Auctions America by RM, Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel, Burbank, California August 1-3, 2013
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Southern California is the heart of car culture in North America. Its influence reaches far and wide, to every continent where automobiles are built. Its trends are mimicked everywhere.
Why has it been the graveyard of collector car auctions?
Pretty much every successful collector car auction company has come to Los Angeles or Orange County, put on a show … then been rebuffed by the southern California cognoscenti and retreated.
It’s not fair to name them, because the experience isn’t traced to any organization’s effort. It’s the venue.
Every southern California weekend offers a multitude of competing, and in many cases compelling, collector car events. Every highway seems to have a succession of dealers selling classic Porsches, Corvettes, ‘Cudas and even V-16 Cadillacs, not to mention late model Bentleys, BMWs, Porsches and Teslas to the delectation of the car-centric southern California population.
In that environment it takes a lot to pull in deep-pocketed collectors and put them in a buying mood.
Auctions American by RM achieved that in Burbank this August. They assembled a compelling consignment that spanned the diverse interests of southern California collectors, helped in no small part by something like a hundred cars from the reserve (i.e., stored and neglected in the basement) collection of the Petersen Museum.
They put the sale on TV in their new deal with NBC Sports Network.
The site, although lacking parking for day trippers, was otherwise ideal for the 400 cars on offer. The Airport Marriott did a great job hosting it, even accommodating a magicians’ convention at the same time.
The trees in the parking lot evaporated some sap onto the cars below them, and the sun was bright, but this is southern California. Sap happens.
For a first-time sale in southern California this was a triumph, its $17.2 million sale total far better than any auction has done before with a consignment sale.
The cards and hat trick magicians weren’t the only ones at the Burbank Airport Marriott this weekend. Auctions America pulled a few rabbits out of its hat, too.
Now, it remains to be seen how Auctions America does in subsequent years without the Petersen Museum cars. But, they’ve shown it can be done, and that is no mean accomplishment.
This should become a destination event for LA, the most car-centric place in the world.
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These are heroic numbers for a southern California consignment sale.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report
Lot # 143 1959 Pontiac Catalina Convertible; S/N 159C10662; Red/White, Grey vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,650. No Reserve – 389, 2-barrel, automatic, P/S, heater, wheel covers, whitewalls – Quickly repainted, probably over white. Sound interior and chrome. Grungy old original engine. The grey upholstery and dash top would look good with the original white, but spectacular with a Metallic Grey. They look bad with red. – A decent driver but without equipment that sets it apart from any others and deficient presentation that makes this price generous. Lot # 164 1983 Ferrari 400iA Convertible Conversion, Body by Straman; S/N ZFFEB06B000043385; Black/Black leather; Black top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $18,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,075. No Reserve – Automatic, dual A/C, polished alloy wheels. Ex-Rod Stewart – Neglected and sad. Hole in dashboard. The cut job was ascribed to Richard Straman here, but it hasn’t been so clear before. – This car has gone steadily downhill in both condition and value since it was sold at the Kruse Scottsdale auction in 2001 for $44,520. It is no bargain at its price today and will cost a fortune to be made usable, let alone presentable. Its best and highest use probably is as a parts car. Lot # 165 1930 Hudson – Powered Champ Car; S/N 98; Cream, Maroon frame/Black leather; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,650 – Hudson Hornet 308 six, dual Stromberg 97 carbs, headers, quick change axle, disc rear brakes only, centerlock mag front wheels, wide 5 rear wheels – Quick old repaint while assembled. Model A frame randomly (and thoroughly) drilled. Transverse leaf spring suspension with lever shocks. A neat old car with potential. – One of several intriguing oval track racing cars offered at Burbank with real potential for taking a star turn in an historic feature at any of a number of short tracks. The increasing interest in, and potential uses for, vintage oval racing cars like this is apparent in the price it brought. Lot # 190 1959 Fiat 1100 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 103H669257; Ivory, Beige roof and accent/Beige, Brown vinyl; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $10,000 – 4-speed column shift, Motorola underdash AM radio, hubcaps, narrow whitewalls – Sound but dull original paint, sound original interior. Decent chrome. Cracked steering wheel, pitted interior chrome, yellowed gauge face and control knobs. Straight body, doors close well. An aged but pleasingly original Fiat that needs only attention, polish and lots of elbow grease to be a very cute driver. – ‘Cute’ only goes so far, but the Burbank bidders failed to look deeply at this Fiat and recognize its potential. It would not have been a bargain at the reported high bid, but neither would it have been expensive at a few thousand dollars more as a potentially rewarding project car. Lot # 195 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder Convertible; S/N 20967M252534; Red/Red vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $11,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,650. No Reserve – 150hp turbocharged flat six, 4-speed, AM radio, wire wheel covers, white letter Cooper tires – A fairly despicable car with a fresh, really cheap, repaint and older seat upholstery. Grubby inside, knobs and interior trim look like it sat outside with the top down for years. Filled lower body, missing side window guide felts and soft, gooey body seals. A bad car. – Not a bad price for it, though, a result that should make the seller extremely gratified. Definitely an acquired taste, in this case acquired rather expensively for its many needs. Lot # 200 1960 Fiat 1100 4-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N A010445; Light Grey, White roof/Blue, Grey vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000 – Column shift 4-speed, aluminum hubcaps, blackwall tires – Quick, erratically masked recent repaint, otherwise a sound but aged original car. – A better car, bought at a better price, than the 1100 Sedan that passed earlier at the same high bid. The buyer here got all the car for the money, and the wagon is way more desirable than the sedan. A sound value. Lot # 201 1968 Excalibur Series I Phaeton; S/N 6042; Black/Red leatherette, Red carpets; No top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200. No Reserve – 327/300hp, automatic, chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, wind wings, Lucas driving light, leatherette covered rear-mounted spare – First owned by Phyllis Diller, documented with copy registration. Delaminated wood steering wheel rim. Sound paint, chrome and interior. Good older repaint, otherwise sound and original. – Somehow this Excalibur and Phyllis Diller were destined for each other. Designed by Brooks Stevens and built in his facility as a series production model, this is a real car and it’s in decent condition for its age. It was worth this much without the Phyllis Diller history. It also was worth this much with the history. Lot # 205 1970 Fiat 850 Sport Spider; S/N 100GS10129288; White/Red leatherette; Black vinyl top; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $6,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,150. No Reserve – Heater, aftermarket alloy wheels, radial blackwall tires, luggage rack – Quickly repainted, otherwise tired and original. Faded upholstery, dirty interior, dead top, fair trim chrome but peeling front bumper. Body is straight and sound except for rust blisters behind the left front wheel. Engine is original and looks its age. Rear springs sag. In fact, the whole car sorta sags. – This may represent the new value paradigm. The old one was ‘any car that runs and drives is worth $2,000’. The result for this 850 Sport Spider may tell us at ‘any car that has a top that goes down, runs and drives is worth $6,000.’ There is so much work waiting to be done that attending to them only to a decent driver standard will represent a mid-$20K total investment. There are better ways to spend that much money, and ones less fraught with unseen complications. Lot # 210 1960 Peugeot 403 4-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N 2859122; Light Green, Ivory/Light Green, Ivory vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,700. No Reserve – Hubcaps, blackwall tires, column shift, heater, grey painted roof rack – A surprisingly nice, well-maintained mostly original Peugeot with a decent older repaint. Original interior is sound but stiff and scratchy. Chrome is sound but dull. Power washed engine compartment. Body is straight and sound. Doors (all five of them) work flawlessly. Spare wheel and tire, jack and tools under the rear deck. An unusual and very appealing wagon. – Peugeots have a terrible reputation in the US, so much so that when they were selling these things new they became known as ‘Pigouts’. That reputation has mellowed into a hazy recollection of lovable peculiarity. The bidders thought this car was worth far more than Auctions America did, nostalgia and the appeal of the station wagon body winning out over reason, but not enough to call the result expensive. And it is really rare, too.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 213 1962 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Station Wagon; S/N 20935W171847; Light Gold/Light Gold vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,400 – 4-speed, roof rack, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Realistic cassette stereo – Older repaint in the original color, good original interior and chrome but flaky exterior trim bits. Solid, straight body with rust blisters in the left rear and right front doors. Doors close like new. – Station wagon-itis boosted the end result for this Monza wagon, but overlooked the incipient rot pustules that plague all Corvairs. It would have been a good value at half this price. Lot # 445 1955 DeSoto Fireflite 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 50363889; Emberglow, Onyx Black roof and accent/Pink, Black cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,700 – 291/200hp V-8, dashboard shift automatic, P/S, P/B, 4-barrel, P/W, dashtop clock, pushbutton radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, dual outside mirrors, chrome windshield visor, grille guard – Decent older repaint, sound interior, sharp chrome wires, good major chrome but some pitted trim. Engine is orderly but grungy. – Oh, ouch! This DeSoto’s condition has materially failed in the seven years since it sold for $37,800 at Auburn Fall, despite showing only 11 more miles on the odometer. That is the price of neglect, demonstrating that owning a collector car, but not using it, is not without cost. It is a sound value at this price, recognizing the boring sedan body and years of neglect that will take no small effort to remedy. Lot # 446 1963 Studebaker Avanti R-1 Coupe; S/N 63R1538B; White/Burgundy vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700. No Reserve – 289/240hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, P/W, A/C, seat belts – Described as first owned by Dick Van Dyke but the Avanti plaque identifies the first owner as J. B. Graner, not Dick Van Dyke. Sound older repaint with a few touched up chips. Good interior and chrome. Dirty underhood and under the car. – So, maybe Dick did own it after Mr. Graner (possibly in the oil field services business), it’s hardly material at this price, which is reasonable for the car alone with this equipment in this condition. Lot # 449 1969 AMC AMX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N A9M397X136091; Bittersweet Orange, White stripes/Tan vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,750. No Reserve – 390/325hp, 4-speed, Magnum wheels, Radial T/A tires, pushbutton radio, P/B – Good repaint and original interior. Engine compartment done like new but the underbody unfortunately isn’t and is gunked up with underseal. Superficially attractive, but not reassuring. – Sold by Barrett-Jackson at Orange County in 2012 for $20,350 and offered at Mecum’s Anaheim auction five months later without selling, this could be more car than the price it brought even at $4,400 more than its sale result 14 months ago. It will take some effort and elbow grease to realize its potential, but there is a $40K plus AMX lurking here. Lot # 450 1941 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Sport Sedan; S/N 21AH0337221; Metallic Blue, Grey roof/Beige cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $8,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,350. No Reserve – 3-speed, clock, pushbutton radio, heater, sombrero hubcaps, trim wings, wide whitewalls, front bumper tips – Tired original car with a poor old repaint, driver’s seat is tom but the rest of the interior is sound. Good body and all the chrome is there even if it’s a bit dull. It is better than the basis for a street rod, but this is southern California so that may be its fate. – The Burbank bidders saw some potential in this Chevy and paid a price that will allow it to be put to good use either restored or slammed and street rodded without being unduly expensive. The result is fair to both the buyer and the seller. Lot # 451 1948 Studebaker Commander Regal Deluxe Convertible; S/N 4296204; Light Yellow/Saddle vinyl; Beige cloth top; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,750. No Reserve – 226/94hp six, 3-speed, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, heater – Tired, beat largely original car with a poor but sound old repaint. Sound old interior, dirty top. Sound, straight body. Sunrotted steering wheel. A rat that might yet learn some new tricks. – Notable for their advanced Raymond Loewy/Virgil Exner design, the first modern postwar line of production cars, and still notable for that distinction. The ’47-’55 Studebakers’ design has aged well and despite being stodgy under the hood are attractive collector cars. This is a modest price for this Commander Regal Deluxe convertible, despite its aged and neglected condition. It has the potential to be upgrade to something more proud to drive. [This result foreshadows its sale a month later at Fall Auburn for $14,575, not enough more to pay for its transportation.] Lot # 453 1935 Auburn 851 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N GG2470; Light Grey, Grey fenders and accent/Grey cloth; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,350. No Reserve – 280/100hp, 3-speed, grey wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual enclosed sidemounts, radio – Aged but sound. Freckled old repaint. Interior is destroyed. A sound original car with potential. – The bidders saw, and paid full retail for, the potential of this 851 Standard Sedan, to all intents and purposes Auburn’s last attempt to set itself apart from competitors in the mire of the Depression. Intrinsically it is a desirable model, with good performance and unusually attractive bodywork by Gordon Buehrig. A sedan, however, it will never be a top collectible, but is a ticket to the annual ACD Festival where it will be appreciated by like-minded enthusiasts. This price gives great weight to potential and less recognition to age and neglect. Lot # 454 1959 Mercury Monterey Convertible; S/N N9TA515671; Red, White accent/Red, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $20,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,550. No Reserve – 383/280hp 2-barrel engine with 4-barrel carb, automatic, finned alloy wheels, narrow whitewalls, P/S, no P/B, pushbutton radio, heater – Decent old repaint, sound interior. Dirty and mostly original but sound; and, yes, that does say ‘finned alloy wheels.’ – After a thorough cleaning, detailing and some attention to things that will bring it back to orderly condition this Mercury is good enough to be cruised without major expense. A comparable ’58 Chevy or Ford convertible would set the buyer back more than this and wouldn’t have as much power so while this result is reasonable for a Mercury Monterey in this condition the new owner got more car. Lot # 465 1929 Packard 645 Deluxe Eight Phaeton, Body by Dietrich; S/N 171058; Engine # 171015; Beige, Brown fenders and accent/Beige vinyl; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $122,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $134,750. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts with strap on mirrors, wind wings, dual windshields, Pilot-Rays, spotlight, trunk rack – Sound and complete long stored old restoration with stiff upholstery, chipped paint and pitted, thin chrome. Dusty and neglected but sound and complete. Could be driven as is after mechanical recommissioning. – The dated colors mark the age of the restoration of this classy Packard but for the price it brought it is still an excellent, usable tour car. It will cost a few dollars to refresh its mechanical systems to reliable driving condition but at this price that is a realistic proposition. The coachwork is really exceptional and could have justified paying even a little more to the essence of what classic Packard is all about.