The vintage car market is changing as the economy shifts and as new buyers enter the ranks. After hitting a low point in 2008, the industry is finding its health again and will continue to grow if last week's six-auction house event in Scottsdale, AZ is any indication (which it usually is). Sales from the auction numbered $249 million, a substantial raise from $224 million in 2013, the New York Times reported.

In a preview of the show, John Kraman, a consignment director at one of the six auction houses, spoke of the fall of "bread-and-butter high-production-numbers muscle cars like SS Chevelles and 389 GTOs" and the rise of high end Corvettes and Camaros. In terms of the highest priced sales, Kraman was right. A 1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe sold for $3.9 million (fourth highest price paid for a car during the week) because of its rarity, despite having little racing history, according to the Times. Also in the top 10 (at number eight) was a 1969 Corvette #57 Rebel L88, not quite as rare as the L88 Coupe but loaded with competition chops.

Other than the two Corvettes, classic Ferraris dominated the rest of the top ten, grabbing spots 1, 2, 5, 6, and 10, according to the Times' list. With its $8.8 million price tag, the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT California LWB Spyder was expected to be the event's top horse and it delivered. At number two was the 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet, which went for a significantly lower sum of $6.2 million.

Number three, a 1997 McLaren F1 GTR Longtail Coupe was one of the more recently made cars to be sold at the auction and by far the most current of the top ten. It actually would have sold for more than the $5.3 million it fetched if it had any type of racing history and was more "usable," according to the Times.

Even with all the high-priced, high end cars sold at the weeklong event, the conglomeration of auctions in Scottsdale is better known for selling more common and less expensive classic cars, which is the main reason why it serves as the first pulse check of the industry into the upcoming year (its scheduling in January also helps).

"If Scottsdale appears weak in comparison to Monterey, it's because Pebble Beach happens first and pulls a huge number of big cars," said Colin Comer, author of "Million Dollar Muscle Cars," referring to an earlier show in California known for selling mostly high end cars. "If anything, there's an issue of supply right now."