Reading the Market in Scottsdale

What Arizona Tells Us About the 2026 Demand

Scottsdale has long been a proving ground for the collector car market. The Scottsdale Concours on January 18, alongside Barrett-Jackson’s opening day, kicked off the week. More than 100 rare and exotic cars competed for class honors and Best of Show, setting the tone early. With just three auctions instead of the usual five or six, the focus was tighter, the signal clearer, and the results easier to read.

Arizona is at a real point of inflection. Barrett-Jackson, RM Sotheby’s, and Bonhams | Cars are all part of the conversation, while operating in very different places. That contrast is becoming more obvious.

Barrett-Jackson remains the anchor. Drawing up to 300,000 people over the week, it transforms the entire Arizona State Fairgrounds into something closer to a festival than an auction. The energy is nonstop—crowds, activations, even tattoo booths—blurring the line between commerce and entertainment. They’re selling an experience as much as cars, and the gravitational pull is impossible to ignore, whether you’re bidding or not.

RM Sotheby’s plays a different role. Quieter, more focused, and highly intentional, it continues to set the benchmark for quality and credibility. The audience is smaller, but the intent is sharper—serious collectors, serious cars, and the standards that still define the broader market.

Bonhams feels at a moment of transition. The setting is more intimate, and there’s a clear sense that the organization is reflecting on its next chapter. It’s a space that suggests focus and potential, poised for direction as market dynamics continue to evolve.

The real insight comes from examining which categories are performing strongly and where momentum is building.

Modern collectibles—Enzos, LaFerraris, Carrera GTs—are commanding real attention right now. That whole category is on fire. A Carrera GT sold for around $2.8 million. Two Ferrari Enzos sold in recent weeks, both well above estimates, topping $8 million, far above the prior benchmark of roughly $4–5 million. That’s a material move up.

Vintage cars are telling a more selective story. Truly exceptional examples of important cars from the ’60s, ’50s, ‘70s or earlier continue to trade well and anchor values. The market has become more discerning, rewarding quality and significance over volume.

Scottsdale sets the baseline for the year. The next checkpoints follow quickly: Rétromobile this week in Paris, then Amelia Island in March. Amelia is the next national-level moment where market direction, buyer behavior, and momentum become clear.

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