Gooding & Company Amelia Island 2013 – Auction Report
Gooding and Company, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Florida, March 8, 2013
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Don’t let Gooding & Company’s 2013 sale total, down nearly $8 million, 21.9%, from 2012, fool you.
Last year’s sale was dominated by the Drendel Family collection of turbocharged Porsches. It attracted every Porsche-centric collector on the planet, and not a few added Porsche lots, including the 550/1500 RS Spyder (s/n 0062) that knocked the socks off its $2.2-2.6 million estimate range with a price of $3,685,000.
The Drendels’ 917/30 Can-Am Spyder (s/n 004) sold with a hammer bid of $4 million, equaling its high estimate, an all-in price of $4.4 million, an important part of the Porsche popularity that dominated last year’s Gooding Amelia auction
In 2013 there was no similar themed collection, but there were six cars sold for hammer bids of $1 million or more, topped by the 1928 Bentley 4 ½ Liter Semi-Le Mans Tourer (s/n MF3153) that sold on a hammer bid of $2.5 million, $2,750,000 with commission.
There were some exceptional results, but none more remarkable than the Springfield Rolls-Royce Phantom I with Brewster Derby 4-Seat Speedster coachwork (s/n S158FR) which more than doubled its high estimate of $850,000 with a buying bid of $1.8 million, $1,980,000 with commission.
Here are the numbers for the last four years:
[table id=65 /]
It was plain throughout the sale that, in common with other recent auctions, the bidders’ willingness to step up to big prices for exceptionally rare, beautiful, fast and historic cars was greater than the willingness – or resources – of bidders to stretch values to acquire more common and less costly cars.
There still remain, however, a significant number of astute collectors of more modest means who recognize the value implicit in immaculately, meticulously restored cars, as the buyers of the beautifully restored TR3, 190SL and Nash Metropolitan proved. There is value and satisfaction in buying the best, even if it isn’t an alloy bodied 275 GTB.
Gooding and Company Amelia Island 2013 – Auction Report
Lot # 3 1955 Jaguar XK 140MC Roadster; S/N S811059; Engine # G2212-8S; Red/Biscuit leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, blackwall 6.00 V16 bias ply tires, JDHT Certificate – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Underbody repainted over old undercoat and road grime. Shortened shift lever and odd tower and boot. An attractive driver recently freshened and serviced after sitting a while. – Based on seeing this car at Kruse Auburn in 1992 (where it was a no-sale at a reported bid of $75,000) freshly restored it’s safe to say this restoration is at least two decades old, which means it was done to good standards and has been well maintained if little used since. It would be nice to know what was done to the transmission to warrant that odd hump, though. This is a decidedly generous price for the condition. Lot # 7 1958 Nash Metropolitan Coupe; S/N E41104; Blue, White/Black houndstooth, White vinyl; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200. No Reserve – Radio, heater, whitewall tires, open rear spare – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Freshly and meticulously restored to like new appearance with better cosmetics and attention to detail. As good as it gets. – This is a modest automobile, but with a premium restoration that fully warranted the price it brought. When someone asks what auction guys mean when they talk about buying ‘the best car you can afford’ this Metropolitan should be Exhibit A. Lot # 12 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS; S/N 08005; Engine # 08005; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $850,000 – $1,100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,025,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,127,500. Chrome spoke Borranis, Blaupunkt multiband, Michelin XWX tires – Good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody shows some age and use. Engine is dry and orderly. No longer fresh and like new but very good. – In 2001 this very same car, in essentially the same condition, with 2,666 fewer miles on its odometer, sold for $147,700 at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction. There is no explanation, rationale or even justification for buyers’ willingness to pay nearly an order of magnitude more for it twelve years later. Even at the low estimate it would be no more than a sound value. Lot # 17 1955 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible; S/N 556263611; Silver-Grey/Black leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $150,000 – $180,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,500. Mirror-polished Sabre wheels, Autronic eye, wide whitewalls, remote spotlight and more, no tools – One family owned with 63,338 miles from new. