Scottsdale Collector Car Week 2018 is one of those events the entire automotive auction world attends in some way – if not in person, then by proxy. That's because it is traditionally the lens through which the remainder of each automobile auction year is viewed, with major auctions conducted by RM-Sotheby's, Barrett-Jackson, Gooding &Co., Bonhams, Russo and Steele, Silver Auctions and Worldwide Auctioneers all within a short distance of each other over five even shorter days. Here's our take on the market, plus a cross section of the most interesting cars offered last week in Scottsdale.
Hagerty's industry-standard statistics show that US$247.8 million was spent this year, and that's down 5 percent from last year's $259.8 million, and that only 2,668 cars were sold this year compared to 2,899 last year. But though the numbers shift slightly every year, compare the last five years in Scottsdale and very little changed with regard to the amount of money available or the number of cars in the marketplace.

If either of the Jaguar D-Types had sold the aggregate numbers would have been the second best on record, and if Hitler's car had set a world record as a similar car did 40 years ago, the market would have been at a record high again.
The market is however, DOWN. One particular article that used Hagerty's statistics for a bit of thought-provoking marketplace analysis caught our eye in the lead up to the Scottsdale auction cluster: Wolf Richter's Wolfstreet. The following chart drawn from Hagerty's immensely useful valuation tool data was used to illustrate a few interesting points in that article. That's the chart as it was presented in Wolf Street below.

On January 16, 2018, Wolf wrote: According to the Hagerty Market Index, prices of vintage automobiles that sold at private sales and at auctions fell 3 percent from a month ago, are down 7 percent for the year, and are down 17 percent from the all-time high in August 2015. This 17 percent drop from the peak is worse than the 16 percent drop from peak-to-bottom during the Financial Crisis.The index in the January report, at 154.33, has now two declining years in a row under its belt.
The full article is worth a read because data does not lie. As the Lies-damn-lies-and-statistics-school is trying to point out, data can be manipulated, but this data hasn't been manipulated, and the market is down!
As more granular data is collected, our understanding of this marketplace will grow considerably, and at the same time as more data is being collected and disseminated, the audience of automotive enthusiasts dabbling in the market is growing and becoming much better educated.

The above image comes from Barrett-Jackson's Scottsdale auction and the original is 10,000 pixels wide and it is quite something to behold on a big screen. That's a Superbowl audience and it is a credit to Barrett-Jackson that it continues to grow and prosper. Barrett-Jackson has been treating auctions as entertainment for decades and it is really paying off, with the company now broadcasting on primetime television as well as the internet. The Scottsdale auctions alone generated 37 hours of live television coverage on Discovery and Velocity channels in the United States.
In the motorcycle arena, Mecum's televised auctions have resulted in so many consignors wanting to see their bike auctioned on television that the traditional one day Las Vegas January auction is now at five days in length. Much is written about the power of the internet, but television is still an incredibly powerful mass medium and with auctions providing the type of time-sensitive data that is associated with sporting contests, automotive auctions might yet become a massive drawcard, at the same time as educating and enrolling a mass audience.
That said, those auction companies which continue to pay scant regard to their internet feed are hurting their brand values, and it is just as bad, maybe worse, to have your website crash during the middle of a globally-important auction than not to have one at all. Both of those myopic business conditions can and will damage your company.

The top selling car at Scottsdale this year was Battista Pininfarina's personal 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale, fetching $8,085,000 with buyers premium added. Indeed, it seemed to be a year when the value of provenance was on display, as Preston Tucker's Tucker 48 and several of Carroll Shelby's personal cars also demonstrated how much a name and a story can add to marketplace worth.

