RM Sotheby’s Realizes More Than $44m in Phoenix

RM Sotheby’s kicked off its 2023 auction calendar with more than $44m sold in Phoenix during Arizona Auction Week. The one-day sale held on January 25 matched the sales total — $44,873,140 to be exact — with an equally impressive 91.3 percent sell-through rate.

Image: Jakob Rosen ©2022 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The list of top sales was an even mix of vintage favorites and modern collectibles. Taking top-sale honors in Phoenix was a 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari at $4,075,000. Finished in the striking color of Blu Elettrico — the only example in the color — it was purchased new by Ferrari collector Greg Whitten and has covered just over 3k miles. The hybrid hypercar was one of five Ferrari models landing in the top ten.

Just behind at $3,580,000 was a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV, followed by icon from Maranello — a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 — selling for $3,360,000. The beautiful and potent Miura SV was a matching-numbers example that was said to have been fully restored by Bobileff Motorcar Company, with an engine rebuild by Bob Wallace. The 275 GTB/4 was said to have been largely original and preserved. It was offered from 45 years of single-family ownership.

Image: Motorcar Studios ©2022 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Grabbing headlines prior to the start of Arizona Auction Week was a 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray ZL-1 Convertible. The ultra-rare ZR-1 sold across the RM Sotheby’s auction block for $3,140,000, making it the fourth-highest sale of the event. The Bloomington Gold Certified car is one of two factory aluminum 427 ZL-1 Corvettes produced and was restored in 2014 by Kevin Mackay of Corvette Repair, Inc. The sum realized in Arizona is the highest price ever paid for a C3 Corvette.

Other top sales include a 1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series II at $2,225,000, a 1992 Ferrari F40 at $2,150,000 and a 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster at $1,820,000. Modern supercars rounded out the top ten with a 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort at $1,682,500, and a 2017 Ferrari F12tdf and 2005 Porsche Carrera GT which each sold for $1,242,500.

Matt Malamut, Car Specialist at RM Sotheby’s, said: “The Arizona auction was an incredible event to kick off 2023 after a tremendous 2022. Pulling off another successful Arizona sale was a global effort that involved team members from around the world. From the moment the first consignments came in, to the last car crossing the block, the entire RM Sotheby’s team kept pushing to ensure the very best possible result for our clients.”

Check out complete results from RM Sotheby’s Arizona here