Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Auctions America, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 1-3, 2016
With collector car auctions popping up like daffodils in the spring (although some of them might better be likened to stinkweed in the swamp) reporting on even a cross-section can be arduous.
The Scottsdale auctions in January are a case in point, but the proliferation is better seen at Amelia where there were five overlapping auctions in the space of just three days. Getting a sense of what’s going on means dashing from place to place in a near-frenzy, trying to find cars representative of collecting, the evolving market and the individual auctions and committing them to photos and a written record.
Then along comes a weekend in Ft. Lauderdale at Donnie Gould’s Auctions America. It was a breath of fresh air. It helped that I got to stay with friends, John Kyle and Kristina Bruni and their three delightful children. But it was the Auctions America event at the Broward County Ft. Lauderdale Convention Center that made the difference.
The cars were – and this is an impression uniformly shared by the usual suspects who populate collector car auctions – consistently interesting, good quality and often downright rare and unusual. That’s not to say that all of them were pristine, but even the ones that weren’t had something to commend them to collectors of various stripes.
Usually, to try to capture a cross-section of an auction, I will notice a particular car, then look around it for, usually, two or three more that say something about collecting and the collector car market. At Auctions America Ft. Lauderdale I’d have six or eight in the immediate vicinity that fit the bill, so many that I ran the risk of getting ahead of myself taking photos.
It turned into a thoroughly enjoyable three days, and reminded me why I do this and why I like the cars and the car auctions so much, just for the shear diversity of impressions. It was the antithesis of the hustle and pressure of Scottsdale, Amelia and Monterey, three days of having fun poking at and writing about fun cars.
At the end of the day my feet hurt just as much, but they were happy feet.
There were sub-$10,000 cars that looked solid and would happily have introduced newcomers to the pleasure (and pain) of owning an old car. There were six-figure classics that would hold their own on any concours lawn or CCCA tour.
Many of the cars were offered with reserves at a time when the high end catalog auctions won’t take anything under $200K with a reserve. Having a reserve is essential to most collectors, for whom the prospect of having their honest $30K car fail to find an appreciative audience in a no reserve auction and changing hands for $15K to a bottom-feeder is heart- and bankbook-breaking. With a 68.9% sell-through the presence of reserves on 17.6% of the cars seemed to have little effect, except on owners’ willingness to consign, and it adds honest, cared for, collector owned vehicles to the docket.
It was a marvelous three days, gearing me up for the rest of 2016 and making car collecting affordable and approachable for new collectors.
[table id=154 /]
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report
Lot # 120 1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 105375W215211; Black/Red vinyl; Estimate $12,000 – $16,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $7,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,700 – 164/95hp, Powerglide, bucket seats, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – Quick old repaint over old paint and chips. Sound original interior. Bumper chrome is redone but trim is weak and stainless is scuffed. Crisp, sharp gauges, good steering wheel. Wheelwells have been repainted over old undercoat. Engine is dry but original. About what is expected for a Corvair. – ‘Overlooked’ hardly begins to describe Corvairs but they are one of the poster children for the concept that it doesn’t have to be expensive to enjoy collecting cars. This isn’t a great car, but it is far better than most Corvairs and it is nothing if not realistically priced in this transaction.Lot # 131 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Le Mans Course Car; S/N 1G1YY22G135109035; Anniversary Red/Beige leather; Estimate $42,000 – $45,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $38,636 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $42,500 – 350/350hp LS1, automatic, full road equipment, working safety lights, heads up display. – Like new except for lightly used seats. Negligible miles, but not getting better with age. One of two Course Cars used at Le Mans, formerly in the GM Heritage collection. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach in 2005 from the GM collection for $62,640, then at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction two years ago in 2014 for $35,100. Essentially unused and an intriguing snippet from Corvette history. The ’05 buyer took a bath but now it’s reached a reasonable level consistent with its history, condition and mileage. Because of the track’s length Le Mans breaks its full course cautions down into groups of which this car led one. Among Corvette 50th Anniversary Editions it is a significant vehicle with unusual history.Lot # 135 1971 Triumph TR6 Convertible; S/N CC55951L; OE White/Tan vinyl; Tan leatherette top; Estimate $12,000 – $17,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,850 – 2498/106hp, 4-speed, JVC cassette stereo, Panasport alloy wheels, Barum blackwall radial tires, luggage rack, woodrim steering wheel. – Orderly redone engine compartment but original frame and chassis. Good recent repaint with a fresh chip over the left front wheel. Good interior and top. – A sound, usable and presentable TR6 bought for a realistic price that’s fair to both the buyer and the seller.Lot # 146 1955 Mercury Montclair 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 55WA15964M; Red, Cream roof and accent/Red, Cream vinyl and cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,100 – 292/198hp, automatic, dual remote spotlight-mirrors, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, continental kit, pushbutton radio, heater, power steering, power brakes. – Good paint and interior, sound but scuffed chrome. Restored engine compartment. Frame and chassis restored with a steam jenny and a spray gun of chassis black. Mercury letters on the hood are loose. Cosmetically done to cost-conscious standards and showing it, but holding up well. – Sold at Dave Rupp’s Ft. Lauderdale auction in 2007 for $37,800. The buyer tried to Get Rich Quick and turned down $43,000 three months later at Branson Spring, then $41,000 at Branson Spring in 2009. This is what it’s worth today and it is an attractive piece of Fifties American automobile history at that price.Lot # 158 1971 AMC Javelin SST 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N A1C797N254360; Purple, Black nose band/Black vinyl; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,900 – 360/245hp, automatic, power steering, power brakes, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. – Sound but microblistered paint applied over old paint. Weak chrome, scuffed stainless. Good original interior, dash, gauges and switches. Original underbody and engine compartment with a repainted engine. Done to competent driver standards appropriate to its basic engine and automatic transmission. – This is another of a number of examples in Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale sale of affordable, enjoyable, distinctive starter cars that provide entry-level access to car collecting. The price is right-on for the Javelin’s equipment and condition.Lot # 159 1959 Austin-Healey 100/6 Roadster; S/N BN6L2142; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,650 – 2,639cc/117hp, overdrive, chrome wire wheels, Michelin XZX tires, Marchal fog lights, wind wings, heater. – Boot lid interferes with the bumper overriders. Paint, interior and chrome are good. Underbody is original with a respray with chassis paint. A driver quality Healey. – Sold at Hershey in 2007 for $40,500 in a transaction early in the recently concluded Big Healey boom, then sold here a year ago for $36,850 and now down a little more in a transaction that delivers good value for the money to the new owner.Lot # 161 1971 Buick GS 455 Convertible; S/N 434671H204676; Gold/Pearl vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750 – 455/315hp, automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, Magnum wheels, Radial G/T tires, pushbutton radio, dual remote outside mirrors, N25 exhaust. – Very good clearcoat repaint, excellent upholstery. Good major chrome but dirty, oxidizing wheels. Underbody was done, but is dirty and bare steel fittings are surface rusty. Stainless trim is lightly scuffed. Restored to showroom condition a while ago, now showing age and perhaps not the best preservation of the restoration which was said to have been done last year but looks significantly older. – One of 902 GS convertibles built in 1971, a pleasing combination of a big engine, folding top and the A/C that is essential here in Florida for year-round use. Buick luxury and 455 performance makes this an appealing acquisition and one that is in this transaction moderately but appropriately priced.Lot # 199 1968 AMC AMX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N A8C397X283695; Red, White stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,400 – 390/325hp, 4-speed, pushbutton radio, no console, Magnum wheels, Radial T/A blackwall tires. – Poor quality repaint with fisheyes and dirt inclusions, not finished around the cowl vents or windowsill trim. Lightly scuffed stainless trim. Good interior and gauges. Chassis and underbody quickly redone to adequate driver standards. Definitely driver quality and not particularly reassuring. – The high compression optional 390 engine is particularly attractive, but the caliber of the restoration isn’t. This is an auction car and the Ft. Lauderdale bidders recognized it for what it is and paid accordingly.