Historics are pushing water uphill this afternoon.

[MikeInWimbledon]

Stuck indoors away from home, I've been watching the Historics auction at Windsor.
Embarrassingly low prices and rate of sale.

Is it the weather, time of year, or just too many "classics" being liquidated by their Boomer owners?

 

[badgx]

Would be a great opportunity to pick up a piece of history especially if they go under the hammer without a reserve

 

[Will]

I’d be moderating my ‘bid’ in my own mind to value, as most of the vehicles I’ve seen at these auctions are never quite as good as expected in the flesh!

But yes, sign of the economic times, plus summer is a poor time to sell cars etc. Weather won’t be helping either as said

 

[C240Sport97]

have checked out about 5 different historics auctions stock ..

agree with Will - cars are rarely in great condition and are almost always average, and sometimes poor

 

[Will]

I think auctions are probably a great way of disposing of cars that may have issues or not be in the best of condition.

All you need is a bit of auction fever, bidders getting carried away in competition of ‘winning’ and overlooking or forgetting the reality of what they’re buying. Especially if bought unseen or not thoroughly inspected.

Clearly there are many nice cars that go through auction to reach the correct markets but in my experience there’s a lot of rubbish too!

 

[Smiley]

With risk free interest rates at 5%+ the lost opportunity return from an "asset" that is now costing more to store and maintain is making some owners rethink.

 

[Smiley]

I agree re the quality of auction cars; the quality of most is low to medium; maybe I am just too picky. I am astonished that people bid on carandclassic auctions sight unseen. The Ts and Cs are heavily weighted in favour of the seller.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

I agree re the quality of auction cars; the quality of most is low to medium; maybe I am just too picky. I am astonished that people bid on carandclassic auctions sight unseen. The Ts and Cs are heavily weighted in favour of the seller.

Ditto
https://collectingcars.com

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

My points were that the prices were embarrassingly lower than they used to be, like for like, and that more cars were not sold at all, compared to normal Historic auctions

I asked whether it was the weather, the time of year, or the fluff of the last of last three years is being blown away by boomer disposals which might be about interest rates and might be about boredom with some classics.

The whiff of the cloven hoof isn't unique to auctions, is it ?

But maybe it's all just the result of Brexit ?

 

[KennyN]

I think the average punter is really feeling the squeeze at the moment and as such toys and treats have been pushed to the bottom of the priority list.

We were in Glasgow today and the phone / watch / high end clothing shops were all pretty much deserted , changed days indeed.

There is just not the same amount of spare ££ floating around , for such trinkets.

K

 

[badgx]

It can be fun tinkering on old cars, gives us something DIY to do like a hobby and to pass time during weekends. Some projects may need a bit of pocket money to see through any restoration work but the right car can be a real satisfaction and to enjoy

 

[Petrol Pete]

There is a Ford dealership a few miles from me , I have driven past it a few times in the last six months and the line of 'almost new, hardly used' Lifestyle van derived camper van's , you know the ones ? pop up tent roof , dark windows, metallic paint and big alloys ? Seems to be growing.

My guess is that it seemed like a good idea during Covid has now turned into 'what are we going to do with that van blocking our drive/in paid storage ?' has kicked in for some.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

There is a Ford dealership a few miles from me , I have driven past it a few times in the last six months and the line of 'almost new, hardly used' Lifestyle van derived camper van's , you know the ones ? pop up tent roof , dark windows, metallic paint and big alloys ? Seems to be growing.

My guess is that it seemed like a good idea during Covid has now turned into 'what are we going to do with that van blocking our drive/in paid storage ?' has kicked in for some.

Caravan & Motorhome site bookings are currently down 30% on 2022, and that was substantially down on 2021. Sites which were fully booked every night in throughout Summer 2020 and peak season on 2021 are only 35% occupied this week (typically the busiest of the year).

Not only have the COVID caravanners long-since bailed out of their caravans and motorhomes which both bought and sold whim, but a rapidly growing number of long-term caravanners are selling-up because they can’t afford to continue as their disposable income simply doesn’t allow.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

There is a Ford dealership a few miles from me , I have driven past it a few times in the last six months and the line of 'almost new, hardly used' Lifestyle van derived camper van's , you know the ones ? pop up tent roof , dark windows, metallic paint and big alloys ? Seems to be growing.

My guess is that it seemed like a good idea during Covid has now turned into 'what are we going to do with that van blocking our drive/in paid storage ?' has kicked in for some.

