As our first auction of 2010, it was very encouraging to see such solid results. The response to this sale, as illustrated in the impressive sell-through rate, is a great reflection of the continuing strength of the market and provides a positive outlook

RM Auctions opened its 2010 auction season in Phoenix, Arizona this week, posting over $ 19.6 million in total sales with an impressive 89% of lots sold.

Returning to the luxurious Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, the company’s annual Arizona auction was extended to two days this year with the addition of an exclusive British-themed evening auction on Thursday, January 21st ahead of its traditional Friday sale on 22 January. Despite treacherous weather conditions, it was standing-room only within the auction room for the duration of the two days with bidders travelling to Phoenix from across the continent and as far away as the Netherlands, Switzerland, Israel and Belgium.

Headlining the two-day sale was a rare 1963 Aston Martin DB4 GT, offered at Thursday’s ‘The British Are Coming’ event. One of only six GTs known to have full factory lightweight construction details and the last GT to be built and sold by Aston Martin’s Newport Pagnell Factory, this stunning example realized $ 1,001,000. The DB4 GT headlined a magnificent charge of Aston Martins that dominated the top-seller’s list at the Thursday evening auction. Other highlights included a superbly restored 1965 Aston Martin DB5 for 9,000 and a matched pair of Aston Martin DB Mark IIIs, one Drop Head Coupe and one Saloon, which fetched $ 330,000 and $ 275,000 respectively.

Top-sellers at Friday’s sale included a stunning, professionally-restored 1967 Shelby 427 Cobra, formerly part of the renowned Otis Chandler Collection, for $ 632,500; a striking 1932 Duesenberg Model J Tourster for $ 550,000; and a impressive 1933 Rolls-Royce PII Continental Three-Position Drop Head Coupe for $ 528,000.

The Friday sale also presented a historic line-up of concept cars by Detroit automakers, headlined by a dramatic, one-off 1954 Mercury XM-800 Dream Car which achieved $ 429,000, while a unique 1956 Cadillac “Maharani Special” Motorama Show Car exceeded its pre-sale auction estimate of $ 150,000, selling for $ 225,500.

'The addition of ‘The British Are Coming’ event set the stage for a truly memorable two-day event with a strong overall performance,' said Ian Kelleher, President and Chief Operating Officer of RM Auctions.

'As our first auction of 2010, it was very encouraging to see such solid results. The response to this sale, as illustrated in the impressive sell-through rate, is a great reflection of the continuing strength of the market and provides a positive outlook for the year ahead,' he added.