Market view

There’s every chance I could soon be on the hunt for a fresh classic, and I imagine that most readers would think it pretty hypocritical of me to not buy something from an auction. However, looking at some auction websites doesn’t exactly help to steer me towards a potential buy. I was recently looking at a 1960s Mercedes-Benz S-class but, frustratingly, there was no indication of which engine it had. Why not? Surely the engine size is one of the most important factors in deciding whether someone’s interested or not? And the quality of the photographs – invariably provided by vendors – lack any clarity and potentially hide all sorts of problems.

In my role as chief Mr Grumpy of the UK’s classic car movement, why aren’t auctioneers providing this level of information? I’ll keep saying it time and time again until I’m Rolls-Royce Seychelles Blue in the face – just who are some auctioneers working for – buyers and sellers, or themselves?

If it’s the latter, then it’s time they moved on.

‘I’ll keep saying it until I’m Rolls-Royce Seychelles Blue in the face’