The New Classic Car Auction Yearbook Launches from Padova with Analysis on $931 Million of Turnover from the 2018-2019 Season, Offering Collectors 26 Years of Integrity, Perspective and Statistics from its Database of 85,000 Cars

The new edition reports a 23% decrease in overall sales since last year, while values of certain models and wider analyses show strong long-term gains, even since 2011-2012.

PADUA, Italy (October 24, 2019) – Co-Authors Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi, of Italian consulting firm Historia Selecta, are pleased to present the 24^th edition of the Classic Car Auction Yearbook reporting on the 2018-2019 international auction season. This must-have, collectible reference book is the original auction data reporting publication with records going back 26 seasons. Since years considered as the ‘bible’ of the collector car market, it continues to be the only guide of its kind providing a reliable and profoundly analytical look at the most significant, international automotive auction transactions over time, particularly through so many thoughtfully-designed perspectives. The annual VIP presentation to launch the new Yearbook takes place every year from the ACI/ ACI Storico stand at the internationally-attended Auto e Moto d’Epoca Fiera in Padua, Italy on the first evening of the four-day classic car and motorcycle convention. In addition to a valuable early review and presentation provided by Co-Author Adolfo Orsi, guests enjoy a roundtable discussion with esteemed auction executives Philip Kantor of Bonhams and Matthieu Lamoure of Artcurial Motorcars to hear the experts’ own insights on the past season. 

“Since the 2008-2009 season there has been a very strong upward trend in the classic car market,” said Co-Author Adolfo Orsi, who is also a historian, specialist and the president of Historica Selecta. “This increase attracted many investors and low interest rates also contributed to this. Some optimists could dream of a yearly 20-30% price increase but this cannot happen for many years in row. A stop was natural and necessary. The trend had already begun to change during the 2014-2015 season and continued throughout 2018-2019. Today we have a buyer’s market and real collectors should look with attention at what is being offered now because there could be interesting opportunities in the months to come.”

With 24 graphs and charts providing unique market views, the new 2018-2019 Yearbook also considers for the first time the number (1,113) and percentage of cars already offered in the past that were sold this season against total turnover ($931 million) and the sales percentage of those cars (69%) versus the market average (72%). The decrease in cars sold over $1 million this year has also been in great consideration. Ferrari is still the leading Manufacturer with the Top Lot (the Ferrari 290MM sold by RM Sotheby’s in December 2018 at $22 million), and also holds a share of 25% of the total market when compared to other manufacturers with six cars in the Top Ten and 38 in the Top 100. Porsche consolidates its second position with 13% of the market and Mercedes-Benz is now ranked in third position. The authors point out these insights as well as the increase in no-reserve cars against total turnover when describing the current state of the market in the Comments section, starting on page 12. 

The 24th edition of the Classic Car Auction Yearbook reports on the results from 97 auctions held from the 1^st of September 2018 to the 31^st of August 2019, has 400 pages with 947 photographs and covers 5,467 cars listed among 327 different marques with indication by chassis number and auction results in three currencies (euro, US dollar and GB pound sterling).