Welcome to the WC, where you’re trapped in my mind for eight to twelve minutes weekly.
OK today we dive into sexy cars, investable cars, meetups about cars, and …Taylor Swift.
Next week – shipwrecks!
Let’s get to it.
Table of Contents
The Galaxy’s Sexiest Car Auctions
This week, Auto I wrapped up the acquisition of its first vehicle, a stunning Ferrari 512 M (pics and videos soon).
And just in time, Bonhams and Sotheby’s slide in to steal our thunder by hosting the most ridiculous trio of supercar auctions I’ve seen in some time.
Sotheby’s presents a stunning array of mostly-modern supercars in Zurich on the 11th, and it’s impossible to pick a clear favourite. There are more than a dozen vehicles that are likely to sell for well into seven figures, including these Ferraris below.
A day later, Bonhams kicks off this weekend in Belgium with over 100 lots, many of which are seven-figure supercars like these two beauties below.
But don’t sleep on hidden gems like these three vintage gas pumps, each offered without reserve.
And if you haven’t got one of these in your garage, what are you even doing with your life?
Finally, Sotheby’s takes us back down south to Munich for its more vintage and slightly more accessible culmination to the trifecta.
A 1996 Ferrari F50 is the top lot, but this vintage Shelby is the pick of the litter for me at 1/20th the price.
And if you want something truly unique, check out this two-wheeled Pope Mobile.
How to Invest in The Galaxy’s Sexiest Car Auctions
Enough eye candy. What are the investment plays from the auctions above?
I grilled David Spickett from The Car Crowd — they’re the experts behind our Auto I acquisition strategy — and these are his picks.
Best Investment Potential
1998 Porsche 911 Turbo S (993) – RM Sotheby’s Munich, Lot 140
- One of just 345 units produced worldwide
- Final air-cooled 911 Turbo, Porsche Exclusive build, 450 PS
- Increasingly seen as a “holy grail” modern classic
- Low mileage example (28k km), original spec, and black-on-black combo
Potential bargain
2005 Ferrari Superamerica F1 – The Tailored for Speed Collection, Lot 108
- Only 559 were produced, and it was the first Ferrari with an electrochromic roof
- Rare GT car with a V12, paired with the F1 gearbox
- Historically undervalued vs. 575M & 599, but increasing collector attention
Super rare
2016 BMW M4 GTS — RM Sotheby’s Munich, Lot 125
- Limited to just 700 examples worldwide making it one of the rarest modern M cars on the market. Only 63Kms so probably the lowest mileage one in the world.
- Famed for unique engineering touches like water injection for extra boost (people even put ice in the water tank for extra zip! Stripped out interior, carbon components, and track-ready setup.
Wildcard
1986 Lamborghini LM002 – Bonhams Zoute, Lot 121
• Just 301 units built; the original “Rambo Lambo”
• 5.2L Countach V12 engine in an SUV body
Have Fun Learning about the Galaxy’s Sexiest Cars
If you dig cars and live in the Los Angeles Area, make sure to RSVP for our meetup next week at Hollywood Classic Cars, a 12,000 square foot industrial space just west of Downtown LA.
This sprawling venue features more than 30 classic and collectible vehicles, along with rotating additions that span decades of automotive design and culture.
A guided tour will walk Altea members through the collection, sharing stories and pointing out some of the hidden gems inside this one-of-a-kind garage.
Stefan and the crew will have drinks on-site at the meetup, followed by a group dinner at the iconic El Cholo — a classic LA staple since 1923, and just 5 mins from Hollywood Classic Cars.
While you’re at it, check out the NYC meetup TODAY for Comic Con.
Taylor’s Not Tortured Enough
I like Taylor Swift. There, I said it. I’m a 46 year old man who typically enjoys her music.
And so I’ve listened to her latest release, “Life of a Showgirl.”
I did not enjoy it.
Granted, I’m not the target audience for this.
Do other folks agree?
I could look at reviews or whatever, but that’s boring. So, since we’ve been talking about music royalties a lot lately and digging into things like decay, I jumped into Spotify to see what the numbers look like.
What do you notice about this, if anything?
If nothing jumps out at you, compare it to her last album,
What you see in the recent release is “sequential decay.” Fans start from the beginning of the album and turn it off at some point with relatively folks listening to any particular song.
Compare the number of plays to Dead Poet’s Society, and the difference is clear.
In other words, “I don’t hear a single.”
Notably, “Into the Great Wide Open” was a hugely successful single that demonsrates what an organic album playlist looks like.
What does this mean?
Just further proof that happy artists are terrible artists.
That’s all for this week; I hope you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Wyatt
Disclosures & Disclaimers The information contained in this newsletter is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice. Altea does not offer or sell securities through this newsletter. Any references to investment opportunities are not offers to buy or sell any security. You should not construe any such references as a recommendation to invest.
All investments carry risk and may result in loss. You are solely responsible for conducting your own due diligence and consulting with your own legal, tax, and investment advisors before making any investment decisions.
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