SIX OVER ONE MILLION

RM Auctions kicked off the 2008 collector car calendar in grand style last week at the Automobiles of Arizona auction in Phoenix. A 93% sales rate was achieved with 88 of the 95 investment quality automobiles sold.

Prewar cars dominated the top-sellers list with a 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe and a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Cabriolet selling for $2,035,000 each, while a 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton with coachwork by LeBaron brought $1.76 million.

The sports and racing segment of the market also continued to prove strong, with a 1963 Shelby AC Cobra attracting a top bid of $1,732,500 and a rare 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB selling for $1,375,000.