Bonhams ‘Preserving the Automobile’ Auction, Simeone Museum, Philadelphia, PA, October 8, 2012
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Bonhams tried something new and different in Philadelphia, a sale dedicated to cars needing work. Some were old restorations, but most were in varying stages of barn-find-ness. There was a lot of rust, must, dirt and grime, but also a lot to like.
It was like walking into the Puppy Pound and being surrounded by a pack of appealing little dogs, all begging to be taken home, loved and lavished with attention and all the care they’d been denied while they were homeless.
Then they held it in Dr. Fred Simeone’s racing car museum near the Philadelphia airport. The Simeone Foundation’s collection is amazing, a selection of the very best historic road racing cars. Mostly winners of important races or podium finishers, any collector in the world (and particularly those of an Alfa Romeoic persuasion) would be overjoyed to own any car in the Foundation’s collection.
Fitting the ‘Preservation’ theme of Bonhams auction, the Simeone Foundation has beautifully restored cars but also tired, rough survivors – like the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX 2287 – that demonstrated the range of possibilities open for the forlorn puppies on the auction floor.
Finally, scheduling the sale on the Monday of Hershey week put it conveniently on the calendars of collectors from all over the world who were making the trip to Pennsylvania anyway. A vast assortment of automobilia helped bring Hershey’s field crawlers for an early exposure to the quest for iron.
The appeal of barn finds is similar to that of abandoned puppies. They just have so much potential. Collectors’ minds eyes see completed shiny projects gleaming on show fields before swarms of envious spectators and approving judges. The cars wag their rusty fenders, seeking to show how much love and affection they’ll return.
Or something … Anyway, Bonhams made a success of the sale, getting solid prices for most of the cars and phenomenal prices for a few (the Citroen Sahara for example.) There were three London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run eligible lots.
80.7% of the lots offered changed hands. 20% were sold for hammer bids over the high estimate and the total sale was $2,576,695 (excluding parts and memorabilia.) That should be more than sufficiently successful for Bonhams to reprise the venue and theme in 2013.
Preservation class cars and attractive restoration projects are very much in the minds of collectors these days and the attraction of a Preservation themed auction is that it focuses the attention of collectors looking for a project to adopt, particularly in the days before the preservation- and restoration-focused AACA Fall Hershey meet.
Projects like many of those presented by Bonhams in Philadelphia attract premium prices that are sometimes disconnected from the costs inherent in making them run and drive much less restoring them. That was evident in some of the transaction values reached here, but economics are not what’s behind their acquisition.
They are so lovable.
Bonhams Simeone Museum 2012 – Auction Report
Lot # 402 1922 Dodge First Series Roadster; S/N 693490; Engine # 751957; Burgundy/Black vinyl; Black leatherette top; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $12,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $14,375 — Varnished wood spoke 32 inch wheels, blackwall tires, rear-mounted spare. Decent older cosmetic restoration with good paint, nickel, upholstery and top. Chassis painted assembled, instruments are clean but not restored. A sound and presentable driver. No Reserve. Nothing to be very proud of, but a usable alternative to a comparable Ford Model T at a reasonable price.Lot # 403 1913 Hupmobile Model 32 Roadster; S/N H37154; Engine # 36720; Ivory, Black fenders/Blue leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $32,200 — RHD. C.M. Hall nickel acetylene headlights, Hupmobile kerosene sidelights, Prest-o-lite tank, dual kerosene taillights, bulb horn, Klaxon, Stewart speedometer. Dull old paint, grimy chassis and engine, sound, usable old upholstery. No Reserve. This is a prime example of a complete and easily restorable barn find car, and an unusual one at that with 32 ALAM horsepower and lightweight bodywork. It should be a fine tour car when it’s had some fairly simple attention, doesn’t really need much cosmetic attention and is a sound value at this price.Lot # 405 1929 Essex Challenger Phaeton; S/N 1126406; Antler Tan, Black fenders, Woodlawn Green accent/Saddle leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $26,450 — Varnished wood spoke wheels, blackwall tires, wind wings, rear-mounted spare. 