We've listed all the million dollar cars, and we've thrown in many cars based on their "story" as there's value to be had at every price point in the auction spectrum. We hope you have as much fun exploring our picks of the most interesting of the 3,176 cars at Scottsdale this year.
$12,100 | 2006 Pontiac Solstice from Transformers

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
This is the actual car used in the 2007 blockbuster science fiction movie Transformers based on the Hasbro toy line. Movie cars traditionally do much better than simply retain their value on the auction block and it may well be that this car will significantly appreciate in value because the target audience of the 2007 film is not yet old enough to have a license or to have accumulated any wealth. In the meantime, while you're waiting for a payday, it's a well sorted custom Solstice with a great story.
$19,800 | 1952 MG TD

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Proof that you don't need $10 million to buy as classic car you can love. This MG TD was sold in exquisite condition, with an extensive history, numerous magazine articles written about the car, and the knowledge that after half a century in the care of the seller, it is as well sorted as humanly possible. All that and enough change from 20 grand for a celebratory dinner on the way home. Extraordinary value!
$22,000 | 1963 Glas Goggomobil TS 250 Coupé

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A cult car that has as many aficionados today as it had in its heyday of the 1950s when its 250cc two-stroke engine offered economical 50 miles-per-gallon motoring in war-torn post-war Europe with a top speed of 59 mph. Introduced at the 1954 IFMA international bicycle and motorcycle show (technically, it shared more with motorcycles than cars), its acceleration was somewhat leisurely, in that it required 27.9 seconds to accelerate to 50 mph (80 km/h). In 14 years of production, 280,000 Goggomobils were produced, and they were so loved that they have a very high survival rate and are fostered by Goggomobil clubs the world over.
$26,400 | 1969 Cadillac "Carpool De Ville"

Barrett-Jackson, January, 2018 | Auction Link
The "Carpool De Ville" is a hot tub on wheels that holds a Guinness World Record for "World's Fastest Mobile Hot Tub" and has appeared on CNN, Good Morning America, Jay Leno's Garage, The Bachelorette, and as the centerpiece of a marketing campaign for Stella McCartney's "Pop" fragrance. It can't be driven on public roads, but it is a genuine hot tub, so could probably earn its keep as a hire vehicle, though its real strength is as a publicity generation machine, and no doubt there's a lot more than $26,400 worth of publicity still to be had from this rather unique vehicle.
$38,500 | 1950 Studebaker "Ice Princess"
Russo & Steele, Scottsdale, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
As weird as this car might seem, it is just a paint job away from being an ideal set of wheels for a superhero or perhaps even a supervillain. It has four steering wheels and is way more radical than the concept car that George Barris turned into the original TV Batmobile.
$55,000 | 1951 Volkswagen Beetle

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
If you're thinking that $55,000 is a lot of money for a Volkswagen Beetle (Bug), then be aware that this was only the second most expensive Beetle sold at Scottsdale, that another 1979 model sold for $38,500, and that a feature article from 12 months ago details many more Beetles which have sold for much more again. It may surprise you to know that there are Beetles valued in excess of a quarter million dollars. The most expensive Beetle at Scottsdale is directly below ...
$61,600 | 1957 Volkswagen Beetle

Barrett-Jackson, January 15, 2018 | Auction Link
The extent to which this Beetle has been restored is normally only reserved for cars worth a million dollars or more. The no-expense-spared pan-off nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration was performed over several years in order to accumulate all of the actual new-old-stock parts collected from around the world. Check out the images at the auction link. A stunner with far more time and money and love invested than it sold for.
$63,250 | 1950s Esso Aviation single-sided porcelain neon sign

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
From an era when petroleum was cheap, and real cars burned a pint a mile, this Esso sign was the second most expensive automobilia sign sold during Scottsdale auction week.
$74,800 | 1969 Volvo P1800S

