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Scottsdale (Arizona) – The First Classic Car Auctions of the Year

15 January 2017 by Henk Bekker in Scottsdale, USA

The Scottsdale and Phoenix collectors’ cars sales in Arizona are the first major classic car auctions each year. Several auction houses, including Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s and Russo & Steele participate in this weeklong event that usually see well over 2,000 cars on offer.

1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen
Current Scottsdale Record Holder: 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Spezial Roadster sold for $9,900,000 at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016 sale – Darin Schnabel ©2015 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The first significant collectors’ car auctions of the year are held each mid-January in Scottsdale, Arizona. This weeklong commercial event – the Concours d’Elegance is a recent addition – currently have all major classic car auctioneers competing. RM Auctions, Gooding & Co, Bonhams, and Barrett Jackson regularly achieve over a million dollars on select vehicles but many other smaller auctioneers also participate covering cars in all price classes.

  • Scottsdale 2017 Results: General Results Overview, Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s.
  • 2017 Auction Previews: General Scottsdale and Arizona Auctions Preview; RM Sotheby’s Arizona Preview; Bonhams Scottsdale Preview; and Gooding Scottsdale Preview.
  • 2017 Pre-Auction Announcements: Bonhams (Porsche 904, Ferrari 340, Jaguar E-Type), RM Sotheby’s (1933 Chrysler CL), Gooding (Bugatti Type 35, Sports Cars, Performance Cars), Barrett-Jackson (Shelby Mustangs, Rare Mopars).
  • Results from Scottsdale, Arizona 2016: Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s, Gooding, Barrett-Jackson.
  • Results from Scottsdale, Arizona 2015: Top Results, Top Auction Houses, Bonhams, Gooding & Co, RM Auctions, and Barrett Jackson.
  • Previews of cars likely to achieve over a million dollar at Scottsdale 2016 auctions by RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Co, Barrett Jackson and Bonhams.
1964 Ferrari 250 LM side profile
The previous Scottsdale-Arizona record holder: a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM sold for $9,625,000 by RM Auctions in 2015 – © 2015 Darin Schnabel, Courtesy of RM Auctions

Scottsdale Classic Car Auctions

Sterling-Moss-Mercedes-300-SL-Gullwing in Arizona 2014
Photo: Barrett Jackson

The annual January classic and collectors’ car auctions in Arizona are generally referred to as Scottsdale, even though many of the sales are in adjacent Phoenix, Arizona. It is the first major classic car event of the year and one of the biggest. (Although Mecum on its own may sell more cars a few weeks earlier at the Kissimmee, Florida auctions.)

The Scottsdale week is big. In 2015, six auction houses offered 2,939 collector cars for sale and sold 2,500 for a sell-through rate of 86% and an average price per car of $115,729 earning nearly $300 million in total. See 2015 Scottsdale and Arizona Top Classic Car Auction Houses for specifics.

In 2014, the following five participating auction houses grossed $245 million ($226 million in 2013) by selling 1,837 vehicles (2,029 in 2013). RM Auctions earned $45.6 million from 126 lots on offer, Gooding & Co made $49.4 million from 158 lots, and Bonhams $25 million from 101 lots. Barrett Jackson, which held auctions on six days, moved 1,399 cars for a total of $113 million in sales (including the most expensive Corvette ever). Russo and Steele earned $21 million.

Arizona Concours d’Elegance

In contrast to many other classic car auction events, the Scottsdale week has purely commercial origins. The auctions have been an annual event since the 1970s but the first Arizona Concours d’Elegance was only held in 2014.

  • In 2017, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance will be held on January 15 at the start of the Scottsdale auction week.

Scottsdale, Arizona Record Results

The auction record for Scottsdale / Arizona is $9,900,000 achieved by a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster by Sindelfingen at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016 auction. The previous record was $9,625,000 paid for a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM sold at the 2015 RM Auctions Arizona sale. This car broke the previous record $9,405,000 set only a day earlier for a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione at the 2015 Bonhams Scottsdale classic car auction and the $8,800,000 achieved for a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider by Scaglietti at the RM Auctions’ Arizona sale in 2014.