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 208 1968 Porsche 911T Coupe; S/N 11820357; Engine # 6196647; Tobacco/Cream; Estimate $80,000 – $110,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $76,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $83,600 – 1,991cc/110hp, two 3-barrel Zenith carbs, 5-speed, Italian delivery Euro version 911T. Pushbutton radio, silver steel wheels, hubcaps, Touring T/A tires. – Good repaint, scuffed bright trim, pitted horn grilles. Good interior and gauges but smudged dashboard. Good new dashtop. Dry but not restored engine compartment and the underbody has been covered in new but erratically applied undercoat. Described as a ‘complete restoration’, it is in fact a superficial cosmetic restoration of indifferent quality. – 911s continue to attract top dollar, even when as in this case their presentation isn’t particularly high quality. This result is generous for the quality of the car.Lot # 209 1973 Lamborghini Espada 400 GT Series III, Body by Bertone; S/N 9448; Metallic Dark Grey/Black leather; Estimate $95,000 – $110,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $89,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $97,900 – Air conditioning, Alpine cassette stereo, power steering. – Quick, casually masked clearcoat repaint over old paint. Tired, original interior with cracked driver’s seat. Scuffed bright trim, thin bumper chrome. Clean but aged engine compartment. A discouraging car. – Sold by RM in Arizona a year ago for $110,000, maybe it looked better under the bright Arizona sunshine or in the optimism of the young year’s first auctions. It brought what it is worth here in Ft. Lauderdale with 60 more miles on its odometer than it had fourteen months ago, an expensive car to own.Lot # 214 2006 Ford GT40 Heritage Edition Track Car; S/N 1FAFP90S66Y401841; Gulf Blue, Orange stripes/Black cloth; Estimate $375,000 – $400,000; Original, modified for competition or performance, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $220,000 – Track car conversion. Roll cage, digital display, two seats, Michelin slicks, no side windows, fire system. – Orderly, well prepared and lightly used. – This unusual Ford GT was the replacement for an Audi R8 originally listed under this lot number. Its conversion to a track day car presents something of a contrast. Heritage Edition GTs have been bringing upwards of half a million dollars, but this expensively gutted and prepared track day example didn’t attract bidding of even half that and 3/4 what Auctions America got for a street Ford GT today. Talk about spending money to erase value.Lot # 216 1973 De Tomaso Pantera L Coupe; S/N THPNMT04987; Red/Black leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $47,273 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,000 – Alpine cassette stereo, Pantera wheels, Radial T/A tires. – A rare hard to find unmolested Pantera. Fair old repaint over a partially complete car. Good original upholstery, instruments and interior trim. Engine has been out and upgraded but looks stock. Chassis and underbody are original and dirty but orderly. The 52,576 miles on the odometer look real. – This is a sound, quality, well preserved and presented car that could be best described as ‘honest’: it is what it appears to be. It also appears to be a sound value at this post-block price.Lot # 218 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible; S/N 5R08C174014; Dark Green/Gold, Beige vinyl; Tan cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750 – 289/200hp, automatic, air conditioning, Rally-Pack gauges, woodrim steering wheel, styled wheels, Pony interior, dual red line tires, luggage rack, fog lights, power steering, power brakes, Holley four barrel carb, aluminum valve covers. – Good repaint on a largely assembled car that didn’t get to the doorjambs. Sound original interior. Good major chrome with some weak trim. Cracked, dry dashtop. A sound driver Mustang that evidences a good life. – The laundry list of equipment figures prominently in the price this Mustang brought, ameliorated by its needs. The final result is a fair compromise that shows the bidders had their thinking caps on.Lot # 219 1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk IA Convertible; S/N 8382000441LRXFE; Black, Black hardtop/Black leatherette; Black vinyl top; Estimate $80,000 – $110,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – LAT alloy wheels with spinner centers, Tiger Paw blackwall tires, two tops, heater. – Sound old repaint and interior. Good major chrome. Tired hardtop with tattered window seals and headliner. Orderly underbody. – The tall hardtop on this black Tiger looks like Abe Lincoln’s stovepipe hat. It is rare these days for a Tiger, even a 260 cubic inch Mk I, to sell in five figures making this transaction a very good value even with the rather rough hardtop.Lot # 231 1954 Austin-Healey 100/4 Roadster; S/N BN1L224877; Ice Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue leatherette top; Estimate $85,000 – $95,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 3-speed, overdrive, silver painted wire wheels, Dunlop Road Speed bias ply tires, heater, badge bar, BMIHT certificate. – Freshly restored with very good interior and chrome. Paint is very good but has tiny flaws in prep and wet sanding. Underbody is like new but not fresh. This is a car to be driven proudly and shown with confidence at the end of a day’s touring. – After a long time eclipsed by collectors’ intense focus on the Big Healeys, and particularly the BJ8 Phase 2 gran turismo Healey, early 4-cylinder BN1 and 2 cars are finally being re-recognized for their driving qualities and plain, unadorned design. This is an very well done and presented example bought for a fair price.Lot # 233 1962 Fiat OSCA 1500 Convertible; S/N 118S006573; Engine # 002837; Light Blue/Black leatherette; Black vinyl top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – OSCA-designed twin cam head, 2-barrel Weber carb, 1,491cc/90hp, 5-speed. Nardi woodrim steering wheel, silver steel wheels, hubcaps, Michelin blackwall tires. – Decent repaint and chrome. Tired original interior with dead seat cushions. Old undercoat in the wheelwells, clean but not restored engine compartment. Oily road grimy chassis. Quickly cosmetically fluffed for the auction. – Offered at Worldwide’s Auburn auction in 2011, now with 12 more miles on the odometer and in no better condition than it was then. It had a hardtop five years ago which now seems to have gone missing. The seller should be very happy with the price this unusual FIAT brought here. The buyer got an intriguing, little known, car for MG money.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 246 1969 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet; S/N 159863743; Red/Black cloth; Black vinyl top; Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $16,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,150 – Chrome wheels, hubcaps, whitewalls. – Doors close and line up well but the hood and engine cover don’t fit square. Upholstery is good but using cloth is odd. Decent chrome except for the vent window frames. Orderly, clean engine. Front has been hit and the inner panels roughly banged back into submission leaving panels covered in ripples. – The new owner will have to hope that whomever banged the front back into shape at least got the alignment right and didn’t weaken the structure too much. That’s a lot to hope for, but is figured into this price.Lot # 259 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Convertible; S/N 40967W112902; Dark Green/Black vinyl; Beige vinyl top; Estimate $8,000 – $12,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $6,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,600 – Powerglide, power top, radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. – Exceptionally awful repaint possibly done in a shop class for the visually challenged. Sound original interior except for the torn driver’s seat with old foam falling out. Sound body. Mostly original engine compartment with sloppy black paint touchup. No spare. Fair chrome and bright trim. Overspray and sloppy masking everywhere. – ‘Sloppy’ seems to be the recurring theme with this Corvair and the seller should be happy to get this much for it.Lot # 407 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 Convertible; S/N 223678L101015; Engine # 705300 WT; Maroon/Parchment vinyl; Parchment vinyl top; Estimate $40,000 – $45,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400 – 400/350hp WT suffix, 4-speed, power steering, power brakes, Hurst shifter, mutilation radio, console, Rally II wheels, trim rings, Wide Oval tires. – Very good paint, major chrome and older interior. Decent recent top. Engine done but slipped back into a superficially cleaned up compartment. Scuffed windshield trim. Chassis partially redone to sound driver standards. A usable but not thoroughly done cosmetic restoration. – This Firebird is typical of a many at Ft. Lauderdale this year, a sound, good looking car done to competent but not exceptional standards. It represents a significant opportunity for a collector to acquire a neat, powerful, usable car for not a lot of money, particularly these days where Firebird Trans Ams are all the rage. This is a good value.Lot # 409 2010 Ford Shelby GT 500 Super Snake Coupe; S/N 1ZVBP8JSXA5124278; White, Black stripes/Black leather; Estimate $80,000 – $90,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000 – Shelby # CSMSS0054. 