The Daily Vroom
Good morning, Vroomers,
With Columbus Day in full swing, auction activity is a bit quieter here in the US. But holiday or not, we're still on the beat, tracking what’s sold, what’s still on the block, and bringing you the latest updates.
See you tomorrow,
Sam
Auction To Keep An Eye On
Here's a quick look at some of the standout cars hitting auction this week. Today I’ve purposely steered away from the many great Porsche’s and such like up for auction.(they’ll be other days for me to cover those ‘regular’ listings.) Today we've got an 80s econobox with barely any miles, a rally legend that changed the game, and even a cutting-edge EV making its auction debut. It's a weird mix, but that's what makes this stuff interesting.
More wild finds will pop up as the week goes on. But these early ones, they're already turning heads. Let's break down what's on offer and why people are getting worked up about them. Whether you're looking to bid or just enjoy the show, there's plenty here to keep an eye on.
Back in April, we saw the first Cyberbeast hit SOMO's online auction, and it was a big deal. Now we've got another "first" making some noise, though it's not quite as high-profile. Check it out: the 2024 Lucid Air Sapphire, the first one ever to go up for auction, is now on the block.
This thing is Lucid's top-dog electric sedan, and it's packing some serious heat. We're talking 1,234 horsepower from three motors, all-wheel drive, and a slick Blue Metallic paint job over a Mojave interior. It's not just a straight-line monster though – Lucid's thrown in adaptive dampers, torque vectoring, and different drive modes to keep things interesting in the corners.
The auction wraps up on Tuesday, and bidding's already hit $133,000. With only 5,480 miles on the clock, this Air Sapphire is practically fresh out of the box.
Inside, you've got all the bells and whistles: 18-way massage seats that heat and cool, a massive 34-inch glass display, and a sound system with 21 speakers. They've also added some exterior goodies with Stealth Appearance and Aero Packages, plus some fancy staggered wheels.
This auction is another sign of how fast the high-performance EV game is changing. First the Cybertruck, now this – who knows what we'll see next..
Feast your eyes on this '86 Honda Civic that's so pristine, it's like it was beamed here straight from the assembly line. With just 32,800 miles on the clock, this little blue wonder is practically brand new. Back in '86, I was rocking out to "Danger Zone" and drooling over the new Testarossa, but these Civics were everywhere. Now? Finding one this clean is like stumbling across automotive unobtanium.
Kudos to the seller here, there was some chatter about the timing belt, and our seller's stepping up to get a new one fitted. Smart move, but if it were me, I'd be swapping every rubber component on this 38-year-old time capsule faster than you can say "pop-out rear quarter windows".
Currently sitting at $7,000 with 3 days to go, this auction's got potential written all over it. Low miles, zero mods, and that sweet, sweet 80s nostalgia? It's a perfect storm for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Opportunities to snag a Civic this old and this mint don't come along often. It's a snapshot of an era when these little Hondas were just reliable commuters, not the tuner icons they'd become.
So if you've got a hankering for some Reagan-era Honda goodness and a burning desire to explain carburetors to confused millennials, this might just be your ticket to ride. Just don't blame me when you find yourself hunting down period-correct floor mats at 3 AM.
We've got a 1985 Audi Quattro on the block, and it's a far cry from that pristine Civic we just talked about. This is one of only 73 that made it to the US that year, and it's sitting at $55,000 with the auction closing today. That price tag (which is gonna go up) really puts our little Honda's value in perspective, doesn't it?
This Quattro's got 56k miles on the clock – not exactly a garage queen, but still impressively low for a 38-year-old car. It's had just three owners, with the first keeping it for a solid 14 years. That's the kind of provenance collectors drool over.
The current owner's clearly taken this car's maintenance seriously. New timing belt, water pump, valve cover gasket – the works. They've even touched up some paintwork recently. It's obvious they understand what they're sitting on.
Under the hood, you've still got that turbocharged 2.1-liter five-cylinder, pushing out 160 horsepower. Paired with the Quattro all-wheel-drive system, it's a reminder of why these cars were such game-changers back in the day.
Now, I'm not one for overblown sentimentality, but there's no denying the impact the Quattro had on rally racing and production car technology. That said, at $55k+, you're paying a premium for that heritage. It's a stark reminder of how the market for these 80s performance cars has skyrocketed.
Maybe it’s time to brush up on your Group B rally facts – you're going to need them at cars and coffee if you buy this.
Let's dive into this DeLorean DMC-12 that's causing a stir. Now, we've seen our fair share of these gull-winged beauties hit the auction block lately. Hell, just last week we watched a practically untouched 93-mile example fetch a whopping $151k. But this one, It's a whole different beast.
We're looking at a 1982 DMC-12 that's been transformed into a full-on Back to the Future time machine replica. And let me tell you, they didn't half-ass it. We're talking flux capacitor, time circuits, the whole nine yards. It's like they raided Doc Brown's garage and bolted everything onto this thing.
Now, before you start dreaming about hitting 88 mph, there are a few things to consider. The odometer's stuck at 10,500 miles, but who knows how far (or when) this thing's really been. And yeah, there are a few issues – the AC's out, the windows are stubborn, and there's some rust underneath. But come on, when you're cruising around town in a time machine, who cares about creature comforts.
Currently sitting at $47,500 with one day left on the clock, it'll be interesting to see where this lands. It's not every day you get the chance to own a piece of movie magic, even if it is a replica. Just remember, where you're going, you might need roads… and a good mechanic.
Sale of the Day
Sold on Friday, this Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta SWB re-creation by GTO Engineering fetched a hefty price tag, cracking over a million dollars. Now, for a re-creation, that's top-tier pricing – but GTO Engineering has earned the reputation to justify it. They've taken the idea of a “re-creation” to new levels with these Revival models. Every detail in this SWB reflects years of meticulous craftsmanship, designed not only to look like the original but to perform like it, with modern touches that make it far more livable than a ‘60s classic.
It’s the dream ticket for anyone wanting a Ferrari SWB experience without the full anxiety of an original, which could easily cost you in the multi-millions. This one has the guts of a vintage Ferrari with the ease of a newer build, and if you’re a fan of Ferrari’s styling, you can’t do much better than this.
With the bidding reaching fever pitch in that final hour, I thought it might skyrocket out of reach, but the seller did well to let it go. The buyer, well, he’s snagged a true beauty. Sure, the cost is a small fortune by anyone’s standards, but for a car of this quality and pedigree, it’s a price that feels like a solid investment and a joy to own – even if the rest of us may look at it as a luxury that borders on the fantastical.
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