30 star cars in 2024’s Scottsdale sales

Great Scotts!

Every year at the end of January, the classic-car world decamps to Scottsdale in Arizona, where a number of major auction houses hold large sales of some of the finest cars from days gone by.

The town is home turf for renowned auction house Barrett-Jackson, but Bonhams, RM Sotheby’s and Worldwide Auctioneers will also be holding events, and all have cars to whet the appetite of well-heeled collectors. This year, the first auction is on 20 January.

Here, in age order, we list 30 of the unusual, rare, captivating and downright jaw-dropping classic cars that are set to cross the block at the end of this month, January 2024.

1. 1918 Detroit Electric Model 75, Worldwide Auctioneers (no reserve)

The world may be going mad for electric cars, but they are not a new thing. A long way from it, in fact, and this 1918 example is the proof.

The Detroit Electric Car Company was founded in 1907, and became prolific in the world of early EVs.

Its Model 75 was so named because it could travel 75 miles on a charge.

This 1918 machine resided in a museum for many years before being acquired by its current owner, who fitted it with new whitewall tyres and new batteries.

The interior contains swivelling seats and tiller controls, while the exterior features blue wooden wheels and a pop-out windscreen.

2. 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Roadster, Bonhams (est: $1-1.2m)

This 1930 Cadillac Series 452 Roadster, with coachwork by Fleetwood, was owned by its first buyer for three years, after which it was traded in and bought by the Moir family of Brookline, Massachusetts. It then remained in the ownership of that family for the next 81 years.

It remains in the colours that it left the factory in, namely Boone Brown with Thorn Maroon for the rear deck, the wheels and various trim pieces.

It was used on a daily basis until around 1950, after which it was stored and preserved in its original condition until the early 1990s, when it was subject to an extensive restoration.

3. 1931 Auburn 8-98A Cabriolet, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

This ‘McCleary Special’ was purchased by the current owner, William McCleary, in 1988, and was immediately the subject of an extensive nut-and-bolt restoration.

This included a complete rebuild of the engine, plus all the suspension and chassis.

After that, the car was used regularly, but the owner felt that it needed some updates to improve its driveability and its safety.

To those ends, the brakes were converted to a hydraulic system with a dual master cylinder, while a power-steering system was also added.

Mr McCleary also changed the fuelling system to a twin-carburettor set-up, to give the car a bit more power.

4. 1936 Packard Twelve Series 1407 Convertible Coupe Roadster, Bonhams (est: $325-375,000)

Many car companies went to the wall in the 1930s, mainly because of the Great Depression, but Packard was not one of them.

Its shrewd fiscal policy meant it weathered the storm flush with cash, and so invested that money in models such as this Series 12 Coupe Roadster.

The car has all the classic features of the day, including wire wheels, rear-hinged doors and long, swooping front wings.

Under the bonnet lies the 473cu in (7.8-litre) V12 engine that makes travel in the car so effortless. This is fed by a single Stromberg carburettor, and sends power to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual gearbox.

This car was restored in 2001, then additional restoration works costing around $70,000 were carried out by the current owner in 2019.

5. 1940 Packard 120 Convertible, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

This is a 1940 convertible with some genuinely modern features. For example, you don’t need to get out and raise the car’s hood manually. You simply flick a switch and the hood raises and lowers itself.

It has not one but two spare tyres (one on either side of the car), and a full-leather interior. It is also a car that has spent its life in southern California, so has had an easy time of it, weather-wise.

It has had just two owners in the past 48 years and has been restored to a level that would make it the centrepiece of many a museum collection.

6. 1953 Jaguar XK120, Bonhams (est: $110-140,000)

If ever a car summed up the Jaguar ethos of ‘grace, space and pace’, the XK120 is it.

After the war, the British car industry was told to ‘export or die’, and Jaguar responded with the XK120, which struck a real chord with buyers in the United States. No wonder, because it is recognised as one of the best-looking coupés ever made.

This example has had just two owners from new, and in its life has had its engine replaced with a higher-power 3.8-litre unit.

The current custodian intended to carry out restoration work on the car, but eventually decided to entrust it to a marque specialist.

It comes to auction ready to be enjoyed.

