RM Auctions returned to the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Arizona on January 21-22 for its 2010 Automobiles of Arizona auction event, posting over $19.6 million in total sales with an strong 89% of lots sold.
RM’s annual Arizona auction was extended to two days this year with the addition of a British-themed evening auction on Thursday, January 21st ahead of its traditional Friday sale on January 22nd. Despite treacherous weather conditions, it was standing-room only within the auction room for the duration of the two days with bidders traveling to Phoenix from across the continent and as far away as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel and Belgium.
‘The addition of ‘The British Are Coming’ event set the stage for a truly memorable two-day event with a strong overall performance,” said Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer of RM Auctions.
“As our first auction of 2010, it was very encouraging to see such solid results. The response to this sale, as illustrated in the impressive sell-through rate, is a great reflection of the continuing strength of the market and provides a positive outlook for the year ahead,” he added.
Headlining the two-day sale was a rare 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT, offered at Thursday’s ‘The British Are Coming’ event. One of only six GT’s known to have full factory lightweight construction details and the last GT to be built and sold by Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell Factory, this stunning example realized $1,001,000. The DB4 GT headlined a charge of Aston Martins that dominated the top-seller’s list at the Thursday evening auction. Other highlights included a superbly restored 1965 Aston Martin DB5 for $429,000 and a matched pair of Aston Martin DB Mark III’s, one Drop Head Coupe and one Saloon, which fetched $330,000 and $275,000 respectively.
Top-sellers at Friday’s sale included a stunning, professionally-restored 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra, formerly part of the renowned Otis Chandler Collection, for $632,500; a striking 1932 Duesenberg Model J Tourster for $550,000; and a impressive 1933 Rolls-Royce PII Continental Three-Position Drop Head Coupe for $528,000.
The Friday sale also presented a line-up of concept cars by Detroit automakers, headlined by the one-off 1954 Mercury XM-800 Dream Car which achieved $429,000, while a 1956 Cadillac “Maharani Special” Motorama Show Car exceeded its pre-sale auction estimate of $150,000, selling for $225,500.
Notable non-sales include the 1964 Shelby 427 Cobra ‘Flip-Top’ Roadster that did not sell at high bid of $1,450,000 and the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Concept that failed to sell at $1,175,000 high bid.
Click for complete results: 2010 Automobiles of Arizona – Official Results
RM Auctions offered 168 automobiles for sale, with 150 finding a new owner, reflecting an 89% sales rate. Total sales volume was $19,664,100, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $131,094.
2010 Automobiles of Arizona Auction Results – RM Auctions
“The British Are Coming” Auction Results – Thursday, January 21
Lot 129 - 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT - Sold for $1,001,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $900,000-$1,100,000. Chassis 0175/L is one of six standard-bodied DB4 GTs built to factory lightweight specifications.
Lot 122 - 1954 Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster - Sold for $104,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$130,000.
Lot 117 - 1934 MG ND Magnette Two-Seater - Did not sell at high bid of $85,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$125,000. Factory alloy body, supercharged with documented history.
Lot 126 - 1959 AC Ace Bristol Roadster - Sold for $253,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $185,000-$235,000. Restored in 2003; non-original engine.
Lot 142 - 1960 AC Aceca Bristol Coupe - Sold for $137,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$150,000. Matching numbers in left hand drive.
Lot 112 - 1950 Jaguar XK120 Roadster - Did not sell at high bid of $90,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $120,000-$140,000. Freshly restored; competed in several California Mille and Colorado Grand rallies.
Lot 133 - 1963 BMC Technical Support Vehicle - Sold for $55,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $115,000-$145,000. One of two built for BMC; Pininfarina design.
Lot 132 - 1965 Aston Martin DB5 - Sold for $429,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $300,000-$400,000. Restored by Kevin Kay in 2002; matching numbers.
Lot 138 - 1931 Aston Martin 1 1/2-Litre International 2/4-Seater - Sold for $154,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $125,000-$175,000. All original.
Lot 121 - 1932 MG F-Type Magna - Sold for $121,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $95,000-$125,000.
Lot 118 - 1951 Allard K2 - Sold for $118,250 versus pre-sale estimate of $100,000-$130,000.
Lot 119 - 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Drophead Coupe - Sold for $330,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $300,000-$400,000. Part of matched pair of DB Mark IIIs; restored by Kevin Kay; numbers matching and left hand drive; one of 85 Drophead coupes produced.
Lot 120 - 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Saloon - Sold for $275,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $175,000-$225,000. Part of matched pair of DB Mark IIIs; restored by Kevin Kay; numbers matching.
