Branson Collector Car Spring 2012 – Auction Report
Branson Spring Collector Car Auction, Branson Convention Center, Missouri, April 20-12, 2012
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Branson’s Leap Day EF3 tornado, just 7 weeks before the scheduled Spring Branson auction date, injected more than a little uncertainty into this year’s version of the Cox family’s semi-annual event.
The Convention Center’s highrise Hilton hotel featured prominently in news reports of the disaster, with curtains flying out of multiple smashed windows.
The Coxes’ Candlestick restaurant, hanging on the hillside across Lake Taneycomo from the Branson Landing complex, was even harder hit.
The lower profile Convention Center itself was only lightly damaged and Branson and the Branson Auction team swung into high gear to recover in time for the auction. Wreckage was cleared away, the Hilton’s windows were boarded up for safety, lodging moved across the Branson Scenic Railway tracks to the Hilton Promenade in the Landing. Jim Cox was at work even on Thursday afternoon removing barricades.
Some things didn’t work out – for instance, there was no rollup door on the indoor display area yet, it was to be delivered on Tuesday after the auction – but from inside the auction area there was no visible evidence of the maelstrom that had torn through town.
That was true of the auction, too, with one of the best consignments seen in years – if ever – in Branson and a generous crowd of bidders and onlookers despite the disruption.
One of Branson’s signature elements is the Thursday evening party. The Hilton staff didn’t miss a beat with the food and the charity auction to raise money for VCRA’s Autism Awareness charity enjoyed a huge participation and success. Its star consignment was the last of the evening, introduced by asking the question, “Would you like to buy a vowel?”
It was the letter “A” from the often erratically lit Candlestick sign, recovered the day after the tornado from several blocks away. It brought $7,000 and the “C” went with it to be reversed in order to make the successful bidder’s wife’s initials. [Talk about a smart move.]
On Saturday 10-year old Liam Dougan, son of Hyman Limited’s Shawn Dougan, introduced his own charity fundraiser, raising money for Friends of Kids with Cancer. Liam sold some Hot Wheels cars on the block and quickly raised over $1,000. He continued giving updates on his progress during the auction and eventually closed out the day by announcing he’d raised over $5,000. It was one of the best-received fundraising efforts ever, a touching demonstration of a boy’s dedication to helping others who need all the support they can get.
Oh, the auction?
It was eminently successful, selling over $3.1 million and almost 56%.
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The caliber of the cars offered is apparent from the much higher sale total and average value.
I worked on the block doing introductions so this report is a bit sparse, but it does give a flavor of the quality and diversity of the cars in this year’s Branson Spring auction.
What isn’t as apparent in the raw numbers is the positive feeling among the participants to help Branson recover.
Branson Collector Car Spring 2012 – Auction Report
Lot # 523 1916 Apperson Light Six Jackrabbit Roadster; S/N 10495; Burgundy, Black fenders/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $27,000 -- Spotlight, cozy back seat, dual rear-mounted spares, brass radiator but black trim, body color wood spoke wheels, blackwall tires. Engine type LSA799E, #10495, block stamped L2804. An old, tired but sound and complete car. Rare, with charming coachwork. Needs pretty much everything but will be straightforward and rewarding. Described as believed to be only of only seven surviving Apperson cars and sold from the Apperson family. Apperson built its first automobile in 1894 and they enjoyed a good reputation through the first two decades of the 20th century. Their near disappearance in subsequent years is something of a mystery and this car's appearance in Branson is a rare find. Its condition isn't great, but it's sound and a great looking car with a long wheelbase and low hood and body that deserves the Jackrabbit name. It's a good value at this price, particularly with the Apperson family provenance.Lot # 524 1931 Chevrolet AE Independence Roadster; S/N 2792344; Butterscotch, Black fenders, Brown accent/Brown leatherette; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Post-block sale at $23,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $24,840 -- Orange wire wheels, whitewalls, rumble seat, dual sidemounts, wind wings. Failing old paint, sound chrome and interior. Clean underhood. Sound body. It's seen better days but will respond to some paint and attention. Bid to $19,000 on the block and closed later at this reasonable price intelligently compromising its sound condition with the older failing repaint and dated colors. A repaint in contemporary colors and some detailing will turn it back into a show-ready Chevy.Lot # 525 1937 Ford Deluxe Phaeton; S/N 183371312; Cream, Black/Brown leatherette; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $29,160 -- Wind wings, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, radio, heater, fog lights. Thick paint over old paint, sound interior. Faded, worn old top. Grille rechromed over unfilled pits. An aged and superficial old restoration to