6-speed, power steering, power disc brakes, power windows, air conditioning, stereo. – Clean, low miles used car. – It’s no surprise this Super Snake didn’t sell on the reported high bid, since it sold at the Leake auction in Oklahoma City in 2013 for $99,000. It is reasonable to wonder if the owner got $25,000 worth of enjoyment out of it in the past three years since it appears to be all but unused.Lot # 423 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi Spider; S/N ZFFAA02A8C0038685; Red, Black leatherette roof panel/Tan leather; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $49,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $54,450 – Air conditioning, power windows, TRX tires, Alpine CD stereo. – Superficial repaint described as done this year but looking older. Sound but aged original interior, faded carpets. Repainted wheel wells. Chipped paint on the Targa bar. A superficial driver. – 308s and 328s have been newly attractive, so much so that reruns of “Magnum” may be proliferating on cable TV to excite interest. The auction history of this 308 GTSi gives a hint, having been sold when no one cared in 2004 at B-J in Palm Beach in 2004 for $32,400. The new paint didn’t add anything to it. It’s just an old car fluffed up for the auction with a quick repaint, but the fluff did its work and brought a superior price for a mediocre car.Lot # 425 1950 Ford Custom Deluxe V-8 Convertible; S/N B0LB151479; Chartreuse Green/Brown vinyl; Tan Cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $30,000; Recent restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $24,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,950 – 239/100hp flathead, 3-speed, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, overdrive, power top, pushbutton radio, skirts. – Very good paint, good chrome and interior, loose fitting top, good gauges. Weak window frame chrome underbody done better than new, but not overdone. New top and body seals. – This is another potentially satisfying entry-level collector car, among a number of them in Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction. It was sold at RM’s Arizona auction in 2005 for $41,800, then at Branson Spring in 2011 for $40,500. Is it a good deal here? Not necessarily, but it is a sound value for the money that should give its new owner a positive ownership experience and a secure place to park some money.Lot # 426 1966 Chevrolet Corvette 427/390 Roadster; S/N 194676S113953; Engine # OE81753; Yellow/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $65,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $51,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $56,100 – 427/390hp, 4-speed, side exhausts, Rally wheels, trim rings, hubcaps, narrow whitewalls, AM-FM. – Fair older repaint, chrome and interior. Dirty gauges. Old dirty engine compartment. Replacement engine. A remarkably unsatisfying Corvette. – This result is a home run for the seller, even after turning down $62,500 at Auburn Fall six months ago. There is no documentation, no history, nor any representation it started life with a Big Block, let alone the oddly-numbered replacement block now under the hood. It isn’t egregiously expensive, but it is expensive for what it is.Lot # 432 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider; S/N ZFFXA20A8G0064895; Red, Black leatherette roof panel/Tan leather; Estimate $75,000 – $85,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – CD changer stereo, air conditioning, Bridgestone tires, QV engine. – Good older repaint, original upholstery and carpets. Speedometer in kilometers, temp gauge in Fahrenheit. Dusty, aged engine and chassis. Original Goodyear temporary spare. Speedometer in kilometers, represented as 46,808 from new. – The car card says, ‘Believed to be original paint’, but it isn’t. The rest of the car, however, is original and in pretty decent condition for its age. The price reflects the recent resurgence in 308/328 values and while reasonable in a current snapshot may not hold up over time. It is, however, less than many Porsche 911s, and is a Ferrari.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 434 1958 Pontiac Bonneville 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N K558H2572; Light Green, Metallic Green roof and accent/Light Green vinyl, Green cloth; Estimate $62,000 – $68,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – 370/330hp, Tri-Power, automatic, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, power steering, power brakes, rear antenna. – Good older paint, chrome and interior holding up very well. Underbody has some evidence of light use and age. Doors, hood and trunk fit very well. No longer a show car, but a superb driver. – The swoon of Fifties American autos is apparent in this Bonneville’s result. It has just about everything that could be desired in a ’58 American anything, like style, power and chrome. The triple green livery is rare, if not unique with the other options on this Bonneville, and has real presence. Its price is no more or less than what it should have brought.Lot # 458 1962 Ford Galaxie 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2G51B140817; White/White vinyl, Black cloth; Estimate $25,000 – $30,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,650 – 406/385hp, single 4-barrel, 4-speed, bench seat, heater, Sun 90 degree tach on steering column along with a big oil pressure gauge, electronic ignition module, body color wheels, hubcaps, Radial T/A tires. – Old repaint applied over older paint. Sound older interior and major chrome, pitted cast trim pieces, badly scratched door handles. Dusty and aged underneath. Probably too good to restore but needs much attention. – Does anyone care about condition when the hood is opened? It’s not the ultimate 406, but it’s a reasonable facsimile and has a 4-speed. On cruise night few if any cars will attract as much attention, or lay down strips of rubber as long as this Galaxie’s skinny tires. It brought appropriate money for its condition, but is modestly priced for its bragging rights.Lot # 460 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 149506495; Grey/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800 – Silver steel wheels, hubcaps, Radial T/A tires, no radio. – Very good paint except for some poor finishing on the windowsills. Very good chrome and interior. Wheel wells have been undercoated assembled. Engine compartment and chassis are not up to the standards of the exterior but are orderly and usable. – A thoroughly usable Giulietta, renowned for its intuitive handling and the willing little (if undercarbureted and under-cammed) engine. The color scheme is a significant difference from the usual red/black and makes the car stand out from the crowd. It brought an Alfa Romeo discount from a comparable Porsche 356 (not to mention being 1/5th the cost of a Speedster), a realistic result. The new owner will get to meet Alfa people, too, a meaningful benefit to Alfa ownership.Lot # 461 1981 Ferrari 308 GTSi Spider; S/N ZFFAA02A6B0037145; Silver-Grey, Black leatherette roof panel/Black leather; Estimate $65,000 – $75,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800 – TRX tires, air conditioning, Sony CD stereo. – Clearcoat repaint with some edge buildup, bubbles around the radio antenna, chip on the right front fender. Very good interior, trim and carpets. Recent belt service. The bottom of the engine, though, is grimy and oily. Wheel wells have been resprayed with undercoat. Babied, but not pristine. – With its recent belt service this 308 GTSi stands out among the many in Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction, yet it brought no more money than others that were not comparably babied. It’s a good value.Lot # 463 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N VE55S001545; Red/Beige vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $69,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $75,900 – 265/195hp, Powerglide, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. – Good chrome and interior. Paint is sound but has a number of flaws, including chips under the left side of the windshield frame. Replacement dual circuit brake master cylinder. Some errant wires under the hood. It is a ’55 Corvette driver, a rare animal. – Offered at Auburn Fall six months ago with a reported high bid of $72,500 and sold here reasonably. The ’55 Corvette is a choice combination of the original Corvette roadster style and the new lightweight small block V-8. Produced in only a few (700) units, it is among the most rare of Corvettes, but largely overlooked. This one brought a deserved price. The dual circuit brakes won’t satisfy a Corvette purist but make it a more safe and reliable driver, appropriate to its restoration and presentation.Lot # 464 1959 MG A Twin Cam Roadster; S/N YD31288; Black/Red vinyl; Estimate $70,000 – $80,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,500 – Dunlop centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin X tires, no top, Le Carra steering wheel. – Poor old repaint barely up to Earl Scheib’s standards. Dirty engine and chassis. Sound upholstery, fair chrome. Panels fit well and the car is dry and sound but in need of a full restoration, for which it is ideally suited. – MG A Twin Cam prices are all over the lot, but even at that this rough, tired, sloppily painted Twin Cam brought an heroic bid for its condition. It might claim an ‘originality’ premium, except originality has been lost with the crappy repaint. It’s a restoration project (or a candidate for historic racing now that the Twin Cam’s reliability issues have been resolved with a half century’s experience) and could have been sold for half the reported high bid.Lot # 466 1964 Ford Falcon Futura Convertible; S/N 4H15F141899; Grey/Black vinyl; Charcoal cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $30,000; Customized restoration, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,727 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $25,000 – 351 V8, 4-barrel, floor shift automatic, white plastic rim Grant steering wheel, bench seat, white plastic dashboard, beige padded dashtop, power steering, 17 inch SM chromed alloy wheels, Fuzion tires. – Weak repaint applied over old paint and visible prep work. Painted assembled. Fair chrome. Done to a small budget with limited taste. Charity sale with all proceeds including buyer’s premium to benefit the Broward County Boys and Girls Clubs. – Offered at Mecum Indy last May where it was reported bid to $18,500, then sold at Auburn Fall for $20,075. Its tacky big wheels didn’t do anything for its appearance and is a car that would have been better served with a set of stock wheels. Its price is a ‘charity sale’ in more ways than just the disbursement of proceeds.Lot # 470 1948 Tucker 48 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1052; Ruby Red/Beige broadcloth; Estimate $950,000 – $1,250,000; Older restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $850,000 – Completed on a bare, running chassis after Tucker closed. Concours quality. – This reconstructed Tucker drew the biggest crowd in Ft. Lauderdale. People still respond to the legend even though the car itself was reconstructed from a pile of parts on an original, running test chassis. The workmanship is as fine as it gets and its presentation, if a little aged, is still above reproach in any material respect. A showpiece, but an expensive one.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 478 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712001947; Metallic Blue/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $245,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $269,500 – Automatic, Behr air conditioning, power windows, Becker Europa AM-FM, body color accented wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights, power steering, power brakes. – Superficial recent clearcoat repaint largely unmasked with overspray in the engine compartment. Curdled dashtop wood varnish. Weak trim chrome. Filthy original engine compartment. Mostly sound original upholstery except for some seam pulls and sun rotted rear seatback. Why it was painted is an enigma. – A truly disappointing 3.5 that is in no way usable as it is yet brought a restored car price. The buyer must see in his or her mind’s eye the spectacular thing it can become, but only after spending a quarter million dollars on it. A truly disappointing 3.5 that is in no way usable as it is yet brought a competently cosmetically restored car price. The buyer must see in his or her mind’s eye the spectacular thing it can become, but only after spending a quarter million dollars on it. There is no way even to start on this car without ending up with it ‘while you’re at it’ in a pile of parts, each of them needing hours of careful attention. It would not have been reasonably bought at the low estimate. At this price it is a hopeless project that will end in tears and recriminations.Lot # 487 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 11102610000524; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $96,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $105,600 – 4-speed, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, Euro headlights, fog lights, Behr air conditioning, headrests, Becker Europa AM-FM, wheel covers with body color accents, narrow whitewalls, power windows – Painted assembled with some detail oversights. Good original interior and redone wood, dirty dash bezels, clear gauges. Red paint dust residue on the shift lever boot. Sound major chrome but the usual thin Mercedes trim brightwork. Engine compartment has been cleaned up but not restored. Doors and trunk fit impressively flush and evenly – In 2004 this car sold for $14,580 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale. Some of its cosmetics may [probably] have been redone since then. It’s difficult to argue with its technical specs, particularly the 4-speed, and impossible to argue with its price today. It is a potentially great car, largely left alone but maintained, that exudes confidence in its care and presentation.Lot # 489 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Cabriolet; S/N 11102512001849; Light Ivory/Cognac leather; Brown cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $137,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $150,700 – Automatic, power windows, power steering, power brakes, Becker Grand Prix AM-FM, body color accented wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, headrest seats, air conditioning. – Sound clearcoat repaint with some body shop flaws. Very good fresh upholstery, trim, carpets, instruments and dashboard burl wood facing. Dashtop wood is done but not very well. Underbody is original and very good for its age. – The 280SE six is forty horsepower down on its V8 counterpart 280 SE 3.5, but the difference in performance is unlikely to be noticed the way these cars are used today. And 160hp isn’t exactly chopped liver. The Ft. Lauderdale bidders recognized the trade-off and accorded this sound and competently presented 280SE Cab with a superior price.Lot # 495 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N SFM5S472; White, Blue stripes/Black leatherette; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $286,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $314,600 – 289/306hp, 4-speed, 9″ rear end, 5-spoke Shelby wheels, Goodyear Power Cushion blackwalls, dashtop gauges. – Quality, paint, chrome and interior. Very good door fits, slightly bowed hood, deck lid stands slightly proud. Crisp gauges, lightly scratched wood steering wheel rim. – Sold by Russo and Steele in Arizona twelve years ago for $82,080, this is still a quality GT350 and it brought a modest price for a quality GT350.Lot # 504 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4; S/N 14769; Red/Black leather; Estimate $675,000 – $725,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $590,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $649,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, Veglia air conditioning, Becker Mexico cassette stereo. – 78,068 miles. Fresh repaint that should have been better finished along some of the body edges. Good new upholstery and carpets. Underbody got some new undercoat. Engine compartment is orderly and clean. Cosmetically restored to attractive touring standards. – Here’s the Daytona value curve, in the flesh: sold by RM in Arizona last year for $715,000, then by Mecum at Indy four months later for $837,000 and $649,000 here. Attractively presented but not excessively detailed, this is a ‘driver’ Daytona. It has some issues and they are easily resolved but the way prices are going [Daytonas are not rare cars] are they worth addressing? Bought by a dealer who thinks otherwise, time will tell.Lot # 508 1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 Coupe; S/N 13471; Black/Black leather; Estimate $240,000 – $280,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $236,500 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, headlight