Bonhams, Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley, California, August 17, 2012
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Bonhams moved its sale to the back of the Quail Lodge property in 2012 giving itself much more room to maneuver. It also bifurcated its two-day sale, offering motorcycles on Thursday and [mostly] automobile lots on Friday.
In contrast to everyone else at Monterey Week Bonhams puts on a low key auction. With Malcolm Barber on the block the pace is measured, even deliberate. The atmosphere among the bidders is similarly considered and while Bonhams delivers good results there’s none of the histrionics – and occasional irrational bidding – that makes raises the entertainment factor of some of the other auctions. The measured pace seems to make it hard to hold the room’s attention and to keep bidders from wandering off as Friday evening’s festivities begin.
Here are the numbers:
[table id=57 /]
The important result at Bonhams Quail in 2012 was, by a wide margin, the McLaren F1 GTR which accounted for $3,850,000 of the sale’s final total; without it Bonhams would have been a bit meager, even with the $2,243,000 Ford GT40. Those two cars accounted for 52.2% of Bonhams entire sale.
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2012 – Auction Report
Lot # 410 1972 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino; S/N 04284; Red/Black leatherette; Estimate $240,000 – $260,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $185,000 – Cromodora Dino wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, A/C, P/W. Good older paint and interior. Engine is a little oily but very orderly. Aside from a torn window gasket and a paint (or bodywork) flaw on the right rear fender this Dino is nearly like new. Before this weekend we might have scoffed at mid-$200K values for Dino GTSs, but not now. This appears to be a sound and well-maintained car, but even in Monterey this year it is hard to see it being worth more than the reported high bid.Lot # 429 1955 Chrysler C-300 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3N552088; White/Beige leather; Estimate $55,000 – $65,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $57,500 – Chrome wire wheels, Town & Country radio, dual quads, A/C. A quality older restoration now showing some age and use. Good paint and chrome. Stretched front seat cushion but otherwise good inside. Flush fits and, even gaps but doors aren’t blocked flat. Engine is tidy but not remarkable. The first year of Chrysler’s 300 series was a revelation, putting immense power and a race-winning chassis in the hands of luxury-loving businessmen and professionals. It hit a chord and was followed by years of successors. This is a sound, usable and presentable car bought for a modest price that is only a little more than a plebian 205hp ’55 Bel Air hardtop built in vast numbers.Lot # 430 1990 Footwork-Arrows FA11B Formula 1; S/N A11B03; White ‘USF&G’/Black carbon fiber; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $54,050 – Driven by Michele Alboreto in 1990 without scoring a single point. As-raced and missing some unimportant bits – like its Cosworth DFR. Offered here last year but came up short of selling. With expectations readjusted it found a new owner this year at a price somewhat above ‘garage decor’ money. It will cost a fortune to make it race-ready, however.Lot # 434 1966 Ford GT40; S/N GT40P/1033; Red/Black cloth; Estimate $2,000,000 – $3,000,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $2,000,000 plus commission of 12.15%; Final Price $2,243,000 – RHD. 302 V-8 with Gurney-Weslake heads, 48 IDA Weber carbs, fire system, Avon racing tires Halibrand centerlock wheels, full two-seat interior. Originally configured by Graber as a road car for Georges Filippinetti, then sold to Jaime Ortiz-Patino who soon re-converted it to race configuration. Burned out to the bare monocoque. Once erroneously identified as 1040 but identified as 1033 on the basis of remaining evidence of fire damage. Restored like new with excellent paint and tight, accurate panel fits. Vintage raced by Tom Armstrong since 1988. Impressively sharp. It says something about the desirability of the GT40 when a car that had at best a lackluster racing career and now trumpets its comprehensive fire damage as the means for conclusive identification of the monocoque, its only surviving element from FAV’s factory, that it commands this much money. This is, all things considered, a much more reasonable price than RM’s $11 million for the mixed Mirage/GT40.Lot # 437 1932 Hupmobile Custom Roadster; S/N 15021; Yellow, Maroon/Green leather; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $80,500 – Orange wire wheels, dual endured sidemounts with mirrors, Depress Beam headlights, chrome hood side vents. Good paint, chrome and interior. A concours quality restoration showing just a little age. Sold here three years ago for $112,320 and still in nearly the same condition with just 173 more miles on its odometer, this is a dramatically