The Daily Vroom

Welcome to The Daily Vroom, your one-stop-shop for collector and modern car online auction news, trends, and insights. Let's get right into it.

Here's what we've got for you today:

• Ten most expensive cars sold on auction last week

• Mercedes-Benz online auction sales weekly trends

• Three very unique & special cars up for auction this week

In the previous week, there was a slight slowdown in sales across all online auction websites, with 50 fewer cars sold compared to the week before. However, it is noteworthy that the top 3 sales were all Ferrari models, which is an unprecedented occurrence.Furthermore, all three of these sales exceeded $500k in value. Based on my analysis of the data, it is evident that the market is not experiencing a significant slowdown. In fact, I anticipate seeing similar trends in the current week.

MERCEDES-BENZ SALES LAST WEEK

With so many cars being sold for 'crazy' prices, we often forget about the 'regular' priced cars that get sold every single day. At some point I'll do a deep dive on those cars, so you can see that the market is not dominated by the supercar sales.

Above, are all the Mercedes-Benz sold on all the auction sites. The average sale price was $44,929,60 and the highest Mercedes-Benz sold last week was the 2011 SLS AMG (pictured below).

There is no clear leader in sales of Mercedes-Benz. Last week we had over 5 different auction sites selling these cars. But if we zoom out slightly and analyse 2023 thus far there are only 2 main auctions sites that dominate the significant sales. They are Bring A Trailer & Collecting Cars. Cars & Bids actually outsell Collecting Cars, but the average dollar amount is a lot less. (see Friday's post on how Cars & Bids are 'struggling')

Out of 4946 cars sold in the last two months, 362 were Mercedes-Benz which puts them at 7.32% of all cars sold, not an insignificant number.

UNIQUE & SPECIAL CARS UP FOR AUCTION

Ladies and gentlemen, gather around, and let me tell you about a legendary racing machine that is up for auction. This 1998 Porsche 993 GT2 Evo, is the ultimate air-cooled Porsche racing car, and the last of its kind, is up for grabs. This magnificent piece of automotive engineering was designed for the Le Mans / BPR GT1 class and packs a punch of 600 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged engine, making it a beast on the track.

Chassis #0480056 has quite a racing history, having been first raced by Freisinger Kaneco Racing in the World Long Distance Championship events, including the prestigious Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999. After that, it found its way to Mr. Paco Otri, who continued to race the car in the Spanish GT Championship for several years. Later, it saw action in the Club Championship Europa Open of France under the Modern Racing Team. But, after going through a meticulous restoration by Velox Speed of Switzerland in 2018, this magnificent GT2 Evo is ready for a new home.

The GT2 Evo features larger fenders to accommodate wider tires than a standard GT2 and a more aggressive front spoiler, larger air ducts, and a higher-mounted carbon fiber rear wing. Its lightweight reinforced bodywork has been restored in its Freisinger-Kaneco livery from the 1999 racing season, complete with front and rear decklid pins, tow hooks, adjustable wing mounts, an external fuel filler, lightweight Lexan windows, and 18” BBS wheels measuring 10” wide in front and 12.5” wide in the rear.

Inside, the racing cockpit is fitted with a full roll cage, a Nomex-trimmed Recaro bucket seat, and a Schroth safety harness, making sure that the driver is protected even in the most extreme racing conditions. The car also features air jacks, a fire suppression system, ventilation, a Sparco steering wheel, a radio antenna, a custom switch panel, and a raised shifter assembly.

Under the hood, the GT2 Evo is powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter M64/83 engine that produces a whopping 600 HP and 479 lb.-ft of torque, thanks to larger K24 turbochargers than a standard GT2, along with a modified intercooler, camshafts, oil cooler, and TAG-tronic 3.8 engine management system. The power is sent to the rear wheels via a Type 650/54 6-speed manual transmission with an external oil cooler, single-plate metal racing clutch, and asymmetric limited-slip differential. The restoration by Velox Speed in 2018 included a new FIA-homologated fuel cell, new Metalore axles, new oil level/temp sensors, rebuilt brake calipers, a rebuilt steering system, wheel alignment, custom fabricated caster plates, and more. And, the car has recently undergone a routine service by a Porsche Classic Center, ensuring that it is in top condition.

This magnificent piece of racing history comes with extensive documentation and provenance, including a letter from Jürgen Barth and a clean title. So, if you're a Porsche enthusiast or a collector of racing machines, don't miss this opportunity to own a piece of history! You can find full details on the auction here .

Looking for the ultimate Lamborghini? Feast your eyes on this stunning 2022 Aventador LP780-4 Ultimae Coupe, one of only 350 coupes produced to celebrate the end of Aventador production. With just 247 miles on the odometer, this breathtaking beauty is in impeccable condition and ready to roar.

Delivered new to Gold Coast Exotic Imports of Chicago, Illinois, this Aventador is finished in Blu Tawaret over black Alcantara upholstery, with a slew of high-end features like a magnetic pushrod suspension, a carbon-ceramic brake system, and a Sensonum sound system. Its 6.5-liter V12 engine churns out 769 horsepower, and power is delivered to all four wheels via a seven-speed ISR automated manual transmission.

This Aventador is equipped with 20" and 21" center-lock wheels, front and rear parking sensors, a suspension lift system, and carbon-fiber interior and exterior trim. The cockpit features heated seats with carbon-fiber shells trimmed in black Alcantara, automatic climate control, and a telemetry system.

Produced in limited numbers, this Ultimae coupe is a rare gem that will surely turn heads wherever it goes. It's currently up for auction on Bring a Trailer, with the current bid sitting at $550,000. Don't miss your chance to own a piece of Lamborghini history!

This 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 is a limited-edition Japanese Domestic Market vehicle and the ultimate version of the iconic rally-bred performance hero. It is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre flat-four engine that delivers 235kW and 431Nm of torque to all four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission. This particular S206 is number 290 of the 300 examples produced and has reportedly been graded 4.5B at Japanese auction.

The STi S206 features a hand-built and more powerful engine with a low-friction turbocharger, a remapped ECU, a freer-flowing exhaust, revised suspension with inverted Bilstein dampers and stiffer springs, Recaro sports seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels. It is finished in Blue Mica over a grey leather and synthetic suede-trimmed cabin with white stitching and red seatbelts. It rides on a set of 19-inch forged BBS STi alloy wheels, shod with Goodyear tyres. The specification includes air conditioning, electrically folding wing mirrors, switchable driving modes, and a Carrozzeria touchscreen double-DIN infotainment system.

This reportedly unmodified example is offered for sale in very good condition, with the paintwork said to be in excellent condition and only faint hairline scratches and minor stone chips. The cabin presents very well, with minor marks on the sun visors and wear on the driver’s seat outer bolsters. The seller is not aware of any electrical or mechanical faults. The owner’s book pack, service book, and toolkit are also included with the sale.

As one of just 300 examples produced, this JDM-only Subaru Impreza WRX STi S206 would make a fantastic addition to a collection of JDM heroes as well as a head-turning entrant at any car show or event. Full details of the auction can be found here.

VROOMY MEME

Have a great week & we'll see you tomorrow!

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