The Platinum Database holds decades of coverage and over 24,000 individual lot results. The Database is a powerful tool to cover the trends and quirks of the Collector Car Market. But like any tool, it can be used with skill and knowledge, or without it. I’ll share some insider tips on how best to use the Database and what it can offer. Keep in mind, when trying to find cars, it is best to have a very broad search, and then fine tune it if you have too many results. Too many search parameters might lead you to no results back.
The First dropdown bar including is fairly self-explanatory. Chassis/VIN is able to use a partial match to find cars with similar VINs.
The next dropdown menu in blue is where knowing how we process each car becomes useful. In “Modifier” we generally don’t input trim levels, unless it is “SS,” “Z/28” or another very noticeable jump in model differences. A 1973 F-100 XLT and a base F-100 will be input the same, no “XLT” will be included in the modifier. Generally if you would brag about the trim or series (a DB6 Volante or a 911 Lightweight) try to include that in the modifier.
For “Body” we stick to a dozen or so variations, nothing too complicated. Keep it to simple descriptions like “2-dr hard top, coupe, convertible, sedan and utility.” We try to encompass as many vehicles in a category as possible to keep it simple. A LWB F-150 is not a ½ ton LWB pickup, it is just “pickup.” Despite trying to keep it simple, a nearby magazine will be your closest guide to what body style a vehicle is. This will eventually be switched to a drop down in the future.
There is a “Yes” and “No” option for “Only auctions with images.” While pictures will indeed be a part of that equation, those are also cars with write-ups from our Auction Analysts. If you are looking for more details instead of just the year, modifier, body style and what it sold for, mark “Yes” for images.
Displacement is relatively simple, but different time periods and manufacturers use different types of displacement. For American cars pre 1990, we almost exclusively use Cubic inches, while cars from the same time period, but are from across the pond use CCs. Don’t forget a comma using CCs (1,000). Liters are almost always used with more modern vehicles. A 2017 Mustang GT says 5.0 on the side, not 305.
For engine type we use “V8,” and “I4” “H4” as examples. The “H4” is a flat four.
Horsepower is mostly used for Corvettes, as they are the only cars that have horsepower printed alongside them in the magazine. I would recommend staying away from using horsepower to filter results (except for Corvettes) as a car with an aftermarket free-flowing exhaust could get a 10hp bump over what its stock siblings make.
For “Transmission” the options are “X-Sp. Automatic,” “X-Sp. Manual,” “Manual,” “Automatic,” (for when we don’t have enough information on how many gears a car has) and “Other.”
The “SCM #” is mostly used for finding specific cars we reference in the magazine.