The Branson Auction, Branson, Missouri, October 17-18, 2014
Fall 2014 marked the completion of the Branson Auction’s thirty-fifth year, a series started in 1979 when Mark Trimble decided to sell off a few cars from his collection.
Both the Branson Auction and Mark Trimble’s collecting have now persisted through more than a generation. The auction is now run by Jim and Kathy Cox, but Mark still brings – and usually sells – a few cars, and one of these days he’ll offer some of his airplanes, or dupes from his definitive collection of outboard motors.
Branson – bright and glitzy, with theaters, shows and events for almost every taste – is Middle America. A surprising number of great, and even more good, cars lurk within driving distance of Branson. Every year Jim Cox unearths more than a few, like this year’s ‘AC Frazer-Nash’.
The auction crew [which includes the writer, introducing the cars] with Brian Marshall and Ben deBruhl on the block and Kenny Garman, Phil Gee, Michael Steel, Henry Gee and Marty Hill in the ring, brings their own flair and energy, in keeping with Branson’s show-biz buzz.
This is Mid-America car collecting, at the core of the hobby where individual collectors offer their cars, and individual collectors take them home. A few high profile lots are scattered through the docket, but six-figure cars are rare and the emphasis is on affordable, if sometimes funky.
The host hotel, the Hilton Hotel at the Branson Convention Center, is good enough to stand out in New York, L.A. or Chicago. Jim and Kathy Cox’s Candlestick restaurant, demolished in the direct path of the 2012 ‘Leap Day’ Branson Tornado, hasn’t done the phoenix thing, but there’s plenty of good food to go with the abundance of entertainment options.
There aren’t a lot of cars in this report. Eight hours on the block introducing cars is already a long day, but they give the flavor of the quality and diversity of the Branson Auction offerings.
The Branson Spring auction is April 17-18, 2015.
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Branson Collector Car Fall 2014 – Auction Report
Lot # 533 1980 Porsche 928 Coupe; S/N 9289101276; Gold/Brown vinyl, Gold, Black cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $7,400 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $7,992 – Automatic, alloy wheels, blackwall tires. – The vivid M.C. Escher-like distorted geometric pattern of this Porsche’s fabric seat inserts is so 80’s. Largely original with decent paint and well-used chassis. – Few appreciate the Porsche 928’s stature as the predecessor to the current Panamera. The 928 demonstrated Porsche’s ability to design, engineer and build a high performance luxury GT with the engine in front and it still offers exceptional levels of performance and luxury. The vivid upholstery of this one is somewhat emblematic of the distortion a front-engined Porsche brought to the company’s history and is, even with 124,844 miles showing on its odometer, a lot of car for the money. It’s worth this much just for the statement the seats would make in a garage lounge.Lot # 548 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N 16836085; Yellow/Yellow, White leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $108,000 – 322/188hp, Dynaflow, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, green tinted translucent sun visor extensions, P/W, P/S, P/B, radio, power seat. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Restored to show car condition a while ago and maintained that way, showing only a little age and minimal use. – What better way to Buick’s new ‘nailhead’ V-8 and the marque’s 50th anniversary than with Buick’s first ‘sports car’, the distinctively styled, lowered roofline, Skylark? Only 1,690 were built and sold at a price of $5,000, $1,500 more than the Roadmaster convertible. This is an excellent example and it brought a representative price.Lot # 540 1955 Ford Crown Victoria Skyliner 2-Dr. Sedan Glass Top; S/N M5RF115665; Green, White/White; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $45,360 – 272/182hp, automatic, green tinted glass roof panel, P/S, P/W, power seat, wheel covers, whitewalls, bumper overriders, sill moldings, pushbutton radio, rear antenna, skirts. – Body off restored over a decade ago but maintained in excellent condition since. Engine compartment is orderly but shows some age and miles. Paint, chrome, interior and the roof glass are very good. – One of the most noteworthy of Fifties Fords and equipped as a premium car like this would expect as well as being attractively preserved since its 2001 restoration, this is a modest price for a desirable Ford.Lot # 550 1949 Allard M Drophead Coupe; S/N DRMVB0000156776MO; Blue/Grey leather; Grey cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $42,500 – RHD. 274 cubic inch flathead, Offenhauser cylinder heads and intake manifold, dual Stromberg carbs, floor shift 3-speed, alternator, radio, fender mirrors, steel wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, whitewall tires, turn signals, single fog light behind grille. – Very good paint, chrome, upholstery and interior wood. Underhood shows some age but it well detailed and orderly. Thoroughly restored some time ago, holding up well and well-presented in attractive driving condition. – This is a better, more rare and distinctive car than the bid it brought. Allards are one of few cars that actually increase in value when appropriately modified – as this one is – in the spirit of its time and the overbored Mercury flathead with its Offy bits significantly enhances the value, and enjoyment, of this car. It would not have been expensive at $10-15,000 more than the reported high bid.Lot # 554 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 674045; Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $86,400 – Driving lights, steel wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewall tires, spats, tan cloth tonneau cover, fender mirrors, tool roll. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Owned for 30 years by the prior owner, thoughtfully and thoroughly restored some time ago and carefully maintained since. – Just an attractive, clean, well-maintained XK with no bad stories that brought a realistic price here in Branson.Lot # 558 1970 Jaguar XKE SII Convertible; S/N 1R11309; Silver/Black leather; Black top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $75,600 – 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, radio. – Very good new paint, chrome and interior. Sharp underhood. Slightly dimpled rear bumper. A good car recently freshened cosmetically and mechanically. – This Series II XKE has all the flavor of a sound, well-maintained car with attractively fresh cosmetics, the kind of car observers mean when they urge ‘buying the best car you can afford.’ At this price it is a sound value, too.
