Could This Be the Finest Porsche 356A Ever Auctioned?

The Daily Vroom

Good morning Vroomers!

Yesterday’s sales came in at $5.2 million—right on point for an average Monday. While nothing set the world on fire, this steady volume is what keeps the online auction ecosystem humming. We also saw an average sale price of $43K, signaling a balanced mix of high and low-end cars moving through.

Beyond the numbers, today’s newsletter dives into a few key trends: a record-breaking Porsche 356A listing that’s heating up, and a Toyota Celsior that might just be the sleeper deal of the week. Plus, some insights on BaT’s growing international play and what that means for buyers and sellers alike.

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

It’s always good to see more than one platform appearing in our top 5 sales. Yesterday we had 3 different platforms, BaT, Collecting Cars and Car & Classic.

Want to dive deeper into any of these listings? Just click on the car to take you directly to the listing.

2016 Ferrari 458 Speciale $387,700

Special Wishes 1987 Porsche 911 Turbo Slant Nose Coupe $285,000

1994 Porsche 911 Speedster $179,300

2004 Ferrari 360 Modena 6-Speed $160,000

1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL 'Pagoda' $155,000

Sale of the Day

We've talked here before about BaT pushing harder into Europe, and from what I’m hearing in the background, there could be some big, big moves coming. This sale—$285K for a 1987 Porsche 911 Turbo Slant Nose—feels like part of that shift having been sold in Malta.

This wasn’t just any Slant Nose. A US-market Sonderwunsch (Special Wishes) car, originally used as a press vehicle, making appearances at major auto shows before ending up on the cover of Automobile Magazine. Then it bounced from the US to Belgium in 2015, landed in Malta in 2021, and now it’s coming back stateside.

Importing: Worth the Effort?

We’ve also discussed how buying cars abroad can absolutely be worth it if you understand the process. This sale is another example. Importing isn’t as daunting as some make it out to be, and the costs can often be justified, especially for something rare like this.

BaT’s New International Flags 🇲🇹

One thing I do like—BaT’s new country flags on listings, making it easier to spot international auctions. Here you can read all about this and the new fee structure on the other side of the pond.

What This Sale Tells Us

  • Factory Slant Nose cars remain a strong play.

  • Provenance matters. Press cars, magazine features, and good documentation all add dollars.

  • The international market is only getting more connected. This won’t be the last high-end car to cross borders.

BaT is clearly setting up for a bigger European push. If what I’m hearing is right, they are only just getting started.

Your Feedback

Yesterday in our article about Hemmings & Hagerty we asked you ‘Which platform has the best chance to step up and compete daily in auctions?

The voting results were a mixed bag as you can see below with no clear winner.

I’ve highlighted a selection of your comments.

My view is there is no real space for these players, market for liquid enthusiast car is already consolidated.

Had no idea that Hagerty invested in Classic.com, but I did hear they just bought the Audrain concours, and will now be the official auction of that event via Broad Arrow. Interesting that they do so many things, but none of them well.

Hagerty makes moves based on appeasing Wall Street analysts, not providing their clients value. Outside of insurance, Hagerty is an unfocused lost cause. Enough said about them! Side note, the NSM classic vehicle insurance brands have been quietly and aggressively gaining and taking market share away from Hagerty. Hagerty's dominance is shifting in their area of strength. Hemmings on the other hand is a different story.

I know you are solely focussed on auctions and you do an excellent job covering this area. But that focus I believe may have blinded you to a shift in the marketplace landscape that took place when the collector vehicle market rapidly imbalanced in 2023. Two words: Auction Fatigue. When the market imbalanced in 2023, seller reserves weren't being met and their vehicles weren't selling through while buyer expectations of value in the current market weren't being met and they weren't acquiring at current market values. This lead to disappointment on both side of the transaction, fatigue and dissatisfaction with the auction format.

