Gooding and Company Pebble Beach, Equestrian Center, Pebble Beach, California, August 18-19, 2012
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
$113,736,600 sold in just two days, with just 123 cars offered and 110 sold, an 89.4% sale rate and average transaction value of just over $1 million; $1,033,969 to be precise.
In the history of collector car auctions there have been a few that posted comparable results, but only in individual categories.
For instance, Barrett-Jackson posted a $100 million sale in 2007 but that $108.8 million total required selling 1,239 cars over a six-day period with an average transaction of $87,790.
Several auctions have average transactions of more than $1.034 million: RM’s three Maranello Ferrari auctions and last year’s Villa d’Este sale. But their totals were half or less (sometimes way less) than Pebble Beach 2012’s $113.7 million. Christie’s Royal Albert Hall auction in 1987 where the Bugatti Type 41 Royale s/n 41141 Kellner Coupe sold for $9,764,585 had an average of $1.8 million, but a total of only $10.8 million from six sold lots.
It was fitting that on a weekend marked by several inexplicably generous prices the last transaction of the four-day auction marathon would also be a benchmark for exuberance. You can read about it at the end of this report.
The 2012 Gooding Pebble Beach auction was an historic event.
Ed Lenahan contributed greatly to the completeness and accuracy of this auction report but if there are issues, comments or complaints they should be addressed to the editor.
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Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report
Lot # 1 1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10103171827; Engine # AR0010229591; Red/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,800 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, Koni shocks. Good but a little dull older paint and new interior. Engine is tidy but not restored, as is the chassis and underbody. Sound body and 80,522 documented miles. An unusually sound and consistently maintained Alfa Giulietta. No Reserve. This is surprisingly sweet little 101-series Alfa Giulietta that’s never been mistreated or given the Veloce treatment. It is not just well bought at this price but a premier value at the beginning of Gooding’s auction. It pays to pay attention early.
Lot # 2 1954 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N S676243; Engine # F39638; Birch Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $92,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,750 – Body color wire wheels, whitewall tires, Amco windwings. Dull old, possibly original paint, faded, stiff and cracked original leather. Recently given an engine-out mechanical service. Very original with single family ownership until earlier this year, but hard to justify preservation in this condition. No Reserve. It’s hard to figure out what to do with this XK 120. Its originality and preservation are charming, but hard to appreciate except as a preservation artifact, and that’s a waste of the car’s style and performance. Despite the generous estimate it brought a reasonable compromise price.
Lot # 3 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500663; Engine # 1989805500649; Silver-Grey/Red leather; Estimate $600,000 – $750,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $580,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $638,000 – Becker Mexico radio, body color wheels, blackwall tires, Talbot mirror, red leather fitted luggage. Older cosmetic restoration to like new with good paint, chrome and better interior. Clean underbody. Grungy, oily engine. A presentable but unexceptional driver. Despite being disappointing in the completeness of its presentation, this Gullwing brought a premium price. The new owner can drive it (until something overlooked in its presentation gives up the ghost) but will soon see the need for a comprehensive restoration that when completed will make the price paid seem a small down payment.
Lot # 4 1925 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Pall Mall Tourer, Body by R-RCCW; S/N S88LK; Engine # 22883; Light Yellow, Black fenders/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $300,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – RHD. Yellow centerlock wire wheels, whitewall tires, dual sidemounts with mirrors, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights, black leather trunk, side curtains. 1980 AACA Grand National winner, CCCA National First Prize #0881. Some dull nickel trim and the body has been repainted over the old paint. Not done to today’s standards but a satisfying and sound tour car. William A.C. Pettitt III Collection. No Reserve. This car, with its clear history and quality old restoration, is every bit as good as the price it brought.
Lot # 12 1929 Duesenberg Model J Dual Cowl Phaeton -“Blue J”, Body by LeBaron; S/N 2292; Engine # J-270; Two tone Blue/Beige canvas over leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $2,000,000 – $2,750,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,980,000 – Chrome wheel discs, double sided whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, dual windshields, long windwings, Trippe lights, small sealed beam bullet headlights. Body moved from accident damaged 2217, J-197 to this chassis during repairs by Duesenberg in 1930. Skirted fenders, drop center wheels, outside head pipes, vee windshield, teardrop wind wings, Ford banjo spoke steering wheel and headlights updated in 1937 by Derham. Acquired from the widow of Rudolf Bauer by Bill Pettitt in 1955. Ancient repaint cracking and buffed through. Utilitarian upholstery, delaminating glass. ‘Needs everything’ may not be strong enough to describe its condition but the superb bodywork and a history that is more than intriguing makes it an easy decision to spent thousands on bringing it back to concours condition. William A.C. Pettitt III Collection. No Reserve. Look for this Duesenberg on the lawn at Pebble Beach’s Preservation class next year, and on the podium where it might just bring the Big Prize. It is, in a word, beautiful. Its Derham updates are additive to its appeal. Dead paint, delaminating glass, odd hose clamps and canvas-covered upholstery detract not all from its appeal. It is a traffic-stopping car. It would almost be a shame to restore it and erase the years of care of dedicated custodians from its presentation. No matter what the decision this is a superb Duesenberg bought for an appropriate price and a credit to Bill Pettitt’s stewardship of it.
Lot # 16 1954 Porsche 356 “Pre-A” Speedster; S/N 80032; Engine # 33688; Ivory, Blue Stripes/Black vinyl, Ivory piping; Black cloth top and tonneau cover, body color wheels. No bumpers or h; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000 – Body color wheels, blackwall tires, no hubcaps or bumpers, top and side curtains, correctly coded wheels, jack, owner’s manual, tool kit. First owner Skip Hudson modified it for SCCA racing, famously beating James Dean at Torrey Pines and Palm Springs. Numbers-matching engine and transmission. Restored in the late 90’s, later owned by Jerry Seinfeld. Solid body with even gaps. Good paint, chrome and interior. A nice little cafe racer with a significant history. Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 1997 for $83,000 to Yankee Candle, then a no-sale at RM Monterey in 1999 for $62,000. Despite the perceived frenzy around Speedster values that’s just over 8.5% per year compounded since 1997 and an historic and significant car at a responsible price.
Lot # 17 1935 Rolls-Royce Phantom ll Drophead Coupe, Body by Allweather; S/N 107TA; Engine # DL85; Black/Burgundy leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000 – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual spares mounted on the rear deck, luggage rack, trafficators, combination rear view mirror/spotlight, single driving light. Singularly unusual coachwork accented by the long hood which stretches back over the cowl almost to the base of the sloping one-piece windshield, its length accentuated by a mass of hood side louvers which continue even into the close coupled cowl and a bright beltline accent that runs the full length of the car. This is the original coachwork specified by the first owner, Mr. A. Simpson of Hemstead, London, and his purpose is clear from the Lucas headlights which have yellow reflectors for high speed touring on the Continent. The interior woodwork on the dash, instrument panel and door cappings is beautiful in both its figure and its finish. Excellent paint, chrome, glass, upholstery, trim and top. Known to and fully documented by the RROC. A concours restoration that has mellowed, but far better than most. Rear door edges scraped, small paint crack below right door. No Reserve. An especially attractive and sporting Rolls-Royce that exudes quality and exclusivity. Offered by Worldwide at Auburn in 2008 it brought a high bid of $670,000. At RM Monterey last year the reported bid was $625,000. The seller may be (no, will be) disappointed with this No Reserve result but the new owner should be overjoyed with the quality of this car.
Lot # 18 2003 Ferrari Enzo; S/N ZFFCW56A830135872; Titanium Metallic/Red leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000 – Assembly #52895. Carbon fiber brakes, black calipers, SF shields, carbon fiber interior trim. Like new, one owner, 2,350 miles, US-spec, one of four Enzos in Grigio Titanio. The mileage is, for a one-owner Enzo, pretty substantial and the catalog describes its ‘most esteemed private collector’ owner, garage-kept, but neglects to describe any service performed. At this price the bidders clearly had satisfied themselves that whatever the Enzo might have needed, it had received.
Lot # 19 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E56S003291; Engine # 0525707F56GV; Polo White, Silver coves/Red vinyl; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250 – 265/210hp, 3-speed, radio and heater delete, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewalls. A fresh, meticulous, numbers-matching restoration to beyond perfect condition. The only fault might be the pitted windshield, but it’s the original piece and impossible to criticize. A beautiful Corvette in great colors. No Reserve. Sold at Christie’s 2006 Monterey Auction for $117,500 (where it was described as having a rare power top not included in its specifications here), the drop in price can in no way be related to the car’s condition which remains pristine. The market for ordinary Corvettes like this has declined far below the wild days of the early 2000s. This is a poster-child, but an excellent value at this price even in a shaky market.
Lot # 20 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Le Mans Sports “Bobtail”, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N KM3088; Engine # MF3175; BRGreen/Green leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $5,500,000 – $7,500,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $5,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,050,000 – RHD. Folding windshield, aeroscreens, rear mounted spare, Lucas driving lights, Bosch horns, cord wrapped steering wheel, black cloth tonneau cover, cycle fenders. Bentley Team car at Le Mans 1928 driven by Frank Clement and Dudley Benjafield where it DNF’d with a broken frame and radiator hose. Frame subsequently strengthened by Bentley, placed second on handicap at the Brooklands Double Twelve in 1929, 3rd at Le Mans in 1929 with Benjafield and Baron d’Erlanger. Later fitted with D Type gearbox. Well used, but also well loved, restored in 1964, then again in early 00’s with period parts. Continuous history, cracked, aged and used but lovely. Fabulously preserved and maintained despite a few replacement parts (sump, Le Mans spare SU carburetors), this is a singularly important Bentley with a continuous history from new that has never been broken up, disassembled or made up from a few significant parts. It is choicely positioned to put its new owner in the seats of Clement and Benjafield at Le Mans in 1928 … and there are few cars that so clearly retain anything close to that kind of aura. It sold for $2,007,081 at Christie’s Le Mans auction in 2004 (Euros 1,658,300 at the time against Euros 4,912,700 here), about 14.75% compounded over the intervening 8 years. It might not continue that rate of return, but it’s unlikely to suffer a Facebook re-set. This is a gold standard of collector car values.
