These stunning classics are being sold with no reserve

Fleet of limit-free machines on offer at Scottsdale

It’s usually the million-dollar rarities that grab the headlines at auctions – but look carefully and you’ll find that even the biggest sales offer potential bargains. 

Take this week’s Scottsdale auctions: among the legions of bank-breaking classics are a host of desirable cars being offered with no reserve price. Bid smart and you could have yourself a steal.

Want the inside line on what’s up for grabs? We’ve picked out a handful of reserve-free classics you should keep an eye on.

1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster

First up is arguably one of the most iconic cars of the 20th century: the Mercedes-Benz 300SL in Roadster guise – a striking 3-litre cruiser that was once the fastest production car in the world and which now regularly sells for upwards of a million pounds.

This one’s on offer with Worldwide, and is an incredibly original, unrestored example from 1959 that still carries its factory fuel-injected motor, leather interior, hard top and, well, just about everything.

Does the fact that it’s being sold with no reserve mean you’ll bag it for a true bargain price? Probably not – but we can dream! 

1959 Fiat-Abarth 750GT Zagato

Next up is a bonny double-bubble Fiat from ’59 – penned by famed design house Zagato and powered by an Abarth-tuned 903cc motor, fitted after the fact.

Compact, stylish and instantly recognisable by the scooped rear engine cover, it’s an example of the plucky Italian coupe that’s begging to be driven – not least because the little motor is so easy to access and maintain. 

1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupé

Keen on a ’50s sporting Alfa? You’ll struggle to find a nicer one with no lower limit: this natty 1900C SS is a race-proven example of the celebrated coupé, known for its featherweight performance and classic design.

Still equipped with its original motor, it enjoyed a cosmetic refresh in the ’90s and goes to auction with Gooding & Co wearing fresh rubber and accompanied by a raft of documents that cover almost 60 years of the Italian classic’s life.

1924 Bentley 3-Litre Red Label Speed Tourer

The oldest of our no-reserve picks is this 95-year-old example of the first proper Bentley, a 3-litre Tourer that still wears its original Vanden Plas coachwork – patina and all – together with a restored chassis, engine and running gear.

What’s more, it’s an authentic and well-known Red Label model, once forgotten in Australia then found, rescued and restored – twice! If you’ve got a thing for ’20s speed machines, it could be well worth a look…

1971 De Tomaso Pantera

An Italian-American hybrid powered by a 330bhp Ford V8 and styled by Ghia like a true ’70s supercar, the Pantera only made it to the USA after De Tomaso reached agreement with the Blue Oval – and this 1971 example is part of the first batch ever imported, recognisable by its push-button door handles. 

Finished in a bold shade of blue and equipped with a host of desirable extras, it remains a poster-worthy motor – and there’s no reserve on it at the RM Sotheby’s sale.

1954 Aston Martin DB2/4

An elegant successor to the DB2, Aston Martin’s ’50s four-seater was nothing if not classy. That it packed a 2.9-litre version of the sporty Vantage motor only added to the appeal.

Just 565 were ever built, including this no-reserve number on offer at the Gooding auction. Restored around a decade ago, it remains as graceful today as it did when it was finished in 1954 – if not more so.

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K

Not your average Merc, this 1930s tourer is one of a mere eight 500K chassis delivered new to England to receive custom bodywork – and it’s reportedly the only example shelled by famed coachbuilder Mayfair.

Stabled over the years with several renowned collectors, the gleaming British Racing Green machine enjoyed a restoration in the ’90s and goes to auction in highly original condition. There’s no reserve for the Bonhams lot – but estimates suggest it could fetch as much as £1.1m ($1.4m).

1977 Lotus Esprit Series 1

An glassfibre wedge of late-’70s style, the angular Esprit marked a step-change in the Lotus design language, but stuck to Colin Chapman’s proven sports car formula: low weight, big power, brilliant handling.

This early Oxford Blue example spent some four decades stabled with its first owner, before being bought in 2018 and fully restored by the new owner – though the original Oatmeal cloth interior remains very much in situ.

1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SS Coupé

Keen on a ’50s sporting Alfa? You’ll struggle to find a nicer one with no lower limit: this natty 1900C SS is a race-proven example of the celebrated coupe, known for its featherweight performance and classic design.

Still equipped with its original motor, it enjoyed a cosmetic refresh in the ’90s and goes to auction with Gooding & Co wearing fresh rubber and accompanied by a raft of documents that cover almost 60 years of the Italian classic’s life.

