Market Intelligence
Scottsdale and Retromobile. Catch a flight to both
The upcoming auctions at Retromobile in Paris and Scottsdale, Arizona offer a diverse range of classic and modern cars, with some interesting and rare models up for sale. From the 1965 MGB Roadster customized by Frontline Developments, to a Simplex 50hp 5-Passenger Torpedo Tourer from 1910, and hypercars like the McLaren P1, Speedtail, and Senna LM, there's something for every collector's taste. The highlight of the auctions is the 1964 Ferrari 250 LM, estimated to fetch between €10m-€15m. The auctions will provide a good indication of market trends and values for these unique cars.
When Phil Collins decided to play at both Live Aid concerts on the same day in 1985, first in London and then in Philadelphia, he used a combination of
Concorde and time zones to pull it off. Some collectors may well be tempted to try the same tactic to put together the three auctions of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Paris, at Retromobile. Concorde may no longer be with us but the journey only takes a day, so it is possible.
Let’s start the proceedings by fishing out a few of the lots for each auction: from Barrett-Jackson in Arizona, the Toyota Supra: the first Japanese car from the 1990s to see its prices jump, pointing the way to everything that has happened in the last three years. Of the six offered for sale, three deserve special attention. All three are equipped with the more desirable manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. I would choose the grey one from 1998 because it has only covered 18,000 miles (the other two cars, both black, have 52,000 and 65,000 miles under their belts), but the highest mileage model is also the only one not to have been in an accident. Their quotations will be a good indication of future trends.
