Scottsdale Classic Car Auctions Total $249 Million, Improving on 2013 Results This 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail 021R sold for nearly $5.3 million. Gooding & Company Scottsdale, Ariz. - The opening sales of the 2014 classic-car auction season, which took place here last week, often set the market direction for the year. This year's sales, according to a tally compiled by Hagerty, an insurer of vintage vehicles, totalled $249 million, up from $224 million in 2013 (2,815 lots sold, compared with 2,699 last year). The average sale was $107,096, up from $100,176 a year ago. Here are the top 10 sales from the week, in descending price order (including buyer's premium), as well as two other sales that raised eyebrows: ■ 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Spyder, $8.8 million (RM Auctions). No surprise here. Enzo-era Ferraris have been hot and California Spyders are among the sexiest of them. ■ 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet, $6.2 million (Gooding & Company). Not quite as sexy as a California Spider and hence not quite as expensive. Sometimes the Ferrari market isn't exactly inscrutable. ■ 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Coupe, $5.3 million (Gooding). No real racing history and not particularly usable, and therefore it sold for less than a street F1 might go for these days. This 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Spyder sold for $8.8 million. RM Auctions ■ 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe, $3.9 million (Barrett-Jackson Auctions). Sold for more than the Rebel L88 Corvette racecar, which had a great competition history - this car had none - but it brought a top price because of the rarity of the C2 L88. ■ 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica SI Coupe, $3.3 million (Gooding). Rinse and repeat. Once again, the Enzo-era Ferrari market produces results. This one was a particularly rare and pretty closed car that was beautifully presented. This 1971 Alfa Romeo Montreal sold for $160,000 at Gooding's auction, a strong price for an underappreciated model. Rob Sass ■ 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Coupe, $3.2 million (Bonhams). Early Ferraris are particularly rare but not that enjoyable to drive. That seemed to matter little in this sale. ■ 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Spider, $3.1 million (Bonhams). A lovely reminder of the era when Enzo Ferrari worked for Alfa Romeo, and Alfa was a force to be reckoned with at the highest levels of international motorsports. The Mongoose and Snake drag race Funny Cars and transporters did not sell on the auction block, but brought roughly $1 million in a deal made after the bidding stopped. ■ 1969 Chevrolet Corvette #57 Rebel L88 Convertible, $2.9 million (Barrett-Jackson). A fantastic beast of a racing Corvette beautifully restored by one of the world's best Corvette shops. ■ 1961 Porsche 718 RS 61 Spyder, $2.8 million (RM). After the Ferrari market, the Porsche market might be the most superheated in the collector car world. This was arguably the most important Porsche offered in Scottsdale. ■ 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Coupe, $2.6 million (Bonhams). Possibly the ultimate front-engine V12 road-going Ferrari coupe of the 1960s. This was a rare 6-carburetor version. ■ Biggest Surprise: The 1971 Alfa Romeo Montreal that sold for $160,000 (Gooding). Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, the rare V8 Montreal might finally be getting the love it deserves. This was fully double its low estimate. ■ Biggest Disappointment: The Mongoose and Snake Funny Cars and transporters (Barrett-Jackson). These drag race cars made for what was possibly the coolest display of hardware ever seen at auction. They deserved to sell on the auction block, but bidding stalled. A deal was cut for just under $1 million after the auction.