Bonhams, Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley, California, August 16, 2013
Report and photos (unless noted) by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Quail Lodge (let alone the $29.6 million sale of the Mercedes-Benz W196 at Goodwood in July) is ample evidence that Bonhams has raised its game.
They have declined to exist in the shadow of the blockbuster auctions of RM and Gooding while having H&H and Artcurial nip at their heels in the UK and France.
There is a new generation of specialists at Bonhams — Evan Ide, David Swig, Jacob Greisen, and Eric Minoff — balancing the old hands Mark Osborne, Nick Smith, James Knight, Rupert Banner and their leaders Malcolm Barber and Robert Brooks.
Bonhams discarded the erratic split commission structure of past years (17% of the first $100K, 10% over $100K) for a comprehensible and competitive flat 10%.
Rupert Banner ascended the podium at Quail, intermittently supported by David Swig’s articulate and informed introductions for selected cars. Rupert brought a new dynamic to the block, not least in his occasional insistence that “I’m in charge” and refusal to accept paltry bid increments.
This auction went faster (but it could go faster still to retain its pace) and the results in many cases speak for themselves.
The Bonhams specialists are committed car guys – you only have to talk with Evan Ide about the American Underslung to get that message – and they are on their game.
Bonhams [& Butterfields, as they do business in the States) has a convoluted history arising from Robert Brooks’ defection from Christie’s to form Brooks Auctioneers in the late Eighties. The acquisition of San Francisco-based Butterfields from eBay and the country auctions of Phillips in the UK created a cross-market auction house that lost its motor cars’ focus that even the assimilation of Malcolm Barber’s Sotheby’s team and the Christie’s Motorcar Department didn’t affect.
That loss of motor car focus seems, if Quail is any indication, to have been overcome and Bonhams’ presence as an important player is welcomed back into the panoply of American and international collector car auctions.
Good job, guys.
Let the numbers speak for themselves.
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Bonhams Quail Lodge 2013 – Auction Report
Lot # 104 1929 Packard 640 Custom Eight Roadster; S/N 168397; Engine # 168376; Dark Green, Black fenders, Vermillion accent/Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500 – Rumble seat, luggage rack, dual sidemounts, Red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, spotlight, wind wings, single Pilot-Ray, radiator stone guard. Sparton three-trumpet air horn under hood – Engine oily, with coolant leak corrosion on cylinder head. A quality old restoration with age, use and good if not consistent care. Sound paint, chrome, interior, glass and top. Some thin chrome, particularly on windshield frame. Chassis and engine evidence age and mileage. Doors close smoothly and fit flush. Door and hood edges are nicked from use, but not excessively. Top fits tightly and is only lightly soiled. Upholstery is good. With a little work this will be a great tour car. Not running – Sold by Bonhams from the Richard C. Paine Seal Cove Museum collection in 2008 for $144,500 and apparently untouched since, the seller did well to come this close to breaking even. (photo: Bonhams) Lot # 105 1914 American Underslung Model 644 4-Passenger Touring; S/N DR134479; Grey, Black fenders/Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $550,000 – $700,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $680,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $748,000 – RHD. Nickel trim, Warner speedometer, Phinney Walker clock, folded trumpet bulb horn, wind wings, dual rear mounted cloth covered spares, white tires – Ex-Harrah’s. Well restored there before being sold in the third Harrah’s auction and a 2006 AACA National First Prize winner, then toured. Runs like a train. Has a lovely patina – Bonhams’ specialist Evan Ide was more than effusive about the power, handling and performance of this monster and his enthusiasm must have translated to the bidders. A great old American automobile with a superb old Harrah’s restoration, it is worth every penny of its not inconsiderable price. (photo: Bonhams) Lot # 106 1964 Morgan +4+ Coupe; S/N A5558; Engine # CT23992ME; Dark Blue, Red/Red leather; Estimate $180,000 – $220,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000 – Chrome wire wheels, three Herwins rally timers, Lucas driving lights, Marchal headlights – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored in 2007, very nice two-tone paint with only light surface scratches, good brightwork with some minor discoloration to rear bumper, some visible corrosion on inside of front bumper, excellent wheels, newer radial tires, small amount of wear to driver seat, windshield shows several small chips. Engine uprated to dual Webers and Super Sports 140hp specs. No longer in top concours condition, but still ready to show or rally, a show quality restoration to like new condition with better cosmetics – Rarely seen on the market, although this is the second +4+ to appear at a 2013 