Early Saturday, Arthur Conner\'s 1964 Platypus Porsche.
Bonhams, Bond Street, London, December 6, 2015
Christmas in London is a festive time [so I’m told by people fortunate enough to have been there] and judging from Bonhams Bond Street sale on December 6 Ebenezer Scrooge’s miasma has been thoroughly diffused by a new generations of free-spending celebrants.
Bonhams neatly configured the Bond Street auction as a boutique sale; just 27 lots of exceptional quality. For discerning collectors the mix of choice classics from Invicta, Bentley, Frazer Nash and Lagonda and Austin-Healeys and Ferraris from the Fifties-made Christmas wishes come true. Santa even had something for newer collectors with late model Ferraris and a McLaren.
Bond Street was followed four days later by a more eclectic sale at the RAF Museum in Hendon. Results were more modest but also made more modestly-fixed collectors’ Christmas wishes come true as well. While the Bond Street sale had a median transaction of $644,921, the Hendon sale’s median was just $41,886 (a Jaguar Mark VIII Sedan.)
It was, however, the median transaction at Bond Street that made the headlines, a beautifully restored lefthand drive (in a righthand drive venue) Jaguar XK 150 3.8 overdrive Drophead Coupe. Its price, $644,921 with commission, is without precedent.
Consider that at Hendon a few days later $129,755 could have taken home a sound, usable, cosmetically restored XK 150S 3.4 Drophead. The difference is quality is material, but the difference in result is jaw-dropping.
Of such anomalies are conundra made.
And it is on the wings of such conundra that we proceed to Arizona in a few weeks…
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(Bonhams Bond Street auction photography is courtesy of Bonhams.)
Bonhams Bond Street 2015 – Auction Report
Lot # 02 1962 AC Cobra Roadster; S/N CS 2030; Dark Green/Black leather; Estimate $377,500 – $528,500; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $498,300 plus commission of 12.45%; Final Price $560,361. – RHD. 289 high performance engine, headers, chrome wire wheels. – Early AC-assembled Cobra used to develop the rack and pinion steering system. Later front end crashed and burned. Sat for years until it was rebuilt with a new front frame section and replacement body. AC Ace seats, later gauges. Stored for two decades, sound and complete. – Its intriguing history to some extent offsets its record of being comprehensively crashed and rebuilt with various pieces. The price it brought recognizes many of its shortcomings and leaves the new owner financial headroom to make up for the years of storage. A complete restoration would make little sense since it is so flawed relative to many other Cobras. The result here is as much as any reasonable buyer could have paid.Lot # 04 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe; S/N DB51579R; Engine # 400/1584; Caribbean Pearl/Blue leather; Estimate $604,000 – $679,500; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $694,600 plus commission of 12.33%; Final Price $780,217. – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, radio. – First owned by Rob Walker and possibly just one intermediate owner before the seller. Sound old paint, creased and cracked original upholstery. Stored the last four years and in condition appropriate to the negligible use it has had in the past twenty years. – Resuscitating this DB5 won’t be simple, or inexpensive, which makes the price it brought rather surprising. The buyer (and the underbidder) must have been Rob Walker fans.Lot # 05 1934 Invicta 4½-Liter S-Type Low-chassis Tourer, Body by Carbodies; S/N S165; Engine # 8083; Green/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $755,000 – $906,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $755,000 plus commission of 12.30%; Final Price $847,865. – RHD. Maroon wire wheels, single sidemount, 3rd from last built, Sanction 3 modifications done in ’60s, folding windshield, aero screens, outside exhaust head pipes, driving and fog lights, radiator stoneguard. – Good cosmetics, shows some use and age but also excellent care and maintenance. Typical 4-seat tourer coachwork but on a sleek underslung chassis and scintillating performance from the 4 1/2 liter Meadows six (albeit with a replacement crankcase.) Never fully restored, but consistently maintained by a succession of owners including Peter Livanos and Victor Gauntlett in good, sound, driving condition with sound cosmetics. – Withdrawn from Brooks’ auction in London 10/92 when the estimate was $186-237,000, then sold by Brooks in London in April 1999 for $227,192, slightly below the low estimate, a real driver’s car with