A 1955 Jaguar D-Type and a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer were the top results at the RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale Arizona 2021 classic car auction.
The top four results at the Scottsdale, Arizona, classic car auction series in January 2021, were all achieved at the RM Sotheby’s sale: a 1955 Jaguar D-Type, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer by Corsica, a 2020 McLaren Speedtail, and a 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale. Ten cars sold for over a million dollars while the 2019 Koenigsegg Regera and 2003 Ferrari Enzo failed to sell.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona (Scottsdale) Sale 2021
RM Sotheby’s Arizona classic car auction: 22 January 2021 at a new venue — OTTO Car Club, in Scottsdale itself and no longer in Phoenix. Around 80 cars will be on offer.
The format for 2021 is a live auction with admission only to registered bidders. Telephone, internet, and commission bidding will also be possible. Cars may be viewed by appointment at the OTTO Car Club in the days leading up to the auction.
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 $9,900,000 paid for a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen at the RM Sothebys Arizona 2016 sale.
Top Ten Results at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021 (Scottsdale)
The top ten results at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021 (Scottsdale) classic car auction were:
| Year | Car | Price ($) | Estimate ($) | |
| 1 | 1955 | Jaguar D-Type | 6,000,000 | 5,750,000 – 7,500,000 |
| 2 | 1937 | Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer by Corsica | 4,735,000 | 4,750,000 – 6,500,000 |
| 3 | 2020 | McLaren Speedtail | 3,277,500 | 3,500,000 – 4,500,000 |
| 4 | 1954 | Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale | 2,557,000 | 2,400,000 – 3,400,000 |
| 5 | 1956 | Ferrari 250 GT Alloy Coupe by Boano | 1,352,500 | 1,200,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 6 | 1957 | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster | 1,066,500 | 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 7 | 2019 | McLaren Senna | 1,044,000 | 1,000,000 – 1,300,000 |
| 8 | 1932 | Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe | 1,022,500 | 750,000 – 850,000 |
| 9 | 2019 | Ford GT “Lightweight” | 967,500 | 900,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 10 | 1933 | Packard Twelve-Series 1006 | 819,000 | 800,000 – 900,000 |
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Arizona Scottsdale 2021 Sale
RM Sotheby’s was the most successful auction house at the reduced Scottsdale sales in Arizona in January 2021. RM Sotheby’s earned by far the most — although it is worth noticing that Mecum earned over $100 million at its Kissimmee sale in Florida a week earlier and Barrett-Jackson postponed its traditional Scottsdale mega-sale to March.
Of the ten cars that sold for over a million dollars at Scottsdale 2021, eight were sold by RM Sotheby’s including the four most-expensive cars. far fewer top-end cars than usual were on offer at Scottsdale 2021 and the top two results were both several million-dollar lower than the highest bids that were rejected for the very cars at auctions only a few years ago.
1955 Jaguar D-Type
The top result at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona classic car auction in 2021 was $6,000,000 paid for the 1955 Jaguar D-Type, XKD 518, and the most-expensive car thus far in 2021. The result was just within the estimate of $5,750,000 to $7,500,000. It was the second outing to the Scottsdale, Arizona, auctions in three years for this Jaguar D-Type: in 2018, it was offered by Gooding with the highest bid of $8.85 million rejected — the presale estimate was $10,000,000–$12,000,000.
It is one of only two (possibly three) D-Types delivered in a dramatic red livery. The first private owner was famed British racing driver Peter Blond, who purchased the car from motorsport icon Bernie Ecclestone. Blond raced XKD 518 until 1957, with highlights including a 5th Overall at the Aintree 100, a top 10 finish in the Goodwood Trophy, and a win at the Snetterton National Race. After Blond sold the Jaguar in 1957, XKD 518 had several prominent owners including famed racer Ms. Jean Bloxham and Led Zeppelin band manager Peter Grant.
The Jaguar D-Type is in its distinctive original livery with its matching-numbers engine, XKD 518. The tailfin and full-width windscreens are not factory original but were presumably added early in the car’s history.
RM Sotheby’s also sold a 1958 Lister-Jaguar “Knobbly” for $802,500 — although almost $100,000 below estimate, it was a result. Lister-Jaguars failed to sell in many recent auctions.
1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica
The second highest result at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021 sales was $4,735,000 for a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica, estimate $4,750,000 to $6,500,000.
The rare car is one of just over 40 Type 57S chassis produced, of which only 16 were fitted with open coachwork. Corsa fitted coachwork to only eight of which only two were the four-seater tourer bodies that the Bugatti on offer is wearing. Adding the available “C” specification Roots-type supercharger early in the car’s life further raised the power output to 200 hp, enabling a top speed of 120-mph and making the 57SC the fastest French production car of the period.
This 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica was the lead car for the RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island 2019 classic car auction where the highest bid of $5.7 million was not accepted. The estimate then was a slightly higher $6,000,000 – $7,500,000.
The five most-expensive cars sold in 2020 were all classic Bugattis and it seems as if the popularity of these cars will continue in 2021. Several Bugattis will be on offer at the Paris auctions in February / March 2021 while a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S with Grand Routier coachwork by Corsa (estimate $6,500,000 — 9,000,000, no reserve) is the car around which Bonhams arranged the Legends of the Road classic car auction in London on 19 February 2021.
Goodings’ third-highest Scottsdale 2021 result was also for a classic Bugatti — a 1926 Bugatti Type 37A that sold for $935,000 — well above the estimate of $650,000 — $850,000.
