Video may have killed the radio star but it could be the saviour of classic auctions as a younger and more internet-savvy generation of bidders changes the market’s buying habits
THE BIG STORY
Y ounger buyers are increasingly likely to pick their next purchase by watching online clips about classics coming onto the market, say auction experts. The use of online clips to guide bidders around cars ahead of sales has increased since the pandemic – when buyers became accustomed to online- led sales and experts say that it’s now a crucial tool for informing would-be owners about lots ahead of auctions. Mathewsons, Brightwells and Manor Park Classics all feature videos guiding buyers through individual lots and Gateway Auctions made the option of bespoke online viewings part of its offering when it launched its first sale back in February. Charterhouse’s Richard Bromell says that buying habits have changed and the likelihood of younger buyers visiting a sale isn’t as great as for older ones: ‘They’re definitely geared-up to a video walkaround, either from the videos we upload or via WhatsApp. Their buying habits are different and they are more comfortable bidding online.’
He added that younger buyers are favouring cars from the 1970s onwards: ‘This includes MGs and Triumph Spitfires that carried on into the 1980s. Recently I’ve seen good internet interest from the under-30s for Fiestas and other similar models, most of which don’t have an ‘i’ or a ‘Turbo’ on the badge.’
Manor Park Classi
