Bonham’s Scottsdale Auction 2022 Preview & Price Predictions

Bonham’s Scottsdale Auction 2022 Preview & Price Predictions

Bonham’s is offering 90 lots at their Scottsdale auction this year, 89 cars and one motorcycle including 7 Mercedes-Benz cars. It’s a strong showing for Bonham’s given the pandemic and, more importantly, the changing landscape of collector car auctions, online and in person.

This year the lots being offered, while varied in make and model, don’t seem to be up to the standard of what we’ve seen from Bonham’s in the past. There are no, real big-ticket cars on offer, nothing that appears to be expected to reach even the half million-dollar mark. Proof of changing times for the big auction houses.

Bonham’s Scottsdale Auction 2022 Schedule & Details

PREVIEW (all times MST)
Tuesday January 25, 9am to 6pm
Wednesday January 26, 9am to 6pm
Thursday January 27, 9am to 11am

AUCTION
Thursday, January 27 – 11:00am

Location:
The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
6902 East Greenway Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85254

Attendance: According to Bonham’s website, the actual auction room will be open to registered bidders and one guest. From the Bonham’s website: “The Scottsdale Auction will be held as a traditional auction with audience space reserved for registered bidders and a guest. The Auction will also be streamed online for non-registered bidders to view.”

BUYER’S PREMIUM The final bid (hammer) price of each lot will be subject to a buyer’s premium. For MOTOR VEHICLE property the premium is 12% on the first $250,000 of the bid price and 10% on any amount of the bid price exceeding $250,000. See Bonham’s entire auction catalog and event details on their website by clicking here.

Bonham’s Scottsdale Auction 2022 – Mercedes For Sale

Lot 18 1986 Mercedes Benz 560 SL

Estimate: $50,000 – $70,000 (No Reserve)
VIN: WDBBA48D3GA051726

• Signal Red w/ Parchment w/ hard top (no mention of soft top color)
• Odometer: 59,775
• Books, Manuals
• One California owner until 2021

Described in the catalog as ‘in extremely well-preserved, highly original condition.’ Looks like a typical, driver quality California 560 SL complete with chromed wheels, tan pinstripe and modern aftermarket radio. Hood badge appears sun faded, grill slats appear faded and grey, both things typical of a car from a sunny climate. Air conditioning is described as blowing cold.

I never thought I’d see a 60,000 mile 560SL at a Bonham’s auction unless it had been owned by Paul Newman or someone. Not sure where they came up with the auction estimate, it’s double what this car should sell for. What does this offering tell us about how difficult it must be for the big auction companies to find willing consignors these days? Price Prediction: $29,400.

Lot 30 1970 Mercedes Benz 280 SE Cabriolet

Estimate: $130,000 – $160,000
VIN: 111.025.12.004293

• Dark Red (542 G) w/ Cognac leather
• Odometer: 46,416
• Floor shift automatic transmission
• Behr A/C

An honest appearing 6 cylinder W111 Cabriolet. Catalog description alludes to an exterior repaint in the correct Dark Red color at some point, mentions door jambs and crevices are in original paint, so, not a masterful job. Interior appears to be in very nice condition. Description also mentions the odometer reading of 46,416 miles like this…  ‘a figure which is indeed believed to represent the cars actual mileage.’ Make sure you have someone who really knows what they’re looking at inspect this car if you intend to bid to a level believing the mileage claim. Bonham’s puts on a nice auction, they put out a fancy catalog, but remember, at the end of the day, they’re just used car salesmen, demand proof and documentation for such mileage claims. If there is none, imagine what questions the buyer will be asking you when you go to sell the car.

Even if it has 142,000 miles, it’s a desirable car which I think represents an excellent value in today’s market. The V8 3.5 cabs are worth 3x the money, but they’re sure not 3x the fun. This is a special car you can drive and enjoy without too much worry. Price Prediction: $138,000.

Lot 48 Mercedes Benz 280 SL

Estimate: $175,000 – $225,000
VIN: 113.044-12-009120

• Midnight Blue (904) w/ Parchment leather (color change from original Medium Blue 304 G)
• Black soft top w/ hard top
• Automatic Transmission, A/C
• Odometer: 00004

Auction catalog mentions this long time California car was acquired by the consignor about 4 years ago who then commissioned a ‘comprehensive, nut-and-bolt restoration.’ An un-named ‘noted Mercedes-Benz specialist’ carried out the work. Why don’t they give us a name? Metric Motors rebuilt the engine. All the usual things you’d expect from a Pagoda SL restoration look to have been completed. It certainly presents nicely in the photos.

