Ritchie Bros.’ Leake Auction, Scottsdale
Leake Auction Company was acquired by heavy-equipment auctioneers Ritchie Brothers in 2019 and this year marked the company’s debut at Scottsdale Auction Week. The four-day sale ran January 16-19, with a preview on January 15, and was set up at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick — site of last year’s Russo and Steele auction.
As a hook to interest bidders for its inaugural event, Leake advertised the “Cars of Dreams” collection assembled by John Staluppi. The most newsworthy sale of the event was a 1957 Chrysler 300C convertible that sold for $357,500 — said to be a new world record.
Notable sales out of some 674 to cross the block included a 1957 De Soto Adventurer that sold for $302,500 and a 1979 Mercury Cougar that changed hands for a mere $550. Oldest-lot honors went to a 1918 Ford Model T depot hack that went for $15,950. Several current-year vehicles crossed the block, including a Jeep Gladiator IASO Rubicon that was auctioned for charity, bringing $145,000.
The ongoing public health crisis has scheduling disrupted across the country and classic car auctions are no exception. As of this writing, Leake has rescheduled its Tulsa, Oklahoma, sale to June 25-27 — it was previously scheduled for the first weekend in June. Because of the present uncertainty,
