Bonhams & Butterfields, Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley, California, August 18-19, 2011
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
The Bonhams Quail Lodge auction during Monterey Week, August 18-19, 2011, was marked by several important transactions.
The sale’s top one, the BMW 507 for just over $1 million (with commission) was particularly noteworthy. It was almost exactly the same price RM got for its 507, yet they were very different cars. Bonhams’ example was, as described below, very attractively restored while RM’s was very original, illustrating the appeal of extremes in car collecting and collectors’ evaluation of their diametrically opposed attributes in nearly equivalent terms.
Also reflecting collectors’ widely varying priorities was the sale of the Frank Stella painted, ex-Peter Gregg BMW M1 Pro-car for $854,000. While the car itself, built to Pro-car series specs, might be worth $250,000 with its Peter Gregg provenance, the bidders gave it another $600,000 for Frank Stella’s signed and authenticated artistry. It’s not often a work of graphic art can be driven and the premium might even be described as modest.
It was a diverse consignment, from Father Divine’s Duesenberg Model J “Throne Car” through a selection of distinctive modern customs to a few dusty, worn barn-finds that piqued the bidders’ visions of their possibilities.
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Jonathan Sierakowski contributed many of the car and transaction descriptions and photos in this auction report. His help and support were indispensable. Bonhams Quail Lodge 2011 – Auction Report (See Reference – Auctions Explained, A Note on Conditions and Character). Lot # 2 1968 Fiat-Abarth OT 1300 Coupe; S/N 100GC00132481; Engine # 157856; White/Oxblood vinyl; Estimate $40,000 - $60,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $46,800 -- Fiat 850-based 1280cc, 75hp engine, freshly restored to very high standards and better than new. Not so highly sought as earlier Abarths, but with more room and a bigger, more powerful engine, the price of this impressively restored OT 1300 is good value for money. Lot # 7 1927 Chevrolet Series AA Station Wagon, Body by Martin-Perry; S/N 3341253; Green, Black fenders/Black vinyl; Estimate $20,000 - $30,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $31,590 -- Ex-Harrah Collection. Varnished wood spoke wheels, three row seating, opening windshield with visor. A high quality older restoration with little wear. The interior could have been done within the last several years rather than decades. The wood and paint have aged very nicely as has the whole car with the exception of rot on the lower radiator surround due to a leak. The underside is very clean with little wear and the varnish is starting to flake off the wheels. The ex-Harrah's provenance commands a premium, and it helped this car go slightly over top estimate. Surviving Chevrolets of this era are rare in themselves and this is an unusual body style. This will be great for a collection or parade car. Lot # 8 1987 March-Cosworth 87C Indy Car; S/N 87C6; Blue, Yellow 'Kraco'/Black cloth; Estimate $40,000 - $50,000; Competition restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $58,500 -- Represented as driven by Michael Andretti to two poles and four wins (Milwaukee, Michigan, Nazareth, Miami) and second in the PPG Championship in 1987. Cosworth DFX 2.6 liter turbo V-8. Repainted but otherwise as-raced with no indication of anything more than display since it was acquired in 2005. No Reserve. Sold by RM at Amelia in 2005 for $57,200 in fresher but otherwise the same condition as it appeared here. Lot # 14 1937 Panhard X76 Dynamic 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 200128; Engine # 200128; Maroon, Beige/Beige cloth; Estimate $110,000 - $130,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Post-block sale at $64,957 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $76,000 -- RHD. Mediocre repaint over erratic prep. Dull brightwork. Cracked steering wheel rim, poorly repaired headlight grilles then aluminum painted. A car that needs a lot of expensive work, but a marvelous car with center-located steering wheel and a an almost endless list of gorgeous Machine Age design details. Offered at Christie's Rétromobile auction in 2004 at a high bid of $58,748, sold by Poulain in Paris in 2007 for $68,576, then by Bonhams in Fairfield last year for $90,675. It is a daunting task to address this Dynamic's many needs but it is still one of the great, imaginative, automobiles of the Thirties and deserves the effort it will take to bring it to presentable condition. It is so "French" and its character and style more than offset the mediocre condition to make it a good value at this price. Lot # 15 1979 BMW M1 Pro-car, Body by Frank Stella; S/N 94301053; White 'Art Car'/Black Watch cloth; Estimate $450,000 - $600,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $770,000 plus commission of 10.91%; Final Price $854,000 -- Sound, original and well preserved but