Vehicle Remarketing Logo

Auctions America Breaks Records, Sales Hit $17.5 Million

Auctions America’s second annual California sale bested the company’s 2013 results in every category.

by Staff
August 7, 2014
Auctions America Breaks Records, Sales Hit $17.5 Million

Top-seller: 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster commanded $1,155,000. (PHOTO: AUCTIONS AMERICA)

2 min to read


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. 

More Operations

total fleet sales cumulative Jan to July 2026
Operationsby Chris BrownAugust 10, 2026

Fleet Sales Hold Steady as Commercial Gains Offset Rental Decline

Commercial and government fleet sales increased through July 2026, offsetting most of the decline in rental volume and leaving combined comparable fleet sales 0.5% above the same period last year.

Read More →
personnel update for Automotive Fleet
Operationsby Staff and News ReportsAugust 6, 2026

Personnel Update: BrickHouse GPS, PRO-VISION, Auto Driveaway, and Proaction

Check out the latest must-know fleet personnel updates from the last couple of months.

Read More →
Arrival feature app on a map
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseAugust 6, 2026

What Comes Next for Auto Driveaway?

A new Auto Driveaway feature called Arrive provides recipients with live location updates and ETAs during the final hour of a vehicle move, while fleet customers continue to have end-to-end shipment visibility through the company's customer portal.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Blue bar graphs showing changes in wholesale used vehicle prices based on vehicle segments.
Auctionsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 9, 2026

Manheim Index Shows Used-Vehicle Wholesale Prices Up 2.1% in June

The market is seeing stronger appreciation in older used vehicles this year, and the most affordable segments have been among the year’s best performers.

Read More →
Green and black bar graphs showing 2026 versus 2025 fleet sales.
Fleetby Martin RomjueJuly 8, 2026

Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains

The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.

Read More →
Bright green electric vehicle plugged into a charger inside a service and reconditioning facility, with additional vehicles lined up in the background.
OperationsJuly 1, 2026

Stop Remarketing Electric Vehicles Like Gas Cars

The advantages and attributes of electric vehicles are upending the traditional remarketing cycle, requiring fleet sellers to rely on new factors and approaches detailed below.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic featuring the Work Truck logo above the headline "Maximize Asset Value" over a blurred image of white commercial box trucks lined up in a fleet parking area. The graphic accompanies a story about AP Fleet Management's expanded remarketing program for commercial work trucks and fleet vehicles.
Operationsby Lauren FletcherJune 29, 2026

AP Fleet Management Expands Remarketing Program for Commercial Work Trucks

AP Fleet Management expanded its commercial vehicle remarketing program with dedicated resale services and an online marketplace for used work trucks.

Read More →
Vertical dark blue graphs showing new and used EV sales
Fleetby News/Media ReleaseJune 16, 2026

Used EVs Strengthen Overall Electric Vehicle Market

The latest sales data point to several reasons for the divergent trends in new and used EVs that can factor into fleet cycling decisions.

Read More →
A double-decker stinger car hauler carries a full load of new white vehicles along an interstate highway.
FleetJune 1, 2026

The Data-Driven Haul: 5 Ways AI is Leveling the Playing Field in Auto Transport

Large and small transport fleets are becoming more competitive as predictive analytics and real-time data inform the logistics decision chain.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of three award winners at 2026 CAR
Operationsby Faith HowellMay 6, 2026

2026 CAR Awards Celebrate Industry Excellence

CAR’s annual Fleet Remarketing Awards opened a reimagined 2026 conference designed to bridge the worlds of fleet management and automotive remarketing.

Read More →