auction. Bidding fell short of the example seen in January by more than $50,000. The +4+ is widely regarded as the car that saved the traditional Morgan when its radical redesign was received so poorly that only 26 were built before Morgans realized their established customers were loyal, even fanatical, about preserving the Morgan legacy and returned to the company’s traditional design. A significant piece of Morgan history, but a branch that fell far from the tree, the +4+ has limited appeal and perhaps the only in-market +4+ shopper had already scratched their itch. Lot # 109 1910 Peerless Model 29 Park Phaeton/Victoria, Body by Brewster; S/N 16124; Engine # 5095; Brewster Green, Black patent leather mudguards/Black leather, Beige cloth; Black leather top; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000 – Atwood Peerless acetylene headlamps, Dietz Empire Junior sidelights, Atwood kerosene taillight. Single rear spare, quarter elliptical leaf springs, contracting band rear brakes, platform rear suspension, Peerless bulb horn. Front and rear mudguards appear to be original – Acquired from tobacco heiress Doris Duke by James Melton. Later owned by Dr. Sam Scher and Richard C. Paine, Jr. Dark Green wood spoke wheels. One of only two known to survive, the other is in The Henry Ford, and has been since 1935. A high quality old restoration that shows its age but also the quality of its materials and workmanship by its survival in such exemplary condition. Undated AACA National First Prize plaque on radiator. Pegasus radiator cap. Very unusually shaped headlight housings. Not running – Want to go on a Sunday afternoon excursion through your gardens? This is the car Doris Duke created for just that purpose. It’s had limited use throughout its history and benefits from the attentions of early collectors James Melton and Dr. Sam Scher who between them may be credited with conceiving the concept of ‘restoration’. Still deliciously original, this car was sold by Bonhams from the Paine/Seal Cove Museum collection in 2008 for $469,000, a price much more appropriate to its quality, presentation, originality and history than the paltry sum it brought here. This is a great bargain in a great car and the new owner should be justifiably proud of both the car and the deal. (photo: Bonhams) Lot # 118 1954 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Roadster; S/N BN1L/157169; Engine # 1B213876M; Spruce Green/Green leather; Green leatherette top; Estimate $95,000 – $125,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $92,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,200 – Silver painted wire wheels with Dunlop RS5 blackwall tires, woodrim steering wheel, 3-speed with overdrive – Freshly restored, better than new and superb paint and bodywork – This BN1 Healey is a solid value for the money, a car that is correctly done to exceptionally high standards throughout. It is unlikely that the restoration could be duplicated for the amount paid for it here and it is a car the new owner can be unusually proud to own and drive. Lot # 121 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210003202; Engine # 19898210000164; Light Green, Green hardtop/Red leather; Dark Green cloth top; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000 – Body color wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, two tops, luggage, alloy block, disc brakes, Euro headlights – Thoroughly and accurately restored with strong paint, bright chrome and attractive interior. Handsome underhood but done to quality driver standards – An unusual and attractive color combination that caught the bidders’ attention along with this car’s late specifications and quality restoration. The new owner paid full retail for the 300SL, but also got an exceptional example. Lot # 124 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 09125; Engine # 9125; Metallic Burgundy/Beige leather; Estimate $475,000 – $550,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – Borrani wire wheels, modern radial tires, Blaupunkt AM/FM, A/C, P/W – Excellent trim, panel fit and paint. Beige leather is barely used. Chassis is orderly. The ruby red metallic is an eye-catching shade and compliments the 330’s shape well. A nicely-restored 330 GTC ready for both show field and road – Offered at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction a year ago in essentially the same condition as it is in today, the seller passed on a reported high bid of $365,000. The result today is an extreme example of the breathtaking escalation in values of 330/365 GTCs in the past twelve months. Lot # 125 1925 Locomobile Model 48 Sportif; S/N 19131; Engine # 19139; Olive Green, Black fenders/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – Wooden spoke wheels, blackwall tires, hydraulic lever shocks, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights, rear view mirror, dual windshields, folding footrest, dual rear spares behind luggage shelf, 3/4 elliptical rear leaf springs, folding rear windshield with wind wings and canvas skirts. Accessory “Amoco Vapor Lubricator”, four-note exhaust whistle, 103 hp 525 cubic inch T-head six – Stiff, dry old upholstery and trim. Folding windshield, single vacuum