2018 RM Sotheby’s Arizona Sale (Century of Sports Cars Announcement)

RM Sotheby’s announced a private collection of sports cars, including classic Alfa Romeos and Ferraris, to be sold without reserve at the Arizona / Scottsdale 2018 auction week.

1921 Alfa Romero G1
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Early highlights announced for the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018 classic car auction include a range of classic Alfa Romeos and Ferraris sold from a private collection titled “A Century of Sports Cars”. The top cars in this selection are the only surviving complete 1921 Alfa Romeo G1, a 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale with coachwork by Boano, a 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider, a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso and a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II. These cars will be offered without reserve.

RM Sotheby’s Arizona Classic Car Auction 2018

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster at Auction
1939 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Roadster at Auction – Patrick Ernzen © 2017 Courtesy RM Sotheby’s

RM Sotheby’s will hold its 19th annual Arizona classic car auction on 18 & 19 January 2018 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. Around 160 cars will be on offer as part of the traditional Scottsdale Arizona auction week that starts of the classic car sales year for most major car auctioneers.

During the Scottsdale, Arizona classic car auction week 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 highest result for RM Sotheby’s at Arizona 2017 was $6,600,000 for a 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster.

A Century of Sports Cars Announcement fro Arizona 2018

RM Sotheby’s announced a private collection titled “A Century of Sports Cars” as early highlights for the Arizona 2018 sale. This collection of mostly Alfa Romeo and Ferrari classics will be offered without reserve – a brave decision as bidding for some similar cars have fallen somewhat short of reserve limits at recent auctions.

Top Alfa Romeos at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018

1921 Alfa Romeo G1 Side Profile
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

1921 Alfa Romeo G1

1921 Alfa Romeo G1 Top Rear
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The highlight of the “A Century of Sports Cars” collection on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018 sale is a 1921 Alfa Romero G1, chassis no. 6018. The car on offer is one of the earliest known examples of only 52 ever produced.

This car is considered the oldest running and driving Alfa Romeo and has amongst others recently participated in the 2014 Mille Miglia Historic race and the 75th Goodwood Members Meeting. It was displayed in the Museo Enzo Ferrari in 2015.

Chassis no. 6018 is considered the only surviving complete G1 in existence. It has been awarded twice at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance – the most recent in 2013.

The 1921 Alfa Romeo G1 is offered without reserve. Estimate available upon request.

1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale

1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale by Boano
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale with coachwork by Boano, estimate $1,250,000 to $1750,000, is the second top Alfa Romeo on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018 sale. This car with striking one-off coachwork was Boano’s 1955 Torino Motor Show car.

The 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Speciale was displayed at the Paris Rétromobile 2014 show in Paris and in 2015 participated in the invitation-only Preservation Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The recently restored car in its original colors won its class at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider

1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

A further top Alfa from the private “A Century of Sports Cars Collection” that will be on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018 is an elegant 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider, estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000.

This 1942 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Spider will also be offered without reserve, which is quite brave as several 6C 2500 cars – in a variety of body styles – failed to reach reserve margins at recent auctions. Details of the car on offers have not been released yet but the production year alone almost certainly guarantees at least an interesting early history.

Top Ferraris at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2018

Details of the Ferraris on offer in the “A Century of Sports Cars Collection” are still limited but the top cars are fine examples from the Italian mid-century sports and GT cars:

1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso

1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso by Scaglietti, chassis no. 5537 GT, estimate $1,800,000 to $2,200,000, Offered Without Reserve, is a fine example of the final iteration of the 250 GT chassis.

The 1964 Ferrari 250 GT/L Berlinetta Lusso is finished in Blue Sera over beige. It received a cosmetic restoration in 2013 that was sufficient to earn it Best in Class at the 2014 Arizona Concours d’Elegance.

1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II

1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II
Robin Adams ©2017 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II by Pininfarina, chassis no. 1939 GT, estimate $1,400,000 to $1,800,000, Offered Without Reserve, was the 29th of 200 built. It received a well-maintained restoration in 2000 and has not been shown much in recent years. Chassis 1939 GT attracted a highest bid of $1,650,000 at the 2016 Gooding Scottsdale auction with an estimate of $2-2.3 million. The current estimate is more inline with current results for the model.

Other Ferraris in the “A Century of Sports Cars Collection” include a 2015 Ferrari California T, 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello, 1975 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB, 1972 Ferrari Dino 246 GT and a 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT. All are offered without reserve.