You can do it!
03/25/2020
Times are difficult, but some companies are still daring to experiment, perhaps with a view to the future. RM/Sotheby's is auctioning around 250 cars in Palm Beach, but without local bidders and only online. The auction was launched on March 20, 2020 and the interim results so far don't look too bad. Most lots still have one to several days until the auction expires, and the first ones will soon be sold (or not). The process is similar to eBay and the like, so there is no auctioneer physically swinging the hammer in front of the camera.
Things are going well for the Shelby GT 350 from 1967 (lot 125), at least the lower estimate has already been reached and there are still over 10 hours to go before the virtual hammer falls. USD 100,000 has been bid (estimated value USD 100,000 to 135,000),
The Ferrari Testarossa from 1990 (lot 225) should still have some room for improvement. The current bid is USD 79,000, with USD 100,000 to 130,000 expected, but on March 21 it was still USD 66,000 and it will still take more than a day for the car to be counted down. By the way, there are other test cars in other colors and the prices there are currently even lower.
The VW Type 2 T1 "Samba" from 1961 (lot 249, picture above), which the Americans call the "Deluxe 23-Window Microbus", also has some catching up to do. A whopping USD 150,000 to 200,000 has been estimated, and the current highest bid is USD 80,000, which is actually not a bad price for a VW bus.
There are also some rather exotic vehicles at RM, such as a replica Batmobile from 1966 (lot 268, current bid USD 80,000) or a Benz Patent Motorwagen from 1886 (lot 221, also a replica, of course). This original vehicle is estimated at USD 60,000 to 80,000, the highest bid is currently USD 31,000. Another good day will pass before the auction closes. It will be exciting.
It will certainly not work out for all consignors and a few bidders may buy a good car for very little money, but this is also the case at conventional auctions and it will certainly be exciting to see how RM/Sotheby's masters the current challenges (online only) with the Palm Beach auction .
We will definitely compile a report on the final result.
