greg murphy charger
Collecting Cars Charges Into 2026 With V8 Spectacle
Collecting Cars has thundered into 2026 with the sort of momentum that makes auctioneers smile and accountants reach for strong coffee. January delivered 60 sold lots and roughly AU $4 million in sales, essentially neck and neck with the same month last year. That steady start keeps the door open for a repeat of last year’s headline-making performance, which topped AU $80 million in local sales from just over 1,100 sold auction lots.
January Numbers That Matter
Sixty cars changed hands in January for about AU $4 million – not a crash, not a sprint, but a healthy clip. Standout results included a 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type R at AU $75,555; a 1968 Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV at AU $70,888; a 2007 Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG at AU $145,500; a 1974 Alfa Romeo Montreal at AU $123,000; a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS 63 AMG at AU $144,200; a 2000 Nissan Skyline GT-R at AU $470,000; and a 2004 Lamborghini Gallardo at AU $122,500. In short, the market is buying quality and variety in equal measure.
Two Notable Cars Head To Auction
February is set to raise a few more eyebrows. One headline lot is a 1997 Bathurst 1000-winning Holden Commodore V8 Supercar, now fully restored under the supervision of the original driver’s family and presented with concours-level attention. The other is a hand-built, Hellcat-powered 1969 Dodge Charger – a bespoke restomod created by top-tier US specialists and finished to an almost absurd standard. Both will be offered via the platform’s Sealed Bids service, which means buyers can tuck in and make their best offer in private. These are not everyday finds; they are the kind of cars that stop conversations and cause wallets to twitch.
Platform Snapshot
The platform operates around the clock, selling vehicles to a global audience via a secure, hassle-free process. Sellers keep 100 percent of the hammer price and retain possession of their cars until the successful buyer arranges collection – a setup that suits both collectors and cautious sellers. Since launch, the service has sold more than 20,000 lots, generating excess of US $1.2 billion in total sales value. Headquartered in the UK with offices across multiple regions and a partner in the UAE, the platform boasts over 300,000 registered members in more than 100 countries, delivering genuine international reach for consignments. Porsche is the standout marque, with thousands of cars sold including many 911s spanning every generation. More than 95 percent of sales have been completed without a physical viewing, which says a lot about the trust collectors place in the process.
What This Means For The Market
If January is any guide, the collector car market remains robust rather than fragile. The arrival of high-profile, concours-level cars in February will test appetite for blue-chip lots, and the sealed-bid format adds a delicious element of mystery. For buyers who like a bit of theatre without the shouting, and sellers who prefer a clean, fee-free exit, this is very good news indeed.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