1981 AACA Senior award, still with good paint, chrome, interior and top. Shows a little touring use and age but has survived remarkably well and is represented as freshly mechanically sorted. No Reserve. This is way more car than a Model A, but bought for Model A money. Its 30-year old restoration has held up extremely well and should be good for many more years. It is a good value even at this mid-estimate price.Lot # 406 1903 Knox Model C 8hp Runabout; S/N 177; Varnished wood, Black fenders/Black leatherette; Black leatherette surrey top; Estimate $75,000 – $125,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $69,000 — Lefthand tiller steering, varnished wood spoke wheels, whitewall tires, kerosene sidelights, no taillight. Stanhope-style body with a folding seat in front of the driver. Restored long ago and re-varnished since. Right rear fender and bracket are unpainted. Chassis and engine have been done but long ago to the standards of the time. Comes with several photos and newspaper articles from the Twenties that authenticate its current configuration and add flavor to its history. A handsome and usable old car that should be Brighton eligible in a heartbeat and brought representative Brighton-eligible money consistent with its condition.Lot # 409 1915 Packard 3-38 Gentleman’s Roadster; S/N 76440; Dark Blue, Black fenders/Black leather; Black leather top; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 12.56%; Final Price $219,500 — Single rumble seat, rear-mounted spares, electric Klaxon horn, yellow wood spoke wheels, leather-covered rear deck. Sound old repaint, torn original upholstery, good top but tattered liner. Orderly engine looks original. Way too good to restore, as shown by its ‘Worn but not Forgotten’ award at The Elegance at Hershey earlier this year. Undoubtedly one of the stars of this auction full of well-preserved old automobiles, this Packard is just wonderful. It brought a reasonable price for its condition, but it’s more car than the money for the right buyer.Lot # 412 1913 Woods Mobilette Tandem Roadster; S/N 404; Green, Black fenders/Black; Beige cloth top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $48,300 — 4-cylinder, 12hp Sterling engine, 2-speed sliding gear transmission, center-mounted steering wheel, silver wire wheels, blackwall tires, single cowl-mounted King of the Road acetylene headlight, Neverout kerosene sidelights, Stewart oogah horn. Sound paint, top and interior but showing age and use throughout and plenty of oil and road grime on the chassis. This cute little Woods had a steady stream of informed onlookers commenting on it. No Reserve. The rarity of this Woods Mobilette and its charm more than explain why its result is so far askew from the estimate. Estimated reasonably in the absence of comparable sales, it got caught in the bidders’ enthusiasm and brought a definitely heroic price.Lot # 413 1904 Buckmobile 15hp Twin Runabout; S/N 244; Varnished wood, Black fenders and hood/Black vinyl; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $46,000 — RHD. Two cylinder engine, wheel steering, flat rear deck, one kerosene sidelight, wood spoke wheels, black tires. Redone long ago and usable as is but not very presentable except in the Brighton paddock if it makes it. Interesting suspension with a single semi-elliptical leaf spring on each side carrying and locating the axles damped by flat wooden planks riding on the axles: wooden shock absorbers. Practical buckboard-style body. No Reserve. Not guaranteed to be a 1904 but since Buckmobile merged with Black Diamond Automobile in October of 1904 it’s a pretty good bet. It has a big 2-cylinder engine that should make it a great ride on a cold November morning in London-to-Brighton and is a good value at this price.Lot # 418 1965 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304210008613; Red/Ivory leather; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $15,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $17,250 — Becker Grand Prix multiband radio, manual transmission, hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall tires, Euro headlights, soft top and pagoda hardtop, rear jump seat. Poor old repaint with visible sanding marks, dull trim chrome, torn driver’s seat cushion. Moth-eaten carpets. Needs a lot. A very ordinary 230SL that had not led an easy life. There is a difference between a barn find survivor and a beat-up, neglected old car. This is the latter and this is all it’s worth.Lot # 423 1948 Case VAC Farm Tractor; S/N VAC5262266; Orange/Orange; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $5,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $6,325 — Overhead valve 4-cylinder, power takeoff, row-crop tricycle layout. Dull repaint without disassembly. Fairly clean and serviceable. No Reserve. Deeres and Farmalls bring the most money among farm tractor collectors but this is still a very good price for a surprisingly good old Case. It is unexceptional among tractors, for which a good dousing with a steam cleaner, spray in something close to the original color and a few new decals is called ‘restoration.’
