March 21, 2021 was the official start of spring, and on March 27, 2021, the Oldtimer Galerie Toffen held its traditional spring auction. 99 fully-grown vehicles (there were also a few model cars and a children's vehicle for sale) were offered on site in Toffen, but live audiences were not permitted due to the pandemic restrictions.
However, interested bidders and spectators were able to attend the auction via a professionally presented live stream and bid via pre-bid, two partner online auction platforms or telephone contact.
Germany ahead of Italy
The total value of the 99 vehicles (on a scale of 1:1) was around CHF 3.9 million, so an average of CHF 39,024 is expected per vehicle lot, ranging from CHF 1200 to 235,000.
The most vehicles on sale were from Mercedes-Benz, with 14 cars with the three-pointed star on the starting grid. It was followed by BMW with eight cars and Porsche with four. From Italy, Fiat entered with six, Lancia with five and Alfa Romeo with four vehicles. The USA and Great Britain were of course also represented with extensive brand contingents.
Of course, there were also brands with just one vehicle at the start. For example, there was an Auto Union 1000 SP Coupé, an Autobianchi A112 or a Benelli Sei, one of several two-wheelers.
On average, the vehicles were 46 years old, with the year of manufacture ranging from 1928 to 2011.
Just over a fifth of the 1:1 vehicles were auctioned without a minimum bid.
Around 2/3 sold
54 cars and motorcycles were sold outright, while a further 26 received bids close to the limit, which means that, based on experience, around half of them can be expected to be sold after the auction. The sales rate of 55% could therefore increase to 60 to 70% with the conversion of some of the lots provisionally knocked down "under reserve", which is certainly a good rate for an online-only auction.
The meticulous preparation certainly contributed to this. The cars were extensively documented in advance and videos were also made available. Anyone who wanted to could also have a specific car shown to them in advance via video chat.
The battle for the little Ferrari
The Ferrari Mondial Cabriolet may have been small, after all it was built by Agostini Auto on a scale of 1:2 for children.
However, the battle for it was fierce and led to a top bid of CHF 14,000 with an estimated value of CHF 9,000 to 11,000. At CHF 15,680 (including surcharge/commission), this children's Ferrari ultimately cost more than many of the auction's full-grown classics.
Full-grown high-flyers
The expensive super classics are not always the stars of an auction. In Toffen, however, cars shone that you might not have expected in the run-up to the auction.
A Fiat 2300 S Coupé from 1963, for example, was sold well above its estimated value. However, because it was a restoration object, the price was still "only" CHF 14,560.
An Opel GT 1900 from 1969 also sold for more than its estimated value. After a lengthy bidding war, CHF 29,120 was paid for the green-metallized coupé.
A Chevrolet Corvette C4 from 1984 also fetched more than expected. CHF 12,880 was paid for the Targa coupé fresh from the veteran's MFA.
And a Mercedes-Benz 220a Ponton from 1955, which looked like a barn find, was also sold for more than the estimated value suggested: the dusty saloon was worth CHF 12,880 to its new owner.
Valued classics
However, good deals were not only possible in the lower price segment. The buyer of a 1956 Chevrolet C1, for example, paid CHF 103,600 (EUR 93,240). This car went under the hammer at the very end after more than 4.5 hours, making the bidding war that ensued all the more surprising.
CHF 92,400 (EUR 83,160) was paid for one of the 406 Porsche 924 Carrera GTs built in 1980.
And a 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible offered towards the end changed hands for CHF 84,000 (EUR 75,600).
The price of CHF 81,200 (EUR 73,080) for a 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce is also no longer a matter of course.
However, not all super classics managed to find a new garage straight away: the Lamborghini Murciélago from 2003 remained unsold, while a Jaguar XK 120 OTS from 1954, a Porsche 911 T 2.2 or a Sunbeam Tiger from 1966 could only be sold with reservations.
The bidding public was much more interested in two Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMGs from 2002 and 2003, with the widebody version in particular selling for CHF 40,320 (EUR 36,288).
Coveted pre-war rarities
Pre-war cars were at the start, the star among them was certainly the Amilcar CGSS from 1928, which presented itself in beautiful condition and all in red.
At CHF 78,400 (EUR 70,560), it achieved a sales price that was probably too cautiously defined.
The largely original Rolls-Royce 20/25 from 1935, which sold for CHF 38,080 (EUR 34,272), achieved a similar result.
The amusing Austin Seven Sports from 1929 fetched CHF 24,640, the Ford Model A "Racer" the same price.
Only the not yet fully restored Triumph Super Eight Saloon from 1933 did not find a new owner; unfortunately, no one wanted to offer more than CHF 8,500 for the compact four-door car.
Scrambling Panda with grip
In Switzerland, 4x4 Pandas have always been very popular and there is even a dedicated meeting for them in St. Moritz (in 2022). Nevertheless, the 1988 Fiat Panda 4x4 i.E. on offer met with less interest than expected.
It was nevertheless sold for CHF 6160, although expectations had been rather higher at CHF 6000 to 8000.
Things went even worse for a Fiat 1100 Speciale from 1962 in restored condition, which had to be withdrawn without sufficient bids, while the Fiat 124 Spider CS1 from 1974 was still sold for CHF 19,600.
The MGB quartet
It is rare to find four MGBs at a single auction. With three convertibles representing the entire spectrum of the model series and a GT coupé variant, almost everything that could interest an MG fan was on offer.
Only the "rubber boat", i.e. an MGB Roadster with the plastic bumpers, could not be sold, while a version converted to chrome found a new owner.
However, the MGB GT from 1970 and the early Roadster from 1964 were best positioned, both selling for over CHF 20,000.
A Citroën CX in almost new car condition
Admittedly, the diesel version is perhaps not the first thing Citroën collectors look for in the CX. But the Citroën CX D from 1981 presented itself in almost new car condition.
Nevertheless, nobody wanted to offer more than CHF 29,000 for the rarely driven CX, which meant that it could only be knocked down with reservations.
Some bargains
Some bidders got a fresh car very cheaply.
The buyer of the 1961 Zastava 600D, for example, paid just CHF 4200, while a 1995 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur, in which a lot of money had been invested, changed hands for just CHF 17,920.
The Mercedes-Benz 500 SEC from 1984 was sold at a reasonable price to a prospective buyer, who paid CHF 14,560 for the luxury coupé. The little brother 230 CE from 1984 was even cheaper at CHF 3920.
An Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight from 1978 could be bought for just CHF 3360, and a Lancia Gamma 2000 Coupé from 1979 for CHF 5600.
And the 1982 Mercedes-Benz 608 D Ruthmann car transporter, which had served Porsche for 19 years, was also sold for CHF 11,760, well below expectations.
On average, bidders were already at 80% of the median estimate, which is a good figure compared to other auctions. Only 19 percent of the cars could not be sold, and some in the "conditionally sold" category will be added to this.
In any case, there seemed to be considerable interest in the auction and at least a third of the cars were sold via the international Invaluable platform. It should also be mentioned that the proceeds from two lots went to a foundation for the nursing staff of the canton of Bern, a nice gesture in times of Corona.