7. 1954 Kaiser Darrin Roadster, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

Sliding doors. No, not the 1998 romantic comedy film – we’re talking about the 1954 Kaiser Darrin Roadster. Designer Howard ‘Dutch’ Darrin had a strong dislike for conventionally opening doors, so came up with the Roadster’s doors, which slide forward on tracks to disappear inside the car’s front wings.

The glassfibre body was well received at the time, although some were less sure of the front-end treatment, and even suggested that it looked like the car was puckering up for a kiss.

This car features the original 2.6-litre straight-six engine, and has received a full service, which included having the brakes and carburettors rebuilt.

The Roadster production run comprised 435 cars, of which 50 were red, and this car retains its original hue.

8. 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

The 356 was the model that Porsche started off with, as a two-door coupé that featured a 1.3-litre (later 1.5) flat-four engine.

People loved the fact that it was small, light and nimble. But in 1954, it was suggested to Porsche that buyers in the US might like a more spartan open-top model, so the 356 Speedster was born, complete with removable windscreen and bucket seats. The Speedster flew out of showrooms.

This example has its original engine but has been given a number of upgrades, including twin Zenith carburettors, a new exhaust and a new clutch. It has also had its front suspension and braking system completely rebuilt, so is ready to use.

9. 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, Bonhams (est: $1.5-1.7m)

Sports Leicht. In other words, a very light sports car. That’s what Mercedes-Benz came up with in the 300SL.

It had an exceptionally light chassis that was aimed at the world of motor racing, but the problem was that there was no way to incorporate conventional doors into the car without compromising chassis strength.

There was only one thing for it ­– mount the doors from the roof, giving the car its standout feature in the process.

This is a matching-numbers car that has been in the ownership of one individual for the past 51 years. It has had its engine, gearbox and brakes rebuilt, and various other components overhauled.

10. 1958 Bentley S1 Continental ‘Flying Spur’ Sports Saloon by HJ Mulliner, RM Sotheby’s (est: $200-300,000)

Where the history of some cars is a bit of a mystery, this Bentley can rightly claim to have had a very mysterious beginning to its life, because its first owner was legendary director Alfred Hitchcock.

It is one of just 54 examples made with the six-light front-end design, and Hitchcock also specified power steering, the Velvet Green paintwork and increased-capacity air conditioning, to cope with the heat in Los Angeles, where he was living at the time.

Indeed, he was so thrilled with the vehicle, that one of the characters in an episode of the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents was named Cash Bentley after this very car.

It has had five owners since, and in 2011 was treated to a number of cosmetic improvements because of minor damage that had occurred while the car was being transported.

11. 1958 Ferrari 250GT Coupé, Bonhams (est: $1.1-1.3m)

Bonhams presents this 1958 Ferrari 250GT Coupé, which was described when new as a car ‘designed from scratch as a high-performance tourer’.

In 2014, the current owner began a restoration of this example, a process that would eventually take around 3500 hours.

This matching-numbers car, with a body by Carrozzeria Ellena, has won numerous awards since, and comes with copies of its original build sheet, a period handbook and extensive records of its restoration.

12. 1962 Amphicar 770, RM Sotheby’s (est: $70-90,000)

The Amphicar had a very slow gestation period of around 15 years before it went on sale in 1961, but it’s fair to say there’s nothing quite like it.

You simply get in, drive around as you would in a normal two-seat open-top sports car, but when you come to a body of water you need only make sure all the watertight doors are closed, drive into the water, engage the propellors, and away you go. Ahoy there.

This car is finished in Lagoon Blue, which was one of the factory colours, and was restored around 15 years ago. It has also had new seals, bilge pumps, tyres and brakes. Since then, it has been enjoyed by the current owner, both on the road and on the water.

It also comes with its original manuals, a toolkit, oars and an anchor.

13. 1962 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, Bonhams (est: $140-160,000)

European car importer Max Hoffman spotted a gap in the US market below the legendary Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, and persuaded the German brand to build a two-seat convertible to fill it.

The car featured a 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. Americans loved it.

This car is resplendent in its original DB 350G Medium Blue paintwork, with a tan-leather interior. Over the past few years it was stripped down to a bare shell and given a nut-and-bolt restoration by one of the premier specialists in the US.