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
One of the things that not many car collectors realize is that, while a car might be worth seven figures at auction, there are many cars with a five figure price tag that are much better in every way. This car is one of the latter variety by virtue of its relative lack of scarcity.
Volvo's P1800 is a great driver's car, incredibly reliable, and with 115 hp and a top speed of 110 mph, it is no slouch. With styling by Pietro Frua, the P1800S is also gorgeous and its greatest crime on the auction block is that it was produced in relatively large numbers with 47,492 units sold in 12 years.
The $74,800 paid for this car is the second highest price ever paid for a Volvo 1800S (the record is held by Gooding & Co at $77,000) and if you check the details of this car you'll understand why it sold close to the record. It is a much-loved single-owner-from-new car and every memento of the car from new was sold with it, including every piece of paperwork it has ever generated and the original spark plugs. Go figure!
$92,400 | 1973 Porsche 911 E Targa (and a riddle)

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This story is a tale of two Targas. One is the car above which is described by RM-Sothebys as a "very original example" and "well preserved throughout its life." It sold with factory air conditioning (very rare), and the original owner's manual and maintenance book, which is also quite rare. It crossed the auction block with 58,769 miles on the odometer and fetched $92,400, towards the upper end of its official estimate of $75,000 to $100,000.
Now go and take a look at this quite similar 1973 Porsche 911 2.4 T Targa which sold at Gooding & Co for $313,500 and try to explain why. The Gooding car is a lovely shade of "Kelly Green," the T model is marginally more sporty than the E, and it has traveled just 3,400 miles from new, but that surely can't explain a $220,000 price difference. Feel free to share ideas in the comments section, but is low mileage and originality really worth that much?
$100,000 | 2018 Bennington 23SSBXP Pontoon Boat

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Another charity lot from Barrett-Jackson, this 2018 23-foot SX Premium Swingback by Bennington sold for $100,000 with all proceeds going to the Mayshad Foundation, an organization developing and implementing grassroot projects to empower women in Africa.

Unsold | 1966 Volkswagen 21-Window 'Samba' Bus

Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Just a few short years ago, a bid of $110,000 on a Volkswagen Samba van would have earned the bidder a psychiatric referral, but as this feature article detailed, the humble people's van is surfing a nostalgic tidal wave and the world record price for a Samba is now $302,000. Such well-publicized auction results have raised expectations and despite a high bid of $110,000, this Samba was passed in as it did not meet the seller's reserve.
$115,500 | 1967 Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTR

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Carlo Abarth was sporting director of the Cisitalia factory racing team, and when Cisitalia failed financially, he took over the assets from the bankruptcy sale and produced a brand name with even greater credibility, forging a name for extreme performance that is only really known to enthusiasts with a penchant for small capacity engines and high efficiency.
When Abarth began building limited-production competition cars based on existing models, it produced some outrageous engines and this is a perfect example. Starting with Fiat's pedestrian 840 Coupe, it produced this Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTR (for Omologato Turismo Radiale), an homologation special for FIA Group 3 competition.
The 1000 OTR produces 100 horsepower from its 982cc OHV 4-cylinder "Radiale" engine, with performance "so much better than its contemporary production car racing competitors that some racing organizations, notably the SCCA, banned it from competition." Only around 35 were produced, and this car is believed to be one of just three surviving examples in the United States. This car is claimed to be "the single best example of the 1000 OTR on the planet."
$123,200 | 1937 Lincoln Model K Panel Brougham by Willoughby

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Intended to be used with a chauffeur, Willoughby's formal brougham body featured an open driver's compartment and added $7,000 to the cost of a Lincoln during the 1930s. It was launched in the year after the famous Wall Street Crash, available for four years, and then reappeared again in the late 1930s. The rear compartment boasted armchair-like folding "occasional seats," as well as a telephone for passing directions to the chauffeur. Only two examples of this 1937 model remain in existence today.
$149,500 | 1939 Husky Gasoline porcelain service station sign

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
The most expensive sign of the Scottsdale auction week. Barrett-Jackson as usual offered the majority of the automotive memorabilia and if you are looking to decorate a man cave, the automobilia docket at Scottsdale will give you an idea as to what's available in forthcoming auctions.
$156,800 | 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The collector car game is played on two planes – authenticity and originality – and this car is exceptional in both. It is the finest original, unrestored example of the Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton extant, with just 9,560 actual miles since it was new 81 years ago. It still wears the original paint, interior, and body tags.
$159,500 | 1963 Volkswagen 23-window Deluxe Samba Van

