FRESH OFF THE BLOCK

WORDS : Tyler Rampersaud

There’s nothing quite like the buzz and liveliness of a collector car auction. Between the crowds and the intangible excitement of seeing — and, for bidders, possibly owning — the cars that cross the block, the auction venues brim with energy.

Jumpstarting the 2023 auction calendar, many of the world’s premier automotive auction houses arrived in Arizona, as the western state is one of the world’s capitals for such events. Top highlights from these recent sales come from RM Sotheby’s, BarrettJackson, and Bonhams. The cars that sold, and their prices, are like strikes of lightning, and these incredible gatherings are proof that when it comes to their passion for amazing automobiles, many car collectors are willing to put their money where their mouth is in a greater sense than we’ve seen before.

RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale, held at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, amassed an amazing $44 million in total sales. The leader, contributing $4,075,000, was the world’s only Ferrari LaFerrari finished in Blu Elettrico with a Crema leather interior. The priciest bids went to a mixture of modern, retro, and classic icons, including $3,140,000 for a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible, the most expensive C3 Corvette ever sold, examples of the Porsche 959, a Ferrari F12tdf, a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster, a Lamborghini Miura SV, and a

Porsche Carrera GT. Meanwhile, Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction achieved more than $190.6 million in sales. Ferrari also took the top spot here, with a 1989 Ferrari F40 commanding $2,750,000. Other highlights included the sale of a Porsche Carrera GT for just under $1.6 million, and the sale of two Ford GTs, a 2020 Carbon Series, and a 2019 Lightweight Carbon Series (the Carbon Series each went for $1.32 million). Bidders recognized the timeless collectability in finely engineered supercars, no matter their age. Bonhams held its Scottsdale sale at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Here, the top seller was a historic 111-year-old classic: a 1912 Simplex 50HP 5 Passenger Torpedo Tourer, originally purchased by Harold Vanderbilt for Eleonora Sears. It commanded an incredible $4,845,000. Immediately following it was a car that contrasted starkly, a 2006 Maserati MC12 Corse, selling for $3,811,000. Other highlights from the sale were a 1958 BMW 507 Roadster, a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS, and a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT.

One takeaway from each of these Arizona sales that kicked o the year: historic classics are no longer the only high rollers. Cars from all ages and origins are commanding very high prices, and if this pace keeps up, this auction year will be more exciting than ever.

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