wiper. Dull nickel on windshield. Oily. dirty original chassis. Very complete, solid and returned to running, driving condition recently – Sold by Bonhams from the Richard C. Paine, Jr./Seal Cove Museum collection in 2008 for $161,000 unlike other cars re-offered here the Loco has been brought back to good running and driving condition. It is a monster, with torque like a locomotive and a steady, solid originality that is remarkably appealing. There may be better ways to spend this much money on a car, but it is a challenge to think of them. This is a serious automobile of the highest quality that hasn’t been tempered by the restorer’s touch. Lot # 126 1908 Sharp Arrow Runabout Recreation; Engine # 2108; Ivory, Maroon undercarriage/Maroon leather; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Facsimile restoration, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800 – RHD. Rushmore acetylene headlamps, cowl-mounted Rose searchlight. No acetylene generator, tank or plumbing. 393 cubic inch L-head four, Stromberg carb, Locomobile 3-speed, front semi-elliptical leaf springs, shaft drive, 3/4 elliptical leaf rear springs, dual rear spare tires only, cylindrical bolster tank made of galvanized steel sheet, no fenders – The Sharp brothers were from Trenton and worked with the Roeblings before Mercer was established. This car was most likely built up around a Sharp 393 cubic inch, L-head dual ignition 40 ALAM hp four-cylinder engine. Aged but reasonably sound old restoration. Paint chipped and peeling. Undercarriage shows use and age – Sold by Bonhams from the Richard C. Paine, Jr./Seal Cove Museum collection in 2008 for $183,000 and hasn’t gotten any better with age. The Sharp brothers played an integral part in the Roebling family’s automobile endeavors and this is a rare and significant recognition of their craftsmanship and vision. It isn’t, at least in the present vernacular, ‘real’ but it is real enough when the big four is unleashed and rumbling down the road. This is a modest enough price for a window into early American sports car development. (photo: Bonhams)
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2013 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 130 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 1869GT; Engine # 1869GT; Dark Blue/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,375,000 – Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin X blackwall tires, fog lights, overdrive, factory hardtop – Twice restored. Good recent paint, chrome and interior. Shows some use. Dash and instruments are excellent. Engine number stamping is suspect – Sold by Christie’s at Monterey in 2004 for $282,500 prior to its most recent restoration. That was what a good example was worth nine years ago; this is what it brings today. Lot # 131 1951 Aston Martin DB2 Coupe; S/N LML/50/44; Engine # VB6B/50/1152; Silver, Black stripe/Black leatherette; Estimate $200,000 – $260,000; Original, with non-original appearance items, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $266,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $292,600 – Silver painted wire wheels, quick fill fuel cap, covered headlights, Talbot outside mirrors, later Vantage engine – Decent repaint and interior. Weak trim chrome. Old undercoat in wheel wells. Body customized in Sweden for the third owner, Yngve Eriksson with oval grille, covered headlights, fender vents and a wraparound rear window – Looks less like a DB2 and somewhat like a very tall Ferrari GT. The body modifications (and the later, more powerful, engine) didn’t seem to have much effect on the bidders here who paid a healthy price for it and its unique visage. Lot # 133 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe; S/N DB5/1941/R; Engine # 400/1896; Estimate $650,000 – $750,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000 – Chrome wire wheels, multiband radio, clock, P/W, ZF 5-speed, lefthand drive conversion – Fair paint cracked in the roof gutters and surface rusting behind the windshield grommet. Very clean and orderly engine compartment. Thin window frame chrome, good major chrome. A sound older restoration with limited use but with some troubling details – Passed on the block at a high bid of $520,000 but closed during the sale with this result, a reasonable price for a reasonable car. Lot # 137 1957 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud I 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N LSED351; Engine # SD 400; Green, Beige/Beige; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500. No Reserve – Ex-James Mason car, modern sound system, crystal decanters and glasses, tool kit, owner’s handbook, shop manual, badge bar, fog lights – Paint is chipped and bubbled, poorly prepped touch-ups abound, body panels wavy. Interior much better than exterior with a surprisingly nice headliner. Seats, woodwork, and trim have been replaced at some point. The drinks cabinet is in the front seat, convenient to the driver. In need of a repaint at the least if not a full restoration – Unfortunately, Cloud I Standard Steel Saloons aren’t worth enough to justify a restoration. This price is nothing if not generous for its condition and the $40,000 or so more