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
As we've written previously, there are quite a few examples of 21- and 23-window Samba vans that have sold for more than this amount. There's an even more expensive Samba later on this list.
$162,400 | 1959 Mercedes-Benz O 319

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This Mercedes-Benz O 319 bus has been fully restored, while being both extensively and subtly modified into a camper. Its prior owner, an eccentric computer engineer, used his extensive skills to painstakingly restore and upgrade this unique vehicle over a 15-year period. The imagery in RM-Sotheby's image gallery for this lot is worth exploring.
$200,000 | 1988 Chevrolet Corvette 35th Anniversary Edition
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Another Barrett-Jackson charity car, this 1988 Corvette Z01 Coupe was one of the limited (2,050 built) 35th Anniversary Special Editions, available at an additional $4,795 over the standard coupe's $29,480 price tag at the time, and packed with extras.
This car was gifted to Craig Jackson (principal of Barrett-Jackson) and his mother Nellie Jackson on the auction block at the 2006 Scottsdale Auction by longtime Barrett-Jackson customer and Corvette enthusiast Dave Ressler, who passed away recently, and the sale of this vehicle will honor his memory. 100 percent of the hammer price of this special Corvette went to the American Heart Association, marking the start of Barrett-Jackson's year-long "Driven Hearts" charitable initiative for the AHA.
$212,800 | 1929 Stutz Model M Four-Passenger Tonneau Cowl Speedster by LeBaron

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Designed to appeal to the buyers who had purchased the popular sporting Stutz Bearcats between 1910 and 1920, coachbuilder LeBaron created two- and four-passenger speedster bodies, both with racing-style "cut-down" front doors. This car was the recipient of an extensive restoration that was completed in 2007, but the car was only shown briefly before ill-health prevented the owner from driving and showing it further. It has not been shown since, and is hence open to a world of new awards and opportunities for a proud new caretaker.
$220,000 | 1960 Volkswagen 23-Window Deluxe Microbus

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Only two Samba vans have ever sold for more money than this, being a 1965 Volkswagen 21-window Deluxe Samba which sold for $302,500 in Scottsdale in 2017, and a 1955 VW 23-window Deluxe Samba which sold for $236,639 (€190,000) in November, 2014. Full story
$224,000 | 1938 Aston Martin 15/98 Short-Chassis Open Sports

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Still capable of 98 mph, this Aston Martin 15/98 was sold with a collection of restoration and historical documentation, plus the original engine which suffered a cracked block, and was also repaired and restored. As the auction description states, "Sportier than the long-chassis tourers, but not an outright sports car, the 15/98 is, quite simply, the epitome of a 1930s roadster."
$236,500 | 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Regent Convertible

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This is the Rolls-Royce which replaced the Silver Ghost in 1925. The Silver Ghost had been called "the best car in the world" by the authoritative magazine Autocar, and was already the basis for Rolls-Royce advertising globally, so the new Phantom was built to impress.
This fully-restored Phantom 1 Regent convertible, with coachwork by Brewster & Company, has a fully documented history and is a multiple award winner. It is one of of just 21 Regents Phantom 1 convertible coupesbuilt.
$249,700 | 1969 De Tomaso Mangusta

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The De Tomaso Mangusta (Mongoose) was one of the first supercars, and helped establish Alejandro De Tomaso as a credible sports car manufacturer with its 225 hp 302 V8 Ford engine, Giugiaro design and Ghia coachwork.
$253,000 | Carroll Shelby's 1966 Shelby GT350H Fastback

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
When it comes to provenance, you can't do any better than the headline act. Carroll Shelby's 1966 Shelby GT350H became the rental car of choice for petrolheads and helped endear the name even further into the American DNA. This car was Carroll Shelby's personal car, the car he designed and built and drove on a daily basis. Understandably, it set a new record at auction for the model, trumping the previous best of $220,000 paid at a Barrett-Jackson auction last year.
$253,000 | 1939 BMW 327 Cabriolet

Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Another German Art Deco design that looks great in photos but even better in the wild, this regal burgundy BMW 327 is one of only 482 produced and had been in single ownership for 37 years prior to its sale.
$260,000 | 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
The top-of-the-range 280SE Coupe, Cabriolet and 300SEL saloon models were chosen by Mercedes-Benz to launch its 3.5-liter V8 engine in 1969. The SEL saloon used a new body-shell, while the Coupe and Cabriolet kept the decade-old coachwork for an extra year, so the 280SE 3.5 was the last with the much-admired body style and it came fitted with the sensational new V8 powerplant. These last-of-the-line top quality classics are highly sought after by discerning collectors, which explains the price.
$264,000 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 Quattrovalvole

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
It would be reasonable to say that the Lamborghini Countach first shown at the 1971 Geneva Salon was a defining moment in sports car design. The Countach became the poster car of a generation with even non-enthusiasts capable of recognizing the outrageous angular lines. This car is the final iteration of the Countach with a 5,167cc engine, four-valve combustion chamber and 420 hp giving it a top speed of 300 km/h.
$300,000 | 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt Vin #001
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Ford and the Steve McQueen estate got together to donate VIN #001, the first model off the line of the new limited-edition 2019 Mustang Bullitt to charity, and as we've written about recently, the new car charity auction model is one of those rare co-operative business arrangements that works for all concerned.
The Bullitt is due to be available later this year with a price tag between $45,000 and $55,000, so someone paid roughly six times the going price to become the first with the new car, jumping the long queue that had formed at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show last week where the Bullitt was displayed alongside the original 1968 vehicle.

Steve McQueen's old school Boys Republic got $300,000 it didn't have before to further its good work, Ford kicked off its new model on prime time television, Barrett-Jackson produced more compelling entertainment to spice up its forever growing and innovative auction format, and everyone had a good time. Barrett-Jackson was instrumental in starting the charity car auction trend and deserves some additional accolades for passing the $100 million dollar mark during this auction – that's $100 million in funds it has facilitated going to charity. Bravo!
$308,000 | 1956 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Take a look through the hi-res image gallery on Bonham's auction link page for this car and read the details of the meticulous restoration and you'd wonder if it is possible to better it as an example of the 1600 Speedster. It would seem as close to perfection as it's possible to get. Then realize that the following day a 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster sold for $533,500 at Gooding & Company. Perhaps there are degrees of perfection?
$330,000 | 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900C Coupe

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
Just 100 of these Pininfarina designed and built Alfa 1900C Coupes were produced. Spacious inside, gorgeous to look at, 180 km/h speed thanks to the DOHC engine, and refined handling make for a wonderful and rare collectible.
$350,000 | 2015 Pioneer Cedar One Custom Roadster
Barrett-Jackson, January 19, 2018 | Auction Link
No, it's not another fiberglass car heading for a remake of the Flintstones movie, but a genuine log car, created from a giant western red cedar dating back to 1776, specifically chosen because it began growing at the same time as the founding of the United States of America.
The "Pioneer Cedar Rocket" is electrically powered by two giant turbines capable of producing winds in excess of 230 mph, though when it set the Guinness World Record for the fastest log car, it clocked just 46 mph. The "Pioneer Cedar Rocket" was auctioned with all proceeds going to the National Medal Of Honor Museum Foundation, The Royal Canadian Legion and Our Nation's Heroes Foundation.
$362,500 | 1933 Cadillac V-16 Seven-Passenger Town Cabriolet

