Scottsdale 2020: Day one for Gooding & Co

With regular auctioneer Charlie Ross once more on the rostrum, the Santa Monica-based auction house held the opening day of its annual visit to Arizona.

Through “retail-environment presentation”, as an experienced observer put it, the best auctioneer in the business and a tent full of people there to buy – and, importantly, sellers to sell – day one of Gooding’s 2020 Scottsdale catalogue was a great success. Working on provisional figures, we can say that today’s sale alone grossed $19,854,000 with 91% of cars finding new owners. On the same day in 2019, that was $26.7m at 88%, a reflection on fewer high-value cars offered this time round.

At a glance from provisional figures:

* Gross: $19,854,000
* Percentage sold by number: 91%
* Top-selling car: 1995 Ferrari F50 $3,222,500 gross, $2,925,000 net (est. $3.2m to $3.6m)
* Well sold? No question, the BMW 328
* Well bought? North American spec, but matching numbers and in as-delivered silver, the $1,930,000 all-in Ferrari ‘Daytona’ Spider
* One to take away? The 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 327/350 Roadster, an original and unrestored car for $42.5k gross (est. $50k to $70k)

Attention centred on how much the highly original, matching numbers BMW 328 would go over its upper estimate of $400k. After a hard-fought battle, a telephone bidder captured it for $750k ($830k with premium). Interest in the car had been unprecedented, with some 25 serious parties eager to bid.

Elsewhere, it was a familiar pattern of good-quality cars selling under low estimate – but sell they did, thanks to flexible vendors and keen buyers. Most sales were made in the tent.

Significant successes other than the lovely BMW 328 were the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II ($430k gross vs. $340k to $380k estimate) and the 1937 Cord 812 S/C Cabriolet Sportsman ($544k gross vs. $350k to $450k estimate).

Rare non-sellers included the Alfa Romeo Giulietta SZ and the Porsche 991 GT3 RS 4.0.

The yellow Miura P400 S (pictured, above) was a glossy North American restoration done to a reasonable standard and sold accordingly, at low market value of $1.2m. Interestingly, the Daytona Spider was the first such car moved on sub-$2m at auction since August 2013. A touch under $1.2m with premium for the McLaren P1 is where these cars are lying today.

Gooding & Co at Scottsdale, 17 January 2020 – provisional

Gross: $19,854,000
Number of cars not sold: 6
Number of cars withdrawn: 1
Total number of cars: 69
Number sold: 63
Percentage cars sold by number: 91%
Percentage of cars met or sold below low estimate: 75%
Percentage of cars sold below avge of estimates: 86%
Percentage of cars sold met/exceeded top estimate: 10%

Photos by K500

January 2020 Scottsdale Auction Schedule:

Click here for a complete lot listing sorted by make and model

Barrett-Jackson – event from Saturday 11 January to Sunday 19 January. Sales from Monday 13 January to Sunday 19 January. Gates open at 08:00. 16601 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. See www.barrett-jackson.com

Leake – sales Thursday 16 January to Sunday 19 January. Gates open at 08:00. Event address: Salt River Fields, 7555 N. Pima Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 852585. See www.leakecar.com

Russo & Steele – sales Thursday 16 January to Sunday 19 January. Gates open at 09:00. Event address: 101 Freeway and Scottsdale Road, 18601 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ  85255. See www.russoandsteele.com

RM Auctions – sales Thursday 16 January and Friday 17 January. Auctions at 17:30. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, 2400 East Missouri Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85016. See www.rmsothebys.com

Gooding & Co – sales Friday 17 January and Saturday 18 January. Auctions at 11:00. Scottsdale Fashion Square, 4700 N. Scottsdale Road, corner of N. Scottsdale Road and E. Highland Ave, Scottsdale, AZ  85251. See www.goodingco.com