Lot # 21 1931 Cadillac 370-A V-12 Phaeton, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 1004792; Light Blue, Dark Blue fenders and accent/Crimson leather; Blue cloth top and boot; Estimate $180,000 – $220,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – Chrome wrapped dual sidemounts, chrome spoke red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual windshields, dual remote spotlights, single Pilot-Ray, Trippe lights, radiator stoneguard. An old CCCA National First Prize restoration done in 1964 and, aside from some age and use, still capable of winning prizes. Excellent paint, chrome and glass. Interior shows some use but is sound. An extraordinary restoration and equally extraordinary care. The color choices are a little, ah, flamboyant but the car is sharp and the restoration is exceptionally well preserved. Sold for $198,000 at Worldwide’s Houston auction in May 2008 for $198,000, less than 400 miles have been added to its odometer and none of them detract from its sharp presentation. This is a sharp classic at a reasonable price.
Lot # 22 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Coupe; S/N 194377S118016; Engine # T0425JE7118016; Goodwood Green, White stinger/White vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – 427/435hp, 4-speed, side exhausts, AM-FM, rally wheels, red line tires. NCRS Duntov Award winning older restoration to like new condition that’s showing its age. Light scuff on driver’s front fender. Documented with Protecto-o-Plate, warranty book and tank sticker. A late production, highly-optioned Sting Ray begging to be driven. No Reserve. Sold at Gooding’s 2009 Scottsdale auction for $132,000, this Corvette’s good looks and great options were enough to distract bidders from its condition that, while good, is ageing.
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 23 1955 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta, Body by Frua; S/N 2114; Engine # 2114/2; Black/Tan leather; Estimate $1,500,000 – $2,000,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000 – 2 liter twin-plug straight six, 4-speed, triple Weber carburetors, Abarth exhaust, silver painted Borrani wire wheels. 1955 Paris Show car. Restored 2000-02 with re-stamped block. Owned by Jamiroquai front man Jay Kay who brought a Grand Prix at Hurlingham, featured in Octane and 2010 Mille Miglia participant. Stunning form in stunning condition. Better than new chassis, interior, paint and bodywork with the only signs of use faint chips underneath and light creasing on driver’s seat. Slight delamination in rear window. Interest in automobiles is not necessary to admire this beautiful machine. This Maserati was striking in every possible way and its price is commensurate with its condition, appearance and rarity. A Maserati benchmark transaction
Lot # 24 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Coupe, Body by Tickford; S/N AM300/3/1333; Engine # DBA/959; Black/Green leather; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000 – Driving lights, silver painted wire wheels, wood-rimmed steering wheel. Solid paint and beautiful interior. Chassis dirty, chipped, and lightly misted with the full spectrum of leaking fluids. Car’s authenticity bolstered by note on windshield reading “car has developed a minor negative ground problem.” Wonderfully British. Sold for $129,250 at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction earlier this year, niggling British car problems aside, this Aston Martin is a fine road and rally car. It sold for a low enough number that the new owner can correct most problems without winding up under water. The seller is still lighting candles in gratitude for unloading it at a significant profit.
Lot # 25 1968 Bizzarrini Manta, Body by Ital Design; S/N P538003; Engine # 6901; Teal Green, Orange highlights, Silver sills/Black leather; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,500,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $850,000 – 5.4 liter Chevrolet V8, four side draft Webers on cross ram intake, center-mounted driver’s seat. Giorgetto Giugiaro’s first design for Ital Design, built on Bizzarrini P538 competition chassis. Complete car featured prominently in succession of important shows and automotive magazines. Concours level restoration completed in 2005 with subsequent appearances at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Villa d’Este and Geneva. Remarkable, running and drive, if not regularly usable, design. Prototype cars like the Manta are often a hard sell as their histories are near priceless while the cars are often unrealistic and undrivable. So, while the first Ital Design car is no doubt significant what to do with it is a significant problem. The high bid isn’t in line with the car’s history, but it’s a lot of money for a car that can’t easily be driven and has already been displayed at the world’s best shows. It could have been sold for the number offered by this sophisticated and informed audience.
Lot # 26 1930 Cord Front Drive L-29 Convertible Sedan; S/N 2928013; Engine # FDA3160; Red, Dark Red fenders/Cream leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $295,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $324,500 – Dual sidemounts with mirrors, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, Pilot-Rays, cowl lights, metal trunk. Owned by grandson of E.L. Cord. Excellent restoration only just beginning to show slight hints of age. Barely visible dirt underneath and faint wear on dashboard chrome. Both points so minor as to be inconsequential. As new or better in every other way. No Reserve. With its outstanding provenance and condition, this Cord’s sale over the high estimate is both unsurprising and fair.
Lot # 27 1941 Chrysler Town and Country Barrelback; S/N 7693430; Engine # C2862640; Black/Tan leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $385,000 – Roof rack, fold down rear bench seat. One of 996 made in 1941. Concours level restoration. Every surface better than new, with particularly outstanding wood. The only visible flaw is a faint scuff on a whitewall. Current color combo a change from original Regal Maroon exterior, a wise decision because the car looks beautiful and the black paint accents the wood. Exceedingly attractive. Among woodies few cars are as desirable as the Town and Country Barrelback and few are as good as this car. At a third of a million dollars, though, its appeal is pushing the envelope of reasonableness.
Lot # 28 1960 Porsche RS60 Spyder, Body by Wendler; S/N 718060; Engine # P90254; Silver/Red; Estimate $2,250,000 – $3,000,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $3,150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,465,000 – Woodrim steering wheel, full windshield, driver’s head fairing. Raced with great success when new by Bill Wuesthoff and later owned by Bruce Jennings and Dr. William Jackson. Never wrecked, still has its original Type 547/3 engine, transmission and body. Updated by Jennings with Porsche annular disc brakes. Restored by Paul Russell to better than new condition, accurate even in minute details. An exceptionally original, complete and meticulously presented example of Porsche’s giant-killing 1.5-liter mid-engined racer. The quality of this RS60 was not lost on the Pebble Beach bidders who recognized it as a rare – and possibly unique – chance to acquire an RS60 that’s original and as-delivered in all important respects as well as having an epic early US racing career with Bill Wuesthoff. Its price is a benchmark against which other RS Porsches will struggle to match.
Lot # 29 1987 Aston Martin V8 Volante; S/N SCFCV81C9HTL15512; Royal Cherry/Tan leather, Purple accents.; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $94,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $103,400 – 5-speed, Blaupunkt radio, BBS wheels, Avon tires, driving lights. Original paint solid but does not shine like new. Interior and chassis as new. A lesser-known 80s model in an 80s color combination. No Reserve. Though Aston Martin calls it, somewhat amusingly, Royal Cherry, this car’s color is more accurately called purple. And while it looks attractive on the outside, the purple dashboard and steering wheel were decidedly less attractive. It’s an interesting car but the estimates were optimistic and the resulting sale was a good price for buyer and seller. It was sold by RM in Monterey in 2005 for $68,750 in essentially the same condition, just 7 years closer to new.
Lot # 31 1919 Miller TNT 2-Seat racing car; S/N 8M8; Engine # 8M8; Aluminum, Red frame and suspension/Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000 – A lovely, old, used racing car. Dull aluminum, tarnished brass, aged but sound paint. 183 Miller eight cylinder engine replacing the scrapped TNT dohc four. Hydraulic brakes. Eight Miller barrel throttle updraft carbs. 33×5 Goodrich Silvertown tires. Ex-Bob Sutherland who once annihilated a sheep with it on the Colorado Grand. Its survival is a tribute to the good work of Harrah’s and later Bob Sutherland, a history that was more than appreciated by the Pebble Beach Auction bidders. It is a unique piece of America’s racing history, and of car collecting history as well, and deserved the premium price it brought.
Lot # 32 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet; S/N 158320; Engine # 97255; Blue/Red leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $460,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $506,000 – 2 liter 4-cam 587/1 engine, 4-speed, chrome steel wheels and hubcaps, passenger side oil lines and oil cooler, wood-rimmed steering wheel. Matching numbers engine. Restored in the late 90’s with Weber carbs and later 356C disc brakes. An excellent older restoration just beginning to show its age. Minor patina on chassis underside, light swirl marks in driver’s door. Rare and desirable Porsche in an unexpected color combination. With its rare engine, drop top and fantastic aesthetics, this Porsche was surrounded by admirers and easily sold within the estimate range. A half-million dollars is a lot for a 356 Porsche, but this is a 4-cam Carrera with its original engine.
Lot # 33 1981 BMW M1; S/N WBS59910004301154; White/Black leather, Checked cloth seat inserts; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000 – Sport steering wheel, factory slotted alloy wheels, complete tool roll. Unrestored original with good paint and interior showing 30,150 believable miles on its odometer. Waviness in lower edges of both doors that may evidence rust repairs, or their impending need. The useable early super car. No Reserve. Sports car aficionados are remembering the brilliance of BMW’s early M cars en-masse and prices of M1s and E30 M3s are steadily climbing. This was a good, but by no means great example that brought a generous premium for originality and suffered not at all for its wavy doors.
