Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report
Auctions America by RM, Auburn Spring, Auburn, Indiana, May 8-10, 2014
Auburn Spring has never been like this, a $19 million dollar sale with 780 cars offered and 636 (81.5%) sold.
The sale performance was urged along by over 400 cars offered by John Scotti without reserve, hour after hour on the West ring of cars, good and mediocre, but none bad, selling to the highest bidder.
It fostered the excitement that makes auctions so stimulating.
Where have there ever been 400+ cars offered to the highest bidder without reserve?
Bidders walked back and forth between the two blocks, picking and choosing their favorites in a continuing exhibition of bidding.
NBC/SN televised much of it, bringing in-person observation right up close and personal with the ‘hey, that’s me’ recognition that keeps endorphins flowing.
We’ve changed the presentation a little this time to highlight up front the premier transactions, especially Auburn Spring’s top sale, the 1934 Chrysler Custom Imperial Airflow Sedan – when was the last time a Chrysler Airflow topped an auction’s sale? – then let the auction’s flow in lot number order follow up.
There is no blockbuster transaction at Auburn Spring, just a quality presentation of widely diverse good cars, the core of the collector car hobby as Rob Myers and Donnie Gould intended when they bought the Auburn Auction Park and perpetuated the Auburn auction history.
The cars presented here are largely the best cars in the auction, our report having been let down by some part-time writers who couldn’t get their reports done in a timely fashion, but you can’t fail seeing the quality and diversity even within this selection.
[I hope the pictures are better with the new camera.]
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report
The Big Cars
Lot # 5114 1934 Chrysler Custom Imperial Airflow 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 7901468; Dark Olive Green, /Green leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $194,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $213,400. No Reserve – 385/145hp, crank out windshield panes, rollup division, center facing jump seats, footrests, skirts, enclosed rear spare, 4-bar bumpers. – Restored nearly like new with excellent paint, interior and chrome. Underbody is nearly like new. Engine compartment is orderly but has some shortcuts in details like hoses and clamps. Doors close precisely. Driver’s door window frame came loose and is falling into the door pocket. A good example of a car that is difficult to do well. – One of the most innovative and technically advanced automobiles of the Thirties, the Airflow fell flat on its face with buyers de-sensitized by the Depression to suspect anything new. Chrysler built just 106 CX series Custom Imperial Airflows and they are exquisitely rare. This restoration obviously leaves a little to be desired but is easily brought to show car condition and unlikely ever to be displayed in an event with anything similar. A ticket to some highly desirable events and tours, this is not expensive for an automobile of this quality and distinction.Lot # 4128 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409 Lightweight 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 21847F306016; Ermine White, /Red vinyl; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $137,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $151,250 – 409/409hp dual quads, 4-speed, 4.56 Positraction, buckets and console, radio and heater delete, metallic brakes, no hubcaps, whitewalls, dashtop tach. – 5,500 original miles, all original lightweight factory drag car, one of 19 built. So clean and pristine it looks restored. Great paint, chrome and interior. Known history from new when it was drag raced by Zintsmaster Chevrolet. – Offered a year ago at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction with a reported high bid of $160,000, this is an extraordinary time-capsule that hasn’t been abused or cut up and modified after its early days as a stock class drag car were over. The preservation is absolutely astonishing. It should go straight to AACA judging, but unfortunately continued preservation makes it unlikely the 409/409 will ever again get exercised to the limits of its formidable power and performance. Drag cars are their own subset of the market, but remove the painted graphics (which would be a mortal sin, but hypothetically) and present this 409/409 lightweight as a well preserved, documented original example in street trim and it would not be at all unrealistic to see it bring significantly more than this.Lot # 4120 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N VC56A088957; Engine # F56FH; Matador Red, , India Ivory/White, Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500 – 265/225hp, dual quads, Powerglide, continental kit, skirts, wire wheel covers, power seat, P/W, P/S, P/B, WonderBar radio, power rear antenna. – Great paint, chrome, interior and top. Beautiful engine compartment. No detail overlooked. – This is quite simply a fabulous Bel Air, done to the nines with every detail addressed appropriately and loaded with options. The engine is appropriately stamped for its presented configuration, but without the significant comment that this is how it came from Atlanta. The price reflects the effect the car has: it is brilliant, but as expensive as it deserves to be.Lot # 4123 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010017435; White, , White hardtop/Red leather; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $132,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $145,750 – Hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall BFG radial tires, Weber carbs, Blaupunkt multiband radio. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Tidy underhood showing only a little age and use. Underbody squirted with recent chassis black over old paint and underseal. Flat panels and even gaps; door fits could be better. An attractive cosmetic restoration. – A prime example of the 190SL’s current transactional escalation, this is a sound but unexceptional car with enough shortcomings to call into question the thoroughness of its ‘recent documented restoration.’ It is expensive even in the context of the madness that has afflicted 190SL prices.Lot # 4124 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Roadster; S/N 194677S102720; Engine # T0915JE 7102720; Silver Pearl, , Black stinger/Black; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – 427/435hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, red line tires, side exhausts, P/B, P/S, P/W, AM-FM, two tops, headrests. – Freshly restored with great paint, chrome, interior, top and engine compartment. Not like new in some underhood and chassis finishes but overall a showpiece. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2013 for $143,000. Consider this precisely restored and completely equipped 427/435hp Corvette roadster in contrast with the mediocre cosmetically restored 190SL that preceded it across the block at $8,000 more. Where would you rather have your money? A rational collector would not fail to appreciate the difference. Both results are ‘market’, but this Corvette is far more car for the money, and a more reliable place to put it.
