Bonhams' Supercars on Sunset 2021

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Los Angeles CA, April 10 2021 - Supercars on Sunset. Those choice words with lots of Ss roll off the tongue pretty easily, except when it's hanging out the mouth in Pavlovian anticipation of such a spectacle evoked. There's a new share-chef in town – named Bonhams, and on offer is a 32 course sampler feast of the finest cuts of beefy cars you can mustard in your imagination.

Where would you try to feature supercars for a special sale? In a superplace – nowhere less audacious than on the sunside roof of the Petersen Museum parking lot, thank you very much. By mere non-coincidence, the Petersen is currently featuring a related exhibit: "Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed." Now open again to the public, the Petersen is coming back with high style – a high profile collector automobile auction seems to be the right shot in the arm for the time.

In this modern era where the all-you-can-eat buffet auctions put out 1000-2000 cars at one sitting, Supercars On Sunset may have seemed small in comparison – but it was rather highly focused on the mission, and to the point. Accordingly they did not advertise "One of Everything Painted Shiny" - so there was not one of everything as not expected. What was there, was one each of a lot of Supercars that add up to a lot of valuable lots.

The lot list is like reading from a billionaire's second tier wish-list:

Lot 101: 2017 Nissan GT-R, sold $78,840

Lot 102 - 2019 McLaren 600LT Coupe, sold $251,100

Lot 103 - 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale, sold $369,900

Lot 104 - 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, sold $356,400

Lot 106 - 2019 Ferrari 812 Superfast, sold $334,800

Lot 107 - 1993 Ferrari 512TR

Lot 108 - 2019 Rolls-Royce Wraith-GT

Lot 109 - 2020 Ferrari F8 Tributo

Lot 110 - 2020 McLaren Elva

Lot 111 - 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S, sold $81,000

Lot 112 - 2006 Hummer H1 Alpha 'Adventure Package', sold $156,000

Lot 113 - 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo

Lot 114 - 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R

Lot 115 - 2019 McLaren Senna GTR

Lot 116 - 2019 McLaren 720S Coupe, sold $259,200

Lot 117 - 2018 Ferrari GTC4 Lusso 70th Anniversary Edition

Lot 118 - 2018 Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo

Lot 119 - 1975 Datsun 280Z, $34,560

Lot 120 - 2019 Rolls-Royce Phantom EWB

Lot 121 - 2019 McLaren Senna

Lot 122 - 1979 Porsche 930 3.3 Turbo Coupe

Lot 123 - 2014 Ferrari 458 Speciale

Lot 126 - 2019 Ford GT Heritage Edition, sold $900,000

Lot 127 - 1983 Ferrari 512 BBI

Lot 128 - 2008 Porsche 911 GT2, sold $190,080

Lot 129 - 1990 Ferrari Testarossa

Lot 130 - 2020 McLaren 600LT Spider

Lot 131 - 1994 Land Rover Defender 90 Hard Top

Lot 132 - 2017 Tesla Model S P100D, sold $62,100

Lot 105 - 2017 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster (not available)

Lot 124 - 2007 Saleen S7-LM (not available)

Lot 125 - 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 (not available)

Of course we would gladly accept any one of these fine cars on trade for our old Impala, but oddly one car stuck out for us like a sore thumbnail: a cherry brown 1975 Datsun 280Z with only 8,700 miles, looking dealership new in 2021. Hard to admit how much I'd like to get in that car and not break out for 100,000 miles – crooked spine notwithstanding.

The auction is done and gone for this first time – we trust the good exhibit and results will bring Bonhams back next year for a sequel. There is still good reason to hit the Petersen - Supercars: A Century of Spectacle and Speed is a must see exhibit. See https://www.petersen.org/supercarsguide for the skinny.

by Randy Berg