Lot # 34 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 3949SA; Engine # 3949SA; Rosso Cina/Black Leather; Estimate $1,750,000 – $2,500,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,365,000 – Overdrive, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, covered headlamps, Marchal driving lights, fitted luggage, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, unique rear fender vents, SNAP exhaust extractors. 1962 Turin show car. Ordered new by Erwin Goldschmidt and retained for more than forty years by him and his son Anthony. Featured in several publications and often displayed. Restored in 1977 and carefully maintained since, earning a Gold award at Cavallino in 2006. Very light patina on all surfaces save the chrome trim, which is as new. A stunning Superamerica. That this Superamerica sold near its high estimate is not surprising given its unique features, fantastic condition, excellent provenance and incredibly attractive appearance. It stood out in a room filled with exceptional cars. On a sub-$5 million budget for just one Ferrari to own, it would be hard not to choose a Superamerica Coupe Aerodinamico, and this one in particular. With Ferraris flying off to new owners in Monterey at jaw-dropping prices 3949SA is one of the better values.
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 35 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Phaeton; S/N 184064; Engine # 184072; Dark Grey, Light Grey fenders/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $975,000 – $1,300,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Post-block sale at $886,364 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $975,000 – Chrome wire wheels, radiator stoneguard, double tube bumpers, rear mounted cloth covered spare. One of five known to exist of 32 believed built, ex-D. Cameron Peck and recent recipient of a concours level restoration. Pebble Beach 2nd in class and Amelia Island class winner. CCCA judged 100 points. Paint, chassis, mechanicals, interior and every other possible surface simply flawless. A striking car that will not be confused with an ordinary Packard. Free of most ornament and fantastically restored, this Packard earned considerable attention if not money. There are so few 734 Phaetons that its value is hard to judge, but it is certainly worth this much, especially in such beautiful condition and with an unblemished history.
Lot # 37 1953 Jaguar C-type; S/N XKC050; Engine # E1049-8; British Racing Green/Green leather; Estimate $4,000,000 – $5,500,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Post-block sale at $3,386,364 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,725,000 – RHD. Triple side draft Webers, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Brooklands racing screens, flip-up fuel filler. Original engine restored and placed on engine stand. Warmed up replacement W6162-8S installed. The last production C-type. Owned by and campaigned by a series of privateers in period. Heavily crashed in 1955 and rebuilt before passing through the hands of future F3 and F1 pilot Paul Emery and future race-team owner Alan Mann. No major race wins. Participant in nearly every major vintage event at some point in the last thirty years. A well-documented history more impressive for recent events than early. Restored in the mid-80’s in Phil Reilly’s shop, chassis redone in 2010. Many light paint chips across nose, chipped wheels, pedals worn, paint rubbed off cross-rail running through cockpit, seat coverings don’t match. A significant model without significant history. While C-types are never trivial things, this particular car carries among its history a relatively lackluster early racing career and a significant crash. The price agreed to by buyer and seller post-block is more realistic than the optimistic estimates.
Lot # 38 1970 Monteverdi HAI 450 SS Prototype; S/N TNT101; Purple Smoke metallic/White leather; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $525,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $577,500 – 426/450hp dual quad Hemi V-8, 5-speed, multiband radio, Behr A/C, chrome spoke Borranis. Brilliant concours restoration barley showing its age. Driver’s seat shows very slight soiling. otherwise perfect. One of only two known, this is the original 1970 Geneva Auto Show car and the only one with Hemi power. A no-sale at Worldwide Houston 2008 with a high bid of $700,000 and later sold at Bonhams Rétromobile 2010 for $563,332, the Monteverdi is an impressive, impeccably restored, but little know car. This price is reasonable and in line with the previous sale.
Lot # 39 1930 Packard 733 7-Passenger Sedan; S/N 180439; Cream, Olive fenders and accent/Grey striped velour; Estimate $80,000 – $110,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – Dual sidemounts with painted rings and mirrors, radiator stoneguard, Trippe lights, whitewalls, chrome disc wheels, jump seats, trunk rack. Sidemount brackets surface rusted, whitewalls soiled. Otherwise paint, interior and chassis well-detailed and fresh. Shown only once at Keels and Wheels in 2011. No Reserve. This is a sound, usable Packard of little distinction in design or features. Its restoration couldn’t be reproduced for the money spent here for the entire car.
Lot # 40 1913 Pope-Hartford Model 33 4-Passenger Touring Phaeton; S/N 1790; Engine # 662; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $350,000 – $425,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $319,000 – RHD. 389ci overhead valve 4-cylinder, 50 ALAM hp, 4-speed, dual right side spares, cowl lights, wicker trunk. Ex-Harrah’s. Outstanding exterior chrome and engine compartment brass, shiny paint shows numerous pits, pocks, and chips covered in off-colored touch up paint. One of three known. This Pope-Hartford may show wear around the edges but this only adds to its charm. Sold for well below its low estimate and is a deal at this price, a huge, rare, impressive early motorcar that will be welcome on any tour.
Lot # 41 1964 Aston Martin DB5; S/N DB5/1469; Engine # 400/1446; Sierra Blue/Gray leather; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $680,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $748,000 – 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Motorola radio, wood-rimmed steering wheel. Excellent paint and bodywork. Engine compartment clean and orderly. Bumper chrome lightly scuffed front and rear. Largely original and well cared for. This is an especially pretty DB5, in attractive colors and well presented. It brought a healthy price but one well within reason for its quality and inherent desirability.
Lot # 44 1933 Delage D8S Coupe, Body by Freestone and Webb; S/N 38220; Black/Tan leather; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $522,500 – RHD. Marchal head, fog and spotlights, wheel discs, dual rear spares. Excellent older paint, interior and chrome. Chassis painted over unfilled rust pits. Excellent interior wood. Sensational coachwork and luxurious appointments combined with a high quality older restoration make this an automobile that can be proudly enjoyed. No Reserve. Sold at RM’s 2002 Monterey sale for $167,200, then at RM’s sale of the Milhous brothers’ collection earlier this year for exactly the same result that it achieved here. The consignor hoped for a flip, but got flipped off and was fortunate to come this close (after commissions, transportation and entry fees) to breaking even.
Lot # 45 1956 Lotus Eleven Series 1 Sports Racer; S/N MK11/190; Engine # FWA40076802; Orange/Black vinyl; Estimate $150,000 – $180,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Post-block sale at $90,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $100,000 – RHD. 1.1 liter Coventry Climax inline four, side draft Webers, 4-speed, driver’s head fairing, aluminum passenger seat cover, wraparound windscreen. First owned by band leader Skitch Henderson. Suffered rear crash damage early in its career and remained largely unraced despite being repaired. Currently in long-stored condition. Aluminum bodywork wavy and poorly fitted. Mechanicals grimy and required considerable tinkering to stumble to life and towards a rough idle. Not attractive, but a solid starting point for a complete restoration. Few, if any, hand built, aluminum bodied, pre-1957 sports cars can be had for this kind of money. There’s work ahead for the next long term owner, but the work is straightforward and the end result is a widely eligible, competitive race car. Bought by a dealer who knows a great buy when he sees one.
Lot # 46 1904 Knox Tudor Touring; S/N 312; Dark Teal/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000 – 275cc two cylinder, 2-speed, rear entry tonneau, extensive brass. Fascinating engine cooled with approximately 2,000 rods threaded into the cylinders to pull heat from the cylinders. Paint, leather and mechanicals in excellent, barely-used condition. Tires dry rotted and cracking. A really neat car that needs freshening before being turned loose but as a 1987 and 1988 Brighton Run veteran its eligibility has been demonstrated. Everything about this Knox was just right from the shiny brass to the incredibly strange mechanicals. Eligible for trials like London to Brighton and in outstanding, usable condition, the Knox’s sales price is expensive but still reasonable.
Lot # 47 1931 Lincoln Model K Convertible Victoria, Body by Waterhouse; S/N 68757; Engine # 68757; Dark blue, Light blue metallic fenders/Red leather; Light Beige cloth top; Estimate $275,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000 – Red wire wheels, dual sidemounts, Trippe lights, luggage rack. Formerly owned by Otis Chandler. Restored in 1968 to CCCA/AACA National First Prize-winning condition. Dated colors but well preserved and a fine example of the marque, model and coachbuilder. One of 4 built and 2 surviving. Last sold at Gooding’s 2006 Otis Chandler sale for $231,000, the Lincoln’s no-sale at $210,000 here was surprising. The 2006 sale took place in a better market and in the kind of famous, single collection sale that often boosts prices. Despite being without these benefits, the Lincoln matched that price (when commission is included) and the seller would not release the reserve. The Lincoln’s condition isn’t getting any better, and more money will be hard to find.
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 48 1985 Ferrari 288 GTO; S/N ZFFPA16B000052469; Rossa Corsa/Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000 – P/W, A/C, modular wheels, Scuderia shields on front fenders. Paint, interior and chassis show consistent care and little sign of use. Most surfaces as new with the exception of the driver’s seat with slight wear on the bottom bolsters. Otherwise as new. Retained by the second owner for the past 27 years. Federalized for use on US roads with both DOT and EPA clearance. Very well preserved and beautiful with 9,649 km from new. Sherman M. Wolf Collection. The height of Ferrari’s road going technology at the time, the limited-production 288 GTO enjoyed both huge popularity and values from the moment of its introduction. Like many, this car was well cared for but unlike many it was also federalized for use in the United States. Any American looking to enjoy a GTO would be hard pressed to do better, even at this healthy price.