The rest of the cars:
Lot # 1037 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N VC57S119374; Canton Coral, /White, Grey vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $71,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $78,100 – 283/240hp, dual quads, batwing air cleaner, 3-speed, P/S, no P/B skirts, spinner wheel covers, continental kit, pushbutton radio, electric wipers. – Good paint, chrome, interior and glass. Dry underbody. Orderly engine compartment. Flush panel fits and even gaps. A quality older restoration to nearly like new condition, now a little aged but hardly used, if at all. – Sold here a year ago for $82,500, a consistent result for a consistently fine Bel Air in a particularly attractive and unusual color.Lot # 2104 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi; S/N ZFFAA02A4C0041017; Red, /Tan leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,300 – 5-spoke alloy wheels, Michelin TRX tires, Kenwood cassette stereo, A/C, Clifford alarm. – Erratically masked repaint, scratched black trim, worn original interior. Driver’s door handle crudely repainted. Clean engine compartment with some paint loss. Hard old TRX tires. Dead engine cover struts. Honest but aged mostly original car. – Described as ‘just 22,000 actual miles’, the odometer reads 23,345 and the car looks like it’s had much more abuse than that. The seller should be extremely happy with this price.Lot # 2113 1949 Triumph 2000 Roadster; S/N TRA1991; Black, /Grey-Green leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000 plus commission of; Final Price $35,000 – RHD. Hubcaps, blackwall bias ply tires, fender mirrors, rumble seat with glass panel cover, fog and driving light. – Sound but aged mostly original car with a sound old repaint and interior. Weak chrome, cracked dashboard varnish, faded instrument faces. Cracked, oxidized steering wheel. Dirty underhood. Not original enough to be a preservation car, but usable as-is. – An unusual Triumph in the states, and a quirky body with the glass inserts in the rumble seat cover that become a second windshield when it’s open, but this is a tired example, too far gone to be preserved and a real project to restore. It would go on to cross the block at Mecum’s Indy auction next weekend with progressively lower bids of $33,000 and $25,000. It would be a sound buy at the latter.Lot # 2125 1956 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire Convertible; S/N 569M36476; Alcan White, , Festival Red/Red, White leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $30,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,550 – 324/240hp, automatic, spinner wheel covers, P/S, P/B, P/W, skirts, whitewalls, WonderBar radio, Autronic Eye, continental kit. – Sound paint and interior. Some weak trim chrome, especially in the interior. Seats have been redone but the interior trim fits poorly. Inside rear view mirror is missing. The quality of the restoration is showing in the way it’s coming apart. – There is much visibly wrong with this Starfire, and no telling what else might be similarly deficient. It is a sign of astute risk analysis that the Auburn bidders left lots of headroom at this price for resolving unknown, but not unexpected, problems.
