The times they are a changin’. Or they will be, if the stock market continues its downward fall. If you’re a car collector in the middle of the market, it’s not enough to be rich. You have to feel rich. We’re not seeing the crash that Farago posited for Monterey, but the creator of the GM Death Watch is known for premature predictions. Cassandra complex? Anyway, let’s go to the tape.
The Ferrari Testarossa hammered smack dab in the middle of my prediction ($160k). Even though Leonardo Fioravanti‘s finest was an 8k miler, a black interior generally sacrifices seven percent against any other color cabin.
I missed the boat on the Saleen Mustang. Even with sub-20k miles, Stevie Boy’s hot rod couldn’t get over $65k. Someday that ‘Stang’s price will go wild.
I overestimated the ’69 Corvette L88’s sale price by a significant margin. The last time this rare, low production example sold for around $800k. This time, it limped along to 630 grand.
Chalk it up to a lack of boomers in the bidding pool – a sign that the half-million to million dollar market is softening? Watch this space.
With some exceptions, a federalized Euro Ferrari is worth 25 percent less than a “proper” U.S. spec car. I figured this non-factory-authorized immigrant would hold U.S. numbers thanks to its condition and photos. Nope!
I was consoled by my call on the F355. Excellent car, terrific presentation! It fetched $17k more than one I sold at retail, and my car had 9k miles. Another indication that 355’s are catching fire.
Farago keeps chewing my ear off about the investment value of AMG GT Black Series cars. This one did ALL the money at $470k.
My prediction was spot-on – until $35k in bids came in after the clock ran out. Pissing contest, the shape of things to come or both?
The Lamborghini Jalpa wasn’t a perfect car by any means. I figured $110k was all the dough. Close but no cigar! It hammered for $8k more than my top estimate.
The Countach’s ‘lil brother will never make the same money, but the limited edition Jalpa is its own thing: a sleeper with plenty of room to ascend.
| Model | Prediction | Highest Bid |
| 1989 Testarossa | $155k – $170k | $160k |
| Saleen Mustang | $80k – $90k | $64.5k |
| ‘69 Vette | $715k – $815k | $631k |
| Ferrari 550 | $220k Range | $190k |
| 355 Spider | $135k – $150k | $152k |
| SL500 | $13k – $17k | $19k |
| AMG GT Black Series | $415k – $435k | $470k |
| Lambo Jalpa | $105k – $110k | $118k |