Hopefully T5/T6 prices will come back to something close to sensible, without heavily burning the people who bought close to the top of the market. Unfortunately the ridiculous surge in values stopped genuine current and would-be motorhomers from getting into their first Motorhome or upgrading their existing Motorhome.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Hopefully T5/T6 prices will come back to something close to sensible, without heavily burning the people who bought close to the top of the market. Unfortunately the ridiculous surge in values stopped genuine current and would-be motorhomers from getting into their first Motorhome or upgrading their existing Motorhome.

We've got a branch of Marquis close to us; the price of the used Transporter conversions on their forecourt would give you palpitations. OK the VW is a good van, but it ain't exactly spacious, even with a pop top.

 

[Petrol Pete]

^^^ You hit on the head with the word 'van' thats all they are basically, never worth the premium IMHO.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Caravan & Motorhome site bookings are currently down 30% on 2022, and that was substantially down on 2021. Sites which were fully booked every night in throughout Summer 2020 and peak season on 2021 are only 35% occupied this week (typically the busiest of the year).

Not only have the COVID caravanners long-since bailed out of their caravans and motorhomes which both bought and sold whim, but a rapidly growing number of long-term caravanners are selling-up because they can’t afford to continue as their disposable income simply doesn’t allow.

From that description I would never know you were talking about the business I've been in for 21 years!! Still busy. Cant get stock- new or used, prices hardly dropped since the COVID price peaks (just starting to weaken in the latest guide....but that always happens just before the new model year on 1st September). Customers moaning that they cant get on sites because they did not book ahead.....like they are surprised that sites are busy in the summer holidays!!! Swift are telling me that I will still be on less van than I was pre COVID....still issues the parts supply chain apparently....but also that they are increasing motorhome builds to meet ever increasing demand....so that's less time for caravan builds.. We are on the sunny South Coast with the beaches and the New Forest....maybe its different elsewhere.....but most of the trade boys I know are happy with things and looking forward to the NEC in October.....the real gauge of how next years business will be.....

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

There is a Ford dealership a few miles from me , I have driven past it a few times in the last six months and the line of 'almost new, hardly used' Lifestyle van derived camper van's , you know the ones ? pop up tent roof , dark windows, metallic paint and big alloys ? Seems to be growing.

My guess is that it seemed like a good idea during Covid has now turned into 'what are we going to do with that van blocking our drive/in paid storage ?' has kicked in for some.

Do they all have SNP stickers on the windscreen by any chance?

Like convertibles, the best time to sell these things is Summer. There'll be plenty of Brits and Johnny Foreigners, looking to buy something for this year's holiday.

Steve Cropley, the editor of Autocar, has been cockahoop recently about selling his camper van after four (?) years for £50k, pretty much the same money as he paid for it, thanks to the Covid19 surge in prices.

Methinks they're a bit like boats and pretty blondes. People are thrilled by the prospect, but the novelty soon wears off. But campsites are definitely bigger and busier than ever, as far as I can see - I walk past a lot of them. Like golf courses, there are a lot more people out there than there used to be three years ago.

(I do have friends who are lifelong campers and regular T5 users, but they're a .... different... bunch)

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

From that description I would never know you were talking about the business I've been in for 21 years!! Still busy. Cant get stock- new or used, prices hardly dropped since the COVID price peaks (just starting to weaken in the latest guide....but that always happens just before the new model year on 1st September). Customers moaning that they cant get on sites because they did not book ahead.....like they are surprised that sites are busy in the summer holidays!!! Swift are telling me that I will still be on less van than I was pre COVID....still issues the parts supply chain apparently....but also that they are increasing motorhome builds to meet ever increasing demand....so that's less time for caravan builds.. We are on the sunny South Coast with the beaches and the New Forest....maybe its different elsewhere.....but most of the trade boys I know are happy with things and looking forward to the NEC in October.....the real gauge of how next years business will be.....

I suspect that those people still buying new caravans aren’t being squeezed so hard by the current increases in the cost of living.

Sites with many facilities really ought to be in the school 6-weeks holidays, and would have been pre-COVID and resulting surge in camping and caravanning.

Most caravan sites - certainly Caravan & Motorhome Club sites - don’t have those facilities though, and utilisation is much lower in Summer 2023 than 2020-22.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Methinks they're a bit like boats and pretty blondes. People are thrilled by the prospect, but the novelty soon wears off.

Dunno anything about boats but my pretty blonde is still around after 39 years and the novelty hasn't worn off.
Although what she thinks about me is probably another matter.