H1 2025: Market Activity over $1 Million

The high end of the market put on its usual show, led by a jaw-dropping $53M sale – the biggest in recent memory. Even though fewer cars changed hands overall, a handful of blockbuster deals pushed dollar volume up 6%.


Price action at the very top is a sniper’s game. Less than half the Markets in this tier saw gains, but when they do, they hit hard – just look at the D-Type and 250 LM. At the same time, some blue-chip favorites like the ’73 RS and 400 SA slipped by double digits, a reminder that rarity alone won’t guarantee a big payday in 2025. Whether it’s motorsport pedigree or extreme scarcity, with so few sales, one strong result can lift the whole index – or one weak sale can drag it down.

We took a close look at 50 individual markets that traded in the first half of the year. Nearly half showed little to no change, which tells us that what’s moving the needle is selective and market-driven – not broad-based.

Here’s the kicker: even with a sharp 41% drop in sales across these markets, the average value growth was still a solid 10% over 12 months and 9% over six months.


Using our CLASSIC.COM Market Benchmark (CMB)*, we’ve analyzed over 8,000 individual markets** to pinpoint the top Growing and Slowing Markets so far in 2025. To qualify for this list, a market must have more than one sold listing between January-June 2025.

Note: CMB is an indicator of how recent market activity has impacted typical market values. It does not guarantee individual vehicle appreciation.


Top 10 Growing Markets

Looking to get into the market? Check out these featured listings that are available now!

Top 10 Slowing Markets


Auction Stats

It wasn’t all smooth sailing: sell-through rates dipped from 81% to 73%, hinting that sellers might be holding out for higher reserves or buyers are getting pickier. Meanwhile, digital platforms kept climbing the ladder, racking up $41 million in sales and doubling their unit count. While traditional auctions still set the stage for big-ticket sales, online platforms are steadily proving they can handle high-dollar deals with growing confidence and ease.

Outside the big-name Amelia & Miami, Scottsdale, and Kissimmee events, the other live auctions carried most of the weight in the $1M+ tier this year. These “other live events” accounted for 61% of the total dollar volume sold in 2025. Auction houses have been shaking things up by spreading out events more evenly throughout the year, and that strategy clearly paid off. The top three sales actually happened outside the headline auctions, helping these events post an 18% jump in dollar volume – even though they sold 15% fewer cars. That’s largely thanks to leaner catalogs and a blockbuster $20M+ sale that pushed averages higher.

Amelia & Miami saw a solid 14% boost in dollar volume, despite selling fewer cars – dropping from 44 to 39 – driven by standout Ferraris and Porsches. Online auctions surged, too, jumping 31% as seven-figure cars began selling sight-unseen, with BaT and Collecting Cars leading the way. Meanwhile, Kissimmee took a hit, down 57% after missing a major headline consignment, and Scottsdale stayed mostly steady with a small 3% dip year over year.

Just like in 2023, a single blockbuster sale can still move the needle in the million-dollar tier. But underneath those big headlines, catalogs are getting leaner and it’s getting tougher to close every deal—a classic sign of a market that’s selective but still very much alive.

Looking ahead to Monterey, this tier is where the action will be. A few standout sales there could easily set the tone for the whole year.


At CLASSIC.COM, we track specialty and enthusiast cars for sale from auctions, dealers, and private sellers to help you find your dream car, and know what it’s worth.

Search Cars For Sale

Find classic and exotic cars for sale from auctions, dealers, and private sellers all in one place.

Get Listing Alerts

Get notified when we detect new listings and/or sale prices for your favorite makes and models.

Sell Your Car

Collectors and enthusiasts are searching for cars like yours. We’ll help you price it right and showcase it to the right audience.


Auctions & Dealers: Include your inventory on CLASSIC.COM



*The CLASSIC.COM Market Benchmark (CMB) is a benchmark value for vehicles in a given Market based on data accumulated by CLASSIC.COM and calculated by a proprietary algorithm that takes into account volume and recency of each data point. CMB can be used to assess the performance of a market over a given time period. However, it does not represent the value of a specific vehicle. 

** A Market on CLASSIC.COM is a grouping of comparable vehicles that have, at a minimum, the same Make, Model, and Model Generation. When relevant for purposes of valuation, a Market may be further segmented by Model Variant, Trim, Transmission Type, Body Style, and other factors. 



Read more in our Glossary of Terms