6 collector car auctions in metro Phoenix gear up for Arizona Car Week
As if visitors need another reason to head to the Phoenix area in winter, Arizona Car Week is about to get underway.
Six auction houses across metro Phoenix collector selling cars and auto memorabilia are back this year after scaling back or delaying last year’s auctions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They include Barrett-Jackson, Russo and Steele, Bonhams, Gooding & Co., RM Sotheby’s and Worldwide Auctioneers.
Only Gooding & Co. has opted to do its auction online only.
Barrett-Jackson, the Valley’s biggest car auction, opens at WestWorld of Scottsdale on Jan. 22 and will auction more than 1,800 vehicles starting the week of Jan. 24.
Here’s where to get a look at or buy some premium rides during Arizona Car Week.
Barrett-Jackson
Barrett-Jackson got started on a dirt lot next to the Safari Resort in Scottsdale in 1971. They planned to celebrate the 50th anniversary in big style, but the pandemic scaled back last year’s public participation and delayed the auction until March.
They’re celebrating the milestone this year with more than 1,800 cars up for auction at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road.
That’s up from 1,039 autos sold last March, with $99.9 million in sales, according to Michigan-based Hagerty Price Guide, which compiles data for the collector-car industry.
While Arizona offered fewer cars during last year’s auction, the average selling price was significantly higher for Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s, according to Hagerty.
A few of this year’s buzz-worthy vehicles at Barrett-Jackson will include some featured in the Fast & Furious movie franchise, a Pontiac Firebird that was owned by Burt Reynolds and a Chevelle owned by actor-comedian David Spade, who was raised in Scottsdale.
Barrett-Jackson is known for its celebrity sightings and this year’s auction is expected to include artists such as Sharon Stone, Pitbull and Bret Michaels, who will help raise money for charity.
Michaels, frontman for the 1980s rock band Poison, is slated to accompany a 1973 DeTomaso Pantera when it crosses the auction block on Friday, Jan. 28, to benefit the Barrow Neurological Foundation and its upcoming Neuro Night fundraising event. Stone is helping to promote the vehicle’s sale as the Neuro Night Honoree and a member of the foundation’s board of trustees.
Michaels’ 2007 Bentley Continental GT will cross the auction block on the same day with part of the proceeds benefiting his nonprofit, Life Rocks Foundation.
Pitbull will take the stage on Saturday, Jan. 29, to help auction a 2022 Karma GS-6 for The SLAM Foundation and Selfless Love Foundation, two charities that help underserved youth.
Details: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 22 and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 23, with the opening night gala at 7 p.m. Gates open 8 a.m. on auction days, Jan. 24-30. General admission ticket prices start at $23 when purchased in advance at www.barrett-jackson.com. Tickets are free for children age 12 and under on Family Day, Jan. 23.
Russo and Steele
Russo and Steele, which specializes in European sports cars, American muscle cars, hot rods and customs, will showcase more than 800 cars at this year’s auction.
Last year, the auction house hosted a private one-day event in March with only 80 cars up for auction and without reserve. This year, the event comes back to the same spot the 2020 auction took place, just south of Loop 101 and north of Mayo Boulevard in north Scottsdale.
The address is 18601 N. Scottsdale Road and on-site parking will be available.
Details: Auction preview from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 26. Gates open 9 a.m. on auction days, Jan. 27-30. General admission tickets vary by day, starting at $20. https://russoandsteele.com/scottsdale.
Bonhams
The one-day auction at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale usually sees some of Arizona Car Week’s priciest vehicles.
The 11th edition of the auction will showcase 90 cars, ranging from a 1902 Darracq Single-cylinder Tonneau to a 2012 McLaren MP4-12C.
Bonhams is offering more cars this year than in 2021, when the auction house displayed 37 cars and sold 29, but fewer vehicles than 2020, when it sold 88 cars out of the 108 featured vehicles.
Although smaller, last year’s auction reported an average sale price higher than the previous year with each car selling for $203,324 on average compared to $95,872 in 2020, according to Hagerty.
Details: Viewings will take place 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 25-26 and 9-11 a.m. Jan. 27. The auction starts 10 a.m. Jan. 27. Those interested in scheduling a viewing can contact Bonhams at [email protected].
Gooding & Co.
Gooding & Co. will host a four-day online-only auction with more than 50 cars.
In-person viewing in Scottsdale is largely limited to registered bidders.
Last year, Gooding & Co. displayed 34 cars and sold 24 at an average price of $287,100.
This year’s highlight is the 10-classic-car collection of Hollywood director and producer Richard Donner.
Details: The auction begins 9 a.m. Jan. 24 and lots begin closing 10 a.m. Jan. 28. www.goodingco.com.
RM Sotheby’s
RM Sotheby’s will return to the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix for its 23rd auction.
Similar to other auction houses, RM Sotheby’s average car sale price last year was much higher than the previous year. Hagerty reported 73 vehicles sold for an average price of $478,959, almost twice as much as the average sale price of $237,080 in 2020 when 128 cars were sold.
Some of the main attractions at this year’s auction are a handful of rare Ferrari models, a 1967 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing.
Details: Viewing is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27. The auction begins 5 p.m. Jan. 27. https://rmsothebys.com.
Worldwide Auctioneers
Worldwide Auctioneers, which joined the Arizona Car Week in 2017 in Scottsdale, will host this year’s auction at Singh Meadows’ farmer’s market in Tempe, just north of Red Mountain Freeway.
The auction sold 54 cars for an average price of $91,595 and made $4.9 million in total sales last year, according to Hagerty.
This year’s highlights include a 35-car collection of Early Ford V-8s, a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Berline and a 1970 Dodge Hemi Challenger R/T.
Details: Viewing is 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 24-26. The auction starts 5 p.m. Jan. 26. General admission for all preview days and auction is $25 and $15 for just the auction. worldwideauctioneers.com/scottsdale-auction-2022.
Reach the reporter at [email protected] or at 480-267-4703. Follow her on Twitter @renataclo.
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