- Collecting Cars launches Sealed Bids – a new online auction format designed for privacy, efficiency, and premium marketing of blue-chip collector cars
- Seven-day auctions with no public bidding figures – only bidders know their position; only winners know the final price, protecting future values
- First-ever Tuthill SCRS will be offered for sale in the inaugural Sealed Bids auction – one of just 15 built, inspired by 1974 IROC racers – the first car off the line
- The platform will host the auction of an exceptionally rare Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign located in Switzerland – an incredible coachbuilt supercar celebrating 50 years of both the GT-R and the Italian brand
- Japan-based 2012 Lexus LFA – 1 of only 500 – eligible for USA re-import, is also to be auctioned via Sealed Bids this month
- Joining them, an unregistered 2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione with just 75 km and a freshly restored Ferrari Dino 246 GT – one of only 35 finished in Giallo Dino
- Just a handful of cars will be listed each month, each curated for the Sealed Bids approach, with bidding restricted to fully vetted buyers only for maximum protection
- The inaugural Sealed Bids auctions will commence on 28 August and complete after the seven-day auction on 4 September
- More information on Collecting Cars Sealed Bids here
LONDON, 14 AUGUST, 2025:
Responding to the market, Collecting Cars today reveals the models being listed for the launch of Sealed Bids – a new format that enhances privacy, efficiency and marketing innovation in the collector car online auction space.
Collecting Cars’ Sealed Bids mechanism uses the familiar seven-day auction format, but with complete confidentiality. Bid amounts are never publicly visible – only bidders know their own position in the auction, and only the winner learns the final transaction price. All parties remain anonymous until the winning bidder is connected with the seller once the online auction closes. This approach keeps competition discreet, preserves the integrity of the sale, and helps protect future values for all parties.
The focus will be on hand-picked, blue-chip collector cars that benefit from a discreet sale, with just a handful listed each month. The first listing event includes six standout cars – led by the first-ever Tuthill SCRS offered to market for sale. One of only 15 to be built by Tuthill, the SCRS takes inspiration from the 1974 ‘IROC’ racers, reimagined through a 993-generation Porsche 911. Its uprated 3.8-litre flat-six features a 993 RS flywheel, RSR throttle body, and Cup camshaft. Unlike delivery-mileage examples, this UK-based car has been driven and enjoyed and comes finished in Pascha Red with Stone Grey and two-tone Charcoal Grey/Ocean Green leather, and represents an opportunity to acquire one of the most celebrated bespoke 911 builds.
From 1980s-inspired icons to modern head-turners, this August’s Sealed Bids line-up will also feature a remarkable 2021 Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign from a seller in Switzerland. Using the potent Japanese supercar as the foundation, this striking car is one of just 19 built by the Italian brand, celebrating half a century of both the GT-R nameplate as well as the first publicly displayed designs from the coachbuilder.
A Japan-based 2012 Lexus LFA will also be going under the hammer. Originally delivered new to the USA, its EPA-from-new status means it can return to the North American market. One of just 500 built, with 31,000 km recorded, it remains one of the most acclaimed modern supercars – equally at home at Concours events, prestige track days, and weekend cars and coffee meets.
Having sold more than 1,000 Ferraris since 2019, it’s only fitting that Collecting Cars’ first Sealed Bids line-up concludes with three examples from the revered Italian marque. The first is a rare, unregistered right-hand-drive 2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione with just 75 km on the clock. Finished in triple-layer Grigio Competizione with Giallo Fly accents over a Nero cabin with Giallo stitching, it’s optioned with extensive carbon fibre, suspension lift, front and rear cameras, and even Apple CarPlay. With all 999 units sold before its 2021 launch, this offering through Sealed Bids allows pre-registered bidders the chance to acquire one of Ferrari’s most sought-after modern models — rarely available on the open market in unused and as-new condition.
Joining the 812 Competizione are two examples of the Dino 246. First, an Australia-based 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, one of only 35 in Giallo Dino, having been treated to a meticulous restoration including a full repaint, retrim using original-supplier materials, and a complete mechanical rebuild by marque specialist Enzotech. With fewer than 500 right-hand-drive examples produced, combined with the lesser-seen factory colour, this Dino would be a superb acquisition for even the most discerning collectors of Ferraris or other iconic classics. The second example is a superb 1973 Dino 246 GTS located in the UK, which was treated to a ground-up restoration in recent years, and was subsequently a class winner at a prestigious national concours. In open-top ‘GTS’ guise, it is even rarer than its coupé sibling, being one of only around 250 right-hand-drive GTS’ ever made.
Commenting on the launch of Sealed Bids, Collecting Cars founder Edward Lovett said: “Since 2019, Collecting Cars has experienced remarkable growth, rapidly establishing itself as a leading platform for buying and selling exceptional vehicles worldwide. As we grow, we remain attentive to our clients’ feedback, one of which was to combine our market know-how and auction platform with the confidentiality of a private, Sealed Bids product.
“With Sealed Bids, we’re addressing the evolving needs of the collector car market. Buyers and sellers increasingly seek a process that balances transparency and professionalism with the privacy essential for high-value transactions. It [Sealed Bids] provides a discreet, structured environment where collectors can confidently compete for rare cars or those requiring a more discreet sales approach. Vehicles such as the Tuthill SCRS – the first of its kind to be sold globally – and the near-new Ferrari 812 Competizione with just 75 km perfectly illustrate the calibre of collector-grade cars that benefit from this new format.”
Offering buyers and sellers the ability to market cars from around the world, and enabling cross-continental car buying at the click of a mouse, Sealed Bids enhances the established Collecting Cars auction platform, delivering targeted marketing, preview periods, and pre-vetted buyers. Unlike its traditional auctions, winning bidders pay only the hammer price – with no buyer’s premium– while sellers pay a pre-agreed fee instead.
View the Sealed Bids website here. The inaugural Sealed Bids auctions will commence on 28 August and complete after the seven-day auction on 4 September. Collecting Cars will also have a stand at the upcoming Salon Privé Concours event at Blenheim Palace, where the UK-based Tuthill SCRS and Ferrari Dino 246 GTS from this first Sealed Bids line-up will be on display from 27 through to 29 August.
Full image galleries:
1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT – collectingcars.com/for-sale/1972-ferrari-dino-246-gt-6
1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS – Photos available soon (please let us know if you require these)
1994 Tuthill SCRS – collectingcars.com/for-sale/1994-porsche-911-993-tuthill-scrs
2012 Lexus LFA – collectingcars.com/for-sale/2012-lexus-lfa-1
2021 Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign – collectingcars.com/for-sale/2021-nissan-gt-r50-by-italdesign-2
2022 Ferrari 812 Competizione – collectingcars.com/for-sale/2022-ferrari-812-competizione-1