2019 Scottsdale Arizona Classic Car Auctions Results Overview

At least 23 cars sold for more than a million dollar at the various Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 classic car auctions with Gooding selling the top three – all Ferraris.

SOLD 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta
© Gooding

Results at the Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 classic car auctions were mixed with Gooding selling the most expensive cars while other auctioneers struggled with their top lots.

Results for Auction Houses at Scottsdale 2019

Hagerty reported to following numbers for the various Scottsdale, Arizona collector car auctions (post-hammer deals may still change the final numbers):

Auction HouseScottsdale Total*Barrett-JacksonBonhamsGoodingRM Sotheby’s
Earning 2019 ($ million)250.9126.4
16.148.136.8
Earning 2018 ($ million)247.8112.325.249.236.0
Earnings 2017 ($ million)259.8101.036.333.353.7
Cars Sold / Offered 20192660 / 32941817 / 1818108 / 120105 / 124129 / 154
Cars Sold / Offered 20182668 / 31761709 / 172994 / 108110 / 129110 / 127
Cars Sold / Offered 20172899 / 34861703 / 171186 / 105105 / 125142 / 159
Sell-Through % 20198199.9908584
Sell-Through % 20188499878587
Sell-Through % 201783100828489
Average $ 201992,95269,571149,070458,458285,448
Average $ 201892,88765,692267,649447,415327,641
Average $ 201789,60159,323422,376317,492378,248
Million $ Cars 2019**235396
Million $ Cars 20183357129
Million $ Cars 20173527915

* Scottsdale total also include results from Russo and Steele, Worldwide Auctioneers and Silver.
** Include post-hammer deals announced in first published results.

A 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO sold for $3,360,000 as the top result at the RM Sotheby's Arizona 2019 sale
Patrick Ernzen © 2019 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Although the most-expensive cars at both Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s failed to sell, the overall numbers for their auctions were not that disappointing. Bonhams actually increased the sell-through rate but sensible brought cheaper cars to the auction even though that hurt the bottom line. RM Sotheby’s earned less from selling more cars than a year ago but even here the sell-through rate remained respectable.

Gooding had the best auction of the three catalogue auction houses. Not only the three most-expensive cars of the week but also by far the highest average price per car without hurting the sell-through rate.

Hagerty reported strong interests in cheaper classic cars below $250,000 dollar but cars near or above $1 million struggled to sell. Only 48% of cars with million-dollar-plus estimates were sold. Gooding did well with three regular top Ferraris but the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype, as well as the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale at RM Sotheby’s, seemed too specialized to value correctly in an uncertain market.

Million-Dollar Results at Scottsdale 2019

The following cars sold for a million dollar or more at the various Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 classic car auctions:

YearCarPrice ($)EstimateAuction House
11963Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta7,595,0006,000,000 – 8,000,000Gooding
21958Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta5,890,0005,750,000 – 6,500,000Gooding
31953Ferrari 250 MM Spider5,395,0005,500,000 – 6,500,000Gooding
41985Ferrari 288 GTO3,360,0003,200,000 – 3,600,000RM Sotheby’s
51951Maserati A6G / 2000 Spider by Frua2,755,0002,800,000 – 3,400,000Bonhams
61985Ferrari 288 GTO2,507,5002,500,000 – 3,000,000Gooding
72019Ford GT Heritage (Charity Lot)2,500,000NABarrett-Jackson
81958BMW 507 Roadster Series II2,175,0002,500,000 – 3,000,000RM Sotheby’s
92020Toyota Supra (Charity Lot)2,100,000NABarrett-Jackson
101967Ferrari 330 GTS2,012,5002,200,000 – 2,500,000RM Sotheby’s
111952Ferrari 212 Europa Cabriolet1,930,0001,900,000 – 2,200,000Gooding
121963Ferrari 250 GT Lusso1,902,5001,600,000 – 1,800,000Gooding
131948Tucker 481,600,0001,500,000 – 1,700,000RM Sotheby’s
142019McLaren Senna1,457,500NABarrett-Jackson
151955Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,435,0001,100,000 – 1,400,000Gooding
162014Mercedes Benz G63 6×61,210,000NABarrett-Jackson
171955Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing1,110,0001,150,000 – 1,350,000Bonhams
182020Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 (Charity Lot)1,100,000NABarrett-Jackson
191956Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe1,077,5001,100,000 – 1,400,000RM Sotheby’s
201964Shelby 289 Cobra1,050,000950,000 – 1,100,000Gooding
211957Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster1,006,000900,000 – 1,200,000Gooding
222017Ferrari F12tdf1,006,000950,000 – 1,100,000RM Sotheby’s
231963Porsche 356B Carrera 2 GS Cabriolet1,005,0001,100,000 – 1,300,000Bonhams

Note: Include charity lots, may exclude post-hammer deals.

