Bonhams “Preserving the Automobile” Simeone Foundation Museum, Philadelphia, October 7, 2013
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
In its second iteration this venue is proving to be a successful niche for Bonhams.
The site, of course, is superb. Surrounded by Dr. Simeone’s magnificent collection of racing cars from both pre- and post-war eras that demonstrate his determination to promote the preservation of historically-significant automobiles, the atmosphere is just right.
Bonhams always has an assortment of automobilia to kick off its sales and at the Simeone museum it was bigger than usual – much bigger. In fact it was too big and dragged on and on well past the scheduled 2:30 start date for the automobiles. Dragged on until well after 4, which was too late.
The attraction for Bonhams not only is its vast reservoir of automobilia consignments but also the 25% buyer’s premium charged on the automobilia. It goes a long way to offsetting reduced buyer’s premium income from their recent reduction in the automobile commission to 10%. In this case it probably far exceeded any haircut taken on the automobile buyer’s commission, such was the size of the automobilia consignment.
[The automobilia included items from the late Alec Ulmann, founder and Chief Steward of the Florida International Twelve-Hour Grand Prix of Endurance – the Sebring 12 Hours in which your scribe risked the approbation of his wife by purchasing a $3,200 (plus $800 commission and 8% Philadelphia sales tax) lot of three boxes of old Sebring files, time sheet books, correspondence, programs and clippings. As it turns out, it is worth every penny.]
The 2013 sale was very similar to last year in both content and results. The unusual disparity between the average and median transaction reflects the consignment, a few high quality, high priced cars and a number of lesser – in many cases restoration project – cars that sold for modest amounts. Ten of the 55 sold lots brought four-figure prices, even with commissions added. Only eight sold for hammer bids of six figures with the top sale (Lot #542, the ex-Bill Cosby 1934 Aston Martin 1 1/2 Liter Sports) hammering sold at $240,000, $264,000 with commission.
This sale is a timely idea in an exceptional setting and establishes a positive tone for the events of the next week in Hershey. It would not be at all surprising if a lot of the automobile went straight from Philadelphia to the Hershey swap meet.
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Bonhams Simeone Museum 2013 – Auction Report
Lot # 504 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 10806712004644; Dark Green/Cognac leather; Estimate $10,000 – $15,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600. No Reserve – Automatic, A/C, P/W, Becker Europa AM-FM, underdash 8-track, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights – Surprisingly original with only 14,720 miles. Waterspotted largely original paint, very good original upholstery, interior trim and wood. Stainless trim is spotty but will polish out. – Attracted, and deserved, a lot of attention. Most similar cars have been driven to near-death, but this is choicely original and well preserved, a car that will be owned and driven with pride and deserved the premium price it brought. It couldn’t (and wouldn’t) be restored to this nearly impeccable condition for three times the price it brought. Lot # 506 1980 Ferrari 308 GTSi, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFAA02A4A0033545; Red/Black leather; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,100. No Reserve – Alpine cassette stereo, A/C, P/W – 61,359 miles from new. Good original paint and upholstery showing limited age and use. Interior plastic trim is old and grubby. Underbody is original and used. A surprisingly good and sound original 308. – It won’t take much to make this 308 GTSi an object of pride. At this price it has only upside for its new owner, a very good value. Lot # 507 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N LSHF85; Engine # LSHF 85; Masons Black, Red coachline/Red leather; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $19,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $21,450. No Reserve – Automatic, A/C, narrow whitewalls, fog lights – Owned by socialite Francoise Hermann. Largely original with some parking lot dimples and repairs evident but presentable. Tired old repaint, fair chrome and stainless