“The Original” Barrett-Jackson, January 15-29, 2023
Very few auctions earn the distinction of being described only as “Barrett-Jackson” but that’s the sobriquet applied to B-J’s annual January auction at WestWorld in Scottsdale. It was the original and it remains – despite the spawn of imitators and competitors – one of a kind. Not that it has remained the same, however, evolving […]
Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 27, 2023
After three Covid-complicated years Bonhams returned to form on the Westin Kierland lawn in 2023 with a 125-lot sale on Friday the 27th. With an 84% sale rate and almost $30 million total changing hands there were some unusual cars like three different Ghia-bodied Fifties Chryslers, a rare OSCA, an even more rare 600 Intermeccanica […]
Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 28, 2022
Gooding & Company didn’t have an auction in Scottsdale this year. Instead, they held a live preview of the cars for a Geared Online auction at Bennett Dorrance’s posh Hangar 1 on the east side of Scottsdale airport. Gooding’s previous location adjacent to the Fashion Square Mall in downtown Scottsdale now appears to be a […]
RM Sotheby’s, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, January 27, 2022
RM Sotheby’s delivered its best Arizona auction results in five years, and it was in a single-day auction with just 69 cars in sharp contrast with 160 in 2017, 150 in 2016, 123 in 2015 and 126 in 2014 in their best two-day sales in 2017 back to 2014. The renewed focus on good stuff […]
Bonhams, Westin Kierland, Scottsdale, January 27, 2022
It felt good to get back to the verdant lawns, marquees and luxury Port-a-Potties in front of the Westin Kierland for Bonhams Scottsdale auction. The ’21 event was live previewed but with socially-distanced bidding largely on line and by phone. ’22 was all here, live, populated and up close and personal. Why were there only […]
Worldwide Scottsdale January 26, 2022
Worldwide Auctioneers opened the critical late week days of Scottsdale auction week, the first auction other than Barrett-Jackson selling cars. Their location, in Tempe physically, is conducive to the moderately-sized Worldwide concept and has the advantage of easy access, plentiful adjacent parking and a café on site that offers really good sandwiches and a pleasant […]
Barrett-Jackson 2022
Barrett-Jackson came back with a bang from the delayed 2021 Scottsdale auction, but more significantly from the years before with their low $100 million sale totals, putting up a record total that eased over $200 million with automobilia. It wasn’t that long ago where every possible transaction was pulled into the total to break $100 […]
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale 2021, March 23-27, 2021
This report is updated with full auction results and changes to some of the transactions. Don’t let something like Covid-19 interfere with a long-standing tradition like Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. Just push it back two months as Covid-fatigue and vaccinations of older Americans (B-J’s primary market) opens up the gates to WestWorld for bidders and spectators. […]
Worldwide, Scottsdale in Auburn, January 23, 2021
Everyone had a different solution to the effect of CoViD restrictions on the annual trip to Arizona known familiarly as “Scottsdale”. RM Sotheby’s organized a socially-distanced combined live and online auction at the OTTO Car Club near Scottsdale airport. Bonhams hung on to its Westin Kierland location but only for previews, holding its live/online auction […]
Gooding & Company, Geared Online Scottsdale Edition, January 22, 2021
In common with the other established auctions which usually have sales at Scottsdale in late January Gooding & Company’s was much smaller than usual. The 34 lots offered were less than 25% of 2020’s 138 lots; the total dollars changing hands was less than 20% of 2020’s total. There is no doubt much logistical and […]