Barrett-Jackson Delays 2021 Scottsdale Auction

Arizona Auction Week is six weeks away, but it’s not going to be business as usual in the desert in 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic is to blame, even though several vaccines are in the pipeline. Right now, as we all wait for the imminent vaccine, COVID-19 cases — and deaths — are at all-time highs in the United States.

It is unlikely that most U.S. citizens will have a vaccine within six weeks, so the big land auction companies — Gooding & Company, RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Russo and Steele, Worldwide Auctioneers and Barrett-Jackson — are coping with the situation in different ways.

Here is where we stand right now: 

Barrett-Jackson’s March Move

Barrett-Jackson is always the biggest, longest show during Arizona Auction Week each January. However, 2021 is bringing a big change — Barrett-Jackson is moving their big show to a yet-undecided date in March.

Barrett-Jackson’s 2021 Scottsdale Auction was scheduled for January 16-23 at the sprawling Westworld of Scottsdale. 

“While every indication showed that our bidders, consignors and sponsors were behind our efforts to hold our auction next month, we decided it would be prudent at this time to safeguard everyone’s health,” Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said in a press release. “We determined that moving our event to March 2021 seemed like the right thing to do to avoid the coronavirus spike that is currently being predicted. We appreciate the support we have received from the City of Scottsdale and State of Arizona regarding this decision. We were widely praised for the safety protocols we put in place for our recent Fall Auction, and we want to be able to provide customers and fans the same safe environment and great Barrett-Jackson experience during our Scottsdale Auction this spring.”

Westworld is located at 16601 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

In a regular year, hundreds of thousands of bidders and car lovers roll into Westworld for the Barrett-Jackson extravaganza, which combines elements of luxury lifestyle boutique, state fair and massive collector-car auction. 

In 2021, the big party won’t start until March.

For more information, visit www.barrett-jackson.com

Bonhams’ Online Move

Bonhams’ Scottsdale Auction will happen at its usual site at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa on January 21.

Bidders can go to the auction site to examine the cars on January 19-20, said Gordan Mandich, Bonhams car specialist.

However, the live auction itself will be online, as no audience will be allowed at the auction site this year, Mandich said.

“All the cars will be outside, with no tents, for the preview days” Mandich said.

Bidders can go online to the live auction to bid — or submit bids over the telephone or through an absentee bid.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is located at 6902 E. Greenway Parkway, Scottsdale, AZ 85254.

For more information, visit https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26617/

Gooding & Company Gears up Online

Gooding moved its live Scottsdale Auction to an entirely online sale a few weeks ago. The Geared Online/Scottsdale Edition Auction is scheduled for January 18-21.

Gooding wants to get back to live auctions as soon as possible, said Ryan Bender, Gooding & Company publicist.

“But right now, I think everything is constantly in flux and changing,” Bender said.

Gooding hopes to have a live auction during the Amelia Island Concours week. Their auction is currently scheduled for March 5, 2021, at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation resort.

Gooding will continue to offer Geared Online auctions after the COVID-19 pandemic ends, Bender said.

The online-only auctions reach a wide audience of car collectors, and even the live auctions will continue to offer online bidding — along with telephone bids, Bender said.

For more information, visit www.goodingco.com

Worldwide Auctioneers’ Scottsdale in Auburn

Worldwide has moved its Scottsdale Auction to its Auburn, IN headquarters. Their Scottsdale in Auburn auction is now scheduled for January 23, 2021.

The sale will welcome in-person and online bidders, and all COVID-19 precautions, including taking temperatures at the door, are in place, said Jo Snyder, Worldwide Auctioneers spokesperson.

Worldwide conducted a very successful auction in Auburn this fall.

Worldwide plans a return to Scottsdale, Arizona for the 2022 Arizona Auction Week, Snyder said.

For more information, visit www.worldwideauctioneers.com.

RM Sotheby’s at OTTO Car Club

RM Sotheby’s is also making a move this year, but it’s a short one — to the OTTO Car Club in Scottsdale.

RM Sotheby’s January 22, 2021 Arizona Auction will be limited to registered bidders, but online bidding is also welcome.

The OTTO Car Club is at 15550 N. 78th St., Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

For more information, visit https://rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/az21

Russo and Steele’s Private Party

A change of venue — and format — mark Russo and Steele’s RS Collector Automobile Invitational on January 23, 2021. 

The Invitational will happen at Russo and Steele headquarters at 7722 East Gray Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. A selected group of bidders — applications are available at Russo and Steele’s website — will get a private preview session, a full dinner service and then the company’s signature “Auction in the Round.”

This new format, which includes complete social distancing, makes sense this year, said Drew Alcazar, Russo and Steele CEO.

“We thought we’d invite some loyal clients and auction about 75 to 80 great cars  — a smaller gathering this year,” Alcazar said.

Russo and Steele will probably go back to the bigger, multi-day Scottsdale Auction in 2022, Alcazar said.

For more information, visit https://russoandsteele.com/scottsdale/