Will Daniels, Brightwells
Brightwells understands how the market changes
Why did Brightwells create a separate Modern Classics sale?
The reason behind the Modern Classics sale is that we identified a niche new market opportunity given what we had observed was coming to us for the classic sales, but also what buyers were asking us for. Buyers were coming to the classic and vintage sales and asking ‘where are all the classic cars’ without realising how sales had become dominated, not by ’50s and ’60s classics, but ’80s and ’90s vehicles that both come out of, and go in to, a different market segment. We also noted that these modern cars attracted a different crowd of buyers.
How has the market reacted?
Customer reaction has been positive and it’s a well-received concept. There will always be those who want to see you fail, or get the hump when their car doesn’t sell, (this is usually because they wanted too much, or their expectations were too high and they were not open-minded). There are no fixed rules with an auction – it’s somewhere between trade and retail with anomalies on either side.
Do you have any hard and fast rules regarding cars entered?
Our aim is to cover 1980s-2000s machinery but some newer cars such as the Jaguar F-type are clearly an instant modern classic. We try to steer clear of mundane, run of the mill cars. We turn down vehicles everyday that we don’t feel meet our criteria, such as MGFs, Metros, and other normal cars. We don’t want the sale to be full of boring, mundane, everyday cars.
What do your buyers like, and how do you retain interest?
BMWs, Jaguars, Mercedes-Benzes and Porsches are always popular, but we need to be careful we don’t fill the sales with too many of (a) the same make, or (b) the same models: For example, too many Jaguar XJ saloons, or Mercedes-Benz SLs or BMW 3 Series. E30 3 Series BMWs are always popular and the Mercedes-Benz W124 cabriolets are often a hit.
‘Customer reaction has been positive’
Any tips regarding future collectibles?
In the future, ones to watch are the BMW Z3, BMW 840, Bentley Arnage, Audi RS and S cars, M-powered BMWs such as Z3M and M3 models, and fast Fords, such as the mint low mileage Fiesta XR2 in that sold for £9600 in April this year.