1962 Aston Martin DB4 Racing Car - Sold for $275,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $170,000-$210,000.
2010 Automobiles of Arizona Auction Results – Friday, January 22
Lot 265 - 1964 Shelby 427 Cobra 'Flip-Top' Roadster - Did not sell at high bid of $1,450,000 versus unavailable pre-sale estimate. CSX2196; only prototype 427 Cobra; raced at Sebring, Riverside and Nassau; developed and driven by Ken Miles.
Lot 249 - 1933 Rolls-Royce PII Continental Three-Position Drophead Coupe by Gurney Nutting - Sold for $528,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $400,000-$500,000. Purchased new from H.R. Owen by Lady Yvonne de Rothschild; coachwork by J. Gurney Nutting.
Lot 247 - 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupe - Sold for $429,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $375,000-$475,000. Coachwork by H.J. Mulliner; finished in chocolate brown over tan.
Lot 228 - 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona - Sold for $264,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $230,000-$270,000. Chassis 14581.
Lot 277 - 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra - Sold for $632,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $650,000-$770,000. CSX3281; ex-Otis Chandler Collection.
Lot 215 - 1971 Porsche 911 'R/T' Conversion Coupe - Sold for $93,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $85,000-$120,000. Full race 3.3 liter twin plug developing 340 bhp; body built to 911 R specs.
Lot 284 - 1972 Porsche 911S Racing Car - Did not sell at high bid of $210,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $225,000-$275,000. GTU-class winner at 1985 Sebring 12 Hours.'
Lot 268 - 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster - Sold for $225,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $200,000-$250,000. Matching-numbers example with hardtop; previous owner was Pebble Beach Concours judge.
Lot 241 - 1959 Desoto Adventurer Convertible Coupe - Sold for $225,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $225,000-$275,000. From collection of Dr. Edward and Joanne Dauer; one of 97 built, exhibits a fresh restoration and is an AACA Junior and Senior First Prize winner.
Lot 281 - 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Concept - Did not sell at high bid of $1,175,000 versus unavailable pre-sale estimate. One of five built; recent award winner at Amelia, Pebble and Newport Beach.
Lot 254 - 1954 Mercury XM-800 Dream Car - Sold for $429,000 versus unavailable pre-sale estimate. Full-size two-door hardtop concept unveiled by Ford at the 1954 Detroit Auto Show.
Lot 257 - 1956 Chrysler 'Plainsman' Concept Car - Did not sell at high bid of $160,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$300,000. Designed by Virgil Exner with coachwork by Ghia.
Lot 253 - 1956 Cadillac 'Maharani Special' Motorama Show Car - Sold for $225,500 versus pre-sale estimate of $150,000-$200,000. Also known as 'Kitchen Sink Cadillac,' in reference to its ability to store, prepare, serve and clean-up an entire meal; featured refigerator, toaster, hot plate, china set and table.
Lot 256 - 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 'Raindrop' Motorama Dream Car - Sold for $220,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$300,000. Featured sensor that, upon detecting water, would trigger system to raise convertible top.
Lot 260 - 1948 Mercury Marmon-Herrington Station Wagon - Sold for $176,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $225,000-$275,000. Rare 4WD Marmom conversion.
Lot 259 - 1935 Lincoln Model K Convertible Roadster - Sold for $209,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $200,000-$250,000. Coachwork by Brunn; one of thirty built.
Lot 276 - 1930 Cadillac V16 2/4 Passenger Convertible Coupe - Sold for $253,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $250,000-$300,000. Features 'Pennsylvania Windshield' body style, LeBaron hood and suicide-type doors.
Lot 222 - 1934 Brewster Ford Town Car - Sold for $77,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $125,000-$175,000. Body number 9000, prototype; Brewster Fords are the only Ford V8-based cars recognized as Full Classics by the CCCA.
Lot 262 - 1936 Packard Super Eight Dual Cowl Phaeton - Did not sell at high bid of $300,000 versus pre-sale estimate of $450,000-$550,000. Best in Class at Pebble and Amelia; CCCA 100 point three times.
RM Auctions will continue its 2010 auction season in Florida in March with the return of its Automobiles of Amelia Island event on March 13th, held in partnership with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, closely followed by the annual Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event, March 26th – 28th.
[Source: RM Auctions]
Nice results from RM. Hope to see the Aston DB4 GT back on the vintage racing circuit. Wonder what the Flip-Top Cobra needed?? Seems like a fair bid for a car with such a story.
Having just photographed the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt for an upcoming magazine I was just a bit surprised that the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt didn’t sell, even at a bid of $1.175 million. Given that some observers feel that this is the most accurate restoration among the five cars, and the last two Thunderbolts sold for more than $1.2 million each, it wouldn’t surprise me if this stunning example reappears later in the year.
If you would like to take a look at some of my photographs, I invite you to visit http://automotivetraveler.com/jump/1461.