, the digital realm does not “replace” heritage: it amplifies it and makes it universal.
This vision finds a clear echo in the remarks of architect Benedetto Camerana, President of the celebrated Mauto – Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin. According to their research, visitors are no longer satisfied with the simple display of cars; there is a strong desire to deepen their knowledge of the vehicles through digital tools and all the possibilities they unlock. This is perfectly consistent with the opportunities the automobile offers through the widespread culture of gaming. The creation of a large Simulation Dome inside the museum will allow visitors to drive historic cars whose value and rarity make them impossible to experience in real life, such as the Lancia D24 that won the Carrera Panamericana. The real–digital integration is, in Camerana’s view, a decisive step for automobile museums.
Seamlessly woven into the conversation was the perspective of major auction house Sotheby’s, presented by Josh Pullan, Head of the Luxury Division. He illustrated how Sotheby’s has become a luxury powerhouse, with over 2.2 billion generated not only from new categories such as cars, jewellery, real estate, sports, and iconic design and fashion objects, but also from shifts in collectors’ behaviour. Digital has profoundly transformed the way people participate in auctions: today, 86% of bids are placed online. This change has unlocked a new generation of buyers under 40, particularly active in categories such as watches and fashion. According to Pullan, it is the narrative power of objects that creates thrilling competition in the auction room: value is born where history, rarity and emotion intersect. Moreover, digitalization does not diminish the magic of collecting, it makes it accessible, global and, surprisingly, even more vibrant.
Markus Gross, Disney Chief Scientist and Chair of the Roarington Advisory Board, brought the most advanced technological perspective. With decades of research in computer graphics, physical simulation, visual effects and AI, he explained how we are now able to create digital worlds so immersive that they transcend the limits of the real. He recounted his experience at Disney, from the physics engines that revolutionised smoke, explosions and water in Avatar and Iron Man, to the facial capture systems used in Avengers, showing how technology can amplify storytelling. At Roarington, Gross applies this expertise to cultural heritage: drivable digital twins, navigable virtual museums, persistent VR environments, realistic avatars, interactive storytelling. He stressed that technology does not erase authenticity; it makes it more accessible, more shareable and more engaging, transforming the audience from mere observers into protagonists.
This TCCT Forum, held as part of Sotheby's Collectors’ Week, confirms that the world, though we may not fully perceive it yet, has already changed, and that Roarington is laying the foundation for these vast opportunities.
