Saratoga Springs, New York: home to mineral springs, thoroughbred horse racing, and attractions — like the Saratoga Automobile Museum in Saratoga Spa State Park.
The museum occupies a former spring-water bottling plant that was built in 1935. The car-adoring public was introduced to the collection in 2002. Its largest fundraiser is the annual Saratoga Motorcar Auction — the first of which was conducted in 2017. Last year’s sale, September 22-23, was held on the grounds of the Saratoga Casino and Hotel on Jefferson Street, about 2.5 miles from the museum.
The event boasted three well-stocked preview tents, a tent for the auction with seating for about 300-350, as well as vehicles on display around the grounds. There were also a few vendors, food options, and more — all within strolling distance of each other.
Approximately 158 vehicles, and 35 pieces of petroliana, went up for bid, for a total of 193 lots. Of those, 99 found new owners for a 49 percent sell-through. A 1971 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 was the auction’s top earner, fetching $308,000, while the bargain of the event was a 1999 Saab 9-3 convertible that sold for $3,850. The
