Collecting Cars Is Now Number 1!

Collecting Cars is now the UK’s number 1 auction platform for iconic, collectible and sporting cars. By total number of lots sold (more than 1300 in 2020), or by total sales value (£48M – 100% of which is passed to our sellers), Collecting Cars is celebrating being the number one auction house. What’s even more exciting is that it has taken us just 18 months to outstrip the competition.

The company was founded by Edward Lovett in 2019. Lovett was born into the family car business, and in more recent years has provided a private brokerage service, finding homes for some of the most sought-after collector cars in the world. Drawing on his significant experience, he saw the opportunity in the UK and European auction market for a dedicated platform for iconic, collectible and sporting cars.

Combining the excitement of competitive bidding with professional presentation and a finely honed brand identity, Collecting Cars was launched with a team of just four people in summer 2019, selling its first car – a 1993 Range Rover Classic LSE – in June that year. At the start of 2020 PistonHeads founder David Edmonston joined the team, to spearhead the technological development of the platform.

With a ‘100% online’ auction experience, Collecting Cars has been able to deliver value for sellers and buyers, even during the challenging coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, with more dwell time available for users at home in lockdown, the volume of consignments and sales increased month-on-month throughout 2020. Fuelled further by positive word-of-mouth and a rapidly growing social audience, consignment enquiries and sales continue to increase. In November 2020, the site sales record was broken by a 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera 2.7 RS achieving a hammer price of £538,500.

Reaching the top of our sector doesn’t mean the growth stops. This month Collecting Cars has established a new dedicated trade sales system, which can progress multiple cars from a single seller even more swiftly. Further afield the platform already has thousands of international bidders and in recent months established a physical presence in the Netherlands to accommodate a greater volume of European sellers. Finally, in the last week, Collecting Cars Australia has also been launched – with a new locally-based team managing consignments for that market. 

Founder Edward Lovett comments on the platform’s rapid rise to the top:

“It has been an incredible 18 months, and to have emerged as the UK’s number one specialist car auction platform is testament to the hard work of our team, which continues to expand to service the ever-increasing demand. We’re constantly growing, changing, chasing new targets, and venturing into new markets – all the while working with some of the best in the industry and handling some of the most desirable and interesting cars for sale. Opening up the new trade system and the Australian market are just two more exciting developments in Collecting Cars’ journey. We look forward to continuing to lead and redefine the auction market for iconic, collectible and sporting cars”.