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 2140 1989 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Turbo GTA Indy Pace Car; S/N 1G5FW2170KL244191; White, /Tan vinyl; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $14,000 plus commission of; Final Price $14,000 – 231/245hp fuel injected turbocharged V6, automatic, 4-wheel disc brakes, 3.27 limited slip, gold center modular wheels, BFG blackwall radial tires, glass T-tops, cassette stereo, A/C. – 59,520 miles and all original (including the nearly bald tires.) Very good, crisp, original paint. Good interior. – Bid to regular ’79 Trans Am money, the bidders missed the significance of the highly modified turbo V6 under the hood, a car that took all the good things Buick learned building Indy engines and added them to the Firebird platform to make one of the outstanding cars of an otherwise boring generation. It’s 20hp more than the L82 Corvette and should have brought at least double the reported high bid.Lot # 4066 1955 MG TF 1500 Roadster; S/N HDP46/7970; Black, /Red leatherette; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 plus commission of; Final Price $25,000 – Silver steel wheels, blackwall ties, driving and fog light, woodrim steering wheel. – Messy underhood, particularly the wiring. Sound paint, chrome and upholstery. A presentable driver that’s had some attention, but needs more. – This TF 1500 is not as unappealing as the price bid for it would indicate.Lot # 4084 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback; S/N 9T02R184362; Black Jade, , Matte Black hood/Parchment; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $36,000 plus commission of; Final Price $36,000 – 428/335hp, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, Magnum wheels, Kelly tires, wing, rear window louvers, Drag Pack, 3.91 Traction-Lok, P/B, shaker hood. – Represented as an original, matching numbers car with 48,481 miles and looks the part. Very good paint, some weak chrome, sound lightly soiled interior. Good dash and gauges. – The difference between this Mach 1 and a Shelby Mustang GT500 is a matter of some fussy add-ons and the Shelby name. It deserved to bring a better price.Lot # 4085 1957 BMW-Isetta 300; S/N 506909; Red, , White roof/Light Grey cloth; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,750 – White wheels, hubcaps, blackwall tires, sliding side windows, Black leatherette folding sunroof. – Restored like new and showing just a little careful use since. Good paint, chrome, interior and thoroughly detailed with things like new rubber body seals and bushings. Upholstery is lightly stretched. speedometer bezel is pitted and the face is faded. A little more attention during final assembly would have made it much better. – Sold by Mecum at Indy last year for $25,145, then by Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale in March for $31,350, and is a seriously good value at this price.Lot # 4088 1957 Oldsmobile 98 J-2 Convertible; S/N 579A05754; Banff Blue, , Artesian Blue/Light Blue, Medium Blue, White leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $87,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $96,250 – 371/300hp 3-two barrel J-2 engine, automatic, factory A/C, P/S, P/B, power seat, P/W, Autronic Eye, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewall tires, power antenna. – A very good older restoration. Good fits, even gaps, bright chrome, luxurious upholstery, orderly underhood. A quality, extremely well equipped car restored as its specifications warrant. Not fresh, but could be with some attention. – Lavishly equipped and breathtakingly powerful, this is the apex of ’57 Oldsmobiles with a restoration that is holding up extremely well. The bidders paid a serious premium for it, but should be amply rewarded for buying one of the finest of its kind.Lot # 4098 1970 AMC AMX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N A0M397P171323; Bayshore Blue, , Black accent/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,550 – 390/325hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, ram air hood and air filter, P/S, P/B, AM-FM, half console, A/C, woodgrain steering wheel, tilt steering column, remote driver’s outside mirror, Silver 15-inch steel wheels with trim rings, Polyglas GT tires. – 2010 and 2012 AACA Senior National First Prize winning car and looks like it. – A rare and unusual car in an attractive color and equipped with just about everything that could be ordered, the quality of its restoration is evidenced by its AACA awards. It could have brought another $10,000 and still been all the car money can buy.Lot # 4100 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N VC57J163901; Engine # T1116FC; Red, /Red, Silver vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $49,000 plus commission of; Final Price $49,000 – 283/220hp, 4-barrel, Powerglide, no P/S or P/B, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, dual rear antennas, continental kit, skirts, dual outside mirrors. – Sound paint, chrome and interior. Doors don’t quite fit flush but close well and have even gaps. Light overspray residue under the hood. Right headlight trim doesn’t fit. Windshield gasket is cracked. Car card says the engine is a 265/170hp but the block is appropriately stamped for the 283 Power Pack and there are four venturi in the carburetor. A confusing car. – Reported sold by Auctions America at Ft. Lauderdale in March for $59,400, the inconsistencies in its presentation and description were unsettling and go a long way to accounting for its light price and failure to sell here. If there was money at the reported bid the seller would have done well to take it, the car isn’t getting any better.Lot # 4102 1973 Jaguar XKE SIII V12 Roadster; S/N UD1S22727; Regency Red, /Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,250 – Automatic, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, A/C, CD stereo. – Barn find two owner car stored 15 years, represented as 39,055 miles. Good interior, new top, failing original paint. Good dashtop under a loose carpet cover. – It will take no small amount of work to make this XKE a reliable performer after fifteen years’ sitting. The price paid doesn’t give sufficient recognition to the bills that are to come and the seller should be extremely happy with this price, especially with the marginal paint.Lot # 4106 1956 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible; S/N P856H11306; Red-Orange, , White/Red-Orange, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – 316/227hp, automatic, P/B, wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, pushbutton radio, chrome rear fender shields, continental kit, windshield washers. – Restored long ago and looks the part, but is sound and usable. – It was still an old man’s Pontiac, adorned with the silver streaks on the hood that added nothing except weight but under the hood Pontiac was entering a new era of power and performance. It was restored over 20 years ago but is holding up well for its age and is a tidy value at this price.
