Another Scottsdale weekend has come and gone, with mixed results and a nuanced take away for keen observers.
Prices were all over the map during this 2020 auction kickoff weekend with predictable results that boded well for quality examples of desirable models and mediocre at best value intake for…well…mediocre cars. The most interesting example for us as it pertains to the convergence of angles of quality was a 1937 BMW 328 offered by Gooding & Co. Though by no means a perfectly restored car or complete original, it was an original component parts example with exceptional known ownership history and a flair of the unique dressed in an unconventional green exterior. All of this led to a value on the car that doubled the high estimate. Unfortunately, the utterly exceptional and truly unique was few and far between regarding the overall body of cars on offer from what we saw.
Regarding the overall numbers game, the game that matters most to the auctioneers, the “house take” seemed to be down in their gross totals from last year, with Gooding & Co going from $48,238,880 in total sales in 2019 at Scottsdale to $36,169,560 in total sales this year. Similarly, RM Sotheby’s went from $37,000,000 in total sales in 2019 to $30,400,000 in total sales in their recent 2020 Scottsdale effort. It seemed obvious to this outfit, with RM Sotheby’s for example boasting a sell-through rate of 90%, that there was no real lack of interest to buy cars and pay competitive prices… but generally, we did notice, in our admittedly unscientific observations, that perhaps the very best quality cars didn’t come out to play for the new year’s first major auction gathering. Overall, a decent auction week with nothing positively remarkable or conversely catastrophic in terms of results, with the majority of the spoils going directly to those with the very best cars…in other words, those who deserved it!
Below are a few picks of ours as auction highlights, cars we were watching and that did predictably well for value vs what they intrinsically offered. Also, full auction lot links to results along with the market bellwether 300SL lots that crossed and sold over the weekend.
Full Lot Lists
| RM Sotheby’s |
| Gooding & Company |
| Bonhams |
| Barrett-Jackson |
| Russo and Steele |
| Worldwide Auctioneers |
Scottsdale 2020 Featured Lots
RM Sotheby’s
BONHAMS
GOODING & COMPANY
BARRETT-JACKSON
300SL Lots
| 1957 MB 300SL Roadster | SOLD – $973,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1955 MB 300 SL Gullwing | SOLD – $1,270,000 | RM Sotheby’s |
| 1958 MB 300 SL Roadster | SOLD – $940,000 | Gooding & Company |
| 1961 MB 300 SL Roadster | SOLD – $775,000 | Gooding & Company |
Scott Grundfor Company has a wealth of experience and expertise in all facets of the classic car market, specializing in high-end collectibles and vintage Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwings and Roadsters.
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