Branson Collector Car Fall 2014 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 567 1951 AC Frazer-Nash Roadster; S/N EL1566; BRGreen, Yellow nose/Green leather; No top; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000 – RHD. AC sohc engine, three SU carbs, 4-speed, headers, side outlet dual exhaust, aeroscreens, cycle fenders, single sidemount, hydraulic drum brakes. – Round tube frame, live rear axle, conventional 4-speed gearbox, pre-war BMW transverse leaf spring independent front suspension. 1951 AC 2-liter engine, gearbox and data plate. Chassis stamped 54322. Battered old paint, aged upholstery, scruffy chassis, dented grille and bodywork. A rough but appealing old campaigner with no known history, and doubtfully even slightly Frazer-Nash. – A conundrum wrapped in riddles. On the face, this is a moderately well thought out early postwar British special, among many that adopted the ancient but competent AC 2-liter overhead cam six to a compendium of promising parts. Reportedly drives much better than it looks. VSCC history dates to 1965. A highly utilitarian and promising entry into a number of desirable events, it becomes even better if its early British history could be documented. The combination of mystery, possibilities and driving enjoyment makes it a potentially rewarding challenge even at the reported high bid or a little more. It looks cool, too.Lot # 577 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH244045; Peacock Blue, White hardtop/Blue, White vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $48,600 – 312/225hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, power seat, engine dressup, P/W, Town & Country radio, porthole hardtop only. – Very good paint, chrome, interior, engine and chassis. Restored like new and maintained in excellent condition, a choice T-bird. – Sold by RM at Arizona in 2004 for $45,650 with exactly the same mileage showing on the odometer as it has today, and in essentially the same, but now older, condition. This is an essentially flawless but now aged T-bird that should be very satisfying to own and drive and is full value for the money it brought.Lot # 592 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N VC57F269665; Black, White roof/Red vinyl, Black cloth; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $43,200 – 283/220hp, 3-speed, dual circuit power brakes, spinner wheel covers, whitewall tires, cassette stereo. – Very good paint, chrome and interior, good door fits and even gaps. Restored like new, sharp and fresh underhood but with a later 4-barrel carb and dual circuit power brakes that enhance drivability at the expense of originality. No representation of original engine or driveline. A sharp, impressive car that should be proudly driven and displayed. – Reported sold by Mecum in Dallas a year ago for $56,710 and surely no less attractive today than it was then which makes it a particularly attractive acquisition at this remarkably modest price for a ’57 Nomad.Lot # 595 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible; S/N 186331942; Black/Red; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $23,000 – 221/90hp flathead V-8, 3-speed, body color steel wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, skirts, grille guard, radio – Very good older paint, chrome and interior. Handsomely restored and desirably optioned, a solid driver-quality ’41 Ford. – Sold by Worldwide at Auburn a year ago in Auburn for $27,500, this is more car than the money offered for it here and a missed opportunity for a collector, established or just starting out, to take home a quality Ford for a modest (even sub-Model T) price.Lot # 617 1908 Buick Model 10 Gentleman’s Light Four Roadster; S/N 1869; White/Red leather; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $16,000 – RHD. 165/22.5hp valve-in-head four, 2-speed planetary transmission, acetylene headlights, kerosene sidelights, folded trumpet bulb horn, blade fenders, white wood spoke wheels with Non-Skid tires, Adlake kerosene taillight, no top, Elgin 8-day clock. – Sound but old paint and upholstery, dull brass. A good older restoration that has stood the test of time and is still in sound and presentable touring condition. – The stalwart of Billy Durant’s new General Motors and the place many leaders learned the automobile business, Buick arguably built the best low-priced automobiles in the first decade of America’s twentieth century. Tidy, complete, thoroughly equipped and standing tall in its old restoration, this Model 10 Gentleman’s Light Four Roadster should have brought more than the reported high bid, and would have been a sound value even at $4-8,000 more.Lot # 639 1971 Triumph Stag Targa; S/N LE1428LBW; Ivory/Black; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $7,400 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $7,992 – 2,997cc/145hp V-8, automatic, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Craig cassette stereo – Sound old repaint, aged but sound upholstery and interior trim. A sound but aged driver condition car. – Rare, by any standard, this is far from the best Triumph Stag around (or maybe it isn’t …) but brought a realistic price reflecting its condition and automatic gearbox.
Rick, whether as a response here or in a separate article I’m keen to learn what tools you carry along to perform these inspections. A quality paint thickness meter for sure. Your accumulated knowledge base is likely your most valuable asset.