Bonhams Simeone Museum 2012 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 424 1918 Hahn 3/4-ton Flatbed; S/N ; Engine # 501; Grey, Black fenders and hood/None; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Incomplete restoration, 4- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $7,000 — RHD. Continental 4-cylinder, rear axle mounted transmission. Believed to be a Hahn based on its configuration and components, although there is no identification found on it. A crude start at a cosmetic restoration. Metal is rust pitted and quickly repainted. Wood body and bed are equally crudely painted over minimal prep. Chassis and frame minimally redone. Radiator and headlights quickly brush painted gold to give a brass-like appearance from thirty feet. There was no visible interest in this crude truck, even at the reported high bid.Lot # 427 1932 Chrysler CM Roadster; S/N 6528008; Engine # CM17694; Light Grey, Burgundy fenders and accent/Burgundy leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $37,500 – $45,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $43,700 — Red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, metal trunk, rumble seat, wind wings, Depress Beam headlights, later overdrive unit. A quality older restoration that still has good paint, chrome and interior. Chassis and underbody are used and dirty but will be better when properly detailed. One of the better older restored vehicles at Bonhams ‘Preserving’ sale and a car no one would be ashamed to tour with plus looking very sporty with Chrysler’s attractive bodywork. It brought a price fair to both the buyer and the seller.Lot # 429 1928 Packard 443 Custom Eight 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 230946; Engine # 230981A; Blue metallic, Red accent/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Post-block sale at $30,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $34,500 — Disc wheels, dual sidemounts, Packard MotoMeter, Hudson Super Six drum headlights, spotlight, leather covered trunk on rack, jump seats. Quick old repaint and reupholstered seats, original interior trim panels. Dusty and dirty but sound and all there in all important respects. A straightforward restoration project. This was one of the most intriguing of the barn-find vehicles at Bonhams ‘Preserving’ auction, a complete car and a handsome, sporting, open Packard in the process. It is a sound and complete basis for a restoration which will be reasonably undertaken on the basis of the price it brought here.Lot # 431 1929 Pierce-Arrow Model 125 Dual Cowl Phaeton; S/N 2005467; Light Grey, Dark Blue fenders and accent/Brown; Black cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $62,000 — Trippe lights, dual sidemounts, Dawley headlights, dual folding windshields, metal luggage trunk. Surface rusted everywhere but the panels are sound. Interior materials are junk but all the frames and hardware are there as well as the top and frame. Brought to the auction by Wayne Carini who decided its potential was greater than the bid it brought. It’s always a risk to argue with Wayne, but in this case it is most definitely arguable that it could have been sold with minimal regret at the reported bid or anything close to it.Lot # 433 1932 Aston Martin 1 1/2 Liter LeMans 2/4 Seater, Body by Bertelli; S/N G2/213; Engine # G2/213; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 12.70%; Final Price $208,500 — RHD. 1,492cc 70hp sohc four, short 102 inch wheelbase, cycle fenders, single rear spare, folding windshield, complete top mechanism. Body steel and wood framing appear to be sound, pretty much everything else of the coachwork and interior are gone but most of the instruments are still there. First owned by British movie producer Basil Dean, untouched since its acquisition by Nathan Clark in 1972 and very much the worse for its neglect. Mille Miglia eligible even under the current criteria. Nathan Clark Estate. Opened at $100k and for sale at that bid. Two phone bidders from $145K to this rather ambitious price. It is going to be fabulously expensive restore this Aston. Running, driving 1 1/2 Liter Internationals cost what was paid here for this pile of rust and grime and while the Le Mans bodywork and specification are much more desirable the new owner has taken no small risk in paying this price.Lot # 434 1929 Packard 640 Rumble Seat Coupe; S/N 175909; Blue, Black fenders/Brown cloth; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $20,700 — RHD. Disc wheels. Rear fenders missing. Originally delivered to New Zealand, formerly a pickup truck. Original but beyond preservation and needs everything. No Reserve. Nathan Clark Estate. And, when it’s done, it’s still a rumble seat coupe, a very expensive rumble seat coupe.Lot # 435 1931 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A Faux Cabriolet, Body by Lancefield; S/N 1677; Engine # 1677; Ivory; Black leatherette roof/Brown leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 13.03%; Final Price $186,500 — RHD. Body color wire wheels, dual sidemounts. Dull old repaint, worn, torn upholstery, greasy, dirty engine. Sound coachwork but the rear wheels are 6 inches or more inside the fender lips and the sidemounts fit tall and far above the front fenders giving the impression of a body built for a larger chassis that was expediently adapted to the Isotta. Stored in a New London, Connecticut garage in plain sight behind a glass storefront since 1976. Nathan Clark Estate. The auction’s cover car, for sale at $150K. It’s hard to credit this Isotta-Fraschini too heavily for although it has a largely continuous history the coachwork doesn’t work and the engine has stories (of a thrown rod that left it in storage for some twenty years.) Mr. Clark (the inventor of the eponymous Desert Boots), however, has a colorful history and its association with him adds to its character, if not its style. The price it brought is all that could have been expected, and a bit more for Clark’s aura.Lot # 437 1941 Lincoln Continental Club Coupe; S/N H115120; Black/Black leather, Grey cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $48,000 — Wood spoke and rim Continental style steering wheel, radio, skirts, chrome air horns on left front fender, Unity fog lights. Described as belonging to an Oregon timber baron but without further details. Good paint with some cracks at stress points. Good interior, dashboard, instruments and chrome. Presentable and very usable as it is. The steering wheel is a work of the wood craftsman’s art but that’s not enough fully to offset the chrome horns or to make it reasonable to decline the reported high bid.Lot # 438 1917 Simplex Crane Model 5 Dual Cowl Victoria Phaeton, Body by Farnham and Nelson; S/N 2333; Burgundy/Black leather; Beige cloth cape top; Estimate $225,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 12.70%; Final Price $208,500 — Tilt Ray headlights, tubular front shocks, mother-in-law seat on left running board, leather covered tool boxes on both running boards, dual sidemounts, wind wings, dual windshields. Repainted long ago and cleaned up. Tattered original interior. Orderly but original underhood. Originally owned by the Whitney family in Boston, acquired from them by Cameron Bailey in 1937 and used in early VMCCA events. 1946 Glidden Tour participant. Later owned by Bob Valpey. Carefully preserved all these years in its original configuration and fully equipped. Sound, runs and drives well and usable as is. Gooding sold a similar car (s/n 2445) in not much better and equally original condition from Otis Chandler’s collection in 2006 for $308,000 leaving the acquirer of this marvelous piece of machinery about a Hundred Large to spend on detailing and upholstery without taking advantage of a whit of appreciation or inflation. That is a very good economic decision and a marvelous automobile bought for a highly reasonable price.
