As a classic car enthusiast, I was excited to get my hands on the Classic Car Auction Yearbook 2016-2017. The hardcover edition looks impressive on my bookshelf, with its glossy pages and vibrant photos of rare automobiles. Flipping through it feels like attending an exclusive auction from my living room.
However, I quickly noticed gaps in the data. While it covers major auctions, the information feels surface-level for serious collectors. Searching for specific models (like my beloved '67 Shelby GT500) yielded only basic sale prices without detailed provenance or condition reports. It's more of a coffee table book than a research tool.
The $75 price tag stings when realizing how quickly these figures become outdated. By 2018, the market had shifted dramatically for certain marques. I did enjoy spotting trends though - seeing how air-cooled Porsches were already climbing before the recent boom made me wish I'd trusted this book's early signals!
Ultimately, it's best suited for casual fans who want to reminisce about auction highlights rather than investors needing granular data. The beautiful photography saves it from being a total regret - that shot of the Ferrari 250 GTO crossing the block still gives me chills.