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 479 1953 Bohman Special Roadster; S/N 69N747; Red/Black, White Naugahyde; None top; Customized restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500 – Buick V-8, three Rochester two-barrel carbs on Offenhauser intake, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, vee windshield, banjo spoke woodrim steering wheel, chrome side exhausts – One off Lawrence Christian Bohman (son of Bohman & Schwartz partner Chris Bohman) built California custom. Aluminum body. Restored to high standards but not overdone. Excellent paint, chrome, body work and interior. Ford transverse leaf spring suspension. Handsome, rare and very well presented. – There was a time when the nail head Buick was the standard by which hot rod engines were measured and the design and construction quality of this California custom roadster is high quality. It is very much out of the ordinary but has eye appeal and history, for which it is a good value here. Lot # 503 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350H Fastback; S/N SFM6S485; White, Gold stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $117,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $129,250 – 289/306hp, automatic, pushbutton radio, woodgrain steering wheel, dashtop Shelby 270 degree tach, Shelby Hertz styled wheels, Sport Deck, Goodyear Blue Streak tires – Restored better than new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Sharp, crisp dash and instruments. Engine compartment detailed like new. – Sold by Auctions America in Fort Lauderdale earlier this year for exactly the same result. That pretty much defines ‘market value.’ Lot # 508 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412018607; Dark Green/Dark Green leatherette; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 – Automatic, Frigiking A/C, Bucker Europa AM-FM, hardtop and soft top, wheel covers, Pirelli Cinturato P3 blackwall tires – Sound paint, chrome and interior. Engine, underbody and chassis haven’t been done and are aged and scruffy. A sound and presentable driver. – Sold by Bonhams in Scottsdale in January for $78,200 (against a $70-90K estimate), but a car with many shortcomings that doesn’t have much going for it. The consignor’s disappointment may be understandable but it was bought for too much money and isn’t getting better with time. Lot # 509 1952 Cunningham C-3 Coupe; S/N IND201044; Primer/None; Incomplete restoration, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $370,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $407,000. No Reserve – Chrysler Hemi, Cunningham log intake with four Zenith single throat downdraft carbs, no exhaust manifolds or pipes, 3-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, nerf bar bumpers, Nardi-style woodrim steering wheel – Said to have most of its parts. At least the next owner can have some confidence in the quality of the bodywork which lays out all its features clearly. This is believed to be the only Cunningham C-3 ever raced, albeit insignificantly at MacDill AFB on February 21, 1953 by Phil Stiles. – A potentially very rewarding project, fraught with some uncertainty by the qualification ‘most of its parts.’ The bottom line is that with this investment it can be completed to concours condition and the total cost – if the project is carefully managed – will be less than its value. Lot # 512 1967 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115692; Red/Black leatherette, Red piping; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $81,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $89,100 – 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin MXV blackwall tires, broken cassette stereo – Quick repaint over old paint, scruffy dash and interior switches, worn, sun cracked original interior trim, sound newer seat upholstery. Dirty engine, chassis and underbody. An auction car said to have 30,841 miles from new. – The low mileage, if it is in fact accurate, is more than offset by the scrofulous appearance and age of the car. Not so long ago this was a $50-60K car but today it brings 40% more, a sign of bubbling loss of perspective in the values of cars ending in vowels? Ghiblis are wonderful, beautiful, fast, exotic cars. They’re also exotic, difficult to maintain and need constant attention (and driving) to keep their systems functioning. This car hasn’t had much of that attention and promises to be a source of many unexpected consequences. If the new owner is astute he or she will enjoy a few miles with it then turn around and sell it quickly before: a) the vowel-ending car fascination ends; and b) some really expensive problem develops (and almost any problem is really expensive.) Lot # 513 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider, Body by Touring; S/N AR191204; Black/Red; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – Silver steel wheels, Michelin X blackwalls, Motorola radio, Solex carbs – A mediocre older cosmetic restoration with flawed paint, good interior, flawed chrome. Orderly, dry engine. Chassis and underbody were painted assembled (but at least were painted.) Lightly filled lower body. Needs some attention but should be a good driver with a modest effort. – It’s not a Ferrari 250, but it never was intended to be. The Alfa 2600 makes a great tour car, with enough power, good handling, comfortable ride and appointments. They have largely been overlooked by collectors seeking more exotic cars, or fixated on the smaller, more nimble 4-cylinder Giulietta and Giulia. If this price is any example ‘overlooked’ no longer applies. Lot # 514 1936 Packard 120 Convertible Sedan; S/N 9971008; Engine # X60140; Light Metallic Green/Green leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $53,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $58,300. No Reserve – Dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, rear fender skirts, radio, dark green steel spoke wheels with hubcaps and wide whitewalls – A sound older restoration that could be shown again with new paint and an extensive detailing. Paint is cracked at stress points and chipped. Interior is good and usable as is. Chrome is spotty but most of it can be polished out. Engine is orderly and aged. Underbody was restored like new and has been maintained in close to that state – The skirts are a little out of character, but this is southern California where a little bling has always been sought to make cars stand out from others that are similar. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this car that paint and detailing can’t remedy. This is the first year for a cataloged convertible sedan for Packard, and at this price the new owner got a great value in a Packard with a desirable open body style, but it’s not recognized by CCCA as a Full Classic(tm). Lot # 515 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5770141048; Dark Blue, Brushed stainless roof/Blue leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000 – Wheel covers, gold line narrow whitewall Vogue tires, Autronic Eye, WonderBar radio, power everything, A/C, Fresnel ridged translucent sun visors – Sound but erratically masked repaint, good interior (except cracked driver’s arm rest), good chrome. Tidy underbody resprayed with undercoat but not disassembled. This is a superficially dressed up example of a desirable model. – It will cost a fortune to make this Eldo Brougham into something desirable, rather than just rare, and the seller should have given very careful thought to taking the money if it was on the table at the reported high bid. Lot # 521 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500512; Engine # 1989807500538; Metallic Red, Metallic Red hardtop/Burgundy leather; Tan cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $735,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $808,500. No Reserve – Body color wheels, hubcaps, Michelin blackwalls, two tops, Kenwood cassette stereo, Talbot mirror – Given to Robert Stack by Desi Arnaz when Stack won an Emmy for his role in ‘The Untouchables’ series in 1960 and owned by him until his death in 2003. Repainted from the original Avocado Green. Well used mostly original car with a shiny but poorly masked old repaint. Scuffed original upholstery, sound dashtop, tired, dirty old soft top. Grungy engine. Sound chrome. Tired, but has lots of potential. – As 300SL Roadsters go this car is largely original and has a more than usually interesting celebrity history. It’s clear Robert Stack got great pleasure from this car, and its new owner should, too. The price is extremely reasonable for the originality, sound condition and long-term celebrity ownership. A good value, especially in today’s bubbly 300SL environment.