Lot # 49 1960 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Competizione, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 1639GT; Engine # 1639GT; Rosso Bordeaux Metallizzato, Black cloth top/Black leather; Estimate $7,000,000 – $9,000,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $10,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,275,000 – Disc brakes, triple Weber 40 DCL6 carburetors, Borrani wire wheels, Abarth competition exhaust, grille mounted driving lights. Ordered new by Luigi Chinetti who requested the car be built to race specifications with Testa Rossa suspension, disc brakes, Dunlop racing tires, a limited-slip differential, covered headlights, an alloy body and, somewhat surprisingly, a top two inches taller than standard. Owned by several Ferrari aficionados the Spider was never raced competitively and, by 1979, sold to noted Ferrari collector Sherman Wolf with all of its original mechanical components intact. Though its restoration took place some two decades ago paint and trim are excellent and the chassis and mechanical components have only faint patina. All surfaces are immaculately clean. Outstanding. Sherman Wolf Collection. While it might seem all Ferrari California Spiders sit close to the zenith of desirability this car proves that some are still better than others. Unlike most of the other LWB Spiders this car boasts a wide array of rare and desirable components, impeccable provenance and thorough originality. Even at that, though, the price is breathtaking.
Lot # 50 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Spider, Body by Vignale; S/N 0350AM; Engine # 0350AM; Blue, White/Black leather; Estimate $4,500,000 – $6,500,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,730,000 – Triple Weber 40 IF4C carburetors, acrylic windscreens, Borrani wire wheels, vented front and rear fenders. Ordered new by privateer American driver Sterling Edwards, this 340 was the last chassis constructed and the last of five bodied by Vignale. Edwards drove the 340 in the last races of the 1953 season including Reno (1st), and Riverside (DNF). The 1954 season included Pebble Beach (1st), Golden Gate Park (2nd), Shelton Airport (1st), and Riverside AFB (4th), after which Edwards sold the 340 and it passed through the hands of Jim Pauley, Ernie McAfee, Tom Bamford and others before finally selling to Sherman Wolf. Chassis and mechanicals show age and use consistent with a car last restored in 1981. Minor stone chips and patina show on most surfaces and paint is worn from the driver’s side of the frame crossrail running through the cockpit. Exterior paint, bodywork and trim are in excellent condition. Sherman M. Wolf Collection. Eligible for nearly any event and possessing a history filled with some of the greatest names and events of postwar American sports car racing, this 340 could have sold far above its high estimate. Compared to other Ferrari sales from the Wolf collection, this was a lot of provenance and car for the money.
Lot # 51 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC; S/N 0662MDTR; Engine # 0662MDTR; Rosso Corsa/Black leather, White piping; Estimate $3,750,000 – $4,500,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,510,000 – Painted Borrani wire wheels, acrylic windscreen, leather hood and trunk tie-downs, side exhaust. First sold to John von Neumann who promoted his business by taking photos of the TRC with Richie Ginther. The TRC was then driven by a series of drivers including David Cunningham, Bruce Kessler and Pete Lovely before being re-engined with a Chevy and eventually driven on the street by a law student and stored in a barn. In 1988 the TRC was purchased by Sherman M. Wolf and restored by DK Engineering including finding and rebuilding the original engine. Paint and bodywork appear fresh with no dents, scratches or blemishes visible anywhere. The chassis and engine bay show only slight use in the form of minor patina but are utterly without dirt or grime. The interior appears as new. Sherman Wolf collection. This is the original Testa Rossa, a gutsy 2-liter 4-cylinder the preceded the V-12 250s. Even without this car’s fine history and originality, this TRC is an attention getter with outstanding aesthetics and Rosso Corsa paint. There was always a crowd gathered around it and with this kind of attention it’s not surprising its price came well over the low estimate.
Lot # 53 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; S/N CSX 3216; Engine # C5352; Wimbledon White/Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $950,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $825,000 – 427 V-8, 4-speed, black Halibrand centerlock wheels, safety-wired three eared-knock offs, wind wings, Carroll Shelby signed glove box, full weather equipment. Originally 428-equipped car, engine replaced during mid-00’s restoration with a NOS factory 427 side-oiler. Chassis ID tag replaced by Ford with one reading ’67-CSX3216. Original interior with seating surfaces lightly cracked. Numerous chips on ladder frame chassis with surface rust visible along right rear. Rollbar removed and holes in bodywork filled with color-matched plugs, huge rear fenders, outstanding paint. Known, if somewhat checkered, history from new but recently restored to its original appearance (except in the engine compartment where the more desirable 427 now resides) and way more than good enough to drive and enjoy its 530 hp. This price should satisfy both buyer and seller.
Lot # 54 1961 Jaguar XKE SI flat floor Roadster; S/N 875432; Engine # R1575-9; OEWhite/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $170,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500 – Flat floor, welded louvers, chrome wire wheels, tool kit. Concours level restoration with outstanding paint, interior and mechanicals. Better than new in every regard. No Reserve. This car was simply stunning and its price is completely in line with an XKE of this condition and specification. Trophies await.
Lot # 55 1936 Auburn 852 Supercharged Boattail Speedster; S/N 33914E; Engine # GH5267; Dark Brown/Taupe leather; Estimate $525,000 – $575,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000 – Crosley radio converted to AM-FM, two-speed axle, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, front wheel mud flaps. Restored twice, first in 2002 and more recently in 2011. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2011. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. A thorough, show quality restoration that shows only a little age and almost no use. ACD Certified. Surprisingly attractive colors. Fastidiously restored and presented in exceptionally attractive and unusual colors, this Speedster brought a strong but reasonable price.
Lot # 56 1931 Duesenberg Model J LWB Limousine, Body by Willoughby; S/N 2438; Engine # J-430; Blue, Black/Black leather, Tan cloth; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000 – Jump seats, rollup divider, whitewalls, chrome wire wheels, dual chrome-wrapped sidemounts, luggage rack, tinted glass visor over windshield, Trippe lights. Battery compartment rusted through, tires rock hard and dull. Trim scuffed. Decent cosmetics, but still largely original. An auction car This car has made the rounds with a sale at The Auction Las Vegas in 1998 for $310,000, a no-sale at Kruse Auburn 1998 for $340,000, a no-sale at RM Meadow Brook 2001 for $240,000 and a sale at Hershey 2003 for $269,000. The price paid here is completely in line with previous transactions. Let’s hope if finds a good long term home that will do it justice.
Lot # 57 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N E7FH213263; White/White vinyl; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 – E-code, dual 4-bbl carburetors, overdrive 3-speed, porthole hardtop, wheel covers, skirts, Town and Country radio. Recently restored with paint, interior, and chassis displaying as new condition. No Reserve. Somewhat obscured by the sea of rare Ferraris that surrounded it, this Ford nevertheless looked good and drew enough admirers away from the rare Italian machinery to earn a solid price.
Lot # 58 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 660118; Engine # W2293-8; White/Red leather, Tan inserts; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Cosmetic restoration, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $180,000 – RHD. Leather hood tie downs, steel wheels, factory fitted belly pans, Brooklands windscreens, tribar headlights. Ordered new by John Edgar and campaigned in a number of important post war races including a win by Jack McAfee in the 1952 Palm Springs road race. Brake fluid leaking on driver’s side frame rail where the paint leaps from the metal in soft, gooey flakes. Bodywork wavy and inconsistent, terrible panel gaps. Doors inexplicably covered in decals proclaiming victory at Palm Springs in 1952. Tacky “98” applied to front fenders in the True Type font Brush Script. A historic racer cobbled together and quite literally obscured by its own history. Why anyone would destroy the period appearance of an important car with decals proclaiming its period importance is strange. Stranger still that no one in this car’s recent chain of owners has taken the time or money to correctly restore what is an interesting, attractive and significant car. The catalog optimistically called this car “museum ready” and called for a much higher number. Without considerable work to improve its presentation, the high bid should be more than enough.
Lot # 59 1938 Bentley 4 1/4 Liter Drophead Coupe, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N B153LE; Engine # G8BH; Cream, Tan fenders/Brown leather; Estimate $150,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000 – RHD. Overdrive, body color painted wire wheels, fender mounted mirrors, single driving light, massive and complete tool roll. Second in class at Pebble Beach in 1979 when owned by Richard Straman. Cowl vent chipped, cockpit surround wood veneer pulling up, seats lightly creased. Engine clean but not overly detailed. A solid car that shows little effect from three decades of use and enjoyment. This car doesn’t possess anything resembling the presence or swagger of other Bentley contemporaries. Pretty and in solid condition, yes, but not as impressive as others. The high bid was not too far from the low estimate and should have been close enough to spark a post block sale.
Lot # 60 1947 Ford Super Deluxe Convertible Coupe Sportsman; S/N 799A1684761; Maroon/Maroon leather interior; Tan cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,500 – Whitewalls, trim rings, dual remote spotlights, bumper tips, radio. Restored in 1992. Orange peel along cowl, driver’s front fender scuffed, wiring in wheels wells zip-tied in place, cloth harness insulation crudely cut and frayed. Wood new and stain free, but the varnish is cracked at nearly every seam. An older, high quality restoration now neglected for too long and needing serious and quick attention before it needs to be done all over again. No Reserve. Though well below the low estimate, this woody’s price was strong considering its neglect in the years since its restoration. The seller got a deserved haircut.
Lot # 61 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 07637; Engine # 07637; Red/Black, Beige leather; Estimate $850,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $860,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $946,000 – Centerlock alloy wheels, aftermarket radio. Early long nose body but with no history of any consequence. Paint is chipped, scuffed and dull. Trim is dented, rusted and chrome is worn through. Headlight covers are cracked and dull, the interior is filthy, worn and falling apart save the two seat covers that are only slightly better black replacements despite the rest of the interior being beige. Engine and chassis are filthy. The steering wheel looks good by comparison but it, too, will need restoring. A huge, expensive project, stored since 1973 and only recently liberated. Project cars have a way of standing out against all the polished metal sitting under the auction tent but this isn’t reason enough to buy one. It’s rarely the case that a buyer can save money in the long run by buying a car in this condition. Another, similar 275 sold during the week for $1.182 million and was road ready. The nearly $250k difference in price might seem large, but not to a restoration shop.