advanced chassis and excellent performance that brought a price consistent with its quality, rarity, appearance and performance.Lot # 06 1929 Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Tourer, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N MR3399; Engine # NX3451; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $604,000 – $755,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $898,450 plus commission of 12.25%; Final Price $1,008,529. – RHD. Red wire wheels, single rear-mounted spare. – Retained by the first owner W.F.P Kelly until 1962 with a period in museum display in France including at Mulhouse. Remarkably original including engine, gearbox and fabric-covered Vanden Plas bodywork. Recently stored for 15 or so years and will need serious attention before being exercised, but all there and in excellent condition for its age. – Sold by Christie’s in London in 1996 for $306,959 when it was acquired by the seller and in essentially the same condition, if older, now as it was then. The result here is a testament to its as-built condition and originality with no small contribution from its preservation by only a few informed, caring owners. It is expensive, but not irresponsibly so.Lot # 07 1938 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster; S/N 85HF260217; Engine # 85HF260217; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $830,500 – $981,500; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $830,500 plus commission of 12.27%; Final Price $932,425. – RHD. Folding windshield, centerlock disc wheels, rear wheel spats, inset enclosed rear spare, hood straps. – First owned by entertainer Billy Cotton, prepared for him for the 1938 RAC Tourist Trophy by Wilkie Wilkinson, three owners since then. Restored by Bristol Cars in 1993 and continuously maintained and updated since with quality paint, chrome, interior and engine compartment. – An important milestone in BMW history, eligible for many of the most desirable events and presented in very good condition, this Frazer Nash-BMW 328’s Billy Cotton history only adds to its desirability. Even at that, however, this is a strong price for an otherwise undistinguished 328.Lot # 08 1955 Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupe; S/N 421/200/206; Engine # 100B23285; Dark Green/Tan leather; Estimate $573,800 – $634,200; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $453,000 plus commission of 12.50%; Final Price $509,625. – RHD. Silver painted wire wheels, fog lights. – Acquired in derelict condition in 1993 by Gordon Willey and subsequently restored to high standards, today it shows little use and only moderate age. Fuel tank has been replaced and is not connected, an indication of how much work will be needed to make it a running, driving car. – The auction history is a little convoluted. I show this car sold at Brooks Olympia auction in April 1992 for $66,516 (GBP 37,400) and a no-sale a year later at Olympia in February 1993 at GBP 25,000. The catalog states it was acquired by Gordon Willey in 1993. It has subsequently been restored to high standards of fit, finish and function so in essence the difference in the acquisition cost makes little difference except to highlight the seller’s astute recognition of a landmark automobile. Eligible for many desirable events, this is a quality car at a healthy but not excessive price.Lot # 10 1932 Frazer Nash TT Replica Roadster, Body by Compton; S/N 2050; Engine # 11034; Red/Black leather; Estimate $377,500 – $453,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $437,900 plus commission of 12.52%; Final Price $492,713. – RHD. Meadows 4ED ohv 4-cylinder, dual SU carbs, 52hp, cycle fenders, outside exhaust, folding windshield, black centerlock wire wheels. – First used by the Frazer Nash team driven by the youngest of the Aldington brothers at Brighton in 1932, later by Philip Jucker at the first Donington Park meeting. Winner of the 1 Hour Speed Trial at Brooklands in May 1932, then sold to South Africa where it stayed until acquired by the seller in 1966 and restored in the 90’s with a 1929 Meadows 4ED engine. Highly original for its long history, with very good presentation and a car that will be welcomed pretty much anywhere. – Frazer Nash TT Replicas like this early example have innate appeal despite the leisurely performance of their Meadows engines. The compensation is the precise response of their ‘Chain Gang’ transmission and the long stroke Meadows engine’s torque that made them remarkably successful in rallies. No one will mistake it for an MG, or even an Aston, a rare and sexy car that brought a price fully up to its history, appearance and performance.