covers, power windows. – The interior trim is aged but the original seat upholstery is good. Paint and major chrome are good, trim chrome is mixed. Engine compartment has been done to better than driver standards and shows only a little age and use. Doors, hood and deck lid fit well but the rear edge of the deck lid has some paint buildup. A very usable driver that will not embarrass the owner when the hood is raised. – Someone observed that the Queen Mother 365 GT 2+2 is ‘the new entry-level Enzo-era Ferrari’. Fair enough, and a car that will accommodate a four-person Millennial family with way more performance and comfort than a GTE at twice the price.Lot # 511 1931 Packard DeLuxe Eight Coupe Roadster; S/N 4796; Cream, Black fenders and accent/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $170,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000 – Rumble seat, luggage trunk, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts with mirrors, Trippe lights, radiator stoneguard, Depress Beam headlights, firewall number 138253. – Good older paint, chrome, interior and top. A quality older concours restoration showing years but little use. Titled by the body number. – This is a highly satisfying Packard, a mellowed older restoration that still presents well and is in attractive colors that have come back into fashion since it was done. The new owner was to say the least enthusiastic about it, while loading it up with his wife’s shopping bags from Bergdorfs and other premium venues. A choice automobile that will be a joy to show off and drive.Lot # 512 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L40852; Gold/Black vinyl; Black leatherette top; Estimate $65,000 – $75,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,750 – Chrome wire wheels, Nexen radials, Audiovox cassette stereo, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, overdrive. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior and gauges. Underbody is restored like new. As good as it gets with a few years on the restoration. – This would have been a nearly, if not over, six-figure car a few years ago but the froth is off Big Healeys and today this is a realistic price.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 514 1972 De Tomaso Pantera Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N THPNMC03537; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $55,000 – $65,000; Original, with non-original appearance items, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,800 – Offenhauser intake with Edelbrock carburetor, Pantera wheels, Bridgestone tires, power windows, no radio, no air conditioning. – Thickly painted red all over including the black trim. Worn original upholstery. Terrible paint masking. Dirty original engine and chassis. Filthy original underbody. No spare or rear luggage tray. Fuel filler relocated with scoops added behind the doors. A despicable Pantera. – The price may set a new low limit for Panteras but it is no more than it deserves for its nasty presentation and tacky monochrome paint. The relocated fuel filler in the engine compartment invites a conflagration, which might be the best thing that could happen to it. This is no bargain. It’s expensive for what it is.Lot # 518 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Convertible; S/N 8T03R210288-03672; Light Green/Black leatherette; Black vinyl top; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $132,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $145,750 – 428/335hp, 4-speed, power brakes, power steering, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Eagle GT II tires, pushbutton radio, woodgrain steering wheel, Lucas fog lights. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Windshield frame stainless is scuffed. Sharp dash and gauges. Cracked right hood scoop. Underbody, chassis and engine compartment were restored like new but now are aged and dusty. – While this isn’t the ‘fresh concours quality restoration’ claimed on the car card it is a very good older restored GT 500KR, and a convertible at that. It is reasonably bought at this price.Lot # 520 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge Ram Air III Convertible; S/N 242679B170503; Light Green/Olive Green vinyl; Green vinyl top; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 400/366hp Ram Air, automatic, console, pushbutton radio, woodgrain steering wheel, Rally II wheels, trim rings, red line tires, wing, no chin spoiler, power windows, tilt steering column, PHS documented. – Very good paint, interior and chrome. Crazing on the Endura nose. Good dash and interior trim except for foggy gauge lenses. Engine compartment is like new. Not fresh but still a rare GTO that will be proudly owned and driven. – A martini GTO Judge convertible in olive green, described as the only one in this, uh, unique color scheme. Like it or not, it’s got panache, especially for someone who likes olives in their Martinis. Sold for a walloping $203,500 at Barrett-Jackson in 2007, then back to earth at Auburn Fall in 2014 for $101,750, this is still a reasonable price for a quality GTO Judge convertible.Lot # 526 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300d 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 18901110001967; Dark Grey/Red velour; Estimate $50,000 – $65,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100 – 4-speed, Becker Mexico radio, split front seats, body color accented wheel covers, whitewall Silvertown tires, sliding sunroof. – Fair old paint, worn interior, cracked varnish on the interior wood, erratic chrome. All there, an honest, solid, dry, well preserved car with a single owner since the early 90’s. – Fairly nasty, but with plenty of potential, albeit realized at great cost, this ‘Adenauer’ still has class and distinction. Similarly nasty Rolls-Royces of the period sell for more and are destined to sit outside mediocre restaurants trying to impart class to their over-priced menus. This is a better automobile and can still be driven with some pride, particularly at this price.Lot # 527 1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 5662108293; White/Red, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $212,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $233,750 – 365/305hp, automatic, parade boot, Silver Sabre wheels, wide whitewalls, power everything, Autronic Eye, WonderBar radio, air conditioning. – Very good older paint, chrome and interior. Clean, crisp dash and gauges. Underbody shows no appreciable use. Even the difficult to replate windowsill trim is crisp and sharp. A quality older restoration done in 2002 that is still a showpiece. – Quality and good subsequent care still shows in results. This is a clearly superior Eldo, and it brought a clearly superior price. The bidders looked through the restoration’s age and recognized the superiority of the Eldo.Lot # 529 1999 Ferrari F355 Serie Fiorano Spider; S/N ZFFXR48A5X0116556; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $192,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $211,750 – 6-speed, CD changer stereo, air conditioning, power windows, SF shields, red calipers.. Assembly # 33583. – Good original paint and interior, engine has been carefully detailed but the underbody hasn’t. Driver’s door has been spray can touched up on the back with overspray on the top boot cover. – A desirable 6-speed car among a wealth of sequential semi-automatics, but treated to some troubling touchups that make the price it brought full value for what it is, particularly in the absence of any maintenance history.Lot # 530 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N AM1012638; Engine # 1620; Red-Orange/Tan leather; Estimate $200,000 – $240,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, steel wheels, hubcaps, Pirelli tires, Lucas fuel injection, dash clock. – Bad, shrinking, peeling old repaint over the original Burgundy. Sound but aged original interior and carpets. Weak chrome on the marker lights, peeling front bumper chrome, but good in the back. Oily and dirty but orderly engine. Road grungy chassis. Rust bubbles around the left rear wheel and under the right door. A complete car, but a complete restoration project. – Sold at Bonhams in Greenwich in 2014 for $176,000, then passed at Mecum Kissimmee three months ago on a reported $175,000 high bid, this is a car that needs everything. Market forces aligned with this transaction, but it’s hard to find much upside at this price other than an expensive restoration that would make it a $300,000 car, and it will take far more than the difference between this price and that potential value to elevate this car to concours condition.Lot # 533 1964 Jaguar XKE SI Roadster; S/N 880753; Red, Red hardtop/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – Chrome wire wheels, Pirelli tires, Sony cassette stereo, two tops. – Very good paint, bright chrome, very good upholstery only lightly stretched. Car card says it has a five-speed. Engine is orderly but showing some age, as does the underbody. Top frame is rusty, headliner is water spotted. Erratically presented but overall a highly attractive XKE. – Sold for $129,800 at Bonhams Greenwich two years ago and still in highly presentable and drivable condition if, with its 5-speed, not as delivered. A choice driver quality E-type bought for a realistic price.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Seven
