Bring a Trailer Podcast Bring a Trailer

In this episode, Alex and Howard (newly returned to the West Coast) talk about last weekend's Alumni Gathering in Scottsdale, Arizona; the upcoming California Mille; "racing budget dysmorphia"; the wide array of parts, memorabilia, artwork, and even furniture now available on BaT; current listings catching their eye; the BaT community's ability to discern between good, great, and exceptional; getting some color into your life via car collecting; forced learning about mid-'70s land yachts; an admission of QotW-related guilt; driving cross-country on a borrowed Hudson key; true automotive comfort versus simply not being crippled at the end of a long drive; the scariest corners, both real and digital; and mechanical insubordination.

At long last, Randy sits down with Anthony Serra—the driving force, along with his superstar team, of the highest-volume seller on BaT with nearly 1,400 listings and counting.

They discuss Anthony's lifetime in the car business, from the family trade in '80s gray-market imports to a racing career to his first BaT listing and beyond; the importance of putting systems in place to operate at scale; focusing on the long view rather than a single sale price; how detailed photos can make a sale; becoming known as a purveyor of the Ferrari BB; inducing happy tears in the first winner of such a car; the rise of the 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster; falling into the role of Local Partner to the world; maintaining a well-deserved reputation as an engaged and high-touch seller; the additive nature of every comment on BaT, even the negative ones; specializing in "dog cars" and dearly departed longroofs; cars that "flunk the shop"; how COVID changed the business forever; achieving success by surrounding oneself with passionate enthusiasts, dedicated friends, and the worldwide BaT community; and how that community may soon get to experience Smell-O-Vision, 1600Veloce style.

Be on the lookout for an official announcement about our 2024 New York-area Alumni Gathering with 1600veloce! It's going to be a blast, and we'll publish details as soon as we can.

Alex and Zac discuss the highs and lows inherent of owning a fleet of first-world problems; shaming one's old supercar with one's FWD daily driver; sharing Laguna Seca with a Cybertruck; finding an age-appropriate classic; building the ultimate 356 in your head; what makes vintage vintage; Slantnose pros and cons; NSX desires, and preparing one for the long haul to the upcoming Overcrest Redux rally in May; Alex's first trip to the Indy 500; Zac's second trip to Japan, this time to partake in a Kei car rally; and Luftgekühlt Air|Water as an introductory car show.

In this episode, Ken Lingengelter talks with Alex about his first career in title insurance; getting arrested for driving a Chevy in Dearborn; his lifelong love affair with the Corvette; taking on the Lingenfelter mantle from the late John, and the company's subsequent expansion; the Lingenfelter Collection's array of charitable endeavors; beating the Blue Angels to 60 in a C5 Corvette; the perils of a broad set of automotive interests; the perils and joys of being in the "Ferrari Club"; being married to an autocross monster; the legacy of Shirley Muldowney; a Chevette that gets all the attention; electric crate motors for muscle cars; the pleasures of the car-person community; and glowing praise for the C8 Corvette in all forms, not least his company's new 710-horsepower supercharged version. 

Alex and Randy talk about our recent Meet-Up event on Saturday, March 16, in Encinitas, California; evading Ospreys while humming Kenny Loggins at Miramar; a plug for Randy's upcoming appearance on Spike's Car Radio; getting the good cars out of mothballs for the spring; correct California license plate colors; what they've got their eyes on in a time of record-breaking volume on BaT; imagining a Christmas morning present delivered via flatbed and forklift; divine intentions regarding 1960s headlights; the allure of driving a loud car slow; chain-drive gaskets as nightmare fuel; the recent glut of interesting Fairlanes on BaT; and how a V8 makes everything better on the Copperstate Rally. Also, they give an overview and discuss the benefits of BaT's new Verified Checkout service, which is rolling out this week!

In this episode, Randy and Alex sit down with Shelby expert, restorer, journalist, author, and frequent BaT seller Colin Comer. The talk about his path from his first MGB GT into the world of bargain Ferraris on his ultimate path to Shelby collection and expertise; a (literal) run-in with the law as a teenager in a rusty GTV; his hot take on the Cobra Daytona Coupe versus a plain-Jane roadster; sharing a Lister Knobbly with Sam Smith for a thousand miles; telling Keith Martin to stick to sports cars; the pitfalls and history-preserving rewards of being talked into book authorship while driving a 427 Cobra in the snow; buying "plenty" of Bugeye Sprites on the advice of Peter Egan; and important things scrawled on bathroom walls.

Links for items discussed in this episode:

CC350 BaT Member ProfileTom Cotter's Cobra StoryBaT Exclusive: The Pastor's Bugeye SpriteColin Comer's books available for purchaseThe Comer CollectionColin's Classic Auto

Got questions for the BaT staff or suggestions for our next guest? Don’t hesitate to let us know! Write in to podcast@bringatrailer.com and we’ll do our best to address them.