Scottsdale sales season is an important early-year bellwether for the state of the market – and, on the whole, the omens are positive.
The year really began with Mecum’s Kissimmee sales – we’ve got a separate report here – but with Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s all battling it out in Arizona, it allows us to take a broader view of the market.
Bonhams aside, RM Sotheby’s and Barrett-Jackson did good business. The latter’s nine-day bonanza led to several record-breaking results, although without pre-sale estimates we can only judge on the sales, which were strong. There were some noteworthy special sales – such as the Project SWEAT Dodge Power Wagon, pictured above. Designed by TV personality Colby Donaldson ‒ known for his appearances on Survivor ‒ and built by Ohio-based builder Sugar Creek, it sold for $1.5m, all of which goes to the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to help train the next generation of skilled workers. Meanwhile, the very first 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, VIN001, sold for $3.7m, with all proceeds going to the American Red Cross.
RM Sotheby’s set a few auction records of its own, but on the whole the majority of its sales sat well within accurate estimates, including the above leading lot, the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta. It sold for $3,772,500 against an estimate of $3.5m-$4.5m, while one of only two vintage Bentleys bodied in the US, the 8 Litre Convertible Victoria by Murphy, sold for $3.195m against a $2.75m-$3.25m estimate.
Bonhams again struggled, with only one of its four $1m-plus lots selling (a Mercedes-Benz Gullwing, see below). Its plethora of Porsches struggled to garner much in the way of enthusiasm either, even for some of the rarest lots – for example, the one-of-17 1981 924 Carrera GTR pictured above failed to sell at $450k-$550k estimate. The vast majority of Bonhams’ lots were less than $500k, and its best results were largely below $100k.
As such it’s a little early to say whether any particular marques were trending – other than modern supercars and hypercars continuing to attract great interest if Barrett-Jackson and RM Sotheby’s are markers. However, the high sale rates of both these auction houses indicate that there is room for optimism heading into 2025, in contrast to a chilly 2024.
We’ve picked out some of the highlight lots, the big wins and the notable strugglers.
Barrett-Jackson
With nine days of sales and thousands of lots for Barrett-Jackson’s wide-ranging sale, there was plenty to see, and punters were prepared to stump up the cash. The leading result was the above Hennessey Venom F5, which sold for $2.2m, eclipsing the $1.925m paid for a 2014 Pagani Huayra with the Tempesta package, and the $1.76m paid for DJ Marshmello’s 2020 Ford GT Liquid Carbon special edition.
In the classic realm, a 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort sold for $1.457m (pictured above), a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing went for $1.402m and a custom 1981 Land Rover Series 3 achieved $438,900. Elsewhere, a 1994 Ferrari 512 TR sold for $277,700, a 1965 Lincoln Continental Convertible in black sold for $291,500 and a Jeff Hayes Customs 1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/360 Split Window sold for $990k.
Bonhams
With Bonhams’ leading two lots – a 1967 Lamborghini Miura (high bid $1.8m against a $2.2m-$2.8m estimate) and a 1956 Ferrari 250 Europa GT (high bid $1.5m against a $1.8m-$2.3m estimate) – failing to sell at the Scottsdale auctions, it was the above 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing that took home top result, changing hands for $1.49m against a $1.45m-$1.55m estimate.
A 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Edition continued Bonhams’ good run with SLR variants – it sold for just shy of its low estimate at $715k against $725k-$825k. As mentioned above, the estimate-bursting results for Bonhams largely came in the sub-$100k category, with a 1979 Rolls-Royce Camargue hitting $41,440 against a $25k-$35k estimate, and a 1950 Bentley MkVI Standard Steel saloon selling for $22,400 against an $8k-$12k estimate.
It wasn’t all good news for British marques at the Scottsdale sales – although a fair few sold within estimate – with a striking-looking 1957 Bentley S1 Saloon once displayed on the James Young stand at the Earls Court Motor Show selling for $72,800 against a $125k-$175k estimate. Also, the ex-Arthur Miller Land Rover sold for just $28k against an estimate of $60k-$80k.
However, it is the Porsches, in particular the 356s and 911s, that provide the intrigue. Fifteen models were offered, and none of them really set bidders alight with enthusiasm. A fully restored 1969 911S estimated at $240k-$280k failed to sell (high bid: $200k), for example. Even a much-storied ex-factory demonstrator/press car 1963 356B Carrera 2 (pictured above) failed to find a home with a high bid of $420k against an estimate of $480k-$580k. Much has been made of the generational change afflicting Ferraris and British marques of the 1960s – could we see the same happening to Porsches of the same era? It is too early to tell from one auction – but it’s one to keep an eye on throughout the year.
RM Sotheby’s
A successful sale for RM Sotheby’s, with the aforementioned Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France proving to be comfortably the highest selling classic lot of the Scottsdale sales. However, there were some notable estimate-busting results and some records set along the way: a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale in a rare shade of blue sold for $786k against a $400k-$475k estimate, while the above 1984 Audi Sport Quattro, extensively modified and raced by Steve Beddor in period, sold for $758,500 against an estimate of $375k-$475k.
There were some interesting results for restomods at the Scottsdale sales. The above 1955 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Fuorilegge by Thornley Kelham sold for $533k against an estimate of $600k-$800k, while a 1995 Porsche 911 Remastered by Gunther Werks failed to sell with a high bid of $880k against an estimate of $900k-$1.1m; it’s now on offer for $975k. Other strugglers included the one-of-13 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 GE 6.0 AMG, which sold for $78,400 against a $125k-$175k estimate, and a 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur & Marchand, which was bid to $625k against a $750k-$1m estimate.
Further details
For more information on Barrett-Jackson’s sale, click here.
For more information on Bonhams’ sale, click here.
For more information on RM Sotheby’s sale, click here.