Red 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider sold at Scottsdale 2014
A 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider achieved $8,800,000 at the RM Auction 2014 Arizona sale – Photo: Patrick Ernzen ©2013 Courtesy of RM Auctions

Results Achieved at Previous Scottsdale / Arizona Auctions

  • 2017 Scottsdale Results: General Results Overview, Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s.
  • 2017 Auction Previews: General Scottsdale and Arizona Auctions Preview; RM Sotheby’s Arizona Preview; Bonhams Scottsdale Preview; and Gooding Scottsdale Preview.
  • 2017 Pre-Auction Announcements: Bonhams (Porsche 904, Ferrari 340, Jaguar E-Type), RM Sotheby’s (1933 Chrysler CL), Gooding (Bugatti Type 35, Sports Cars, Performance Cars), Barrett-Jackson (Shelby Mustangs, Rare Mopars).
  • 2016 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Classic Car Auction Results
  • 2016 Gooding Scottsdale Classic Car Auction Results
  • 2016 RM Sotheby’s Arizona Classic Car Auction Results
  • 2016 Bonhams Scottsdale Classic Car Auction Results
  • 2015 Scottsdale and Arizona Classic Car Auction Top Results
  • 2015 Scottsdale and Arizona Top Classic Car Auction Houses
  • 2015 Bonhams Scottsdale Classic Car Auction Results
  • 2015 RM Auctions Arizona Classic Car Sale Results
  • 2015 Gooding Scottsdale Classic Car Auction Results
  • 2015 Barrett Jackson Scottsdale Auction Results
  • 2014 Scottsdale & Arizona Collector Car Auction Results
  • Previews of cars likely to achieve over a million dollar at Scottsdale 2016 auctions by RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & Co, Barrett Jackson and Bonhams.
  • Previews of cars likely to achieve over a million dollar at Scottsdale 2015 auctions by Bonhams, Gooding & Co, and RM Auctions.
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Filed Under: Scottsdale, USA Tagged With: Concours d'Elegance, Scottsdale, USA; Arizona

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA CLASSIC CAR AUCTIONS

2020 McLaren Speedtail on offer in the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2021 auction

2021 RM Sotheby’s Arizona Scottsdale Sale (Auction Preview)

A Bugatti Type 57 SC and a Jaguar D-Type are the top cars on offer at the RM Sotheby's Arizona Scottsdale 2021 classic car sale. A red 1955 Jaguar … [Read More...]

1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet A on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale Auction 2021

2021 Bonhams Scottsdale Sale (Auction Preview)

The lead cars for the Bonhams Scottsdale 2021 classic car auction include a BMW 507, a Mercedes-Benz 540 K Special Cabriolet A, and a 300 Sc … [Read More...]

2017 Ford GT on offer at Auction: Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2021

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Barrett-Jackson moved the Scottsdale collector car auction to the week of 22 March 2021 rather than the usual mid-January. Barrett-Jackson today … [Read More...]

Red 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 T2 Speedster at Bonhams Scottsdale Sale 2021.

2021 Bonhams Scottsdale Sale (Porsche 356 Announced)

A 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 T2 Speedster is the first highlight announced for the Bonhams Scottsdale Sale during the classic car auction week in Arizona in … [Read More...]

Profile 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Alloy Coupe RM Sotheby's Arizona (Scottsdale) 2021 Sale

2021 RM Sotheby’s Scottsdale Arizona Sale (Ferraris Announced)

A 2003 Ferrari Enzo and a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Alloy Coupe are early highlights announced for the RM Sotheby's Scottsdale, Arizona sale 2021. RM … [Read More...]

Red 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose on offer at the Gooding Scottsdale classic car auction 2021.

2021 Gooding Scottsdale Sale (Ferrari 275 GTB Announcement)

Gooding announced a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose as the first top car for the Scottsdale 2021 classic car auction that will be online only. A … [Read More...]

→ → → More on Scottsdale, Arizona Classic Car Auctions

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