Scottsdale, Arizona, 19 January, 2015

The stunningly beautiful, fast and historic 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione that won its class at Le Mans, Spa and Imola zoomed to the forefront of Bonhams Scottsdale auction on Thursday, January 15th, and sold for $9,405,000, setting a new world auction record for the model and also making it one of the most valuable cars ever auctioned in Arizona.

Held at the picturesque Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Bonhams’ fourth annual event was at full capacity with an audience of international bidders spilling outside the auction pavilion and onto the lawns where TV monitors broadcast the sale.

Of the curated selection of 84 automobiles on offer, Ferrari – the grandest sporting marque of them all – was well represented as were notable motorcars from every era, many of which achieved very impressive results.

The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “Gullwing” Coupe formerly owned by Lord O’Neill, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, made $1,375,000 after it was the subject of spirited bidding from collectors in attendance and on the telephones. Another Teutonic gem that was the focus of intense interest was the silver 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster with red interior, which achieved $1,237,500.

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The very original 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 that had been in single-family ownership since new drew an enormous amount of attention and finally sold to a private American collection for $1,017,500.

Representing veteran and vintage cars, a Humber and a Kissel realized new world auction records for their marques. The British-built 1904 Humber 8.5hp Twin-Cylinder Two-Seater made $148,500 while the American-built 1926 Kissel 6-55 Gold Bug Speedster sold for $286,000.

Other notable results came from a 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Coupe that achieved $511,500, while a pair of Ferrari 512 BBi models, a 1982 and a 1984, made more than double their pre-auction estimates with the former making a new auction record for the model when it sold for $357,500.

From Bonhams’ popular automobilia section, a 1929 opalescent “Vitesse” glass mascot by René Lalique exceeded expectations when it was bought by an American collector for $35,000. Showing strong demand in the market, other items from the French house of Lalique also achieved robust results.

Said James Knight, Bonhams Group Motoring Director, “Year on year our auction here in Scottsdale has grown in both reputation and results. Our selection is focused but diverse, representing the very best of the car collecting hobby, and we’re very pleased with the results and with the strong support demonstrated by clients from around the world.”

Added Mark Osborne, Bonhams US Head of Motoring, “Our sale has shown the strength of the market and of our firm, and it’s been a real pleasure offering blue-chip motorcars to what is truly a global audience of connoisseurs.”

Malcolm Barber, Bonhams Co-Chairman and auctioneer, stated “Scottsdale is an excellent and important sale for Bonhams and we’re delighted to be here in partnership with the beautiful Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. In continuation of our strategic global growth, we’re also looking forward to our inaugural auction at Amelia Island in March.”

For more information about the anticipated Amelia Island auction on Thursday, March 12th, please go to Bonhams.com/Amelia .

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Report& images: Peter Singhof
www.ClassicCarPhotography.de