2010 Automobiles of Arizona Auction Results – RM Auctions

RM Auctions returned to the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix, Arizona on January 21-22 for its 2010 Automobiles of Arizona auction event, posting over $19.6 million in total sales with an strong 89% of lots sold.

RM’s annual Arizona auction was extended to two days this year with the addition of a British-themed evening auction on Thursday, January 21st ahead of its traditional Friday sale on January 22nd. Despite treacherous weather conditions, it was standing-room only within the auction room for the duration of the two days with bidders traveling to Phoenix from across the continent and as far away as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel and Belgium.

‘The addition of ‘The British Are Coming’ event set the stage for a truly memorable two-day event with a strong overall performance,” said Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer of RM Auctions.

“As our first auction of 2010, it was very encouraging to see such solid results. The response to this sale, as illustrated in the impressive sell-through rate, is a great reflection of the continuing strength of the market and provides a positive outlook for the year ahead,” he added.

Headlining the two-day sale was a rare 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT, offered at Thursday’s ‘The British Are Coming’ event. One of only six GT’s known to have full factory lightweight construction details and the last GT to be built and sold by Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell Factory, this stunning example realized $1,001,000. The DB4 GT headlined a charge of Aston Martins that dominated the top-seller’s list at the Thursday evening auction. Other highlights included a superbly restored 1965 Aston Martin DB5 for $429,000 and a matched pair of Aston Martin DB Mark III’s, one Drop Head Coupe and one Saloon, which fetched $330,000 and $275,000 respectively.

Top-sellers at Friday’s sale included a stunning, professionally-restored 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra, formerly part of the renowned Otis Chandler Collection, for $632,500; a striking 1932 Duesenberg Model J Tourster for $550,000; and a impressive 1933 Rolls-Royce PII Continental Three-Position Drop Head Coupe for $528,000.

The Friday sale also presented a line-up of concept cars by Detroit automakers, headlined by the one-off 1954 Mercury XM-800 Dream Car which achieved $429,000, while a 1956 Cadillac “Maharani Special” Motorama Show Car exceeded its pre-sale auction estimate of $150,000, selling for $225,500.

Notable non-sales include the 1964 Shelby 427 Cobra ‘Flip-Top’ Roadster that did not sell at high bid of $1,450,000 and the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt Concept that failed to sell at $1,175,000 high bid.

Click for complete results: 2010 Automobiles of Arizona – Official Results

RM Auctions offered 168 automobiles for sale, with 150 finding a new owner, reflecting an 89% sales rate. Total sales volume was $19,664,100, inclusive of buyer’s premiums. The average price per car sold was $131,094.

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2010 Automobiles of Arizona Auction Results – RM Auctions

“The British Are Coming” Auction Results – Thursday, January 21

2010 Automobiles of Arizona Auction Results – Friday, January 22

RM Auctions will continue its 2010 auction season in Florida in March with the return of its Automobiles of Amelia Island event on March 13th, held in partnership with the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, closely followed by the annual Collector Cars of Fort Lauderdale event, March 26th – 28th.

[Source: RM Auctions]