The weather beater
How we got one up on ‘The Beast from the East’
You must have approached your recent Ascot Racecourse sale with concern because of the weather.
We had sufficient warning of the worsening weather and so it enabled us to minimise the risk. But yes, it made things trickier in the build-up. Thankfully a combination of the huge commitment from our team, coupled with the stoicism and goodwill of the never-say-die classic community, was more than a match for the weather. We applaud the 250-plus who braved the snow and made it to the two viewing days and the 1100 who packed the hall on sale day. That’s a valid barometer of the market.
Do two viewing days work well?
We believe it works well for everyone. We pay a great deal of attention to enabling people to view consignments pre-sale. Many are potential bidders to whom it’s most relevant of course, but we also believe we have a responsibility to the future of classic car ownership by welcoming everyone, including potential first-time buyers, to have a good look, talk to our consignment team and savour the atmosphere. We also host regular free seminars by the team on viewing days to talk all about the auction process and improve understanding of what’s involved in both buying and selling.
‘Attendance is a valid barometer of the market’
Was the mix of cars right?
We aim to represent the interests of the classic car community as a whole and so that establishes the mix as far as we are concerned. Beyond that, it’s more complex, as the market is dynamic and trends come and go, with corresponding changes to values. But judging by our very stable and consistently high rates of sale, we are generally on the right path, but we’re constantly reviewing results and talking to our auction visitors with an eye to the future.
Finally, is the less expensive end of the market – under £5000 – still performing strongly?
I’ll defer to our auction director, Edward Bridger-Stille on this one: ‘Of course everybody needs an entry point and this is often the price bracket that supplies it, particularly for first timers. This is where the restoration projects – where we cut our teeth on – can be found and where we can afford to make mistakes. You can also find a great atmosphere and receptiveness from club members.’
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