Barrett-Jackson’s “Super Saturday” saw thousands of collector-vehicle enthusiasts crowd into the company’s giant auction tent late January, with additional buyers on the internet and telephone. Those assorted gearheads celebrated million-dollar moments and paid cubic dollars for the art on wheels crossing the block in Scottsdale, Arizona this year.
Top money at the sale was paid by NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick. He brought the crowd to its feet with a closing bid of US$3.7 million on the first retail 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Corvette ZR1 serial number 001 made up more than half of the auction company’s charity sales, in fact, which netting US$5.2 million total.
The money for the ‘Vette is going toward Red Cross disaster relief to aid California fire victims and others impacted by hurricanes in the southeastern U.S. The remaining US$1.5 million in charity auction proceeds came via the sale of a radically customized 1962 Dodge Power Wagon.
The most expensive non-charity car in the sale was a US$2.2-million 2023 Hennessey Venom F5 Roadster. One of only 30 produced, this 1,817 horsepower hypercar is capable of a top speed of 265 miles per hour (426 km/h).
Can you imagine a car with a $180,000 option package? Well, now you don’t have to imagine: such a thing crossed the block at Barrett-Jackson in the form of the 730-hp turbocharged V12-powered 2014 Pagani Huayra with the Tempesta Package.
That checkbox on the order form got the buyer exposed carbon fiber, a front diffuser, larger wheels, a blue-looking burnt titanium exhaust system and other add-ons. It’s what you would expect in a supercar that can go from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just three seconds. And the sale price of US$1.925 million is probably what you expect, too.
A 2020 Ford GT Liquid Carbon Edition owned by internet music phenom DJ Marshmello brought a closing bid of US$1,760,000. It is one of only 30 produced, with a $250,000 carbon-fiber body option. Meanwhile, a 2022 Ford GT with only 16 miles (26 km) on the odometer sold for US$1.1 million.
Also on the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2025 top-sellers list was a 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort, which sold for $1,457,000; and a gray 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL “gullwing” coupe at $1,402,500.
A customized 1977 Ford F-150 pickup truck known as the ‘Hoonitruck’ and formerly in the fleet of the late Ken Block crossed the block at $990,000, as did a customized 1963 Chevrolet Corvette split-window coupe. In fact, all things Corvette and Porsche are ringing the top sales bell at auctions, it seems. Barrett-Jackson hammered down a “restomod” 1967 Corvette and a Reimagined-by-Singer 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera for $935,000 each, too.
Each year, total sales at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction seem to increase, with 2024’s total sales at $200 million, versus $184 million the previous year.
But over at Ontario-headquartered RM Sotheby’s sale in Scottsdale, it was the classics, not supercars, that really helped the house hit the high mark. A largely original 1958 Ferrari 250 ‘Tour de France’ brought a closing bid of US$3,772,500, for example. The next top seller, at US$3,195,000, was a 1931 Bentley 8.0-litre convertible Victoria, with body by Murphy.
A 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante with a custom body by Gangloff sold for US$2,370,000; and a 1956 Mercedes-Benz “gullwing” coupe brought a strong winning bid of just over US$2 million.
At the nearby Bonhams Auction, a 1989 Nissan Skyline race car brought a closing bid of US$201,000, showing the strength of iconic Japanese classics. Bonhams also hammered down a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL “pagoda roof” convertible for US$134,000 including buyer’s premium.
Collector-car auction sales generally add a 10% buyer premium to the final bid, making the costs of adding a car to one’s collection just that much more expensive.
Attending the auctions was Steven Posner of Putnam Leasing, an expert in automotive lease-to-own. He says leasing collector cars bought at auction is an emerging option for collectors. “We supply the financial loan for whatever they buy with a pre-fixed purchase option at the end of the lease. Payments are less expensive on a lease than on retail finance,” he says. “They can buy it at the end of the lease, sell it, trade it in, or perpetuate the lease at a much lower price.”
He says banks generally won’t loan money on really old cars, and, if they do, their interest rates are higher than leasing. Bank loans are amortized down to zero, so payments are high. Then on the other hand, those buying collector cars outright have to pay sales tax up front, which can be as much as $10,000.
“Leases don’t show up on people’s credit reports. Their companies can lease the car, and they can buy it out personally at the end of the lease. There are many advantages,” he says. “Most of the auction companies know us and, when someone buys a car and we’re involved, they often release the car without payment. We handle all the paperwork and financing making purchases simple.”
Alyn Edwards is a classic car enthusiast and partner in a Vancouver-based public relations company. You can reach him at [email protected].
Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram ,Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.