The more enterprising auto enthusiasts are continually looking for the next spike in collectible cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Everyone has heard the phrase, “I wish I still had my [insert collectible automobile]. I used to buy those for nothing.” As a child of the ‘90s, I still get surprised when I see cars my older brother had that were considered cheap or lame at the time, now selling on Bring a Trailer for tens of thousands of dollars. But when a 2012 Cadillac CTS-V wagon sold for $93,975 (after fees), people starting buzzing with wonder if they somehow missed out on the muscle wagon collectability or if this was just a one-off sale. 

Collectible or anomaly 

Hagerty reports that this particular Cadillac CTS-V wagon is, at least for now, an outlier. Other similar CTS-V wagons typically sell for an average of $51,000 mark. So, what’s going on here?

This 2012 Cadillac CTS-V sold on Bring a Trailer for almost double the average price. The Hagerty article reports that over 3,000 people watched as the 29 bidders smashed through the market value for the wagon. 

Cadillac CTS-V “collectitude” 

First and foremost, the record-breaking Cadillac only had 11,768 original miles. It’s clearly not an undriven car, but it sure is close. The other fact that chummed the bidding waters is that this particular muscle wagon is the rare six-speed manual version. The last piece of this unicorn pie is the color. Hagerty reports that the many commenters on Bring a Trailer made mention of the CTS-V’s Opulent Blue Metallic paint job. 

The Cadillac CTS-V Wagon of any year or condition is an inherently easy car to excite buyers. The carrying capacity and general practicality of a station wagon need no explanation. Suburban moms have been building their cliched stereotype in the psyche of Americans for many years off the back of how practical these long cars are. It comes as no surprise that a Cadillac station wagon powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 puts down a very un-station wagon-y 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. Cadillac topped that enticing automobile with a rarely chosen six-speed manual version.

Does the money add up?

Greg Ingold, the editor of Hagerty’s Price Guide, said, “This is a very surprising sale, even for a car with a devoted cult following.” Ingold goes on to say, “New, in-the-wrapper CTS-V wagons have traded in the $60,000–$70,000 range previously, but this one is on a whole new level. It is in very good condition, but at 12,000 miles, it is hardly a no-mile car.” 

So why did this particular CTS-V go even higher in price than other cars that had even fewer miles? It’s hard to say, but the increased rarity of modern sports cars with a manual transmission has undoubtedly created a hunger for such car layouts. Still, the rarity of a manual wagon with power like the CTS-V is all but impossible. 

Hagerty refuses to let this one-off sale ruffle their feathers and change their price guides. Still, I won’t be surprised if this auction was the nudge the collectible muscle wagon fans needed to fully froth at the mouth and start spending absurd amounts of money on manual wagons with big motors. Keep your eyes peeled for the long smokey 11’s of burnt rubber outside the local grocery stores; moms, I’m looking at y’all.