McLaren has given its alluring 720S a hefty update, including a 30-hp boost that triggers a badge change to 750S. The 66 pounds McLaren cut from the 720S might seem small in terms of acceleration performance, but it lets McClaren claim the 750S as its lightest-ever “series production” model (which excludes limited models). A major cockpit revision enhances driver control, and a new exhaust system unleashes howling soundtrack. Best of all, there’s a choice between coupe and Spider models.
Pioneering Corvette chief engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov would have been thrilled to see the new-generation mid-engine Vette comparing favorably with far more expensive sports cars. And he would have been floored to see the new-for-2023 Z06 version called “an American Ferrari” by a leading automotive magazine. Lapping a racetrack faster than all but a handful of exotics and priced from $110,000 to nearly $180,000 with all options, the Corvette Z06 has indeed “arrived” in a new echelon of the performance car world.
Forget March Madness, Florida brought the heat to the collector car world with the quartet of Amelia Island auctions booking $186 million in sales, a record for the venue. The top sale, a 1962 Ferrari 250 GT California Spider, accounted for $18M by itself. Ferraris grabbed 13 slots across the four auctions’ Top-10 lists, and Porsches took four. Modern supercars made some auction Top-10 lists, including $5.3M for a rare Pagani Zonda and $2.4M for a McLaren P1. A 1931 Duesenberg put the spotlight on Pre-war cars with a $4.3M sale.
The Acura NSX, a Japanese supercar introduced in 1990, reached a higher peak with its 1999 Zanardi Edition. Commemorating Alex Zanardi’s Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) IndyCar championships in 1997 and 1998 in Reynard-Hondas, only 51 cars were built. At its Quail Lodge auction this month, Bonhams will offer the #3 car, which has had three owners, and shows only 17,300 miles. The pre-sale estimate is $240,000-$280,000
The new McLaren 765LT Spider is built for insanely fast speeds. With obsessive attention to reducing mass, the car’s pricing starts at $382,500, without a stereo system or air conditioning, which are no-cost options that add 25 pounds to its weight. This venomous Spider will run from 0-60 in just 2.7 seconds, obliterate the quarter-mile in 10 seconds and top out at 205 mph if you have enough track.
By all accounts, the auctions at The Amelia — now under the ownership of Hagerty — were a grand success, with the sales from RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Gooding & Company totaling nearly $126M. Notably, a 1937 Talbot Lago set a world record price for the marque and for French cars at $13,425,000
If you paid $1.32 million for a 2018 Ford GT Heritage Edition with only 7 miles on the odometer, would you drive that car? That was just one of the very low-mileage dream cars that sold at Mecum’s live auction in Kissimmee, Florida. Mecum’s total sales of $217 million (with a 90% sell-through rate) marks the first collector car auction to surpass $200 million for a single event. Read about the top selling cars.
The SLS AMG, the successor to the legendary Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing, has been described as “a beauty with a touch of brute.” At its Scottsdale auction, Gooding & Company will offer a single-owner 2011 SLS AMG with only 3,000 miles on the odometer. The pre-sale estimate is $175k – $225k. Give Premier a call, so you’re prepared to bid on this beauty.
A review of Premier Financial Services’ leasing activity during 2021, shows most of the same marques and models repeating their appearances in our annual Top-10 Leased Exotics list, although with different positions. Which is your favorite?
