A 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster is the top multi-million dollar car on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 classic car auctions. Top results are also expected from Ferraris including a 400 Superamerica, F50, 365 GTS and an Enzo. The 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton ‘Ralph Roberts’ by LeBaron is an exceptional American classic.
See also: 2017 RM Sotheby’s Arizona Auction Results
Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 Sale
RM Sotheby’s 18th consecutive Scottsdale week classic car auction will he held on 19 and 20 January 2017 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.
The current Scottsdale / Arizona auction record was set in 2016 by a 1937 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster that sold for $9,900,000 at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2016 sale – the third highest price ever paid for a Mercedes Benz car at public auction.
The following cars are expected to sell above, or near, a million dollars at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 classic car auctions:
| Year | Car | Estimate |
| 1939 | Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster | 7,500,000 – 8,400,000 |
| 1961 | Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico | 3,250,000 – 3,850,000 |
| 1995 | Ferrari F50 | 3,000,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 1969 | Ferrari 365 GTS | 2,900,000 – 3,500,000 |
| 2003 | Ferrari Enzo | 2,700,000 – 3,000,000 |
| 1966 | Ferrari 275 GTB/6C | 2,400,000 – 2,800,000 |
| 1971 | Lamborghini Miura P400 SV | 2,300,000 – 2,600,000 |
| 1967 | Ferrari 330 GTS | 2,200,000 – 2,500,000 |
| 2013 | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport 300 | 2,100,000 – 2,300,000 |
| 1948 | Tucker 48 | 1,600,000 – 2,100,000 |
| 1933 | Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton Ralph Roberts by LeBaron | 1,400,000 – 1,800,000 |
| 1955 | Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing | 1,350,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 1939 | Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 1990 | Ferrari F40 | 1,250,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 1996 | Porsche 911 GT2 | 1,100,000 – 1,500,000 |
| 2008 | Lamborghini Reventon | 1,000,000 – 1,400,000 |
| 1930 | Cadillac V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood | 1,000,000 – 1,250,000 |
| 1965 | Aston Martin DB5 | 1,000,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 1966 | Shelby 427 Cobra | 900,000 – 1,200,000 |
| 1987 | Porsche 959 Komfort | 900,000 – 1,200,000 |
Top Mercedes Benz Cars at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017
1939 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster
A one-off 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster with coachwork by Sindelfingen, chassis 408383, estimate $7,400,000 – $8,000,000, is the top entry into the RM Sotheby’s 2017 Arizona classic car auction.
This 1939 Mercedes Benz 540 K Special Roadster was one of the last of the 419 chassis of the 540 series Mercedes delivered prior to the outbreak of the Second World War and is one of only around 25 Spezial Roadsters built. After the war, the car disappeared into the Soviet Union where a Swede Alf Johansson bought it in the 1960s. He exported the car back to the West by simply driving it to Sweden.
The fully restored Mercedes Benz won Second in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2012. After further work on the car, it also achieved a Best in Class at the Amelia Island and Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance; Best of Show at Mar-a-Lago; Best of Show, Trophy Division at Winter Park; and Best European Classic at Boca Raton, all in 2014.
This very special Mercedes Benz, chassis 408383, has earned commission for RM Sotheby’s previously: it sold for $4,620,000 at RM Auctions Monterey 2011 sale and for $7,480,000 at RM Auctions Monterey 2013 sale.
1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing
The 1955 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing, estimate $1,350,000 – $1,500,000, is a remarkably original car with the original engine and interior with Rudge knock-off wheels and fitted luggage as factory options. The color changed from light metallic blue to graphite grey in 1995. The car had only three owners since new.
Mercedes Benz 300 SL prices mostly ended its meteoric rise of recent years at 2016 auctions but good examples still sell even if prices are a bit weaker. Gooding will have a Gullwing and Roadster at Scottsdale 2017 while Bonhams will have none this round.
Top Ferraris at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017
1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico
The 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico by Pininfarina, chassis 2841 SA, estimate $3,250,000 – $3,850,000, is the top Ferrari on offer at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017.
This 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico is another car that RM Auction sold previously – it achieved $2,750,000 at Monterey 2013.
1995 Ferrari F50
The 1995 Ferrari F50, estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000, was the 62nd of the 349 F50s built and one of 55 in US specification. Only four F50s were finished by the factory in Nero black with only two of these destined for the USA. (The other US black F50 was crashed but repaired.)
Although this Ferrari F50 has covered only 2,090 miles since new, the estimate is well above what F50s achieved at auction in 2016.
1969 Ferrari 365 GTS
The 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS, chassis 12489, estimate $2,900,000 – $3,500,000, is one of only 20 built making it one of the rarest Ferrari spiders. This 365 GTS had six owners in just less than five decades and has covered only 10,235 km in that period. It comes with a Ferrari Classiche Red Book confirming that 12489 retains all of its original matching-numbers drivetrain components, original-type brakes, suspension, Borrani RW 4039 wheels, and the original coachwork.
2003 Ferrari Enzo
The 2003 Ferrari Enzo, estimate $2,700,000 – $3,000,000, on offer at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 is the car of fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger. The car has been driven only 3,620 miles.
RM Sotheby’s estimate is towards the higher end of what has been achieved at auction for Enzos – the Pope’s $6 million Enzo excepted. Bonhams released no estimate for the Enzo it offers at Scottsdale 2017.
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C by Scaglietti
The yellow 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C by Scaglietti, chassis 08431, estimate $2,400,000 – $2,800,000, is a late production long-nose, torque tube example. It is a matching numbers sample and finished in its original color scheme of fly yellow over black – much of the paint is believed to be original. It had only four previous owners and covered only 21,000 miles.
