Manheim Auctions’ Denver Auto Auction announced it held a General Motors (GM) sale as scheduled on Thursday, March 20, via the Internet, using Manheim’s new Simulcast technology and sold more than 50 cars.

More than 400 vehicles were set to run through the lanes that day, but the snowy conditions kept dealers and auction employees from going to the sale. Even the auction’s general manager, Tom Strickland, could not make it to work.

“I thought the entire week was going to be a loss for all of us,” said Strickland, “I had four feet of snow in my own driveway.”

Despite the conditions, GM and Manheim decided to conduct the sale live on the Web from Atlanta, Ga., via Simulcast. Manheim Interactive and its marketing staff contacted dealers, who were able to participate from all over the country and bid on vehicles using a still photo and Electronic Condition Report (ECR) for reference.

The company said of all the GM vehicles waiting to be sold, only about one third had an ECR, and even less had a photo, yet dealers bid on more than 80 cars and at the end of the sale 53 vehicles had changed hands.