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new with better cosmetics. Chairman’s Award at Hilton Head in 2007, class winner at the 2008 AACA National Winter Meeting. The intervening five years are not visible anywhere on this beautiful Eldorado. – Even the often faulty ribbed chrome door top moldings are sharp and crisp, an indication of the quality of the car the restorer started with and maintained throughout the restoration process. As good as it is, and as appropriate as the price is in the current market, this is still an exceptionally attractive and satisfying Cadillac for the price. Lot # 18 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N AR149505617; Red/Grey, Red piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $127,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $140,250. No Reserve – silver wheels, Vredestein blackwall tires, 4-speed, Pinin Farina radio blank plate – Sharp, clean, fresh restoration with better than new fits and finishes outside, inside and underneath. AACA National First Prize winner. Replacement (1958) block (original included.) – Some Alfisti regard the early 750-series short wheelbase Giuliettas as the best of the series. They’re light, responsive, quick and lively. The new owner of this ’59, along with the underbidder, must be of that persuasion because this would be a generous price for a pristine, freshly and accurately restored Veloce, and this Normale is only a lower case veloce. Even at the low estimate it would be fully priced at retail. Lot # 19 1960 Chrysler 300F GT Special 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 8403110398; Engine # P41-1231; Black/Tan; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $236,500. Long runner dual quad cross-ram engine, Pont-A-Mousson 4-speed, 2.93:1 rear axle, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, swivel front seats, P/W, original Daytona tires included (but not mounted) – One of six built with 413 cubic inch 400 hp engine and four-speed manual. All original with 11,311 miles from new, in long term storage until being completely mechanically checked in 2009. Documented ownership from its racing days to the present. Driven by Gregg Ziegler to set a NASCAR flying mile record on the Daytona Beach sand in 1960 at 144.927mph. Extensively documented. – Offered at Mecum’s Monterey auction in 2010 with a high bid of $275,000, then by Worldwide in Atlantic City with a slightly lower bid of $240,000. Finally found a new owner here at an even lower high bid. Its odometer shows just nineteen more miles since it was offered at Monterey. An historic automobile that begs to be displayed at concours and preservation events as well as anywhere really fast, successful cars are celebrated, or maybe driven to the amazement of owners of present-day high performance cars. Its history and preservation alone are worth this price. Lot # 20 1957 Triumph TR3 Roadster; S/N TS19396L0; Engine # TS20038E; White/Blue, White piping; Black leatherette top; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels – Brilliant, fresh restoration with fabulous paint, drama and interior. Way better than new. Judged 99.3 out of 100 points by the Triumph Register of America in 2011, the only deductions must have been for over-restoration. – Another ‘buy the best car you can afford’ example, expensive (very expensive) for a TR3 but no one is going to be disappointed owning, driving and showing this meticulously restored and presented TR3. Open the hood and knock ’em dead. Lot # 21 1995 Ferrari F50; S/N ZFFTG46A9S0103289; Red/Black leather, Red cloth inserts; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,375,000. A/C, factory hardtop and carbon fiber crate, owner’s books, tool kit, luggage. Assembly # 20331 – One of 56 US-spec F50s. As delivered and essentially unblemished and unused with [well] under 1,000 miles from new still with its original Goodyear tires. – In some sense it is tragic that cars like this F50 don’t get driven – and at prices like this they never will. It’s just so perfect for winding up Route 1 from San Luis Obispo to Monterey, and yet no one will ever have the chance to enjoy the experience Ferrari spent so much treasure and intellectual creativity to translate into light alloy and composite. At prices like this it is a useless artifact doomed to careful cruising to car events, mumbling pointlessly through traffic, a waste of so much technology and history. Something is wrong.
