Would you take a trip on a steam train? A real journey, not just to entertain your children or grandchildren. Then let’s take a look at the sales of two important pre-war car collections, one from Gooding and the other from Bonhams, and see how old cars, just like romantic trains, are still very much alive. Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation The first thing to note is the numbers, which are very similar. Although the quantity of cars offered was very different (82 from Gooding, 35 from Bonhams) because they were from two very differe ..read more

At the end of the classic Historics auction day in Ascot, 96 out of the 141 cars offered changed hands, generating revenues of £2,386,321 or €2,700,650 (an average of £24,858 or €28,130 per car), which fell somewhat short of the estimated £3,995,000 (€4,521,225). The culprit here was simple: several over-ambitious estimations that didn’t go to plan. Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation Indeed, the top lots that went unsold, including a 2009 Rolls Royce Phantom Coupé (£150,000-£190,000) and a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL (£100,000-£120,000 ..read more

When you hear the name “Bonhams at Goodwood,” you immediately conjure up thoughts of million-dollar cars, but then you add the Members Meeting and the prices fall immediately. Compared to the more famous Festival of Speed and Revival, this is more of a “banging doors” event, with ex-BTCC cars that are worth five digits, not seven like their “wealthy siblings.” Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation This year’s Bonhams at Goodwood was a bit lacklustre, but it must be said that last year’s event was Oscar-worthy. While the number of cars o ..read more

It’s fascinating to think that for an aerospace giant like Matra, cars were also an exciting hobby. Matra’s evolution is a complex story that began in the pre-war period and developed significantly during the Second World War, providing support for armaments. In the early post-war period, it transformed into a military and aerospace technology industry. Matra is an acronym derived from Mécanique Aviation TRAction, and the credit for selecting a man who became a symbol for motorsport enthusiasts, the engineer Jean Luc Lagardère, goes to Matra’s creators, Marcel Chassagny and Sylvain Floirat. Th ..read more

This is a featherweight fight. ACA and CCA (similar names and vocations) pride themselves on being able to fulfill the wishes of individuals with modest budgets. Whether it’s a young person seeking a starter classic, a mature individual dreaming of the first car they ever owned, or an enthusiast wanting to bring home a gift without compromising the family’s budget. In short, these auction houses sell achievable dreams. Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation As a brief comparison, both CCA and ACA presented a similar number of cars for au ..read more

Scrolling through the rankings of important races of the first post-war period, among famous brands such as Mercedes, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Lancia, Ferrari, and Maserati, the name Frazer Nash occasionally appears. What was it all about? Without question, it was one of those beautiful stories that unfortunately no longer exist today. A passionate English engineer named Archibald Frazer Nash, who was born in India at the time of the British Empire, decided to create racing cars capable of competing at the very highest levels of motorsports.  Frazer Nash was an importer and assembler of BMW ..read more

Despite the recent bankruptcies and banking risks, the Mecum auction in Glendale seemed unaffected by the cold wind blowing across the market. Looking at the numbers, there doesn’t seem to be any significant cause for concern: there were 1,399 cars at the auction compared to 1,259 last year, with 1,023 sold in 2023 vs 925 in 2022, and a stable success rate of 73%, identical to that achieved 12 months ago.  Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation The only difference is in total turnover, which fell by approximately 11% from $60.9 mill ..read more

The history of American motoring, which for decades looked to Europe as its role model, was significantly influenced by Lance Reventlow. In 1958, at the young age of 22, Reventlow, the son of one of the wealthiest women in the world and heiress to the Woolworth retail estate, Barbara Hutton, decided to create a sports car of his own in strictly American blue and white colours to rival Ferrari, Jaguar, Aston Martin, and Porsche. The Scarab Chevrolet number 5 driven by Chuck Daigh wins the 1958 Riverside 200 Miles Grand Prix, beating manufacturers such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, Jaguar and Porsch ..read more

After seeing million-dollar cars being auctioned off during Amelia Island, it’s refreshing to discover that you don’t have to be a wealthy heir or a successful young entrepreneur to own some fun cars. All thanks to H&H and its auction on 15th March in Duxford, England. Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation Today, the only “big” numbers I’ll write are: 114 cars offered (of which 17 were without reserve), 79 sold (69.30%), £3,861,000 (€4,393,600) in pre-sale estimates, and £2,600,369 (€2,959,075) in final takings. As you can see, the ..read more

This is a featherweight fight. ACA and CCA (similar names and vocations) pride themselves on being able to fulfill the wishes of individuals with modest budgets. Whether it’s a young person seeking a starter classic, a mature individual dreaming of the first car they ever owned, or an enthusiast wanting to bring home a gift without compromising the family’s budget. In short, these auction houses sell achievable dreams. Just like being behind the wheel: everything you need to know to fully understand the situation As a brief comparison, both CCA and ACA presented a similar number of cars for au ..read more