Lot # 62 1956 Jaguar XK 140 Special; S/N S815749; Engine # RA41659; Black/Red leather; Estimate $200,000 – $275,000; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $125,000 – RHD. 3.8 liter/325hp, 5-speed, triple Weber sidedraft carburetors, hood louvers, Brooklands racing screens, driving lights with rock guards, driver’s head fairing, flip-up fuel filler, Yokohama AVS tires, fire system, Fram shock absorbers, XKE independent rear suspension, aluminum custom made body from RS Panels. Any surface not covered in outstanding paint or impeccable leather has been excessively polished or chromed. Inspecting the opened engine compartment is like staring at an arc-welder. A boy racer caught between 1956 and 2012. While the car undoubtedly cost more than the high bid to construct, finding more money will be hard as it’s a car without a home. It’s too nice and overly prepared to race, let alone be accepted by sanctioning bodies. It’s too racy for lengthy road rallies and too modified to get into many. And at most high end shows the Jaguar will be hard to classify and gain entry. Many other cars at the $275,000 high estimate will accomplish all of these and much more.
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 63 1960 Lotus Elite Series II Coupe; S/N 1296; Engine # 8863; White/Black vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – Coventry Climax 1,216cc Engine, four-speed, dual side draft Webers, Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel. Freshly restored with excellent paint, interior, trim and mechanicals. Black interior is a color change from the original (and more attractive) red. A crazed horn button is the only visible item not as new. Beautiful. No Reserve. An early series II Elite, this car boasts better bodywork than the earliest Elites, but it retains the MG sourced 4-speed that diminished the car’s otherwise outstanding performance. It’s still a beautiful example and its price is in line for a car of this condition and specification.
Lot # 64 2008 Bugatti Veyron; S/N VF9SA25C18M795211; Black, Red/Black leather; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,075,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,182,500 – 8 liter quad-turbocharged W-16, 7-speed DSG gearbox, black alloy wheels.1,700 miles from new, one owner. Admired by no fewer than four fedora-clad men. Otherwise new and uninteresting. For those who know little about cars save the statistics printed at the end of car reviews or viewed on British TV show, the Bugatti Veyron is king. It makes massive horsepower numbers, has a massive top speed and costs about the same as the outstanding Mercedes-Benz 300SL or actual, non-VW Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio sold here this weekend. The consignor of this car took delivery in early 2009. In the 2 1/2 years since then it’s been driven some 1,700 miles, 57 miles a month. This defines the owner’s judgment of the car’s irrelevance.
Lot # 66 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 198042100003228; Engine # 19898210000188; Ivory/Red leather; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,595,000 – Disc brakes, aluminum engine block, chrome steel wheels with color matched hubcaps, hardtop and soft top, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, lap belts, fitted luggage, Euro headlights. 14,669 miles from new and all original save an older repaint and color change from cream to white. Faint patina on most surfaces. Lightly creased driver’s seat. A barely used 300SL still very much as it left the factory. The market for good, original 300SLs knows no bounds and this car’s sale well past the high estimate suggests the rise of 300SL prices continues unabated.
Lot # 67 1970 Porsche 914-6; S/N 9140431060; White/Black vinyl; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $61,600 – Fuchs alloy wheels, chrome front and rear bumpers, full tool roll, Blaupunkt radio, Koni shocks. Terrible orange peel and sanding marks throughout the paint, old bumper rubbers, wavy and soiled, driver’s door chipped, undercoating flaking off and sprayed over with a new coat of paint. Solid and usable original Interior. The odometer shows 34,617 possibly original miles but the problems are many. No Reserve. This car wore its problems on its sleeve and sold for a price well beyond the high estimate and reason. This is a huge and unjustified premium for originality of questionable value, and that despite a number of upgrades that make it a better driver, but less as it came from the VW factory. Expensive.
Lot # 68 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10683; Engine # 10683; Grigio Ortello/Beige leather; Estimate $300,000 – $375,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – Centerlock Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, complete tool roll, jack. Largely original paint with all original trim and interior. Paint is a fantastic color and shows only minor marks. Trim displays minor marks but is generally straight and shiny. Interior is clean with some creasing on driver’s seat. Chassis undercoating is chipping and the some oil stains are present. A beautiful, largely original car. Throughout the weekend, at Gooding and RM, several otherwise mid-range Ferraris boasting exceptional condition, color, or both, simply flew to new heights. This car was one, and at least two people really wanted it. The result is an awe-inspiring price for a 330 GTC with a six-figure premium for some questionably retain vestiges of originality.
Lot # 101 1961 MG A Mk I Roadster; S/N 89089; OE White/Burgundy leather; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Modified restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400 – Mark II 1622cc engine, Isky cam, MGB valves, 1 1/2 inch SU carbs, upgraded racing suspension, 60-spoke silver painted wire wheels, blackwall tires, cutdown full width curved glass windshield. Bumpers and top removed. Doors heavily filled. Good looking paint and interior. Original parts included. No Reserve. An expensive cafe racer, but one done well with serious parts so if cafe racing is the new owner’s style this MG A will more than fill the bill at a cost less than it would take to replicate it.
Lot # 104 1913 National Series V N3 Semi-Racing Type Roadster; S/N 10316; Engine # N; Ivory/Brown leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Older restoration, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – Gray & Davis spotlight, Westinghouse spring shackle dampers, Brown headlights, Klaxon electric horn, Gray & Davis electric side lights, round bolster tanks, dual spares on the rear deck, Warner speedometer, Tremont Products Humistat Type A. Cracked, torn upholstery, dull old paint and nickel. Aged and used but sound, complete and usable as is. Said to work and drive well. It would be a shame to restore this car. Formerly owned by D. Cameron Peck and given to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry sixty years ago, in this configuration and condition. Still as it was donated and quite wonderful, even if it is doubtful it started its life with this bodywork. No Reserve. Sold by Bonhams in 2008 at Brookline, Massachusetts for $196,200, this may not be how this National began its life but it’s been this way for way more than half of it and has earned recognition for what it is and for its D. Cameron Peck history. It deserves to be driven to the potential of its 40 ALAM hp T-head engine, a worthy counterpart to the Mercers on the Pebble Beach lawn this year and Harry Stutz’s original Bearcats. It is something of a good value at this price.
Lot # 108 1920 Bugatti Type 13 16-valve Two-Seater; S/N 981; Engine # 538; Matte Black/Black leather; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Rebodied or re-created, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $345,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $379,500 – RHD. It is hard to describe the presentation of this brush painted, oily, grimy contraption without giving the wrong impression, because it is wonderful: a Bugatti rat rod. Originally a Type 22-27, shortened to Type 13 wheelbase after WWII. Original engine, gearbox and axle. Reproduction Brescia-style dog-cart body done in the late 90’s as part of a really appealing restoration. This is just the nutz. There are so many wonderfully restored Bugattis (not a few of them here at the Pebble Beach Auction) but so few that so clearly express Bugattis’ original concept. Fast, lightweight, reliable and responsive, they were often utilitarian instruments meant to consume long distances and steep hills in competition maintained solely in furtherance of their performance with little attention to appearance, like this sympathetic re-creation of a Type 13 16-valve banana tappet Brescia. Gee, think I liked it? While this is a lot to pay for a cut-and-shut Type 13 with repro body, it plucked the Pebble Beach bidders’ strings and brought a plentiful price not at all out of the realm of reason.
Lot # 109 1955 Ferrari 857 Sport Sports Racer, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 0588M; Engine # 0588; Red/Brown corduroy; Estimate $5,000,000 – $7,000,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $5,700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,270,000 – RHD. Silver painted wire wheels, driver’s Plexiglas windscreen, head fairing with fin, outside fuel filler in passenger’s hard tonneau cover. An illustrious history despite being rolled by Olivier Gendebien during practice for the Tourist Trophy, a cloud with a silver lining as it gave Scaglietti the chance to repair the bodywork and fit the head fairing fin which has since forever distinguished 0588M. Sold to John Edgar and raced by Jack McAfee and later Carroll Shelby and Richie Ginther. Later owned and repowered with a Chevy by Oscar Koveleski, then sold to Andy Warhol. Eventually restored in 2011 by DK Engineering with its original four-cylinder engine which David Cottingham had patiently preserved for two decades until the 857 Sport could be acquired. Freshly restored and better than new. An important element of Ferrari and American road racing history, beautifully and accurately restored with its original engine and a pretty car on top of all that. The 4-cylinder Lampredi engined Ferrari sports racers are enjoying a resurgence and are competitive with all their contemporaries particularly on tight circuits where their lumbering torque pulls them out of corners with alacrity. This is a healthy but fully deserved price, but what will Ferrari Classiche have to say about the finned bodywork repair by Scaglietti?
Lot # 112 1952 Hudson Hornet 4-Door Sedan; S/N 189421; Engine # 189421; Blue, White roof/Blue vinyl, striped fabric; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $162,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $178,750 – 308/160hp Twin-H Hornet six, Clifford cylinder head, overdrive 3-speed. Owned by famed designer Brooks Stevens. Accrued few miles and received a restoration in the early nineties. Now showing age but still in good condition. Solid trim and paint with an excellent interior and well detailed engine. An average classic with above average provenance. No Reserve. Even after factoring in the Brooks Stevens ownership, this price is stunning. It’s a beautiful classic car with history, but it’s still a Hudson Hornet. Its appeal is undeniable, but its price is unreasonable.
