Mecum Auctions, Houston, December 4-5, 2020
Yes, that says “December”. Mecum’s regular Houston dates are in April, but April 2020 was not like most Aprils and the regularly scheduled Mecum Houston auction got caught up in the Covid onslaught. Fortunately, though, there was availability at Houston’s NRG Center in December and Mecum Auctions took advantage of it. Unlike prior Mecum Houston […]
RM Sotheby’s, Online Only, London, October 31, 2020
RM has been doing its fall London sale since before it was RM Sotheby’s. Held at Battersea since 2007 and at Olympia last year it’s bounced back and forth between late October and early September, but this was the first “Online Only” auction within RM’s London franchise. I should probably have reported this October 31 […]
RM Sotheby’s Online Only Open Roads North America, November 11-20, 2020
RM Sotheby’s continued its series of Online Only auctions with Open Roads North America November 11-20, 2020 bringing its enhanced series of Covid-19 fighting Online Only auctions to seven in 2020. RM reported total sales of $5,024,670 and an overall sell-through of 89% including a vast array of primarily Ferrari-related memorabilia, factory manuals, sales brochures, […]
RM Sotheby’s, The Elkhart Collection, Elkhart, Indiana, October 23-24, 2020
The Elkhart Collection had some exceptional vehicles. A small fortune had been spent on maintaining them. Many were competition cars, for the most part presented in apparently race-ready condition. And each lot in the sale represented a personal tragedy for some innocent entrepreneur, religious group, corporation or non-profit. The sale was held by order of […]
Gooding & Company, Geared Online, October 30, 2020
Gooding & Company’s second “Geared Online” auction brought in a total just 64% of their first “Geared Online” sale in early August but still recorded a great result with three lots sold on bids over $1 million. The 7-figure cars accounted for 49.8% of the total changing hands and were 100% of the lots bid […]
Bonhams, London, October 30, 2020 There was no London to Brighton Veteran Car Run but the Spirit Lives
CoViD claimed another victim when the 2020 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run was cancelled. That didn’t deter Bonhams from celebrating veteran and vintage cars (and a road locomotive) on October 30. Re-branded “The Golden Age of Motoring” there was a diverse consignment of vehicles dating from 1900 to 1939. Out of 34 lots offered, […]
Mecum Auctions, Dallas, Texas, October 15-17, 2020
Mecum clings faithfully to a largely live auction format. Live bidders socially-distanced in the room. Live auctioneers on the block. A mix of phone and internet bidders but with a bid-spotter/ring person gesticulating and calling out loudly to claim precedence for remote bidders. It builds engagement and excitement like no “online only” auction can where […]
Bonhams, Goodwood Speed Week, October 17, 2020
No spectators. No fancy manufacturer exhibits. No posh entertainment. Few period costumes. This was not the usual Goodwood Revival. It was Goodwood for the participants, and it was a unique experience. Here’s what Chris Sharpe said: “Goodwood without any crowds whatsoever was a privilege beyond words. The history of the circuit is one thing but […]
Bonhams, Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum, Philadelphia, October 11, 2020
Strategically positioned on the Sunday before Hershey Week, Bonhams auction at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum celebrates Dr. Fred Simeone’s philosophy of preserving and driving great cars. In 2020 there was no Hershey Week, but Bonhams went to Philadelphia anyway and presented a docket that included some simply marvelous old unrestored cars. None was more […]
RM Auctions, Dennis Mitosinka Collection, Online Only, September 25, 2020
Dennis Mitosinka’s collection consisted largely of 400 lots of automobilia, memorabilia and parts but culminated in 31 varied but intriguing automobiles offered without reserve. The most notable of them were little-seen prewar classics. The auction followed the usual pattern for online auctions: infrequent bidding until the minutes before the scheduled closing time, then a flurry […]