Worldwide Auctioneers Scottsdale 2024 Auction - Highlights
Worldwide Auctioneers will do more than just relive the excitement of Scottsdale at their Auburn, Indiana home this week. They are making a big step and showing up in Scottsdale in person to hold their 2024 Scottsdale Auction on January 26. Worldwide Auctioneers has an impressive team behind the scenes including Chief Auctioneer Rod Egan and John Kruse. Over the years they’ve set some world records and sold some very impressive collector cars. Not to be outdone by anyone else in the hobby, Worldwide Auctioneers have an impressive lineup of cars set to cross their auction block. Three of them in particular stand out to us.
The 300 SL Roadster was the successor of the 300 SL Gullwing coupe, which debuted in 1954 as a road-going version of the successful W194 racing car. The Gullwing was a technological marvel, featuring a direct fuel injection system that boosted the power output of its 3.0-liter straight-six engine to 215 hp, making it the fastest production car of its time. It also had a distinctive design, with gullwing doors that opened upwards and a lightweight tubular-frame chassis.
However, the Gullwing had some drawbacks, such as a cramped and hot interior, limited luggage space, and difficult access. To address these issues, Mercedes-Benz introduced the 300 SL Roadster in 1957, which retained the same engine and performance as the Gullwing, but with a more conventional body style and improved comfort and practicality. The Roadster had normal doors, a larger trunk, a lower sill height, a revised suspension system, and an optional hardtop. It also had a more refined appearance, with chrome accents, leather upholstery, and a redesigned grille.
The 300 SL Roadster was produced until 1963, with several upgrades and modifications along the way. The most significant change occurred in 1961, when Mercedes-Benz replaced the original drum brakes with disc brakes on all four wheels, improving the braking performance and safety of the car. The 1961 model also had minor cosmetic changes, such as new wheel covers, taillights, and side mirrors. The engine remained unchanged, delivering a top speed of 263 km/h (163 mph) and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 8.8 seconds.
The 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and influential cars ever made. It combines stunning design, impressive performance, and luxurious craftsmanship in a way that few cars can match. It is also extremely rare and valuable, as only 1,858 Roadsters were built in total, and only 256 of them were made in 1961. Worldwide Auctioneers will offer a numbers-matching example finished in its factory-correct black paint and red interior at their Scottsdale Auction on January 26.
If you are a fan of classic American muscle cars, you probably know that the 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440-6 is one of the most sought-after models in the market. But it’s important to know the history behind the car, so let’s go back to the early 1960s.
The Plymouth Barracuda was first introduced in 1964 as a fastback coupe based on the compact Valiant platform. It was one of the first cars to compete in the emerging pony car segment, along with the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro. The Barracuda underwent two major redesigns in 1967 and 1970, becoming larger, more powerful, and more distinctive with each generation.
The third and final generation of the Barracuda, also known as the E-body, was launched in 1970 as a completely separate model from the Valiant. It was available in three versions: the base Barracuda, the luxury Gran Coupe, and the performance-oriented ‘Cuda. The ‘Cuda offered a range of engine options, from the 340 cu in (5.6 L) V8 to the legendary 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi V8. However, the most popular choice among enthusiasts was the 440 cu in (7.2 L) V8 with three two-barrel carburetors, also known as the 440 Six Pack or 440-6.
The 440-6 engine was introduced in mid-1969 as a response to Chevrolet’s 427 cu in (7.0 L) Tri-Power engine for the Corvette and Camaro. It was rated at 390 hp (291 kW) and 490 lb⋅ft (664 N⋅m) of torque, although some sources claim that it actually produced over 400 hp (298 kW). The 440-6 was paired with either a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission, and came with heavy-duty suspension, brakes, cooling system, and exhaust. It also featured a distinctive fiberglass “shaker” hood scoop that vibrated with the engine’s movement.
The 440-6 was available for both the ‘Cuda hardtop and convertible models, but only for the 1970 and 1971 model years. In 1971, Plymouth made some minor changes to the ‘Cuda’s styling, such as adding four circular headlights, a new grille, new taillights, and new fender gills. The ‘Cuda also offered a variety of color options, including some eye-catching “High Impact” colors like Plum Crazy, Tor-Red, Sassy Grass Green, and Lemon Twist. The ‘Cuda’s interior was also upgraded with leather seats, woodgrain trim, rallye gauges, and more.
The 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440-6 is more than just a car; it’s a piece of automotive history that represents the peak of muscle car culture. Muscle car enthusiasts will have an opportunity to buy a numbers-matching example equipped with the Track Pak, finished in factory-correct Plum Crazy at Worldwide Auctioneers Scottsdale Auction.
Introduced in 2001 as the successor to the Diablo and Lamborghini’s new flagship model, the Murciélago was the first new design from Lamborghini in eleven years. It was also the first new model under the ownership of Audi, which acquired Lamborghini in 1998. The car was designed by Luc Donckerwolke, who was inspired by stealth fighters and bats – Murciélago means “bat” in Spanish.
The Murciélago had a 6.2-liter V12 engine that produced 580 PS (572 horsepower) and could reach a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph). It also featured an all-wheel drive system, a six-speed manual or e-gear transmission, and scissor doors. A roadster variant was launched in 2003, with a removable roof panel and a redesigned rear deck.
In 2006, Lamborghini updated the Murciélago with a new version called LP640, which stood for “longitudinal posterior” (the engine position) and 640 PS (631 horsepower), the new output of the enlarged 6.5-liter V12 engine. The LP640 also had a revised front and rear fascia, new wheels, new exhaust system, new suspension, and improved interior.
The LP640 Roadster was unveiled in 2006 at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and went into production in 2007. It had the same performance and features as the LP640 coupé, but with a slightly different roof mechanism that required manual operation. Only 427 units of the LP640 Roadster were built in total, making it a rare and desirable collector’s item.
In 2009 Lamborghini produced just 57 examples of the LP640 Roadster and one of them will be offered for sale by Worldwide Auctioneers at their Scottsdale Auction on January 26. It’s a two-owner car with only 4,300 miles since new and has been well maintained throughout its life.