January 2021 - US auction highlights
8 February, 2021
RM Sotheby’s year got off to a flying start with its Arizona sale generating a 90% sell-through rate and a $35 million total. The pre-sale top-three all found new homes, the ex- Peter Blond 1955 Jaguar D-Type at $6,000,000 (estimate $5,750,000 – 7,500,000); a one-of-8 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Tourer at $4,735,000 (estimate $4,750,000 – 6,500,000); and the first McLaren Speedtail ever to be offered at auction set the bar for the model at $3,277,500 (estimate $3,500,000 – 4,500,000).
The sale also featured a 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupe, one of just 14 produced with lightweight alloy bodywork, which fetched $1,352,500 (estimate $1,200,000 – 1,400,000). Chassis 0613 GT took a class win at the 1958 Bahamas Speed Week and came with Ferrari Classiche certification following a concours restoration in 2004. All six Ferraris on offer were successfully hammered way, notably a 4,406-mile 550 Maranello smashed its $150,000 – 200,000 estimate, making $257,600 and a Ferrari 375 America Coupe by Vignale went for $2,557,000 (estimate $2,400,000 – 3,400,000).
‘Young timers’ attracted robust bidding, headed by a 1998 RUF Turbo R guided at $525,000 – 575,000 that sold for $764,000. A 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II showing 131,000km had no problem sailing past its $175,000 – 225,000 estimate, recording a sale at $268,800, and a 128,670-km 1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution did likewise at $212,800 (estimate $125,000 – 150,000).
[ RM Sotheby’s Arizona Sale – auction results here ]
A 1959 BMW 507 was the star performer at Bonhams’ live online Scottsdale Auction, fetching $1,809,000 (estimate $1,900,000 – 2,300,000), while a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Sc Roadster drew $698,000 (estimate $775,000 – 875,000) and a 1,400-mile 2018 Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante rounded off the top three at $538,500.
[ Bonhams Scottsdale Auction – sale results here ]
A winning bid of $1,936,000 saw a 43,000-mile 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB changing hands at Gooding & Company’s Scottsdale sale (estimate $2,000,000 – 2,400,000). The 1972 Citroën SM Land Speed Racer-combo did well, bringing $203,500 (estimate $100,000 – 200,000), and strong demand also pushed a 1968 Meyers Manx comfortably past its $40,000 – 60,000 estimate, selling for $101,200.
[ Gooding & Company Scottsdale Auction – sale results here ]
Mecum set a new record for the most expensive 427 Cobra sold at public auction when it raised $5,940,000 for Carroll Shelby’s own car during a mammoth 10-day Kissimmee sale. A matching-numbers 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing led the European success, taking an above-estimate $1,567,500, helping Mecum post a $122.8 million sale total and an 89% sell-through rate, with 2,030 cars heading to new owners.
[ Mecum Kissimmee Auction – sale results here ]
Classic car auction results and prices for: Jaguar | Bugatti | McLaren | Ferrari | RUF | Mercedes-Benz | BMW | Aston Martin | Citroën | Meyers | Shelby
From leading auction houses: RM Sotheby’s | Bonhams | Gooding & Company | Mecum
Read through the rest of our classic car auction reports for more auction results. Check out our online resource for upcoming classic car auction events and classic car auction results around the world.