Lot # 534 1930 Bentley “Blue Train” Re-creation; S/N B470SR; Black paint, leatherette/Black leather; Estimate $600,000 – $650,000; Facsimile restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $522,500 – RHD. Black 21 inch wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual sidemounts, windshield visor, folding sunroof, Lucas tri-bar headlights, fog lights, halogen bulbs, four SU carbs, luggage trunk, cycle fenders. – Beautifully done in all respects. Shows a little age under the hood. Titled on an R-type chassis number, the engine is a straight eight, called a ‘Bentley’ but Bentley never built an inline eight and this is probably a modified Rolls-Royce B80 produced in the early Fifties to power military and commercial vehicles. The ‘Bentley’ valve cover however is an understandable stretch since Rolls-Royce and Bentley were the same company. – Closed post-block with this result, a lot of automobile even if its history is better measured in months than years. The Gurney-Nutting style coupe coachwork is one of the most seductive ever put on a Bentley chassis and fully deserves being re-created in a vintage hot rod.Lot # 536 2010 Spyker C8 Spyder; S/N XL9AABAG4AZ363219; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – 4.2 liter/400hp Audi V8, 6-speed. – Loose top skirt hem behind the driver. Beautiful, imaginative details like the alloy wheels with propeller shaped spokes. 863 miles but showing its age. – Spykers are fantastically detailed and while they run well enough to have competed with some success in international endurance racing they are better seen as a work of rolling sculpture which this example with its odometer still in three digits must have been for its prior owners to have accumulated so few miles. Given Spyker’s continuing financial adventures the Audi-based parts are readily available, although as garage art they probably won’t be required. It is a beautiful thing, no matter.Lot # 539 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta; S/N ZFFJA09B000043937; Red, Black rockers/Black leather; Estimate $375,000 – $450,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $290,000 – Air conditioning, TRX tires, Blaupunkt cassette stereo. – Excellent original paint, slightly stretched barely broken in original upholstery. 10,320 miles from new, with an obsessive owner brushing off dust motes and water drops. Nearly like new and very nice. – While this is a reasonable offer for most BBis, the meticulously maintained condition and originality of this one deserves more. The consignor seemed to regard the possibility of taking it back home with him to be an entirely acceptable conclusion, and he got his wish.Lot # 540 1966 Porsche Replica 906 VRC; S/N VRC906001; Engine # 6133602; White, Red nose panel/Red cloth; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $200,000 – Built by Vintage Racing Cars in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2.7 liter Porsche 911 engine, two 3-barrel Weber carbs, 5-speed Porsche Typ 915 transaxle, fire system, chrome wheels. – Lightly used and orderly. Hour meter shows 51 hours and the car looks like it’s covered even less. Completed two years ago and has raced in vintage events in Florida. – This isn’t a Porsche 906, although it looks the part and probably drives the part, too. A 906 in vintage race ready condition would have another zero on its price, but the application of this VRC 906 is all about finding an accepting sanctioning body that will let it be used.Lot # 541 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S35Y401956; Black/Black leather; Estimate $300,000 – $325,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $319,000 – BBS wheels, McIntosh stereo, grey calipers. – 2,500 miles and like new. One of 237 Black 2005 GTs, one of 58 ordered without stripes. – It’s amusing to see a car like this touted for what it doesn’t have, stripes, and that it is one of 11 of them built with grey calipers. This is a healthy price, too, meaning that someone believed the value proposition of what it doesn’t have.Lot # 546 1970 Porsche 911T Coupe; S/N 9110123962; Engine # 6109763; Irish Green/Black vinyl; Estimate $70,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800 Fuchs wheels (original steel wheels included), Yokohama tires, CD stereo, Porsche CofA. – Repainted assembled with abundant overspray on original dirt and undercoat in the wheelwells and only partially painted door jambs and sills. Dirt in the paint here and there. Sound original upholstery, aged door panels. Dull, scratched window moldings. Clean and orderly unrestored engine compartment. Known history from new, with the original owner and his daughter until the late 90’s. Engine reportedly rebuilt in 2014 and represented as numbers matching. – It’s unfortunate that the repaint wasn’t done to higher standards because otherwise this is an impressively preserved and maintained highly original car. The bidders slammed its price with the result that it represents a very good value for the money.Lot # 548 2007 Ferrari F430 F1 Spider; S/N ZFFEW59A770151183; Metallic Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $120,000 – $135,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $112,750 – 20 inch modular wheels, SF shields, Sony CD stereo, Red calipers, air conditioning, power windows, power top, power outside mirrors, Daytona-style seats, carbon fiber interior trim – Clean and barely used after an accident repair. Dusty chassis and engine compartment. The interior carbon fiber trim looks like it came out of a J.C. Whitney kit. – Even at this price the successful bidder put a great deal of trust in the quality of the accident repairs.Lot # 551 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N SFM6S364; Write, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $170,000 – $190,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000 – 289/306hp, 4-speed, dashtop tach, fake woodrim steering wheel, 10 spoke alloy wheels, Radial T/A tires. – Restored a while ago, kept up on the outside but under the hood and under the car where it is aged, dirty and surface rusted. It’s not disreputable, it just needs to be used. Or re-restored. – Sold by RM here in 2011 for $147,400 and it has added nearly 2,000 miles to its odometer since then. The GT350 market is up since then, too, but not enough to offset the aging condition of this example. The consignor should spend a couple thousand dollars on detailing and cleanup in order to realize this GT350’s value potential.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Eight
Lot # 554 1971 Plymouth `Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R1B405092; Black/White vinyl; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000 – 426/425hp, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, console, Rallye wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, F60-15 Polyglas GT tires, shaker hood. – Once had big white Hemi billboards on the back fenders, now thankfully removed. Restored years ago and kept up very well since so it’s still nearly in like new condition. – Sold back in 2000 at B-J Scottsdale wearing its obnoxious ‘Hemi’ billboards. It brought just $58,300 then, just before the Hemi boom hit. It sold at Mecum’s Indy sale in 2011 for $243,800 and is now on the way back up again, the Hemi market having deflated too far and now coming back. The new owner caught the wave at a good time.Lot # 559 1964 Porsche 356 SC Coupe; S/N 217063; Engine # P811237; Black/Dark Red leather; Estimate $80,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, chrome wheels, hubcaps, Dunlop tires, woodrim Porsche steering wheel, K&N air filters, Solex carbs, folding rear seats. – Sound older repaint with rust repairs visible on the left front fender and overlooked finish sanded area under the right quarter window. Good interior aged and used to an attractive patina. Generally good chrome except for weak B-pillar trim on both sides. Clean, orderly engine compartment in driver condition. – The 356 SC has the look of a well maintained car that has gotten what it needed, when it needed it, and never been neglected. It brought a price appropriate to its condition and specifications.Lot # 563 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider; S/N ZFFXA20A1G0062129; Red, Black leatherette roof panel/Beige leather; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $59,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $64,900 – Air conditioning, power windows, Sanyo CD stereo. – Older repaint with some fisheyes and dust, freshly color sanded and still dusty. Driver’s seatback bolster worn through. Underbody and engine are clean and orderly but aged. A usable driver in need of some upholstery repair. – This is a reasonable example, bought for a reasonable price.Lot # 565 1972 Porsche 914/6 Targa; S/N 9142430061; Orange, Black roof panel/Black vinyl; Estimate $70,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $70,400 – 