Bonhams Bond Street 2015 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 11 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500810; Engine # 1989805500831; Silver-Grey Metallic/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $1,510,000 – $1,963,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $1,209,123 plus commission of 12.19%; Final Price $1,356,483. – Polished Rudge centerlock wheels, Becker Mexico radio, fitted luggage. – Replica luggage and repainted but otherwise original with some 44,000 miles from new. Known history from new and carefully preserved. Used by M-B as the centerpiece of their 2001 Goodwood Festival of Speed display. Very good paint, bodywork and panel fits, well preserved original interior. – There is a whole lot to commend this Gullwing to its new owner, not least the modest post-block price it brought for a car with an exceptional history and originality. Given some buyers’ valuation of grime it might have brought more if it had been dirty, but it isn’t, something that grimy Gullwing buyers might keep in mind.Lot # 14 1953 Austin-Healey 100/4-100S Coupe; S/N BN1142615; Engine # SPL 226 BN; Red/Magnolia leather; Estimate on request; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $860,700 plus commission of 12.26%; Final Price $966,249. – Silver painted wire wheels, disc brakes, 100S upgrades, driving lights, Lucas tri-bar headlights, Becker Mexico radio, woodrim steering wheel, headers, oil cooler, aluminum head, later gearbox with overdrive. – One of two 100/4 experimental coupes built by Austin-Healey and extensively modified as a test and development car and used by Donald Healey as his personal car until sold in 1962 with only one subsequent owner since 1972. Indifferent paint, sound older interior, repainted underbody over old corrosion. – Aside from the Le Mans race cars this is probably the most significant 4-cylinder Austin-Healey ever offered. One of two factory-built coupes, with attractive coachwork and a reinforced chassis and extra body rigidity, loaded with delicious factory-added upgrades to the engine, gearbox, chassis and brakes, unusually luxuriously appointed and used by Donald Healey for years as his personal 100/4, it also is exceptionally original and complete as it left Healey’s care in 1962. Its originality and patina only add to its appeal and its value is only as determined by the bidders here in London today. A million dollar Austin-Healey? Add up its attributes and it is nothing less than deserved.Lot # 15 1959 Austin-Healey 3000 MKI Works Rally/Modsports Coupe; S/N HBN71342; Engine # XSP181319HC; Colorado Red, OE White hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $211,400 – $302,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $256,700 plus commission of 12.88%; Final Price $289,769. – RHD. Minilite wheels, hardtop, dual spares, side jack points, represented as the original engine, alloy head, three 45 DCOE Webers. – Factory Rally car, second in the 1959 German Rally driven by Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom, class 2nd in the RAC Rally driven by Jack Sears and Willy Cave with various rally-type mishaps in other events. Later acquired by Northamptonshire Chief Constable John Gott, who died in a crash with this car at Lydden Hill in 1972. Subsequently restored by Arthur Carter but sequestered at the request of Susan Gott (John Gott’s widow). Sound, sharp and carefully restored without being overdone. – Crashed and rebuilt, but that’s hardly the point. This is a milestone in Austin-Healey competition history and a car, albeit with plenty of needs after sitting for decades, that will be a prominent presence in all sorts of vintage racing and particularly rally events. It is not to be ignored or overlooked, even in a time when rally-style Healey replicas are plentiful. This is the real deal and its price is implicit in its history and configuration.Lot # 16 1952 Connaught A-Type Formula 2; S/N AX; Dark Green, Yellow nose band/Tan leather; Estimate $120,800 – $181,200; Non-factory replica, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $113,250 plus