The 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions is the largest classic car auction of the year that has just ended in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event was a roaring success as more than 2,600 cars were sold at the event, generating a jaw-dropping total sum of $248 million.
There was a strong competition for vintage trucks and muscle cars, however, to no one’s surprise brands such as Ferrari and Porsche were able to grab the attention of the classic car enthusiasts more than any other brand.
There were 3,176 classic cars available for auction at the 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions of which 2,668 were sold at the event. While there were some very expensive cars that failed to sell due to their high minimum bids, there were plenty of vehicles that not only succeeded in getting the attention of the enthusiasts, but also in getting the best price.
Here are the 5 most expensive classic cars that were auctioned at the 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions.
1966 Shelby 427 Cobra “Semi Competition” – Sold for $2,947,500
Sold for almost $3 million, the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra “Semi-Competition” succeeded in getting half a million more than its estimated price to make it one of the most expensive Shelby ever sold. The distinctive classic car appeal and no roof makes it one of the most beautiful Shelby Cobras ever designed.
The RM Sotheby’s auction house brought the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra “Semi-Competition” to the 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions. At the time of its release, the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra was given a reengineered chassis that was 5-inches wider to contain the wider wheels. The exterior was redesigned to be muscular and more aggressive with bulging fenders that transitioned into smooth surfaces.
The hood dived a little more deeply into the grille while the headlights retained their round look to give the signature Cobra front fascia. Carroll Hall Shelby, the famous American automotive designer, designed the 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra “Semi-Competition” and only 34 street cars were produced, which were the fastest road-going cars ever built.
The 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra “Semi-Competition” was powered by a 7.0-litre cast-iron 427 V8 engine paired with 4-speed manual transmission and was capable of producing 485 bhp and offered a top speed of 298 Km/h. The vehicle is brutally fast and this characteristic earned it the title of the “Ultimate Street Cobra.”
1931 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster – Sold for $4,070,000
At the time of its release, the 1931 Bugatti Type 55 was available as a coupe and a convertible, but it was the limited Roadster model that got the attention of sports car enthusiasts of that time. Designed by Jean Bugatti, the 1931 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster was the “ultimate high-performance machine” for speed enthusiasts.
The 1931 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster features many unique design elements that were not seen in any other Roadster of the time such as the raked windscreen, side and top louvers and a Grand Prix-style hood. The vehicle was unveiled at the 1931 Paris Auto Show where it stunned the audience with its sporty design and luxurious interior.
The 1931 Type 55 Roadster was powered by a 2.3-litre supercharged twin-cam Grand Prix straight-8 engine that was capable of producing 130 horsepower and was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. It had a top speed of 110mph and was only available to the exclusive clients of the brand.
The 1931 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster was auctioned by Gooding & Company for $4,070,000.
Also read: Evolution of Bugatti – A Story of Passion, Agony and Success
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider – Sold for $4,455,000
1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider was yet another vehicle that was auctioned by Gooding & Company at the 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions. The 1954 500 Mondial Spider is one of the last 30 original Mondials left in the world and this explains its expensive price tag.
The 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider was built on a lightweight suspension that was designed to be small and help the vehicle move faster. The car had rounded edges and a low stance to make it appear sportier and sleeker. The nose of the hood dived a little lower than the past models so that it can be more aerodynamic.
The vehicle was fitted with a 2.0-litre inline 4-Cylinder engine that was capable of producing 170 horsepower. Additionally, this was the first-ever four-cylinder engine produced by Ferrari. This same engine was used in countless other race cars by Ferrari in later years and proved to be one of their best engines.
The 1954 Ferrari 500 Mondial Spider was auctioned for $4,455,000.
Also read: Ferrari GTC4 Lusso Gets Ready for the Debut in Geneva
1958 Porsche 550A Spyder – Sold for $5,170,000
The 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder is not just any race car, it has a rich and unparalleled racing history that speaks of its capabilities. Any classic car enthusiast would know that this car is more commonly known as the “giant killer,” which was a “Class Winner at Nürburgring 1000” and came at 5th place at the 1958 24 Hours Le Mans.
It raced and won against vehicles that were far more powerful and bigger than it was and made history. The 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder sold at the event is special because it was one of the last cars to be built of the limited 40 units produced. This particular model received many upgrades that include new Weber carburetors, higher compression rate and a centralized distribution to enhance the performance of the car.
Porsche fitted the 1958 550A Spyder with a 1.5-litre twin-cam flat 4-Cylinder engine that was capable of producing 135 horsepower and was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. Even the design of the 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder was revolutionary because it was much smaller than the other race cars of its time.
The 1958 Porsche 550A Spyder was auctioned by Bonhams for $5,170,000.
Also read: 8th-Gen 2017 Porsche 911 Carrera: Engineered to be a Purebred Sports Car
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale Coupe – Sold for $8,085,000
The 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale Coupe was auctioned at the 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions by Gooding & Company and it was the most expensive car auctioned at the event. In fact, this 275 GTB Speciale Coupe made the record for the most expensive steel-bodied 275 GTB ever sold.
There are many reasons why this was one of the most sought-after cars at the event and one of them was the fact that it is the only remaining coupe of the original 4 of this iconic model that were designed and built by the legendary house of Carrozeria Pininfarina.
The 1965 Speciale Coupe has been taken as the prime example of a coachbuilt Ferrari that depicts the true Italian automotive design with exceptional beauty and luxury. The Speciale Coupe had many different design elements from the regular 275 GTB, for example, it had a more luxurious interior while the exterior had no driver’s side vent window. The engineers added a rear diffuser to add to the aerodynamics and take the performance of this coupe to the next level.
The front indicators were more prominent while the front bumpers were smaller to fit well with a specially designed grille. The cabin was luxurious as well, with high-grain leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel and many other features that promised enhanced comfort of the occupants.
As for the performance specifications, the 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale Coupe was a rear-wheel drive coupe that was fitted with a very powerful 3.3-litre V12 engine that was capable of producing a stunning 265bhp and was paired with a 5-speed manual transaxle transmission.
It was auctioned by Gooding & Company for $8,085,000.
Also read: The 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta Limited Edition Revealed
Key Takeaways!
These are the 5 most expensive classic cars that were auctioned at the 2018 Arizona Collector Car Auctions. These cars depict an era of strong racing heritage that left a lasting impression on major brands as well as the car enthusiasts of that time. Likewise, auctions such as Arizona Collector Car Auctions offer an ideal platform for classic car enthusiasts to show their respect and gratitude towards industry’s best vehicles of all time.
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