1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet Slantnose

Wrapping a performance 911 in competition bodywork wasn’t Porsche’s idea, but the Stuttgart marque was quick to answer demand with the Slant Nose package – a premium option that re-profiled the front end of its sports cars in the style of its famed 935 racer.

And no variant ticked more boxes than the 930 Turbo in Cabriolet guise – a 160mph sports machine with a racing face, drop-top shell and unrivalled acceleration through the five-speed gearbox. Much like this one at the Bonhams sale, in fact – made better by its low mileage and impeccable condition.

1972 Maserati Ghibli SS

A V8-powered Italian GT with handsome Giugiaro lines, 2+2 practicality and a 170mph top speed? There’s a reason the Ghibli remains one of the most popular Maserati machines ever made – and it’s unusual to find such a nice one listed without reserve.

Consigned with Bonhams for sale on Saturday 19 January, the matching-numbers tourer cuts a dash in yellow and ships with its original interior – not to mention a 4.9-litre SS engine, good for 0-100 in less than 16 seconds.

1935 Auburn 851 SC Boattail Speedster

One of several stunning boat-tail speedsters being offered without reserve from the collection of Tom Gaughen, this 851SC is as evocative as pre-war machines come: from those swooping fenders to the swept tail, it’s all-’30s and all the better for it.

There are cheaper Auburn machines on offer with Worldwide, but none as rare as this restored supercharged model.

1954 Kaiser-Darrin Roadster

Here’s something you don’t see every day: a pristine Kaiser-Darrin machine from 1954.

The brainchild of Howard ‘Dutch’ Darrin, the evocative open-top came about after Darrin – designer of the Kaiser cars of 1951 – fell out with management and went it alone.

Fewer than 500 were built, of which just 300 or so remain – including this cyan-coloured number, restored between ’99 and 2001 and featured on the cover of Motor Market in 2012.

1965 Land Rover Series II

Something a little different from the usual sports car fare, Bonhams is serving up a treat in the shape of this Series IIA Land Rover from 1965 – a truly original and completely unrestored example, complete with patinated Marine Blue finish, radio and rifle rack.

Stored since the ’80s in Southern California, the Landie was recently re-discovered and has since been brought back on to the road and used for all sorts of runs – including a Pacific Coast road trip in 2018. Here’s hoping its preserved, not restored.

1956 Austin-Healey 100M BN2 Le Mans

Several Austin-Healey machines are heading to the Scottsdale sales, but this is the only Le Mans variant you’ll find in Arizona.

What’s the significance of the moniker? After the British marque’s strong showing at the 1953 running of the 24-hour race, it offered a Le Mans performance package – first as a tuning kit, then as a factory-fitted upgrade on the BN2.

Just 640 of the 100M machines were built by the factory – each good for 110bhp and just shy of 120mph – including this 1956 example listed with Bonhams. Thoroughly restored and very drivable today, it’s a one-way ticket to wind-in-your-face fun.

1966 Jaguar E-type Series I 4.2

Probably the most iconic sports car ever to come out of Britain, the E-type remains an icon of ’60s motoring – and this 1966 number is the complete package, pairing uncluttered Series I style with 4.2-litre performance and drop-top thrills.

Equipped with original motor and gearbox, it’s been thoroughly and comprehensively restored, from the leather interior and soft-top to the paintwork and mechanicals. And it’s gorgeous.

1987 BMW M6

Wrapped in a striking, shark-nosed shell, kitted out with a luxury interior and equipped with a 3.5-litre engine derived from the mighty M1, the BMW M6 was the ultimate performance saloon of the mid ’80s – good for 286bhp and more than 155mph.

Highly original, unrestored and with fewer than 32,000 miles on the clock, this one is as good as they come – from the factory paint to the original tyres. Just don’t go locking it away: this legend deserves to be driven.

1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL

The affordable sibling to the mighty 300SL, the 190SL may not have been quite as stylish, but it was nonetheless an attractive two-seater roadster with excellent suspension and incredible build quality.

Finished in ’61, this beautiful example was stabled with its second owner for some 40 years, before enjoying a tasteful restoration, in which it gained a period-correct Slate Grey finish. It goes under the hammer with Bonhams on Thursday 17 January – without reserve, of course.

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am

If pure American muscle is what you fancy at Scottsdale, you could do a lot worse than this race-ready Mustang. Originally intended to race in the Trans-Am series with Bud Moore in the early ’70s, the stripped-back ’Stang was never finished in period.