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
If you've never heard of Joan Crawford, she was once the highest paid female movie star in the world, incredibly talented (one Academy Award for Best Actress and two more nominations) and incredibly bitchy. Her list of famous quotations could fill a book, and most of them left scars on someone.
Crawford crafted an indelible image ("Nobody can imitate me. You can always see impersonations of Katharine Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. But not me. Because I've always drawn on myself only") and she never cut corners ("I never go outside unless I look like Joan Crawford the movie star. If you want to see the girl next door, go next door.")
This iconic Cadillac V-16 was Joan Crawford's car and it has a provenance to match since her passing. A great yarn worth a read, and while we're on the subject of her passing, her last words were spoken to her housekeeper who prayed out loud while Joan was on her deathbed: "Damn it. Don't you dare ask God to help me."
$418,000 - 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda

Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
A "basement find," this matching-numbers GB5 blue Cuda recently underwent a full rotisserie restoration with many NOS parts bringing it back to as new condition. Remarkably, it has just over 21,000 miles on the odometer from new.
$420,000 | 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet

Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
$440,000 | 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Custom Convertible
Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
$445,000 | 1921 Alfa Romeo G1

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This car is the oldest extant Alfa Romeo in the world, having spent most of its life in Australia, and was once owned by Neville Crichton, Australian Alfa Romeo Importer, motor sport enthusiast and the international yachtsman who rewrote the record books a decade ago with his yacht Alfa Romeo. Twice shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
$451,000 | 1982 Lancia Rally 037 Stradale

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
This 1982 Lancia Rally 037 Stradale might not be familiar to non-rally-enthusiasts, but spare a moment to read the specifications and you'll realize it remains a potent road car to this day.
The powerplant is a Lampredi-designed, supercharged 2.0 liter DOHC Abarth 4-cylinder producing 205 bhp at 7,000 rpm, styling is by Pininfarina, and this is a homologation car for the Lancia Rally 037 that won the 1983 World Rally Championship Constructors' title. That was the very last title win by a rear-wheel drive Group B rally car before all-wheel drive platforms came to dominate the series.
If that doesn't float your boat, this car has been restored to near perfection, so it is little surprise that it sold for $451,000 at Bonham's Scottsdale 2018 auction.
$489,500 | Carroll Shelby's 2006 Ford GT

Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$495,000 | 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
One of 343 Ford GT Heritage Editions produced and one of only 2,011 GTs produced in 2006, this car is finished in Heritage Blue with Orange Le Mans stripes and displays Number 6 in honor of one of the trio of GT40 cars that bested Ferrari and swept the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in 1969.
$495,000 | 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
No Sale | 2014 Lamborghini Aventador LP720-4
50th Anniversary Coupe

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
This 2014 Lamborghini Aventador LP720-4 50th Anniversary Coupe was expected to sell in the $450,000 to $500,000 range, but failed to meet reserve with a high bid of $400,000 and was passed in at RM-Sotheby's Scottsdale 2018 auction.
Several Lamborghini Aventador variants crossed the block in January, with a spectacular custom 1600 hp 2012 Aventador LP700-4 with twin turbo conversion fetching $346,500 at Mecum's Kissimmee auction, a 2016 Aventador LP750-4 passed in on a high bid of $540,000 at Worldwide, and a 2014 Aventador LP700-4 selling for $286,000 at Barrett-Jackson.
No Sale | Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

Worldwide, Scottsdale, January 17, 2018 | Auction Link
Very few Saleen S7 cars were made, and even fewer of the twin turbo 750 hp models were produced, so to see them at auction is very rare. This is such a car, capable of reaching 60 mph in under three seconds and with a top speed of 248 mph.
Only a few of the twin turbo cars have previously been recorded at auction, being an 850 hp 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo with 'Competition Package' that sold for $535,000 at RM-Sotheby's Scottsdale sale in 2016, and a 1,000 hp 2005 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo that sold as part of the Pinnacle Collection for $682,000 at RM-Sotheby's Monterey auction in 2015. Estimated to sell in the $600,000 to $700,000 range, it attracted a high bid of $500,000 and was passed in.
$548,900 | 2015 MTI Racing Boat with 2700hp

