89 vehicles were auctioned by Bonhams on January 27, 2022 at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale. This was Bonhams' first major vehicle auction of the new year.
With a sales rate of 93 percent and top bids that were on average above the median estimate, Bonhams achieved a brilliant result at the well-attended auction, which lasted over five hours.
Wide-ranging offer
With 36 brands, Bonhams was able to present a diverse offering, in which Aston Martin, Porsche, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz were particularly well represented, but which also left room for manufacturers that are no longer active, such as Cord, Darracq, Hudson, Imperial, Morris and Riley.
On average, the cars were around 52 years old, with one motorcycle representing the two-wheeler fraction.
Buick with movie and star bonus
Movie cars are notoriously popular, so it was expected that the 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible from the movie "Rain Man" (Dustin Hofmann, Tom Cruise) would be no exception. At USD 150,000 to 250,000, the estimate was set at a lofty level, especially as Dustin Hoffmann had consigned the car as a long-time owner.
This also motivated the bidders, who bid each other up from 50,000 USD to 300,000 American dollars. This was 1.5 times the median estimate and the new owner invested an impressive USD 335,000 (EUR 301,500, CHF 311,550) in the car.
Porsche sports cars with a remarkable price level
Porsche was at the start with 11 cars and the belief in the lasting value of the Zuffenhausen products was strengthened in the long term. On average, the highest bids were 20 percent higher than the average estimate, and almost 50 percent more than expected was paid for a 911 Carrera 3.2 Coupé.
At USD 467,000 (EUR 420,300, CHF 434,310), a Porsche 993 Turbo S from 1997 sold for the highest price.
Aston Martin selection met with interest
The Aston offering was also extensive, ranging from a DB Mk III from 1959 to a DB AR1 Zagato Roadster from 2003 and comprising 11 cars. All Astons were offered without a reserve price. Bidders went along with the bidding, with bids averaging 1.12 times the median estimate.
The two 1962 DB4s sold for USD 381,750 and 379,000, while a 1988 V8 Vantage Volante went to a new owner for 162,960 at 1.71 times the estimate.
300 S from the barn for half a million
One of the stars of the auction was the Mercedes-Benz 300 S Roadster from 1953. One of 141 roadsters built, it was only recently rediscovered in a "barn".
A restoration is now probably on the cards, to which must be added the cost of buying the car for USD 472,500 (EUR 425,250, CHF 439,425). The 300 S reached almost exactly the middle estimate at the highest bid.
Battle for a Ferrari F355 Spider
Typical of this auction was probably the battle for a black Ferrari F355 Spider. This was not exactly estimated at USD 130,000 to 160,000, but this was also due to the fact that it had a highly marketable color combination and the six-speed manual gearbox and was offered as a new car with 900 miles on the clock. Interest was great, as the "underbidder" only gave up at USD 200,000 after a fierce battle to the end.
USD 224,000 (EUR 201,600, CHF 208,320) is a proud price for the open F355 and certainly close to record levels.
Little understanding for the exotic
Bonhams also had a few cars on offer that were out of the ordinary. But here the bidders were less easy to convince.
For a 1961 Devin SS, which was once sold as a kit and fitted with a Chevrolet engine by the first owner, USD 100,000 to 130,000 was sought after. However, no one was willing to bid more than USD 85,000, and the sale price came to USD 95,200.
An Apollo 5000 GT from 1964 fared not much better, with an asking price of USD 175,000 to 225,000, but after all, the car originally belonged to Milt Brown, the founder of Apollo. According to Bonhams, it was the second-last of 76 Apollo sports cars built and the car is said to have covered only 4,000 miles.
The bidders did not quite want to follow the recommendation and the bidding ended at USD 140,000, which meant that the elegant sports car cost USD 156,800 (EUR 141,120, CHF 145,824).
It is unlikely that too many OSI 20M TSs found their way to the USA. The 1967 coupé on offer was described as one of at most 200 surviving examples and was probably left fairly original despite being repainted.