it might bring if fully restored to 18th Fairway condition is not going to make a dent in the cost of getting it there. Fortunately for the new owner it is usable in its present condition. Lot # 138 1924 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix; S/N 4323; Blue/Black leather; Estimate $1,500,000 – $2,500,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,200,000 – RHD. Alloy wheels, mesh aeroscreen, Marchal headlights, alloy wheels, single sidemount – The first Bugatti Type 35, one of six cars taken by Ettore Bugatti to the 1924 Grand Prix at Lyon. Acquired many years ago by GM designer Henry Haga and restored by him with advice from Hugh Conway and an engine built up from parts. Good, solid old restoration still in very presentable condition and an equally solid history – Neither Type 35 offered at the Monterey auctions found a new owner although this one, with its prototype history, unique features and special ownership history is by far the better buy even at its low estimate. Skeptics will opine, ‘Bugatti buyers are a vanishing breed,’ but one only has to drive one to experience the union of driver and machine that makes these very special automobiles (q.v., my Pur Sang experience at Monterey last year.) It should have brought more, even with the bitsa engine, and found a good new home where it will be appreciated as Hank and Ellie Haga have for a half century. Lot # 140 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Pininfarina/Scaglietti; S/N 14233; Engine # B806; Red/Black, Red leather; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000 – Voxson 8-track stereo, Veglia A/C, P/W, alloy wheels, Silver painted nose panel, pop up lights, original books and tools – Known history from new, 28,652 miles. Decent older repaint. Good lightly creased upholstery. Bubbles in windshield safety glass. Old undercoat in wheel wells. A good, highly original, honest driver quality Daytona that has three FCA Platinum awards to its credit – The buyer of this Daytona may have gotten slightly more car than the money spent for it, but in the end the result is fair to both the buyer and the seller. It’s not too good to drive and enjoy, nor are the miles low enough that a few thousand more should deter the new owner from enjoying it. Lot # 141 1964 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II Roadster Lightweight; S/N HBJ7/64H/57-2; Engine # XSP2157-2; Silver-Blue, White hardtop/Blue; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $320,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $352,000 – RHD. 2,912 cc, 180hp, triple Weber carbs, 6-port aluminum cylinder head, ZF limited slip axle, silver painted wire wheels, rollbar, woodrim steering wheel, carburetor access panel, sliding side windows, quick fill fuel cap, aluminum body panels – Ex-works, 1964 Sebring 12 Hours driven by Paddy Hopkirk and Grant Clark, raced in the Targa Florio in 1966 and 1968 owned by Ted Worswick. Repainted and mechanically attended to as needed since with some historic events to its credit. A little tired but eminently usable and more than presentable enough for a race track paddock. FIA papers – This isn’t your ordinary Big Healey, a lightweight, high performance, works prepared race car that might have embarrassed the GTOs at Sebring in 1964 had Grant Clark (not Jimmy) not put it on its head soon after taking the wheel. Sympathetically maintained since it left the factory’s care it is a delightful combination of period construction, presentation and Healey style and is a sound value at this price. Lot # 142 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N B24S1144; Engine # B241213; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $950,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000 – Chrome wire wheels, SW water temperature gauge under the dash – A quality restoration showing a little age but still nearly show quality with excellent cosmetics. Gauges and dashboard near perfect, horn button showing some wear, hood badge and glovebox knob cracked. Missing shock tower adjustment plugs – A worthy rival to Ferrari and Maserati and the most desirable of all series-built Lancias of the period, the value of the B24S Spider America has climbed precipitously in the last two years or so. A half-million dollar car within recent memory, now it presses inevitably on seven-figures. It may not be ‘right’ but it’s how it is. Lot # 146 1970 Porsche 911S/T Coupe; S/N 9110301014; Engine # 6301386; Green/Black vinyl, cloth; Estimate $450,000 – $650,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $380,000 – Recaro seats, fire system, power sunroof, Fuchs wheels, roll cage, radio – Winner of the Nürburgring 36 hours in 1970. Decent paint, chrome and interior. A well maintained, attractive historic race car – A real Porsche oddity, but one that reflects Porsche’s willingness to tailor features to its clients’ desires and their appreciation of Porsches that could be driven to work during the week and raced on the weekends with reasonable chances of success particularly, as first owner Guenther Buehl preferred, in long distance competition. It is, however, a niche Porsche with limited appeal which may explain why it didn’t find a buyer in Monterey.
