2022 RM Sotheby’s Arizona (Scottsdale) Sale (Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs Announced)

A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing and a late production 1964 Roadster are early highlights announced for the RM Sotheby’s Arizona (Scottsdale) 2022 sale.

open 1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster on sale in the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2022 classic car auction
Karissa Hosek ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s announced two Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs and an interesting Cizeta-Moroder as early highlights for the Arizona sale during the annual Scottsdale classic car auction week in late January 2022. The 1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster was probably the third last Roaster produced and comes with a high $2,200,000 – $2,500,000 estimate. The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing has an estimate of $1,450,000 to $1,650,000. A further interesting car announced is the 1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000) — it was the first of only ten supercars produced by Cizeta.

→ See also RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2022 Sale Auction Results — very strong SL results!

RM Sotheby’s Arizona (Scottsdale) Sale 2022

1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s Arizona classic car auction: 27 January 2022 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. A traditional live auction is planned.

The annual Arizona auction is usually a good earner:

  • In 2022, RM Sotheby’s earned $43.3 million with an impressive 95% sell-through rate.
  • In 2021, RM Sotheby’s earned $35,065,900 with a sell-through rate of 90%.
  • In 2020, RM Sotheby’s earned $30.4 million at Arizona with a 90% sell-through rate. According to Hagerty, the average sale price was down to $238,507.
  • In 2019, RM Sotheby’s earned $37 million with a sell-through rate of 85% of 154 lots on offer. According to Hagerty, the average sale price was $273,710 per car. 
  • In 2018, RM Sotheby’s grossed $35.8 million by selling 109 cars of 127 offered for a sell-through rate of 86% and an average $328,404 per car. (Hagerty calculations)
  • In 2017, RM Sotheby’s earned $54 million from 141 cars offered with a sell-through rate of 89%. RM Sotheby’s sold 15 cars for more than a million dollars.

The Arizona / Scottsdale auction record is $9,900,000 paid for a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen at the RM Sothebys Arizona 2016 sale.

Mercedes Benz 300 SLs at RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale / Arizona 2022

Open 1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster on sale in the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2022 classic car auction
Karissa Hosek ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s announced two special Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs for the Arizona / Scottsdale 2022 classic car auctions week:

NOTE: The choice SL at Arizona will be the later announced 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing, chassis number 5500332, estimate $7,000,000 to $9,000,000.

1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster

One of just three cars invoiced in 1964, the 1964 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster offered in Arizona was the third-to-last 300 SL to be delivered and is presented today in the original colors of Gray Blue over red interior. It is one of 218 late-production examples equipped with disc brakes and an alloy engine block.

This European-specified car with European-style headlamp lenses and rare stone guards remained in single ownership from 1971 to 2013 and was a recipient of a full cosmetic restoration upon the consignor’s purchase in 2014. It has 80,342 km (almost 50,000 miles) on the clock. Complete with fitted luggage, books, tools, and hardtop, this 300 SL will lead the roster of sports cars across the block in Arizona

If it sells within the estimate of $2,200,000 – $2,500,000, it will become one of only a handful of 300 SL Roadsters to have achieved over $2 million at public auction. The model record is $3,709,212 paid at the Artcurial Le Mans 2018 auction for a Roadster with only 1,380 km on the clock.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing in the sale was the only example to leave the factory in the striking combination of Dunkelgrau paint over an interior upholstered in beige with red-and-green plaid fabric seats. The car received regular attention and maintenance over its lifetime, and before being purchased by the current owner, it received extensive restoration and refinishing work to bring it back to its original luster.

The estimate of $1,450,000 to $1,650,000 is in line with results achieved at auctions in 2021 and higher than they have been for a few years.

1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T

1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T on sale in the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2022 classic car auction
Patrick Ernzen ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T on sale in the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2022 classic car auction
Patrick Ernzen ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T (Estimate: $900,000 – $1,200,000) on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2022 sale is the original Cizeta-Moroder prototype and show car. It is the most famous example of the model and the only chassis to wear the Cizeta-Moroder nameplate.

Chassis 001 received full mechanical restoration by Canepa Design in 2018 and is now offered by its illustrious original owner, music producer, and original Cizeta-Moroder investor, Giorgio Moroder.

1988 Cizeta-Moroder V16T on sale in the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2022 classic car auction
Patrick Ernzen ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

This car is an undoubted icon of the 1980s, where exotic sports car design was elevated to a new level and is an unrepeatable opportunity for collectors.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Cizeta-Moroder certainly is interesting, different, and rare — only nine further Cizetas were ever produced.

Scottsdale and Arizona Car Auctions 2022

Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2022 — Auction Results:

Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2022 — Auction Previews:

Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2022 — Pre-Auction Announcements:

Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2021 — Auction Results

Scottsdale & Arizona Sales — Previous Auction Results

Scottsdale & Arizona Auctions 2022

Many auction houses have sales (live, online, or a combination) during the annual Scottsdale week in mid-late January, including amongst others:

  • Barett-Jackson: 22 to 30 January 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona — live auction.
  • Bonhams: 27 January 2022 in Scottsdale, Arizona — live auction.
  • Gooding & Company: 26 – 28 January 2022 — online auction but cars on display in Scottsdale (and Van Nuys, California, 18 – 21 January).
  • RM Sotheby’s: 27 January 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona — live auction.
  • Russo and Steele: 26 – 30 January 2022 in Scottsdale — live auction.
  • Worldwide Auctioneers: 26 – 27 January 2022 in Scottsdale — live auction.