Gooding and Company Amelia Island 2013 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 22 2005 Ferrari 575 M Superamerica; S/N ZFFGT61A550145401; Red, Black roof/Beige leather; Estimate $175,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $205,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $225,500. F1 transmission, CD stereo, dark tinted glass retractable hardtop, A/C, GTC handling package, manuals, tool kit, delivery papers, window sticker, Daytona seats – 200 miles and like new. – With buyers lined up in 2005 to buy Ferrari’s first retractable hardtop front engined V-12 GT the $300K MSRP was almost academic. The 200 miles this Superamerica has covered have cost the owner about $600 per mile driven, not including maintenance. That is an indulgence that Hertz would like to master. This price is currently appropriate and a few thousand miles won’t have much effect on the next re-sale. There is a price for being ‘first in your gated community.’ Lot # 23 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Derby Speedster, Body by Brewster; S/N S158FR; Engine # 21588; Black/Maroon leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $650,000 – $850,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,980,000. Body color wheel discs, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights and cowl lights, black leather covered trunk – 1993 AACA National First Prize restoration that looks much fresher. CCCA National First Prize #1695. Restored the first time in 1953, later owned by William Maxwell Davis, then owned by and restored for Rick Carroll, from whose estate Bill Lassiter acquired it. CCCA and AACA National First Prize winner. Second in class at Pebble Beach in 1999 in the car of the consignor here. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Chassis and underbody are better than new and show only a little age and use. A quality automobile in quality, well-maintained condition. – The four-place close coupled Speedster coachwork on this Springfield-built Rolls-Royce is one of Brewster’s best even though only five of them were built; the car’s profile is dramatic and rakish but also elegant, a hard combination of attributes to meld into one very large automobile. At Christie’s auction of the Lassiter collection in 1999 only one car bettered the $420,500 that this Derby Speedster brought, Duesenberg s/n 2200 with Murphy convertible coupe coachwork for $662,500. The worm may have turned, as this car brought more than most disappearing top Murphy convertible coupes. It deserves to have done even if it cost a lot to establish its credibility. This is an eye-watering price. Lot # 24 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta; S/N 10511; Engine # 10511; Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000. Stainless spoke polished rim Borranis, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, Alpine cassette stereo – Sound older repaint cracking at stress points and door handles. Worn and polished but sound upholstery. Good major chrome. Badly cracked deck lid, right side of nose and right rear fender. Clean engine, grungy chassis and underbody. A desirable car that has significant shortcomings and hasn’t been driven in nearly 20 years. – Sold from the Mel and Noel Blanc collection at Christie’s Pebble Beach in 1997 for $404,550, this 275 GTB/4 is not wearing its age, or body filler, well. This is not a car anyone should buy without recognizing its material shortcomings and taking into account the cost of correcting them as well as the cost of an extensive restorative service after two decades’ in static storage. Under the circumstances the low estimate would seem to be a generous price and the price paid could have bought better 275 GTB/4s albeit without the Blancs’ provenance. Lot # 25 1935 Duesenberg Model JN LWB Berline, Body by Rollston; S/N 2587; Engine # J-500; Metallic Bronze, Beige leather roof/Beige cord; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $540,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $594,000. Wheel discs, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, chrome bullet headlights, rollup division – Originally owned by dancer Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson. Body updated by Bohman & Schwartz. Restored in the 80’s, now with sound older paint, chrome, upholstery and interior wood. An older restoration that shows age and neglect, especially on the chassis and underbody. Some failing trim chrome. A sound, attractive and usable car that needs some love and attention but comes with a voluminous file documenting pretty much its entire history. – A handsome car with a colorful history of care and attention by a sequence of sympathetic (and sometimes enthusiastic) owners who have continuously maintained, used and enjoyed it since new. It deserves a new owner of the same persuasion who, having paid a reasonable but not excessive price for it, can experience its style and performance for many years before it needs to be restored again. Lot # 26 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino; S/N 06442; Red, Black vinyl roof panel/Tan leather, Black stripes; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $330,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $363,000. ‘Chairs and Flares’, A/C, P/W, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, Becker Europa II AM-FM – Good but not exceptional repaint, thin trim chrome, good upholstery and dash top. Old seat belts. Underbody resprayed to factory appearance. Tidy, lightly oiled engine. A cosmetically restored Dino not like new but attractive and usable. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson’s at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles in 2002 for $89,100, this Dino is the poster car for Dino values, although nowhere nearly as egregiously expensive as the 275 GTS Gooding sold earlier today. It’s a good, sound car with desirable features that brought, in the present Dino frenzy, a generous but not unreasonable price. Lot # 27 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4; S/N VF9SA15B06M795005; Blue, Black/Blue leather; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $840,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $924,000. – 2006 LA Auto Show Bugatti display car, then displayed at Geneva. Under 100 miles but updated with current software and navigation system. Still has its original tires (don’t drive on them.) – As impressive today as it was seven years ago. It’s hard to imagine driving one of these on America’s speed limited highways. Lot # 28 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren; S/N WDDAJ76F05M000530; Crystal Laurite Silver/Burgundy leather; Estimate $165,000 – $185,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $205,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $225,500. – Like new with just over 100 miles. Still on its original tires. – Half price ($455,000 new) and the new owner will, unless possessed of the same physical dimensions of the first owner, have to have the seat cushions remade to fit. Lot # 29 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe; S/N 14453; Engine # B1286; Yellow/Ecru leather, Black stripes; Estimate $350,000 – $425,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $385,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $423,500. Becker Mexico cassette, 5-spoke alloy wheels, Michelin X blackwall tires – A good older restoration to like new condition but with odd colors: mustardy (‘Fly Speck’?) yellow with ecru upholstery. Shows some use and age but still very attractive, colors excepted. – Sold by Barrett-Jackson at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles in 2002 for $162,000 freshly restored and better than new, it shows no more miles on the odometer now than it did then, but hasn’t aged well. The paint is muddy and dull, the upholstery color is better suited for a hospital waiting room. It’s a dull Daytona, with no snap, no pizzazz. This is a generous price for it.