Color changes on Pagoda SLs don’t usually affect value too much, they’re serial production cars of which thousands were made, as opposed to rare cars that demand complete originality for judging at elite events. Such restorations are getting more expensive as parts prices continue to rise and finding a marque expert capable of performing this kind of work becomes more difficult. Never the less, I don’t see it reaching the $200k mark. Price Prediction: $168,000.

Lot 50 2009 Maybach 62 with Partition

Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000
VIN: WDBVG78J09A002540

• Caspian Black w/ black leather
• $465,530 original MSRP
• Partition wall w/ intercom
• 3,704 original miles

Described in the auction catalog as ‘private jet travel for the road’ and I don’t think they’re wrong. Daimler-Chrysler came up with the Maybach line in an effort to court the ultra-luxury car buyer, those who often looked to Rolls-Royce and Bentley since Mercedes hadn’t offered anything along those lines since the 600 models of the 60s and 70s.

More expensive and more exclusive than the shorter Maybach 57 models, this is the absolute top of the line from Mercedes in 2009. Today, Maybach cars have depreciated heavily since their introduction, like any high-end luxury car. They seem to have reached the bottom of their depreciation curve, especially the 57 models from the earliest years of production, but lately, we’ve seen an uptick in Maybach prices. I think Bonham’s auction estimate is way low for this lot. This car she be looked at like the next 600 Pullman and I think it is more desirable and will end up being more expensive than Bonham’s thinks. Price Prediction: $154,000.

Lot 52 1953 Mercedes 300 S Roadster

Estimate: $375,000 – $475,000
VIN: 188.012-00167/53

• Barn Find
• 1 of 141 300 S Roadsters built
• Medium Blue Metallic w/ Grey leather
• 4 speed manual transmission

The catalog description mentions that the current color appears to be a repaint / color change with traces of light green metallic evident, the color believed to be original to the car. Description goes on to explain the car was originally delivered to a European buyer and eventually made its way to Venezuela. Discovered by an American in the 70s and imported to the U.S. It’s been stored for many years.

Data tags, engine number, etc. are all intact and visible. It’s a shame Bonham’s didn’t suggest acquiring the data card to the consignor before putting this one up for sale. A desirable car that will be monumentally expensive to restore, needs everything. Price Prediction: $312,600.

Lot 58 1966 Mercedes Benz 230 SL

Estimate: $55,000 – $75,000 (No Reserve)
VIN: 113.042-12-016478

• Medium Red Metallic w/ Grey MB tex (color change)
• Black soft top w/ hard top
• 4 speed automatic transmission
• “Matching Numbers”
• Odometer: 72,652

Bonham’s description says the car was originally White, but the dash is black, so maybe they’re getting their “050” and “040” colors mixed up, my guess is that it was originally black… a desirable and fairly rare color for W113 cars.

Known history, from Euro delivery to long time CA ownership. Said to have lots of receipts, books, manuals, etc. A driver quality, color changed 230 SL with  grubby engine bay. We could never have imagined this car at a Bonham’s sale a couple of years ago, but times are hard for the big auction companies. Price Prediction: $48,400.

Lot 61 1960 Mercedes Benz 190 SL

Estimate: $170,000 – $220,000
VIN: 121.040-10-016259

• Slate Grey w/ Red leather, black soft top
• Odometer: 01705
• 3pc Set Fitted Luggage

Restoration completed on what sounds like a long dormant garage find 190 SL in 2019 by Huber Restorations. A beautiful color combination, but the catalog carefully describes it as ‘period correct’ – which means it’s a color change. There is no photo of the entire paint code tag in the auction catalog, but the last digit of the paint code is visible in one photo and it’s a “0”… so my guess is that it was a White (040) car originally.

Very nice looking body and interior, restoration is let down by the engine bay, not done to the level of the rest of the car. Luggage adds to the package, too bad there’s no hard top. The 190 SL market is pretty strong these days, but not as strong as the estimate might suggest. Price Prediction: $154,800.

That’s the line-up for Bonham’s Scottsdale Auction 2022. It will be interesting to watch how Bonham’s does this week. A couple of desirable cars to be sure, but overall, nothing exceptional.