Top Ten Results at Scottsdale 2019

1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta (Estimate: $5,750,000 – $6,500,000)
© Gooding

It was a clean sweep for Gooding at the Scottsdale 2019 classic car auctions: Gooding sold the top three most-expensive cars and half of the top ten whether charity lots are included or not. Although the results for the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Berlinetta and 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Spider were not particularly strong, they do show that there is demand for good automobiles at fair prices. It seems David Gooding succeeded in convincing sellers that realistic reserves reflect current market conditions not the top-end of 2015-2016.

RM Sotheby’s had a strong result with $3,360,000 paid for a 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO. Although this was a low-mileage example, the $2,507,000 result Gooding had for a similar model is more standard for the model. Although only 272 of these supercars were made, prices remained fairly stable at $2.5 million with often little interest among bidders.

1952 Maserati A6G 2000 Spider Chassis 2017
© Bonhams

Bonhams top result was $2,755,000 for a stunningly beautiful 1951 Maserati A6G/2000 Spider – one only three produced with Frua spider bodywork.

Barrett-Jackson sold several cars for charity and had million-dollar results for three: a 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition achieved $2.5 million, a 2020 Toyota Supra $2.1 million and 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 was bought by CEO David Jackson for $1.1 million. All three are the first cars produced in the series and thus also model record prices.

The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS and 1952 Ferrari 212 Europa Cabriolet achieved solid results while the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso sold for above upper estimate. A 1948 Tucker 48 sold for mid-estimate $1.6 million.

The in-auction highest bid of $2,150,000 for the 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II at RM Sotheby’s was initially refused but the car was sold post-hammer for $2,175,000. Accepting the bid in-auction would have yielded the seller more and the buyer got a good deal.

Million-Dollar Results at Scottsdale 2019

Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

Barrett-Jackson sold a 2019 McLaren Senna for $1,457,000 – a quick turnaround profit for the seller: the new car sold for around $840,000 before options. All 500 scheduled for production have already sold, so the “second hand” market is the only way to buy one now. The black amethyst car was chassis no 5 and one of the around 120 in US specification.

Barrett-Jackson also set a model record for the huge 2014 Mercedes Benz G63 6×6 that sold for $1,210,000. Like the Senna, this was the first of the model sold at public auction. The vehicle has less than 1000 miles on the clock and with a Show and Display permit is severely restricted for use in the USA.

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing (Estimate: $1,100,000 – $1,400,000)
© Gooding

With seven Mercedes Benz 300 models available at the various Scottsdale 2019 auctions, this clearly turned into a buyers market probably enhanced by six more being available in Paris in early February 2019. Gooding achieved two million dollar results, including a very good $1,435,000 for the 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing that originally belonged to Herbert von Karajan, the famed Austrian conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker symphony orchestra.

Gooding also sold a 1957 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster for a within-estimate $1,006,000. Worldwide Auctions sold a 1959 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster for $990,000. Bonhams sold a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe for $1,110,000 after the highest bid of $1,050,000 was initially declined.

Red 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 GS Cabriolet
© Bonhams / P. Litwinski

The only Porsche achieving a million dollars was a 1963 Porsche 356B Carrera 2 GS Cabriolet that Bonhams sold for $1,005,000.

Similarly, only one of the large number of Shelbys on offer achieved such result: $1,050,000 for a 1964 Shelby 289 Cobra at Gooding. RM Sotheby’s had a good $1,077,500 result with a 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe.

Top Cars Not Sold at Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019

Some of the highest bids for top cars not sold at the Scottsdale 2019 classic car auction week included:

