Huge crowds of buyers and hundreds of online bidders participated in the special Lex Autolease Convertible sales staged simultaneously at the BCA Blackbushe, Surrey and Belle Vue, Manchester auction centres on St Patrick’s Day (Saturday, 17th March).
Over 500 convertibles were sold at the two auction centres, generating a turnover of £4.5 million pounds and an average value of nearly £9,000. The innovative event combined physical bidding, Live Online and a special ‘Bid Now’ online auction. Each sale was also streamed live via LCD screens into the alternate location, allowing buyers in one venue to bid in real time on cars being sold in the other.
Over 400 buyers registered for the sales at the two locations, with a further 502 Live Online bidders participating via their PCs, laptops and mobile devices. Fifty per cent of the cars (252) were sold to Live Online buyers, representing a value of £2.25 million. Overall performance exceeded 103% of CAP Clean.
Both sales were open to the public, and every convertible offered was covered by the BCA Assured programme, giving peace of mind to buyers by providing a report on a 30 point mechanical check carried out by an independent motoring organisation.
Among the top sellers, several convertibles realised 120% and more above guide values:
| Year/ Plate | Make/Model | Mileage | Sold Price | Vs CAP Clean |
| 08/08 | Renault Megane 1.6 Dynamic Petrol 2dr Convertible | 42K | £6,800 | 164.8% |
| 07/57 | Renault Megane 1.5 Dynamic Diesel 2dr Convertible | 40K | £6,300 | 128.5% |
| 07/57 | BMW 320i SE 2dr Convertible | 77K | £11,900 | 131.1% |
| 08/58 | Mini Cooper 1.6 2dr Convertible | 41K | £8,800 | 129.4% |
| 06/06 | Peugeot 206 CC 1.6i Allure | 52K | £3,400 | 127.1% |
| 11/11 | Mercedes-Benz E220 2.1 Convertible | 9K | £31,200 | 126.3% |
| 06/06 | Mini Cooper 1.6 2dr Convertible | 50K | £6,800 | 125.3% |
| 08/08 | Peugeot 307 CC 1.6 Allure | 41K | £5,700 | 125.2% |
| 07/57 | Mercedes-Benz CLK 1.8 Convertible | 86K | £11,400 | 124.2% |
| 08/58 | Peugeot 307 CC 1.6 Allure | 75K | £4,800 | 121.5% |
Robert Sturley, Southern Area Auction Manager for Lex Autolease said: “To sell over 500 convertibles in one day would be an achievement at any time, and BCA pulled out all the stops to deliver a first class result. The sales programme was well supported and the buying power was exceptional at both locations and online, generating an average value of nearly £9,000.”
Dale Evans, Northern Area Auction Manager for Lex Autolease added: “This was a sophisticated and complex two day sales programme that involved two venues, bespoke online sales channels and live video streaming. Our close working partnership with BCA gives us the opportunity to try such new initiatives with confidence and the result speaks for itself.”
Alan Gupwell BCA Corporate Account Manager for Lex Autolease commented “This result underlines the growing importance of the online buyer in the remarketing mix – half of the cars were brought by BCA’s online customers, representing £2¼ million of the £4.5 million value generated. Successful multi-platform events such as this typify the innovative remarketing partnership between Lex Autolease and BCA.”
