This week takes away even more auctions.
Mecum issued this announcement: “In accordance with the CDC’s recommendation to postpone events involving more than 50 people over the next eight weeks, we will be rescheduling our March and April events. The March Gone Farmin’ Spring Classic Tractor Auction and the Houston Collector Car Auction in April are in the process of being rescheduled with our venue partners at the Mississippi Valley Fair Center and NRG Park. The new dates for these auctions will be announced as soon as they are finalized. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate through this process.”
Mecum has not rescheduled their Indianapolis mega-sale — set for May 12–17 — yet. Backup times have been secured in case they are needed, but, for now, the dates stand.
Bonhams has also marked up their schedule. Their MPH sale in Bicester was canceled over the weekend, with a sealed-bidding system taking its place through yesterday. According to a note posted at the top of the auction’s page on their website, “In light of the latest developments regarding COVID-19 and the Government guidelines, the Bonhams MPH sale … has regretfully been canceled.”
The sealed-bid system ended Monday at 5 p.m. GMT.
Bonhams’ update to the Goodwood Members’ Meeting sale says it was scheduled to “… go ahead as scheduled with a revised format in light of the current situation. Viewings will be by appointment only and the sale will be conducted behind closed doors.”
However, later on Monday afternoon, Bonhams announced that the closed auction for the Goodwood Members’ Meeting has been outright canceled.
If you want to see how an online-only sale works, head on over to RM Auctions’ website for the ongoing Palm Beach sale.
Lots start closing on March 25 at 11 a.m. EST, but the full slate doesn’t end until later in the week.
Sure, buying a ’63 Shelby 289 Cobra off the Internet doesn’t have the ego boost of a crowd cheering on two bidders ping-ponging escalating bids. But the winner still gets the car.
I want to point out the 2017 LaFerrari Aperta. That car, one of only 210, has traveled just 175 miles. RM Auctions estimates it’ll take $4.5m–$5.5m to pick the car up in Stuart, Florida. The hammer falls for the hybrid supercar on March 27.
At the end of last week, RM Sotheby’s announced that a portion of the proceeds from the Aperta’s sale will be donated to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
That’s great, and a little reminder that we’re all going through this together.
We’ll see what the next week brings. Hang in there!