mediocre standards but a car that makes a great first impression. This car sold at Kruse Auburn in 1992 (yes, twenty years ago) for $14,100. It was a somewhat tired old restoration then, and it hasn't improved any in the past two decades, except in the collectors' opinion of its value. It is an early V-8 Ford collector's prize and is appropriately valued at today's price.Lot # 556 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 149506435; Red/Black; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $39,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $42,120 -- Silver wheels, hubcaps, Pirelli Cinturato blackwall tires, heater. Fair fresh partial repaint, weak chrome, sound upholstery and top. Aged, used and a little grungy underhood. A superficial cosmetic redo of a sound early Giulietta Spider. A nice little short wheelbase 750-series Alfa Giulietta Normale with single carb, it brought full retail giving due consideration to its straight body and overall well-maintained condition. So many of these come out of barns and half-hearted, resource-constrained restorations a well-maintained largely original 750 Giulietta is a real find.Lot # 559 1955 Triumph TR2 Roadster; S/N TS4673LO; BRGreen/Black; Black top; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $32,400 -- Chrome wire wheels, Michelin XZX blackwalls, Lucas fog lights, fender mirrors, tool roll, manuals, full weather equipment including tonneau cover. Modified with 2.2 liter kit, dual brake and clutch cylinders, 1 3/4 inch SU carbs, TR3 front disc brakes and urethane bushed front suspension. Competently and completely restored to good driver condition. Sound older paint, good chrome and interior. Clean and orderly underhood showing limited use. A very nice little short door TR2, but not one that'll be mistaken for a show car, just an exceptionally good driver that will line up proudly outside the mid-day restaurant stop on a British car tour. It brought full money for its presentation and comprehensive equipment, but also full value for this money.Lot # 560 1931 Cadillac 370-A V-12 Roadster, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 1000974; Engine # 1000974; Light Green, Dark Green fenders and accent/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $182,500 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $197,100 -- Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts with chrome rings, Pilot-Rays, radiator stoneguard, rumble seat, golf bag door, trunk rack, wind wings. Old repaint starting to crack with large areas repainted over old paint. Wheel hub chrome flaking off. Water stained top. Possibly usable as is but pretty aged and tired to the point where there are unlikely to be any good surprises. This is a real old restoration that has shown little or no attention or use since it was offered at Mecum's Arlington, Illinois auction in 1997 at a high bid of $136,500. An apocryphal story connects this Cadillac to Jean Harlow, but there's no proof of it. For what it is, however, this is a sound price. If the buyer finds even a scintilla of evidence to support the Harlow connection this will be a bargain.Lot # 562 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Newmarket Convertible Sedan, Body by Brewster; S/N S359FM; Engine # 20597; Cream, Beige accent/Cream leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $162,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, dual sidemounts with mirrors and cloth covers, Marchal headlights, footrest, body color metal trunk. Good older paint, chrome, interior and top. Shows age and use throughout but is still plenty good enough to tour proudly. This is a champion price for a Phantom I Newmarket, exceeded only by S126PR's $170,000 at Bonhams Quail 2004 and Gooding Amelia 2010, a much better and more recent restoration. That shouldn't make S359FM's new owner feel bad, because this is a quality car -- even in its 'wedding car' livery.Lot # 566 1958 AC Aceca Coupe; S/N AEX675; Engine # CL2279W; Ruby Red Metallic/Grey leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Post-block sale at $83,333 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $90,000 -- Tube headers, Sunbeam Alpine radiator, three SUs .Sound repaint, good older upholstery and carpets. Weak trim chrome and pitted door handles. Silver painted wire wheels, Michelin Supercomfort blackwall tires, later outside mirrors. Clean, thoroughly redone underbody and chassis. Good interior wood trim. Engine is oily and the engine compartment is disorganized and aged. Not a show car, but an attractive and thoughtfully maintained driver. Bid to $82,000 on the block and closed later at this fully deserved price, even with the erratic restoration (such as it is) and presentation. The streamlined outside mirrors could be lost tomorrow without regret but aside from that it's a well-maintained AC that's had decent cosmetic attention (to a budget) that suggests its drivetrain and suspension work well. The workmanship on the headers is nothing less than impressive. Even at this price it's a sound buy.Lot # 569 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Avon 4-Dr. Sedan, Body by Brewster; S/N S261KR; Engine # 20619; Medium Blue, Black fenders, Black cloth roof/Cream leather; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $97,200 -- Lefthand drive. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, C. M. Hall Depress Beam headlights, dual sidemounts with chrome bands. Top-hinged windshield, smokers kits, footrest, black metal trunk, pulldown rear window shade. Sound paint, chrome and interior. Oily chassis and suspension covered in road grime. Done to a good touring standard and then used as intended but still a sound, solid and usable car. A world record price for an Avon sedan, not that there are all that many results for the style. It wouldn't have been a surprise to see this Avon body sacrificed for a roadster body, or even to make an aero-engined speedster a half-century ago. Its quality is palpable and, honestly, it's a good-looking sedan. Entry to any RROC event will be appreciated along with CCCA tours and shows, this is Classic with a capital 'C'.Lot # 571 1939 Delahaye 135 M Drophead Coupe, Body by Chapron; S/N 48700; Engine # 48700; Olive/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $205,200 -- RHD. Black wire wheels, whitewalls, Marchal fog lights, U.S. made BLC headlights with sealed beam bulbs, trafficators, spare inset in rear deck. Peeling old paint, dull brightwork, cracked and creased upholstery and interior trim. Sound, complete, solid and ready to be restored. Oily and grimy underhood, but surprisingly charming. 'Potential.' That's what this Delahaye has, and the Branson bidders paid full retail for it. The restoration will be straightforward and there will be little searching for missing parts, not even the 'Delahaye' gas cap, but that doesn't mean it'll be cheap. This is, as Jerry Lee Lewis is saying tonight on Sirius/XM, a price that is 'breathless-ah'.Lot # 572 1921 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Oxford Touring, Body by R-RCCW; S/N 95MG; Engine # 20-92; Green, Black fenders/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $180,000 -- RHD. chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual sidemounts with mirrors, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights, wind wings, jump seats, leatherette covered trunk. A well used old car with many touring miles. Repainted over old paint. Rusty cylinder head, oily engine, new wheels. Ready thick paint under fenders. Aged upholstery, probably original interior trim. Black cloth tonneau cover. Generally good chrome but erratic paint. Needs a lot to be shown but probably not much to go on tour. Ex-Barney Pollard (who stored his cars vertically so he could get more of them into his barns) and very cool, it's no surprise the seller decided to take it home. It sure was pretty to look at, though.Lot # 573 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E10654; Engine # 7E2811-9; Red/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 8.00%; Final Price $81,000 -- 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Avon blackwall radials, Kenwood cassette stereo. Good older paint and interior. Taillight housing chrome is pitted. The rest of the chrome is erratic. Sound interior shows some use. Generally dusty and neglected but will benefit from a thorough detailing. Block number matches the head and data plate. Shoji Tabuchi collection. Sold here in 2004 for $53,000, and a much better value at that price, especially considering it's no better now than it was eight years ago (except for an updated stereo.)Lot # 575 1947 Delage D6-70 Drophead Coupe, Body by Guillore; S/N 380123; Engine # 380123; White/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $110,000 -- RHD. Blue steel spoke wheels, hubcaps, Silvertown bias ply blackwall tires, radio, trafficators, Marchal head and fog lights. Chipped but sound old repaint, dull bright trim. Good older interior and top. Chassis, underbody and engine are dirty and oily. A typical engineer's car, put away because of its performance, beauty and technical interest but never restored. Sound, complete and in remarkably good condition. It's the story that makes this car a gem. It comes from a Cincinnati engineer who drove it to Monterey in 1982 and showed it on the Lawn at Pebble Beach. A two inch file captured its history in intimate detail, including road maps, entry lists and its original old style Pebble Beach hand lettered license plate. This is a prize, even at this price. It needs only limited attention to be an admired car on tour or in shows and only needs to wear its Pebble Beach plaque to be a standout.Lot # 584 1938 Buick Special Convertible; S/N 13345609; Metallic Grey/Brown; Beige vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 -- Dual enclosed sidemounts, Blue steel wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, heater, remote spotlight, rumble seat, fog light, turns signals, necker's knob, no radio. Good recent repaint, interior and top over a sound and straight old restoration. Underbody and engine show age and use but the car has real eye-appeal. Hey, it's a Special, not a Super or Roadmaster. The repaint give it eye-appeal but it's still no better than a good tour car, and not CCCA-eligible at that.Lot # 587 1950 Ford Custom Convertible; S/N B0CH153229; Black/Red, Black leatherette; Tan cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 -- Clock, radio, heater. Superficially cosmetically redone years ago with some recent work including new hubcaps and trim rings. Fair paint and interior. Tired, used and never very good. Sold here in 2007 for $30,120, then in the fall of the same year for $35,640, this is not a silk purse and it isn't getting any better with age. It should have gone away if there was money anywhere close to this bid.