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2013 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 149 1949 Delahaye 175S Cabriolet Dandy, Body by Chapron; S/N 815028; Engine # 815028; Light Terra Cotta, Dark Terra Cotta/Terra Cotta leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $450,000 – $600,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $460,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $506,000 – 4-seat convertible, 3-position top, chrome wire wheels, Cotal pre-selector transmission – Restored in 2004, very good (and uncharacteristically subtle) two-tone paint, exceptional brightwork with minor discoloration to tailpipe and scratches on landau irons, unblemished interior that is slightly baggy in a few spots, well-finished bookend veneers on dash and glovebox door, very good gauges, minimal wear to knobs. Very nearly concours ready even a decade after the restoration – 1 of 50 175S models made, 10 of which were LHD like this. Impressively restored and maybe even more impressively maintained in near concours condition for the last decade. It represents very good value for money with its 3 carb engine to provide performance equal to its style. Lot # 151 1953 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster; S/N P2710; Black/Maroon; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,200. No Reserve – Steel wheels, leather seats, dual rear spares, luggage rack, fold-down windshield, flat radiator, driving lights, dip beam light, chrome bumpers, hubcaps, blackwall tires, spotlight – Very good paint with only light surface scratches, brightwork exhibits minor surface corrosion, rear tonneau is taut and unblemished, seats are wrinkled in the right places and show only minor wear, wood dash has a nice satin finish, gauges and knobs in very good condition, pedals look virtually unused. A good medium-distance tour car today, or a detail away from being a presentable show car – It was a clear, sunny day at the Bonhams marquee at Quail Lodge yet somehow a lightning storm snuck in and discharged its bolt of electricity on the consignor of this – very good but not exceptionally gorgeous – Morgan Plus 4. Maybe it was the black/red livery that seemed so perfect for the flat rad’s period shape. The successful bid 1.8 times Bonhams high estimate is startling, but not without parallel in Monterey this week. Lot # 154 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera Competition Coupe; S/N 906-007; Engine # 906-153; White, Red nose panel/Red; Estimate $900,000 – $1,000,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $760,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $836,000 – Prototipo leather rim steering wheel, Talbot fender mirror – First delivered in Australia to Alan Hamilton and converted to open configuration for him with which he won the 1967 Australian Championship. Later sold to Richard Wong Wei Hong in Singapore and then to Teddy Yip in Macau. Restored in Germany in 2003 in its original coupe configuration with an FIA roll structure, fuel cells and new suspension parts. Includes the Australian spyder body, replaced parts and a spare block. Restored like new – A superb historic racer presented in essentially factory-new condition with updated safety features to modern historic racing standards, this is a car that will earn itself a place on any historic racing grid and reward its driver with superb performance and dynamics. It isn’t cheap, but it is all the car for the money. Lot # 160 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 0313 EU; Engine # 0331 EU; Tobacco (Metallic Gray), Eggplant roof/Cream leather; Estimate $2,800,000 – $3,400,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $2,550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,805,000 – Chrome spoke outside laced Borranis, Pirelli blackwall tires, heater, studded woodrim steering wheel, matching suitcase, Ferrari Classiche certified (with new Classiche-cast block) – 1954 New York Auto Show with unique coachwork by Vignale. Convoluted history but finally restored to its as-built configuration with a correct series engine in late 2011. Very good paint, chrome and interior. A quality restoration to like new standards with meticulous attention to details. Eye-candy – The colors of old Ferraris were wonderful examples of Fifties style and it is gratifying to see one returned to the original color scheme after years of being boring red. This is a highly impressive car to begin with and is impressively and accurately restored. It brought a reasonable price that reflects its performance, rarity, singular history and its dramatic visual effect. Lot # 161 1963 Shelby Cobra 260 Roadster; S/N CSX 