1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina
The 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS by Pininfarina, chassis no. 10689, estimate $2,200,000 – $2,500,000, was the 63rd of only 99 built. The car was fully restored in 2013 and retained its original engine. This Ferrari is Classiche certified and a four-time Platinum award winner including at the 2014 Cavallino Classic. The estimate is not overambitious given its great condition and 330 GTS results in 2016.
1990 Ferrari F40
A 1990 Ferrari F40, estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000, will be on offer at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 sale. The F40 is the most-produced Ferrari supercar with more than 1,300 sold worldwide. This F40 is one of the 213 built to US specifications and is California smog compliant. It has covered only 7,614 miles and has never been raced. It has a full maintenance history and is a 2016 Ferrari Club of America Platinum Award winner.
Bugattis at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand
RM Sotheby’s will offer a 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand, chassis no. 57587, estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000, at its Arizona 2017 sale. This car is the earliest of the six survivors with this coachwork and is finished in the original colors. In 2004, it finished second in class behind the Best of Show winner at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
Gooding will offer a 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Racer at the 2017 Arizona sale but the more elegant 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Cabriolet with coachwork by Vanvooren will only be on offer at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island sale in March 2017.
2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport 300
The white 2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport 300, Serial no. 300, estimate $2,100,000 – $2,300,000, was the last of the 300 Veyron’s produced. It is one of only 8 US-specification Super Sports built and has covered only 400 miles since new.
RM Sotheby’s previously sold this car at Monterey 2015 for $2.3 million, when it was offered in the same sale as the first Veyron built.
American Classics at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017
1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton ‘Ralph Roberts’ by LeBaron
The 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton ‘Ralph Roberts’ by LeBaron, estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000, is one of the star cars at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017. It is a one-off design and was the personal car of LeBaron designer Ralph Roberts.
This elegant Chrysler won Best of Show at the Concours d’Elegance of America at St. John’s in 2012, and at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance in 2014. It was judged Best in Class at the 2013 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and Most Elegant Open Pre-War Car at the 2016 Elegance at Hershey.
1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood
The 1930 Cadillac V-16 Roadster by Fleetwood, estimate $1,000,000 – $1,250,000, is another very desirable American classic on offer at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 sale. Cadillac’s V16 was the first engine ever to be “styled” with hidden wiring and a dressed-up engine compartment. The Cadillac was shown at Pebble Beach in 1999 and 2008, which should allow the new owner to present the car at the world’s most prestigious Concours d’Elegance again soon.
1948 Tucker 48
The 1948 Tucker 48, chassis 1044, estimate $1,600,000 – $2,100,000, on offer at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 was the 44th of 51 built. It is a recent barn find that has been unseen for 33 years and is one of the remarkably 47 that survived to the present. The car has covered only 7,900 miles and has a known history from new. The estimate is inline with results at recent auctions.
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra
The 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, chassis CSX 3293, estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000, has covered around 21,000 miles since new.
This Shelby 427 Cobra has a full ownership history from new and only received a cosmetic restoration with the original bodywork kept red over black as originally delivered.
Million-Dollar Porsches at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017
1996 Porsche 911 GT2
The yellow 1996 Porsche 911 GT2, estimate $1,100,000 – $1,500,000, is one of only 57 homologated 993 GT2s ever built for street use. The car had only two owners and had been “Federalized” after its recent importation to the USA.
A 1995 Porsche 911 GT2 sold for a sensational $2.5 million at RM Sotheby’s London 2016 sale and expect more to test the market if this GT2 at RM Sotheby’s, as well as the one on offer at Gooding Scottsdale 2017 return strong results.
1987 Porsche 959
Hardly a classic car auction week goes by without a Porsche 959 on offer and the 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort, estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000, at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 will compete with a slightly more expensive one at Gooding Scottsdale 2017. This Porsche 959 has covered a relatively low 13,000 km – in contrast to many other supercars the 959s are often driven long distance. Buying a Porsche 959 is only part of the expense – this car is accompanied by service invoices totaling $175,900 since 2012!
Further Million-Dollar Cars at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017
1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone
The 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV by Bertone, chassis 4946, estimate $2,300,000 – $2,600,000, on offer at RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 is an original US delivery model in its original color scheme. Winning Best Lamborghini at Concorso Italiano’s Miura 50th Anniversary celebration last year should help it to become the next Miura to achieve $2 million like two did in 2016.
2008 Lamborghini Reventón
The 2008 Lamborghini Reventón, estimate $1,000,000-$1,400,000, was the third of only 20 ever produced. All Lamborghini Reventóns were finished in matte grey over black leather. This makes it amongst the rarest Lamborghinis ever produced. The original selling price was around $1.5 million. The four previous owners of this car had only covered a thousand miles in eight years.
1965 Aston Martin DB5
The 1965 Aston Martin DB5, estimate $1,000,000 – $1,200,000, is a US-specification car with matching numbers engine. Although three DB5s sold in excess of a million dollars in 2014, no standard DB5 has done that in the last two years.
More on Scottsdale, Arizona 2017:
- Scottsdale 2017 Results: Barrett-Jackson, Bonhams, Gooding, RM Sotheby’s
- 2017 Scottsdale and Arizona Auctions Preview
- 2017 RM Sotheby’s Arizona Preview
- 2017 Bonhams Scottsdale Preview
- 2017 Gooding Scottsdale Preview
- 2017 Pre-Auction Announcements: Bonhams (Porsche 904, Ferrari 340, Jaguar E-Type), RM Sotheby’s (1933 Chrysler CL), Gooding (Bugatti Type 35, Sports Cars, Performance Cars), Barrett-Jackson (Shelby Mustangs, Rare Mopars)
- Results from Scottsdale, Arizona 2016: Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s, Gooding, Barrett-Jackson.
Scottsdale (Arizona) – The First Classic Car Auctions of the Year