http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3583088.htm

so this was the bargain of the century based on the martin car then?

I am not saying that PH dictates the value of cars. Its much more subtle than that.

Its internet forums like PH where enthusiasts and potential owners discuss and dream in a way that just didnt exist before the internet.

When I was a young lad, it was just the small group of friends, rallying on tv, The Professionals and seeing cars on the road that moulded my car dreams.

I am convinced that PH does have the power to affect the market for certain cars (Like GT3's) by spreading the word on their greatness and low depreciation (= affordability).

MTR

MTR

Bit confused by that however you don't need discussions on forums to keep asking prices high.

Hell, I'd love an Eames lounge chair & ottoman but I'm not going to find an original for less than £5k and I've never seen a thread on any forum extolling the virtues of them.

It's simply market forces.

you've picked a thread asking where someone can get one cheap to try to justify a point?

ah, I follow

for sure, just as there was press about pretty much everything even before the internet boom

I saw and sat in the Martin Brundle car at Paul Stephens.

It was immaculate, the interior was like new.

It felt tight, the doors and lids all felt new opening and shutting.

Stunningly original and excellent condition.

This topic is of great interest to me - having been involved in consultancy in the industry for many years (I project managed one of the first Internet based used car sales sites).

There is no doubt the Internet has had a huge influence on car sales /prices. If anything, it has driven prices down - especially for 'ordinary cars', as the market for anyone's used cars is now national. However, 'special' car prices have generally gone up as a result.

When I was actually selling used exotica in the late '80s 'ordinary' 911s, etc were going for silly money (I sold an immaculate 2 year-old Turbo coupe for well over double new list price at the time), but really good ones, with great provenance were fetching no more than scruffy abused ones! Now, the Internet has enabled people to set 'special' cars apart - that Paul Stephens advert is a great example! In 1988, the whole advert would have been a 3 column-cm block in black and white in the back of the Sunday Times... OK, the famous racing driver (or is it broadcaster?) bit might add a little bit, but most wouldn't notice as if the price was £5,000 more than 3 or 4 adverts in the same column, they probably wouldn't even read the text!

FWIW, if I had a spare £35k, I would have bought it myself... Looked after and not too many miles on it, it will always sell for more than you paid, to someone, somewhere, (and thanks to the Internet that is now a World-wide audience) who happens to want a collector's car with some provenance that sets it apart from Joe Blogg's 911.

Finally... The irony of the OP's first post is that he probably triggered the sale with his comment So yes, forums DO affect the market (and I'll bet there's far more cars that HAVEN'T sold, or got less money, because of forum member's comments - such as the 'marmite' colour comment and the dealer feedback, etc)


ETA: Sorry, didn't see that the OP posted after it had sold, but you get my drift... I wouldn't mind betting a forum post somewhere drew someone's attention to the car?

I'm not sure we can call the buyer 'foolish' to spend that much as there's nothing else to compare it to.
WE may think it's foolish because we can probably remember last year the car would probably have sold for quite a bit less.
I personally would pay £80,000 for a rare electric guitar, and people would say I'm foolish, but I'm not. It's what you have to pay for a certain guitar in a special condition and I can't find one any cheaper.

Broadening the debate - I have no doubt that rare items have had their value increased by the internet, simply by increasing the size of market.

Maybe Brundle bought it