Bonhams Simeone Museum 2012 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 439 1960 MG A 1600 Roadster; S/N GHNL/73395; Engine # 16GA/U/4662; Light Grey/Red leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $10,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $12,075 — Radio. Dull, partially primer paint, aged chrome, bodged old right sill repair, rotten left sill. Needs paint, chrome, upholstery and a top but the engine and chassis are reasonably orderly. straightforward, if not inexpensive, cosmetic restoration project. No Reserve. Offered at Bonhams Fairfield Concours auction a year ago with a slightly higher estimate and sold here today for all the money it could possibly bring. It’s worth $40-45,000 done to the nines but ‘nines’ will take all of that $30,000.Lot # 440 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 16221; Red/Tan leather, Black stripes; Estimate $340,000 – $380,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $320,000 plus commission of 11.56%; Final Price $357,000 — Veglia A/C, Becker Mexico cassette, P/W, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, 215/70VR15 Michelin XWX tires, Marelli ignition modules. A/C compressor belt missing. Rebuilt engine. Shrunken, cracked paint, sound but aged upholstery. Orderly and clean underhood. A tidy, original car that needs a repaint. Comes with manuals, pouch and original MSO. This is enough to buy a good restored Daytona. Is the originality worth the premium? The bidders here thought so but that should be offset and more by all the things other than the engine that will need rebuilding at great cost (and the ever-lurking ‘while it’s apart’ litany of further work) before it is reliably enjoyable to use. It is expensive at this price.Lot # 441 1962 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N BC91CZ; Engine # P4583; Claret/Parchment leather; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000 — RHD. Automatic, Radiomobile multiband radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, fender mirrors, folding full length sunroof, individual front seats with console, fog lights. Originally owned by the High Sheriff of Devon (apparently a highly lucrative profession.) Shrunken, cracked, touched up old repaint. Sound original interior. Sound but old chrome. A sound old car, but neglected and sure to have a laundry list of work that needs to be done. Fred Kanter Collection. The bidders were astute to be very reticent about paying up for this Bentley, even with its desirable Flying Spur coachwork and Continental chassis. The purchase price is only the beginning of a long and expensive process.Lot # 442 1960 Facel Vega Excellence 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N B068; Purple/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 13.57%; Final Price $159,000 — 383 Chrysler, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, steel wheels, spinner hubcaps, AM-FM. A late EX1 series Excellence with EX2 styling elements (curved windshield with door vent windows, dainty fins, later chassis frame, four wheel disc brakes.) First owned by Herve Alfand, French Ambassador to the U.S. Odometer shows 58,567 believable miles. Crummy old repaint, sound but aged and creased original interior. Dented sill trim, scuffed chrome. Filthy old engine. Body looks sound, but the doors don’t work well. Fred Kanter Collection. A way cool, fast, swoopy sedan with undeniable presence but also incredibly expensive to make into something that actually runs, drives and is presentable even with all its hand made French bits and trim on it. Preservation is one thing. Making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear is another. Blissfully, ecstatically expensive to own, and ecstatically expensive to acquire. It better be on its way back to France where some smart tax accountant can figure out a way to classify it a National Treasure and pay for its resuscitation out of Francois Hollande’s new taxes.Lot # 443 1957 Lincoln Continental Mark II Coupe; S/N C56N3500; Black/White, Burgundy leather; Estimate $28,000 – $36,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $33,350 — A/C. 55,089 miles. Repainted long ago, otherwise original and sound with some recent work to the brakes, exhaust, engine and transmission. Fred Kanter Collection. Continental Mark IIs are fabulously expensive to restore, which makes a sound, complete and well maintained original car like this an unusually good fine. It’s still one of the most attractive automobiles built in America in the Fifties and still exudes luxury and exclusivity. An instant eye-catcher bought at a reasonable price.Lot # 444 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 15199; Engine # 15199; Rosso Rubino/Black leather; Estimate $115,000 – $135,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000 — Blaupunkt cassette, A/C, P/W, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, P215/70HRI5 -Goodyear tires, Delta Mark Ten ignition modules, dead hood struts. 