Here is what I believe you are missing, buyers and sellers started to move towards transacting in more reliable and transparent marketplaces and formats. As novice buyers and sellers came late to the party and continued to feed the auction game, the experts shifted their strategies towards off market direct placements, segment focussed marketplaces (Fourbie, MB Market, PCar, etc) and marketplaces that offer classified and make offer listing formats.

The experts shift in strategy proved to be successful in maximizing value, while all the "follow the pack Johnny come lately" sellers were giving away vehicles to dealers and savvy buyers in the auction space. Where I believe your disconnect in perception falls with Hemmings, which is also their biggest strength, is that they are the only collector vehicle marketplace that offers all three types of formats.

Though I'm not privy to the hard data, I noticed their Make Offer format grow while their Auction format moderated. This trend tracks, because its the perfect hybrid between the classified and auction formats. Buyers appreciate the transparency of knowing what a seller wants, but are empowered to "Make an Offer" in a secure, controlled and reputable environment. Sellers have a timeframe in their control to expose their inventory to potential buyers, while considering buyers offers and accepting offers in a secure, controlled and reputable environment. First hand and professionally, I have had success with this format while representing the sale of my client's vehicles.

Another interesting observation, is that I noticed buyers on the other side were utilizing their ancillary services (pay and title, shipping, insurance, etc) to securely and seamlessly transact. As the market has balanced out in late 2024 and YTD 2025, I believe auction fatigue is waning, which is evidenced by growing sell through and moderating average sale prices.

That said, I believe there will always be buyers and sellers that prefer a more transparent experience dictated by their time frame. Just my "2 cents" from a professional that objectively advises, markets and represents the sale of trucks and 4x4s for their clients.

Keep up the good work! I love reading The Daily Vroom every morning, enjoy your prospective and appreciate your expertise in the auction space! Thank you!

Many of the hires at Hagerty came from Bonhams's and the auction Space. They know what they’re doing. But just like Bonhams would never give good cars to the market online. Hagerty won’t be able to get headliner cars. They won’t be redirected to Broad arrow

Auctions To Keep An Eye On

The 356A is pure magic—one of those cars that makes you wonder why they ever stopped making them. Imagine if this body style was being sold today, how many of us would be handing over our money! (I’d be first in line)

And this one is a showstopper. Already at $100,000 with four days left, and it’s not slowing down. This is the kind of auction that gets serious players circling.

Silver over red, that’s peak 356 spec. It’s got the right restoration work—none of that cut-corner nonsense. The Colorado Grand runs tell you it’s been driven, not just polished for photos. That’s how these cars should be.

The presentation is dialed in. The photos pop, the videos hit right, and every detail is laid out to perfection. This isn’t just another listing; it’s a proper showcase.

This one’s going to set a record. The momentum is real, and the right buyer is watching. Going, going… and soon, gone.


This 1999 Toyota Celsior Type C 10th Anniversary Edition might just be the sleeper deal of the week. With no reserve, it could easily fly under the radar—but there’s a lot to like here.

First off, the car itself is solid. A Japanese-market luxury sedan with a clean U.S. title, powered by a 4.0L V8, and only 42,900 miles. It’s got all the right features—adjustable air suspension, BBS wheels, and that classic Diamond White Pearl paint. The 10th Anniversary Edition trim adds some nice touches like unique mats and door sills. Plus, if you ever need parts, it shares many of the same ones as a Lexus LS, making maintenance a breeze.

What really stands out, though, is how the seller is handling this auction. They’re answering every question, providing tons of images and videos, and just being upfront—exactly what you want to see. As a potential buyer, that puts me at ease and makes me even more tempted.

Right now, it’s sitting at $6,000 with time left on the clock. If it stays in this range, someone’s getting an absolute steal. The Celsior offers Lexus-level luxury with a bit more exclusivity. If the right buyer jumps in, the price could climb, but for now, it’s a hidden gem waiting to be scooped up.

🛑 STOP!

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