It features a Becker radio and whitewall tyres, and comes with an optional hardtop. This is just as well, because the leather hood is not present.

14. 1963 Chevrolet Corvette C2 327/360 Z06 Split-Window Coupe, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

The second-generation Corvette was quite a departure from the original. For a start, it was designed from the outset as a coupé, plus it had pop-up headlights, which was a feature that would remain on the model until the C6 of 2005.

The C2 ’Vette also introduced the name Sting Ray, and featured doors that were cut into the roof to ease access. Early cars also had a rear window that was split by a controversial central pillar.

This early car has its original matching-numbers engine and four-speed manual transmission, and has been the focus of a complete body-off restoration in the past few years.

Only 199 examples were ever produced with the original Z06 performance package, and this is one of those cars. It comes with its original bill of sale, dealer order form and early service records.

15. 1963 Ferrari 250GT/L Berlinetta, RM Sotheby’s (est: $1-1.3m)

Come 1963, the legendary Ferrari 250 was getting on, having been on sale in one form or another for six years. It was time for it to be pensioned off, so the company developed the 250GT/L (the L stood for Lusso, or luxury). What a swansong.

This car has been owned by the current custodian for the past 40 years, is the 129th car built and has a body by Scaglietti.

It is also a matching-numbers machine that has been fastidiously maintained through the past four decades, and is accompanied by extensive paperwork.

It was stored throughout the 1990s but has since been recommissioned, and throughout its life has had various relatively minor works, including new carpets, a new piston assembly, a rebuilt fuel pump and a rebuilt brake system.

16. 1964 Citroën DS19 Décapotable, RM Sotheby’s (est: $150-200,000)

The Citroën DS was already a bit of a looker, but coachbuilder Henri Chapron turned it into something really special with the four-seat convertible Décapotable version.

Chapron’s workshops are believed to have produced just 1400 examples between 1962 and 1972, so rarity is guaranteed.

This car was traded in by its original owner against a Citroën SM in 1977, after which it was bought by the current keeper.

This owner has used it regularly ever since, and it has often appeared at local shows in the California Bay Area. It has also been the transport for musicians appearing at various northern California festivals.

It was fully restored in the middle of the 1980s, since when it has been meticulously maintained. It comes complete with service records, magazine articles and restoration photographs.

17. 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

In the late 1950s, Mercedes had a roadster problem. Its 190SL model was now deemed too slow, while the 300SL was too expensive for many people. Like Goldilocks and porridge, Mercedes needed something that was ‘just right’.

So, it came up with the 230SL, a drop-top that featured a silky-smooth 2.3-litre straight-six engine, the unusual vertical ‘fish-bowl’ headlights and, of course, the ‘pagoda’ hardtop roof.

This car has all of its numbers matching and has been restored in the same colours that it left the factory in. It also features the optional full-leather interior.

The current custodian is the third owner and acquired the car in 1983, and it has recently been the subject of a full rotisserie restoration, with parts receipts totalling more than $100,000.

18. 1965 Lamborghini 350GT, RM Sotheby’s (est: $600-750,000)

This was the car that set Lamborghini on the road to becoming a stalwart of the sports-car world.

The 350GT was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini and has suspension by Gian Paolo Dallara, so it has pedigree. And when revealed at the 1964 Geneva motor show it was deemed more advanced than many Ferraris of the era.

Out of the 120 350GT models built, around 80 had all-aluminium bodywork fashion by coachbuilder Touring.

This car’s numbers match those on the original certificate of configuration.

It was the subject of a restoration between 2013 and 2016, after which it was bought by the current owner, who then spent $60,000 to make the car as close to perfection as he could, including sorting the carburettors, clutch, ignition and electric windows.

19. 1966 Aston Martin DB6, Bonhams (est: $150-200,000)

The Aston Martin DB6 is rightly revered as the highlight of the six-cylinder David Brown cars.

And while it looks like an update of its predecessor, the DB5, it is in fact substantially different, with a wheelbase increase of almost 4in to allow for more rear-seat space. This also meant that the windscreen was more raked, and the roofline raised.