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 524 1974 DeTomaso Pantera L; S/N THPNNC06302; Yellow/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve – Momo leather rim steering wheel, P/W, A/C, no radio but correct Pantera blank plate, Pantera Cromodora wheels, Radial T/A blackwall tires, Holley 4-barrel, luggage tray with compact spare, – 38,725 miles, good older repaint with a few chips. Sound interior, good chrome, clean, repainted underbody. Largely original and unmolested. – Another ‘vowel’ car with a startling value bump. This Pantera L was sold a year ago at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction for $38,500. It wasn’t viewed there but based on its appearance today it couldn’t be much if any better now than it was then, a nice turn for the consignor but not extravagant for a good, sound largely unmolested (and therefore rare) Pantera L. Lot # 531 1954 Edwards America Coupe; S/N EAS102; Dark Green/Cognac; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, blue dot taillights, 317/205hp Lincoln V8, automatic, radio, heater, alternator, P/S – Believed to be the second Edwards America built. Poor, dull old paint with overspray in wheelwells. Sound old upholstery, weak chrome. Dirty original engine and chassis. A rough, tired old car that is sound and complete. – The last one of these seen at auction was at RM Monterey in 2000 and it sold for $50,600. It couldn’t have been any worse than this one, but the car itself is important, particularly in California where its benefactor, Sterling Edwards, was a major contributor to the early growth of the sports car movement. It is more significant than the price it brought here, even if it has many needs. Lot # 534 1948 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible; S/N 899A2064609; Engine # ;, /; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $247,500 – 239/100hp Flathead, overdrive 3-speed, radio, heater, remote spotlight, overdrive, P/W, power top, trim rings, blackwall tires – Quality paint and interior. Exterior wood is beautiful, with some wonderful birdseye framing. Some chrome trim bits like the taillights are starting to go but overall still an exceptional example. – One of only 28 believed to have been delivered as production at Iron Mountain wound down, and one of the most cherished of flathead V-8 Ford models, a rare combination of production steel and quality wood, which in this case is wonderfully preserved. Sold at RM’s auction of the Nick Alexander woodies in Monterey in 2009 for $275,000 and still in comparable condition. And comparably priced, which probably reflects the hype the Alexander woodies attracted at Monterey, more than a bargain price today. Lot # 536 1968 Lamborghini Espada Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 7356; Metallic Blue/Grey leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $70,400. No Reserve – P/W, alloy centerlock wheels, Pirelli blackwall tires – Dirty steering wheel, P/W broken. Quick old repaint over old paint, blistered in places and rust bubbles in front of the left door. Sound interior, decent chrome. A good car to avoid. – Another car ending in a vowel that beat prognostications of value, in this case by a long shot for a tired, neglected old Lambo. The gorgeous body by Marcello Gandini at Bertone isn’t enough to offset the lack of interest in Lambos of this period (or the tacky late-60’s interior design.) It would not have been a good value at $45,000; the $19,000 hammer bid is a gift; the new owner should get a charitable contribution letter. Lot # 537 1969 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N 9F02M481107; Metallic Blue/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800 – 351/290hp, Ram Air, P/S, P/B, 4-speed, 5-spoke alloy wheels, Pushbutton radio, SW gauges in console, tilt steering column, wood grain steering wheel, roll bar, Sport Deck rear seat, remote outside mirror, rear antenna, under bumper fog lights – Mostly original car with a good older repaint. Weak trim chrome and stainless, good interior. A sound, enjoyable driver. – Finally, a GT350 that’s actually [close to] a 350 with a 351 Windsor V-8 albeit rated at a paltry 290hp. This is a Mustang with Shelby fiberglass and a Ford VIN, but it is immediately recognized as a Shelby even though the same drivetrain could be had in a Mustang. Luxuriously equipped, this ’69 GT350 is highly original and desirably equipped, a good value at this price. Lot # 542 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Dr. Hardtop Club Victoria; S/N 2J63G141335; Dark Blue/Light Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600 – 406/405hp, 4-speed, bench seat, no P/S or P/B, cassette stereo, underdash Auto Gage instruments, 90 degree tach on steering column, hubcaps, blackwall tires – Erratically restored with a number of oversights but generally presentable. Erratic chrome. Sound paint and interior. A good cruiser with an avidly sought drivetrain. – Ford didn’t have the engines to contend with Chevrolet in 1962, but their 406/405 with three deuces came close enough to be tuned to be competitive. It’s a legendary, rare, package especially when presented in a plain Jane Club Victoria with bench seats and a 4-speed. It is impossible, even with the erratic restoration, to go wrong with this ’62 Galaxie 500 Club Victoria 406/405 4-speed at this price. A street racer’s dream, and a 409/409 Chevy would cost boxcars more. Lot # 543 1963 Ford Falcon Futura Convertible; S/N 3H15U229540; White/Blue vinyl; Blue vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $18,000 – 170/101hp six, 4-speed, pushbutton radio, heater, power top, wire wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, bench seat – A sound, clean, orderly Futura, restored like new a while ago with good paint, chrome, interior and engine compartment. They forgot to do the sun visors, though. Looks like a 6 month old car. – With bad sun visors, that is. This is a highly unusual car with its 4-speed and ‘high performance’ six, but that doesn’t make it desirable and it could have been sold at the reported high bid. Lot # 544 1967 Ghia 450SS Convertible; S/N BS4030; Burgundy/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $117,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $129,250. No Reserve – 273/235hp, TorqueFlite automatic, P/S, P/B, chrome spoke polished rim Borrani wire wheels with three-ear knockoff nuts, Michelin XZ4 blackwall tires, heater, no radio – A very good older cosmetic restoration with paint that makes a good first impression but is starting to show its age with small cracks, blisters and bubbles. Good interior and very good chrome. Old undercoat in wheel wells with a dusting of exterior overspray in the wheel wells. Engine is orderly but not fully restored, just cleaned and dressed up. – This is a Barracuda with a sexy body. It bounced around for years with its restoration getting older and older before selling at RM’s Arizona auction in 2001 for a paltry $27,500. It was in no better condition then than it is today, which either makes it an incredible value in Arizona twelve years ago, or incredibly expensive today. Split the difference and call it expensive, without the adverb. Lot # 548 1954 MG TF 1250 Roadster; S/N HDC464942; Light Yellow/Green leather; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – Silver painted wire wheels, blackwall radial tires, chrome luggage rack, fender mirrors, side curtains, tonneau cover – Five new tires, good paint and upholstery. Engine is clean and nearly like new. Underbody is likewise. Not a show car but a clean, correct attractive example owned by someone who knew the car and cared about it. – This is a handsome, consistent, well maintained TF. It was reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale January of this year for $29,700 and a good value at the price it brought today. Lot # 554 1985 Renault R5 Turbo 2 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N VF1822100F0010012; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800. No Reserve – Gotti modular wheels, Yokohama tires – Good, clean, original car showing 34,914 believable km on the odometer. – A grey-market car apparently without documentation, but one with blinding performance and reactions that would put Sebastien Vettel to the test, a lethal combination of excessive horsepower and short wheelbase. The homologation model for the Group B Rally cars (which had orders of magnitude more horsepower), this is a prime example of why they were known as a group as ‘The Killer Bees.’
