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Alex Porter from Bring-a-Trailer discusses their $1.7 billion in sales last year, how to list on BaT and what era of cars is popping next.

Alex Porter from Bring-a-Trailer discusses their $1.7 billion in sales last year, how to list on BaT and what era of cars is popping next.

CarCast Jan 08, 2026 65 min
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About this episode

Alex Porter from Bring-a-Trailer shares insights on the platform's impressive $1.7 billion sales in 2025 and discusses the unique advantages of online car auctions. He explains how the community-driven comments enhance buyer-seller interactions and the importance of thorough listings. The conversation also touches on the evolving trends in car collecting, particularly the rising interest in 2000s vehicles, and the challenges of engaging younger generations in classic car culture. Bill Goldberg shares his personal experiences with car ownership and selling, emphasizing the emotional connections car enthusiasts have with their vehicles.

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Company

Bring a Trailer

"But Bring a Trailer sort of paved the way for that, for online auctions. Tell us a little bit about what you do at Bring a Trailer, and then we'll get into how the year was."

Bring a Trailer is a website where people can buy and sell cars through online auctions. It's known for featuring interesting and unique vehicles, especially classic cars.

Company

Barrett-Jackson

"So I'm an auction guy. The only auction I go to is Barrett. I've done it through, you know, 20, 25 years."

Barrett-Jackson is a company that holds car auctions where people can buy and sell collectible cars. It's famous for featuring rare and valuable vehicles.

Term

engine stampings

"Muscle car people are very particular about, you know, engine stampings and broach marks on those engine stampings. And, you know, we've had to become experts on all that stuff ourselves here."

Engine stampings are numbers and codes found on the engine that help identify it. They are important for knowing if a car is original or has been changed, which can affect its value.

Term

real SS

"Is that a real SS? Is that not a real SS? All that kind of stuff."

A 'real SS' means that a car is an authentic Super Sport model, which is a special performance version of certain cars. Collectors want to know if a car is truly an SS because it can be worth more.

Car

Ford Mustang

"Think about the lawman mustang."

The Ford Mustang is a famous sports car that many people love for its speed and design. It has been around for a long time and has many different versions.

Car

Ferrari 360

"...ar come up there and be like, you know, you know, Ferrari 360 Modena, you know, gated shifter manual transmissi..."
Car

Ferrari 360 Modena

"you'll see a car come up there and be like, you know, you know, Ferrari 360 Modena, you know, gated shifter manual transmission."

The Ferrari 360 Modena is a high-performance sports car made by Ferrari. It's known for being very fast and having a beautiful design.

Term

posi

"And then a muscle car comes again and goes, this is the only one with the four speed with the 327 rear end of the posi."

'Posi' is short for a special type of car part called a limited-slip differential. It helps both back wheels get power from the engine, making the car grip better when driving fast or turning.

Term

four speed

"And then a muscle car comes again and goes, this is the only one with the four speed with the 327 rear end of the posi."

A four-speed transmission is a type of car gearbox that lets you choose from four different speeds while driving. It helps the car perform better and gives you more control.

Term

six figures

"But man, I mean, we had a couple go for over 800 grand."

Six figures means a number that has six digits, which usually refers to prices that are at least $100,000. It's often used to describe very expensive cars.

Concept

air-cooled Porsche

"...the air cool Porsche kind of frenzy..."

Air-cooled Porsches are older models that don't use water to cool their engines. Instead, they rely on air, which gives them a special sound and feel.

Car

Ford F-250

"...my wife likes to drive her F 250 a lot more than she likes to drive a beautiful Porsche."

The Ford F-250 is a strong pickup truck that can carry heavy loads and is often used for work or towing. It's larger and more powerful than regular trucks.

Car

Ford Mustang GT500

"67 GT 500, Moss Green. I mean, there are some cars."

The 1967 Mustang GT500 is a special version of the Ford Mustang that is famous for its speed and style. Many people love it and collect it because it's a classic car.

Car

Dodge Challenger

"I had a 70 Challenger drag car that was a national record holder. There are some cars that, yes, I'm very upset that I got rid of."

The 1970 Challenger is a classic car that many people love for its powerful engines and cool looks. It's often used in racing and is a favorite among collectors.

Term

open trailer

"...you may not know the difference between like open trailer and enclosed trailer."

An open trailer is a flatbed trailer where cars are loaded and transported without any cover. This means the car is exposed to rain, dirt, and other things on the road.

Term

enclosed trailer

"...you may not know the difference between like open trailer and enclosed trailer."

An enclosed trailer is a type of trailer that completely covers the car while it's being transported. This keeps the car safe from rain, dirt, and other hazards on the road.

Car

Porsche 911

"..., but I hand my key over to a pro seller. We use 911 R or I used him. His name is Matt Crandall. He r..."

The Porsche 911 is a famous sports car that has been around since 1964. It's known for its unique shape and powerful performance, making it a favorite among car lovers.

Car

Porsche 92 Porsche

"I'm an American muscle car guy. Therefore, the 92 Porsche 911 turbo that I have has an aftermarket intercoo..."

The Porsche 924 is a sporty car made by the German company Porsche, built between 1976 and 1988. It was designed to be more affordable than other Porsche models, making it a popular choice for those wanting a sporty car without breaking the bank.

Car

Porsche 911 Turbo

"...erican muscle car guy. Therefore, the 92 Porsche 911 turbo that I have has an aftermarket intercooler on it,..."
Part

aftermarket intercooler

"I'm sticking with the with the aftermarket intercooler. I'm not wasting the money because truthfully, whoever buys the car, if they want to do that, they have the option to go out and do it."

