AUSTRALIAN-born online international motoring phenomenon SupercarBlondie – aka Alex Hirschi – is leveraging her huge online traffic numbers to launch a new virtual international auction of high-end collectible automobiles.

Called SBX Cars, the new auction site was launched on April 2 off the back of Ms Hirschi’s huge international audience of 110 million followers across numerous social media platforms generating some two billion views a month.

Her new prestige collectible auction initiative comes at a time of change in the high-end collectible vehicles auction market.

Earlier this year the British-based online auction Collecting Cars announced that it was looking for growth in its Australasian operations this year as it moved to fill the gap left by the closure of Australia’s long-time vintage and classic car auction, Shannons.

Late last year Shannons announced that it was leaving the classic and vintage car auction business because it was becoming highly competitive.

SupercarBlondie – aka Alex Hirschi

Collecting Cars was founded in the UK in 2019 and began selling cars listed from Australia in 2020. It was established to take on the automotive activities of international auction houses such as RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams. 

The SB Media Group says that the SBX Cars digital auction platform has gone live with more than $100 million in consignments confirmed pre-launch including several world first exclusives.

The auction not only features a one of nine Lamborghini Veneno Roadster but also a one of three ever made Lamborghini Veneno Coupe. It includes the world’s first Mercedes-AMG One and world’s first Hyperion XP-1 prototype to be sold at public auction. 

The auction also features a Tesla Cybertruck at no reserve, one of three La Ferrari prototypes and Tyde’s first hydrofoiling electric glass yacht designed by BMW. 

SBX Cars says it is the only platform to specialise in classic cars, hypercars, supercars and special vehicles. 

The SBX Cars site has also managed to secure the auction rights to a collection of genuine John Player Special racing cars from the legendary Lotus F1 team of the 1970s and 1980s. 

The collection includes grand prix cars driven by Nigel Mansell, Elio de Angelis, Ronnie Peterson, Johnny Dumfries among others. It includes the team’s transporters as well as F1 team leader Colin Chapman’s personal aeroplane that the Lotus team used during that period. Some of Colin Chapman’s personal vehicles are also included in the collection. 

SBX Cars says there has never been a single collection of Formula One history to be offered at auction all at once. 

On the classic car side, the auction features cars such as a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, a Lamborghini Miura, a BMW 507, an Aston Martin DB5 and an Isdera 036i spyder.

The cost of selling a car on SBX Cars starts with a standard listing at $250. The seller provides their own high-quality photography and completes the vehicle information details for the SBX production team.

The premium package costs $950 which includes professional auction photography services and the assembly of details by the auction team. 

For the rarest vehicles and collections, the team will create a custom package designed to suit the specific needs of the vehicle including preparing the listing and a bespoke marketing/sales plan, as well as the opportunity to be featured on a high-profile platinum page.

Once the auction has ended successfully, SBX Cars connects the seller and the buyer to finalise the purchase of the car.

The company said that the unprecedented quality and size of consignments for a new auction company was a direct result of Ms Hirschi’s reputation for delivering on breaking through industry norms in the automotive arena.

Supercar Blondie was founded by Alex and husband Nik Hirschi in 2017. Ms Hirschi was a broadcast journalist based in Dubai. She hosted a drive-time radio talk show for over four years, before founding Supercar Blondie. 

Supercar Blondie finds and covers the coolest cars, tech, luxury and gaming in the world and over time gained a reputation as a social influencer. 

It has since grown into a full digital media network with a roster of talent, an automotive design studio, and a suite of channels. Its shows are broadcast across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter, BilBili and its own website. 

The auction initiative grew out of Ms Hirschi’s coverage of the top-end market. She quickly recognized that there was nowhere in the international car collecting community where exceptional hypercars and other luxury transportation could be auctioned and exchanged in a convenient and timely way. 

“Many times, sellers and buyers are forced to wait on the traditional auction houses’ schedules for a major auction event that may be several months away on the other side of the world. This would involve complicated automobile transport, time-consuming travel to get there, and an uncertain result,” Ms Hirschi said in a statement.

“As an alternative, SBX Cars consignors can expect a much timelier live auction date of just a few weeks for their vehicle to become available globally. 

“Sellers and buyers will also have dedicated auction specialists and customer care representatives to guide them through the process. With dedicated teams based in Los Angeles, Dubai, and London, SBX Cars users will have 24/7 end-to-end support for each live auction.”

SBX Cars says that sellers will have the opportunity for their vehicle to be featured by Supercar Blondie ahead of their auction, providing them access to the world’s largest audience of car collectors and enthusiasts. 

“Supercar Blondie channels reach an average of two billion people per month, which will make sure the vehicle is seen by millions before it goes live for auction,” the company said.

All vehicles consigned for auction will also be featured and promoted on the SBX Cars’ website and social channels. SBX Cars auctions will last on average between seven and 14 days. For each SBX Cars auction, prospective bidders will have the opportunity to view vehicles by video or in-person upon request. 

As an additional courtesy and benefit, Supercar Blondie’s global network of photographers and videographers will be available to showcase each lot in detail as part of the consignment agreement.

SBX Cars will be overseen by auction director Lance Butler. Prior to joining SBX Cars, Mr Butler worked extensively in both traditional and digital auction spaces with a focus on the world’s most exclusive collectible and luxury cars.  

“SBX Cars affords the high-end collector community an invaluable tool by way of creating an online network that introduces our clients to a far easier buying and selling process all while accessing one of the world’s largest global audiences by way of Supercar Blondie,” Mr Butler said. 

“SBX Cars will redefine what collectors in the high-end of the marketplace have come to expect when buying and selling cars online. Our focus is in offering the pinnacle of quality paired with convenience and an international focus that caters to enthusiasts all around the world, not just in one market.”