Demand is high for top trucks...
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• Used vehicle dealers are becoming increasingly selective over the vehicles they stock for the retail market says Tom Madden, ADT Auctions director of customer affairs.
He says buyers are showing most interest in clean, wellpresented, late-year lowmileage vehicles, particularly those entered from known sources. "Commercial vehicles sourced direct from company fleets are highly sought after and even more so if the company is a household name meaning the vehicle will have been well maintained," he says.
Buyers are being most selective at the heavy end of the market while highspecification tractor units are finding a ready market — as are 17-24-tonne vehicles, provided they are a good combination of chassis and power unit. But buyers are showing less interest in semi-trailers and low-spec vehicles.
"More and more fleet operators are taking advantage of our valeting, steam cleaning and pressure washing services. Trade-name deletion is also recommended to make vehicles look their best when they come before the rostrum.
"These trends show that dealers are keen to stock vehicles that will quickly find a ready buyer in the retail market, and are wary of holding stock for any period of time."
Specialised vehicles from local authorities and utilities continue to make good money because of their relative scarcity at auctions and the high cost of purchasing the vehicles new, according to Madden.
"The coach and bus market is particularly buoyant and the response to our two specialist coach and bus sales held at Belle Vue, Manchester has been excellent. The next of these sales, again to be held at Belle Vue, is on 14 August."
Madden says there is still a great demand for older vehicles for the breaking market, and a suitable vehicle in the 2500£3,000 auction value bracket will attract a lot of attention.
"There is a real scarcity of breakable units and it is not uncommon for a B and C prefix vintage to be bought for parts. This is particularly relevant for vehicles in a 'Very poor body/ chassis condition."
For further information on sales contact the ADT Hotline on 061-223 9179.