D-Day: The 2018 Scottsdale sales

Head ’em up, move ’em out – it’s Arizona auction time. The volume of cars is slightly down this year, but their average value is up.

Includes complete lot listing sorted by make and model
 
That reverses a drift back to the 'blue-collar showmanship' of local operators in recent years, while globetrotting big-hitters focus their sights elsewhere. As ever at Scottsdale, though, expect a mixed bag of non-original colours and non-matching engines.
 
For the record, in 2017 the Big Three houses grossed $123,689,795 at a sell-through by number of 86%.
 
At a glance:
 
* 373 cars offered (2017, 392)
* Average mid-estimate price per car offered $491,820 (2017, $456,309)
* 64% at No Reserve (Bonhams 64%, RM 69%, Gooding 60%). In 2017, the overall figure was 60%

Bonhams, 18 January 2018
 
The Brits have high hopes for their headlining Porsche 550A Spyder (above) at $4.5m to $5.5m. It’s ex-Factory, though with 10 modern Mille Miglias under its belt, it lacks the novelty that generated $6.1m in September 2016 for a preservation class-winning example, or $5.335m for the blue Seinfeld car.
 
The rest of the catalogue has the occasional highlight (regular red/black, US-spec ‘Daytona’ Spider at $2.4m to $2.8m, wrong-colour but original-looking 275 GTB/4 for a hefty $2.8m to $3.4m) among the usual mix of early E-types, Porsches old and new, and the occasional pre-War oldie.
 
One to watch? 1995 Ferrari F50, $1.5m to $1.8m at No Reserve. All-black livery, US-delivered and Classiche Certificate are pluses – “salvage title” accident in 2013, a globetrotting existence since then, no stranger to the small-ads and 60k+ miles on the clock less so. Still, for the ultimate ‘beater’, look no further…

RM Sotheby’s, 18 – 19 January 2018
 
Over at the Arizona Biltmore, pride of place goes to a well-known ex-Works Jaguar D-type (above). This one’s lived life to the full and the broad estimate of $12m to $15m reflects that, versus the $21.78m RM achieved for the best of the best in August 2016.
 
RM will offer 131 cars, down from 161 in 2017. Fans of Laurel & Hardy, The Great Gatsby and Happy Days are in for a treat: with exceptions, cars from these eras are largely dead in the water and RM has cautiously consigned almost all at No Reserve.
 
Also being sold at any price is the Century of Sports Cars Collection, 10 mainly European post-War cars, many of which were bought at auction in 2013-2014. Wondered how the Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series II has fared over four and a bit years? Chassis 1939 GT was bought for $1,292,500 all-in at RM’s Monterey sale in 2013. The K500 Index for the model over this period has gone from 1,340 to 1,465 (with a peak of 1,800 in 2015) – broadly on a par with RM’s estimate of $1.4m to $1.8m today.
 
It’s a good all-round catalogue and we expect The RM Way to prevail once again.
 
One to watch? The 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster Turbo-Look. No ordinary car, it’s the last-ever 1989 Speedster and has been given the Porsche Exclusive treatment, so better reach for your Ray-Bans. Not for the faint-hearted, at $350k to $425k it will test the temperature of the ‘youngtimer’ Porsche market in early 2018.

Gooding & Company, 19 – 20 January 2018
 
In the bright red corner – literally – is the Santa Monica house’s customer D-type, ‘XKD 518’ (above). First sold to gentleman driver Peter Blond (who now advises RM Sotheby’s), it’s a ‘no stories’ car with a clean trail of ownership that includes petite lady racing driver Jean Bloxam and ‘man mountain’ manager of Led Zeppelin Peter Grant. Confidently valued at $10m to $12m, if sold it will set a record for a normal customer ‘D’.
 
Elsewhere in a catalogue that has the measure of the others, Gooding backs the red D-type up with other big-ticket entries including a svelte 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series I. At $7m to $8.5m, it’s another strong valuation and after 40 years previously in the ownership of connoisseur John Clinard, the present owner has decided to sell after less than three – perhaps a comment on today’s collectors.
 
One to watch? It has to be the 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB, built by Pininfarina rather than Scaglietti for Battista Pininfarina himself. The catalogue calls it a Speciale. We’d be curious to know if that title appears in any period paperwork. Regardless, it’s finished in a lovely livery with subtle bespoke details and a six-carb motor. How do you value a curiosity like this? Gooding says a massive $8m to $10m, triple the value of a four-cam or alloy six-carb. And the market? We’ll be there to tell you first.

January 2018 Scottsdale Auction Schedule:

Barrett-Jackson – event from Saturday 13 January to Sunday 21 January. Sales from Monday 15 January to Sunday 21 January. Gates open at 08:00. 16601 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. See www.barrett-jackson.com

Worldwide Auctioneers – sale Wednesday 17 January at 17:00. Viewing from  09:00. Event address: 6460 E McDowell Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257. See www.worldwide-auctioneers.com

Russo & Steele – sales Thursday 18 January to Sunday 21 January. Gates open at 09:00. Event address: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, 7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 (off 101 Freeway and Indian Bend/Talking Stick Way). See www.russoandsteele.com

Bonhams – sale Thursday 18 January at 11:00. The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, 6902 East Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale AZ 85254. See www.bonhams.com

RM Auctions – sales Thursday 18 January and Friday 19 January. Auctions at 17:00. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85016. See www.rmauctions.com

Gooding & Co – sales Friday 19 January and Saturday 20 January. Auctions at 11:00. Scottsdale Fashion Square, 4700 N. Scottsdale Road. Corner of N. Scottsdale Road and E. Highland Ave. See www.goodingco.com

Top image: RM's 1965 Shelby GT350 R, 'The Cobra Caravan GT350', $1,000,000 - $1,200,000

All images copyright and courtesy of the auction companies, including Gooding & Company (Mathieu Heurtault), RM Sotheby's (Robin Adams and Patrick Ernzen) and Bonhams