The Daily Vroom
Good morning, Vroomers!
Yesterday didn’t quite pack the same punch as the day before, with $5.3M in vehicle sales across all platforms. Even Hagerty joined the action with the sale of an NCRS Duntov Award-winning 1960 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 Fuelie for $145K. Impressive car, but with just two listings yesterday (and only two again today), it’s hard not to wish Hagerty would give their online auction platform the attention it deserves.

MARKET LEADERBOARD
💰 The figures shared below don’t count any other sales such as car seats, memorabilia etc… All online auction sites are analyzed to put this leaderboard together.
I only include websites that have sold 5+ vehicles in the chart below.


YESTERDAY’S TOP 5 SALES
Want to dive deeper into any of these listings? Just click on the car to take you directly to the listing.

A Messy Listing, a Last-Second Bid, and a $380K Sale Was This GT3 RS Auction Fishy or Just Flawed?
Some auctions just feel off, and this 2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS Weissach sale had plenty of people talking. The car sold for $380,000, but what really got people raising their eyebrows was the way it happened. The winning bidder was a brand-new user with no bidding history, who placed a single knockout bid—$30,000 over the last offer—securing the car with no back-and-forth.
But before jumping to conclusions, let’s break this down. Yes, the seller’s approach left a lot to be desired. The listing lacked polish, with a rushed, bare-bones description and photos that did the car no favors—some were poorly lit, others featured mismatched wheels, and a few even showed a stained driver’s seat that had people questioning how well the car was cared for. On top of that, the seller barely engaged in the comments, responding late and vaguely to key questions like track history, service records, and whether the car had a window sticker. Compare that to the high-standard listings we usually see on big-ticket auctions, and this one felt sloppy.
So, was the sale suspicious? Maybe, maybe not. New bidders jumping in at the last second isn’t unusual—it happens all the time. And this car, despite the rough listing, was still a GT3 RS Weissach, one of the most desirable modern Porsches out there. If the right buyer was lurking, waiting for their moment, this could have simply been their way of making sure they got it.
In the end, a few things can be true at once: the seller botched the presentation, their communication was subpar, and the winning bid was unusual. But that doesn’t automatically mean anything shady happened. More than anything, this feels like a classic case of a great car selling despite the way it was listed. The seller got their money, the buyer got their car, and the comments section got plenty to talk about.

Cars & Bids: Mastering Their Niche but Stalling on Growth

For every platform chasing Bring a Trailer, I have one piece of advice: stop chasing. Stay in your own lane. Don’t waste time trying to unseat the top dog today—become the master of your own niche instead.
Take Cars & Bids, for example. To a certain extent, they’ve done this well. They consistently have the highest sell-through rate, and today’s numbers tell the story: 17 out of 18 cars sold. That’s not luck—it’s a testament to a sharp, knowledgeable team ensuring reserves are realistic. They’re fantastic at presenting and selling vehicles.
But—and it’s a big but—there’s no real growth happening. They’re basically where they were a year ago. What’s worse is that for a moment in 2024, it looked like they were turning a corner—hitting 30+ listings a day, consistently selling 25. Then, it stalled.
If they’re unwilling to expand beyond modern enthusiast cars into older classics (which, honestly, seems like an obvious move—I'm sure The Chernin Group has had this conversation), then they have to triple down on their biggest asset: Doug.
Doug is their best marketing weapon. They need short, engaging YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram content showcasing just how easy it is to list on Cars & Bids. Doug at community events, Cars & Bids-backed meetups, building relationships in the real world like BaT and Collecting Cars already do. More exposure = more listings.
And it’s not just about Doug. Local outreach, partnerships, trying new initiatives—some will stick, some won’t, but growth requires risk.
I want them to win. They have a new CEO. That hire wasn’t made to maintain the status quo—it was made to implement a new strategy. Everything is in place for them to break out. From where I sit, they just need to be a little braver.
I’ll be watching closely.

Auctions To Keep An Eye On
The 1989-1992 R129 Mercedes-Benz SLs are a sweet spot—cars that still carry the overbuilt quality of the ‘70s and ‘80s Mercedes era before cost-cutting set in. And this 13k-mile 1991 500SL, it’s a prime example. Ice Blue Metallic over Blue leather is pure early ‘90s class, the M119 V8 still has that raw mechanical feel, and the ADS suspension adds a level of refinement that later models lost.
This one’s been dialed in—new top hydraulics, transmission service, and a deep underside clean. The interior is peak W126-era quality, with thick leather, real wood, and a level of solidity that disappeared as the years went on. If you want a proper early R129, this is the blueprint.
The R129 market has been heating up, but it’s still very model and condition-dependent. This car ticks a lot of boxes—early production, low miles, rare spec, well-maintained—but the SL market isn’t exactly predictable. That said, if you want one of the best-driving R129s out there, this is the one to get. And at this mileage, it still has plenty of life left to be enjoyed.
This 1974 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster V12 is everything we love about classic motoring—drop-dead gorgeous looks, a growling V12 under the hood, and a color combo (White over Biscuit Tan) that screams timeless style. It’s a car that makes you want to throw on a pair of driving gloves and hit the open road, with the wind in your hair and the world behind you.
The long, sweeping lines, flawless chrome, and those iconic wire wheels make it a showstopper, but it’s not just a garage queen. This one’s got just over 46k miles, and while the clock and A/C need attention, who cares? It’s about the vibe, not perfection.
At $60,500 right now, it’s worth keeping an eye on.
For a split second, I thought Cars & Bids had finally decided to expand its horizons into older classics, but alas, this 1984 Morgan 4/4 1600 sneaks in under the "modern enthusiast" banner—barely. And honestly, I'm glad it’s here. This thing is pure vintage charm wrapped in a package that makes you feel like you should be wearing a tweed cap and aviator goggles.
The green-over-beige combo with wire wheels is about as quintessentially British as tea and crumpets. It looks like it belongs parked outside a countryside manor or roaring down a winding lane. The modifications—like the Piper camshaft and upgraded cooling fan—suggest it’s ready to deliver that "lightweight and nimble" driving experience Morgans are known for. However, with only 97 horsepower, don’t expect to be breaking any land speed records.
That said, Morgans aren’t about raw speed—they’re about the experience. They turn heads everywhere, and driving one is an event, not just a commute. But fair warning: the cabin is tight. If you’re over 6 feet tall, you might find yourself wishing for a chiropractor after a long drive.
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