styled car with presence bought right at this price.Lot # 440 1964 Huffaker-Genie Mk 10 USRRC Sports-Racer; S/N H120; Dark Blue, White stripe/Black vinyl; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 14.40%; Final Price $143,000 – 357 Chevy, Weber carbs, zoomie headers, Hewland LG500 transaxle, chrome full width rollbar. Raced in USRRC in 1964 by George Koehne. Stored many years after race damage at Riverside. Restored in 1990 and regularly vintage raced. Good cosmetics and appears to be fit and racy; comes with many spares including an engine and alignment jig. This Genie is a desirable entre to some of the most enthusiastic and enjoyable historic racing currently available. Its preparation is above reproach and the spares package is impressive. It is a great value at this price.Lot # 445 1970 BMW CSL Group 2 Coupe; S/N 2200093; White, Red and Blue accents/Black cloth; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 13.58%; Final Price $215,800 – 3.5 liter 350hp six, slide throttle fuel injection, Getrag 5-speed, BBS modular wheels, Goodyear Eagle slicks. Raced when new as a 3 liter. Monocoque and roll structure, plumbing and hardware are super sanitary. Body and paint are a little gnarly, exactly as expected of a regularly campaigned historic race car. FIA HTP, spares include an engine and three sets of wheels and tires. A serious race car, prepared to expected standards and rarely available, so the Quail Lodge bidders jumped on it with this impressive result. A sharp, race-ready ‘Batmobile’ in which the new owner can try to emulate Hans Stuck.Lot # 448 1949 Healey Silverstone; S/N D13; Engine # B3698; Dark Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $110,000 – $140,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $117,500 plus commission of 14.55%; Final Price $134,600 – 2,443cc, dual SU carb 104hp Riley engine, 4-speed, cycle front fenders, steel wheels with hubcaps and blackwall tires. Probably raced when new in the UK but with no other history until 1970, eventually owned by A good, honest sound old car that is largely original with a good older repaint and interior. Clean and orderly but not restored underhood. Shows age but will be perfect as a tour or rally car. Cars like this don’t show up very often. Tidy, orderly, presentable yet evidencing six decades of consistent care and attention without ever having, or needing, to be restored. And a Healey Silverstone is, for its day, exceptionally fast and cool-looking. This Silverstone is a sound value at this price. (photo: Bonhams)Lot # 450 1970 Porsche 935 Race Car; S/N 9306700161; Red ‘Coca-Cola’/Red cloth; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000– 3.2 liter single turbo, 660hp, 559 lb-ft torque, Bosch mechanical fuel injection, tube frame, 935 bodywork. Privately built with the ID plate from a Porsche 934. Raced in the U.S., Central and South America but with no conclusive history. Rumored once to have been used as a bank robbery getaway car in Nicaragua. Clean, orderly and prepared for vintage racing. Although the catalog describes this car’s history as “interesting” it might better be classed as “sketchy.” Presentation is very good and recent US historic race history indicates it is thorough and competitive, at least when in the hands of Dennis Aase, but its cloudy origins and history make a price greater than the reported high bid a stretch.Lot # 453 1973 Porsche 911S with Special Wishes RS package; S/N 9113301169; Engine # 6330892; Light Blue/Black leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $230,000– 7-8 inch wide Minilite wheels, Cibie fog lights, Pirelli P7 blackwall tires, braced rollbar, accessory shifter, faired in outside mirrors. Now powered by a blueprinted race-spec 2.2 liter engine with Bosch mechanical fuel injection and a full complement of up-to-date racing modifications. Great new paint, chrome and interior. Restored better than new. A special order Group 3 spec 911S that has now lost most of its originality but been comprehensively restored to very high standards both cosmetically and mechanically, an RS in all but chassis number. Even with the tenuous configuration the quality of materials, workmanship and extensive preparation as well as the potential performance make it understandable why the consignor held out for more money.Lot # 454 1966 Lola T70 Mk 2 GT Coupe; S/N SL71/39; White, Blue stripe/Black; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 13.03%; Final Price $327,800 – RHD. 355 Chevy, Four 48mm Webers, Hewland LG600 transaxle. First configured as a spider for John Mecom, later owned by Carl Haas, Ron Grable and John Williamson all without any notable results. Restored as a coupe. Sharp, fresh restoration. Very good cosmetics, clean and better than new. Still one of the prettiest and sleekest of all V8-powered sports racers, the T70 is a welcome addition to all sorts of historic racing venues. While this one has no significant racing history, it is beautifully and freshly restored and is worth every penny of the price it brought.
