Bonhams, Quail Lodge, August 13, 2021 – A study in contrast
Bonhams 2021 Quail Lodge auction was an unmitigated success. It is a sharp contrast with the online only 2020 auction and the used car lot auction they held here in 2019. The enhanced emphasis on quality consignments instead of number of “units” that characterized 2019 is apparent in the total changing hands, the average and […]
The 2020/2021 Monterey Auctions
The 2021 Monterey auctions don’t stand alone and must be considered first with respect to the canceled 2020 Monterey Car Week and second in comparison with the notably weak 2019 auctions. With respect to 2020, there was a restrained but appreciative attitude among the auction companies, bidders and onlookers. It was a joy to be […]
Mecum Auctions, Orlando Summer Special, July 28-31, 2021
Mecum Auctions never misses an opportunity. Having made a monster success of the auction at Kissimmee, Florida in January (the Anti-Scottsdale) they seized an opportunity to put on another auction in Orlando in August. Central Florida in August, however, is brutally hot and humid. Mecum’s solution was to secure the air conditioned Orlando Convention Center […]
Bonhams, Goodwood Festival of Speed, July 9, 2021
The only problem with doing this auction remotely is that it invites reviewing hours of professional video of the cars in the Festival of Speed, not in the Bonhams auction. A cagey conclusion: The Goodwood Festival of Speed in July or the Goodwood Revival in September are events no one who loves competition cars should […]
Barrett-Jackson, Las Vegas Convention Center, June 17-19, 2021
Since its first event in 2008 Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas auction has been held at the Mandalay Bay in late September-early October. But no less than holding the Scottsdale extravaganza in March the Las Vegas date shifted to mid-June and at the new Convention Center. B-J can be glad it did because the $45,905,233 total (just […]
Mecum Auctions, Tulsa, OK, June 11-12, 2021
Mecum held its first Tulsa auction at the River Spirit Expo Center. Aside from being the site of the annual Chili Bowl dirt racing celebration River Spirit Expo also is the longtime home of Leake Auctions. And by longtime, we mean LONG time: 40+ years in Tulsa or nearby Muskogee. That string ended in 2017 […]
Gooding & Company, Geared Online, June 18, 2021
Gooding & Company continued its series of “Geared Online” auctions in June with this British-based auction conducted in £ Sterling. It is a good example of the flexibility of online auctions which are economically viable with a small consignment and can pop up like a Daytona’s headlights when there’s an opportunity. Gooding brought together an […]
RM Sotheby’s, Palazzo Serbelloni, Milan, June 15, 2021
Let’s hope RM Sotheby’s keeps Milan and Palazzo Serbelloni on its schedule once Covid restrictions are eased. It’s located in the heart of Milan, a 15 minute, 1.1km walk from Teatro alla Scala and the Duomo di Milano. Appropriate to the spectacular exhibit and auction space, there were only nineteen lots. Fourteen of them sold […]
Mecum Spring Classic, Indianapolis, May 14-22, 2021
If there was any doubt whatsoever that the collector car market was weathering Covid the results for Mecum’s Spring Classic at Indianapolis should put that to rest. Not only in dollar terms but also in the quantity and variety of vehicles offered Mecum Indy was an unalloyed success. Coming after the blockbuster success at Kissimmee […]
RM Sotheby’s, Amelia Island, May 2, 2021
Any concerns that the collector car auction economy wasn’t coming roaring back were left for dead after RM Sotheby’s sale on Saturday at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island. There were, it must be admitted, fifty No Reserve lots, but only five of fifty-nine lots with reserves failed to find new owners, a 91.5% sale rate […]