While it is true that this January’s onslaught of annual auctions held in Scottsdale, Arizona, set a new combined record total of $292.8 million (compared to last year’s $248.6 million), this new combined record was made possible due to Barrett-Jackson’s special consignment of the Ron Pratte Collection which tacked an additional $40 million onto Barrett-Jackson’s total. Without this key consignment, annual combined sales would have been relatively flat compared with last year’s.
Barrett-Jackson – As highlighted above, Barrett-Jackson again ruled the Scottsdale roost with total sales of $131.9 million (99 percent sell-through), with $40 million of that coming from the extensive Pratte Collection of cars and memorabilia. Top lot of the sale was a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 “Super Snake” selling for $5,115,000, followed by the wild 1950 GM Futurliner Parade of Progress Tour bus selling for $4 million. Other significant sales included a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville concept car for $3.3 million and a 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 for $1.65 million.
RM Auctions – Moving into second position this year (based on total sales), RM posted a total of $63.7 million (89 percent sell-through), which far exceeded last year’s total of $45.6 million. Top lot for RM this year was a 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, which sold for $9,625,000, followed by a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 for $3,657,500 and a 1973 Ferrari Daytona Spider for $3.3 million.
Gooding & Company – Switching positions with RM this year, Gooding saw total sales of $51.5 million (91 percent sell-through), a slight increase from last year’s $49.5 million. Top lot at Gooding was a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider selling for $7.7 million. Other significant lots included a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica “Aerodinamico” Coupe for $4.07 million and a 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS Spider for $2.42 million.
Bonhams – With total sales of $24.8 million (87 percent sell-through), Bonhams slightly increased its Scottsdale yield compared to the previous year’s $23.5 million total. Top lot at Bonhams was a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione Coupe selling for $9.4 million. Other top lots included a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing for $1.375 million and a 1958 300SL roadster for $1.24 million.
Russo & Steele – With total sales of $17.2 million (63 percent sell-through), Russo & Steele’s sale was essentially flat compared to the previous year’s $17.5 million. Top lot at Russo & Steele was a 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster selling for $1.43 million. Other significant sales included a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO sport coupe for $335,500 and a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 for $330,000.
Silver Auctions – Rounding out this year’s field of auction houses, Silver Auctions posted $3.5 million in total sales (67 percent sell-through rate), which was a slight improvement over the previous year’s $3.1 million sale. Top lot at Silver was a 1956 DeSoto Firedome Convertible selling for $85,320.