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 555 1966 Citroen 2CV 4-Dr. Sedan Charleston; S/N VF7AZKA00KA139552; Yellow, Black/Grey cloth; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $11,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,650. No Reserve – Yellow wheels, hubcaps, folding roof, flip up door windows, full rear fenders, Grant woodrim steering wheel, engine gauges, fog lights – Quickly repainted assembled and casually masked. Original upholstery worn through on driver’s seat back. Chassis, underbody and engine are grungy. Superficial auction car presentation but very cute. – Best seen carrying coops of chickens or cans of milk on the way to market, the 2CV was a French staple for years. Less appreciated in North American where its 4-wheel independent suspension with abundant clearance and adaptable body had been rendered dated by tarred roads decades before. A 2-cylinder Flivver found little market in Sixties America, but in the second decade of the 21st century it is winning fans for its idiosyncrasy. This deficient 2CV would not have been a good deal at $7,000. At this price it is expensive … but cute. Lot # 725 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242379P294022; Engine # 0663663 WS; Orange, Black accent/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750 – 400/366hp Ram Air, 4-speed, Hurst T-handle shifter, Safe-T-Track, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, Rally II wheels, Eagle ST tires, P/S, P/B, hood tach – PHS documented. Restored a while ago and showing age. Endura nose cracked. Engine is dirty. Good interior, fair chrome. No longer a show car but still a serviceable cruiser in an eye-searing, very GTO, color. – Loaded with all the right stuff, this passable ’69 GTO is a prime candidate for a quick Vintage Air upgrade that will make it 4-season (except where there’s snow and ice) driver. At the same time the engine compartment can get the cleanup it deserves and at this price it can have those needs addressed and still be a sound value. Lot # 727 1959 Fiat-Abarth 750 Spider, Body by Allemano; S/N 635135; Dark Blue/Black leather; Blue cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $49,000 – 41 1/2hp, 750cc, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin ZX blackwall tires – Fair repaint, sound interior upgraded to leather. Heavily undercoated, engine compartment is orderly but shows age and use. Good chrome. A decent older cosmetic restoration of a very cool, fast car. – Sold at Bonhams auction in Fairfield, Connecticut in September 2010 for $67,860, then by Gooding at Amelia six months later in March 2012 for $57,200, the high bid here (which would have been $53,900 with commission) continues its value regression. The consignor’s unwillingness to take the loss is understandable but all things considered the likelihood of doing better somewhere else is small. A modest first loss is better than continuing to throw good money after bad going from auction to auction or letting it sit and further deteriorate. The reported bid is what it is worth here and now, which is more real that what it might bring in some later, lovely, imagined scenario. Lot # 736 1951 Ford Glasspar G2 Roadster Custom; S/N 185611852; Black/White leather; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800 – Ford (1940, based on the VIN) chassis, 8BA 255 cubic inch flathead, Offenhauser heads, triple Stromberg 97 carbs, 12 volt electric system, 3-speed, Black steel wheels, hubcaps, wind wings, whitewalls, vee windshield, SW gauges, banjo spoke leather rim steering wheel – Restored better than new with very good paint even through the fiberglass is less than smooth. Very good interior. – Sold by RM from the Wiseman collection in 2007 for $40,700, then by RM in Monterey in 2009 for $38,500, today’s result is a deserved bump reflecting this car’s superior presentation and really charming set of specifications. Custom bodied roadsters like this and Bohman did well here in Burbank, a fertile field to be developed for subsequent southern California auctions where the tradition of building these specials is strong. This result is fair to both the buyer and the seller. Lot # 737 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Straman Spider Conversion; S/N ZFFSA17A7G0065417; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Original, with non-original appearance items, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $68,000 – A/C, 5-spoke alloy wheels, Michelin X radials – Road & Track cover car, used in a Pepsi ad with Michael Jackson, 17,509 miles. Some paint flaws and worn surface cracked upholstery. A sound used car. – Does a cover shot on R&T or a cameo with Michael Jackson somehow make this cut Testarossa worth $10-20K more than its berlinetta sibling? The seller apparently thinks so, but not the bidders, who put a generous value that could reasonably have been accepted on this car. Lot # 739 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N VC57K188165; Engine # F801FC; Light Blue, White roof/Light Blue vinyl, Black cloth; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $32,500 – 283/220hp, Powerglide, wheel covers, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, heater, aftermarket dual outside mirrors, rear antenna – Original paint, generally sound chrome and stainless, good original interior. Engine has been pressure washed, Paint is microblistered but not rusty. Body is sound and straight. Said to be 19,072 original miles which looks right based on the pedal pads. Needs a lot but isn’t complicated. – Surprisingly well-preserved and in sound but aged condition, the originality of this Bel Air is appealing but not appealing enough to be driven as it is with its puckered paint. And once the challenges start to be addressed (‘Well, since we’re painting it, let’s dress it up under the hood’) there’s no end to the project until it turns into a restoration, and an erratically conducted one at that. Or it could be preserved as a curiosity. In either case, the reported high bid should have been enough to buy it. Lot # 740 1961 MG A 1600 Roadster; S/N GHNL83569; Pale Blue/Dark Blue, White piping; Black leatherette top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $24,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,950 – Chrome wire wheels, radial blackwall tires, fender mirrors – Restored like new with excellent paint, interior, chrome and engine compartment. Underbody is like new, too. – Sold by RM at Amelia Island in 2005 for $36,850. Its result here reverses the expected trend for a sound, pretty and attractively maintained MG A. The new owner went home with a great value at an $8-10K saving. Lot # 758 1959 Imperial LeBaron Southampton 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N M657100583; Metallic Maroon, Silver painted roof/Rose vinyl, Maroon cloth; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $31,900 – 413/350hp, pushbutton automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power locks, two zone A/C, wheelcovers, whitewall tires, automatic headlight dimmer, dual outside mirrors – 59,449 miles from new, two owners to 2011. Very good original paint, chrome and interior. Roof is repainted silver and has exposed metallic flecks. A rare car, and even more rare in this very good low miles unrestored condition. – The roof repaint is troubling but otherwise the car is gorgeous, original and in exceptionally good condition for its age. It still exudes class and is one of only 622 built. A bit pricey in the ordinary course of things, but the well-preserved originality more than makes up the difference, this is a sound value. Lot # 759 1932 Ford High Boy Roadster; S/N AB5055556; Metallic Blue, ‘Miller Automotive Chino’/Grey Naugahyde; No top; Original, modified for competition or performance, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800. No Reserve – 221 flathead, Offenhauser heads, Offenhauser intake with three 97s, Harman-Collins magneto, alternator, quick change axle, steel wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, 5.50×16 front, 10.50×16 rear tires – A sweet old thing clocked at 142.97 mph at Bonneville in 1954. Tired, dull old paint, chipped frame, dirty engine. I love it. – This may be the coolest car in Auctions America’s Burbank auction. It just reeks of early hot rodding days in southern California and on the salt flats. Its condition, while aged and neglected, is sound and complete. For a moderate price someone bought a resurrection project that will bring a real historic high boy back to life. Will it be worth it financially? Probably not, but a concours trophy or two, a run at Bonneville Speed Week and a few mornings’ admiration and accolades at Cars & Coffee will flesh out the financial cost with ample psychic income. It represents full value for money at this price.