Top-seller: 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster commanded $1,155,000. (PHOTO: AUCTIONS AMERICA)
Auctions America’s second annual California sale bested the company’s 2013 results in every category. Held July 31-August 2 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, the multi-day auction presented more than 400 quality vehicles plus rare memorabilia before a packed house, generating more than $17.5 million* in total sales.
Cars that crossed the block ran the gamut from hot rods to rare 4x4s to European roadsters. The Hollywood influence even extended to the live broadcast on NBCSN, with car-collecting comedian Jay Leno providing broadcast commentary on Friday, while “Storage Wars” reality TV star Barry Weiss offered his unique insights on Saturday.
“The success of our second California Sale is a tribute to the enthusiasm in the Los Angeles-area collector-car community,” said Ian Kelleher, Managing Director of Auctions America’s West Coast Division. “This sale offers California enthusiasts the opportunity to purchase anything from a late-model sports car to a seven-figure concours-quality classic without having to travel out of town. Last year’s results were unprecedented, and this year surpassed our expectations.”
The sale’s standard-bearer was a 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster finished in the iconic color combination of red over tan with a tan top. The thoroughly restored Mercedes-Benz was in remarkable condition, exemplified by its $1,155,000 price tag. Another eye-opener was a rare Ferrari 333 SP engine, which commanded $310,500.
Examples of future collectibles included a 1988 BMW E30 M3 for $56,100 and a 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera, which garnered $181,500. Also notable was a 1969 DeTomaso Mangusta at $214,500. The Hollywood aura helped a low-mileage 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 sell for $55,000 on an auction block located a few miles from where “Back To The Future” was filmed.
High-profile customs included a 1935 Ford pickup built by legendary hot-rodder Gene Winfield, who watched his creation sell for $143,000. The “Unknown Roadster,” a barn-find 1931 Model A-based rod with undocumented provenance, realized $78,100.
Auctions America’s California Sale Top 5 sales:
Lot 3065 | 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster | $1,155,000 |
Lot 3098 | 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa | $1,017,500 |
Lot 3150 | 1990 Ferrari F40 | $990,000 |
Lot 2149 | 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra | $962,500 |
Lot 3102 | 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC | $759,000 |
*Results are listed in USD and are inclusive of 10 percent buyer’s premium for automobiles and 15 percent for all other lots.
