Major North West auction house, Gateway Auctions, is bringing more than two decades of timed-online sales experience to the classic car market next month when it holds its first automotive sale.
Managed by a team cherry-picked for their wealth of experience in classic car sales – including Car SOS’s Fuzz Townshend – Gateway Auctions Classic Cars has the potential to reach up to 380,000 bidders at its sales, thanks to its use of six trusted online bidding platforms – a unique feature among timed-online auction houses in the classic car market.
Unrivalled track record with timed-online sales
Gateway Auctions was founded by current MD, David Sunderland, in 2002 and is now regarded as one of the UK’s leading timed-online auction houses, specialising in the sale of plant and construction equipment. Based in Whalley, near Preston, Lancashire, Gateway operates from purpose built premises on an eight-acre site, allowing prospective buyers the luxury of viewing lots on site, before timed auctions start. Gateway also has its own workshop facilities on site, for the benefit of buyers and sellers alike.
“Over the last 20 years, Gateway Auctions has built up an enviable reputation with timed-online sales,” said MD David Sunderland. “Last year, we sold around 20,000 individual lots through our construction equipment sales, and despite that volume, each auction runs like clockwork. We’d been looking to branch into classic cars for some time now, since many of our customers share our passion for older, interesting vehicles. But I needed someone with expertise in the industry to make it work, and Roger Nowell – who I’ve known for many years, and will run this new part of the business – was that man. Gateway is so pleased to have Roger and his newly-appointed team on board, and we’re really looking forward to opening up our timed-online sales to classic car enthusiasts across the UK.”
Industry-leading exposure for sale lots, with maximum convenience for all
Gateway Auctions is unique in offering timed online classic car auctions every month across six of the largest bidding platforms. As well as its own White Label platform, sales will operate across BidSpotter.co.uk, BidSpotter.com, i-bidder.com, thesaleroom.com and LiveAuctioneers.com (catalogue only), reaching a total of around 380,000 bidders for each sale.
And those bidders will have multiple methods of viewing each lot. With all lots located at Gateway’s premises – saving sellers the hassle of dealing with buyers directly – each vehicle will be open to bids as soon as it is online, with entries rolling between monthly sales, and a minimum 14 days exposure to the market. Each sale will close on a Thursday, with on-site viewing available on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday beforehand. But for buyers unable to visit Gateway’s site, there will be a comprehensive set of images online for each car, along with a walk-around video, highlighting any potential areas that may require future attention. Gateway is also planning to introduce pre-booked video calls, where buyers can view particular features/areas of the vehicle for even greater reassurance. For sellers, there’s the added benefit of no entrance fees or sale commission, and guaranteed payment for sold vehicles on the Friday following the end of the auction (sellers’ funds will be held in a separate account pending payment). There will be a highly competitive buyers’ commission of just 10% plus VAT.
Team with classic car expertise
Roger Nowell, Gateway Auctions’ Classics Director said: “It’s rare for a business to enter the classic car sales market that can offer such a unique mix of features, as Gateway can. Not only will it be the only classic car auction house to operate timed-online sales across the most popular bidding sites, with massive exposure, but it will also be the North West’s only timed-online sale with vehicles physically on site – with all the advantages that that brings for buyers and sellers.
“We also have highly experienced and enthusiastic team on board. As well as Fuzz Townshend, who I’ve worked with for many years, I’m happy to announce that Sam Grange-Bailey and Theresa Cunliffe will also be bringing their huge depth of knowledge about the classic car sales business to Gateway – it really is the dream-team for me!”
Buyers can already start to view the first classic car lots in Gateway’s debut sale, which will end on Thursday, February 23rd, with on-site viewings available from Monday, 20th to Wednesday, 22nd February. To view the lots, or register to bid, please go to the following link: https://www.gatewayauctions.com/classic-car-auctions/
