Bonhams Simeone Museum 2015 – Auction Report

Lot # 256 1949 Allard L-Type Tourer; S/N 792; Black/Olive Green leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,700. Reserve. RHD. Ford flathead V-8, 3-speed, Bluemels Brooklands banjo spoke steering wheel, steel wheels, blackwall tires, folding windshield, oil filter. – Old but sound paint, surface cracked original upholstery, cracked old top. Runs, but doesn’t stop. Grimy old single carb engine and engine compartment. A project Allard. fresh out of 41 years of storage. – This is about right for this Allard’s condition. It will never be a J2X but might warrant something more potent than the stock 221 inch flathead under the hood, a prospect that is possible at the price it brought and even considering the considerable work it will take to make it usable and presentable.

Lot # 257 1962 Jaguar XKE SI Roadster; S/N 877020; Engine # R4933-9; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000. Reserve. Silver painted wire wheels, blackwall radial tires, no radio, JDHT certificate showing matching numbers engine, chassis and gearbox. – Two owners from new showing 72,278 believable miles on the odometer. Scuffed old repaint, sound upholstery, thin chrome. Road grimy chassis, underbody and engine. Replaced master cylinder. Sound body, cracked old body seals, good dashtop. Could be resuscitated and driven but will be easy to restore. – This is a late 3.8 liter with inside bonnet latches and heel wells. While some recent Series I E-type transactions show prices in excess of $200,000 this car is not close to there, even with the two owner history and originality. It is expensive.

Lot # 258 1971 Porsche 911T 2.2 Coupe; S/N 9111100515; Engine # 6115052; Silver/Black vinyl; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. Reserve. Blaupunkt cassette stereo, Momo shift knob, Fuchs wheels, Kumho blackwall radials, headrest seats. – Quick clearcoat repaint, sound original upholstery with dead driver’s seat cushion. Badly scratched side window trim. Poor door fits. Orderly but aged engine compartment. Dirty original underbody and chassis. Filled passenger’s door bottom and in front of both rear wheels. Would have been better without the paint: even if it was ugly, it would be honest. – An unattractive Porsche with little going for it except that it’s an early 911. Bought realistically for what it is, both the buyer and the seller should be satisfied with this transaction.

Lot # 261 1906 Rainier Model D 45/50hp 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 1603; Dark Blue, Black fenders/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $253,000. Reserve. RHD. Gray & Davis acetylene headlights and kerosene sidelights, 412 cubic inch/50hp T-head four cylinder with side camshafts, Pierce-Arrow rear axle, bulb horn, Vigilant kerosene taillight, Warner speedometer, platform rear suspension, wood spoke wheels. – Surface rusted everywhere but sound and complete. Tattered upholstery and top, original side curtains. Grimy engine and chassis. Fresh, brightly polished head and sidelights and radiator. A straightforward preservation or restoration project. – Known history from new with a few owners: the Asbury family who bought it new; their chauffeur, Calvin Johnson; and the Buess family from 1947 until the 1990s. The broken original rear axle comes with it, and it is said to have been driven as recently as five years ago (although it sure doesn’t look like it.) There is a strong argument for making it run and drive reliably while leaving the rest untouched, but no matter which course is followed, preservation or restoration, it is an important car for a realistic price.

Lot # 271 1937 Morgan Super Sports Barrel Back roadster; S/N D1731; Engine # MX2654; Green, Dark Red cycle fenders/Green leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $15,000 – $25,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve. RHD. Matchless engine, Lucas headlights, rear-mounted spare, vee windshield. – Scratched, peeling, curdled old repaint with the original Dark Red showing through. Stiff, cracked original upholstery. Torn, threadbare old top. A sound and complete project car. Alexis du Pont Collection. – Holy Moly! This is, by a third, the most expensive Morgan Super Sports ever to change hands at an auction and it is easily one of the most ratty. Lightning struck here, for no apparent reason.

Lot # 272 1952 Cooper Mark VI Formula 3; S/N MK6/21/52; Engine # TR54198NA; Yellow/Red leather; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,400. No Reserve. Triumph ‘Speed Twin’ power, alloy wheels with integral brake drums – Raced successfully when new by Alexis du Pont and now sound and complete but old, dirty and dilapidated. Alexis du Pont Collection– A rare example with Triumph twin power instead of the ubiquitous Norton Manx or JAP singles, this is a highly cool car ready to keep its new owner occupied through the winter in anticipation of next year’s vintage racing season. Even over the estimate it represents a good opportunity in a successful F3 car.

Lot # 273 1958 Cooper Mark XII Formula 3; S/N MKXII/1/58; Yellow, Red stripe/No; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,400. No Reserve. Norton Manx power, alloy wheels with integral brake drums, roll hoop. – Dirty and neglected but sound, original and all there. Alexis du Pont collection, one owner from new. Alexis du Pont Collection. – An even more potent car than the Mark VI sold before it, a straightforward project that could be on the track soon after the thaw and bought at a realistic price. The choice between the Mark VI’s Triumph twin and the bark of the Manx is not easy but at these prices it is feasible to have both.