Auction Results: Auctions America’s 2013 Burbank sale

Auctions America conducted its first-ever sale in the notoriously difficult Southern California auction landscape on Aug. 2-3, 2013, and showed it can in fact be done. The company managed to sell 311 of 386 vehicles for a total of $16.8M, including buyer’s premium. Previous sales in Los Angeles and surrounding areas have struggled to top a 50% sales rate, so AA’s 81% achievement is particularly notable, and the auction house indicated it will return next year.

As far as consignments go, Auctions America did an excellent job of securing a number of high-profile cars via two major collections that anchored the sale. As a result, attendance was strong and overall prices were healthy. Best-seller for the event was a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 with automatic transmission that earned $825,000, which illustrates continued strength for Cobras. An early Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster fetched $808,500, and rounding out the top three was a Cunningham C3 coupe rolling chassis. This partially restored car earned a strong $407,000.

Other interesting sales include $94,600 for a low-mile 1989 Porsche 930 Cab, $9,350 for a 1963 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder convertible GM show car, and $16,500 for a 1970 MGB-GT.

Top 10

1. 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster sold for $825,000
2. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster sold for $808,500
3. 1952 Cunningham C3 Vignale Coupe sold for $407,000
4. 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe sold for $401,500
5. 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Spyder sold for $291,500
6. 1958 Dual Ghia Convertible sold for $253,000
7. 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible sold for $247,500
8. 1974 Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Limousine sold for $233,750
9. 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster sold for $214,500
10. 1934 Packard Super 8 Roadster sold for $203,500

Next up for Auctions America is the company’s flagship sale in Auburn, Ind., on Aug. 28-Sept. 1, 2013. More than 1,000 cars are expected to cross the block.