63,858 miles. Reportedly had a ‘major service some 10,000 miles ago’ and more recent brake work. Mediocre old repaint, good original interior showing age and use, decent chrome trim. Orderly but aged and used underhood. A decent used car. The seller should have taken the money. C/4s have recorded some exceptional prices recently, but this C/4 needs a lot to be comparable with them.Lot # 445 1970 Jaguar XKE SII Fixed Head Coupe; S/N P1R27810; Engine # 7R11029-9; Dark Red/Black leather; Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Post-block sale at $13,043 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $14,999 — 4-speed, AM-FM, chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls. Bad old paint, worse chrome, usable original interior. Has a lot of needs for a Series II coupe. Bid to $13,000 on the block, closed later at this all-in result (which actually is $15,000 but doesn’t work when the hammer bid is rounded to the nearest dollar), a handsome but not unreasonable price for a Series II coupe with issues.Lot # 446 1940 Lincoln-Zephyr 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N H90331; Engine # 06H733577; Dark Blue/Beige cloth; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $25,300 — Skirts, no radio, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, overdrive. A presentable old cosmetic restoration with poorly masked but good paint, good interior and chrome done by Hibernia. Recently recommissioned for the road. Eugene Beardslee Estate. Hibernia obviously did the work on this Lincoln-Zephyr to a price, not to concours standards and the car’s condition is reflected in the price it brought.Lot # 447 1948 Lincoln Continental Club Coupe; S/N 876H574857; Engine # 831; Black/Black leather, Grey cloth; Estimate $20,000 – $24,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $26,450 — Radio, skirts, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, P/W. Good older restoration by Hibernia to like new. Good paint, chrome and interior. Recently recommissioned. Eugene Beardslee Estate. Well done and reasonably well maintained, which accounts for the good price it brought.Lot # 450 1930 Ford Model A Station Wagon; S/N ; Engine # A2885703; Sand, Black fenders/Black leatherette; Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $25,875 — Single sidemount, 3-row seating, black wire wheels, snap on beige cloth side curtains, quail radiator mascot. Good paint, wood, varnish, interior and chrome. An attractive older restoration that has been used but has had very good care taken of it. Eminently usable and presentable. Proceeds to the St. Nicholas Fund. No Reserve. Not fresh, but could easily be made fresher with assiduous detailing and at that it is a good value at this price.
Bonhams Simeone Museum 2012 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 451 1927 Buick Master Six Opera Coupe; S/N 1861169; Engine # 1930891; Blue, Black fenders/Blue Mohair; Estimate $5,000 – $10,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,800 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $5,520 — Single rear-mounted spare, windshield visor. A good, sound, complete Buick with one repaint and retrim in the original colors but otherwise has never been apart. No Reserve. Cheap. Even within the estimate range this sound old Buick would be a good value. At this sub-estimate price it’s cheap.Lot # 453 1932 Auburn 8-98 Brougham; S/N 8-98-24760B; Engine # GU59819; Black; Grey cloth roof/Brown Mohair; Estimate $17,500 – $22,500; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $27,600 — Wood spoke 17 inch wheels, heater, rear-mounted spare. Dirty, dusty but not rusty. As parked twenty years ago and unmolested since. Most collectors are accustomed (inured?) to seeing open Auburns but the vast majority were closed cars like this Brougham. Cleaned up and mechanically refreshed (the engine turns over but wouldn’t start) it will make an unusual statement at the ACD Festival and be appreciated as the representative of the bulk of Auburn production in this period. It brought a reasonable price and the new owner should be proud of it.Lot # 455 1902 Stanley Type A Spindle Seat Runabout; S/N 146; Engine # 219; Black, Red chassis and accent/Black leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $62,000 — Righthand tiller steering, cycle fenders, Rushmore acetylene front seatback mounted swivel spotlight, Neverout kerosene sidelights, wicker basket in front seat with another on a rack at the rear. Known, four owner, history from new, the 8th oldest known Stanley. Original throughout including the body numbers stamped in the wood. Restored to museum display standards long ago and will need extensive attention by steam