With an 87-percent overall sell-through rate — a particularly strong figure for a sale that included 760 vehicles — Auctions America’s Auburn Spring event in northwestern Indiana generated $19.1 million through the sale of 629 cars, 10 motorcycles and 246 articles of nostalgia.
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014
| Total sales | $19.1 million |
| Catalog | 760 automobiles |
| Sell-through | 82.7 percent |
| High sale | $213,400 for a 1934 Chrysler Custom Imperial Airflow |
| Next 9 price range | $110,000 to $151,250 |
| Next auction | Portolo Valley CA, Aug. 1-2 |
“The offering was the best and most diverse we’ve seen at Auburn Spring to date,” said Auctions America car specialist Gord Duff. “From the entry-level collector to the veteran hobbyist, there was truly something for everyone, resulting in strong attendance and a significant spike in bidder registrations.”
“This year’s Auburn Spring event was a record-setting weekend for the Auctions America team on numerous fronts,” Auctions America president Donnie Gould added in a news release.
“Our largest Auburn Spring to date, we presented a record volume of cars, attracted record attendance and bidder registrations, and achieved record results, we couldn’t be happier.”
Some 20,000 people attended the event, with nearly 30 percent percent of those bidding being new customers for Auctions America.
“Add in strong ratings on NBCSN, which telecast from Auburn Spring for the first time, and great reviews for the AACA Special National Spring Meet, and the weekend was a great success on all levels,” Gould said.
Auctions America approached the $20-million mark for the auction despite offering no million-dollar, nor even half-million-dollar vehicles. The highest-dollar car of the weekend was a 1934 Chrysler Custom Imperial Airflow that sold for $213,400 (figures reported include buyer’s premium fees).
The total sales for the Auburn Spring sale marked a 70-percent increase compared to the same event in 2013.
One reason for record sales, was the inclusion in the sale of 400 vehicles from the collection of Montreal auto dealer and classic car enthusiast John Scotti. All of the Scotti vehicles were offered without reserve.
The Scotti collection included the top-selling ’34 Chrysler Airflow, a 96-mile 1987 Buick GNX that sold for $100,000, a 1965 Sunbeam Tiger roadster that was the subject of a long bidding battle before going for $88,000, and a 1989 Ferrari Testarossa that brought $84,150.
“I’m very happy with the results from this past weekend’s sale,” said Scotti. “When the time came to sell my collection, I knew Auctions America would provide fantastic service and connect my cars with the right buyers. From start to finish, they did not disappoint.”
Scotti’s cars weren’t the only ones selling well. A 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 lightweight sports couple that raced in the NHRA Indy Nationals when new, brought $151,250, a 1956 Chevrolet and a 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible sold for $148,500.
In addition to the auction, the Auburn weekend included the AACA’s Special National Spring meet with car show, judging school and youth program.
Auctions America Auburn Spring Top 10:
- 1934 Chrysler Custom Imperial Airflow, $213,400
- 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 lightweight sports coupe, $151,250
- 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible, $148,500
- 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, $145,750
- 1939 Packard Twelve touring cabriolet, $137,500
- 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 roadster, $137,500
- 1960 Chrysler 300F convertible, $132,000
- 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible, $115,500
- 1953 Buick Skylark convertible, $112,500
- 1969 Shelby GT500 fastback, $110,00
Prices include buyer’s premium.