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 4110 1955 Chrysler C-300 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3N552659; White, /Tan leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $74,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $81,400 – 331/300hp, dual quads, chrome wire wheels, automatic, P/S, P/B, wide whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – A remarkably preserved 20,634 mile C-300 with very good paint and chrome. Very good new interior. Engine compartment has had some attention in the form of aluminum, gold and black paint. Underbody is dry and original. Original wheels and wheel covers included. – It is impossible not to like this car, not only for its performance and the milestone it represents in the development of the American muscle car but also for its preservation. The new owner got an important C-300 for a reasonable price, a car to be proud to own, drive and continue to drive and show.Lot # 4111 1956 Chrysler 300B 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3N561731; Black, /Tan; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $36,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,150 – 354/340hp, dual quads, batwing air cleaner, P/S, P/B, factory A/C, Town & Country radio with rear speaker, P/W, wheel covers, wide whitewalls. – Fair old repaint fading in some spots. Fair chrome, sound older interior. Underbody is original, clean and dry. Engine compartment has been dressed up a little but is showing its age. A/C doesn’t work. – Not the most attractive 300 in the array offered at Auburn Spring but still a choice example with potential for preservation or restoration, especially at this price.Lot # 4112 1957 Chrysler 300C 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3N571100; Gauguin Red, /Tan leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700 – 392/390hp, dual quads, automatic, P/W, P/S, P/B, power seat, dual mirrors, wheel covers, whitewalls, Town & Country radio with rear speaker – Good older paint with minor chips, bright chrome, good interior. Engine painted assembled, even the carburetors. Underbody is dry old undercoat. Treated to what it needed but not given any more. An eye-catching driver. – The Forward Look was in full flower in 1957 and nowhere did it look better than on the understated 300C, a car so good that its plain, unadorned appearance set it immediately apart. You don’t have to be flamboyant with 390hp under the hood in 1957. In well preserved progressively restored as-needed condition, this is all the car for the money, especially in Gauguin Red.Lot # 4113 1960 Chrysler 300F 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 8403111166; Black, /Tan leather; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $52,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,200 – 413/375hp, long crossram dual quads, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, wheel covers, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, dual outside mirrors. – Sound paint, good chrome and interior. Even gaps, flush fits. A quality older restoration with some miles showing on it. Well maintained but not fresh underhood. A swift, impressive driver. – While the 300F was a little more gaudy than its antecedents the black paint on this one subdues its appearance. Restored some time ago and driven since, its age is showing but it still is worth the price it brought today.Lot # 4114 1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible; S/N 8403134504; Black, /Tan leather; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000 – 413/375hp, long crossram dual quads, pushbutton automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power swivel seats, console mounted tach, pushbutton radio. – Decent paint, chrome and interior. Dusty, used engine compartment. Interior bright trim is dull and scratched. Underbody has been done but not recently. Capable of being made into a show car, but it entails both effort and money. Better to give the engine compartment a bath and drive it. – A gentleman of style (and substance) could do little if any better in 1960 than driving this gigantic and intimidatingly powerful 300F convertible. It remains a symbol of particular confidence from the last year of the Fifties [counting precisely] and brought a price that recognizes its unusual attributes and rarity.Lot # 4115 1961 Chrysler 300G 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 8413141405; Red, /Tan leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $48,400 – 413/375hp, long crossram dual quads, pushbutton Torqueflite, P/S, P/B, P/W, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, console tach. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Attractive underhood presentation. Overspray in wheelwells not covered with some fresh paint over the old undercoat. – Consider this 300G as the alternative to a ’61 T-bird and its value is apparent. More power, more style, more comfort, more road-hugging weight. A good car from a good collection, it’s had what it needs over the years. The new owner got all the car for the money.Lot # 4118 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N J58S104138; Engine # F1218CU; Regal Turquoise, , Snowcrest White coves/Charcoal leatherette; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $74,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $81,400 – 283/270hp, dual quads, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, bias ply whitewalls, power top, P/W, WonderBar radio. – A good older restoration with some age but little use. Good paint, chrome and interior. Clean and orderly engine compartment. Not like new, but very good. – Opinion is divided on the ’58 Corvette. Some like its peculiar one-year-only styling touches like the washboard hood and rear deck spears. Others would prefer the more refined ’57 or ’59. This one was offered by Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale in March with a reported high bid of $75,000; the consignor paid the fees and gave it a ride to Auburn and settled for real money, a wise decision.Lot # 4122 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback; S/N 9F02R481068; Black Jade, White side stripes/White vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 428/335hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, Shelby MagStar 5-spoke alloy wheels, Polyglas GT tires, AM-FM, console gauges, P/S, P/B, 3.50 Traction-Loc. – Very good paint, chrome and interior but the underbody is painted matte black over old undercoat. Engine compartment is like new and spotless. Represented as presented ‘in its current configuration’ without saying this is how it was built. – Reported sold by Mecum at Indy in 2009 for $119,250, then a no-sale for $90,000 there in 2012 in somewhat used condition. Its presentation here indicates some recent cosmetic attention and rewarded the consignor with a little more money for the time and effort. A good car, nice enough to show but not so good it can’t be driven and brought a reasonable price.Lot # 4125 1939 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet Landaulette, Body by Brunn & Co.; S/N 17082016; Black, /Black leather, Beige cloth; Beige cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – Dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, rollup division, jump seats, rear clock and smokers’ kits, hubcaps, trim ring, wide whitewalls. Firewall #412397. – Good older paint, chrome and interior. Top is old and dead. Engine has been done but now shows age, as does the underbody and chassis. A quality old cosmetic restoration. Put a new top on it and tour with pride and luxury. – Incredibly expensive when new and possibly one of only two built in this luxurious body style, it would be fascinating to uncover the history of who at the end of the Great Depression was wealthy and bold enough to be chauffeured around in such conspicuous opulence, presumably tossing quarters to the paupers still standing in line for the dole. Its condition is less than attractive, but is a sound basis for an extravagantly expensive restoration. Better just to replace the top and tour it in splendid exclusivity.