YearCarPrice ($)EstimateAuction House
1957Ferrari 250 GT Coupe SpecialeHB 7,500,00011,000,000 – 13,000,000RM Sotheby’s
2017Ferrari LaFerrari ApertaHB 5,500,0006,500,000 – 8,500,000RM Sotheby’s
1964Ferrari 275 GTB PrototypeHB 4,750,0006,000,000 – 8,000,000Gooding
1954Ferrari 500 Mondial Series I SpiderHB 4,000,0005,000,000 – 6,000,000Bonhams
1967Ferrari 275 GTB/4HB 2,650,0002,800,000 – 3,200,000RM Sotheby’s
2018Bugatti ChironHB 2,550,0002,800,000 – 3,300,000Bonhams
1973Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona SpiderHB 1,850,0002,200,000 – 2,600,000RM Sotheby’s
1963Mercedes Benz 300 SL RoadsterHB 1,550,0001,750,000 – 2,250,000Gooding
1971Lamborghini Miura SVHB 1,500,0001,700,000 – 2,100,000Bonhams
1959Lister-Jaguar Sports RacerHB 1,450,0002,000,000 – 2,600,000Bonhams
1964Porsche 904 GTSHB 1,200,0001,400,000 – 1,600,000Bonhams
1955Mercedes Benz 300 SL GullwingHB 1,100,0001,200,000 – 1,400,000RM Sotheby’s
1967Shelby 427 CobraHB 1,100,0001,350,000 – 1,450,000RM Sotheby’s
1960Mercedes Benz 300 SL RoadsterHB 950,0001,100,000 – 1,200,000RM Sotheby’s
1966Shelby 427 CobraHB 950,0001,100,000 – 1,400,000Gooding
1960Maserati 3500 GT Spider PrototypeHB 800,0001,000,000 – 1,200,000Gooding
1993Bugatti EB110 GTHB 760,000800,000 – 1,000,000Bonhams
1993Bugatti EB110 GTHB 700,000850,000 – 950,000Gooding

Note: Highest bids as observed during sales / reported by Hagerthy. Some cars may have sold in post-hammer deals. List not complete, especially regarding bids below $1 million.

1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale Rear
Darin Schnabel © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The highest bid during the Scottsdale 2019 collector car auction week was $7.5 million for the 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe Speciale at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction. However, that bid was way off the pre-sale estimate of $11 to $13 million and not surprisingly not accepted. The Scottsdale auction week record remains $9,900,000 paid for the 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K at the RM Sotheby’s auction in 2016.

2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
Mo Satarzadeh © 2018 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The second highest unsuccessful bid was also at RM Sotheby’s: $5.5 million for a 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta. A similar, even lower mileage car failed to sell with a highest bid of $6.1 million a few days earlier at Mecum Kissimmee 2019 and is still available for $7 million. Sellers clearly expect a bigger profit than buyers are willing to give on this model.

1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype
1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype © Gooding

The highest unsuccessful bid at the Gooding sale was $4,750,000 for the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB Prototype. This car was the development car for the popular 275 series and participated in the 1966 Monte Carlo Rally.

1954 Ferrari Mondial
© P. Litwinski / Courtesy of Bonhams

The top bid at Bonhams was also for a Ferrari: $4 million for the 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Series I Spider. It is a stunning car with interesting provenance but similar models haven’t sold for much more at recent auctions.

Bugattis generally flopped at Scottsdale 2019. Bonhams failed to sell a 2018 Bugatti Chiron despite a fairly low estimate (and reserve). Two EB110 GTs failed to sell, although the one at Bonhams came very close to the reserve. A 1931 Bugatti Type 46 Superprofilee Coupe failed to fly at Bonhams while Gooding did sell a classic 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Two-Light Ventoux for a respectable $885,000. It will be a buyers market at Paris 2019 where around 20 Bugattis will be available from early classics and children’s cars to modern Veyrons and a Chiron.

1963 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster (Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000)
© Gooding

It was also a buyers market for Mercedes Benz 300 SLs – seven were available at the Scottsdale 2019 auctions. While Gooding sold two for over a million and Worldwide one for $990,000, four others went unsold. (The Gullwing at Bonhams sold in a sensible post-hammer deal.) Gooding received a highest bid of $1,550,000 for a 1963 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster but it is an exceptional car (and still available for $1,850,000). Bidding for the others ran out of steam around the million-dollar mark, although generally only around 10% off lower estimate. Unless the market picks up drastically, and given the high numbers coming to auction that is fairly unlikely, sellers may regret trying to hold out for more.

More on Scottsdale 2019 Collector Car Auctions

2017 Ford GT
© Barrett Jackson

The first major collector car auction series of the year is traditionally the Scottsdale and Phoenix auctions in Arizona, USA, in mid-January.

Most major car auctioneers have sales in Arizona including Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding and RM Sotheby’s. A notable exception is Mecum that start the auction year a few weeks earlier at Kissimmee in Florida.

Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 Auctions Sale Results

Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 Auctions Sale Previews:

Scottsdale, Arizona, 2019 Auctions Pre-Sale Announcements: