Bonhams returns to Arizona on 21 January 2021 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Scottsdale Auction, following a decade of successful sales of collectors’ motor cars staged on the beautiful lawns of the Westin Kierland Resort.
Consignments are now invited to the live and online auction to join early confirmed lots including an exceptional and rare 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 T2 Speedster. ‘Nut and bolt’ restored to factory-correct specification, the Speedster is offered with its original matching numbers and Reutter bodywork. Estimate on request.
Also lining up at Scottsdale is a modern classic 1991 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione 1 with desirable Martini 6 livery. This well-preserved, low-mileage example is the 145th of the 310 Giugiaro-designed cars produced. Estimate on request.
The US season opener for Bonhams Motor Cars is one of the most anticipated events on the motoring calendar. This year’s sale (2020) continued the tradition of presenting the rarest and most important collectors’ motor cars, led by a rare and beautifully restored 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale Cabriolet – a car that Bonhams had been instrumental in selling twice – which achieved $1.93 million.
This year’s sale (2020) also saw a world auction record achieved for a 1992 Dodge Viper, which just happened to be the very first produced and owned by the late Lee Iacocca, former Chrysler CEO. Following a spirited bidding war, the Viper finally sold for $285,500 to applause from the saleroom.
This was the latest in world auction records set by Bonhams at Scottsdale, which also include the most valuable Jaguar E-type, a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition, which sold for $,000 in 2017. Other highlights listed below.
Jakob Greisen, Bonhams Vice President – Head of US Motoring, said:
“We are looking forward to returning to Scottsdale which has always provided such a stunning backdrop to the high calibre of motor cars that Bonhams has been fortunate to offer over the past decade.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating the sale’s 10th anniversary and are proud that this has become such an important fixture on the US motoring calendar and indeed is considered the season opener.”
The Scottsdale Auction 2021
Bonhams will be conducting the 10th Scottsdale Auction on Thursday, January 21 as a Live & Online Sale, which provides registered bidders the opportunity to bid in real time online while watching the auctioneer and videos of cars on offer. Absentee and telephone bids are also encouraged. In addition, a live bidding option will be available to registered bidders at the Westin Kierland Resort.
The majority of motor cars will be on view at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa on Tuesday January 19 and Wednesday January 20 from 9am to 6pm each day. The Bonhams ‘virtual viewing’ platform will be available by appointment for condition reports and one-to-one ‘walkaround’ inspections with a specialist to examine a specific motor car in real time.
The motor car department is currently consigning further prestigious collectors’ motor cars for The Scottsdale Auction.
Other notable highlights from the past decade’s sales include:
Auction World Records
1951 Maserati A6G 2000 Frua Spider, one of just three examples built with bespoke coachwork and features, sold for $2,755,000 in 2019, a new auction record for the model.
A highly original and successful in period example of a Porsche racing legend went across the block in 2017. The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS was purchased for $2,310,000 by a European enthusiast and set another marque auction record.
Featuring in the same sale was a true legend – a 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition, the tenth of the dozen Lightweights built. Previously owned and campaigned by Australian Bob Jane to victory in the 1963 Australian GT Championship, the E-Type secured another ‘win’ at Scottsdale, selling for $7,370,000, becoming both the most valuable E-Type and most valuable post-1960 Jaguar to ever sell at auction.
Motorsport Maestros
In 2018, a ‘giant killer’ 1958 550A Porsche Spyder achieved more than $5 million ($5,017,000). The ex-works racer, one of 40 built, was offered with exceptional competition history, having placed on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and won its class at the Nürburgring 1000.
The previous year, another motorsport maestro of the 1950s took the checkered flag. A 1952 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Spider Competizione, campaigned in the 1952 Mille Miglia, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Targa Florioby Scuderia Ferrari drivers including Piero Taruffi, Maurice Trintignant, and Giovanni Bracco, sold for $6,380,000.
Cars of the Stars
Bonhams brought stardust to Scottsdale for its debut sale in 2012 with an impeccable green 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Transformable Phaeton, which was gifted to Hollywood icon Marlene Dietrich by Paramount Studios. The famous Phantom sold for its top estimate at $524,000 to the acclaim of the audience.
One of the most recognised Ferraris – and star of the small screen – crossed the block in 2017. The 1984 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole which featured in the 1980s television series Magnum PI and driven by actor Tom Selleck, achieved $181,500.
2018’s sale offered two cars from the personal collection of Carroll Shelby, the late racing driver and automotive designer, depicted in the Oscar-winning film ‘Ford vs Ferrari. The 1966 Ford Shelby GT 350H Fastback and 2006 Ford GT exceeded all estimates and sold for $253,000 and $489,500, respectively.
Report by bonhams.com