2020 McLaren Speedtail
The 2020 McLaren Speedtail at RM Sotheby’s sold for $3,277,500 — just below the estimate of $3,500,000 to $4,500,000 and setting the model record as the first Speedtail sold at public auction. This Speedtail was the 36th of only 106 produced. It is fitted with over $170,000 in options, of which almost a third was spent on the bespoke shade of MSO Heritage Atlantic Blue, further enriched by a set of Bespoke Exterior Painted Pinstripes which are color-matched to the lightweight alloy wheels.
The Mclaren Speedtail is the fastest McLaren road car ever built with a top speed of 250 mph. It was only sold to preselect customers and this will be the first example offered in a public sale. It has only 30 miles on the clock.
A 2019 McLaren Senna in the same sale failed to sell with a highest bid of $975,000, which was so close to the reserve that it was not surprisingly quickly sold afterward for $1,044,000 all in.
1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe
Really high-end Ferraris have been noticeably in short supply at classic car auctions in 2020 and at the start of 2021. However, several fine examples, especially less-known models have been offered and still achieved relatively strong resutls.
The 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe sold for $2,557,000, as the top Ferrari result during the Scottsdale 2021 auction series. This 375 America Coupe was one of only two bodied by Vignale. It was restored to its original color scheme of burgundy and silver-grey over beige and retained its original V12 engine.
The America Coupe was exhibited at the 1954 New York World Motor Sports Show and the 1954 Geneva Motor Show before being delivered to legendary racing sponsor Robert Wilke.
Million-Dollar Results at the RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale, Arizona 2021
The remaining million-dollar results at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021 sale were:
- $1,352,500 paid for a “low roof” 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Alloy Coupe that was one of just 14 alloy-bodied coupes produced by Felice Mario Boano.
- $1,066,500 paid just within estimate for a green 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. (Two 300 SLs already sold at Mecum Kissimmee 2021 while more will be available in the various European auctions in February and March 2021.)
- $1,022,000 paid, and well above the $750,000 to $850,000, for a 1932 Cadillac V-16 Convertible Coupe by Fisher. One of 14 built, of which only four survived.
Further top results included:
- a 2019 Ford GT ‘Lightweight’, a special option made available only to select applicants, which brought in $967,500;
- a multi-award winning, CCCA Full Classic 1933 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedans by Dietrich, one of two extant and a completely numbers-matching example, which brought in $819,000.
- a 1993 Cizeta V16T, one of just nine examples completed and ordered new by the Royal Family of Brunei, which achieved $665,000;
- and an exclusive factory 1998 RUF Turbo R, extensively mechanically refreshed in October of 2020, which surpassed its high pre-sale estimate of $575,000 and sold for a final $764,000.
Top Cars Not Sold at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021
Only three top cars failed to sell at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021 classic car auction:
| Year | Car | Highest Bid ($) | Estimate |
| 2019 | Koenigsegg Regera | HB 2,450,000 | 2,600,000 – 2,900,000 |
| 2003 | Ferrari Enzo | HB 2,200,000 | 2,250,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 1965 | Aston Martin Short-Chassis Volante | HB 1,300,000 | 1,500,000 – 1,750,000 |
Only 80 Koenigsegg Regera cars were built but the first two to ever appear at auction turned up only two days apart and both failed to sell. The higher unsuccessful bid was at Goodings — $2,560,000 — but the difference to the $2,450,000 bid for the car at RM Sotheby’s hardly makes up for the nearly half-million-dollar options on the Gooding car versus “only” $217,000 options on the RM Sotheby’s car. The latter has only 200 miles on the clock while the Goodings car had already done 369 miles and is listed as available for $2,950,000.
RM Sotheby’s continues its 2021 auction calendar with the company’s first European auction of the year, set for 13 February 2021 in Paris. The auction will be live-streamed with remote bidding options only. The Paris sale is led by a one-of-50 factory 1931 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Tourers.
Scottsdale and Arizona Car Auctions 2021
Scottsdale & Arizona Auctions 2021
Many auction houses have sales (live, online, or a combination) during the annual Scottsdale week in mid-January (and end March 2021), including amongst others:
- Barett-Jackson: Postponed until the week of 22 March 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona — live auction.
- Bonhams: 21 January 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona — live auction.
- Gooding & Company: 22 January 2021 — online only.
- RM Sotheby’s: 22 January 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona — live auction.
- Russo and Steele: 23 January 2021 in Scottsdale, live but private event with restricted admission.
- Worldwide Auctioneers: 23 January 2021 in Auburn, Indiana (but keeping the Scottsdale auction name!)
Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2021 — Auction Results
- Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale March 2021 Auction Results
- Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale March 2021 Charity Lots Auction Results
- 2021 Scottsdale, Arizona, January Auctions Results Overview
- Bonhams Scottsdale 2021 Auction Results
- Gooding Scottsdale 2021 Auction Results
- RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2021 Auction Results
Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2021 — Auction Previews
Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2021 — Pre-Auction Announcements:
- Barrett-Jackson: Carroll Shelby’s Personal Cobra 427 Super Snake
- Barrett-Jackson: Reschedule Announcement
- Barrett-Jackson: First Cars Announced
- Bonhams: Early Highlights
- Gooding: Ferrari 275 GTB
- RM Sotheby’s: Early Highlights
Scottsdale & Arizona Sales 2020 – Auction Results
