The opening few months of this year will see a flurry of activity once more in the classic car auction sector.

A few major auctions have already taken place in January with some notable sales recorded.  At the RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone sold for just under $3.6 million, the Mecum Kissimmee auction saw a 1992 Ferrari F40 sell for $3,135,00.00 whilst a 1989 Ferrari F40 went for $2,750,000.00 at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction.

So what is in store in February and through to the end of April 2023? A number of great auctions will be taking place and here we highlight just a few.

Silverstone Auctions will host the Race Retro Classic and Competition Car Sale from 24-25 February 2023. A collectors’ car sale, a sale of automobilia and a competition car sale will make this a great two days of auction activity at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, UK.

The same weekend you are spoilt for choice with the London Classic Car Show taking place at Olympia in London from 24-26 February. On the 25^th, Historics Auctioneers will play host to the London Classic Car Show Sale.

As Official Auction Partner to this, the capital’s premier classic car event at Olympia, West London, they will offer for sale 100 fine and varied classic and collector cars at the heart of the venue that’s been steeped in motoring history for more than a century. The auction is due to commence at midday on the 25^th.

Moving into early March and we have an auction in the US to look forward to, the Amelia Auction hosted by Broad Arrow Auctions from 3-4 March 2023.

This will be the inaugural Amelia Auction for Broad Arrow at the stunning Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. Taking place alongside one of the most highly anticipated concours events of the year, the Amelia is a multiple award-winning motoring event, which is widely considered to be among the finest in the country and, in fact, remains a perennial favourite for leading collectors and enthusiasts.

The Amelia celebrates driving and car culture with everything from Cars & Community to the world-renowned Concours d’Elegance, where more than 450 cars participated in the Concours d’elegance event in 2022.

Later in March, Classic Car Auctions will host the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show Sale at the annual event of the same name, held at the NEC in Birmingham, UK. CCA are delighted to be returning to the event as the show's official auction partner for the 8th year.

This promises to be a magnificent sale of Classics and Modern Classic cars over two days on Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th of March.

Into April and Hobbs Parker will organize the first of their three scheduled online classic car & motorcycle auctions for this year, taking place from 19-20 April. A varied selection of classic cars, motorcycles and parts can be found at this auction, with pre-auction viewing possible at their Ashford auction centre in Kent, if needed in addition to the website information.

Finally, to round off this selection, we head back to the United States, where April will see the first auction of the year from Vicari Auction -  their Biloxi Auction taking place from 21-22 April.

The event will take place at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, Biloxi, MS, where you can be guaranteed two days of auctioning bliss.

A busy few months ahead, with many more auctions taking place worldwide, where you are sure to find some great deals.

If you are interested in listing your auctions with us and joining our successful and growing client list then please contact us at Classic Motors For Sale for some great marketing offers.

Please call Nick Aylieff, Owner & CEO, Classic Motors For Sale +44(0) 2392 160 809
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 The Ferrari enthusiast is more than well catered for on the book front, but here’s something a bit different to the usual coffee table experience. It’s an insider’s view of dealing in Ferraris, written by classic car dealer John Collins of Talacrest.

This book could easily be called “The F Word” – not only because of its subject, classic Ferraris, but also because of the candidly fruity language. That reflects perfectly the character of its author, classic car dealer John Collins, who has made waves and a fortune in the classic Ferrari market over the last 30 years. From humble origins (Collins grew up in Glasgow and started his business by borrowing money from local pub mates), he has become a classic car colossus – included, for instance, in the Sunday Times Rich List. Over 30 years, he has bought and sold more than 1600 Ferraris, valued in excess of £1 billion.

Over 350 beautifully laid out pages, there are fascinating insights into the cars’ histories, what they’re like to drive and, above all, how the deals were done. On that score, anecdotes abound, such as bidding for a 250 GTO thinking it was at £1 million when in fact it was £10 million. Or the very start of the business, funding the purchase of a 365 Daytona with ‘shares’.
Part of the book’s appeal is that it’s a catalogue of top-end Ferrari cars – and we do mean ‘top’. You won’t find many mainstream models, but there’s loads on the rare stuff.

The story of the mythical 250 P5 Berlinetta Speciale is especially fascinating, while racing rarities abound.

The book is prolifically illustrated with vast numbers of images (from Auto Italia and Marcel Massini, among others). All profits are being split between two charities: The Thames Valley Air Ambulance and The Racehorse Sanctuary.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

History was made in May 2022 when a 1955 Mercedes-Benz, one of only two of a kind, was auctioned off for a staggering US$142 million, making it the most expensive car ever sold.

RM Sotheby's conducted the auction where the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut was sold to a private collector and brought in almost triple the previous record price for a car, which was held by a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO that went for over $48 million in 2018.

The auction took place on 5th May at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, and was for invited guests only. The record price for a car also put it in the top 10 of most valuable items sold at auction in any category – quite an achievement indeed!

The car was named after its creator and chief engineer, Rudolph Uhlenhaut, and was one of only two prototypes built by the Mercedes-Benz racing department.

The buyer has since stated that the car will be accessible for public display on certain special occasions and the other SLR 300 Coupe is on display at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, being company-owned. Though not confirmed, it is rumoured that the buyer was a British collector.

Recognisable by its unusual lines and gullwing doors, the 300 SLR was apparently modelled on the W196 R Grand Prix race car, which won two Formula 1 world championships in 1954 and 1955 with Italian Juan Manuel Fangio driving.

The car does, sadly, also have somewhat of a dark history as tragedy struck in June 1955. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, French driver Pierre Levegh crashed a 300 SLR and was killed, along with 83 spectators. As a result of the deadliest tragedy in motor racing history, Mercedes-Benz withdrew from the sport for many years, only returning to competitive racing again in 1989.

According to RM Sotheby's, the proceeds from the auction will be used to establish a worldwide Mercedes-Benz Fund that will fund environmental science and decarbonisation research.

With a top speed of 180 mph and featuring a straight-8 engine, the 300 SLR was one of the fastest road cars during the 1950s, and now it has claimed the ultimate prize (for now at least) as the most expensive car in the world!