All speed ahead: That was the message from the collectible-cars market in January.
Three Ferraris at Gooding & Company, all exceeding $5 million, topped sales during Arizona Car Week 2019, and Barrett-Jackson sold 1,800-plus vehicles, calling this the largest public No Reserve collector car auction ever.
Bonhams posted a 90-percent sell-through with $16.1 million in sales, led by the sole-surviving 1952 Maserati A6G 2000 Frua Spider, $2,755,000 million, a world auction record for the model, the company says. An HVA Preservation Award-winning 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster realized $990,000 at Worldwide Auctioneers, and a low-mileage 1995 Ferrari 288 GTO (Lot #149) sold for $3,360,000 during RM Sotheby’s two-day sale at the landmark Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
At Russo and Steele, returning to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, a supercar 2012 Lexus LFA sold for $412,500, with a large portion of the proceeds benefitting Feeding America, the nation’s largest organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger through a network of food banks.
“The Scottsdale area is fortunate to host a number of auto auctions in mid-January, including Barrett-Jackson at WestWorld of Scottsdale, Gooding & Company at Scottsdale Fashion Square and Russo & Steele at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick and more,” says Rachel Sacco, president and CEO of Experience Scottsdale. The city also hosted Worldwide Auctioneers and the annual Jet Center Event at Scottsdale Airport.
“When these visitors aren’t bidding on one-of-a-kind vehicles, they’re flying in and out of Scottsdale Airport, staying at Scottsdale hotels and resorts, dining at Scottsdale restaurants and enjoying Scottsdale’s myriad attractions. The city, its businesses and its residents benefit from the visitors coming for Barrett-Jackson and the other auctions and their important tax dollars, which help support the quality of life enjoyed in Scottsdale.”
Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding
The 48th Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale posted $131.6 million in sales at WestWorld of Scottsdale. This included 1,800 vehicles, selling for $118-plus million –– a stellar 99.74-percent sell-through –– and 1,501 automobilia items, which exceeded $4.05 million. Another $9.6 million was raised through charity-vehicles sales.
More than 5,300 bidders participated and a record number of guests attended the weeklong automotive lifestyle event. Contemporary supercars were strong, and professionally built Resto-Mods were particularly in demand with younger buyers, indicating their desire for custom vehicles incorporating classic lines and on-the-cusp technology. Among these was singer/songwriter Ray J, high bidder for a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Resto-Mod Coupe (Lot #3004).
“The demand for collector cars continues to grow and expand to a new, younger generation of enthusiasts of millennial and Gen-X buyers demonstrates how vibrant and exciting it is to be at Barrett-Jackson for all generations,” says Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Scottsdale-based Barrett-Jackson. Established in 1971, “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions®” also produces annual events in Palm Beach, Florida; at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut; and Las Vegas, Nevada.
The high non-charity sale was a 2019 McLaren Senna (#1405), $1,457,500. Among the top ten were a 2014 Mercedes-Benz G63 6X6 (#1410), $1,210,000; 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition (#1412), $918,500; 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo (#1415), $550,000; 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition (#1313), $533,500; 1967 Ford Mustang Custom Fastback Gone In 60 Seconds “Eleanor” (#1437), $385,000; and a 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-window Resto-Mod Coupe (#1333), $385,000.
“Barrett-Jackson continues to bring more people into this hobby by offering vehicles that resonate among buyers,” says Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. “Many criticized our championing of Resto-Mods and customs when we added them to the docket in 2002. Over the years, this has become the hottest trend, with cars that create the same excitement as those from the greatest custom coachbuilders of the past. A major generational shift has occurred, and Barrett-Jackson is once again at the forefront.”
The Automobilia Auction was led by a full-size transportation-themed carousel manufactured by Wilhelm Hennecke of Germany in 1962 (#9499), which sold for $506,000. This was followed by a 1950s Chevrolet “Chevy Boy” Neon Porcelain Dealership Sign (#9490), $58,650, and a 3/4-Scale Shelby Cobra Tribute Go-Kart (#9471), $57,500.
As always, charity cars were central to the Barrett-Jackson docket.
The first production 2020 Toyota GR Supra, “Global #1,” was auctioned for $2.1 million, with proceeds supporting the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF). The revived model debuted January 14 at the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Ford donated two vehicles, the first 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition and the first 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 (which was purchased by longtime Shelby fan, Craig Jackson), selling for a combined $3.6 million to benefit United Way for Southeastern Michigan and JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research.
“Ford Motor Company has always championed and supported organizations that seek to improve the lives of people and communities who are at risk,” says Edsel B. Ford II. “We’re proud to have helped continue this tradition at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale. Working with JDRF and United Way of Southeastern Michigan we helped raise much needed funds and awareness for these two wonderful organizations.”
At the 8th-annual Bonhams, two Italian spiders by the great Carrozzeria Frua were headliners, the 1952 Maserati A6G 2000 and a 1946 FIAT 1100, Piero Frua‘s very first car, which brought $577,000.
Returning to the Westin-Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, the event totaled $16.1-plus million with a strong sell-through rate of 90 percent.
“Our sale was well supported and featured a large number of cars without reserve, creating multiple bidders throughout and a very respectable rate of sale,” says co-auctioneer Rupert Banner for the London-based company, with U.S. offices in California and New York. “It’s a discerning market at the moment, and while we weren’t able to conclude sales on a couple of the bigger cars, we sold nearly all the cars on offer and achieved some impressive results and auction records along the way.”
