Like every State, there’s plenty to do in Arizona, from the historical and geological sites near the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, to cultural sites all over the State, and plenty for tastes of all kinds to enjoy. Automotive enthusiasts might pine for an epic Arizona road trip, and mid-January is the perfect time to stop just outside of Phoenix, to find special automobiles and enthusiasts from around the world. Over the last decade or so, The Grand Canyon State has become a go-to space for automotive auctions, and Scottsdale Car Week features several car shows and high-end car auctions for collectors, rebuilders, and onlookers of all kinds. Anyone with a penchant for muscle cars and hot rods, then, ought to find themselves right-at-home at the Russo and Steele Hot Rod Show and Auction, starting for spectators Wednesday, January 17, 2018. There are several auto shows and auctions in Scottsdale, Arizona, such as the Barrett-Jackson, Sotheby’s, Gooding & Company, Bonham’s, Russo and Steele, and Silver. All kinds of automobiles run past the auction blocks in all these auction houses, from the mundane to the exotic, and even an occasional hot rod or muscle car, but only Russo and Steele specializes in pedigreed American muscle cars. This year promises to be no less exciting for hot rod enthusiasts than ever before. Classic car insurer Hagerty counted nearly $260 million worth of vehicles sold at last year’s auctions. With the improving economy, more muscle cars and buyers are out in force this year, looking for a stunning way to invest their hard-earned dollars. At the Russo and Steele Hot Rod Show 2017, spectators got quite the eyeful and earful of some beautiful classic muscle cars being sold off to the highest bidder. Lot 8795, a ’69 Mustang Boss 429 with just 32,445 miles, was most-recently restored by Dave Matthews, selling for $335,500. Lot 8258, the only Oldsmobile to ever receive a perfect score, 1,000 points at the 2016 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, was a 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 Holiday Coupe. One of only 1,032 of that year’s 4-4-2s built with a four-speed manual transmission, the Black Stallion sold for $165,000. The exciting lineup for the Russo and Steele Hot Rod Show 2018 includes some well-known and less-well-known muscle cars, several hundred cars in all. Lot 2032, “The Cobra Killer,” is a 1964 Chevrolet Cheetah, one of only 10 Cheetahs in the Country. It’s entrance in the Show marks the first public sale since 1976, truly a once-in-a-lifetime collector opportunity. Lot 2118 is just one of a few ever built, a 1961 ASA 1100 Spyder, developed by Ferrari with a Giotto Bizzarrini tubular-frame chassis. Lot 2205 is a 1965 Shelby GT350 Fastback, #47 of 562 built. Signed by Carroll Shelby, this GT350 is near-guaranteed to drum up some auction fervor. Cars are already being checked in, since Saturday, January 13, 2018, and the Russo and Steel Hot Rod Show will open to previews Wednesday, January 17, 9 AM to 5 PM. Preview days continue Thursday through Sunday, January 18 through 21, from 9 AM until auction time. The auction is where the real excitement lies, Thursday through Saturday from 12 PM and Sunday from 11 AM. More information on the venue, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, maps, parking information, and other auction information can be found at RussoAndSteele.com. If you yourself have a vehicle which is in need of new tires, head on over to performanceplustire.com to help you find the perfect fit for your car!