Has inflation taken a bite out of the exotic car market? Premier Financial Services Midwest Regional Sales Manager Ross Dressel has seen a dip in activity in the $200K-$500K heart of that segment. But meanwhile, “affordable” pre-owned exotics and classics in the $75K-$200K range are getting more action for America’s #1 exotic and classic car lease financing provider. Who’s up? Who’s down? Read here to find out.
Forget March Madness, Florida brought the heat to the collector car world with the quartet of Amelia Island auctions booking $186 million in sales, a record for the venue. The top sale, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider, accounted for $18M by itself. Ferraris grabbed 13 slots across the four auctions’ Top-10 lists, and Porsches took four. Modern supercars made some auction Top-10 lists, including $5.3M for a rare Pagani Zonda and $2.4M for a McLaren P1. A 1931 Duesenberg put the spotlight on Pre-war cars with a $4.3M sale.
The new Rolls-Royce battery-powered “Spectre,” arriving in late 2023, provides a “magic carpet ride” of luxury. In fact, the Spectre’s suspension uses an array of cameras and sensors to “read” the road surface ahead and preemptively adjust the ride on the go. Pricing is expected to be over $400,000, and orders are already coming in.
The 2021 Wraith starts at about $330,000 before you put your stamp on it with options. At over $100,000 less than the Rolls, the Bentley coupe might be boisterous twice-removed cousin.
Rolls-Royce has produced a truly spectacular automobile with the 2021 Ghost, one that starts at $332,500. The original Ghost was well liked over its decade run; the new one will remind you of how 10+ years of luxury progress can transform a car.
Six auction houses are featured, showcasing cars from 1924 to 1941. Marques such as Cadillac, Rolls-Royce, Duesenberg, Auburn, La Salle, Oldsmobile, Buick, and Hispano-Suiza are among the cars up for auction.
A Ghost can easily waft past $400,000 with options. For its 2018 U.S. media test car, for example, Rolls held the line to about $394,000 by adding the Henley Inspiration design package ($44,350), rear theater with dual 9.2-inch screens ($8,800) and Rolls-Royce Bespoke Audio (just under $10,000).
Rolls-Royce has been using the Phantom name since 1925, although not continuously. The name was in later years reserved for the factory limos, until the first new Rolls created under the BMW umbrella arrived in 2003 and took on the name. That car went through a Series 2 update, but again, we are now calling that car the Phantom VII.