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 760 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM1151568; Metallic Blue/Beige leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500 – 5-speed, P/S, P/B, A/C, CD stereo, 2-piece polished rim alloy wheels, P/W – Decent paint, chrome and interior. Thirty years with the current owner, A sound and well-maintained driver quality Ghibli that runs very well. – There are only 1,149 Maserati Ghibli coupes and their value has never realistically reflected their performance, rarity or the simple, refined beauty of Giorgetto Giugiaro’s design. This price is, by historic standards, generous but that fails to take into account a healthy market for cars ending in vowels. Consider, too, that this is 1/3 or less the value of a Daytona, 1/2 or less the value of a 195hp Dino, and it looks like a lot of car for the money, particularly coming out of 30 years’ continuous ownership by someone who obviously took very good care of it. Lot # 764 1948 Pontiac Streamliner Eight Deluxe Station Wagon; S/N P8PB46915; Metallic Maroon/Brown leatherette; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – Automatic, turn signals, Brody knob, pushbutton radio, heater, compass, skirts, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, backup lights, three-row seating, spotlight-mirror – Roof and upholstery redone, otherwise original and in exceptionally good original condition. Original wood is revarnishing and in very good shape. Good chrome, sound body, sound chrome. Quarter windows half covered in old travel decals, a classic touch. – Touring the highways of America in the late 40’s was fast becoming the family vacation of choice and no one did it in higher style than the family that owned this Pontiac Streamliner and proudly boasted of their travels with the rear quarter window decals. [They are much more enlightening than ‘My fifth grader can beat up your honor student’ stickers.] The preservation is exceptional and it brought a modest price in a market that clearly likes, and is willing to pay for, classy station wagons. The new owner got more car than the money that was paid for it. Lot # 767 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 83814; Engine # P75350; Red/Tan leather; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $214,500 – Silver painted wheels, hubcaps, Nankang blackwall radials, bumper overriders, tools, books, Weber carbs – Excellent paint, interior and major chrome, scuffed side spear. Paint defect behind left door. Engine compartment and underbody are like new. Engine number is from a ’59 1600 Normal. – It’s disappointing when an otherwise thoroughly restored car like this is finished off with Nankang tires. Sure, the Michelins or Continentals that would go on it are probably made in China, but … Nankang tires? The restoration has a few minor defects that added to the effect of the cheesy tires don’t enhance the restoration’s effect. It brought a representative price for what it is. Lot # 770 1904 Winton Flyer Replica Movie Car; S/N WF1236; Yellow/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Customized restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $62,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,750. No Reserve – 1275cc/65hp four-cylinder, 4-speed, Neverout interchangeable taillight, Solar headlights with sealed beam bulbs, C.M. Hall cowl lights, varnished wood spoke wheels – Tired and aged, sound and usable. Movie car built by Von Dutch and used in Steve McQueen’s, ‘The Reivers’. The Yellow Winton Flyer features in nearly every scene of the movie (at least the ones that take place outside a boudoir or jail); Steve McQueen called it ‘the real star of the picture.’ – They should have played a DVD of the movie showing the Yellow Winton Flyer bouncing down dusty lanes, across fields and through mud. It would have enhanced its stature as a real car with an indispensable role alongside Steve McQueen. Owned by McQueen until his death in 1984, sold at his estate auction for $20,000, later sold by Bonhams at its auction of McQueen memorabilia in 2006 for $117,000. It is hard to argue with the value it brought here absent the McQueen hype but the new owner got an unusually prominent movie car with Von Dutch/Steve McQueen history, and one that can be driven and enjoyed. Lot # 772 1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport Coupe; S/N 494475H913111; Black/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250 – 425/360hp dual quads, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, tilt steering column, WonderBar radio, woodgrain steering wheel, P/W, chrome styled wheels, narrow whitewalls, dual trumpet horns, limited slip axle – Sharp, clean cosmetically restored in very good cosmetic condition showing a little age and use. – Sold at Worldwide’s Houston auction in 2008 for $39,600 with 1,746 fewer miles on its odometer than it shows today. The early Rivieras are among the most attractive and elegantly restrained designs to come out of Detroit. They mark a clean and welcome break at GM between the departed Harley Earl and the new regime headed by Bill Mitchell. This example is done to reasonable cosmetic standards, will be an attractive and enjoyable weekend driver but brought an over the top price for what it is. There must have been two Buick collectors vying to fill a gap in their collections, or two dealers unknowingly representing the same prospect. Either way this is a fabulous result way off the value curve. Lot # 775 1931 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria, Body by Waterhouse; S/N 68757; Engine # 46276; Metallic Dark Grey, Silver-Grey fenders and accent/Dark Red leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. No Reserve – Dark Red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual cloth covered sidemounts with mirrors, Trippe lights, metal luggage trunk, turn signals, heater – Ex-Otis Chandler. CCCA National First Prize (unnumbered) winning old Hibernia restoration showing age but little use. Paint blemishes on hood looks like it was leaked on. The paint is otherwise sound, as it the wood, chrome and interior. It won’t take much to bring this Lincoln back to show quality and it will be a great tour car until then. – Sold in 2006 by Gooding during the Chandler Collection dispersal sale for $231,000 and offered by Gooding at Pebble beach a year ago. The hood blemishes are new but otherwise it remains pretty much as it was seven years ago. Waterhouse was the master of the convertible victoria body, in some ways even better than Dietrich, and this is an excellent example of their skill, the quality of the Model K chassis and Hibernia’s restorations. It will take little for it to be returned to very presentable appearance and is a good value at this price. Lot # 776 1929 Stutz Model M Vertical Eight 2-Passenger Speedster with Rumble Seat, Body by LeBaron; S/N 30046; Black/Burgundy leather; Black cloth top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000. No Reserve – Polished wheel discs, blackwall tires, folding windshield, dual rear-mounted spares, rumble seat – Said to be ex-A.K. Miller but not among the cars sold from his estate. Restored to very high standards with very good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is better than new. Exceptionally attractive LeBaron coachwork and an older restoration that is still in concours condition – Sold for $203,500 by RM at Meadow Brook in 2005 and still in the same condition as when it was seen there. The coachwork, with its deeply cutdown doors, dual rear spares, folding windshield, compact folded top and polished wheel discs, is as racy as it got in 1929. 113hp from the overhead camshaft Stutz eight gives it enough power to back up its appearance with performance. It is a tremendous car at a realistic price. Lot # 777 1939 Lincoln Model K Coupe, Body by LeBaron; S/N K9656; Burgundy, Beige coachlines/Beige broadcloth; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000 – Dual enclosed sidemounts, disc wheels with hubcaps, trim wings and wide whitewalls – Freshly completed restoration to like new condition. Good paint, chrome, interior and top. Not concours overdone, but very nice and done right without being taken to excess. – The last year for Lincoln’s big Model K V-12, this is one of four in this bodystyle and just 133 Model Ks built, putting it in the seriously rare category. The restoration is thoughtful and sympathetic, characterizations that are too rarely used these days. It is a CCCA Full Classic(tm) and is an automobile that can stand proudly at any CCCA gathering or event, particularly at this reasonable price. Lot # 778 1967 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N 67203F4A03222; White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500 – 289/306hp, 4-speed, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Eagle GT tires, A/C, P/S, P/B, roll bar, Rally Pack gauges under dash, pushbutton radio – Two owners from new with a decent repaint and otherwise original in condition consistent with the history and 71,008 miles on the odometer. Correct colors from the VIN. – GT500s get all the action, but 306hp from the much lighter small block is nothing to ignore. There is no premium at all in this result for the 2-owner history and known miles, an astute buy at a reasonable price for a no-stories car.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Seven