specialists before it can be driven. Seat cushion looks like it was painted black and should be preserved off the car with a new cushion made for use. Brighton eligible in a heartbeat, a bid close to that reported here should buy the car even with the work it needs to get up operating pressure in its boiler.Lot # 456 1965 Citroen Sahara 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 0688; Grey/Green plaid; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 14.00%; Final Price $142,500 — Owned by the duPont family since new. All original, dusty, with some minor surface rust. Grimy engines. Front engine has been out and had some work done. Rear engine is nearly pristine under layers of grime. New York Auto Show car with exactly 6,700 miles from new. duPont family. No Reserve. Opened on a left bid at $35,000 that was still in at $120k, this was without doubt the car that had the most interest in Bonhams ‘Preserving’ auction. Not even the Isotta-Fraschini, Aston Martin, Ferrari Daytona or Packard 3-38, not even the Woods Mobilette, endured more peeking, peering, poking and door opening than this Sahara. It all works, just like a great barn-find should, and looks perfect for a quick run through the South Jersey Pine Barrens. Its price is a revelation and should see Sahara flooding the auctions for the next year.Lot # 458 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Shooting Brake; S/N 3BU114; Engine # Z58C; Primer/Dark Green leather; Estimate $35,000 – $50,000; Incomplete restoration, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $28,750 — RHD. Engine done, upholstery done. Body incomplete. Chassis not touched. Boxes of parts fill the body, and no telling what’s there and what’s missing. “Project” hardly is adequate to describe this. Includes the back half of a stripped body from a PIII Sedan, probably the salvageable panels after the original car was burned out. No Reserve. Robert D. Shaffner Estate. Oh, what a project this is, like a jigsaw puzzle without the box for reference. It will be an imposing vehicle when it’s done, though the fact its body will be entirely a reproduction won’t commend itself to Rolls-Royce history.Lot # 461 1949 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible; S/N 7410960; Engine # C4627400; Brown/Burgundy leather; Brown leatherette top; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unrestored original, 5- condition; Hammered Sold at $8,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $9,200 — Fluid Drive. Incomplete, rotten wood, tattered upholstery. The garage where this T&C was tucked away seems to have had a persistent leak right over the car’s left rear quarter and the wood and metal there is thoroughly rotten. It needs more than everything. No Reserve. The buyer of this project is brave.Lot # 462 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Cabriolet, Body by Park Ward; S/N 3DL118; Engine # Z28E; Grey, Dark Grey fenders and accent/Burgundy leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $82,800 — RHD. Radio, heater, rollup division, rear clock, black wire wheels, dual sidemounts with wheel discs, driving lights with mesh stone guards, fender mirrors, trafficators. First owned by Peter Beatty, Admiral Earl Beatty’s son and son-in-law of Marshall Field. Nearly continuous history, original coachwork. Mediocre old repaint and retrim, otherwise sound, complete and very large. No Reserve. The catalog shots are taken from very low, a concession to this car’s size. It is big, and tall, and bulky. It also is a rare example of an open PIII and that alone makes its restoration a reasonable prospect at this price.Lot # 463 1918 Panhard-Levassor Type X26 Limousine, Body by Belvalette; S/N 55147; Maroon, Black fenders, painted canework/Black leather, Grey cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 15.00%; Final Price $57,500 — RHD. SEV headlights, wood spoke wheels, dual sidemounts, opening windshield, pullup division and side windows. trunk rack, jump seats, hat nets, rollup shades on the division, rear side and rear windows. brass trim. Tired, aged and used. Cracking body wood paint. Sound paint on sound body metal. Aged and fragile upholstery and interior trim, tattered leather on the front seat. Lovely old burl wood interior trim and moldings. A wonderful old thing but one with many, various needs. Owned since the 1960’s since the Chinetti family. It’s intriguing to imagine Luigi Chinetti, twice LeMans winner, returning to his Paris haunts in the Swinging Sixties and being driven around in this Panhard-Levassor, the U.S. importer of Ferraris flaunting his success. The car is barely amenable to sympathetic attention and preservation, but almost too far gone for it to be successful. But, no matter, it’s a wonderful, elegant old thing and the price it brought is fair to both the buyer and the seller.