dusty inside. Dirty chassis. Paint, including Stella's art, is good and has been clearcoated over. Done for Peter Gregg outside BMW's art car program A Stella canvas begins at a million bucks. This one is bigger and can be driven, fast. As an M1 Pro-Car it's expensive but as a Frank Stella artwork it's cheap. "No art is any good unless you can feel how it's put together. By and large it's the eye, the hand and if it's any good, you feel the body. Most of the best stuff seems to be a complete gesture, the totality of the artist's body you can really lean on it." The M1 Pro-Car can be leaned on in several ways. Lot # 16 1927 Lancia Lambda Seventh Series SWB Roadster, Body by Casaro; S/N 16140; Engine # 6185; Black, Maroon, rust/Red leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $100,000 - $125,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $178,000 plus commission of 13.93%; Final Price $202,800 -- RHD. Rumble seat upholstered in Red leather. Attractive roadster coachwork by Casaro. Pretty complete including top and frame and remarkably sound but definitely a barn find. It has been started since its discovery but beyond that it is very much a project. The bidders' willingness to pay big money for this Lancia is evidence of the fascination of the classic Lancia, and the potential which is has for preservation class participation and an eventual restoration. Lot # 18 1964 Lotus Elan S2 Roadster; S/N 26/4086; Red/Black Vinyl; Estimate $25,000 - $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $33,930 -- Older paint with spider webbing and lots of orange peel. Seats moderately worn and chrome bumpers worn. Described as, and appears to be, an unmolested original car with 27,000 miles that appears to have had nothing done to it other than a light detailing in years. An older cosmetic restoration. The catalog states that the car had never been an accident and it appeared to be a good solid car. With the low original mileage also stated, the bidders were encouraged and the seller achieved a respectable result. Lot # 19 1965 Lotus Cortina Coupe; S/N BA74EK59800; White with Green coachline/Black vinyl; Estimate $30,000 - $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $42,120 -- Lots of dents and dings in the body covered by a rattle can paint job. The Green coach line is polished through to the body color. The driver's seat is heavily worn and duct taped together. The chrome is pitted, door and window gaskets are older and the underside is heavily worn. Three owners from new (after being Lotus's factory demo) with its original California black plates. Odometer shows 4,842 miles, probably just starting its second time around. The car is original save for the older repaint which made it quite attractive to a buyer who will likely modify and use it for vintage racing. The seller should be very pleased with this result which includes a significant premium for originality. Lot # 24 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera Coupe; S/N 906007; Engine # 906153; White, Red nose panel/Red vinyl; Estimate $900,000 - $1,100,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $810,000 plus commission of 10.86%; Final Price $898,000 -- Lefthand drive. One of two cars from Porsche with this number, the other being the "Kanguruh" flat-8 raced at the 1967 Targa Florio. First raced in Australia by Alan Hamilton and winner of the 1967 Australian Championship in spyder form. Sold to Richard Wong Wei Hong and raced in SE Asia before selling to Teddy Yip in Macau. Restored to coupe configuration in Belgium in recent years, comes with documentation, the spyder body, engine block, heads and more. Good paint and interior. Looks freshly restored. This is a heck of a car, and a wonderful restoration of it to like new condition without going overboard. According to the catalog the restoration has addressed the items appropriate to modern historic racing performance and safety, a claim the car's appearance supports. This is top of the market for a 906, especially for one with no history in the premier events of the day. Lot # 25 1955 Ford "Beatnik Bubbletop" Custom; S/N U5UG116632; Blue/Pearl; Estimate $100,000 - $125,000; Customized restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $93,600 -- 4-seat interior with one-piece clear top, six carbs sticking through the hood. Good paint, chrome and interior. A marvelous creation, or an anachronism, take your pick. No Reserve. First sold five years ago at RM Monterey for $396,000, crossed the block at RM Amelia in March with a no-sale bid of $140,000. It's really something (just not everyone's thing) and will turn heads at a modest price with its result here. Lot # 35 2003 Lola B03/51 Mugen Formula Nippon; S/N HU21; White/Black fiberglass; Estimate $80,000 - $90,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; Post-block sale at $64,103 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $75,000 -- Mugen-Honda 3-liter V-8. Driven by Andre Lotterer in 2003-5 finishing 4th, 2nd and 4th in the Formula Nippon championship. Restored in 2009 by Nakajima