commission of 14.00%; Final Price $129,105. – 1,960cc Lea-Francis 4-cylinder, 145 or so hp, two dual choke carbs, 4-speed pre-selector gearbox, polished alloy wide-four wheels. – Built from the whole cloth but from mostly original Connaught components including the frame and rear suspension by Jack and John Horton. A short wheelbase F2 car ideal for tight circuits or hillclimbs. Denis Jenkinson might call this a ‘Reconstruction’, although the car as-built never existed in the Fifties. FIA Technical Passport. – While not likely to mix it up with F2 Ferraris or Maseratis of the period this Connaught has visual appeal and, reportedly, benign handling that commends it to drivers. Its FIA eligibility is a significant advantage and it is, despite its ‘bitsa’ origins, a sound value at this price for someone seeking a competitive, sleekly-styled, early Fifties formula car to race in historic events.Lot # 18 1948 Jaguar Mark VI 3½ Liter 3-Pos. Drophead Coupe; S/N 617141; OE White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $135,900 – $166,100; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $131,370 plus commission of 13.72%; Final Price $149,399. – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, dual Lucas PLG40 fog lights, Lucas P100 headlights, dual windshield post spotlight-mirrors, trafficators, tools, sales brochure, shop manual, service book, Leaping Cat radiator mascot, fender mirrors. – Restored in 1992 and subsequently toured, later converted to unleaded fuel and fitted with a 5-speed Getrag gearbox, engine rebuilt in 2006, new top in 2015. Originally black with pigskin upholstery and dark sand top. Driven since the early 90’s but always maintained and given what it needed, with quality cosmetics and a neat, orderly engine compartment. – One of 184 built and 46 believed surviving 3 1/2 Liter Mark VI Dropheads, the use this car has experienced since its restoration and the attention it has received are a strong endorsement of its quality and the care it has received. It would not have been surprising to see it bring another $20K.Lot # 19 2005 Ferrari 575 Superamerica Convertible; S/N ZFFGT61B000145743; Engine # 201218; Grigio Nürburgring/Burgundy leather; Estimate $558,700 – $649,300; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $822,950 plus commission of 12.28%; Final Price $923,969. – 6-speed, GTC handling package, black instrument panel, interior carbon fiber trim, Schedoni luggage. – Originally Italian-delivered but now with UK instruments and lights. About 17,800 km from new (the odometer was changed from km to miles) and in nearly showroom condition. – The 6-speed fascination continues. The manual gearbox was an afterthought for Ferrari, then firmly focused on precisely controlled paddle shift transmissions, but the 6-speedy commands a premium today. Can the buyers who acquire them use the clunky manual gearbox? Doubtful, but it’s bragging rights, which is all-important to these Ferraris’ values.Lot # 21 1937 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Tourer; S/N 12173R; Engine # 12173R; Dark Grey/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $755,000 – $1,057,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,057,000 plus commission of 12.21%; Final Price $1,186,105. – RHD. Beetle back 4-seat Rapide coachwork, helmet fenders, body color wire wheels, outside exhaust headpipes, dip beam light. – One family, George Dodd then his son Barclay, owned from new. Sound old paint and chrome, worn, cracked upholstery with recovered driver’s seat cushion, recent top and frame. A delicious car that is the very definition of patina and a long life in enthusiastic, caring ownership dedicated to experiencing the Lagonda’s performance. – A car valued for its history as much as for its innate rarity (one of only 25 LG45 Rapides built) and performance, this is an epic price, but also an epic automobile. This price is roundly $300K more than Gooding got for the Ron Razek Pebble Beach quality restored Rapide at the Pebble Beach auction in August, a demonstration of the premium brought by this Rapide’s history and originality.
