2017 Bonhams Scottsdale Auction Preview

1952 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Spider
1952 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Spider © Bonhams

A 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider is likely to set a new auction record during the 2017 Bonhams Scottsdale classic car auction. Top results are also expected from a 1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Competizione and a 1928 Mercedes Benz Typ S 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer.

Million-Dollar Cars at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017

British auctioneer Bonhams is holding its sixth annual collector car auction during the Scottsdale Car Week in 2017 on 19 January 2017 at the Westin Keiland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Although Bonhams did not publish estimates for a surprisingly large number of cars on offer at Scottsdale 2017, the following cars should sell for over a million dollars (as well as a few others worth watching):

Year Car Estimate
1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider Refer to Department
1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition Refer to Department
2003 Ferrari Enzo Refer to Department
1964 Porsche 904 GTS Refer to Department
1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet Refer to Department
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder Refer to Department
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Refer to Department
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta Refer to Department
1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Roadster Refer to Department
1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Competizione 7,500,000 – 9,000,000
1928 Mercedes Benz Typ S 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer 5,000,000 – 6,000,000
1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 V Series Supercharged Grand Sport Spider 2,800,000 – 3,400,000
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB 2,500,000 – 3,500,000
1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP London-Edinburgh Silver Ghost Sports Tourer 750,000 – 900,000

Million-Dollar Ferraris at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017

Ferraris are the leading cars at the Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 classic car sale with several expecting to sell in excess of a million dollars.

1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider

Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 CatalogueThe 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, chassis 2277 GT, Estimate: Refer to department, is the cover car for the Bonhams 207 classic car auction catalogue and likely to return the highest result of this important collector cars auction week in Arizona.

Only 56 of these short-wheel base Ferrari 250 GT California Spiders were ever built and these are amongst the most-expensive cars in the world. A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider sold by RM Auctions in Maranello in 2008 for $10.9 million was the first car ever to achieve $10 million at public auction. Five of the 37 cars sold for $10 million plus at public auction were Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spiders with the model record $17,160,000 achieved for the barn-find Baillon Ferrari at Artcurial Paris 2015.

The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider, chassis 2277 GT, on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017, was the 11th car built and one of the around 10 with open headlights. It was the 1960 Brussels Motor Show car and probably featured in the Italian movie Sissignore.

Finished originally in rust-colored Nocciola over a tobacco leatherette interior the fully restored car currently is the more common red over tan leather.

1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Competizione

1952 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Spider
1952 Ferrari 340 America Vignale Spider © Bonhams

The 1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Competizione, chassis 0196A, estimate $7.5-9 million, comes with an impressive in-period racing history. This ex-Scuderia Ferrari racing car with body by Vignale participated in amongst others the 1952 Mille Miglia, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Targa Florio. It was raced by factory drivers Piero Taruffi, Maurice Trintignant, and Giovanni Bracco but retired from these races with mechanical failures. As a private entry, it had more mechanical endurance later in lesser races.

This 1952 Ferrari 340 America Spider Competizione was the 17th of 22 cars built and one of just three Competizione examples. It was the second of only four spiders built by Vignale on the 340 America platform. Although the car has its original 4.1 l engine, the body is mostly a recreation of the original.

1966 Ferrari 275 GTB

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, chassis 08973, estimate $2.5-3.5 million, was the second to last of the model produced. As the penultimate 275 GTB produced it sports the Pininfarina designed long nose coachwork made by Scaglietti and torque tubes.

The 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB on offer at Bonhams is in original factory colors of silver over black. The engine is a replacement – probably fit early on under factory warrantee – with the car having covered only 67,500 km since new. The car has a steel body with alloy doors. A full alloy bodied 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose will be on offer at Gooding Scottsdale 2017 while RM Sotheby’s will also sell a 275 GTB at Arizona 2017.

2003 Ferrari Enzo

The 2003 Ferrari Enzo on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 is one of only eight US-specification models finished in Fly Yellow. It has covered only 3,600 miles since new. In all, only 400 Ferrari Enzos were ever built.