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 4126 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N AR170259; Engine # AR0010224526; Red, /Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800 – 1600 engine with two Italian-made Weber 40 DCOE 2 carbs, 5-speed, headers, silver wheels, hubcaps, Michelin XZ tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, polished cam covers. – Solid body, flat panels, even gaps. Decklid fit is uneven. Good interior, steering wheel and gauges. Underbody has overspray on old undercoat. Attractively presented and well preserved. Not restored, but close. Engine number is appropriate for a 1961 Giulietta Sprint normale, not a 1600. – Offered at Mecum’s Monterey auction last August with a reported high bid of $85,000, then at Mecum Kissimmee in January twice, eventually selling for $51,840 before heading to Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale where it was reported bid to $55,000. It found its next home here in Auburn at a price that fully recognizes its attributes and shortcomings, a full retail result, especially considering the engine confusion.Lot # 4127 1965 Porsche 356C Coupe, Body by Karmann; S/N 221260; Engine # P716584; Red, /Brown vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $50,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,550 – Chrome wheels, hubcaps, Vredestein blackwall tires, no radio, twin grille, Weber carbs. – Good paint not thoroughly wet sanded on the doorjambs and with some filler on the body sides. Sound but stretched upholstery. Neat engine compartment with a replacement engine. A sound driver quality Porsche. – Crossed the block earlier this year at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction with a reported high bid of $55,000 and sold here for realistic money.Lot # 4130 1969 Chevrolet Camaro 396 RS/SS Convertible Pace Car; S/N 124679N613424; White, , Orange stripes/Orange vinyl, cloth; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $62,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,750 – 396/325hp, automatic, A/C, P/S, P/B, Rally wheels with trim rings and hubcaps, F70-14 Polyglas tires, console gauges, AM-FM, P/W. – Excellent paint, chrome, top and interior. Engine compartment is crisp, clean and like new. Impossible to fault. – In excellent, sharp condition and loaded with desirable options, it can’t be much if any better than it was in 2004 when it sold for $70,200 at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction. Ten years on, but negligible change in its value puts the lie to considering collector cars, even powerful, well-optioned limited production ones like this Camaro, as ‘investments’.Lot # 4131 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N 17144095; Light Blue, /Red, White leather; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $107,500 plus commission of; Final Price $107,500 – 322/188hp, Dynaflow, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, P/S, radio, P/W. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Freshly restored with curious feature like the patterned vinyl covering on the dashboard and bad glovebox door fit. A show car that doesn’t quite cut it. Pretty color. [Paint code 51.] – There are too many unanswered questions about this Skylark’s presentation to make it worth what the seller thinks it is. The reported high bid is no less than it deserves.Lot # 4135 1954 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N S675116; Engine # G4277-8S; Carmine Red, /Black leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $74,000 plus commission of; Final Price $74,000 – XK 140MC engine, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires. – Block number 3650-8S. Restored to nearly like new, then driven carefully. Good paint, chrome and interior. Bottom of the engines compartment is as little oily and grimy. Exhaust manifolds freshly painted over the attaching nuts and cracked old porcelain. Looks good and eminently drivable. – The ‘recent frame-off restoration’ described on the car card is not supported by this XK 120’s presentation and the bid it brought here in Auburn is appropriate to what is being sold. It went to Mecum Indy the next weekend with essentially the same result, a no-sale bid of $75,000.Lot # 4136 1963 Chevrolet Corvette FI Roadster; S/N 30867S103678; Engine # 3103678 F1108RF; Red, /Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $88,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $96,800 – 327/360hp, fuel injection, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, WonderBar radio. – Restored like new, NCRS Top Flight in 2007 and still sharp enough to be much more recently completed. – Sold by Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale a year ago for $82,500, and a little better now than it was then, attention that resulted in it bringing a modestly but appropriately better price.Lot # 4137 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Deluxe 21-Window Microbus; S/N 246087927; Sealing Wax Red, , Beige roof/Beige vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000 plus commission of; Final Price $90,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, folding sunroof, whitewall tires, three row seating, clock, Safari windshield. – Good interior and lightly orange peeled paint. Interior trim is a little erratic. Middle door is filled. Underbody is orderly and repainted. A good driver quality restoration. – This is a good bus, but a few windows and some better attention to its restoration short of being a great one. It could have been sold without second thoughts at the reported high bid.Lot # 4138 1936 Auburn 852SC Phaeton Sedan; S/N 35889H; Dark Red, /Tan leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000 