The dawn of a new year signals the start of a thrilling new collector season, which officially kicks off with Arizona Car Week. Taking place across the greater Phoenix-Scottsdale area, this grand celebration of all things automotive features events, meetups and exhibitions across several notable locations such as the Penske Racing Museum and McLaren Scottsdale. At the culmination of it all is the RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale, which will be celebrating its 28th year as the week’s premier auction. Once again, car enthusiasts from every corner of the globe will flock to the Arizona Baltimore Resort & Spa - the ‘Jewel of the Desert’ - to view a rare and storied lineup of vehicles while indulging in world-class hospitality.
This is a fantastic opportunity for consignors to showcase their lots in front of a global audience and to draw attention to some unique collectible gems. Below, we take a look at three of the most prolific lots that will go up for bid in Arizona.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
A successor to the iconic Gullwing, the 300 SL Roadster was preceded by concerns that Mercedes might trade performance for design. Those worries were unfounded, however, as the 300 SL combined aesthetics and raw power into one head-turning package. It was among the fastest-accelerating vehicles of its time, equally at ease on the highway or gracing a red carpet arrival.
This chassis, originally commissioned in a vibrant Fire Engine Red with Crème leather interiors and a beige fabric top, was produced for US road specifications and completed in December 1957 with features that included sealed-beam headlamps, a 3.9:1 rear axle, and a Becker Mexico radio. Much of its early ownership is shrouded in mystery, with the earliest records showing up around 1981, when it was acquired by a California-based collector.
At some point in its history prior to that, the car had been given a makeover and sported its current Silver Metallic finish with both the interiors and fabric top in red. It’s a classic colour combination that perfectly highlights the elegant contours and detailing of the 300 SL’s coachwork.
The consignor, who purchased the car in 2021, submitted it to the award-winning team at RM Auto Restoration for a comprehensive rebuild. The process was only completed in 2025, with over $100,000 of work that included cosmetic touchups and detail work, along with the fitting of number-matching components including the engine, chassis and rear axle, among others.
All of the relevant documentation for the restoration work accompanies the car, along with a tool roll and two matching pieces of luggage. This is an iconic machine hailing from a time before the term ‘supercar’ was born, emphasising both the engineering prowess and design excellence of Mercedes.
With a very rare combination of Vineyard Green and an earthy Saddle trim interior, this Cobra stands out among its contemporaries. This particular model, known as CSX 2208, was completed in England in late 1963 and then shipped off to the USA where both its engine and chassis were upgraded. Its original owner was an art collector based in Philadelphia, who only held onto it briefly before passing it along. It would change hands once more in 1968, landing in the care of a young man named Lee Weinstein. Fresh out of high school, Weinstein bought the car as a graduation gift to himself and would remain its proud owner until his passing nearly five decades later.
In 2015, the car changed hands and was put through an extensive restoration by a team of marque specialists to make it concours-worthy. The process was completed in 2019, after which the aluminium body of CSX 2208 underwent a two-year process during which it was carefully smoothed out via block-sanding and repainted in Vineyard Green along with a newly fitted Saddle trim.
CSX 2208 is accompanied by Weinstein’s notebook, which logs the work he put into maintaining and restoring the car. Available in a truly rare factory-correct palette with numbers-matching components, it is special not only because of its marque and performance specs, but the high level of care undertaken by a very long-term owner.
1990 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer - Novato
The Novato was a special commission completed in 2014 by Singer Vehicle Design as part of their Classic Services programme. Singer had an enviable reputation for not just restoring, but completely reimagining 911s - driven by the vision of creating the cars that Porsche itself may have produced in the modern day had they continued making the model with the latest technological and mechanical advancements.
Named after the California hometown of its commissioning owner, the Novato bears a Dolphin Grey exterior as a tribute to the marque’s classic 356 coupes. Complementing that is an understated Olive Green interior with La Marinella suede-mix inserts that shows off the level of bespoke craftsmanship Singer has put into this. Porsche’s racing legacy is further honoured by the 5-gauge instrument panel, with cream-coloured numerals and black dials - save for the central vivid orange tachometer.
The mechanics of the Novato are no less impressive, with a peek beneath the bonnet revealing a with a six-speed manual transaxle, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes with Nato Olive-finished calipers, and an Öhlins adjustable suspension system with touring-rated springs, sway bars, and bushings. In 2017, the 3.8-litre engine was upgraded to a 4-litre model by Singer.
The car was brought back to Singer’s facility in 2024 for inspection and a bit of fine tuning, resulting in $17,000 of work including the installation of new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, complete servicing of the air-conditioning system and other minor adjustments to ensure optimal performance.
Only 7,123 miles have been recorded at the time of cataloguing, and complete records of servicing and factory spec sheets come with the car. A commissioned piece like this is unlikely to hit the market again in the near future, making this a rare and essential addition to any collector’s garage.