The engine remained the same 3-litre unit as in the DB5, driving the rear wheels through a standard five-speed manual gearbox. An automatic transmission was offered as an option.

This car is a US-spec machine that features wire wheels, the manual gearbox, an electric aerial, electric windows and a Blaupunkt radio.

The car has been restored in the past, but it currently wears the patina of light use.

However, it has also spent some time static as part of a museum collection, so will require recommissioning before it can be used.

20. 1966 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

If you want to go from where you are now, to a very long way over there, then there are few more relaxing ways to do it on the road than this Cadillac Eldorado drop-top. They don’t call such cars land yachts for nothing – you don't so much get into it as embark.

Everything about it has been designed to make your life more comfortable, so the car features black paint and a white roof, plus a black and white leather interior.

Of course, it features air conditioning, and seemingly everything else is power-operated, including the windows, the door locks and the radio aerial.

It also has a Bluetooth-equipped audio system that looks entirely of the period.

It rolls on wire wheels shod with whitewall tyres, just to complete the look, and it has done fewer than 4000 miles since it was restored.

21. 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 Convertible, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

Chevrolet was determined to get into the muscle-car war in the middle of the 1960s, so took its Chevelle, and gave it some performance upgrades and a 396cu in (6.5-litre) V8 engine.

The SS 396 became a model in its own right, and was offered as a two-door coupé or convertible.

This convertible has been through a frame-off restoration and is resplendent in Lemonwood Yellow with a black power top. These are the same colours it left the factory in.

The 396 engine is the original, as is the four-speed Muncie manual transmission, and the car will be sold with the original window sticker, owner’s manual, brochure, and instructions for both the convertible top and the tachometer.

22. 1966 Shelby 427 Cobra, RM Sotheby’s (est: $1.1-1.3m)

Back in the 1960s, the philosophy of racing was broadly that if you wanted to go faster you had to fit a larger engine.

A certain Carroll Shelby bought into this, and set about taking a Cobra 289 (4.7-litre) and fitting a 427cu in (7-litre) engine to it. It was fast, but required quite a level of skill to get the most out of it.

This car was built in 1966 and fitted with the 427 engine. It was red at the time, although as it passed through a number of owners it was changed to blue.

In the 1980s, it was returned to its original red colour, and was fitted with upgrades including an oil cooler, quick jacks, a bonnet scoop, a rollbar and side-exit exhaust pipes finished in black.

After a sojourn in Japan, the car was bought by a US collector in 2010 and then underwent a full restoration. The owner intended not only to show the car but also to drive it whenever they pleased.

23. 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS 396, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

This is a rare beast, because in 1967, Chevrolet produced only 1138 such Camaro SS 396 models.

This car is powered by its original engine, which is linked to a Muncie four-speed manual transmission.

Over its life its colour was changed, but it has since been returned to the Madeira Maroon it left the factory in.

It also has bucket seats, an AM radio, black-vinyl upholstery, the correct 14in Rally wheels (including a matching spare) and uprated brakes. 

There is no record of the car being restored, but it comes complete with the original manual, owner history since new, past titles and numerous receipts.

24. 1967 Iso Grifo GL Series I, RM Sotheby’s (est $300-375,000)

Talk about humble beginnings. Iso was originally a maker of refrigerators, and then ventured into the world of car manufacturing by constructing the Isetta microcar.

But then it employed Italian designer Bertone to pen a GT car, after which it installed a Corvette V8 engine into it. The result was one of the fastest cars on the road at the time.

The company built just 330 examples of the first-gen Grifo, which makes this car of the hen’s-teeth variety.

It has the 327cu in (5.3-litre) V8 up front, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission. It also has air conditioning plus an optional quick-ratio steering rack.

This car has even been on the silver screen, having played a role in a 1973 Italian crime film called The Violent Professionals.

It comes with the original owner’s manual and some advertising campaigns from the era.

25. 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback, RM Sotheby’s (est: $300-400,000)

Carroll Shelby was not a man to do things by half. In 1967, he wanted to create the ultimate Ford Mustang, so dropped in this 428cu in (7-litre) V8 engine, that was reputed to produce almost 400bhp, as well as 420lb ft of torque.

To give it extra visual presence, two driving lights were added to the front grille, plus a large bonnet scoop and a rear spoiler were fitted.