plus commission of; Final Price $90,000 – Chrome wheel discs, wide whitewalls, outside exhaust headpipes, chrome headlights, enclosed rear spare. – 1972 A-C-D Club winner, now toured and aged but still sound and usable. Edge chipped and microblistered paint, some weak chrome, loose-fitting top, good dash and instruments. Orderly but lightly soiled underbody and chassis. Supercharger drive shaft removed but included. A sound and usable tour car as-is or can be detailed to much better appearance. – This is a pretty neat old car, but sufficiently compromised for reliability on tours that it will be extremely difficult to achieve the seller’s six-figure value expectation. The choice is simple: spend the time and money to have the car fixed up in order to realize its potential or accept the bidders’ opinion of value.Lot # 4139 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 60E094581; Gold, /Gold leather; Beige vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $83,000 plus commission of; Final Price $83,000 – Bucket seats, P/S, P/B, P/W, A/C, cruise control, power seats, WonderBar radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls. – Very good paint, interior, top and major chrome. Some weak trim and interior chrome. Underbody was done like new but now has some highway dust from light use. Engine is good on top but lightly oiled and grimy down low. Once restored like new, now like a babied four month old Eldo. – Sold for $57,240 at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2012, this is the essence of classic 50-s-60’s Cadillac power, equipment and style. It could have brought over $100K, as it did a week later at Mecum’s Indy auction ($102,600 with commission.)
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 4140 1967 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242177P162372; Engine # 222967 WS; Yorktown Blue, , White vinyl roof/Dark Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $49,500 plus commission of; Final Price $49,500 – 400/360hp, 4-speed, no P/S or P/B, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, gauges, tinted glass, rear speaker, hubcaps, black steel wheels, redline tires, Saf-T-Track. – A good older restoration with quality paint, chrome and interior now showing age and use outside, under the hood and the chassis and underbody. Documented with original window sticker, build sheet, invoice … and a sales brochure for ambience. – A choice GTO hardtop, it should have brought a little more enthusiasm from the Auburn bidders, but not a lot.Lot # 4152 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Drophead Coupe; S/N S677295; Red, /Dark Brown; Tan cloth top; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100 – Body color steel wheels, blackwall Dunlop Road Sped RS tires, fender mirrors. – Barn find presented with a carefully preserved layer of dust. Torn top. Cracked original upholstery, torn passenger’s seat cushion. Sound body, at least from the outside. Said to run and drive, but hard to navigate through the tiny clear area in front of the driver. – A car that car hardly be shown as offered, but ready for Preservation Class presentation, the price it brought reflects the conflicting attributes of appearance, usability and preservation. Expect it to be cleaned up and shown for a while, then restored when it might bring a Hundred Large more than this price. The bidders intelligently balanced its appearance with its potential and didn’t get carried away in the ‘barn find’ hysteria.Lot # 5026 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Convertible; S/N B9470111LRXFE; White, /Dark Red vinyl, White piping; Black cloth top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – 260/164hp, 4-speed, Panasport 8-spoke alloy wheels, Radial T/A tires, bullet fender mirrors, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel. – Sharp, bright paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is overdone, but the underbody isn’t and is like new. A showpiece. – A very good Tiger, not over-restored except under the hood and bought responsibly for what it is.Lot # 5036 1959 Ford Fairlane 500 Galaxie Skyliner; S/N H9RW195327; Light Green, /White, Green vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $29,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $32,450. No Reserve – 352/300hp, automatic, P/S, Town & Country radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, chrome rear fender shields. – Good paint, fair interior and chrome. Clean underhood. Superficially cosmetically restored to acceptable driver condition, many details neglected. Rusty seat frame and inner fenderwells, oily down deep in the engine compartment. – Sold by RM at Hershey in 2007 for $36,300 and hardly blessed with enthusiasm here at Auburn Spring, this is a mediocre Skyliner bought for an appropriate price.Lot # 5043 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible; S/N N5622845; White, /White vinyl; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $43,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $47,850. No Reserve – 354/280hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – Indifferently redone with decent paint and interior. Scuffed stainless trim, old but presentable dash and gauges. Dressed up underhood with some aluminum paint. Both outside door handles missing. Needs help. – Maybe the bidders didn’t notice the missing door handles, a sign that maybe other things were missing or passed over in its presentation. This is a magnanimous price for a car with some obvious needs, and even more that may not be apparent.Lot # 5063 1964 Buick Wildcat Convertible; S/N 6K1049215; Red, /Black, Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – 425/340hp, automatic, P/S, no