Dear Rick Carey,
I am posting more of an FYI regarding history of the Lot#438, 1917 Crane Simplex, serial#2333. I have reason to believe the 2nd owner if not the original owner of this car was Edward Porter May. Edward May and the Whitney family were close in the sense that both were involved in the banking business of Boston. Whitney as a bank founder and May as a partner in the Jeremiah Williams Wool Co. of Boston. Edward May died in August of 1927 but employed my grandfather as a chauffeur beginning in 1925. My grandfather continued to chauffeur for Edward’s wife, Lucy Conger May through the 1940s. As a matter of fact, her initials are etched/engraved of either side of the outside of the rear passenger compartment, both sides, LCM. Mrs May sold this car to Cameron Bradley in 1936/37 near to where she lived in Framingham, Mass. My grandfathers primary responsibility was to chauffeur the Mays from their home to Bar Harbor Maine. The Mays owned a large summer cottage/home in Bar Harbor called Keywaydin. My grandfather drove this car for the Mays until 1936 at which time Mrs May purchased a new Buick from a car dealer in Bar Harbor. I have a photo of this car in Bar Harbor with my grandfathers writing saying, “Mrs Mays Crane Simplex car.”
Thank you for allowing me the message.
Regards
Richard Washburn
Richard,
Thank you so much for filling in the history of this Simplex Crane Model 5.
I’ve passed your note on to Rupert Banner at Bonhams to forward to the owner who I am sure will be extremely happy to have its history filled in in so complete and thorough fashion.
Observations like this occasionally result from the auction reports and they are very gratifying, completing the history of a great car with first hand knowledge.
Could you send us a digital copy of the photo to add to the auction report? Keewaydin is one of the great Mount Desert estates, and is the ideal environment for a great car like the Simplex Crane.
Thanks for your valuable contribution.
Rick
Rick,
The Rich museum in Frackville PA got in touch with me last October via Ancestry.com information I had posted about the Mays. Seems that the museum had done a trace of the serial number and found the May name. I filled in the rest of the history after they contacted me. It really is a great story. They allowed me to visit them and sit in the car. I cannot begin to describe the emotion sitting behind the wheel of the car my grandfather drove as a chauffeur for many years. The photos I have are B and W and will need to be scanned. I’ll do my best to get a digital off to you.
Regards
Richard Washburn
Hello, I’m Shawn Brewster. My husband David Chase Brewster is a great nephew of Lucy May (by way of her sister) We are interested in knowing more about the car. I’m currently in Bar Harbor and would love to see any photos you have. I’m also looking for the location of the house which was destroyed by fire. I’m sure your father knew a great deal about Lucy’s life. We would love to know more. My email is [email protected]
Thank you!
Rick,
I have the photo’s of the Crane Simplex but am not able to attach them to this reply format, not sure why. Please notify me by your email so I may try attaching them to it. This communication transaction between us has just made me aware of a great nephew to the original owner of this Crane Simplex who has interest. Nice to know no matter how large the world is, it really is just a speck of dust with the web and email availability. While I have you here, how would I obtain a copy of the title for the vehicle history and genealogy history it may contain? Trying to work with the State DMV has proven frustrating and difficult at best.
Thank You
Rick Washburn
Rick,
I would certainly appreciate it if you would please put me in touch with Rick Washburn. I’ve been recording Simplex & Simplex Crane owner and auto information for 20+ years and would like to contact him regarding the May’s car. It was registered to Edward P. May under 1919 MA registration #91105.
Thank you,
Bill Bell
[email protected]
Bill, I’ll forward your reply to Rick Washburn and let him make the contact.
On a general note, one of the most cool things about doing auction reports are the threads, like this, that develop.
Over a couple decades of doing this some interesting and important history has been filled in, a process that is even more effective with the rise of the internet and sites like SCD with wide reach.
Please, anyone who has even a snippet of history, an old photo or an obscure magazine article concerning old cars mentioned here, contact us. We’ll do our best to add it to the history of the cars and their owners.
Rick Carey