Lot # 113 1964 Ford GT40 Prototype; S/N GT/104; Metallic Blue, White stripes/Black cloth; Estimate $5,000,000 – $7,000,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,950,000 – RHD. No speedometer. Halibrand centerlock alloy wheels, Goodyear Blue Streak tires. Lightweight tub from new. DNF at LeMans (Schlesser/Attwood) in 1964, same result at Nassau. Raced by Shelby in 1965, 3rd at Daytona (Bondurant/Ginther), dnf at Sebring. Later restored by Ford with some different body details and used as a show car. Later restored by Paul Lanzante with a correct Colotti gearbox and Le Mans spec 289 with the correct Colotti gearbox bellhousing pattern and liveried as a Daytona in 1965. Restored better than new with excellent cosmetics and no evidence of use. An impressive GT40 in its racing history (with both Ford and Shelby), its unusually original configuration and its meticulous and pristine restoration, it brought an entirely reasonable price here at Pebble Beach on a weekend when GT40s were the name of the game and the game was expensive.
Lot # 115 1960 Aston Martin DB4 Series II Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N DB4/287/L; Engine # 370/293; Snow Shadow Grey/Red leather; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000 – Chrome wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, 4.2 liter 303hp engine upgrade with triple SU carbs. Includes original 2-carb intake. Good paint, chrome and interior but the underbody is dirty and unrestored. Superficially presented and not at all reassuring despite the litany of work described in the catalog. No Reserve. The new owner bet a lot on the quality of the work inside places where it can’t be seen and placed less emphasis on the visible shortcomings of the car’s underside, paying a premium price for its GT-power engine. It may turn out to be a successful bet, but it’s a gamble, not a probability.
Lot # 116 1972 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Berlinetta, Body by Bertone; S/N 5048; Engine # 30735; Fly Yellow, Silver sills/Black leather, Beige cloth; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,375,000 – A/C, Voxson 8-track stereo, centerlock alloy wheels. An original SV with split sump lubrication and 385hp. Includes original tool kit, handbooks, sales brochure and manual window winder. Cosmetically restored to nearly like new condition and impressively documented and equipped, especially factory A/C, a necessary attribute of the amply-glazed Miura body, with an unblemished history from new. It hardly gets any better than this in Lambo-land, even at this price.
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 117 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Coupe; S/N 1E31564; Engine # 7E53519; Black/Red leather; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000 – Chrome wire wheels, Becker Europa radio. Amelia Island Concours class winner in 1999. Excellent paint and interior. Light creasing on seats. Engine fastidiously detailed with gloss enamel coating still on the exhaust headers. An older restoration incredibly well maintained. JDHT documented, numbers matching, original colors. No Reserve. Though its restoration is no longer fresh, this car simply shined and many auction goers stopped to admire it. This price is strong for a coupe but this car’s condition and appearance earned it. Little remembered these days, but the coupe was the XKE that got our juices flowing in the Sixties. It is a masterpiece of design, even if the top doesn’t go down.
Lot # 118 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe, Body by Rollston; S/N 2585; Engine # J-560; White/Red leather; Estimate -; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $6,400,0000 – Suicide doors, disappearing top, dual enclosed rear spares, fender skirts, skirted front fenders, steeply raked windshield, mesh hood sides. outside exhaust head pipes. One of approximately 10 JNs made and 4 convertibles, bought new by Clark Gable. Key appearances in the movie ‘Merrily We Live’ and Gable’s affair with Carole Lombard. Thoroughly updated by coachbuilder Bohman & Schwartz under Gable’s considerable input. After Lombard’s tragic death Gable instructed a friend to sell the car to someone outside of California. Passed through several owners (including Robert ‘Hans’ Hermann, Killer Kowalski’s tag team wrestling partner, not the race car driver) and restorations. Restored in 2007 by Stone Barn to its original appearance, Gwenn Graham Award winner at Pebble Beach, Best in Show at Amelia Island and Meadow Brook. Absolutely outstanding restoration of an imposing, beautiful and storied car. Perhaps the Duesie was overshadowed by the collection of significant Ferraris or the stunning Von Krieger 540K Special Roadster offered at the same sale. Whatever the case, this car did not receive bids in keeping with its tremendous history and the seller was smart to keep the car in stead of taking the high bid. No book or article on Duesenberg can be complete without a picture of this car with a broadly smiling, proud Clark Gable. That’s worth a lot, aside from the car’s magnificent presentation.
Lot # 119 1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 5211; Engine # IND201008; Cream/Brown leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $341,000 – 331/220hp Chrysler Hemi, log intake manifold with 4 Zenith carbs, Fluid Torque 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, heater, pushbutton radio. First owned by William Burden (a grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt who commissioned Harry Miller’s V-16 road car.) Restored in the early 00’s, 3rd in class at Amelia Island in 2002. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new with better cosmetics but the chassis and underbody are oily and grimy. Color changed from Black. No Reserve. Sold by RM at Monterey in 2006 for $374,000 and in about the same condition, but a little less pricey, here. It is a good value at this price, particularly with its Alfred Momo upgraded Chrysler Hemi.
Lot # 121 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio, Body by Gangloff; S/N 57677; Engine # 31C; Dark Blue, Ivory/Dark Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,292,500 – RHD. Wheel discs, skirts, enclosed rear spare, Marchal headlights and fog lights, hydraulic brakes, Cotal gearbox. Flush folding top coachwork. Ordered by Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte. Later owned in the US by Bob Fergus and David Tunick. Confirmed by David Sewell to be the original frame, axles, engine and supercharger. Very good paint, chrome, upholstery and top. Restored to better than new a while ago, very clean and orderly. Not fresh, but very attractive and assuring. A high quality Bugatti not only in its inherent originally supercharged form but also in its preservation intact in all significant respects and with attractive late Gangloff Stelvio coachwork with flush-folding top, this is an appropriate price to pay for its litany of ‘corrects’ and ‘quality’.
Lot # 122 1962 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 1012428; Blue metallic/White leather; Estimate $160,000 – $180,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $236,500 – 5-speed ZF transmission, triple 42DCOE Weber carbs, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, blackwall tires, wood-rimmed steering wheel. Restored in the early 90’s and still with excellent paint and trim. Excellent bodywork with even gaps and flush fits. Solid mechanicals. White leather is lightly soiled. Road or show ready, an older restoration that displays its quality everywhere. No Reserve. Two people wanted this car badly and bid it easily out of its high estimate toward a quarter of a million dollars. The Maserati was pretty and well prepared, and this price might be considered too much money, but maybe collectors are waking up to the quality, beauty and performance of 60’s Maseratis as their counterparts from Maranello are ratcheting out of sight financially.
Lot # 123 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 130949; Engine # 130949; Black/Tobacco leather; Estimate -; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $10,700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,770,000 – Gorgeous. Stunning. Fabulous. There, that says it all. Freshly restored to concours condition in Chris Charlton’s workshop. A storied history of one-family German aristocrats’ ownership culminating in the beautiful and eventually eccentric Baroness Gisela von Krieger. Long stored in a barn in Connecticut where every once in a while someone would come along and make a run at it. Restored complete as found even to the Baroness’s red lipstick stained cigarette butts from the ashtrays, her white gloves, logbook and period road maps. 2004 Pebble Beach class winner. High door, long tail, vee windshield body, chrome spoke wire wheels, spotlights, inset covered rear spare, Telefunken multiband radio. leather covered dashboard and instrument panel, writing table. A shoo-in for any concours it wants to attend. In pictures the 540K Special Roadster appears large, almost ponderous. In person they’re usually displayed on a plinth, standing above eye-level in rarified, Wagnerian splendor. The Baroness Gisela’s 540K instead was just inside the Pebble Beach Auction’s entrance on eye-level. It was approachable and immediately apparent how Gisela could manage its size and power (although even at that Gisela must have been a dynamic force and personality of Wagnerian intensity.) $12 million? 540K Special Roadster stories don’t get much if any better than this, nor does their originality, completeness and restoration. It could have brought more without surprising anyone except maybe the Maine collector who sold it.
Lot # 124 1959 Lancia Flaminia Sport Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N 824001097; Engine # 823002065; Blue-Green metallic/Pumpkin leather; Estimate $375,000 – $450,000; Concours restoration, 1+ condition; Hammered Sold at $375,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $412,500 – 4-speed, updated with Zagato sport seats and triple Weber carbs (original seats and single Solex intake included.) Double-bubble greenhouse. Over-the-top, Pebble Beach quality restoration totaling more than $450,000. Paint, interior and mechanicals are absolutely stunning and perfect. 3rd in class at Pebble Beach in 2008. The original color combination only adds to the car’s significant appeal. May be the best, over-over-the-top restoration in the Monterey auctions. When attractive, historic cars are prepared with this kind of cost-no-object attention to detail, the car and its sales number are almost always impressive. This is a solid number for a Flaminia Sport. It’s also nearly $40,000 shy of the restoration costs. Let down, some might say, by the engine upgrade and incorrect seats, but they don’t take away from its sharp presentation and performance appeal.
Lot # 125 1923 Locomobile Model 48 Sportif; S/N 18317; Engine # 13588; Light Yellow, Black fenders/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – Body color wood spoke wheels, drum headlights, spotlight, dual rear spares, opening upper windshield panels. A remarkable original specimen, owned by a single family from 1933 until 2005, 2007 Pebble Beach Preservation Class 2nd place. Driven from Bridgeport to Washington state by the first owner, John Hewitt. Absolutely complete and original, a marvelous automobile still in entirely presentable condition. No Reserve. In 1923 there was no better automobile than the T-head, 6-cylinder Locomobile 48. It wasn’t the most advanced, but it was strong, powerful and fast. The factory coachwork looked great even in the years leading up to the Classic era. The new owner has a car to be immensely proud to own and drive, bought at a reasonable price.
