$1.4m car bought on phone app
A NZ$1.4 million sale in the UK is being touted as the first such classic car deal to be completed directly on social media and the largest known in-app purchase ever.
Sold using a ‘‘buy now’’ button on a mobile phone was a 1964 Aston Martin DB5 – the car made famous through the James Bond movies.
The sale is also said to be the largest known transaction made via Apple Play and was made on the platform Vero.
Auctioneers Coys had announced earlier in the month at the Mondial de L’Automobile – Paris Motor Show – that customers would be able to purchase a selection of historic cars via Vero, including the iconic DB5 which featured in their exhibition area at the international biennial event.
The buyer, who wished to remain anonymous, bought the DB5 with Apple Pay directly from the Coys profile on Vero after seeing it at the show.
‘‘The proud new owner saw the DB5 at the Paris Motor Show, he was overjoyed to see the car of his dreams and didn’t want to lose it ... he was keen to quickly get in front of the queue, so a few days later he hit the ‘Buy Now’ button on Vero to guarantee the purchase, leaving two other collectors disappointed in his wake,’’ said Chris Routledge, CEO of Coys.
Routledge added that he believes it ‘‘signals a new era for classic car sales’’ giving prospective buyers a head start in what is a highly competitive market.
The car is one of the highly sought-after right hand drive silver birch models with red leather trim. It has undergone a full restoration – including engine rebuild, suspension and gearbox overhaul following 20 years in dry storage, during which time it was not used.
Other historic cars currently listed and available for instant purchase on Coys’ Vero profile include a NZ$679,581 Ferrari Dino 246 once owned by Peter Grant (manager of Led Zeppelin), an NZ$1.35m Ferrari Daytona and a NZ$501,000 Bentley Continental S2.