Racing with some subsequent use but still clean and orderly. This car is cataloged with the same chassis number as a Lola T900 Indy Car sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2009. There's probably a place for this car on some historic GP grid or other and if so it should be very competitive, at far less money than a Cosworth DFV-powered ex-F1 car. Lot # 404 1956 Jaguar XK 140 Drophead Coupe; S/N S818031DN; Engine # G57288S; Light Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $70,000 - $90,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $78,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $91,260 -- Lightly pitted chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, fender mirrors, fog lights, bumper overriders. Excellent paint and body with good gaps and light wear along the panel edges. Light wear to driver's seat cushion and convertible top. The underside is finished in black and the entire presentation is that of a tidy, well looked after older restoration completed in 1981. There is no way this car's restoration looks like it was done thirty years ago. Maybe thirteen, but even then it would be commended for the quality of its materials, workmanship, attention to detail and sympathetic preservation. Its attributes brought it a strong price, particularly after the commission. Lot # 406 1936 Ford Model 68 Deluxe Phaeton; S/N 32050750; Washington Blue/Brown leatherette; Tan cloth top; Estimate $80,000 - $100,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $58,500 -- Stainless steel spider wheel covers, trim rings, double wide whitewalls, an enclosed rear-mounted spare, Greyhound hood ornament, wind wings and an outside mirror. Excellent chrome, lightly worn interior and new top. Deep paint with some orange peel and a few minor blemishes. Nice enough to be presented at a show but not too nice to drive. The underside is presented much better than when new, but not over the top. Ex-Jack Hogan Ford Collection. No Reserve. This Ford was presented from the Hogan collection by Bonham's in 2007 and sold for $105,300, close to double the sales price achieved here, but came back to earth when sold at Auburn Fall last September for $54,450. This is one of the most desirable Ford V-8 body styles and is a good value at this price. Lot # 407 1947 Bentley Mk VI Drophead Coupe, Body by Graber; S/N B136BH; Engine # B68B; Blue/Cream leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $120,000 - $150,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $117,000 -- RHD. Blue steel wheels, wide whitewall tires. The chrome is very cloudy and both doors are sagging. The seat is lightly worn and the top boot is soiled and rather nasty looking compared to the rest of the car. The panels are decent and the paint application very good, but the surface is now marred with polishing swirl. Overall a nice looking driver. This is a highly attractive car with lines evocative of a prewar French model (or a large '40 Ford.) It brought $139,443 at Bonhams Olympia sale in 2007 and $110,000 at RM in Arizona earlier this year. This transaction shows how to make a small fortune trading collector cars. Lot # 408 1933 Stutz DV-32 Sedan; S/N DV641595; Engine # 33306; Orange, Black fenders, Burgundy coachline/Grey cloth; Estimate $85,000 - $115,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $87,750 -- Cream wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounted spares with Stutz script mirrors, trunk rack, modern signal lights. The fenders are blistered and although the front and rear bumpers have been replated the door handles are quite worn. The interior wood has been nicely refinished and the interior is not worn. The doors close with a very nice double click. A very stout car, but one that deserves a more thorough renovation. The Stutz is rare in any form and although a sedan, the DV-32 is comparable to any of the best American marques. The buyer got a helluva lot of car for the money but at a full retail price. Lot # 410 1916 Crane-Simplex Model 5 7-Passenger Touring, Body by Healey * Co.; S/N 2178; Engine # 2233; White with Orange chassis and coachline/Black leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $150,000 - $200,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $122,000 -- Varnished wood spoke wheels with whitewall tires, single rear-mounted spare, Watson Stabilators, Bi-Flex bumpers, Gray & Davis headlamps. A very well looked after older restoration; the paint is cracked in many places and the chassis displays some wear. The circa 1960's leather is brittle looking and the brightwork is lightly pitted. Although nicely patinated, the color scheme on this car is dated and doesn't do it justice. The catalog states that the car is bodied by Brewster but the tag observed reads "Healey & Co.," one of five coachbuilders to originally supply bodies for the Simplex-Crane. These cars don't bring a fraction of what their Simplex cousins do which is surprising because they offer a lot of the same value. This car needs attention even to bring it back to touring condition and a