Lot # 782 1958 Dual-Ghia Convertible; S/N 871; Black/Black leather; Grey leatherette top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $253,000. No Reserve – P/W, Town & Country radio, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls – Good older paint, chrome and interior. Impressively flat and flush fitting body. Excellent interior. Underbody is like new. A concours car with a very well preserved older restoration. – Offered by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2003 in essentially the same condition as it was presented here. This is a healthy price, but a choice car. Lot # 784 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe; S/N 14019; Engine # B794; Red/Black leather, Red inserts, Black stripes; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $365,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $401,500 – Pop up lights, painted nose, A/C, chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin X blackwall tires, Ferrari AM-FM, Marelli ignition modules – Sound paint, chrome and lightly worn and surface creased interior. Orderly engine compartment and underbody painted over old undercoat. Cracked tire sidewalls. Freshly mechanically serviced after a long period, probably static, in Japan. A good but aged driver quality Daytona. – Nowhere in the documentation on this Daytona is there any mention of a restoration, or if the 2,507 miles on the odometer are all it has covered. If it has been restored, it was a long time ago and only to driver standards. In any event, it is a sound and freshly mechanically re-commissioned Daytona in its original colors that brought an appropriate price for its presentation. Lot # 794 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupe, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N LCSC77C; Black; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000 – Automatic, P/B, P/S, Coldmaster A/C, Blaupunkt AM/FM cassette deck, tools, cocktail cabinet, Spirit of Ecstasy, polished color-matched hubcaps, Lucas fog lights, Chinese Eye – Very good paint, chrome, interior and wood. – Sold at RM’s Meadow Brook auction in 2003 for $95,700, then at RM Amelia in 2012 for $198,000, this is no better car than the amount reported bid for it. Lot # 796 1956 Talbot-Lago T14LS Coupe; S/N 140019; Engine # 21900; Blue/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000 – RHD. Black painted wire wheels, blackwall Michelin X tires, dual Talbot mirrors, sliding side windows – Sound orange peely paint over wavy bodywork. Good new upholstery and carpets. Orderly but aged underhood and chassis. Comes with UK logbook and copy of the build sheet, equipped for historic racing competition with a roll bar. Usable as is. – Started life as a 4-cylinder but at some point got the BMW V-8 of the Talbot-Lago America. All the latter were lefthand drive, so this is a somewhat peculiar combination, typical of Talbot-Lago’s last days. Decent condition and definitely out of the ordinary, a car whose potential was not apparent to the Burbank bidders, and who might have been put off by the engine swap. Lot # 797 1954 Kaiser-Darrin 161 Roadster; S/N 161001010; White/Red leatherette; Red vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $86,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $94,600 – Grey painted wire wheels, whitewall tires, 3-speed, wind wings, turn signals, Edmunds finned aluminum cylinder head, triple Holley downdraft carbs – A sound older restoration with minor chrome faults, good paint and interior. Not done to current show standards but an attractive and usable example with many unusual, and perhaps factory, experimental features. – Factory or not, this is a sweet hot rod Kaiser-Darrin in decent enough condition. It stands out from the rest of the Kaiser-Darrins and brought an appropriate price here in Burbank. Lot # 800 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX 2561; White/Red leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $825,000 – Automatic, chrome wire wheels, windwings, grille and trunk guards, quick fill fuel cap, electric radiator fan, alternator – Repainted, front wheel wells repainted over old undercoat, rears left original. Good upholstery looks like it was redone some time ago and shows a little age and use. Flaky hood latch chrome. Orderly underhood with some detailing and paint but far from ready to show. 40,107 miles from new. – An automatic Cobra 289? Described as one of less than 30 so equipped, it is so surprising that it’s almost startling. Little used in almost 50 years of life, it’s going to attract no small amount of attention at any SAAC gathering where it shows up, with the most common question likely to be, ‘Why?’ The result here is a modest discount from recent Cobra 289 transactions, but they are generally in better condition and have 4-speeds. All things considered, this is a reasonable result. Lot # 801 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N SFM6S1720; Candy Apple Red, White stripes/Black vinyl; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $118,182 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $130,000 – 289/425hp Paxton supercharged, 4-speed, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Radial T/A tires, pushbutton radio, Shelby tach on dash top, Shelby woodrim steering wheel – Supercharger added long after the car left Shelby. A good older restoration, color changed, with some age and storage dust but very good paint, chrome and interior. Generally like new, with better paint. – Sold by RM at Ft. Lauderdale in 2007 for $148,500, in equally good condition to how it appears today and showing 940 fewer miles [they must have been pretty exciting] than it shows today. The blower helps performance but not value, and Auctions America put together this all-in deal after it crossed the block. Let’s say the seller got all the money, costing $18,500 for six years use and 940 exciting miles, $19.68 per mile. Hertz can only dream of $19.68/mile, but for the new owner the car is a very attractive value that can be flogged like a rented mule for a while, then quietly remove the Paxton and repaint it the original Ivy Green to fit back into the mainstream of Shelby collectors’ expectations. Lot # 802 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Pall Mall Tourer, Body by R-RCCW; S/N 106FW; Grey/Brown leatherette; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $152,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $167,750 – RHD. Red wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual (bald) sidemounts with mirrors, American Flatlite drum headlights, dual windshields, top hinged windshield, trunk rack, nickel trim – Rebodied in the Twenties with this Rolls-Royce Custom Coachworks Pall Mall Tourer body. Restored in the 1950s for M.K. Harmon who owned it until recently. Crankcase marked G. Haddock and Armitage. A rough old restoration that is complete but needs comprehensive attention. – The Twenties rebody matters not a whit to this Ghost’s value, which is instead tied to the age of its restoration and the work it needs to be brought back up to decent, reliable touring condition. For that, it is a good value at this price. Lot # 803 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010016207; Medium Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $127,273 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $140,000 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, Blaupunkt AM-FM-multiband – Good paint, chrome, interior and top. Orderly underhood, thoroughly and accurately redone with Solex carbs. Underbody has not been done. Sound body with good fits and gaps. Not completely restored but what has been done has been done well. – Sold at Worldwide’s Houston auction three months ago for $71,500, this is a sound but not exceptional cosmetically restored 190SL that even in the current mania for these boulevard cruisers isn’t worth any more than the post-block price it brought here. Underlying the cute body is a sedan suspension and engine with 105hp. Not much to get excited about.