Bonhams has not released a pre-auction estimate. Of the around 10 sold at public auction since 2014, prices have ranged from $1.2 million to $6 million paid for the Pope’s Enzo. RM Sotheby’s estimated $2,700,000 – $3,000,000 for the 2003 Ferrari Enzo on offer at Arizona 2017.

1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet

The 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet, chassis 1967 GT, in light blue Azzurro Chiaro over tan, was the 46th exampled produced and has its original hardtop.

The car is presented without a pre-auction estimate. In 2016, Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolets often failed to sell at too high reserves approaching $2 million. This particular Ferrari received an unsuccessful highest bid of $1,550,000 at Gooding Scottsdale 2016.

1970s Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinettas

The early 1970s Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinettas have increased in value in recent years but only exceptional models achieve over a million dollars at public auction. Four, plus a cabriolet conversion, will be on offer at Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2017. Bonhams offers two low-mileage US specification cars in original factory colors but somewhat surprisingly not specifying an estimate:

  • The red 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, chassis 14393, has covered less than 30,000 miles since new. It is in a remarkably original condition.
  • The fly yellow 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, chassis 15155, has covered 40,000 miles since new and probably has its original interior.

1928 Mercedes Benz Typ S 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer

The 1928 Mercedes Benz Typ S 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer, estimate $5-6 million, is the top German car on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017.

The 1928 Mercedes Benz Typ S 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer was originally delivered to the USA and still features its original Erdmann & Rossi coachwork and original engine. The Great Depression ensured that only 174 of the “Car for Kings” designed by Ferdinand Porsche were ever built.

1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 5th Series Supercharged Gran Sport Spider

The 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 5th Series Supercharged Gran Sport Spider, estimate $2.8-3.4 million, on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 has a full known history and still sports its original Zagato coachwork.

Although new marque records were set at the Monterey 2016 auctions, these 1930s Alfa Romeos are not always easy to sell with several failing to clear reserve margins in 2016 after strong results were achieved in 2014 and 2015. A 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 5th Series Gran Sport Roadster is on sale at Gooding Scottsdale 2017.

1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition

1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition
© Bonhams

The 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition, estimate: refer to department, on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 was the 10th of only 12 Lightweight E-Types ever produced. It had only three previous owners and with less than 4,000 miles covered is considered possibly the most original of example.

This 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition was successfully raced in period, mostly in Australia, by Bob Jane.

The 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition may set new records for an E-Type at public auction but is unlikely to come close to the marque record set at $21,780,000 for the Le Mans-winning 1955 Jaguar D-Type, which is also the most-expensive British made car ever.

1964 Porsche 904 GTS

1964 Porsche 904 GTS
© Bonhams

The 1964 Porsche 904 GTS at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017 is a low mileage example in highly original condition. It was only lightly raced in-period but is believed to have accumulated less than 8,000 total miles since new.

Bonhams released no estimate for the Porsche but 904 GTS cars have sold for just below $2 million in recent years.

2015 Porsche 918 Spyder

The 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder is the newest car on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017. It is a US-specification car and has covered less than a 1000 miles. Although Bonhams announced no estimate, three of these Porsches sold for around $1.6 million last year. Only 918 were ever produced, of which at least one has been written off since.

1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Roadster

The 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Roadster, no estimate given, is a NCRS Top Flight, Bloomington Gold Certified matching numbers L88 in perfect restored condition. It is one of only three delivered in Burgundy and comes with two removable hard tops – one black, one white.

Many Corvettes will be on offer at the Scottsdale 2017 auctions with Barrett-Jackson having a large selection with examples from almost all generations.

1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP London-Edinburgh Silver Ghost Sports Tourer

The 1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP London-Edinburgh Silver Ghost Sports Tourer, estimate $750-900,000, is the oldest car on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale 2017. It is one of only 188 London-Edinburgh Silver Ghosts built.

The 1913 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP London-Edinburgh Silver Ghost Sports Tourer was originally supplied to Paris based jeweler Albert Janesich. The car was probably dismantled during the Second World War and only rediscovered during the 1990s. It has a period-correct engine but the body is a recreation by Kenneth Neve.

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