Roscobbc
Moderator
With the used and classic car market in something of a turmoil over the last few years with many cars failing to get the prices that were being achieving pre-Covid, perhaps seeing the same vehicles remaining for sale on the usual sites and forums makes it easy to come-up with an opinion?
Irrespective of how the classic and 'specialty' market is relating to the kind of cars we are interested there almost seems to be another world where traditional high-end European classics are still fetching comparitively good prices at the auction houses (albeit in many cases below their 'peak' prices.)
On one of the Facebook classic/American car groups someone had noted the low prices certain classics (and specifically American car were being 'realised' at last months Hampsons Bolesworth Castle auction.
auctions.hampsonauctions.com
This auction is a little different from others in as much as sellers are not charged commision.........this is paid by the buyer.
In particular a 2005 C6 Vette with rather gaudy Le Mans 'tribute' colour scheme and just under a 100K miles sold for £12938.
A Ford Pilot V8 saw £7312. A '90 Mustang Vert saw £3938. A '49 custom Cadillac low rider Coupe £14625. A '42 Studebaker coupe £4922 and a '95 Z28 Camaro £3094
All the above vehicles were sold 'no reserve'. Not clear whether they were from one seller or multiple sellers. Also not clear whether that 'hammer' price included buyers commission (probably not). Noticeably there were other vehicles 'with reserve' that presumably didn't sell.
One of the contributors (a trader) on the Facebrook thread commented that these cars reached reached their respective values and the figure that people are prepared to pay...........can't say I totally agree with that. There must be a few unhappy sellers expecting the auction house to have achieved far better figures for their clients.
The old addage is Caveat Emptor ('buyer beware') - perhaps Caveat Venditor (;seller beware') is a more appropriate saying in todays world?
Irrespective of how the classic and 'specialty' market is relating to the kind of cars we are interested there almost seems to be another world where traditional high-end European classics are still fetching comparitively good prices at the auction houses (albeit in many cases below their 'peak' prices.)
On one of the Facebook classic/American car groups someone had noted the low prices certain classics (and specifically American car were being 'realised' at last months Hampsons Bolesworth Castle auction.
The Bolesworth Castle September 2025 Classic, Performance & Supercar Auction
Auction Details
In particular a 2005 C6 Vette with rather gaudy Le Mans 'tribute' colour scheme and just under a 100K miles sold for £12938.
A Ford Pilot V8 saw £7312. A '90 Mustang Vert saw £3938. A '49 custom Cadillac low rider Coupe £14625. A '42 Studebaker coupe £4922 and a '95 Z28 Camaro £3094
All the above vehicles were sold 'no reserve'. Not clear whether they were from one seller or multiple sellers. Also not clear whether that 'hammer' price included buyers commission (probably not). Noticeably there were other vehicles 'with reserve' that presumably didn't sell.
One of the contributors (a trader) on the Facebrook thread commented that these cars reached reached their respective values and the figure that people are prepared to pay...........can't say I totally agree with that. There must be a few unhappy sellers expecting the auction house to have achieved far better figures for their clients.
The old addage is Caveat Emptor ('buyer beware') - perhaps Caveat Venditor (;seller beware') is a more appropriate saying in todays world?