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2012 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 459 1997 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ FIA GT Endurance Racing Coupe; S/N 028R; Gulf Blue, Black, Orange ‘Davidoff’/Black carbon fiber; Competition car, original as-raced, 2+ condition; Post-block sale at $3,434,821 plus commission of 12.09%; Final Price $3,850,000 – Initially a spare car for GTC Motorsport, raced later in the year by by Geoff Lees, Anders Olofsson, Andrew Gilbert-Scott and John Nielson. Best finishes 6th at Suzuka, 7th at Donington, 8th at Mugello and 6th at Laguna Seca. Restored by McLaren in the present livery and in Suzuka configuration in 2006 but apparently not run, except to keep the engine freed up, with no track time since then. Clean, orderly race-ready car with excellent cosmetics. The last F1 GTR built. Unsold on the block at a high bid of $3.3 million and stated by Bonhams, “The McLaren did indeed sell. It was sold within estimate, as Robert stated, and for an undisclosed price.” The price, however, was reported in the financial media as $3,850,000. A rare and powerful automobile and a representative price.Lot # 463 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione Spyder; S/N 15965; Engine # 15685; White, Red/Blue leather; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,400,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,500,000– One-off body by Michelotti on an A/C-equipped Euro Daytona in ’74, entered for Malcher/Langlois at Le Mans ’75 by NART but withdrawn before the start along with entire NART entry in a dispute between Chinetti and the ACO. Also entered/withdrawn by Otto Zipper at Daytona ’78. Restored to street trim by John Mecom, later owned by Pat Ryan, then several European owners and competed in historic events. 470hp race-prepared engine believed to be from 15685. Good cosmetics, repainted in 2008, clean and orderly. Bidding opened at $1 million but didn’t move far enough from that point to separate it from its owner. Sold by Christie’s at Pebble Beach in 2001 for $259,000. Chinetti and Michelotti went to a lot of time, trouble and expense to make a Daytona look like a plastic bumper Corvette. Considering it never actually raced (anywhere significant, at least) when new the reported high bid would seem to have been sufficient to see it find a new home. (photo: Bonhams)Lot # 468 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino; S/N 07914; White/Grey leather, Red Daytona stripes; Estimate $240,000 – $260,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Post-block sale at $225,000 plus commission of 13.33%; Final Price $255,000 – Cromodora Dino wheels, BFG tires, A/C, Alpine CD stereo. US specs, three owners from new. Good (color change from brown) repaint, sound original upholstery, clean engine. Not restored but repainted very well and consistently looked after. Opened at $150k. There were three bidders in the room but closed at $200,000 on the block. Sold later at this price.Lot # 469 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 80745; Engine # 35201; Black/Black leather, Black cloth top; Estimate $180,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $135,000 – Silver steel wheels, hubcaps, Talbot outside mirror. Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Not original engine. Gauges could be better but overall a very good car with a fresh restoration. Originally red, later white and finally this triple black. Opened at $90k. but still couldn’t get the job done against a bogey price of $194,000 which it sold for at Bonhams Greenwich auction in June. Considering its shortcomings (color change, engine change) even in today’s hot Speedster market it’s going to be hard to recoup June’s investment, but today’s high bid was way wide of the mark.Lot # 472 1969 Porsche 911S Coupe; S/N 119300089; White, Dark Red and Blue ‘Martini’/Black cloth; Estimate $70,000 – $80,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $74,750 – Fuchs wheels, fire system, Formuling leather rim steering wheel. Bored out 2-liter engine, 5-speed transaxle, ZF limited slip, roll cage, 930 Turbo brakes. Good paint with minor chips. Fresh and clean inside. Old undercoat and suspension but looks ready to race. Prepared for Monte Shelton with appropriate attention to detail and safety. This is exactly the same miles, 64,485, as were showing when Bonhams offered this car at Scottsdale in January. It didn’t sell there ar a reported high bid of $70,000 and is a sound value at the price it brought today.Lot # 473 1947 Cisitalia Replica 202 SMM Nuvolari Spider; S/N 32; Engine # MM059; Red/Brown leather; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Facsimile restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000 – RHD. Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, dual aeroscreens, skirts. Ripply fiberglass bodywork, old 4-spoke steering wheel, cast aluminum headlight stoneguards. Aged but orderly and presentable. The real thing will set you back the same number bid here, just with another zero after it, but this is a reasonable offer for a fiberglass fake.Lot # 474 1947 Cisitalia Replica 202 SMM Coupe Aerodinamico; S/N EN10219; Red/Red leather; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Facsimile restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $38,000 – Lefthand drive. Wire wheels, fender skirts dual dual choke carbs. Decent paint and fiberglass bodywork. Erratic door fits, crudely made aluminum door and window trim (just like the real thing?) A creditable and usable replica. As they did with the Nuvolari roadster before it the Quail Lodge bidders made a reasonable offer for a pretty fake.Lot # 479 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider ‘Sophia’, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N AR149503083; Engine # AR131541849; Black/Black; Estimate $65,000 – $85,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $63,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $72,450 – Race car since at least 1976, campaigned by Al Leake, Jr. first in SCCA and later in historic events. A serious vintage racer, raced a lot, with seven logbooks to prove it. ‘Sophia’ is well known as a small displacement scourge of West Coast events. With its history and the demonstrated capability of its performance it is a sound buy at this price and a nearly guaranteed shot at turning a competent driver into a good one.Lot # 486 1933 Riley 9hp Lincock Coupe; S/N 47194; Engine # NL47194; Maroon, Cream/Maroon leather; Estimate $35,000 – $55,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 – RHD. Sliding sunroof, silver painted wire wheels, crossflow 1,098cc 4-cylinder, dual (tiny) SU carbs, Rotax headlights and parking lights. Original except for an old repaint flaking off in chunks. Sound upholstery but termites have had their meals and the driver’s seat mountings are destroyed. Doors close fairly well but there’s no telling what else the bugs have devoured. Trunk is full of termite poo. A complete restoration project, but all there. Sold for $17,600 in March at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction, this is a complete and utter restoration project of a car that’s not particularly well known or desirable. The seller got greedy, never a good idea. If there was money anywhere near the reported high bid it should have been grabbed appreciatively.Lot # 489 1969 McLaren M10A Formula 5000; S/N 300-09; Black, polished aluminum /; Estimate $140,000 – $170,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000 – 302 Chevy. Spare car for Sam Posey when new, 2nd at ARRC in 1970, then three wins with Merle Brennan and further success in SCCA Formula A, ultimately restored by Wes McNay and Henry Alexander with its original monocoque. Neat and orderly in sharp, but used, historic racing condition. ‘Close’ and ‘close enough’ are very different terms at the auction. The reported high bid for the M10A probably should have been ‘close enough’ to seal a deal.Lot # 494 1964 Jaguar XKE SI Roadster; S/N 880249; Engine # RA3722-9; Brown/Brown leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $45,000 – $55,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $51,750 – Chrome wire wheels, whitewall tires, Blaupunkt multi-band radio. Barn find, dirty, peeling paint, cracked, torn upholstery. Needs everything. Sold by Bonhams at Greenwich in June for $46,800. Restore or freshen, that’s the question for the new owner of this barn-find XKE. This price makes sense no matter which way the decision falls but maybe the Greenwich buyer had a change of heart when the magnitude of the task became apparent.
I always enjoy reading your commentary, keep up the good work!
Rick – Always check the auction results section first to see if you have any new reports. Best part of the site. Great job and keep them coming – the more the better!!
Your reports are by far and away the best feature of sportscardigest. I eagerly look forward to reading them.
Thanks for the kind words, guys.
It helps keep me at the keyboard finishing up the Monterey reports and getting on with the two recent auctions in Auburn when Jamie Doyle is having fun at Goodwood.
Rick