2034; Red,/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $850,000 – $1,100,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,880,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,068,000. – Silver painted wire wheels, three two-barrel intake manifold from Grappone Ford in Concord, NH — Stan Hallinan’s carefully preserved 260 Cobra showing just 4,700 miles on the odometer and just like he bought it in 1964 from the first owner, James Hall, who squandered his license points on speeding tickets. Nearly miraculously unrestored and pristine with sound cosmetics and age looking like it’s a ten year old car. — The bidding went on, and on, and on, and no one would let go until this result finally wore out the underbidder. There may be another one out there like this, but it’s doubtful, so if you want a 4,700 mile all-original Cobra this is the only ticket to the dance. Huge money. Lot # 163 1958 Lister-Chevrolet Knobbly Sports-Racing Two-Seater; S/N BHL115; Engine # 3731548(see text); White, Blue Stripes/Black; Estimate $1,500,000 – $2,500,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000. – RHD. Full width windscreen, Dunlop centerlock alloy wheels, driver’s head fairing, 283 race prepared Rochester FI engine, 4-speed, top frame, spare tire, side curtains, mufflers, Le Mans 24 Hours headlights — Replacement block filled with the original Chevy Engineering internals of the engine sourced from Momo Corporation and described as a spare for the 1960 Cunningham Le Mans Corvettes. Completely original and unrestored, a fabulous piece of history still bearing, according to Brian Lister in 1992, the marks of the people who built it in 1958. Resurrected from Stan Hallinan’s barn in New Hampshire and just beautiful, if ‘Knobbly’. — This is a somewhat surprising result for a car that will blow D-types into the weeds and is so original and pristine it defies comparison. The new owner should be very proud not only of the car but also of a most advantageous purchase. Lot # 166 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N AR10103171827; Engine # AR0010229591; Red/Black; Black top; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,800. No Reserve – AM-FM, 5-speed – 80,707 miles from new, one owner from 1963 until 2010. Mildly serviced and cosmetically addressed since then. Several small dings down both sides of car, faded paint has plenty of surface scratches and discoloration, brightwork is a mix of untouched and refinished items. Seats and carpets are new and hardly used, several buttons and knobs need replacement. A paint job and a box of new parts away from being show quality, or more than good enough as it is to be a superb driver – A solid little car that’s had the attention it needed to keep it in fit mechanical and cosmetic condition, but this result fully values its originality, preservation and known mileage. Lot # 169 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 7799; Engine # 7799; Yellow/Black; Black top; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000 – Borrani wire wheels, FM radio, continuous ownership history, former Brussels Motor Show car – Recently restored, very good paint with minimal surface scratches, exceptional brightwork, good rubber, very clean wheels, new tires, leather upholstery unblemished, wood highly finished, engine bay is very tidy and components look correct. Ready for the show field or for high-level driving events – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2001 for $137,500 with 85,238 km on its odometer. It now displays 40,569 miles (65,269 km), something of a conundrum for figuring out how it’s been treated. The restoration is high quality, however, and it was only cosmetically restored (in the same colors) twelve years ago. This is a reasonable result for a quality car in very good condition. Lot # 170 1959 AC Ace Bristol Roadster; S/N BEX1090; Engine # 100D21000; Dark Blue/Black; Black top; Estimate $290,000 – $340,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000 – Chrome wire wheels, overdrive, heater, oil cooler, competition-style seat belts, tribar headlights, later 100D2 Bristol engine – Excellent paint with minimal surface scratching, unblemished brightwork, near-perfect rubber, flawless wheels, new tires, immaculate interior with no obvious flaws. Simply gorgeous, and one of the best extant – RM Auctions sold this car in Arizona in 2011 for $217,250 so it is no surprise that it brought a bit more today, especially in its better than new and accurately restored condition. The catalog describes it as being driven 4,000 miles since the restoration, including the 2009 Colorado Grand, use that is all but invisible on the car as presented here.