Instead, it passed through several owners, eventually being completed – with Moore’s help – in 2011. Subsequently prepared for vintage events and still good for 525bhp, it represents a rare, reserve-free opportunity to own a stallion from the famous racing stable.

1995 Acura NSX

A car so good it was the benchmark for the mighty McLaren F1, Honda’s NSX – sold as an Acura in the States – was a Japanese world-beater, a distinctive sports car with bold lines, punchy V6 performance and incredible handling.

Finished in 1995, this stunning red number listed with RM Sotheby’s is as lovely as they come, well-maintained from new and with fewer than 19,000 miles on the clock.

1971 Citroën SM

A French design classic, Citroen’s space-age SM was an aerodynamic stunner that captivated with its low stance, swivelling headlights and swept tail – not to mention its self-levelling suspension, outstanding handling and V6 performance.

Stunningly restored by marque specialists, this 48-year-old example of the innovative tourer goes to auction with Gooding in incredible condition, complete with rare factory sunroof.

1972 Volvo 1800E

Volvo might not be known for producing stylish, understated coupes, but in 1961 the Swedish marque launched the magnificent P1800 – a gorgeous rear-drive sports tourer that still turns heads today.

This highly original, well-maintained example dates from 1972 and goes to auction with Bonhams after 13 years with the same owner.

Just last year, it won Best of Show at a Volvo Club of America meet, which should tell you all you need to know about its condition.

1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom V State Landaulet

A royal Rolls-Royce is rare enough. Without reserve? That’s a pretty special thing.

This unrestored Phantom V from 1967 was ordered by the Romanian government – complete with a mind-blowing array of options, including a cocktail bar – and was later used by Queen Elizabeth II on state visits to Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.

One of a fleet of incredible Rollers being sold without reserve from the Calumet collection by RM Sotheby’s, there’s a lower estimate of £800k ($1m) – but it could, of course, go for less.

1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432

Nissan’s 240Z is a legend in its own right: the first of the two-seater Z-cars, it was a sports coupé that offered an unrivalled combination of style, performance, sophistication and affordability.

But this one’s no ordinary example. While the shell looks the same, under the skin lives a race-bred engine from the Skyline GT-R, fitted to just 420 Japan-only cars. 

A proper performance machine that was built to be driven, it was imported to the USA from Japan in 2013 and goes under the hammer at the Gooding auction without reserve.

1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray

Fancy yourself a slice of ’60s cruising muscle? They don’t come more arresting than the sharp-edged Corvette Sting Ray, a streamlined machine sketched out by GM’s Larry Shinoda and chromed in all the right places.

With a 327cu in V8 under the hood, this highly original 1963 number carries the iconic split-window rear and comes with a raft of options, including that all-important AM/FM radio for road-trip tunes.

1964 Sunbeam Tiger Mk1

Compact, understated and equipped with a brawny Ford V8 motor, the Sunbeam Tiger was a straightforward sports car in the ’60s mould, bonny face and all.

Immaculately restored to factory specification by a crack team of specialists – including Carroll Shelby’s nephew – this Mk1 example goes to auction with RM Sotheby’s in award-winning condition, complete with original steering wheel and Balmoral Gray finish, as worn by just 26 others.

1970 Ferrari 365GT 2+2

Buying a pristine Prancing Horse is rarely an exercise in thrift, but this impeccable GT on offer at the Gooding & Company sale could be your best chance of bagging a Ferrari bargain. 

Listed with no reserve, it’s a lovely example of the Italian marque’s late-’60s luxury four-seater, of which just 800 were built – each carrying an unrivalled array of standard features, from power steering to self-levelling suspension, not to mention a thrumming V12 under the hood.

Stabled in a family barn for the last 24 years, it’s in need of a little TLC – which might well keep the price down.

1971 Mercedes-Benz 300SEL

Another luxury number, the 300SEL has it all: understated style, brawny 6.3-litre V8 performance and pure sophistication inside. 

This 1971 example? With fewer than 9000 miles on the clock, a cabin in stunning condition and an exterior to match, the German saloon is simply sublime – and it’s going under the hammer with Gooding without a reserve price.

1950 Jaguar XK120

The XK120 caused quite the stir when it launched: 120mph in 1948? Wow! 

Powered by a 3.4-litre XK engine, wrapped in a stunning roadster shell and unrivalled at the price, the Jaguar’s handling, performance and comfort set the bar for the sports cars of the ’50s.

And this 1950 number is just as glorious today: finished in a period-correct shade of silver, it’s been thoroughly restored and goes to auction complete with matching-numbers engine – but with no reserve price.