Taking the results from the 114 most important auctions in the world from September 2016 to August 2017, some 5,659 lots in all are recorded in this hardback book, together with some fascinating analysis and extraordinary statistics.
The top ten highest results are covered in detail with comment on what made them so special and of course, as has become traditional, the number one is on the front cover– this time the Aston Martin DBR1 sold by RM Sotheby’s in Monterey in August that sold for $22,550,000.
As in previous years, there are graphs and charts to show the breakdown of sales by country, by manufacturer and turnover but new for this year is an analysis of the age of cars sold both in numbers and as a percentage of turnover, plus an examination of the phenomenon of ‘no reserve’.
The main section of the book however, is the listings of each lot, by manufacturer and then chronologically, with comment from the catalogue about condition and history, chassis number where given, estimate and then hammer price and which auction it featured in. This alone makes it a serious and essential resource for any enthusiast or trader alike, whether you are buying a car or valuing your current one.
And it also shows some very valuable trends. For sure the overall turnover is down this year on last, but some areas of the market are in growth. However, it is also a bit like reading the Sunday Times Rich List. One gets drawn in by the figures – the top 195 cars were all million dollar plus sellers for instance!
Published by Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi and published by their company Historica Selecta, the Classic Car Auction Yearbook is available in the UK through Chaters: www.chaters.co.uk. Price is £69.99.