Bonhams Quail Lodge 2013 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 173 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 674111; Engine # W 9122-8; White/Red; Tan top; Estimate $75,000 – $95,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $76,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $83,600 – Painted wire wheels, blackwall tires, driving lights, original tool roll, guarantee statement, purchase paperwork – Original owner for 60 years, cosmetically redone in the 90’s. Paint is discolored and showing cracks and touch-ups, brightwork is tired and discolored, interior worn and wrinkled but not stained or torn, dashboard and steering wheel in very good shape, very complete. A presentable driver or below-average JCNA show car, but one with a great story – This would be just a car except for the ownership history by 102 year-old Fred Mack, which is appropriately reflected in its result here. Lot # 176 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500183; Engine # 1989805500184; Anthracite Grey Metallic/Grey, Green plaid; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000 – Polished rim, body color center wheels, hinged steering wheel – Restored in 2005 and well maintained since. Above average repaint in non-original color with only small surface scratches, straight body, very good brightwork, interior barely worn, controls and gauges sound. Crisp, sharp engine compartment. Minor cosmetic flaws reflect enthusiastic post-restoration touring, including two stints on the California Mille. A quality restoration that is wearing very well – In most cases the change from the original Strawberry Metallic to any other color would be a resale value mistake but the present Anthracite Grey Metallic is entirely appropriate and makes a visual statement of the Gullwing’s lines. It had that effect on Bonhams auction ramp during the preview and carried through with this result in Friday’s auction. Gullwings are expensive, but that’s just how it is. Lot # 178 1956 Citroen 2CV 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 312695; Grey/Blue, Yellow plaid cloth; Grey cloth top; Estimate $12,000 – $18,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900. No Reserve – Roll-back roof, steel wheels – Very good paint overall with some small chips up front, very tidy interior with many new components (including seat cushion), paint loss on accelerator and seat frames, door panels slightly discolored and fading, windshield and windows near perfect, top in good condition. Not concours, but far better than most 2CVs – Maybe the cutest car in Bonhams sale and quite modestly valued by the bidders. Lot # 179 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 1120126; Engine # 1120126; Red/Black; Estimate $600,000 – $750,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $760,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $836,000 – Periscopica model, Campagnolo wheels – 3 owners from new, 53,286 km. Good panel fit and paint, freshly restored wheels, new tires. Interior is very tidy with clean, only slightly wrinkled seats and a slightly dusty dashboard. Repainted in 2001, engine refurbished in 2007. Ready to show – The Countach was radical when new, but as this LP400 illustrates the original Marcello Gandini-designed Countach was a much more pure and pleasing thing that the be-winged and spoilered thing that it became in later versions. This is an unusually pure example, as well, and it set a benchmark price. Lot # 180 1910 Mercedes 45hp 4-Seat Tourabout; S/N 7686; Engine # 10288; Beige, Maroon undercarriage/Maroon leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000 – RHD. Best. 765, Comm 6893, Mot 10288, Wag 7686. Gerhardt kerosene bullseye headlamps, sidelamps and taillight, dual rear spares, blackwall tires, trumpet horn. Leather covered top supports – An ex-Dr. Samuel L. Scher car from the Richard C. Paine, Jr./Seal Cove Museum collection. Restored long ago, probably by Gus Reuter for Dr. Scher. A very high quality old restoration that shows some age but little use. Very good paint, upholstery, wood and brass. Faded but sound top. Double chain drive, expanding shoe rear wheel drum brakes. Crankcase stamped 764 MN 20 Front cylinder block “Mercedes Simplex 10288”. Engine remarkably clean and fresh, little oil film and leaks. Not fresh, but choice and represented as mechanically sound although not driven recently – If you’re not familiar with Dr. Sam Scher, he was New York’s leading plastic surgeon in the 40’s and 50’s. His approach to auto restorations was, if anything, similar to his approach to surgery, but he also bought and provided to aspiring race drivers some of the best cars of the early postwar era. Car collecting wouldn’t be the same experience it is today without the trail blazed by Gus Reuter with Dr. Scher’s support, or Richard Paine’s preservation of Dr. Scher’s collection. This magnificent Mercedes was sold by Bonhams from the Paine/Seal Cove Museum collection in 2008 for $887,000. It