February 2025: Month in Motoring
February continued the trend that the collector car market is changing and changing fast. And not just here in the USA but worldwide as well.
Scottsdale Kicks Off the US Season
The 2025 collector car season kicked off for the USA with Scottsdale Car Week in January. Looking closely at the numbers, enthusiasm was high, but the sales were, at best, flat, with no major records made – something that has become commonplace over the years with Barrett Jackson and the other supporting auctions.
Retromobile Paris Draws Record Crowds
In Europe, the season starts off in Paris with Retromobile the first week in February. Held at the Port De Versailles, it brings together every major dealer in the EU under one roof. It also brings together supporting industries and car clubs.
Like Scottsdale, the crowd was over the top. 150,000 collectors from around the world crossed the gates – up 10% from 2024. This made for an exciting, albeit crowded venue, making it very difficult to move and see the displays. But the crowd was not the sole reason for the crowded aisles. The dealer displays were better than ever and world-class. In a show where the cars are the stars, the settings were amazing and the best I have ever seen at a classic car show. So, the atmosphere looked and sounded great for Europe in 2025.
Record-Breaking Ferrari Sale in Paris
No question, the best cars are still bringing big money in Paris. This year, RM Auctions was tasked to sell a few cars from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway across several of their sales. For Paris, they presented the IMS 1964 Ferrari 250LM – the winning car for the 1965 24 hours of Le Mans.
The gamble by RM to offer the car in the Le Mans homeland paid off. With a presale estimate of 25 million Euros, the final hammer price was just under 35 million euros. A record price and proof that there is still plenty of money available for the right cars.
Moda Miami Showcases Rare Classics
February was bookended with Moda Miami – a show that was established 3 years ago to compete with the Amelia Island Concours. Previously, they were held on the same weekend, creating a divide amongst collectors. In 2025, we saw that change with Moda Miami and RM auctions holding their event separately from the Amelia weekend, a welcome change.
But amongst the super and hyper cars that were on display, for many, the main attraction was the RM auction that featured the remaining few cars from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The RM Paris sale of the Ferrari 250LM was incredible, but maybe not that big of a surprise. Ferrari has a huge following, so the idea that you could find two collectors who pushed the price to 35 million Euros was expected. The Miami sale was much different.
Brass Era Cars Defy Market Trends
The collector car market has seen brass era (pre-1914) cars trending downward. The Miami sale broke that narrative with two cars from the Speedway collection.
First, a 1908 Mercedes. It was a stunning Grand Prix racer, powered by a 17-liter or 1100 cubic-inch engine. Hammering sold at $8.3 million; it was one of the top brass cars sold in recent memory.
The second to hit the block was a 1907 Itala Grand Prix car. Hammering closed at $1.3 million; it was another big sale. Both cars were special and deserved the prices, showing that in 2025, good cars will bring great prices.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Evolution
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway sold 11 cars from their collection. Some pundits were surprised, but the results will provide funding to make the IMS Museum a world-class facility. It will be the backdrop for the best motor racing collection in the world and will bring a new crowd of fans through the door.
Also, by selling a few cars, fans around the world will now have the opportunity to see the cars up close at events – running and driving, not behind ropes but on the roads. Exactly how they should be presented.
The Future of Museum Collections
Lastly, many collectors have looked longingly at a car behind museum ropes, wishing someday they could own it. Seeing that museums might sell a few cars to support the remaining collection, the wish to buy the car behind the ropes might someday come true.
Never stop dreaming.
Happy Motoring!