Bonhams Bond Street 2015 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 25 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11089; Engine # 11089 ; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $679,500 – $830,500; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $604,000 plus commission of 12.38%; Final Price $678,745. – Power windows, Voxson 8-track stereo, alloy wheels – Represented as matching numbers engine and transaxle. Cosmetically restored in 2011 retaining the original upholstery and now showing more age and use. Good bodywork, paint and panel fits, a sound and well maintained driver-quality GTC. – This is a representative price these days for a sound, drivable GTC that takes into account its condition and the age of the cosmetic restoration.Lot # 26 1960 Jaguar XK150 3.8 Drophead Coupe; S/N S838656DN; Engine # VA1518-8 ; Black/Black leather, Black cloth top; Estimate $151,000 – $226,500; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $573,800 plus commission of 12.39%; Final Price $644,921. – Overdrive, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, tools, jack, windshield washer. – Restored in the UK to American standards of beyond perfection with immaculately fitted body panels, interior, paint, chrome, chassis, engine compartment and top. – It’s not an ‘S’, just a beautifully restored standard XK 150 Drophead with overdrive, and a lefthand drive version in a righthand drive market at that. Something miraculous happened at Bond Street with the seller (and Bonhams) the winner in a bidding contest that left reality far in the distance of the XK 150’s tiny rear view mirror, a $200K car for which someone paid 3x the value. It may be the best one in the world; it’s also far and away the most expensive and will be for a very long time.Lot # 27 1958 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa Replica Sports Racer; S/N 0803GT; Engine # 0945GT; White, Blue stripes/Blue leather, White piping; Estimate $755,000 – $906,000; Facsimile restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $709,700 plus commission of 12.32%; Final Price $797,129. – RHD. Six Webers, 4-speed, silver wire wheels. – Replica 250 TR built by DK Engineering based on a decrepit 250 GT Ellena. Pontoon fender body, drum brakes. Current color scheme applied for prior owner Chris Evans. – This is a generous price for a fake TR, but far less than a real one. It will have to appeal to the sympathy of committees selecting event entrants, but looks and runs the part. Despite the expense of its conversion it brought little more than the value of a sound and good looking Ellena coupe.Lot # 28 1974 Aston Martin Lagonda Series 1 7.0-Liter 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N L12003RCAC; Engine # V/540/2003; Cumberland Grey/Wildberry leather; Estimate $604,000 – $755,000; Modified restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $573,800 plus commission of 12.39%; Final Price $644,921. – RHD. 7 liter RS Williams conversion, automatic, alloy wheels, CD stereo, built in cell phone (with rear seat handset), Becker navigation, heated front seats, fog lights, driving lights. – Heavily modified in addition to the killer engine including flared ‘Oscar India’ style fenders and rear deck spoiler. Bought by AML to promote a stillborn new 4-door Lagonda. Freshly serviced after five years’ storage and accompanied by an impressive stack of restoration and upgrade invoices. – Sold by Bonhams to Aston Martin in 2010 for $487,508 and with no further expense except storage and the cost of waking it up after its slumber this is a decent return on AML’s investment. The first thing the new owner should do is quietly remove the jarring horseshoe grille element.Lot # 29 2002 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina Roadster, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFZR52B000124120; Engine # 62354; Silver/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $362,400 – $422,800; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $332,200 plus commission of 12.68%; Final Price $374,329. – 6-speed, modular alloy wheels, SF shields, air conditioning, Michalak Design hood. – Essentially a new car with 15,900km and a recent cam belt service. – Based on recent sales, this is a modest price for a 6-speed.Lot # 30 2012 McLaren MP4-12C Coupe; S/N SBM11AB9CW000465; Engine # 38JBAA110555; Graphite Grey/Black Alcantara; Estimate $135,900 – $181,200; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,700 plus commission of 14.14%; Final Price $120,649. – Carbon fiber trim, power heated seat, carbon brakes, carbon splitter and diffuser, forged wheels. – Originally delivered in the Middle East with about 15,000 km since new, serviced by McLaren, warranty valid until March 2017. McLaren’s own successor to the F1 and SLR. Subject to import restrictions/approval. – Even if it isn’t road registered this is still a moderate price to pay for a track day car with supercar performance and rarity. It also has the ‘Stealth Pack’ (no bright trim) and looks impressively mean and purposeful.