complete restoration is probably not far in its future. The bidders took that into account when they stopped at this bid. Lot # 412 1959 Sadler-Meyer Special Sports Racer; S/N SC008; Engine # 3756519; Dark Blue, White stripe/Red; Estimate $650,000 - $750,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $540,000 -- RHD. Centerlock Halibrand alloy wheels, 339 cubic inch Chevy V-8 with six carbs, a T-10 4-speed and Halibrand quick change center section in its deDion rear suspension. Built by Bill Sadler for John Van Meyer using bits from Van Meyer's prewar ARCA special but now far from its historic Giant's Despair hillclimb winning, Pontiac-powered configuration including bodywork alterations that completely reshaped the nose. Attractively and thoroughly restored. The appeal of this special is its early Giant's Despair and northeast circuit racing history, both of which have been lost in its reconfigured body and Chevy power. It was introduced on the block by Bill Sadler, who must have wondered what he was seeing but didn't give it away. The bidders weren't misled. Lot # 413 1949 Jaguar Mark V Drophead Coupe; S/N 647008; Engine # Z3907; Black/Saddle leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $75,000 - $100,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $71,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $83,070 -- Lefthand drive, driving lights, fender mirrors, skirts, whitewalls, hubcaps, trim rings, full tool tray, two element bumpers. The bumpers and grille have been replaced and the rest of the brightwork has been highly polished to the point of rubbing through in places. The top is lightly soiled and the leather interior is lightly worn although enough so to be inviting. The driver's door is sticking out in the lower rear corner and the paint has a few blemishes. An aged restoration from the early 80's and now a decent driver. This is a good solid car but aged. It needs some care to be brought up a cosmetic notch and the price was appropriately restrained in recognition of its condition. Lot # 414 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Coupe; S/N 1E31973; Engine # 7E59099; Silver/Burgundy leather; Estimate $90,000 - $115,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $99,450 -- Chrome wire wheels with redline tires. Freshly restored after being bought from an estate in 2010. Deep chrome and excellent paint. The underside is extremely clean and the interior is unworn. There was some debris trapped in the headlight lenses and the passenger door was hard to close. Not the best in the world but excellent and sharp looking and with an extensive service history that enhances its value. The price paid here is appropriate to the car's history and its fresh restoration as well as the enduring beauty of the first covered headlight series of XKEs. Bonhams Quail Lodge 2011 – Auction Report Continued
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2011 – Auction Report Page Two Lot # 415 1932 Auburn 12-160 Boattail Speedster; S/N 1973E; Engine # BB2419; Black, Grey accents, Red coachlines/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $550,000 - $600,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000 -- Chrome wire wheels with knock-offs, dual sidemounts with metal covers, Pilot-Ray lights, dual spotlights, 2-speed axle. Very deep chrome and paint, with only one stress crack along the coachline. The interior is barely worn and the top is perfect. Even the chassis has been rubbed out. It's gorgeous and really too nice to drive. Restored in 2005 and winner of the Roy Faulkner Award, Best of Auburn Award and Auburn Speedster first place at the 2005 Auburn ACD Meet. Quite a good car and the ultimate Auburn. The bidders in the tent may have been looking for a good driver rather than the show car presented here because the estimate was within reason for a superlative example like this and the seller was right to hold out for the right number. Lot # 418 1920 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Gentleman's Roadster; S/N 80LE; Engine # N267H; Green, Tan coachline/Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $450,000 - $600,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Post-block sale at $389,091 plus commission of 11.80%; Final Price $435,000 -- RHD. Green wire wheels, dual cloth-covered sidemounts, rear-mounted brown leather covered trunk. Lots of orange peel on the hood and bubbling on the fender. The plating has been highly polished and the underside shows a little wear. The restoration was not over the top when completed almost twenty years ago, but nicely done and has mellowed nicely. High Speed chassis. Believed to be the first Rolls-Royce chassis bodied in the U.S., owned by Seymour Knox, Jr. from new until 1990 with only one family ownership since. Restored in 1994 in its original colors and a multiple award winner since in concours and RROC events. Although the restoration has mellowed and the car has made the rounds on the concours circuit, it's a rare body style and has fascinating history and provenance. This is a really sporting car and the owner got a good value for the money paid. Bid to $400,000 on the block and closed post-block at this price, a reasonable compromise for both the buyer and the seller, but a prize acquisition that will be honored by Rolls-Royce owners for many years to come. Lot # 419 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 2-Dr. Hardtop Custom; S/N 588C05766; Metalflake Gold/Gold, White leather; Estimate $70,000 - $125,000; Customized restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $67,860 -- An attractive mild custom by John D'Agostino. Still recognizable as a '58 Olds Holiday, but combining classic customizing elements in a pleasing package. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Shows little evidence of age or use. Kustoms are essentially personal but this Olds has wider appeal, particularly at this price. Lot # 420 1937 Duesenberg Model J Landaulet Limousine, Body by Bohman & Schwartz; S/N 2613; Engine # J587; Green/Black leather & Green cloth; Black leather top; Estimate $400,000 - $600,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Post-block sale at $357,273 plus commission of 11.96%; Final Price $400,000 -- The Father Divine Throne Car. Flawless paint and chrome with an equally nice unworn interior and underside restored to show standards by Fran Roxas. Black wire wheels with wide whitewalls, dual metal covered sidemounts and divider window. One-off custom coachwork with wide, three-abreast, seating, concealed running boards, faired-in sidemount covers and stretched 178 1/2 inch wheelbase. John M. O'Quinn estate. This Duesenberg has a great history, a concours restoration and is arguably one of the superlative examples of the marque- it's also just big and gaudy. the limited appeal of its Pullman-sized coachwork should have been more than offset by its historic value and the quality of its Fran Roxas restoration. In fact, maybe it was .... Lot # 421 1955 Messerschmitt KR-200 Cabriolet; S/N 56265; Red/Red vinyl; Black top; Estimate $38,000 - $44,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $25,155 -- Plexiglas bubble top, luggage rack. An older restoration with heavily worn and polished paint. The plexiglas is scraped and scuffed and the chrome is slightly pitted. This Messerschmitt is okay for joyriding, conversation or as a parade car but needs more attention to be anything more. These cars have a following but this example needs a lot of attention to be more appealing and more expensive. The price paid is reflective of that. It is auction tradition to follow a giant classic like the Father Divine Duesenberg with a microcar, a tradition honored here and validated by this realistic price for a mediocre Messerschmitt. Lot # 422 1962 Autobianchi Bianchina Panoramica; S/N 120B078104; Engine # 120000087604; Lime Green, Grey roof/Cream leather, Tan cloth sunroof; Estimate $18,000 - $24,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $14,625 -- Silver steel wheels with hubcaps and blackwall tires, accessory map light, CD player. Lots of orange peel in the paint and runs around the panel edges. Interior decent but seat cushions moderately worn. The chrome is lightly pitted but decent except for the window chrome which is shot. The badge is missing from the front of the hood. A driver quality vehicle. Although presented as a decent driver, the Panoramica is less desirable than the Transformable. The car presented here was decidedly mediocre and superficially presented. It would have to have been better to bring more money than this. Lot # 432 1925 Bentley 3-Liter 100mph Supersports 'Brooklands'; S/N 1161; Engine # 546; BRGreen/Black leather; Estimate $500,000 - $600,000; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $540,000 plus commission of 11.30%; Final Price $601,000 -- RHD. Green wire wheels, eight day clock, tachometer, single sidemount and dual aeroscreens, blade fenders, high mounted left side exhaust with fishtail, four-wheel brakes, Lucas headlights, four CAV taillights. Replacement coachwork by Jim Howarth in 1987. The paint has been well maintained but shows some polishing marks. The now-black chassis is chipped revealing earlier red paint. The undersides of the fenders are worn from road use. The seat leather is respectfully worn in; this is truly a proper motorcar. Despite modern replica coachwork and the engine out of another car, the bidders were enthused by the presentation of this rare version of the 3-liter. There's no more upside in the car except to take it out on the road. Sold by Bonhams in London in December 2008 for $410,329 (GBP 276,500 at the time against $601,000 and GBP 363,300 here), this is a wonderful high speed 3-Liter Bentley with delectable coachwork and full value for the money. Lot # 434 1962 Maserati 5000 GT Coupe, Body by Allemano; S/N 103046; Engine # 46; Dark Metallic Blue/White leather; Estimate $525,000 - $700,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 11.40%; Final Price $557,000 -- Factory-installed Frigikar A/C, chrome spoke Borranis, no radio, Lucas FI, 5-speed, disc brakes, Nardi