P/B, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, power antenna, underdash CD stereo. – Decent repaint over a moderately filled body. Even body gaps. Good interior, lightly fogged gauge lenses and dirty faces. Orderly underhood. Scuffed stainless, good major chrome. Old undercoat peeled off in places. Window pockets have overspray and some rust on the window mechanisms. A big driver. – It would have been a good buy at half this price, but, boy, is it Big.Lot # 5083 1989 Ferrari Testarossa, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSA17AXK0082804; Engine # 19348; White, /Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $76,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,150. No Reserve – Yamaha cassette stereo, A/C, P/W. – 19,409km original car with good original paint and interior. Engine compartment is orderly with only a little paint loss on the inner fenders. Engine is very clean. – An unusually good Testarossa, apparently consistently maintained and in good original condition, this is all the money, and a little bit extra for its preservation in such good condition.Lot # 5086 1971 Ford Torino Cobra 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 1H38J181025; Grabber Green metallic, , Matte Black hood/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Post-block sale at $46,818 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,500. No Reserve – 429/375hp, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, AM-FM, remote driver’s mirror, shaker hood, P/S, P/B, high back buckets, console, styled steel wheels, Wide Oval tires, rear window louvers, Traction-Loc. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Very good and thoroughly detailed under the hood. Underbody is original with some undercoat peeled off and lightly surface rusted. – Reality Check: Why pay a hundred large more than this for a Boss 429? Same engine, 4-speed and performance equipment. More rare, and room for grandkids in the Torino’s back seat. Bought right in today’s market, but a sound intrinsic value.Lot # 5095 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N 194677S1036968; Sunfire Yellow, /Black leatherette; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $73,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $80,300. No Reserve – 327/300hp, 4-speed, AM-FM, Rally wheels with trim rings and hubcaps, red line tires. – Said to be 90% original paint, a claim the overspray inside the doors and masking marks tends to refute. Represented as 5,237 miles from new. Engine is clean but aged and used with some paint touchup. Underbody is clean and dry. Chrome and upholstery are good for their age. – This is not a fire-breathing, tire-shredding Corvette, but it has driving attributes that transcend the Big Blocks’ power and torque. On the evidence at the auction it’s not possible to endorse the claims of originality, though, and the price is nothing if not generous.
Auctions America Auburn Spring 2014 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 5097 1987 Buick GNX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N IG4GJ1173HP448969; Black, /Black, Grey velour; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Post-block sale at $90,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $100,000. No Reserve – A/C, cassette stereo, Goodyear Eagle VR50 tires. – 96 miles, original paint and interior. clean and like it was in the showroom 27 years ago. – Hailed as an ‘instant collectible’, low mileage GNXs keep turning up. Now, does anyone care? If this price is any indication the answer is ‘yes’, but the rationale remains obscure. On the other hand, I drove one back then and it was … transformative. Huge performance in an era when ‘performance’ was a pejorative term. No matter your opinion, others have determined that this is what they’re worth.Lot # 5101 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback; S/N 0T05R122696; Grabber Blue, , Matte Black hood/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800. No Reserve – 428/375hp Super Cobra Jet, 4-speed, AM-FM, Hurst T-handle shifter, woodgrain steering wheel, Magnum wheels, Wide Oval tires, wing, P/S. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Clean and orderly underhood showing more than a few miles. A good driver quality older restoration. – Once restored like new, this SCJ Mach 1 isn’t any longer but it still a driver showpiece. It was bid to $55,000 here in 2005 and is sincerely worth what it brought today. I’ll say it again: all the car of a GT500KR, for half the price. What’s not to like?Lot # 5112 1957 Mercury Monarch Lucerne Convertible; S/N 376AK57587533; Red, , Black/Red, Black, Cream vinyl; Cream vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750. No Reserve – pushbutton automatic, P/S, pushbutton radio, chrome ring continental kit, chrome wire wheels, whitewall, trunk lid antenna, windshield washer, electric wipers. – Good paint, chrome, top and interior. Clean, orderly engine compartment and underbody. Not fresh, but only a detailing away from being show ready. – A piece of Canadian automobile history.Lot # 5118 1970 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI 7-Passenger Limousine, Body by Mulliner Park Ward; S/N PRH4574; Maroon, , Black/Parchment leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $99,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $108,900. No Reserve – Automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power division window, jump seats, footrests, wheel covers, whitewalls, suicide near doors, rear compartment A/C control and cassette stereo, smokers’ kits, fog lights. – Very good, probably original paint and chrome. Good original leather, lightly worn and surface cracked on the driver’s