is a marvelous car, fully deserving the seven-figure price it brought here. (photo: Bonhams) Lot # 182 1959 Jaguar XK 150S Roadster; S/N T831474DN; Engine # VS1456-9; Old English White/Biscuit leather; Estimate $160,000 – $190,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – Chrome wire wheels, non-original 5-speed transmission, period Lucas J headlights, fender mirrors, Lucas driving lights – Average paint showing wear at base of top, very clean undercarriage, brightwork lightly scratched and inconsistent in quality, rear Le Mans badge poorly restored. Interior is discolored and worn, cracked steering wheel, horn button delaminating, fit issues to passenger side of dashboard. Restored for recreational use, presentable and usable tour car condition – This is a magnanimous price for a 3.4 liter XK 150S with this many shortcomings. Lot # 187 1952 Frazer-Nash Le Mans Replica Mk II Roadster; S/N 421/200/174; Engine # BS1/116; Red/Red; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $910,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,001,000 – RHD. Bristol engine, cycle fenders, side-mounted spare tire, factory steel wheels, side exhaust, wind screen, 1952 Sebring veteran, 1952 Earls Court show car – Owned and occasionally raced for many years by George Waltman, from whose estate it is offered. Raced at Sebring in 1953 by the first owner, Duke Donaldson. Engine relocated 6 inches to the rear in the 50’s or early 60’s. In original and as-found/as-raced condition. Faded and chipped paint, dented bodywork, each panel shows a slightly different shade. Old tires need replacement, seats cracked and torn, some gauges appear to be replaced. Complete but tired, and with varying degrees of patination calling preservation use into question – As the parade of Frazer-Nash fans coming by to pay their respects to Waltman’s legendary Le Mans Replica demonstrated, this is a legendary car, but the breathtaking price it brought may be even more legendary. It is, however, eligible for just about any significant event, possibly even the Monaco GP Historique (the GP was run for sports cars in 1952). At this price the new owner has a large financial inducement to get as much psychic income out of it as possible. Lot # 189 1972 Lancia Stratos Stradale Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 829ARO001941; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000 – Aftermarket shift knob, alloy wheels – Stored in a shipping container on the consignor’s Santa Barbara ranch since 1998 and in need of a full recommissioning. Paint faded and bubbling, dings abound, interior equally rough with stained door panels and worn seats, steering wheel well used. Cracked tire sidewalls. Complete but in need of a full restoration – It is going to take a complete teardown and rebuild to return this Stratos to usable condition, so ‘while you’re at it’ why not give the cosmetics the attention they cry out for. This is not a preservation car. At this price the new owner can afford to give the car its due. Lot # 192 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; Engine # 0792086F54YG; Polo White/Sportsman Red; Black top; Estimate $60,000 – $90,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – Identified by its engine number, no chassis number given. Radio, spinner wheel covers, siamesed air filters, unrestored aftermarket hardtop – Brightwork scratched and corroded, one hubcap badly scraped, three hubcaps missing paint, grille showing rust and pitting, interior is fairly tidy, speedometer lens fractured. Paint and panel fit is less than ideal but up to driver standards. Given a quick cosmetic re-do with little attention to details, this is a driver, and not a terribly attractive one at that – The seller should be very happy with this result. It would have been a better value at $56,000 than $66,000.
[Source: Rick Carey]
Roger sent this inquiry to the SCD mailbox: I’ve just enjoyed your latest weekly update. The photos and reporting are excellent. Any reason the headline car from the Bonhams Quail Auction this year was not reported on? It was their top sale lot and significantly contributed to their huge improvement from 2012 total sale results.
The answer gets to the challenges in covering auctions, particularly five auctions over 11 sessions in a 4-day span. In the case of Bonhams’ sale of Lot 152, the 1931 Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Supercharged LeMans tourer s/n MS3944 for $4,225,000 hammer, $4,647,500 with commission the answer simply is that every time I headed over to write it up, so did prospective buyers. They surrounded the car and it seemed like most of the time were driven off on a test drive. I never got the chance to make appropriate observations and take notes. It was probably the most demonstrated car in the sale (and seemed to run extremely well.)
However, not having had the chance to get a close look at it long enough to take appropriate notes I chose not to include it in the narrative report.