As the calendar turns to a new year, it brings a new chapter for luxury car collectors with Arizona Car Week. Spanning the greater Phoenix-Scottsdale area, the week beginning on 16th January has in store showcases, events, meetups and marque-led exhibitions across esteemed venues like the Penske Racing Museum and McLaren Scottsdale in a grand celebration of automotive culture. As its conclusion stands the RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale, marking its 28th edition as the flagship event of the week. Once again, automotive enthusiasts and collectors from around the world will converge at the Arizona Baltimore Resort & Spa — the celebrated “Jewel of the Desert” — to witness an elite roster of rare and historically significant vehicles, complemented by the resort’s signature hospitality.
The event also brings with it a stellar opportunity for consignors to display their collection in front of an international audience and spotlight distinctive collectible masterpieces. Below, we highlight three of the most remarkable lots to go under the hammer in Arizona.
1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
A glistening vision of the future of automotive design drove the creation of the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster. A worthy successor to the iconic Gullwing, this vehicle faced concerns of the marque trading performance for style. These concerns were quickly dismissed, as the 300 SL seamlessly combined striking design with formidable power, ranking among fastest-accelerating cars of its era and commanding attention whether on the open road or making a red carpet entrance.
This particular chassis was originally ordered in a vivid Fire Engine Red with Crème leather interiors and a beige fabric top, tailored for the US road specifications and completed in December 1957. Notable original features include sealed-beam headlamps, a 3.89:1 rear axle, and a Becker Mexico radio. Much of its early ownership remains obscured, with the earliest records of possession appearing in 1981, when it was acquired by a California-based collector.
At some point before that, the car received a transformation to don its current Silver Metallic finish complemented by red interiors and a matching fabric top — a timeless combination that accentuates the graceful contours and meticulous detailing of the 300 SL’s coachwork.
Acquired by the consignor in 2021, he placed the car in the superior care of the award-winning team at RM Auto Restoration for an extensive rebuild. Completed in 2025, the overhaul included over $100,000 of work on cosmetic refinements, detailing, and the installation of number-matching components such as the engine, chassis, and rear axle, among others.
The vehicle is accompanied by full restoration documentation, a tool roll, and two matching pieces of luggage. This 300 SL Roadster stands as an enduring icon from an era predating the term “supercar,” exemplifying Mercedes’ mastery of engineering excellence and automotive design and becoming a stellar US-spec benchmark from the model’s first year of production.
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra
Finished in the exceptionally rare combination of Vineyard Green and an earthy Saddle trim interior, this Cobra stands distinct among its peers. Chassis CSX 2208 was completed in England in late 1963 before being exported to the United States, where both its engine and chassis received notable upgrades. Its first custodian — an art collector based in Philadelphia — kept the car only briefly before it passed to a second owner. In 1968, it found its way to a young automobile enthusiast, Lee Weinstein, who acquired it as a personal graduation gift. He would go on to cherish and preserve the car for nearly five decades, retaining stewardship until his passing.
In 2015, CSX 2208 got new ownership and underwent a comprehensive restoration by leading marque specialists to elevate it to concours standard. Completed in 2019, the restoration was followed by an additional two-year process wherein the aluminium body was meticulously block-sanded and repainted in Vineyard Green, complemented by newly fitted Saddle upholstery.
Accompanied by Weinstein’s notebook logging decades of maintenance and restorative work, CSX 2208 now stands in a rare factory-correct colour scheme with numbers-matching components. Beyond its celebrated marque and performance specs, the car is distinguished by the extraordinary level of care bestowed upon it by a devoted long-term owner.
1990 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer - Novato
A unique commission, the Novato was finished in 2014 by Singer Vehicle Design under its acclaimed Classic Services programme. Long regarded as the benchmark for reimagined 911s, Singer built its reputation on going above just restoration — crafting the cars Porsche itself might have produced today had the marque continued evolving the original model with contemporary engineering and cutting-edge technology.
Named after the California hometown of its commissioning owner, the Novato is finished in Dolphin Grey, a homage to the iconic 356 coupes. Its quietly luxurious Olive Green interior is complemented with La Marinella suede-mix inserts — a testament to Singer’s meticulous and bespoke craftsmanship. Porsche’s motorsport legacy also echoes in the five-gauge instrument cluster, featuring cream numerals and black dials, punctuated with a vivid orange central tachometer.
Its mechanical specification is equally compelling. Beneath the bonnet lies 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. 2017 saw the 3.8-litre engine upgraded to Singer’s 4-litre unit.
Returned to Singer’s facility in 2024 for inspection and refinement, the Novato benefited from $17,000 of work, including the instating of new Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres, a full air-conditioning servicing and a suite of minor adjustments to ensure peak performance.
Showing just 7,123 miles at the time of cataloguing and accompanied by comprehensive servicing records and factory spec sheets, the Novato represents a rare opportunity. Commissions of this calibre rarely reappear on the open market,making it an exceptional and increasingly coveted centrepiece for any automobile collector.
