Bonhams returns to the Westin Kierland Resort for the eighth year in a row, bringing with it the usual array of pristine classics and untouched exotics. Last year, over 25 million dollars changed hands in just a few hours.
Straight from the garage to the bed of an enclosed transport, classics, exotics, and collectible cars skip the salt for the dry heat of Scottsdale Arizona. Last January, Scottsdale saw over 3000 automobiles cross the auction block in less than a week.
Eight-figure prices for Ferraris are usually associated with Monterey or Scottsdale auctions, but the second-highest auction price for 2018, $22,000,500, went for a 1956 Ferrari 290 MM at the RM Sotheby’s Petersen Museum auction in December.
You knew it was coming. Ferrari’s introduction of the 488 Pista Spider at Pebble Beach this August followed the coupe version introduced last March. It’s been Ferrari’s pattern to offer stripped-down track versions of its mid-engine V8 models since the 360 Challenge Stradale 15 years ago.
Google “Lancia Stratos revival” and a number of stories pop up, giving you an idea of the enthusiasm still burning for this 40+ year-old sports car. The revivals never seem to happen, but the originals keep on generating more and more interest.
Ferrari has been reviving classic model names for many years, most recently with the 812 Superfast. That badge originated with the 500 Superfast, a big yet exquisitely sleek grand tourer built for the marque’s top customers from 1964-1966.
As if to soften the psychological blow of adding an SUV to the Prancing Horse stable, Ferrari revealed a surprise: the Monza. The Monza is first in a new series called “Icona,” for icon. These models are far more distinct from the vehicle on which they’re based than past Ferrari special editions have been.
One of the most respected publications for serious Ferrari enthusiasts -Ferrari Market Letter- featured PFS CEO Mitch Katz’s observations on the 2018 Monterey Car Week.
The news from Monterey is one of records shattered. At RM Sotheby’s, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO set the world record for highest price ever paid for a car at auction: $48.4m. It all added up to over $367m for the week, a jump over last year’s $330m.