trim. Good upholstery, replaced in the front. Dirty original engine. Not pretty, but sound and honest. – Unfortunately Francoise Hermann has to be explained and that negates the value of her ownership of this Roller. It brought a realistic price for what it is. Lot # 508 1931 Hanomag 3/16 Coupe; S/N 20254; Engine # 20285; Grey, Black fenders/Light Green cloth; Grey Canvas top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $19,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $21,450. – Winkler windshield post mounted trafficators, disc wheels, folding roof with fixed window frames, drum headlights, sliding door windows, fixed quarter windows – Largely original and complete with a crappy old preservative paint job over old paint on the wood body. Sound but soiled and stained upholstery. A restoration project but it will be a cool thing when it’s done, and won’t be complex to do. Said to run well. – Bought for $18,700 at the Dragone Brothers auction in Westport in May and freshened since, this all that its astute owner could expect. It is a cute little thing and will attract plenty of attention on any show field. Lot # 509 1952 Hudson Hornet 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 7B183883; Engine # 183883; Black, White roof/Grey vinyl, cloth; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600. – 308/160hp Twin-H dual carburetors, overdrive 3-speed, pushbutton radio, remote spotlight, whitewalls, hubcaps, trim rings, original clock tag, radio manual, service book, owner’s manual, workshop book and even the key fob – Cracked old repaint, peeling chrome, good stainless, sound but aged original upholstery. A sound and original example of Hudson’s factory hot rod. – This Hudson is a hunk. It’s fast, well maintained and not too pristine to be used, nor tired enough to warrant restoration. A real car for real money. Lot # 511 1946 Buick Special Series 40 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 34392617; Black/Beige cloth; Estimate $8,000 – $12,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $5,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,050. No Reserve – 3-speed, pushbutton radio, hubcaps, trim rings, blackwall tires, skirts – Probably has covered only the 50,408 miles showing on its odometer. Pimply original paint, chipped and buffed through to primer on the left front fender. Good original upholstery, dull stainless, peeling chrome. Dry, dirty underbody. A sound and complete largely original car. – A car of little intrinsic appeal beyond its sound and original condition. The price it brought reflects its mundane specification and coachwork but on the other hand is a charming and inexpensive way to venture into car collecting. Someone spent more than this on two boxes of Hispano-Suiza files. Lot # 513 1911 Stoddard Dayton Model 11A 5-Passenger Touring; S/N 11A162; Engine # 11A278; Dull Brown/Beige canvas over Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. – RHD. Dual right side spares, C.M. Hall acetylene headlights, kerosene cowl lights and taillight, nickel headlights, wood spoke wheels, blackwall tires, brass Warner Auto Meter – A quite wonderfully preserved, largely original, exceptional automobile with overhead valves and hemispherical combustion chambers. Original leather seats are covered by custom-fit snap on canvas covers, top replaced. Dull original paint. The model for how to preserve an historically important automobile. – A hugely impressive automobile both intrinsically and in its preservation and presentation that drew lots of admiring attention from the spectators and bidders. Bought reasonably enough a little bit over Bonhams low estimate and something the new owner should be very proud to own. Lot # 515 1956 Bentley S1 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N B242DB; Shell Grey, Cellon Blue/Light Blue leather; Estimate $16,000 – $20,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,800. No Reserve – RHD. Automatic, cassette stereo, fender mirrors, badge bar, fog lights, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls – Mostly original with a good repaint, good chrome and upholstery. Some interior soft trim is aged and starting to crack; interior wood is sound. The underbody and engine are clean and orderly, not restored. Odometer shows 52,324 probably original miles. – A handsome, well maintained and usable car that demonstrates the appeal of Bentleys and brought a reasonable price.