This car is extra rare, because it is reported by Shelby that it was one of only four cars built in ’67 with a four-speed manual transmission, air conditioning and the ubiquitous dark-green paint.

It has had four owners in its life, with one person keeping it from 1972 until 2017, and was also the subject of a rotisserie restoration in 2021.

26. 1970 Chevrolet Corvette LT1, Barrett-Jackson (no reserve)

There can surely be few cars from 1970 that are more original than this Chevrolet Corvette C3.

It comes with its original 350cu in (5.7-litre) V8 engine, plus its original four-speed Muncie manual transmission.

But that’s not all. It features its original carburettor, and even its original alternator. What’s more, it is fitted with period-correct smog equipment, plus original sales stickers and the manual it was sold with when new.

And if all that didn’t make it rare enough, Chevrolet produced only 1287 cars that year in this Donnybrook Green paint, with the matching green-vinyl interior.

It has also won numerous awards and certificates for excellence at classic-car shows.

27. 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Spider, Bonhams (est: $600-700,000)

Naming your cars after winds leaves you open to lots of ‘full of hot air’ jibes, but not Maserati, and not the Ghibli.

Like its predecessor, the Mistral, it was named after a wind – this time a hot Saharan wind.

The Giugiaro-penned machine was revealed at the 1966 Turin show, and was instantly a crowd-gatherer because of its (at the time) unusually straight-edged design.

Under the bonnet was the 4.7-litre V8 that had seen service in other Maseratis. It was a true grand tourer in the vein of the Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona.

The company produced only 128 examples of the Spider version, and this model has had a cosmetic restoration in the 1990s, followed by extensive and regular maintenance by subsequent owners.

It also comes with the rare factory hardtop, a set of original wire wheels and Maserati Classiche certificates of origin.

28. 1999 Plymouth Prowler, Worldwide Auctioneers (no reserve)

Chrysler was utterly fed up of being a wallflower brand as far as US (and global) buyers were concerned in the late 1980s. It wanted to do something radical, so gave the designers of its sub-brands free rein.

So, first of all, Dodge stylists came up with the Viper, which fairly rocked the world. Then Chrysler told Plymouth to come up with a retro-styled roadster.

Design director Tom Gale owned a 1932 Ford hot rod, and used that as a basis for the 1993 Plymouth Prowler, which shocked the car world.

It’s fair to say the Prowler was more about being seen, as opposed to being a true sports car. Under the bonnet lay a 3.5-litre V6 that helped the car cover the 0-60mph dash in under 6 secs.

This example has air-con, power steering and electric windows. It has covered just 8533 miles from new and comes with all its original factory paperwork.

29. 1999 Shelby Series 1 Roadster, Worldwide Auctioneers (no reserve)

The Cobra of the 1960s was undeniably one of Carroll Shelby’s greatest achievements, and it would have been understandable if he’d wanted to rest on those laurels.

But no. Even come the 1990s, he had an itch to scratch, saying: “Before they throw the last shovel of dirt on me, I want one last shot at an honest-to-goodness Cobra.” So, he set about designing a modern incarnation.

The Shelby Roadster had an aluminium monocoque that was light and strong, plus carbonfibre bodywork.

The company eventually built just 249 Roadster Series 1 models, and this is chassis 00004. It wears its original Goodyear rubber, and has completed fewer than 750 miles from new.

As a sign-off to Shelby’s incredible career, the Roadster Series 1 is rather fitting.

30. 2005 Ford GT, Worldwide Auctioneers (no reserve)

History can be a dangerous thing for car makers, especially if they want to build something modern that harks back to glories of the past. As far as thin lines go, this one can be thread-like.

But in the early 2000s, Ford wanted to create a modern interpretation of the Le Mans-conquering Ford GT40. With such depth of history behind it, this car simply had to be good.

And it was. The supercharged 5.4-litre V8 engine produced 550bhp, which was transferred to the road through a six-speed manual gearbox. Ford produced a total of 4038 examples of what is reckoned to be one of the last great analogue supercars before the digital world took over.

The example for sale here has had just a solitary owner from the date it left the showroom in 2005, and has completed a mere 2517 miles in that time.