The Market

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A year in retrospect: Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2017-2018

A year in retrospect: Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2017-2018 26th October 2018

We always look forward to the arrival of the annual Classic Car Auction Yearbook by Adolfo Orsi and Raffaele Gazzi, an excellent addition to the real-time data available online – for those who like to refer to the printed word as well.

For this, the 23rd edition of the Yearbook, there are some new statistics added to the usual format, giving fresh insights on the 2017-2018 classic car auction market – such as a segmentation of the market by geographical area, which confirms North America’s dominance. Almost two-thirds of the world market by value is claimed by the USA – whereas in 2003-2004, it could claim only half.


Distilling its figures from the major international auctions between 1st September 2017 and the Yearbook’s cut-off date of 31st August 2018, this year’s volume covers 5,628 cars from 308 marques, and provides a fascinating read for collectors and enthusiasts who want to mull over a 12-month period that saw both highs and lows – but ended on a very positive note with the encouraging results of the Monterey sales.

There are always interesting nuggets to be discovered. We particularly liked the analysis of the number of lots that are returning to auction after being sold at some point over the last 25 years (or ‘seasons’). It felt cheering to be told that “80% of the cars presented have never been offered in the last 25 seasons”.

While online reporting can’t be rivalled for up-to-the-minute market trends and immediate news, a printed work of this quality does offer an absorbing static reference that sits well on the bookshelf and provides many happy hours of browsing for the statistics-loving connoisseur. See www.classiccarauctionyearbook.com.