Image: Creative Rides
Image: Creative Rides
Image: Creative Rides
Image: Creative Rides
NewsBy: Siyavuya Mbaduli
A thrilling auction of classic and collectable automobiles took place in Cape Town over the weekend, setting the stage for a scorching year in the local collector car market.
Image: Creative Rides
A staggering five collector cars surpassed the R1 million price barrier, almost doubling the number of R1m-plus sales recorded at the last national collector car auction just four months ago in Johannesburg.
Related: BMW 333i and Alfa GTV6 among Mzansi specials to be auctioned off this weekend
The star of the show was undoubtedly the 1957 Alfa Giulietta Sprint Veloce Lightweight 750E Conrero racer, which ignited a fierce bidding war between the sales floor and online bidders from around the globe. The opening bid of R1 million set the tone for an intense battle, with the final hammer falling at a breathtaking R2,7 million. Its rarity was a major factor in the high level of interest; the Alfa Giulietta Sprint Veloce Lightweight had a minuscule production run, with only 100 to 200 cars believed to have been made, making it highly sought after.
Image: Creative Rides
The winning bid was made in Cape Town on behalf of a Swiss national, who will add the 1957 Alfa Giulietta Sprint Veloce Lightweight 750E Conrero racer to their already-acclaimed car collection in his home country. Other notable cars that fetched over R1 million at the Creative Rides auction were the 1987 BMW 333i, which sold for R1,255 million, the 1962 Alfa Giulia Sprint SS, which went for R1,25 million, the 2017 BMW M4 GTS, which sold for R1,175 million and the 1987 Ferrari 328 GTS, which sold for R1,1 million.
Image: Creative Rides
Derrick says while competition was lively throughout the auction, the day was made particularly memorable by three fierce bidding battles. The first, of course, was the fierce battle over the 1957 Alfa Giulietta Sprint Veloce Lightweight 750E Conrero racer, which fetched a whopping R2,7 million.
The second bidding war was over the 1987 BMW 333i, which saw scores of bidders scrambling to get in on the action. The bidding was fast and furious, with several bidders throwing in the towel at around R1 million. However, those who remained fought hard, and the price continued to climb. At R1,18 million, only two bidders were left standing, engaging in an epic online stand-off between South Africa and New Zealand. The final hammer fell at R1,255 million, with the “killer” bid coming from New Zealand. The BMW 333i will soon be shipped to its elated new owner in that country.
Image: Creative Rides
The third bidding war was over a 1994 Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo, which was one of the first true Japanese supercars. With only one owner and sold with its original pink slip and full-service history, this lot excited buyers both locally and internationally. The bidding was fast and furious, with scores of bidders vying for the opportunity to own this remarkable car. In the end, the winning bid of R600 000 came from Japan, a testament to the soaring popularity of Nissan 300ZXs on the global collectables market.
The South African collector car market is drawing increasing international interest, as demonstrated by the recent Creative Rides auction held in Cape Town. The auction saw bidders from 14 countries, including England, Switzerland, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, joining local South African collectors to bid on 79 lots of classic and collectable automobiles.
Image: Creative Rides
According to Joff van Reenen, Creative Rides Auctions Director and Lead Auctioneer, international buyers are drawn to the South African collector car market because of the interesting and fresh stock, as well as the favourable exchange rate.
Creative Rides has invested in next-generation auction technology to enable remote bidding in real-time, allowing bidders from around the world to compete with those in the salesroom. This technology has enabled the company to expand its buyer pool and stimulate the local market. With growing international interest and the ability to participate remotely, the South African collector car market is poised for continued growth in the coming years.
Derrick says in the run-up to this weekend’s sale, the auction cars were viewed online by more than 2 million enthusiasts in 56 countries
Keyword: BMW 333i among five classics to top R1 million at CT Auction