Auctions America Southern California 2013 – Auction Report Page Eight
Lot # 804 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 15859; Red/Tan leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $122,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $134,750 – Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin blackwall tires, Becker Europa AM-FM, A/C – Very good paint and new interior. Old undercoat. Engine is clean and detailed. Chassis is orderly but not restored. Very good new interior. A good C4. – Bought right on the money. Odd coachwork, especially the black ‘clown mouth’ front crash structure, but under it is the Daytona’s driveline and chassis, slightly tuned down for the 2+2 coachwork. It’s the front-engined Ferrari V-12 for ordinary folks (with a hundred thousand dollars sloshing around in their bank accounts) and isn’t yet out of sight. Probably not for long, though, as the bubble gets stretched tighter and tighter. Lot # 807 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M Roadster; S/N BN2L231790; Healey Blue, OEWhite/Blue leather; Blue leatherette top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $112,750. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, Dunlop blackwall tires, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, 4-speed overdrive, heater, Lucas fog lights, BMIHT certificate – Represented as a M and documented as such on the Heritage Certificate, but with a replacement engine. 1997 restoration with 2007 repaint and upholstery. 12 volt electrical system. Very attractive and orderly. Underbody is still nearly like new. – This 100/M would be worth 50% more with its original engine and a somewhat less fraught history. The new owner got the right car and the fact it’s not the right engine will affect it only when it’s next sold. Until then it is the ultimate 4-cylinder Healey and bought for a price that recognizes exactly what it is and the quality of its older restoration. Lot # 808 1962 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N 20867S108781; Engine # 2108781 F0305RF; Black, Black hardtop/Black; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $89,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $97,900 – 327/360hp, 4-speed, RPO 687 big brakes and suspension, 4.11 Positraction, steel wheels, hubcaps, bias ply blackwall tires – An older restoration to showroom condition now aged even if little used. Sound paint, chrome and interior. Paint blistered on hardtop but good hardtop rear window. – Trundled through at least three Mecum auctions in the past 10 months, no-sales each time at steadily decreasing amounts. I brought an entirely reasonable price here and has the correct engine stampings for the chassis and engine configuration, but no representation of originality. Big Brakes and Positraction add to its appeal and at this price whether it’s original or not is of little consequence. It’s a Corvette to exult in owning and driving, looks mean as a horny stallion and goes even faster. Lot # 810 1968 Porsche 911 Soft Window Targa; S/N 11880191; Engine # 3281118; Green/Tan; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000 – Weber carbs, Blaupunkt AM-FM-SW, heater, 5-speed, polished Fuchs wheels, BFG blackwall tires – Solid body, very good cosmetics. Done a while ago but little used and nearly like new. – This car’s recent auction history recounts the saga of the 911 Soft Window’s popularity. It was sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2011 for $66,000, then at Worldwide’s Houston auction in May of this year for $85,200. And the owner turns down $130,000 here, three months later? Better to sell too early than not to sell at all. Lot # 811 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, Body by Bertone; S/N 1012000379; Engine # AR0012000769; Red/Biscuit, Black; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $105,000 – Silver wheels, hubcaps, Pirelli blackwall tires, no radio, dual Talbot outside mirrors – Possibly the New York, Chicago or LA auto show display car, owned by Alfa while it was in the US and only sold to Max Hoffman in November 1961. Good paint with some flaws and touched up chips. Good interior and exceptional chrome. Engine has been done to driver standards. Underbody and chassis not done. Body is sound and straight. In Japan since 1991, represented as original engine, transmission, interior and rear axle. Shows 49,783 believable miles. – The Sprint Speciale, whether Giulietta or Giulia, sprang out of its doldrums a few years ago and continues to set new standards for Alfa values. Even in the indifferent condition of this example it was worth more than the reported high bid, especially if its stature as a major auto show display car can be confirmed. Lot # 828 1939 Crosley 1A Convertible Coupe; S/N 39031987; Red, Black/Red leatherette; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 – Opposed 2-cylinder, 580cc, 13 horsepower, 3-speed, cream wheels, hubcaps, blackwall tires – Good recent repaint and interior. Chassis and underbody redone a while ago and show age and use. Old, oxidized steering wheel, aged gauges, no windshield wiper arm or blade. Cute, but deficient. – This early 2-cylinder Crosley reflects Powell Crosley’s belief that American needed a good, reliable functional small – really small – car. Instead of mass acceptance it was adopted mostly by clowns who stuffed platoons of performers into its diminutive dimensions. It retains fans today, though, who appreciate its style and the smiles it brings to passersby. Prewar Crosleys are far more rare than their postwar 4-cylinder (and more practical on the road) successors, but if you had one of these during WWII gas rationing you had coupons to spare. Rarity and funkiness combine to make this a reasonable price. Lot # 831 1963 Porsche 356B 1600S Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 157437; Engine # P704179; Champagne Yellow/Dark Grey; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $116,364 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $128,000 – Chrome wheels, blackwall tires, clock, Blaupunkt multiband radio missing its bezel, square weave carpet – Body is largely magnet-proof but looks good. Very good chrome and interior. Engine is fresh and clean. Underbody is freshly painted over old undercoat. – This is not the best Porsche around, but it is good enough for the price it brought. Lot # 868 1963 Fiat 500F 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 560548; Engine # 110D000405712; Light Green/Cream vinyl, Green cloth; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve – Hubcaps, narrow whitewalls, black vinyl folding roof – Freshly restored to like new condition with very good paint, interior and chrome. Engine is sharp, fresh and like new. – This is an exceptionally attractively restored and presented Fiat 500F with rear hinged ‘suicide’ doors: easy ingress and egress but not very safe if they’re not securely latched. It is impossible to argue with the price it brought. Lot # 869 1965 Amphicar 770 Convertible; S/N GK2106HE; Red, White/Red, white vinyl; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000 – Hubcaps, trim ring, whitewalls, cassette stereo – Sound paint and interior, minor chrome flaws. Current California boat license. Door seals look good. Not a showboat [sic] but more than good enough to be taken to the boat launch ramp to show off. – The fascination with Amphicars has worn off, and with good reasons. They’re known as a bad car and a worse boat, good for a couple dunkings a season but otherwise of limited practicality. Unlike 190SLs and FJ40s their value trajectory is on the parabola’s downslope and this Amphicar owner may have missed the opportunity to get out before values fall further.
[Source: Rick Carey]
brilliant cars, great photography – what can I say, ausome
The Edward’s is now being resold for a healthy markup
http://bringatrailer.com/2013/09/28/one-of-five-1954-edwards-america-coupe/