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Classic
The most expensive car sales from Scottsdale's $251m auctions
Auctioneers filled their boots last month. Here are some of the priciest items
January should definitely be renamed ‘Hammer Time’. And no, not because Lewis Hamilton has been living the high life over the winter, but because of the plethora of classic and limited edition cars that went under the hammer at the Scottsdale auction in Arizona a few days ago. Obviously.
With auctioneers including RM Sotheby's, Gooding & Co, Bonhams and Barrett-Jackson, the biggest motoring auction in the US by volume totalled a whopping $251 million over the course of two days in Arizona. Although that doesn’t come close to the $294 million achieved twelve months previously.
Despite the pinch, President and founder of Gooding & Company David Gooding said: “The demand in the market is definitely high for cars that are the best of their category.
“We were thrilled to set some new world records for exceptional cars at this weekend’s auctions.”
Click on to view some of the mouth-watering vehicles that were up for grabs, and the eye-watering price tags their new owners paid for them...
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.
Advertisement - Page continues below$9,900,000 - 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster
The biggest sale of the auction. Eight cylinders, manual transmission and just 10,277 miles on the clock. Lovely.
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
$6,490,000 - 1950 Ferrari 166 MM/195 S Berlinetta Le Mans
A world record sale for its type, apparently. Hardly a surprise: there are only six in existence.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.
Advertisement - Page continues below$3,410,000 - 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Speciale
Coachwork by Pininfarina, this magnificent GTC Speciale is one of only four in the world. We think it’s worth every penny. Or cent, in this case.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.
$3,000,000 - 1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Torpedo Convertible Coupe
With its original bodywork, this model from 1929 produces 265bhp from an eight-cylinder engine. The price works out at $11,320 per horse...
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$2,860,000 - 2003 Ferrari Enzo
Subject to an enthralling bidding war between an audience member and a phone bidder. Worth it with a mileage of just 2,700 in the 13 years since its birth.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mike Maez.
$2,420,000 - 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton
When released in the late 1920s, the Duesenberg Model J was said to be “synonymous with wealth, prestige, and privilege”. At $2,420,000, that hasn’t changed.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mike Maez.
Advertisement - Page continues below$2,400,000 - 1995 Ferrari F50
Identified by the number 99999, this was the last Ferrari to be known by a five digit figure. We suspect there were other reasons behind the seven figure winning bid.
Images copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mike Maez.
$2,255,000 - 1965 Shelby 427 Competition Cobra
Won the US SCCA A Production Championship in 1968 and the Eastern Canadian Endurance Championship in 1971. But you knew that already.
David Bush ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
Advertisement - Page continues below$2,117,500 - 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB
280bhp from a 3.3-litre V12. More importantly though, it’s a joy to behold.
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
$2,090,000 – 2015 McLaren P1
Apparently this was the last P1 built for the US market. Only a year old, P1 number 371 has covered just 300 miles so far. That’s one very frugal owner.
©2015 Pawel Litwinski
$2,000,000 - 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV
Another stunning effort, this time from Lamborghini. 385bhp from a 3.9-litre V12, this 1971 Miura makes us miss the 70s. A lot.
Robin Adams ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$1,815,000 – Chevrolet Corvette Convertibles “Serial One” Trio
Sold as a trio, one bidder spent the above sum on three convertible Corvettes from 1955, 1956 and 1957. Each one was the first off the production line that year. Neat.
Picture credit: Barrett-Jackson.
$1,760,000 - 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS
Here’s another Ferrari that’s received the Pininfarina treatment. Not the rarest car at the auction, but still one of only 200 in the world. Still pretty exclusive.
Robin Adams ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$1,760,000 – 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach
$330,000 cheaper than the P1 a couple of slides back, this 918 Spyder had just 595 miles on the clock when it went under the hammer. At top speed, it could do that in under three hours...
Picture credit: Barrett-Jackson.
$1,650,000 - 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II
The 98th model of 200 produced in 1960, this 250 GT Cabriolet was recently restored to its original blue having adopted a red livery in 1989.
Robin Adams ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$1,595,000 - 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
The other 918 Spyder to go at Scottsdale. No Weissach package on this one, plus an extra 905 miles on the clock. Probably worth if for the saving of $165,000...
Patrick Ernzen ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$1,540,000 - 1962 Maserati 5000 GT Coupe
Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1997, this Maserati packs 340bhp with a punch of a 4.9-litre V8.
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
$1,534,500 – 1990 Ferrari F40
Costing over $1.5 million, this F40 came with a “three-piece Schedoni leather luggage set” to sweeten the deal. The bags alone probably fill the boot, though.
Image copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Brian Henniker.
$1,485,000 – 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K
This Merc started out in life with a Cabriolet B body, but has since been upgraded to a Cabriolet A body which was said to be more desirable. It must have worked, given the size of the winning bid...
Picture credit: Barrett-Jackson.
$1,485,000 - 1962 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster
225bhp? Check. 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder engine? Check. Four-speed manual? Check. $1,485,000? Chequebook required...
©2015 Pawel Litwinski
$1,430,000 - 1953 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe
One of only two models put together by Italian coachbuilders Ghia. A standard Series 62 at heart, this Cadillac was described as something the “average neighbourhood banker drove to work in 1953”. Dare to dream.
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
$1,402,500 - 1939 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre Roadster
Thought to be the last 1939 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-Litre chassis ever built, this model was displayed at the Brussels Motor Show in 1948 and is said to be a unique edition from Belgian coachbuilder Figoni. Not much use if it rains.
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s.
$1,265,000 - 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Proof, if any were needed, that Merc’s designers knew what they were doing in 1958. Restored mechanically and cosmetically from 2013 and onwards, this 300 SL will do 137mph. Or at least it did when it was made. 58 years ago.
Marcel Lech ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$1,210,000 - 1952 Cunningham C3 Coupe
Just 19 Cunningham C3 Coupes were made, with this being the third car styled by Vignale. The brainchild of Briggs Cunningham, the C3 finished 3rd overall at Le Mans in 1953 and 1954. Pedigree.
Robin Adams ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby's.
$1,200,000 – VIN #001 2017 Acura NSX
And finally, a car that hasn’t even been built yet. NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick paid $1,200,000 for the privilege of owning the first NSX to come off the production line, several times what the base spec is expected to cost. The proceeds went to charity though, so there is method in the madness.
Picture credit: Barrett-Jackson.
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