For Gooding & Company, at Scottsdale Fashion Square, 105 of 124 lots were sold, an 85-percent rate, posting $48.2 million. The three Arizona Car Week-leading Ferraris were a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta (#121), $7,595,000; 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta (#28), $5,890,000; and a 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider Series II (#42), a world-record $5,395,000. A 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa Cabriolet (#129) brought $1,930,000. Another world record, says the company, was set by a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Two-Light Ventoux (#131), $885,000.
“I am delighted to close out another fantastic week resulting in the top three sales across the board and new world records,” says David Gooding, president and founder of Santa Monica, California-based Gooding & Company. “Bidding was strong and demonstrated our clientele’s confidence in our consignments and our brand.”
RM Sotheby’s, Worldwide Auctioneers
The 20th-annual RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction posted $37 million in sales with an 85-percent sell-through rate.
Ferraris were center stage here as well. A Classiche-certified 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina attracted $2,012,500 –– the second-highest sale of the auction. A one-off 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona NART Spider, designed by Michelotti, brought $670,500, and a 280-mile 2017 Ferrari F12tdf $1,006,000.
In addition, a one-of-50 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package sold for $885,000, and a pair of 1993 Vector Avtech WX-3 Prototypes, the first all-American supercar, auctioned at $615,500 (the original coupe), and the WX-3R Roadster version $500,000. And, a freshly restored 1948 Tucker 48, sold for $1,600,000.
Three single-owner private collections were the Torque Collection, including Porsche 911 models and a rare, fully restored 1951 Spartan Royal Mansion trailer, which sold for $351,500, exceeding the estimate. The Calumet Collection comprised British luxury automobiles from 1923 to 2012. A coachbuilt 1987 Rolls-Royce Carmargue Retractable Hard-top with 987 actual miles brought $252,000 and a 2000 Bentley Continental SC, $246,400. And, the Richard L. Burdick Collection included a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton by Fleetwood, one of just 18 survivors, which found a new owner for $940,000.
“While we certainly witnessed a continued shift in collecting interests, we saw strong prices achieved for fresh-to-market motor cars from several segments of the market, most notably for great American Classics and for late-model collectibles,” says Gord Duff, global head of Auctions, RM Sotheby’s, calling this the best Arizona bidder turnout in more than five years.
Worldwide Auctioneers Scottsdale Auction generated sales approaching $10 million, with an excellent sell-through rate of 80 percent. The Auburn, Indiana-based company’s 2019 schedule also includes The Pacific Grove Auction on the Monterey Peninsula during Car Week on August 15th and the 12th-annual Auburn Auction in Indiana on August 31. The company also schedules stand-alone sales of significant private collections.
Three 1930s classics also led the Scottsdale sales. A 1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster from the Tom Gaughen Collection brought $687,500 and another 1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster from this collection, $632,500, and a rare 1936 Duesenberg Model JN LWB Tourster, the last car of the JN series, $605,000.
American muscle cars were also featured, including an unrestored Bloomington Gold-certified® 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Roadster that sold for $522,500.
“This year’s offering exemplified everything that Worldwide Auctioneers is about,” says Rod Egan, principal and auctioneer. “We don’t limit ourselves to selling only the most expensive cars in the world but we are always wholly committed to ensuring that the cars we do consign represent the absolute finest of their kind.”
Jet Center Event, Russo and Steele
More than 300 enthusiasts attended the annual AZ Jet Center Event at the AeroJet Services hangar at the Scottsdale Airpark.
“Attendees enjoyed the great people, music, art, jets and the cars. My, oh, my, these cars,” says Scott Ingebretson of the Jet Center Foundation, based in Tucson. Two of the featured classics were a one-off Mullholland Speedster and the first Alfa Romeo, the 1912 G1.
This year’s event schedule introduced the Jet Center Sunday Drive. “This fun drive through the backroads of Arizona was well attended and a terrific experience,” he explains, noting that it will be a larger component of the 2020 Jet Center event.
“Our guests enjoyed supporting the charities in a casual, unpretentious atmosphere with very approachable people,” he adds. “This was an opportunity to see cars, jets, and fine art –– many things one typically would never see and to be able to simply enjoy the passionate automotive and aeronautic community. They enjoyed the time to chat with the great people who support, attend and sponsor this event.”
He adds: “The team at the Jet Center Foundation appreciate all the efforts of the sponsors, volunteers, exhibitors and of course our hosts and attendees to make this another successful event!”
Russo and Steele also sold a 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4, $330,000; a 2006 Ford GT, $286,000; an “All-Original Survivor” 1967 Dodge Hemi Charger, $280,500; and a 1988 De Tomaso Pantera GT5-S, $210,000 (post auction).
A poignant sale was the 1994 Club Car DS Golf Cart, donated by former police officer, Rodger Comstock, who directed that all proceeds benefit the family of Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Police Officer Clayton Townsend, killed January 8 when he was struck by a vehicle while conducting a traffic stop on SR Loop 101 near McDowell Road. The bidding closed at $30,000, and that bidder redonated the cart for a second purchase, which raised $28,000 more for the family. Russo and Steele waived fees and commission.
“We really just want to thank the generous support of the Salt River Indian Community, our sponsors, consignors, bidders, vendors and volunteers for an incredible 19th year of Russo and Steele,” says Drew Alcazar, founder and president of Scottsdale-based Russo and Steele. “We feel grateful to call Salt River Fields at Talking Stick our home — now for the last three years —and can’t wait to celebrate year 20 in 2020.”
Note: Silver Auction’s results were not available at the time of publication.
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