Bonhams Simeone Museum 2013 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 516 1964 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 6405; Engine # 6405; Silver-Grey/Tan leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Original, with major mechanical repairs, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $114,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $125,400. No Reserve – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, overdrive – Blistered, peeling paint, worn, surface cracked original leather. Extremely clean and orderly underhood. Lumpy, scuffed body panels. Mechanically better than it looks on first glance and reputed to be an excellent running and driving car with drivetrain, suspension and brakes all professionally redone. – This Ferrari is a sleeper. It looks near-junk on the appearance of its old, failing paint and cracked upholstery but the engine compartment would do credit to any four or five year old restoration. It stands apart from most of its contemporaries for that reason and the bidders here in Philadelphia responded to its admittedly idiosyncratic appeal, affording it a generous price. Lot # 517 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Coupe; S/N DB6/2650/R; Engine # 400/2602/V; California Sage/Black leather; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. – RHD. 4 liter, 325hp, Weber carbs, automatic, chrome wire wheels, P/W, radio missing – 67,752 miles and three owners from new. Dull, chipped old paint but very good surface-creased original upholstery. Decent chrome. Dry, aged underbody and engine. Reportedly covered only about 200 miles in the last three decades, and looks the part. – This is a surprisingly well maintained and preserved DB6 that seems to have taken its limited use in stride and have been carefully kept even if unused. It brought a realistic price that balances condition, the Vantage engine against the automatic transmission to arrive at a reasonable compromise. Lot # 520 1983 Porsche 928S Coupe; S/N WPOJB0922DS860771; Gunmetal Grey/Burgundy leather; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900. No Reserve – Automatic, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, A/C, sunroof, Michelin Pilot blackwall tires – First owned by Camille Cosby (Bill Cosby’s wife) and in the Cosby family until earlier this year with 24,432 miles from new. Good original paint and interior. – Underappreciated by most collectors but fast, comfortable and built to high standards, this is a benchmark price for an automatic 928S. Most of the substantial premium must be attributed to its low miles and preservation, with a modest amount attributable to the Cosby family provenance. It is expensive at this price, and still would have been expensive at the low estimate. Lot # 525 1907 Schacht Model K Runabout; S/N 1647; Red, Black accent/Black; No top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,850. No Reserve – Righthand wheel steering. Single semi-elliptical leaf spring on each side with perch rod and trailing arms to locate rear axle. Dual chain drive from opposed twin with mechanical valves. Top frame mounts, but no top or frame – Tired but complete old restoration displayed for many years in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Cracked paint. Plywood mudguards. Sound, but not ready to be driven. – Bought at Bonhams auction in Brookline in 2008 for $44,460 fresh from the Museum of Science collection and in essentially the same condition as it was offered here. An ouch for the seller but a good value for the new owner. Lot # 527 1910 Sears Model P 4 Passenger Motor Buggy; S/N 2321; Dark Blue, Black frame/Black leather; Black surrey top; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Older restoration, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500. No Reserve – Lefthand tiller steering, 2-speed planetary transmission – An old restoration to driver condition, aged and neglected. Displayed for many years in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. Front seat cushion and back torn. Sound and will be usable after mechanical work and some cleanup. – Sold by Bonhams at Brookline in 2008 as part of the Museum of Science and Industry de-accessioning for $30,420. This result will help ease the pain of Lot #525. Lot # 529 1918 Locomobile Model 48-2 Sportif Touring Car; S/N 14760; Dark Green/Black leather, Khaki cloth; Beige cloth top; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Cream wood spoke wheels, dual sidemounts, dual rear spares, drum headlights with Corning Conaphore headlight lenses, dual windshields – Originally owned by General John Pershing, known history since. Repainted some time ago and holding up surprisingly well although the paint is peeling in areas of the righthand side. Rear seat khaki cloth upholstery is moth-eaten, front seat leather is sound. Good wood trim. Orderly but oily chassis and engine, thin nickel trim. – A wonderful Locomobile (aren’t all Locomobiles wonderful?) with a singular