An aftermarket intercooler is a part that helps cool the air going into the engine, which can make the engine run better and produce more power. It's often added to cars to improve their performance.

Car

Porsche

"Porsche's are interesting. So muscle car people are lunatics."

Porsche is a famous car brand from Germany that makes high-performance sports cars. They are well-known for their quality and speed.

Car

Chevrolet Corvettes

"...Also lunatics in a different way. I would say C2 Corvettes are maybe the most. We talk about that a lot."
Term

VIN number

"...rattling off individual vin numbers of Porsche's he's owned and why that one's different than the vin number before."

A VIN number is a special code that helps identify a specific car. It's like a fingerprint for vehicles, showing details about where and when it was made.

Car

Porsche 930 Turbo

"And in particular, 930 turbos, the predecessor to your car are almost all modified."

The Porsche 930 Turbo is a special version of the Porsche 911 that has a turbocharger, making it faster and more powerful. Many owners like to modify these cars to make them even better.

Part

K27 turbo

"I used to work on them when I was a young mechanic and all of them had K27 turbos and big intercoolers. Like it was done to a lot of now those cars have shot up."

A K27 turbo is a type of device that helps an engine produce more power by forcing more air into it. It's often used in sports cars to make them faster.

Concept

RWB car

"Now, if it's an RWB car and the fenders have been cut off and it's got big over flares on it, that's a different thing. Now you buy the car beyond the point where it costs the value of the car to return it to stock."

RWB cars are special modified Porsches that have wide body kits and unique designs. They're known for their flashy looks and performance upgrades, making them quite different from regular Porsches.

Concept

old muscle car

"And I look at it like an old muscle car. I mean, what would I do if I wanted it 100% stock and what would it take me to get it there?"

Old muscle cars are classic American cars from the 1960s and 70s that are known for being fast and powerful. They often have big engines and a sporty look, making them popular among car enthusiasts.

Concept

modified car

"Almost every car is modified or has been modified. One of the things, one of the phrases that drives me nuts is, we know where the car was every day of its life or we know everything that happened to it every day."

A modified car is one that has been changed from how it was originally built. People often modify cars to make them faster, look better, or work differently than they did when new.

Car

Lamborghini Miras

"...he hood? You know, you know, for example, we saw Lamborghini Miras and the it's not a VIN number. It's just more of..."

The Lamborghini Miura is a famous sports car made from 1966 to 1973, often called the first supercar because of its powerful engine and beautiful design. It's very popular among collectors today.

Car

Honda S2000

"...hat's in my experience. All 10 VIN numbers on an S2000. Yeah, like we and like you sometimes you got to..."

The Honda S2000 is a small two-seat sports car made from 1999 to 2009. It's known for being fun to drive because of its powerful engine and great handling.

Car

Chevrolet Camaro

"...ear was the Fox body chassis this year. It's the Camaro chassis and 80s and 90s Camaro chassis, right? B..."

The Chevrolet Camaro is a classic American sports car that started being made in 1966 to compete with the Ford Mustang. It's known for its strong engines and sporty look, making it a favorite for people who love fast cars.

Car

Acura Nsxs

"...e nine, six, four turbos, these crazy wheels, the NSXs went crazy. NSXs, yeah."

The Acura NSX is a high-performance sports car that first came out in 1990. It was special because it offered supercar performance while still being practical enough for everyday driving.

Car

Porsche 911 GT3

"...point, last analog car. I also just sold my 2005 GT3, which, you know, no traction control, no, it's, ..."

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a super sporty version of the regular 911, made for people who love to drive fast and enjoy racing. It has a powerful engine and is built to be lightweight, making it very fun to drive.

Car

Ferrari LaFerrari

"...re amazing numbers. You mentioned about the blue LaFerrari. But when I scroll down and some fantastic comme..."

The Ferrari LaFerrari is a super-fast sports car made by Ferrari between 2013 and 2015. It's special because it uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to go really fast while being more efficient.

Car

Bmw 2002S

"...at's that hard. A lot of my colleagues here have BMW 2002s or Amazon Volvos, right? Cars that were built 20..."

The BMW 2002 is a small car made by BMW from 1968 to 1976. It's known for being fun to drive and is considered a classic among car fans.

Car

Datsun 240Zs

"...e born. So they're excited about cars like that, 240Zs, things like that. Getting them excited about 30..."

The Datsun 240Z is a stylish sports car made by Nissan from 1969 to 1978. It's known for being fun to drive and affordable, helping to make Japanese sports cars popular in America.

Car

Toyota Corollas

"It's unbelievable if you've never experienced it. Interestingly, my NSX was the Edmunds long-term NSX and it was on the Corolla's podcast. Then Edmunds brought it on."

The Toyota Corolla is a very popular car that has been around since 1966. It's known for being reliable and affordable, making it a great choice for people looking for a practical vehicle.

Car

Dodge Viper

"...list of cars, GT three, Pantera racing cars, like Viper, like this, we did the first Cybertruck."

The Dodge Viper is a super-fast sports car made in America from 1992 to 2017. It's known for its powerful engine and unique look, making it a favorite among people who love speed.

Car

Tesla Cybertruck

"...ng cars, like Viper, like this, we did the first Cybertruck. I remember."

The Tesla Cybertruck is an electric pickup truck that looks very different from regular trucks. It was announced in 2019 and is designed to be strong and high-tech, appealing to those who want a modern vehicle.

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