Lot # 126 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002573; Engine # 19898010002642; Graphite Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $950,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $770,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $847,000 – Chrome steel wheels, painted hubcaps, whitewalls, Becker Mexico radio. Totally original and non-operable condition with 25,002 miles from new. Worn and dirty engine compartment, top wrinkled and worn, leather seats heavily creased, carpet soiled, side trim scuffed and dented, front bumper pitted. A concours-priced driver that doesn’t drive. Before this auction, the price paid for this non-operable 300SL would have seemed insane. Now it seems there’s more than enough room between this car’s price and the other original SL roadster offered at Gooding for the next owner to preserve its originality and return it to the road. The new owner was probably reassured that the engine turns over, even if it hasn’t been run. There is no limit to how much this extravagance may cost before it actually runs … maybe it better just sit under its 1954 MG Mitten car cover for another four decades.
Lot # 127 1911 S.P.O. Raceabout; S/N 111; French Blue, White cloth mudguards/Black leather; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $440,000 – RHD. 260ci L-head inline four, 3-speed, acetylene headlamps, cloth mudguards, dual rear spares, round bolster fuel tank. A component of several early classic car collections with James Melton, Winthrop Rockefeller and William Harrah, described ‘Bright Wheels Rolling’ by Ken Purdy. Probably the sole surviving S.P.O. Lots of brass in solid condition. Restored at Rockefeller Petit Jean Mountain museum years ago. Paint dull and scuffed in spots, sound upholstery and fabric fenders, surprisingly bright brass. A little known car with an interesting history. Captivating with its cloth mudguards and early racing form, the S.P.O. possesses many of the charms of but lots less horsepower than the Mercer Raceabouts preparing for display just down the hill this weekend on Pebble Beach’s 18th fairway. The appeal of its 24 rated hp side valve four was over-estimated and it could have been sold without undue regret at a bid half of that reported here. No one knows what an S.P.O. is (or even what it stands for. It’s Societe Francaise de Petite Outillage which Google translates as the French company for little tools.) This Little Tool isn’t worth even this much. Having a ‘Little Tool’ isn’t calculated to bring bragging rights to its owner.
Lot # 128 2008 Tesla Roadster; S/N SFZRE11B181000008; Obsidian Black metallic/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – 375 volt motor, 1-speed, alloy wheels, clear paint protector, High Power Wall Connector charging system included. Owned by George Clooney and proceeds to benefit his Satellite Sentinel Project. As new with 1,825 miles. Good cause, boring car. No Reserve. An overweight Lotus Elise loaded down with lithium ion batteries, cost $109,000 new but Uncle Sam gave George a big gift on his tax return. This is an early 2nd gear only Tesla with the weak gearbox. The thrill wore off at 1,825 miles for George which doesn’t have great promise of a marvelous driving experience for its next owner. The decision to give it away makes room in Clooney’s garage for real automobiles. A good sales price going to help those in Sudan Darfur.
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Seven
Lot # 129 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 84115; Engine # P67675; Aquamarine Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000 – 1600 Normal, 4-speed, chrome Rudge wheels, bumper overriders front and rear, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, cast headlight stoneguards. Restored by a Porsche parts business owner, painted a lighter non-Porsche Aquamarine Blue and fitted with 5 1/2 inch Rudge wheels. Passed through a series of owners including Jerry Seinfeld. As new condition with the exception of a heavily chipped stick lever. A beautiful, but resto-modded Porsche Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2001 for $92,880, the result here is exceptional. Chalk it up to the Seinfeld effect. This Speedster is beautiful but no where near the level of quality of the blue ’58 Speedster sold at RM Scottsdale 2012 for nearly the exact same price. This is very strong money for a modified Speedster despite the appeal of the Rudge wheels.
Lot # 130 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Cabriolet, Body by Billeter and Cartier; S/N 55206; Engine # 6; Black/Green leather; Black top; Estimate $5,000,000 – $6,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,500,000 – RHD. Supercharged 2,262cc 135hp dohc engine, 4-speed, polished spoke alloy wheels, dual rear spares, folding flat windshield, partial outside exhaust. Unique coachwork with folding windshield and roll-up windows. Replacement cylinder block (original included.) Cosmetically restored in 2010 by Hall & Hall with appropriate mechanical attention. Largely original except for the block and upper crankcase. Sound older paint, chrome and interior. Chassis looks like a four or five year old used car. ‘One more bid …?’ they said on the block. It is an extraordinary car, even for a Bugatti. Nearly completely original and as-built including the unique Billeter & Cartier coachwork with an essentially uninterrupted history and meticulously restored to its original configuration. A Type 55 is a road-going Bugatti GP car and this one has decent weather protection and coachwork that wouldn’t embarrass Jean Bugatti. One more bid should have been made. The car is worth it.
Lot # 131 1951 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 660684; Engine # G1754-8S; British Racing Green/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Modified restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,750 – C-type head and 2-inch SUs on replacement engine, wraparound windscreen, driver’s head fairing, leather hood tie-down, chrome wire wheels, modern radials, rows and rows of hood louvers, side exit exhaust. Solid paint and interior. Very well detailed engine and mechanicals. No Reserve. Whether on a used car lot or at the height of automotive auctions, no car salesman has ever accurately used the word “tasteful.” So things like immaculate pre-war Bugattis and outstanding post war sportscars cruise across the block with louvers, wide wheels and billet accessories claiming to be ‘tasteful.’ The second something with louvers, headrests, cut down windscreens and, of course, chrome shows up, so too does “tasteful.” This Jag isn’t, but it might be fast and fun to drive. So, too, is a restomod ’69 Camaro.
Lot # 133 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona; S/N 14735; Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $295,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $324,500 – Centerlock alloy wheels, Becker Mexico cassette, A/C, US spec with painted nose panel and pop-up lights. Decent repaint, good interior creased from use but not worn. Undercoat slathered in wheel wells. A good Daytona driver color changed from metallic silver. Recently detailed at the astounding cost of $13,000. No Reserve. This is an ample, maybe even generous, price for a thoughtfully and thoroughly maintained but never restored Daytona.
Lot # 134 1931 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre Blower Sports 2/3 Seater Boattail; S/N SM3916; Engine # SM3922; Green/Green leather; Estimate $8,000,000 – $10,000,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $7,000,000 – RHD. Dual sidemounts, Raydyot spotlight, dual carbs. Very original, cracked paint on fabric body, oily and dusty. New seating surfaces. Very real. Bought by Bill Klein in 1953 and given to his wife Ann. Never restored, with all the bits and pieces it came with from the factory. A wonder to behold and one of only 50 Blower Bentleys built of which some 43 survive. Sold at Gooding Pebble Beach 2007 from E. Ann Klein’s estate for $4,510,000, this blower Bentley stopped many in their tracks with its stunning originality, but this wasn’t enough to push bidding past the reserve. An unrepeatable car, its considerable jump in price should nevertheless have given the seller pause to think about the $2 million left on the table. The math? Today’s bid is an 11.29% return compounded annually since 8/19/2007. It should have been taken.
Lot # 135 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 1880155500026; Engine # 1999805500029; Dark Red/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $875,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $875,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $962,500 – 4-speed, Becker Mexico multiband radio, fitted luggage, chrome wheels, fog lights. Hard to believe, but this car’s restoration was completed in 2002. Beautiful paint, chrome, upholstery and even better richly grained interior wood. Like new underhood. Fresh, sharp, meticulous concours restoration. Lush. No Reserve. Some cars just call out with their quality and fastidious presentation and this in one of them. There was no way to avoid it, or to dismiss its quality. The allure extended to the Pebble Beach bidders who took it right to the top of its estimate and even at this exalted price the new owner should be satisfied by the car. Luxury, performance and quality in one 20′ long package.
Lot # 136 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante; S/N 57401; Engine # 54C; Black, Light Yellow/Beige leather; Estimate $1,500,000 – $2,000,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,485,000 – RHD. sliding sunroof, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, 5.50-18H Blockley tires, Scintilla headlights, skirts, free-standing headlights, low clearance windshield, folding sunroof. Early owned by Dr. Sam Scher, later upgraded to Type 57C specs for Dr. Ivan Hartwell (who used it on housecalls, like a Bugatti Type 57 a relic of an earlier time.) Overdrive added later. An older restoration with a mediocre repaint since the restoration was completed. Good interior and chrome. Chassis and underbody are oily and grimy. Usable as is but not exciting. ‘Not exciting’ is a relative term. This Atalante has survived seven decades in largely original condition through a variety of sympathetic owners who have cherished and preserved its integrity. Its paint is disappointing but a strip and repaint in its present original colors will only enhance its history and significance. It is a magnificent survivor and is a good value at this price.
Lot # 137 1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider Prototype; S/N 0769GT; Engine # 0769GT; Red/Tan leatherette; Estimate $6,000,000 – $8,000,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $6,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,600,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, blackwall tires, covered headlights, bright fender side vents, reverse shift-pattern gearbox, open differential, steel body. Original engine internal #058C. The prototype for the series run of LWB California Spiders, used to introduce the model and in the first sales brochure. First sold to Luigi Chinetti’s partner George Arents and later to Frank Ramirez de Carellano in Puerto Rico where it scored wins in two local races. Restored in 1988 and both used and displayed selectively since. Interior surfaces, mechanical components and exterior trim are in excellent condition in keeping with a car of this character. Some slight paint chips visible at leading edge of hood. Otherwise paint is in fine condition. Engine restamped by Ferrari Classiche during certification. This is a considerable difference in price from the Sherman M. Wolf SWB California Spider sold here just the day before for $10.25 million hammer. What a difference a few cm of wheelbase makes. A choice car with largely unblemished history (aside from that engine issue) that brought curve-setting money for a steel-bodied car and a subtle but distinctive appearance that one person out of ten million will spot.
