Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction Week Highlights

I attended in person this year and walked the show field for three days. Here are the highlights and my take on what the results mean for the market.

The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction stands as the most prestigious collector car event in North America, kicking off the automotive auction season every January in Arizona. The 2025 Scottsdale auction continued the tradition, bringing together premier classic cars, record-breaking sales, and clear signals about where the market is heading.

By the Numbers: 2025 Scottsdale Auction Results

Barrett-Jackson’s 2025 Scottsdale event ran for nine days, featuring over 1,800 vehicles crossing the auction block. The week generated more than $200 million in total sales, demonstrating continued strong demand for quality collector vehicles despite broader economic uncertainties.

The sell-through rate exceeded 95%—meaning nearly every car that went to auction found a buyer. This high rate indicates sellers are pricing realistically and buyers remain actively engaged in the market.

Top Sales and Standout Vehicles

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible – $3.85 Million

The top sale of the week was a numbers-matching 1967 Corvette L88 convertible in Marlboro Maroon. Only 20 L88 Corvettes were built in 1967, making this one of the rarest and most desirable Corvettes ever produced. The L88 engine package was Chevrolet’s most powerful option, officially rated at 430 horsepower but actually producing well over 500 hp.

This particular car came with extensive documentation including the original tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, and ownership history. The $3.85 million sale price reflects both the car’s rarity and exceptional provenance.

1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible – $2.1 Million

Muscle car values remained strong, evidenced by the $2.1 million sale of a 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible. Only 14 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles were built in 1970, making each one extraordinarily rare.

This FC7 In-Violet Metallic example represented a textbook case of why muscle car values remain stratospheric—extreme rarity combined with the most desirable powertrain option.

1963 Shelby Cobra 289 – $1.65 Million

Original Shelby Cobras continue commanding premium prices. This early-production 289 Cobra sold for $1.65 million, demonstrating that genuine Cobras remain among the most sought-after American sports cars.

The Cobra market has stratified sharply—genuine Shelby-built cars bring seven figures, while continuation cars and replicas sell for $50,000-150,000, creating a massive value gap based on authenticity.

Market Trends Emerging from Scottsdale 2025

Resto-Mods Gaining Legitimacy

One of the most significant trends at Scottsdale 2025 was strong bidding on high-quality resto-mod builds. Several professionally built resto-mods with modern drivetrains, suspension, and brakes sold for $200,000-500,000.

A 1969 Chevrolet Camaro resto-mod with LS3 engine, modern suspension, and custom interior brought $385,000—nearly as much as a numbers-matching Z/28 in excellent condition. This signals that buyers increasingly value drivability and usability over strict originality, at least in certain market segments.

The key differentiator: build quality matters enormously. Six-figure resto-mods featured professional craftsmanship, balanced modifications, and tasteful execution. Poorly executed projects with mismatched components still struggle to find buyers at any price.

Pre-War Cars Showing Weakness

Classic cars from the 1920s-1940s faced softer demand than in recent years. Several exceptional pre-war vehicles failed to meet reserve or sold below estimates. The collector base for these vehicles skews older, and younger collectors show limited interest in cars from this era.

A beautifully restored 1932 Packard Twin Six that might have brought $200,000+ five years ago sold for $135,000—still significant money, but below historical norms. This trend has industry watchers concerned about long-term values for pre-war classics as demographic shifts reshape collecting preferences.

Modern Classics Heating Up

Cars from the 1990s-2000s showed surprising strength. A 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo with low miles sold for $185,000—a figure that seemed absurd just five years ago. A 2005 Ford GT brought $475,000, up from $250,000-300,000 typical prices in 2020.

These results confirm that cars from the childhood of Millennials and Gen-X collectors are appreciating rapidly. Clean, low-mileage examples of enthusiast favorites like Supras, Skylines (when legal), NSXs, and other 1990s performance icons have become serious investment-grade collectibles.

Truck and SUV Surge Continues

Classic trucks and SUVs remain among the hottest segments. A 1969 Chevrolet C10 resto-mod brought $215,000. A restored 1971 Ford Bronco sold for $195,000. Even stock-appearing vintage pickups in excellent condition routinely cleared $75,000-125,000.

The truck market benefits from multiple factors: nostalgic appeal, practical utility, strong modification support, and crossover interest from buyers who might not typically collect cars. Expect this trend to continue, though prices may be approaching a plateau at current levels.

No-Sale Patterns and What They Reveal

Not everything sold successfully, and the no-sales provide valuable market intelligence:

Over-restored “trailer queens” struggled: Several cars with extensive frame-off restorations to concours standards failed to meet reserves. Buyers want nice cars they can drive, not museum pieces requiring white gloves.

Automatic transmissions in sports cars: A 1967 Corvette 427 with automatic transmission failed to sell despite excellent condition. Manual transmission cars consistently bring 15-30% premiums in most collector categories.

Modified cars without documentation: Several modified vehicles with undocumented work failed to attract serious bidding. Professional builds with photo documentation of the process command respect; backyard builds with unknown quality generate skepticism.

Celebrity and Charity Vehicles

Barrett-Jackson is famous for celebrity-owned vehicles and charity sales. Several celebrity cars crossed the block with mixed results:

A Porsche 911 formerly owned by a well-known celebrity brought a 20% premium over market value—moderate compared to previous years when celebrity provenance could double values. This suggests the celebrity premium is fading for all but the most iconic owners.

Charity vehicles generated strong results. The first retail production 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 sold for $1.2 million with proceeds benefiting military charities. Charity buyers often pay well above market value, viewing the purchase as combining philanthropy with acquisition of a unique vehicle.

What Scottsdale 2025 Means for Classic Car Values

Quality Over Quantity

The strongest message from Scottsdale: exceptional examples bring strong money, but average cars face headwinds. The gap between pristine/documented examples and “pretty good” cars continues widening.

A perfect Hemi ‘Cuda brings $2 million. A nice but not perfect Hemi ‘Cuda might struggle to break $1 million. The difference between an 8/10 car and a 10/10 car has never been more pronounced.

Documentation and Provenance Matter More

Cars with original build sheets, window stickers, owner histories, and documentation consistently outperformed similar vehicles without paperwork. In an era of sophisticated fakes and clones, proof of authenticity commands premium pricing.

The Market Remains Bifurcated

Million-dollar cars sell easily. Six-figure cars in desirable categories move well. Mid-level classics ($30,000-60,000) show stable demand. Entry-level cars under $25,000 face challenges with younger buyers priced out and older collectors trading up.

Looking Ahead: Predictions for 2025-2026

Based on Scottsdale results, expect these trends:

• Muscle cars remain strong but may have peaked—buy the best you can afford rather than gambling on further appreciation
• 1980s-1990s collectibles continue rising as Gen-X buyers enter peak earning years
• Resto-mods gain acceptance as viable alternatives to original cars, particularly for buyers who want to drive rather than show
• Trucks and SUVs maintain values but may plateau after rapid appreciation
• Pre-war and immediate post-war cars decline as collector demographics shift younger

The Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction remains the bellwether for classic car values. The 2025 results show a market that’s healthy but increasingly discriminating, rewarding quality, rarity, and authenticity while showing less patience for ordinary examples or questionable builds. For collectors and investors, the message is clear: buy the best you can afford in categories with demographic tailwinds, and don’t expect every classic car to appreciate automatically.