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
It isn't a car but heh, with two 1,350 hp QC4V Mercury Racing engines, this racing boat can exceed 180 mph according to the official auction description, which continues: Inside the luxury air-conditioned cockpit is a genuine Italian leather interior featuring eight Italian leather seats with intercom and VHR radio systems, an Alcantara headliner, suspension seats for the driver and throttleman, a 40,000-watt interior and exterior stereo, five video entertainment monitors, a Garmin 8200 Series navigation system, an FLIR thermal camera, air conditioning and custom LED lighting.
$557,750 | 1957 Playground Carousel by Wilhelm Hennecke

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
They don't make them like this any more. One of five Wilhelm Hennecke carousels imported to the United States during the 1950s, this transportation-themed carousel is claimed to be the finest surviving example. The history of Hennecke Carousels can be found here. Featured in our Top 20 children's toys sold at Scottsdale Auction Week.
$605,000 | 1966 Shelby GT350 Prototype #001

Barrett-Jackson, January, 2018 | Auction Link
This is the very first Shelby GT350. This is the 1966 prototype that began a legend, having been built to homologate the Mustang for SCCA competition.
$616,000 | 1951 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A beautiful car, just the third produced, with many pre-production features that evolved as production "settled," this car is particularly significant in that it was given to Juan Manuel Fangio for winning the 1951 World Formula One Championship for Alfa Romeo. Fangio drove the car for an indeterminate period before passing it to an acquaintance.
The car's subsequent history is well documented and involves several restorations and many significant awards at America's most important concours events, most notably a Best of Class at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The car was reunited with Fangio in the early 1990s where he signed the car's firewall. An image of that occasion can be seen in the Gooding & Company auction gallery.
$621,500 | 1959 Aston Martin DB Mk III Drop Head Coupe

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$665,000 | 1967 Toyota 2000GT

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
The Japanese E-Type enjoyed a brief period of credibility a few years ago, with several of the original 337 units fetching more than a million dollars at auction, then prices receded again, and the 2000GT is unlikely to exceed six figures again for some time.
The record for a Toyota 2000GT is $1,155,000 fetched during the sale of the Don Davis Collection in 2013. That Toyota 2000GT was the most expensive Asian car, the most expensive Japanese car and the most expensive Toyota ever sold at auction. Our money on a replacement for those titles is a Lexus, and Hagerty has done a nice job explaining the 2000GT's fall from grace.
No Sale | 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
With a high bid of $700,000, this 1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost must have gone close to having a new owner. It is the last of the 116 B-Series Silver Ghosts produced and was presented in its original Barker-bodied landaulette configuration. This was the car which prestigious British motoring magazine Autocar labelled the "best car in the world" in 1907.
$715,000 | 2004 Porsche Carrera GT Coupe

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
No Sale | 1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$737,000 | 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
$769,500 | 1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster

RM-Sothebys, Scottsdale, January 2018 | Auction Link
$770,000 | 1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Barrett-Jackson, January 20, 2018 | Auction Link
Only 69 ZL1 Camaros were made in 1969, and they were unsubscribed, meaning that more people could have paid the sticker price of $7,200, if they had felt so inclined. More than half the cost of the ZL1 was the $4,160 premium for the all-aluminum 427 big-block engine, and it's ironic that the engine is now the reason the ZL1 is so coveted.
So coveted in fact, that they rarely come up for auction, and when they do, they fetch a lot of money. The record for a ZL1 is $848,000 which was achieved by Mecum in Indianapolis in 2008, with Worldwide Auctioneers having fetched $715,000 in Houston in 2015 for second place on the all-time price list for the ZL1 prior to this sale. This car now holds second place.
$825,000 | 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package

Gooding & Company, Scottsdale, January 18, 2018 | Auction Link
A new world-record price for the Lexus marque, but still well shy of the world-record price of the Lexus parent company (Toyota) record of $1,155,000 set by a 2000GT in 2013.