Nevertheless, the bidding ended at USD 38,000 instead of the hoped-for USD 60,000 to 80,000. Because, as with 47 percent of the vehicles, no minimum price was required, the coupé found a new owner for USD 42,560 (EUR 38,304, CHF 39,581).
A luxury coupé at the time, but surprisingly affordable today was the 1953 Nash-Healey Le Mans Coupé, whose bodywork was designed by Pinin Farina.
A total of 100 Nash-Healeys with a closed body are said to have been built. Estimates ranged from USD 75,000 to 125,000, and USD 82,880 (EUR 74,592, CHF 77,078) was enough to acquire the beautifully presented car.
Remarkable prices for pre-war cars
With eight cars built before 1940, the pre-war selection was manageable. On average, they performed excellently, but the variations were large.
For example, a Rolls-Royce 20/25 HP Tourer from 1934 fetched a hefty USD 224,000 (EUR 201,600, CHF 208,320) instead of the expected USD 60,000 to 80,000, while a Ford Model A Rodster Hot Rod found its way into a new garage for USD 26,880 instead of the expected USD 45,000 to 65,000.
E-Types below expectations
Bonhams was able to bring five Jaguar E-Types under the hammer, four of which were from the popular Series 1. However, the beautiful sports cars were not able to really make a name for themselves, the exception being a Series 2 Roadster from 1971, which sold for slightly more than expected, while the Series 1 examples had to be sold below their estimates.
The popular super classics from Ferrari and Mercedes-Benz did not fare much better, at least in part.
The 1958 AC Ace was a surprise, achieving USD 516,500 (EUR 464,850 or CHF 480,345) instead of the estimated USD 325,000 to 375,000, a price that previously only seemed achievable for examples with Bristol engines. However, it should be noted that this car was restored for around USD 400,000.
Surprises among the very young
The delegation of young cars (from 1992) was extensive and diverse, with 17 vehicles. On average, these cars performed somewhat better than expected, but there were considerable upward swings.
The most impressive result may have been the 2009 Maybach 62 Limousine with chauffeur separation. Instead of USD 60,000 to 80,000, the new owner paid USD 235,200 (EUR 211,680, CHF 218,736).
Incidentally, USD 247,520 (EUR 222,768 or CHF 230,194) was paid for a BMW Z8 from 2002, more than for the much rarer Alpina V8 Roadster.
The Ferrari 512 TR from 1992, which was one of two prototypes (or pre-production cars) for the US market, was certainly something special. The sales price of USD 296,500 paid homage to this fact, but also to the low mileage.
Overall, those responsible at Bonhams must certainly have been satisfied. Total sales were slightly above the estimated value of the cars, and only six cars were left standing. A good start to the new year.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | USD Est from | USD Est to | USD HP | USD SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Harley-Davidson FL 74ci Panhead | 1948 | 18'000 | 22'000 | 42'000 | 48'300 | 44'919 | 43'470 | +141.5%
|
V |
| 02 | Ford Model A Roadster Pick Up Hot Rod | 1931 | 45'000 | 65'000 | 24'000 | 26'880 | 24'998 | 24'192 | -51.13%
|
V |
| 03 | Darracq 9HP Two Seater Voiturette (Jg. Ca.) | 1902 | 55'000 | 65'000 | 90'000 | 100'800 | 93'744 | 90'720 | +68%
|
V |
| 04 | Citröen SM Coupe | 1972 | 50'000 | 70'000 | 40'000 | 44'800 | 41'664 | 40'320 | -25.33%
|
V |
| 05 | Bentley Continental T Mulliner RSE Edition Coupe | 1998 | 100'000 | 130'000 | 87'500 | 98'000 | 91'140 | 88'200 | -14.78%
|
V |
| 06 | Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante | 1988 | 70'000 | 100'000 | 145'500 | 162'960 | 151'552 | 146'664 | +91.72%
|
V |
| 07 | Morris Minor 1000 Traveller | 1960 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 22'000 | 24'640 | 22'915 | 22'176 | -1.44%
|
V |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