woodrim steering wheel with trident-style spokes. Attractively restored with good cosmetics in the early 90's then driven and toured. Cosmetics are still very good but engine and chassis are a little aged and grimy. This is a choice example of one of the great grand tourers of the Sixties. Allemano coachwork is the most common and least desirable of the 5000 GTs, but that keeps the value down and makes it possible for an enthusiastic driver to experience its performance at a reasonable price like this. Lot # 436 1956 Lincoln Premiere "Dreamsicle" Custom; S/N 56WA47889L; Tequila Sunrise Orange/Pearl leather; Estimate $70,000 - $100,000; Customized restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $52,650 -- Extreme custom built by Gene Winfield and Bill Reasoner, then further developed by John d'Agostino. Excellent paint but chipped in front of driver's door. Left front fender trim loose. Chassis is repainted over old undercoat and not attractive. No Reserve. John M. O'Quinn estate. The somewhat shaky condition is typical of cars coming out of John O'Quinn's massive collection but this is on its own a dramatic custom car, particularly at this modest price which probably barely exceeds what O'Quinn invested in its new paint and interior. Lot # 440 1957 BMW 507 Roadster; S/N 70038; Engine # 40037; Silver/Grey leather; Blue top; Estimate $850,000 - $1,100,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $905,000 plus commission of 10.77%; Final Price $1,002,500 -- Reproduction Rudge knock-off wheels, AM radio, A/C, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. Deep chrome and excellent paint. New leather with very light wear. The underside is very clean but some of the spray in the wheelwells is beginning to peel revealing the original or older paint. Driven on the Gauthier Classic in 2003, then the Colorado Grand in 2004. Engine freshly rebuilt by Motion Products. This rare 507 has had quite a bit of work done since being presented as a #4 car over a decade ago at Brooks' Amelia Island auction in 2000 where it fell short of the consignor's expectations at a reported high bid of $150,000. The presentation of the car was gorgeous and the seller should be happy but the enthusiastic buyer had better have checked closely for more signs of restoration shortcuts like the peeling paint under the wheelwells before committing to this generous price, a value for these Albrecht Goertz-designed but under-powered beauties that only recently vaulted over $1 million. Lot # 443 1962 Porsche 356 1600 B T6 Roadster; S/N 89753; Engine # P700369; Black/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 - $140,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 14.67%; Final Price $172,000 -- Silver steel wheels, hubcaps, blackwall Michelin XZX 185SR15 tires, headrests, Porsche woodrim steering wheel. Restored like new with some age and use but offset by consistent maintenance. Sold by RM in Arizona in 2005 in freshly restored condition for $103,400, then by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2006 showing a little age for $140,800, it's now a little more aged (and has lost its fog lights) but brought a little more, reflecting the continuing appreciation of these very desirable cars over the past seven years. Lot # 450 1929 Stutz Series M Dual Cowl Speedster, Body by LeBaron; S/N M843CY17A; Engine # 3036; Black, Grey accent/Silver leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $300,000 - $400,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Post-block sale at $243,636 plus commission of 12.87%; Final Price $275,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, dual cloth-covered sidemounts with strap-on mirrors, wind wings. Cutdown front doors are striking, distinctive element. Ex-Briggs Cunningham and Bill Ruger, Sr. Cataloged as the car that was turbocharged with electronic fuel injection by Callaway in the 1990's but that was a DV-32 fishtail tourer, not this car. Presentable old restoration to good driving condition. Used. The mis-description probably is inadvertent as Sturm, Ruger made several sets of titanium rods for the Callaway project and this 'Safety Stutz' may have gotten a set along the way. The coachwork alone is sufficient to support the price paid in this post-block transaction. Lot # 453 1986 Porsche 962 IMSA GTP Endurance racer; S/N 962121; Engine # 361; Black, White 'Havoline'/Black; Estimate $800,000 - $1,000,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $730,000 plus commission of 10.96%; Final Price $810,000 -- RHD. Raced by Bayside Disposal in the Eighties, winning six of eleven races in 1987 and two consecutive Sebring 12 Hours wins in 1987-88. Restored to like-new condition in its 1988 Sebring livery with excellent cosmetics and prepared to front-line historic racing specifications. Visually, at least, this car needs nothing. Arguably one of the most successful Porsche endurance racers built -- which says a lot, even with 'arguably' included -- this car is sharp, crisp and impeccably presented. It's a front-line-ready historic racer ready