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, Yokohama tires, dual outside mirrors, heater. – Really well and freshly done with better than new paint, chrome, interior, gauges, instruments and aluminum bright trim. – This is a modest, but not unreasonably so, result for a freshly restored 5-speed 914/6 that should bring its new owner much satisfaction in rarity and performance.Lot # 568 1969 Porsche 911E Coupe; S/N 119200845; Engine # 6298552; Orange/Black vinyl; Estimate $90,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – Sportomatic, Fuchs wheels, Michelin MXW tires, Alpine cassette stereo, headrest seats. – Given a decent repaint but otherwise original. Dirty wheels and engine compartment. – Did it bring more, or less, because of the Sportomatic? At this result it’s pretty much impossible to say with any certainty but if there was any effect it was not significant.Lot # 569 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta; S/N ZFFJA09B000044231; Red, Black rockers/Tan leather; Estimate $300,000 – $310,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000 – TRX tires, air conditioning, Pioneer cassette stereo, power windows. – Sound, shiny older repaint with some masking issues. Good, lightly surface creased original interior. Windshield replaced with no-name glass. Underbody and engine are clean and orderly. – Sold by RM at Amelia in 2012 for $112,750 and showing 248 more miles since then. Like the similar car that crossed the block earlier on the day the Ft. Lauderdale bidders just couldn’t get themselves worked up for Boxers although the reported high bid here is appropriate to the car and it could have been sold with little if any regret if there was money in the room.Lot # 572 1971 Porsche 911T Targa; S/N 9111113005; Engine # 6117567; Silver Metallic, Black leatherette roof panel/Black vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – Blaupunkt cassette, 5-speed, air conditioning, polished Fuchs wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires. – Engine number matches the Porsche CofA. Represented as three owners from new. Good clearcoat repaint and replaced interior. Beyond that, though, it is a clean, well maintained original example. – This Porsche showed good care and attention, suggesting it will be a competent, rewarding car for its new owner. The price is fairly generous, but not unreasonable.Lot # 577 1979 Bianco SS Coupe; S/N BS02830978; Gold/Black leather; Estimate $10,000 – $20,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,750 – Power windows, black center alloy wheels, Pirelli P400 tires, cassette stereo, fat rim wood steering wheel. – Sound paint, chrome and interior. Loose driver’s window channel seal. Orderly engine compartment. Built in Brazil on a VW floor pan and drivetrain. – Ever seen one? If the answer is ‘No’ you would have been in good company at Auctions America this weekend where no one else (aside possibly from the consignor) had, either. And there was another Brazilian special, a somewhat more common Puma, to keep interest high. The bidders obviously were intrigued and stepped up to pay a solid price but in the process got a certain conversation starter no matter where it goes.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Nine
Lot # 583 1979 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Utility; S/N FJ40302987; Red, White roof/Grey leatherette; Estimate $32,000 – $38,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – Aisin locking front hubs, center facing rear seats, barn rear doors, rear-mounted spare, radio removed, hardtop. – Utilitarian repaint applied to an assembled body, sound interior. Frame and chassis restored with a spray gun. A used FJ40 with some cosmetic attention. – Offered at Mecum in Kissimmee earlier this year where it was reported bid to $30,000. The consignor learned his (or her) lesson and took the money, even well under the estimate. Unlike most auction FJs this one isn’t so beautifully restored and can be taken immediately to the ranch or into the Glades and put to good use. It’s a workin’ FJ.Lot # 707 1975 Jensen Interceptor III Convertible; S/N 23111623; Red/Tan leather; Tan leatherette top; Estimate $57,500 – $62,500; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $59,400 – 440 Chrysler V8, TorqueFlite automatic, Pioneer CD stereo, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, P/W, 5-spoke alloy wheels with polished spokes and rims, P/S, P/B, A/C, electric fans. – Quick old repaint over old paint with some overspray. Sound chrome and upholstery. Tired, used and disorderly under the hood. Windshield washer plumbing missing. – Sold by Bonhams at Greenwich from the Evergreen Collection a year ago for $53,900 and in the same tired condition now that it was then with about 47 more miles on its odometer. The seller was fortunate to get this much for it.Lot # 713 1962 Buick Electra 225 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 818009116; Black/Red leather; Estimate $32,000 – $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,100 – Automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, pushbutton radio, underdash FM converter, styled wheels, narrow whitewalls, bucket seats, console. – Flawed repaint over old paint. Good original interior. Dry original underbody. Dead rubber body seals. Decent chrome and polished stainless. A usable weekend driver. – Sold at Mecum Kissimmee two months ago for $21,450 meaning the seller here lost a little money after commission, entry fee and transportation. The buyer got a chance to tool around for the summer in style and, if the A/C is cold, comfort for a moderate but appropriate price.Lot # 714 1978 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Utility; S/N FJ40278299; Cream, White roof/Black leatherette; Estimate $35,000 – $40,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $39,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $42,900 – 125hp 2F engine, Aisin looking front hubs, Grey steel wheels, hubcaps, center-facing rear seats, rear-mounted spare, barn rear doors. – Restored to nearly showroom condition with very good paint and interior. Engine, frame and chassis are nearly like new with new polyurethane spring bushings. – This FJ is a much, much better vehicle than lot # 583 sold yesterday for $27,500. The $15,000 more that it brought is more than worth the difference, although the new owner might be reluctant to subject it to mud bogs and sand dunes in this freshly restored condition.Lot # 719 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 9500074; Black/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $94,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $103,950 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, no radio. – Weber carbs. Good repaint, chrome, older interior and top soiled over the bows. One touched up chip on top of the left front fender. Engine and underbody are older and grimy from use. – This car was sold by Christie’s from Bill Lassiter’s collection in 1999 for $27,600 in much the same condition as it is in today but now having a replaced interior now attractively worn in. It is a sound and usable car bought for an appropriate price in the declining 190SL market.Lot # 721 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulietta ti Berlina; S/N AR225114; Light Blue/Dark Blue; Estimate $25,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – 1290cc/70hp, 4-speed. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine and chassis are a little aged but clean and orderly. Thoroughly done and well maintained. – One of several attractive Alfas in the Ft. Lauderdale auction and a body style only rarely seen in the U.S. It isn’t extravagantly presented but is well done everywhere giving some confidence in its preparation and maintenance. For a rare Alfa Berlina, as similarly aged and equipped Spiders bring close to six-figures, this is a great value.Lot # 722 1952 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 672383; Slate Blue/Blue, Grey leather; Charcoal cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $80,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $89,000 – Chrome wire wheels, Firestone radial tires, fender mirrors. – Very good paint, chrome, upholstery and top. Engine is good but showing age and use. Underbody and chassis are very dusty, like it lived at the end of a long dirt driveway. – A post-block sale at this negotiated all-in price, and a sound value.Lot # 723 1985 Aston Martin V-8 Volante; S/N SCFCV81C2FTL15378; Red/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $100,000 – Automatic, Alpine CD stereo, BBS wheels, Avon tires, grille mounted driving lights, air conditioning, – Paint crazing badly on the nose and left front fender, microblisters on the hood. Driver’s door edge chipped. Good chrome, upholstery, top and interior wood. Engine is mostly original and dirty. – The car card claims 406hp for this Aston, which would be some kind of achievement for a smog-strangled ’85 American version. More likely it’s a little under 300hp on the dyno, still an accomplishment for 1985. The price it brought appropriately reflects the many cosmetic and preservation issues with which it is burdened.
Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2016 – Auction Report Page Ten
Lot # 724 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N 12803010003229; Burgundy/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – Becker Mexico radio, 4-speed, Hella fog lights, body color accented hubcaps, whitewalls. – Very good, paint, chrome, upholstery, top and interior wood. Exterior color overspray inside the wheelwells. Well restored with some subsequent use and quality upkeep keeping it in credible condition. – A very good example with a restoration that is holding up very well. The result is in line with the pre-sale estimate but could have been significantly more without being expensive, it’s that good a car.Lot # 726 1937 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan; S/N 356108; Grey/Grey leather, broadcloth; Charcoal cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $225,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $188,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $206,800 – Rollup division, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, turn signals, luggage rack. – Concours restored with excellent cosmetics throughout and subtle colors that highlight the coachwork and luxurious interior. Underbody is little dusty but nothing a few hours work couldn’t remedy. Then it would be ready for pretty much any concours. – A seriously classy automobile not only in its twelve cylinder engine but also in the comfortable, adaptable, commodious convertible sedan coachwork that makes it ideal for CCCA tours and events. It brought a realistic price, on the good value side of reasonable.Lot # 728 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412023673; Ivory, Ivory hardtop/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $75,000 – $85,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,200 – 5-speed, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, aftermarket leather rim steering wheel, body color accent wheel covers, Euro headlights, Pagoda hardtop and soft top, Frigiking air conditioning with a rotary compressor. – Top of the engine is cleaned up for the auction but the rest of the grimy bits are grimy. Sound repaint, original chrome and redone interior. A driver quality SL that shows reassuring care but far from the best out there. – The desirable and rarely seen 5-speed works wonders to take full advantage of the 280SL’s 180hp. Neither the 5-speed nor the A/C are factored into this price, which could have been well into the pre-sale estimate without being expensive.Lot # 731 1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304212019539; Silver-Grey, Silver-Grey hardtop/Black leatherette; Estimate $45,000 – $55,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750 – Automatic, hubcaps, trim rings, Pirelli P300 tires, Clarion cassette stereo, two tops, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Fair older repaint with a few flaws, dust motes and cracking corners. Weak chrome on the hardtop and window sills, sound major chrome. Paint chip on the right rear corner. Pitted interior top brackets. Good upholstery and carpets. Dirty original underbody. Cosmetically maintained to mediocre standards in driver condition. – This is a pretty tired 230SL, but it is well equipped including both tops and could have brought another $5-7,000 without being excessive.Lot # 736 1955 Ford Country Sedan Station Wagon; S/N U5EX190237; Black/White, Red vinyl; Estimate $42,000 – $48,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700 – 272/162hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power seat, radio, heater, dual outside mirrors, wheel covers, whitewall tires, roof rack, windshield sun visor, 2-row seating, sill molding. – Represented as 3,326 miles from new and all new except for a thick repaint, carpets and the windshield visor. Good major chrome, wrinkled interior, pitted window trim and steering wheel chrome. Old undercoat in wheelwells. Engine is orderly and clean but chassis is old and only superficially redone. A good driver with the patina of a low miles original car although the paint does it no favors. – Sold by RM in Hershey in 2014 from the Jeffrey Day collection for $49,500 and no better now than it was then, with 77 more miles showing on its odometer. Why it should bring 25% more here in Ft. Lauderdale, one of few cars in this sale to exceed their high estimates, is a complete mystery. It would have been amply expensive at $38,000, at $62,700 with the commission it is fabulously expensive.Lot # 742 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II Coupe; S/N C56B2222; Ivory/Parchment leather; Estimate $65,000 – $75,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – Air conditioning, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, Town & Country radio. – Excellent paint and chrome. Very good original interior with reupholstered front seat cushions. Dry original underbody still with the dust of West Texas on it. Air conditioning works. An exceptionally good cosmetic restoration preserving the Continental’s originality. Going to Europe for a summer tour. – Anyone looking for the definition of a quality, ‘sympathetic’ cosmetic restoration needs to look no farther than this Continental. What’s good enough has been left alone, what needed attention has received high quality work and materials. Matching the recovered front seat cushions with the original seatbacks and rear seat is flawless. The paint, chrome and dashboard are as good as any Pebble Beach car. The buyer is an experienced serial collector who stayed on this car ’til it was his and now will enjoy it in Europe this summer. Is it expensive? Yeah, but it also is of a quality and caliber that is rarely seen.Lot # 744 1937 Studebaker J5 Coupe-Express Pickup; S/N 4287574; Bright Yellow/Cream vinyl; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Truck restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $42,350 – 218/86hp, 3-speed, orange steel spoke wheels, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, fog lights, single enclosed sidemount. – Thick, bright paint over limited prep. Decent replaced upholstery and attractive redone woodgrain interior trim and dashboard. Quickly redone underbody and chassis, then driven. Engine got the same treatment. Passenger’s door fit is terrible with rust repairs peeking through the paint on the cab. – An intriguing and rarely seen vehicle, but the shortcuts in its truck quality restoration are showing through and it’s not going to be long before they fester into something pustulous. It is a striking presence, however. Dress it up with Coca Cola emblems and it would sell for even more, which would be a good idea before the problems manifest themselves.Lot # 751 1973 Alfa Romeo 2000 Berlina; S/N AR2355063; Black/Brown vinyl; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,900 – Dellorto carbs, 5-speed, CD stereo, Alfa alloy wheels, Dunlop tires. – Mediocre but sound repaint over old paint. Good original interior. Decent chrome. Orderly unrestored engine compartment and chassis. Clean, dry underbody. An honest, usable driver. – This result is about twice what this 2000 Berlina sold for in 1973. It isn’t a bad car, but neither is it a good one. It would be nice to think it found a good home here in Ft. Lauderdale where it will be loved, maintained, upgraded (which it needs) and driven. It could be parted out for more than the price it brought.Lot # 753 1991 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe; S/N ZFFSM17A2M0088381; Black/Black leather; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $79,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $86,900 – Air conditioning, 5-spoke Ferrari alloy wheels, Eagle HP tires. – Sound repaint, lightly worn upholstery, good carpets. Very clean, dry underbody and engine. A few stone chips on the nose. A reassuring driver quality TR. – This is a US-version TR with Canadian passenger restraints which go with the speedometer in kilometers. Sound, lightly worn, but with no maintenance history, it is still cheap at the reported result when TRs are regularly bringing low six-figures.
Lot # 759 1981 Ferrari 308 GTBi Coupe; S/N ZFFAA01A3B0034883; Red/Black leather; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,250 – 5-spoke Ferrari alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, air conditioning, Alpine CD stereo. – Bad repaint covered in microblisters. Good original upholstery, interior and dashtop. Orderly unrestored engine and underbody. Doors, hood and deck fit well. Said to have been recently given ‘a full service by Ferrari.’ A decent car, but stymied by a crappy paint job that needs to be redone by a competent shop. – Attended to quickly while the 308 fad still prevails the buyer of this 308 GTBi can probably rush it through a good paint shop and turn it around at a profit before the 308 fascination fades. An end used could ignore the finish issues [until they become scabrous] and drive it, having bought it at a realistic discount.[Source: Rick Carey]
A wonderful writing style that brings humor and wit with cold hard facts to each vehicle description!
I look forward to Rick’s auction reports. He has great insight into what the market is, keen eye for the vehicle condition and a knack for some humor. His remarks about sitting an OK vehicle outside a mediocre restaurant to give it class is priceless. Good job!
Love these reviews honest and not sugar coated assessment of car
Love the Earl Scheib reference. Checking Google, surprised the name is still being used given that it became synonymous with quick/cheap/bad paint jobs. ….and that was with everybody, not just car people.