Russo and Steele, Scottsdale

For the past 15 years, Russo and Steele's high-energy, action-filled auctions have been attracting not only auto buyers and sellers, but also those who simply appreciate vintage machinery. The auction's spectators view all the action from an elevated-platform seating arrangement that spans 360 degrees around the auction stage.

Scottsdale's five-day event showcases more than 800 of the best European sports cars, American muscle cars, hot rods, and customs live, on offer, and crossing the block. Notable past sales have included a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL "gullwing" coupe that sold for more than $1.3 million at a Monterey auction.

Russo and Steele's reputation in the auto-collecting community is high enough that it's often chosen to showcase extremely rare supercars—for instance, a one-of-a-kind 2013 SRT Viper GTS put up for auction to benefit the Sons of Italy Foundation in a 2014 event.