Demand from both buyers and sellers has been pushing the collector car market to new highs in recent years. In January 2024, Barrett-Jackson filled all of their consignment slots in record time. This prompted the Arizona-based auction company to launch a new Scottsdale Fall auction, which took place Oct. 10-13, 2024.
The new Scottsdale Fall auction was a smash success, any way you look at it. The catalog featured 794 vehicles and more than 400 pieces of collectible memorabilia over the three-day auction.
Collector Car Sales
Collector car sales were strong, with a 99% sell-through rate and total sales of more than $55 million. American muscle cars from the 1960s-1990s dominated the catalog, with many examples of Mustangs and Corvettes on offer.
Auction Atmosphere
The Scottsdale Fall auction had a different feel than the larger January auction. For one thing, it felt weird to be at Westworld when it was hot outside. The temperature was noticeably warmer in October than in January.
There were about half as many cars as there were during the January auction, which was also noticeable.
Finally, the crowds were smaller, especially during the daytime on Thursday and Friday. I enjoyed the auction event more with fewer people present, which meant shorter lines for food. However, many of the food vendors were not open on Thursday and Friday, leaving fewer options to choose from.
Bugatti Chiron Falls Short of the Reserve Price
One of the star vehicles consigned to sell was a 2018 Bugatti Chiron hypercar, formerly owned by Super Middleweight boxing champion of the world, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. The 34-year-old fighter has a collection of 10+ supercars and muscle cars as well as several motorcycles.
The Chiron was previously listed with DuPont Registry in 2022 with an asking price of $3.9 million and showing 1,520 miles on the odometer. In late 2024, the auction listing stated 1,668 miles. That works out to just 148 miles driven during the last two years – truly a garage queen.
The car features an 8.0 liter W16 engine with four turbochargers, producing a staggering 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 ft-lbs of torque. The car can dash from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and achieve a top speed of 261 mph.
Barrett-Jackson does not do appraisals for auction cars. Bidding for the Chiron started at $250,000 and quickly jumped up past a million dollars. The high bid was $2.3 million which did not meet the reserve price, and the car did not sell. Several months earlier in January, Barrett-Jackson sold a different 2018 Chiron for $2.97 million. I was disappointed that this one did not sell, as I would have liked to see a new owner for this incredible car.
Sammy Hagar Sets a Record for Ferrari LaFerrari
Another featured car that crossed the block on Super Saturday was the 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari owned by rocker Sammy Hagar.
The car is one of just 499 units built, and the only one finished in a cream exterior color with cream-colored seats over a black interior.
The car was originally consigned to sell at the January 2024 auction but was removed so that the car’s hybrid battery pack could be replaced. The work was completed at Ferrari of San Francisco during the summer. Unofficial sources online put the cost of the replacement battery pack at approximately $30,000, though the repair cost was not mentioned in the listing.
With an original MSRP of $1.5 million, the LaFerrari has appreciated rapidly, with a median sale price of $3.3 million in recent years. On Super Saturday, October 12th, Sammy Hagar’s Ferrari hammered for a record $4,250,000 or $4,675,000 including the buyer’s premium.
Get Ready for the Next Event
While the Scottsdale Fall auction has ended, the Arizona-based auction company is already gearing up for the next event, January 18-26, 2025. Follow Generation High Output for more updates.