seat. Beautiful interior burl wood trim. Represented as 43,543 miles from new and nothing about it refutes that claim. – Luxury and exclusivity personified, believed to be one of only fifteen with this Mulliner, Park Ward coachwork. As carefully preserved and maintained as expected for an automobile of this quality, it represents significant value at this price. The owner will never have to look for a parking space at even the most exclusive venues, this car will guarantee up front placement, and at a reasonable price.Lot # 5123 1990 Ferrari Testarossa; S/N ZFFAA17B000083593; Red, /Black leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – Ferrari alloy wheels, Dunlop SP Sport tires, big stereo. – Assembly #7248. Clean but used original car showing 33,245 kilometers. Sound original paint and lightly stretched upholstery. Clean engine compartment with some peeling paint, said to have a recent belt change service. – Handsome, tidy and on the offered claims well- and recently-maintained, this is a supercar for a reasonable price.Lot # 5124 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 RS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N636009; Black, , White stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve – 302/290hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, cowl induction, P/B, no P/S, console gauges, AM-FM, Rally wheels with trim rings and hubcaps, Wide Tread GT bias ply tires. – Excellent, shiny paint and chrome. Very good interior. Engine compartment is like new, as is the underbody. other than a little oil mist on the front crossmember this is a fresh, sharp fully restored Z/28 that needs nothing. – Just a good, quality, restored Z/28 with RS trim, done right without being overdone, the price is nothing but appropriate, and even borders on a good value.Lot # 5135 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible; S/N F857H4297; Maroon Metallic, , Cream accent/Maroon, Cream vinyl; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $67,100. No Reserve – 347/270hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, skirts, continental kit, WonderBar radio. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Orderly and detailed engine compartment. Underbody has been touched up but it’s been a while since it was restored. A quality older restoration of an unusual car. Better than a driver but no longer a show car. – Bunkie Knudsen and Pete Estes set Pontiac on a new course in 1957. As the car card on this Star Chief said, ‘You can sell an old man a young man’s car, but you can’t sell an old man’s car to a young man.’ Sold for less and a comparable Chevy Bel Air, this Pontiac is more car in every way. Its price is appropriate for a Pontiac, but has so much value and performance.Lot # 5163 1954 Mercury Monarch Lucerne Convertible; S/N 376BK54157275; Orange, /Orange, Cream vinyl; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750. No Reserve – 256/161hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, dual remote spotlights, skirts, pushbutton radio. – Decent older paint, chrome and interior. Some chips and scratches, interior is visibly worn and aged. Underbody is clean but old. Tidy but not fresh engine compartment. A sound old restoration now in usable driver condition. – Rare on account of its being built for the Canadian market and marketed as a Monarch Lucerne the result for this handsome but not pristine car is nothing if not an aberration attributable to its origin.Lot # 5181 1946 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet; S/N 5EH5681; Maroon, /Maroon leather, Beige cloth; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $35,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,050. No Reserve – Radio, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewall, P/W, power top, chrome banded spare. – Sound older paint, chrome and interior. Orderly engine compartment. Grubby, oily underbody and chassis. Some paint chips and scrapes. Crazed steering wheel. A sound and attractive tour car. – Nothing to be exceptionally proud to own but at this price a sound and usable car for local events and weekend drives.
Thanks for another great auction report – Always enjoyed !
Mr Carey, As always an enjoyable read and good analysis of the market but I want to make a comment on the green Ford Torino, lot 5086. Yes, the car likely had a 429 engine but that is in no way, shape or form the same as the engine in a 69-70 Mustang Boss 429. The Boss 429 was exclusive to those two year Mustangs and two Cougars which were special built for drag racing. The 429 in the Torino would have been a Lima engine not the semi-hemi Boss 429. (a glance at the valve covers alone can easily differentiate the two). Those Lima 429s were used in 1971 Mustangs to replace the 428 Cobra Jet in the 68-70 Mustangs. They were also used in Ford’s larger cars and eventually expanded into the 460s that were the workhorse engine for big Fords, Mercuries and Lincolns as well as pickup trucks from Ford in the early 70s. To sum up, Ford had three big block families in the 60s and 70s, the FE (352-390-428) the Lima (429-460) and the Boss 429 NASCAR homologation special which was a truly unique handcrafted monster designed to take on the Hemis during the factory wars in NASCAR’s superspeedways.
Matt,
Very good point, and your observations are entirely correct.
That said, I still think the 429 Torinos are a great value, especially today when no one in his right mind exercises one of these cars anywhere near its potential.
Thinking about that, I suspect a 429 Torino owner would be more likely to flog it than a Boss-Nine owner. One engine is easily replaceable with moderate consequence to value while lunching the Boss-Nine would be a catastrophe.
Rick