to challenge any driver's concept of fast enough. Lot # 454 1963 Maserati 3500 GTi Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 1012640; Engine # 1012640; Red/White leather; Estimate $125,000 - $150,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 14.38%; Final Price $183,000 -- Becker Cologne AM-FM, chrome wire wheels, triple Webers, Cibie head and fog lights. Prior owners include Alfredo Brener and J. Geils. Good paint, interior and glass. Good major chrome but weak window moldings. Tidy underhood. Repainted undercoat and chassis. An attractive driver restoration done a few years ago. A distinct and attractive alternative to increasingly expensive Sixties Ferraris and Aston Martins, this is a whole lot of car for the money, an assessment shared by the Bonhams' bidders who concluded it was worth $10,000 more than the high estimate. Maybe a little optimistically.... Lot # 457 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Roadster Custom; S/N 5762113291; Lilac/Lilac leather; Estimate $100,000 - $125,000; Customized restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $76,050 -- Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, pushbutton radio. Customized by Rick Dore for SEMA in 2006 with several subsequent awards Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Old undercoat. Cowl chrome needs attention. Built for its effect, which is immediate and compelling, the workmanship out of sight is less than impressive, but that's not what customs are about. The price here, even with commission, is a modest piece of what it cost to create, or the effect it will create. Harley Earl would have been pleased. Lot # 458 1922 Pierce-Arrow Series 33 Touring Sedan; S/N 332157; Cream, Brown fenders and coachline/Cream leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $45,000 - $65,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $46,800 -- Varnished wood spoke wheels with older yellowed whitewalls. Dual cloth-covered sidemounts, rear trunk, Dawley headlights. The older nickel is lightly worn and the paint has been well kept except for light wear around the edges. The cloth top is lightly soiled but the underside is extremely clean. The paint doesn't show the stress cracks typical of an older restored open car. What a history. Sold at The Auction in Las Vegas in 1991 in cosmetically restored condition but missing some bits for just $17,325, then at Auburn Fall in 2001 for $32,860, it brought $108,000 at Barrett-Jackson in 2005 after restoration and was bid to $95,000 at Bonhams Brookline auction in 2008 but only $50,000 at RM's Hershey Auction in 2009. This is an older restoration of mediocre quality but Pierce is a high quality automobile and the restoration, such as it is, has held up well. More than an entry level car and a decent price for the buyer. Lot # 459 1953 Facel Ford Comete 2-Dr. Hardtop, Body by Facel Matallon; S/N 1016; Engine # 606523; Green/Tan leather; Estimate $45,000 - $65,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $42,120 -- Seduction AM radio, manual transmission, wheel covers, whitewalls. Quick old repaint over old paint, decent redone interior. Appears to be sound and mostly original. Pitted interior bright trim, decent chrome. Definitely unusual if done to indifferent standards. The best feature of this French car is its very French 'Seduction' branded radio. The seller should be happy the buyer noticed it, otherwise the car could have struggled to find a bidder at any price. Lot # 461 1959 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I Roadster; S/N HBT7L/4114; Engine # 29DRUH4693; Metallic Blue/Dark Blue vinyl with White piping; Estimate $65,000 - $75,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Post-block sale at $53,419 plus commission of 17.00%; Final Price $62,500 -- Chrome wire wheels. Excellent paint and brightwork but door fit could be better. The underside exhibits light road wear. Almost no interior wear on this 2007 restoration. This is a very nice Big Healey that can be shown with pride and fully enjoyed on the road for the price paid but is fully valued when measured against the later and more luxurious 3000 Mk III Phase 2s. Lot # 463 1961 Maserati 3500 GT Spider, Body by Vignale; S/N 1011295; Engine # 1011295; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $320,000 - $360,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $320,000 plus commission of 12.19%; Final Price $359,000 -- Chrome spoke Borranis, blackwall Engelbert tires. Restored like new in Prague in 2004 with excellent paint, chrome, interior and panel fits. Chassis is clean and like new. 2008 Hillsborough second in class. This is a handsome car but fully valued at this price.
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[Source: Rick Carey]
Perhaps your silence on the matter is intentional, but this seems to be an awful auction result for Bonhams. I’m looking for the bright spot and simply cannot find it. Wish them the best in the future, although I have to wonder if Mecum, RM, Gooding et all have wounded them too badly…at least in Monterey.