Arizona auctions: Early days filled with optimism

The sun kept shining--both as a metaphor and in reality--while the cars were selling at the Arizona auctions.

As of late Thursday, Barrett-Jackson had completed three of its six days of sales. Preliminary numbers assembled by on-site reporters indicate total sales of $20.2 million at the halfway mark, with 100 percent of the 656 cars on offer sold. The high sale was a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Custom pickup that went for $157,300, including commissions.

One mile away, Russo & Steele is one day into its four-day event. With 126 of the 196 cars offered selling, it brought in $3.2 million. The top seller was a 2001 Ferrari 360 Spyder.

At the Biltmore Hotel and Spa in Phoenix, RM completed the first day of its two-day event. The made-in-England "The British Are Back!" sale brought $6.5 million in sales, with 60 of 66 cars on offer finding new homes. The top RM seller of the evening was a 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Newmarket Sport Sedan that fetched $440,000, with commissions.

The preliminary sales numbers from each of the auction houses will go up. These are best observed as halftime scores, with plenty of downs left to be played.

Gooding & Co. starts the first day of its two-day event on Friday.

The mood continues to be optimistic, at times even euphoric.

By Dave Kinney