history of ownership by the first U.S. General of the Armies. Sold by Bonhams at Brookline in 2008 from the Larz Anderson Museum collection for $161,000 and still in the same condition (just one more mile on the odometer), it represents very good value for money here even though it will need careful attention before it is running again, and particular attention to preserving the rear upholstery where General Pershing sat. Lot # 530 1924 Marmon Model 34 Touring with California Top; S/N C85356; Engine # 2610A; Dark Green, Black leatherette California top/Black leather; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $23,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $25,300. No Reserve – Jump seats, footrest, cream wood spoke wheels, blackwall tires, rear-mounted spare, Monogram drum headlights – Sound old repaint, torn and cracked original upholstery, thin nickel brightwork. Engine is dirty and dry, hasn’t run in years and needs more than just simple attention. – A high quality automobile that was well preserved for years in the collection of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry then sold by Bonhams at Brookline in 2008 for $58,500. It remains as it was acquired then and needs some serious attention but will be an important and desirable car when it gets back on the road and is a sound value at this price. Lot # 532 1917 Pierce-Arrow 38-C-4 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 38645; Engine # C4-4183; Red, Black fenders/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800. No Reserve – 415/38 (70) hp T-head six, opening windshield, divided front seat, wind wings, jump seats, folding footrest, luggage trunk, varnished wood wheels, 35×5 tires, electric lights, standalone headlights, dual spares on right running board, Klaxon electric horn, cast aluminum body, mostly complete tool kit in left front door pocket – Sound but low quality old repaint, wheels rebuilt and varnished, otherwise original and very choice. Exceptionally sound but stiff and delicate old leather. New top boot over old top. Wonderful patina on chassis, engine and working parts. Engine appears to have been mechanically rebuilt and cleaned up long ago but is not running today. – Sold by Bonhams from the Seal Cove Museum collection of Richard C. Paine, Jr. in 2008 for $122,500 and offered here in essentially the same condition. It needs plenty but will reward its next owner with a great touring machine and the re-commissioning can be undertaken responsibly at this price.
Bonhams Simeone Museum 2013 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 537 1904 Knox 16/18hp “Touraine” 4-Passenger Stanhope; S/N 2369; Engine # 2369; Red, Black fenders and accent/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. – 275 cubic inch/16hp opposed air-cooled twin, 2-speed planetary gearbox, lefthand tiller steering, Gray & Davis kerosene sidelights, no taillight, extra Knox-built Roi des Belges body, VCC dated 1904 – An older restoration with touring miles on it and showing. Sound paint with edge and corner chips, small cracks at joints, dull brass. Sound and eminently usable as is but will benefit from some cosmetic attention after being displayed for several years in Springfield, Mass. – Think for a moment about this Knox’s powerplant, a 275 cubic inch opposed twin. That’s more cubic inches than a ’55 Chevy V-8. This Knox attracted lots of attention in the preview, and deserved to. Pleasingly patinaed after restoration, it is ready to be used and should soon go into a container to the UK for the Brighton Run. Lot # 542 1934 Aston Martin 1 1/2 Liter Sports 2/4 Seater; S/N F4/455/S; Engine # F4/455/S; Maroon/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $230,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000. – RHD. Maroon wire wheels, cycle fenders, chrome outside exhaust, wind wings, rear-mounted spare – A quality older restoration with age and miles, owned by Harrah’s and since the 1960’s by comedian Bill Cosby. Paint, chrome and upholstery are sound and presentable but show age and use. A great tour car. Matching numbers engine confirmed by the AM Heritage Trust. – An outstanding classic British sports tourer with an enviable history in excellent older restored condition that brought a reasonable price. Lot # 553 1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Coupe; S/N Engine No.; Engine # 496220204; Black/Light Blue-Grey leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $65,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $56,000. – 331/160hp, automatic, chrome dual ‘Buell Trombone’ horns on the left front fender, pushbutton radio, dual remost spotlights, fog lights, P/W – Pimply old repaint, good interior leather upholstery, peeling dashboard chrome, water spotted exterior bright trim, peeling wind wing frames. Dry underbody and appears to be sound and consistently maintained appropriate to the 85,567 miles on the odometer. – The air horns are over the top, but the car lived in Rhode Island for many