Lot # 138 1956 Lancia Aurelia B24S Convertible, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N B24S1297; Engine # B241399; White/Black, White leather; Estimate $200,000 – $275,000; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000 – 2.5 liter V6, floor shift 4-speed, twin Webers on Nardi intake, painted steel wheels, chrome hubcaps, Motorola Volumatic radio. Original tool kit remarkably complete and wholly insufficient for the work needed. Paint stained, worn, scuffed and rubbed through. Trim dirty, corroded, dented and chipped. Glass scuffed and delaminating. Engine so covered in grime it appears carved from a single block of dust. Like an archaeological artifact, lots of fun to look at and also about as far away from its original form. No Reserve. If divorce and bankruptcy could somehow be made tangible, they’d probably look a lot like this Lancia. Despite a catalog description that proclaims the car’s “beautifully undisturbed state” there’s nothing but work and expense ahead and at this sales price the project will almost certainly be decidedly over budget. The fascination with ‘barn-find’ automobiles is understandable, but it needs to be tempered by reality. This purchase was not.
Lot # 139 1932 Daimler 40/50 Double Six Sport Saloon, Body by Martin Walter; S/N 32382; Engine # 55628; Black/Purple velour; Estimate $3,000,000 – $4,000,000; Concours restoration, 1+ condition; Hammered Sold at $2,700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,970,000 – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, dual rear spares, tinted glass windshield and side window visors. 1999 Pebble Beach Best of Show and still about as far beyond perfect as it is possible to go. Sold at Gooding Scottsdale 2009 for $2,970,000 and then here for the exact same amount. Next to the Daimler’s massive body and history the price seems downright reasonable.
Lot # 140 1972 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino; S/N 04004; Engine # 9809; Red, Black targa panel/Black leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $231,000 – Cromodora wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, Becker Grand Prix radio. Seats retrimmed in coarse, thick leather, poor touch up and paint masking on driver’s side of roll hoop, paint cracking at driver’s side of cowl. Paint throughout shows orange peel at both body seals and glass and looks like a glass-in repaint. Shiny but not good. With the feverish increase in Dino values this car’s comparatively low price suggests the visible problems were more than enough to scare away larger bids. Even at that, though, it easily breached $200K and the low estimate, once again demonstrating where Dino values are. Now, the next question is: Will 246 GTS Dinos’ mounting desirability pull 308 GT4 Dino values out of the hopper?
Gooding and Company Pebble Beach 2012 – Auction Report Page Eight
Lot # 142 1934 Cadillac 452-D V-16 Convertible Sedan; S/N 5100040; Black/Black leather; Black leather top and boot; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – Dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, biplane bumpers, large hubcaps, whitewall tires. Engine once used in Archie Marcotte’s race car ‘Sweet Sixteen’, later restored and reunited with the original chassis. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2001 as a complete rolling chassis without the body, then completed and again shown at Pebble in 2009 winning 2nd in class and a 100pt CCCA National First Prize. Excellent paint, chrome, upholstery and wood. Concours restored and still concours. The workmanship and effort that went into this Cadillac’s restoration is still apparent in its quality. As elegant, luxurious and powerful as any classic could be desired to be, it brought an appropriate price.
Lot # 143 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L/38793; Engine # 29K/RU/H13445; Red/Black leather; Estimate $80,000 – $110,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – Silver wire wheels, Dunlop Road Speed tires. Two owners from new, now with 38,794 miles. Genuine survivor. Crazing and cracked paint throughout, chrome trim scuffed and worn, interior incredibly well preserved and improved with new carpets and a detailed engine compartment. Over forty-five years old but looks like an older restoration. Neat car. No Reserve. This is a solid, fair price for a solid, all original Big Healey in remarkably well preserved condition.
Lot # 144 1965 Alfa Romeo GTA; S/N AR613042; Red, Yellow apron/Black vinyl; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $275,000 – 1.6 liter inline four, 5-speed, alloy wheels, fiberglass dash top, side exhaust, magnesium oil pan, roll cage, racing seats, trunk-mounted fuel cell with quick release fuel filler accessible through a hole in the deck lid. An early series, correct GTA with evidence but not thorough documentation of being a competition car from new. Stone chips across nose, worn but solid paint, decent interior and chassis. Restored to very good condition in original, not current historic racing, configuration. A well maintained race car that has recent West Coast historic racing appearances. This car was so attractive it was hard to look at and, judging by the spirited bidding, more than a few people thought so, too. Bought at the low estimate, it is a good value for the money, a GTA as it was in 1965, not as most of them have become in 45 years of competition.
Lot # 146 1959 Maserati Tipo 61 Sports Racer; S/N 2454; Engine # 2477; Black/Black vinyl; Estimate $3,500,000 – $4,500,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $3,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,520,000 – RHD. Full Plexiglas windshield with door extensions, driver’s rollbar, silver painted outside laced wire wheels, 5.50 front, 6.50×16 rear Dunlop racing tires. First owned and raced by Loyal Katskee including Nassau and Havana. then sold to Don Skogmo who placed it 8th overall in the 1961 Pikes Peak hillclimb among others. Restored by Joel Finn with a correct Tipo 61 engine and transaxle. Restored again for Carlo Voegele, Certified by Maserati Classiche. Restored like new then used but extremely well maintained and in very good, clean and orderly condition. The chance to acquire a Birdcage doesn’t come along very often. The chance to acquire a Birdcage that hasn’t been thoroughly crashed, rebuilt and ‘developed’ during its racing lifetime is even more rare. Willem Oosthoek’s comprehensive Birdcage book says this is the ‘original chassis, original rear section of body, correct engine 2477’ and that’s about as good as a Birdcage gets. For all that, the price it brought here is modest and a good value for the new owner.
Lot # 149 1934 Cadillac 452-D V-16 2-Passenger Stationary Coupe, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 5100050; Black/Beige cloth; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $360,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $396,000 – Dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, skirts, huge hubcaps, whitewalls. Restored by Stanley Squires in the 60’s and 70’s. Refreshed in 2006 with new paint and interior. The repaint is starting to crack at stress points. Sound interior and chrome. Orderly but aged underbody and chassis. A huge automobile for just two people, one of just four in this body style that survives, but that’s out of only five built, a survival rate that endorses the 452-D Stationary Coupe’s elegance. It had its effect here, too, bringing a strong price for its condition and the age of the restoration.
Lot # 150 1928 Stutz BB Coupe; S/N BB74Y; Engine # 92089C; Green, Black leather roof/Dark Green mohair; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500 – Dual sidemounts, painted wire wheels, blackwall tires, trunk rack, cowl lights. Completely original. Placed into storage shortly after the death of the first owner and stored for 69 years, now with 8,008 miles. Prewar Preservation class winner at 2007 Pebble Beach Concours. Peeling rubber on running boards, leather top cracking, paint heavily chipped, interior mohair balding in places. Very real and lovely. No Reserve. As with all true survivors and one of a kind cars, estimates are nothing but a guessing game and this Stutz’ sales price is the market. Interestingly, the catalog photo of the odometer shows a reading of 7,870 while at the auction it had covered another 130 or so miles, so it actually runs and drives, and probably not too badly if it covered 130 miles. A good value, but not a restoration project.
Lot # 151 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500654; Engine # 1989805500701; Midnight Blue/Grey leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,025,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,127,500 – Hinged steering wheel, chrome wheels, blackwall tires, grey leather fitted luggage, belly pans, original tools and books. Numbers-matching. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored better than new in the early 90’s then lightly used and consistently maintained including a recent service by a Gullwing specialist. The sign of a quality restoration is how well it ages, and this one hasn’t aged at all in over 20 years. Its quality and appeal fell upon a receptive audience and brought an appropriate price.
Lot # 152 1940 Lincoln-Zephyr Continental Cabriolet; S/N H100711; Black/Burgundy leather; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $182,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $200,750 – 292ci V12, 3-speed, fender skirts, whitewalls, trim rings. Popularly held to have been given to Babe Ruth by Yankee president Joe McCarthy. Passed through a series of owners before a lengthy museum display and then sale into the Dingman collection. Totally restored in as new condition save a scratch on the driver’s front fender. Home run puns aside, this Lincoln is beautiful. The Lincoln enjoyed an absolutely over-the-top restoration and, at the low estimate, offers the next owner a historic car at a very fair price, less than half what it brought in 2006 when RM sold it from Michael Dingman’s collection. Its big problem is that it’s never found a long term home, selling in 2006, 2008, 2009 and now here. Each of the recent owners, though, should be credited for giving it superb care and it is if not the best Continental Cabriolet in the world, so good as not to make any difference.
Lot # 154 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Roadster; S/N 18801200220/53; Engine # 18892000226/53; Tundra Green/Beige leather, Green piping; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – Column shift 4-speed, fog lights, whitewalls, Becker Nürburg radio, fitted luggage and wardrobe cases, translucent sun visors, huge front seat ash tray, original tool kit and owner’s manual. Miles of chrome outside, swaths of fine leather and wood veneer within. Totally restored in 2008 with a string of concours class wins. Still better than new. This Mercedes boasted incredible condition and outstanding appearance. It brought a premium price befitting its premium quality and accurate restoration.
Lot # 155 1959 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210421001119; Engine # 121921109502497; Strawberry Metallic/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – Whitewalls, no radio. Restored in 2006 to concours standards with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Loaded with period features and accessories like fitted leather luggage, gas can, full tool kit, medical kit and two ‘tire-pressure kits’. Meticulously and accurately done throughout and equally fastidiously maintained. No Reserve. This result is simply astounding, enough to buy two very good 190SLs. After bidding slowed in the low $100s it picked up and Charlie Ross kept two bidders in the tent sniping back and forth at each other until this exceptional result was reached. While the 190SL is Strawberry (sure to bring a few extra bids) and beautiful, it’s not as beautiful as the price it brought. The final car in this year’s Pebble Beach auction, it was an unplanned but appropriate cap to the $263 million auction weekend. (photo: Mike Maez copyright and courtesy of Gooding)
[Source: Rick Carey]