Book Review ... Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2021 – 2022


 

The latest edition of the Classic Car Auction Yearbook for 2021 – 2022, sponsored by Credit Suisse for the 14th consecutive year, was presented by the author Adolfo Orsi on the opening evening of the Auto e Moto d’Epoca Show in Padova on 20th October 2022. The book covers the auction period from 01 September 2021 to 31 August 2022, and as with the previous editions, the end of August cut-off date means that the results from all the major auctions in Monterey, California, during that month, can be incorporated as they are the most up to date indication of market movement and prices being achieved.

This new edition marks the 27th anniversary of the book, which continues to provide its usual in-depth interesting, fascinating and informative overview of the international classic car auction scene, featuring the results of sales by all the major auction houses worldwide, together with those of the major on-line auctions. The latter becoming an important factor in recent times, due to the worldwide Covid pandemic resulting in traditional auctions not being able to be held. There are also market comments and trend views from leading figures of eight of the leading auction houses,
- Mathieu Lamoure, Managing Director of Artcurial Motorcars,
- Craig Jackson Chairman & CEO of Barratt-Jackson,
- Philip Kantor, International Chairman of Bonhams Motor Cars,
- Edward Lovett, Founder & CEO of Collecting Cars,
- David Gooding, Founder & President of Gooding & Company,
- Sam Murtaugh, Chief Operating Officer of Mecum Auctions,
- Gordon Duff, RM-Sotheby’s Global Head of Auctions and
- Kenneth Ahn, President of Hagerty Marketplace owner of Broad Arrow Auctions..

The book is presented in a large format (240mm x 310mm) hardback style, printed on good quality gloss paper. As has been the case for the past few years, the cover depicts the most valuable car sold at auction during the period in question, and in the 2021 -2022 period it was a Mercedes-Benz that topped the chart. This being one of only two 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupés built which achieved a hammer price of US$142,668,000 at the RM Sotheby’s auction in Stuttgart in May 2022. This car had been owned by Mercedes-Benz since they first built it, and this was the first time that it had been offered for public sale. Looking at top ten sales for the period, five of them were Ferraris, and eight of the top ten were sold by RM Sotheby’s, the other two being the province of Gooding & Company.

The 2021 - 2022 edition runs to 416 pages, within which there are voluminous facts and figures, presented in various forms. It also provides a market analysis and an alphabetical descriptive list of the cars offered at auction during the period that the book covers, with the sale price including buyer’s premium quoted in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling and Euros, based on the exchange rate at the time of the auctions in question. There are also features like graphical analysis of trends, i.e. for specific manufacturing periods, or different marques and models, along with an incredible amount of other useful and fascinating information.

The Yearbook is considered as “The Bible” by many associated with collecting, buying and selling classic cars, and even for the general classic car enthusiast it makes for compelling reading. It is available from most major motoring booksellers, although if there is any difficulty in obtaining a copy, visit the Classic Car Auction Yearbook website.

www.classiccarauctionyearbook.com

ISBN: 978-88-96232-14-9

Mainland Europe Retail Price €90 (Check for prices in other countries)

 

Keith Bluemel          
11/2022



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