years and that may account for it. The condition is sound and fairly attractive and a fine example of the first year for Cadillac’s high compression overhead valve engine. It brought a reasonable price with little premium for its originality, or for the Buell Trombones. Lot # 554 1986 Aston Martin V8 Volante; S/N SCFCV81C1GTL15468; Engine # V/585/5468/LFA; Dover White/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. – 5,340cc/300hp, automatic, alloy wheels, blackwall tires, driving lights, Blaupunkt Washington cassette stereo, fitted luggage, Vantage front air dam – One owner, 21,585 miles and comprehensively documented from new with every scrap of paper preserved. Original throughout except for a right front fender repair. Choice, unblemished and highly desirable. – This is a sound value for a car that has been, to put it mildly, obsessively maintained and preserved from new. Lot # 557 1967 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E13205; Engine # 7E9476-9; Carmen Red/Black leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. – Pushbutton radio, chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls – Barn find. Dirty, dusty, pitted. Rusty sills and door bottoms. Torn top. Scraggly but sound original leather. Not good enough to be preserved. – The body rust negates the appeal of this E-type and makes it no more than a reasonable value at this price considering its shortcomings. It is not a ‘Preservation’ XKE. Lot # 559 1921 Cadillac Model 59 7-Passenger Touring; S/N C5962; Engine # C5962; Red, Black fenders/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $31,900. – RHD. Spotlight-mirror, varnished wood spoke wheels, rear-mounted spare, jump seats, Delson Auto Horn, Cadillac Motometer – An attractive, unusual and well maintained early Cadillac V-8 with a good older restoration, sound paint and glass, dull aluminum. Shows age but only limited use. – A good, honest, rare old Cadillac that was sold by RM at St. John’s last year (2012) for $22,000 and has been freshened cosmetically and mechanically since so it is a much better car and should be ready to drive. The odometer shows 2,027 miles, only eight more than it did in 2012. The new owner got a great car for a modest price, a Cadillac V-8 for not much more than a Model T in comparable condition. Lot # 560 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster; S/N 5675542; Engine # F3044-8S; Black/Burgundy leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500. – Modified engine with triple SU carbs, Isky cams, 10:1 compression and dual point ignition, silver wire wheels, blackwall tires, windwings, fender mirrors – Restored 20 years ago but still shows very good paint, chrome and interior. A quality older restoration that is holding up very well, generously documented. Two owners from new showing 47,359 probably original miles, many of them in its early life with Philip Litchfield at Lime Rock Park. – It is easy to like this Jag, even with the modifications. They might not appeal to purists, but this is how the car – and others like it – would be used when new, a little window into how it was with sports car owners in the Fifties. If I could have an XK 120 like the one my father owned in the late 50’s it would be modified like this, and go like the wind, even if it couldn’t stop worth a darn. This is a fair result for both the buyer and the seller. Lot # 566 1951 Packard Henney ‘Nu-3-Way’ Hearse; S/N 24132277; Engine # U411733; Black/Grey cloth; Estimate $4,000 – $6,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,100 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,410. No Reserve – 327/150hp, dual spotlights, hubcaps, trim rings, mixed tires – Said to run and drive, which is about the best that can be said for it. Dull paint, peeling chrome, musty interior. – Halloween is coming, what a great way to go trick or treating! It’s worth this much just for the evening’s entertainment.
[Source: Rick Carey]
Really enjoy your descriptions and realistic evaluations. Don’t care what brand of after-market radios are installed and please don’t pick on Rhode Island– —they already feel inferior.
Thanks for the compliments, but you’re going to keep learning what kind of radio is in the cars. Surprisingly, there are reasons.
1) The brand (or off-brand) of radio, like the brand of tires (and whether they match on all four corners) says something about the seller’s concern for quality and willingness to cut corners.
2) Naming names, even of minor details like the brand of radio, tire or mirror, confirms the impression that someone actually looked and took the time to integrate even small details into the report.
As to the treatment of Rhode Island? I live 15 minutes’ drive away and frequently drive to Warwick to fly from PVD, one of the best airports in the country. It’s a great state for us overly-taxed Nutmeggers to buy gasoline and oysters. Now that I’ve said something complimentary, can I continue to mention Little Rhodey’s well-known deficiencies, like size?