Arizona car auctions cure post-Xmas blues

A 1988 Porsche 959 Sport, one of only 29 built. It will cost you about $2 million.

YOU really need to get your mind up above Christmas and focus on the best month of the year for those of the car persuasion.

Yes, I’m talking January and I’m talking Scottsdale. Everyone has an auction in Arizona in January.

Maybe it’s a snowbird thing. Maybe it’s aimed at capturing those wealthy Australian skiers from Aspen and Telluride. Or maybe the auction people just know Scottsdale is the rich retirement capital of America and there’s nothing better than looking at classic metal while waiting for the final traffic light.

Dave Gooding will be selling a 1956 Maserati A6G/200 Allemano-bodied coupe. Originally built for racing Maserati outsourced the bodywork when it turned the car into a road as well as track car. While the best racers were the Zagato-bodied cars and the Frua coachwork the prettiest, Serafino Allemano’s, were the best built and most luxurious.

Dave is selling the 10th of 15 Allemano cars built. The last Allemano Maserati auctioned was sold by Bonhams in 2012 for about $430,000. Expect this one to be north of $800,000.

Merc 300SLs continue their upward climb so expect to dig deep for Dave’s 1962 white Roadster. Before the Roadster was the Gullwing. There are those who call the Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing the most beautiful classic car of all time. There are those who call Albert Speer’s Reichskanzlei beautiful. Both have been drinking too much schnapps.

Since the Gullwing was largely inspired by New York Merc dealer Max Hoffman, most of the 1400 built went to the US. They are great-looking cars but the weird rear suspension doesn’t like corners. Bonhams will be selling the Hon Lord O’Neill’s Gullwing he bought new in 1955 and a 1957 300SL red Roadster. In this market any good roadster will bring a million.

My choice at Dave’s auction is the 1988 Porsche 959 Sport, one of 29 built. These cars cost $300,000 new and are so good the factory lost money on every one it sold to owners such as Bill Gates.

In January last year in Scottsdale, RM sold a 959 for $800,000. In March Gooding sold a low mileage red one for $1.3 million, and you’ll pay close to $2m to Dave for this white one in January.

Turning to American cars, which I’d rather you didn’t: Barrett-Jackson is selling a 1971 Plymouth Hemi ’Cuda two-door hardtop, one of three factory-painted in Curious Yellow. Older but better travelled readers will remember this paint colour was inspired by the Swedish movie I Am Curious (Yellow), a film certainly not recommended for younger readers. Given they sold a black version in Las Vegas this year for $400,000 this ’Cuda should fetch $500,000.

At this stage you’re thinking: “I want some American metal but I don’t have half a mill and my partner thinks cars are useless.” Ha! There’s a reason you come to the motoring section, apart from Phil King’s killer looks. For just 10 grand Florida’s Car Pool Tables will sell you a Mustang pool table built from real Ford parts, complete with working lights, real chrome and tyres. Got $33,000 in the back sky rocket? One of only 50 Shelby GT 350 pool tables, signed by Carroll Shelby himself, can be in your house next week. Given Carroll recently hit his final red light these must be great value.

Of course if you have plenty of money but no taste, British guitar maker Guy Harrison is selling a wood, carbon fibre and aluminum Alfa Romeo guitar for $7000. The guitar is electric, so have a technician on standby.

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