Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Bring A Trailer - Morgans & Interesting vehicles

For the benefit of full disclosure, I trust you’re happy to concede that the auction commentary confirms that Hagerty also declined to insure a M3W, thankfully a situation remedied when the owner worked through an agent.

In response to “I wonder what price it would have gone for without the magical 'doubling bid' – simple, the auction would have dragged on to the same conclusion as there were a few keen bidders at the end OR it would not have sold and joined the other 7 M3W auctions that have not meet reserve......

Regarding your “Lot of money for a plastic replica” comment, it may require a rethink.

Around the time the ACE was on the block, this little number was also strutting its stuff
1935 Auburn Boat Tail

Titled as a 1935 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster – it was a fiberglass copy of the original body, dropped on a modern chassis with a thumping big V8, all built-in in 2008. The price got to US$ 95,000.00 - more than twice the ACE and much more than the beautiful Trad Morgan.

Yep, we'll never know. As long as the buyer is happy with what he's got and what he's paid for it then everything is good.



But how much is a real Auburn Boat Tail Speeder going for? Bit like the now defunct Suffolk Sportscars - very expensive, and exceptionally well built, but still a replica and still a fraction of the cost of an original.

There's good interest and good money to be had in the Replica market....

If you had to make an unemotional price evaluation of the ACE it would be reasonable to do so in reference to the modern M3W.

By most accounts the ACE ;

• Looks good & performs well
• Is well engineered, reliable with most parts available
• Very rare (which has its own pros & cons)
• Clearly a competitor for the M3W (Morgan would not have bought the rights otherwise)
• The ACE that traded in Australia cost the buyer approximately US$ 37,000 but had provenance issues and would not have been well known here hence the soft price
Australian Sale

Given this scenario, (and this will be the contentions bit) it’s reasonable to price the ACE as a margin over the 2010+ M3W and that’s exactly where it traded.

This ignores the “Rarity factor” - never underestimate accumulated wealth and bucket list desire.
There are many in the classic car world where 44,500.00 is not even a good lunch....

Never heard of it but it looks different
1998-panoz-aiv-6

I still maintain that M3W prices have appreciated significantly over the past year. While there are a few early ones obtainable for £33-36,000 ($45-49,000), most of those on the market or recently sold have been north of £40,000 ($54,300). Since I sold mine at the end of 2020, its value has probably risen by £6-7,000. That is why I would not have been surprised if the Ace had gone for a few thousand more. Awkward passenger space aside, it is clearly better engineered than the Morgan and it has even more rarity value even if it has less brand awareness.

Thanks for the useful feedback M3W55.

You seem to be referring to the UK market where I find it very difficult to get accurate, reliable data. The listed price is rarely the sale price, and you never know the components of the trade. With dealer trades, you don’t know if the transaction is subject to expensive repairs or necessary upgrades and service performed at the vendors expense to get the deal done – very relevant in the case of the M3W.

All you get to see is a list price and sometime later, the sold sign

If you can point us in the direction of a respectable UK auction site (or any other for that matter) that allows access to historic transactions, including the description of the vehicle condition, that would be very useful for everyone on TM.

That’s why I like BaT because there is nowhere to hide, the range is wide and the database excellent.
However, while BaT will facilitate overseas transport, it is essentially a US market.

Like you, I would not have been surprised if someone went nuts in the bidding at the end – it’s a great car, it's rare and I want it.....

Good point on the seating arrangements in the ACE – that may be a turnoff for some.

I guess we now all eagerly await the appearance of the next M3W on BaT.

It's a fair point. I am going on asking prices, but it would not be unreasonable to assume that sold prices have moved pro rata.

Yes!

Still a shonky looking plastic replica with dodgy seating, but at least he should be able to get it insured