Gooding and Company Amelia Island 2013 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 30 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Convertible Coupe Sportsman; S/N 31443F; Engine # FC3275; Brown/Dark Red leather; Estimate $250,000 – $325,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $341,000. Wide whitewalls, radio, heater – Restored in 1991, multiple award winner at the 1991 ACD Festival, CCCA National First Prize, ACD Category One, 2002 Pebble Beach Best in Class, Most Elegant Convertible, Art Center Award. Beautifully restored to better than new throughout without going over the top. Exceptional paint, chrome and interior. The survival of this now 22 year old restoration in concours condition is nothing less than amazing. – This Cord could be driven onto the field at Pebble Beach in 2013 and still be a contender for a class award, it’s that good. The most rare of all 810/812 body styles (other than one-offs), and extremely attractive and well balanced, it brought a deserved premium price. Lot # 31 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan, Body by LeBaron; S/N 2350; Engine # J-338; Red, Maroon fenders and accent/Maroon leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $350,000 – $425,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $420,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $462,000. Chrome wire wheels, dual chrome enclosed sidemounts, dual remote spotlights, Maroon leather covered trunk, mesh hood side vents, outside exhaust head pipes – Body originally on s/n 2152 (and originally intended for a Packard) swapped during late 60’s restoration for Homer Fitterling, later owned by Ed Weaver. Concours quality older restoration still with excellent paint and chrome. upholstery is lightly stretched and chassis is lightly oiled and dusty from road use. Very strong, and could be detailed to near show condition, but no longer fresh. – Certified by ACD as Category One even though not with its original Arlington Sedan body, this is an attractive open Duesenberg Model J with a continuous history that is generously but not excessively priced in this transaction. Lot # 32 1990 Ferrari F40; S/N ZFFMN34A9L0087085; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $715,000. A/C, US-spec – Lightly worn driver’s seat appropriate to the 7,038 miles on the odometer. Unblemished paint. Stored for ten years and recently recommissioned. – There is an appeal to the F40, with its brutal twin turbo V-8, basket handle wing, multiple gills and NACA ducts, elaborately louvered rear window/engine cover that is visceral and exciting. It is in many ways the antithesis of more recent Ferrari supercars. You have to be able to drive an F40 and it requires no small skill and intense attention to keep it in line. Maybe that accounts for the F40s’ recent market bounce since 2011 of which this result is a good indication. This F40 is fully retail priced. Lot # 33 1968 Lamborghini Islero Coupe; S/N 6243; Dark Bronze Metallic/Brown leather; Estimate $110,000 – $140,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. No Reserve – Centerlock alloy wheels, Pirelli P4000 blackwall tires, P/W, A/C – Good repaint and dyed original upholstery. Weak repolished trim chrome, good bumpers. Peeling old undercoat with surface rust on exposed sheet metal. Oil cooler seriously exposed under nose. Old, oxidized, unattractive engine. Suspension has settled to a low-rider stance. A mediocre car with many needs. – Erratically maintained both mechanically and cosmetically, this is unlikely to be an inexpensive car to own. The most recent owner had it only a year, if that’s any indication. Pretty color, though. Lot # 34 1973 Pontiac Firebird Coupe; S/N 2V87X3N140028; White/Black; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. Super Duty 455 V-8, 4-speed, pushbutton radio, honeycomb wheels, Radial T/A tires, shaker hood – Engine replaced during restoration (original block included), one of 72 Super Duty 4-speed Firebirds built in 1973. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new. – Crossed the block at Mecum’s Indianapolis sale in 2010 with a reported high bid of $140,000. This is the price of one of the rare Super Dutys, with a material premium for the 4-speed. Lot # 37 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Drophead Coupe; S/N 677377; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Modified restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000. No Reserve – 3.8 liter XK 150S 265hp engine, black wire wheels, blackwall tires, fender mirrors, Lucas fog lights and tri-bar headlights – Thoughtfully modified and nearly indistinguishable from stock, until it starts up. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. A clean, orderly and well-maintained enjoyable tour car. – Sold to the consignor at Christie’s Pebble Beach auction in 1996 for $74,000 before installation of the XK 150S engine, good authority holds that it runs like a bear and has brakes, albeit drums, to match. The new owner (and underbidder) accorded it a 20% or so premium for the extra performance and the essentially impeccable presentation. The colors might have helped, because it looks menacing in black with matching wire wheels. Lot # 38 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500081; Engine # 198.980.7500097; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $825,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $660,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $726,000. Body color wheels, 6.70×15 Michelin X tires – Retained by the second owner for fifty years until 2012. Sound but aged car stored many years and showing it. Bad trim chrome, numerous dents, dings and paint buff-throughs. Interior leather is good but in need of care. Top is good for a pattern. – Based solely on condition, in today’s frothy 300SL market this is a $450-500,000 car, a generous price for a tired and neglected 300SL Roadster. The bidders at the Amelia Island Plantation saw it in a different light, though, adding a third or more to its value for originality, the collectors’ hot button of the moment. Mechanically refurbished so it can be driven (a not inconsiderable or inexpensive task) it will be even more expensive and will still look, uh, neglected. It is a very expensive indulgence to a momentary collecting whimsy. Lot # 46 1969 Ferrari 365 GTC; S/N 12795; Engine # 12795; Lipstick Coral/Tan suede, Coral carpets; Estimate $750,000 – $950,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $975,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,072,500. Centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, Motorola AM-FM, P/W, 8-track stereo, Daytona steering wheel, Morocco license plate, tool kit, original manuals and folio – Originally bought by Woolworth heiress (and Lance Reventlow’s mother) Barbara Hutton in custom colors, the last 365 GTC built. Good original paint, chrome and attractive suede upholstery and interior trim. Original undercoat on chassis. Some lightly scuffed trim chrome around windows and old window channels but overall delightful even if in an odd special color. – 365 GTC values took off in Scottsdale two months ago and culminated in the result for this singular celebrity owned 365 GTC here, a triumph of timing. Taking Scottsdale 365 GTC prices as the market baseline this result is no more than reasonable but in a longer view of history and exclusivity it is a transcendental Ferrari price that is going to be hard if not improbable to maintain. For reference, if it makes any difference, it was a no-sale at RM’s Monterey auction in 2000 with a reported high bid of $95,000. Back then the paint color was disrespectfully described as ‘bubble gum’, a color Bruce Weiner would have loved.
Gooding and Company Amelia Island 2013 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 49 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N AR149502134; Engine # AR131541926; Red/Black leather, Red piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – CD stereo, 4-speed – Sound older repaint, ripply bumpers, erratic trim chrome. Uneven door fits. Rusty sills. Underbody resprayed over peeling old undercoat. – The catalog says this car was restored after 2009. It sure doesn’t look like it, or maybe the owner’s definition of ‘restoration’ is different from what we’ve come to expect. The bidders weren’t misled, however, and paid only a little more than its slapdash presentation warranted. Lot # 50 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX 2538; Red/Black leather; Estimate $850,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $775,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $852,500. Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, fender vents, wind wings, tinted windshield visors, rack and pinion steering, alternator, dual quads – A good, older restoration with attractive cosmetics and showing some age and use underneath. – This is a very good example of the small block Cobra, sold for $781,000 at Russo and Steele in Monterey last August for $781,000. The all-in price here is a considerable bump over what it brought just a few months ago and in any event is a strong price for a sound, but far from show quality, 289 Cobra. Lot # 52 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210427502029; Engine # 121.921-7502056; Ivory, Black hardtop/Dark Olive leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $225,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. Becker Europa multiband radio, whitewalls, two tops, two sets of wheels and tires, fitted luggage, owner’s manuals, tools – Meticulously and thoroughly restored to beyond perfect condition but needs new front springs to correct its forward lean. Best in Show at the 2011 190SL Group Convention, AACA Grand National and more. A trailer queen that has achieved its purpose and won pretty much every time it has been shown. – 190SLs go from record price to record price as restorations like this are lavished on them. Literally only months ago 190SLs were $40-60,000 cars, now they get $200,000 restorations and bring $200,000. Which prompts the observation, ‘The car is free, all you’re paying for is the over-the-top restoration.’ Lot # 53 1939 Rolls-Royce Wraith Coupe, Body by Gurney Nutting; S/N WHC33; Medium Blue, White roof/Brown leather; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Wheel discs, whitewalls, Lucas fog light, multiband radio, floor shift, cutaway skirts, enclosed rear spare – Mediocre and now failing old repaint, mostly good chrome, sound interior wood, casually resprayed chassis and underbody. Sound but extensively surface cracked and soiled original upholstery. Intriguingly original but now seriously compromised originality. – An unusual but also tired old car that shows age and use pretty much everywhere. The Gurney Nutting coupe coachwork with its curved B-pillar is unusual, but not particularly attractive and the bidders here were unimpressed by the car or its condition. The seller should be happy with the price it brought. Lot # 54 1949 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster; S/N 670025; Dark Grey/Tan leather; Estimate $250,000 – $280,000; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000. 3.8 liter engine, 2 inch SU carbs, C-type head, 5-speed, front disc brakes, 7 inch Lucas fog lights, no bumpers, bucket seats, dual aeroscreens, quick release fuel cap, Dunlop Road Speed tires on Dunlop wheels, comes with original windshield, tool roll and JDHT certificate – Extensively modified for vintage events, rallies and tours, otherwise restored like new with better cosmetics and extensively polished underhood. Believed to have been raced, and frequently updated, from new. – Having lost its originality early in its racing life the present configuration may be construed to be its highest and best use, but economically an as-delivered configuration XK 120 Alloy Roadster in this meticulously restored and presented condition would be worth $50-70,000 more. Lot # 55 1968 Morris Mini Cooper S 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N YKG2S24814; White, Black roof/Robin’s Egg Blue vinyl; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600. No Reserve – Heater, blackwall tires – Freshly done Australian Mini with very good paint, chrome, interior and glass. Better than new but not overdone. – The delightful colors made this car’s day, and its consignor’s, too. Everyone at the preview gushed over the Robin’s Egg Blue upholstery and interior trim. The restoration is also very good and the combination, even with righthand drive, brought an over high estimate price, but only a small dollar premium for an outstanding Mini. Lot # 56 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Alloy Berlinetta; S/N 08057; Engine # 08057; Fly Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $2,000,000 – $2,400,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $2,150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,365,000. 6-Webers, chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX blackwall tires – Color-changed during late 80’s restoration. Ferrari Classiche certified; 6-carb intake added at Ferrari in the late 60’s. Good paint with some overspray inside left rear fender on older underbody repaint. Exceptionally neat engine and chassis. Odd-looking velocity stacks. Difficult to fault in any meaningful way. – This car sold at Christie’s Geneva, Switzerland auction in 1998 for $221,493. It is difficult to fault, perhaps, but passed through many hands over the years, color changed and upgraded with 6 carbs after it left Maranello (the first time.) A 275 GTB in Fly Yellow, however, is an arresting visual presence and this no doubt added to its appeal, particularly on the auction block. The seller should be extremely happy with this result. Lot # 58 1938 H.R.G. 1500 Airline Coupe, Body by A. Crofts; S/N WT68; White/Green leather; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $253,000. Trafficators, Notek fog light, Lucas Biflex headlights, Silver painted wire wheels, sliding sunroof, enclosed rear spare – A one-off body for Major Halford (the ‘H’ in HRG) with an MG Airline passenger compartment and custom nose by A. Crofts. Powered by a 1.5 liter Triumph Gloria engine and gearbox. Acquired in 1964 by the consignor and beautifully and freshly restored with excellent cosmetics and meticulous attention to details. The shocking pastel green frame color is original, as is the white exterior. Road & Track Award winner at Amelia Island and Most Distinguished Design Award at the Glenmoor Gathering in 2012, among others. – This is an impressive and attractive automobile, so pretty and aggressively proportioned that it might have been designed by Jaguar’s William Lyons. Since it is one-of-one its price here must be accepted as the market value for it, even 15% over Gooding’s high estimate.
Gooding and Company Amelia Island 2013 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 59 1971 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 Convertible; S/N 344671M174960; Saturn Gold, Black stripes/Black; Black vinyl top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $172,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $189,750. 455/350hp, 4-speed, 3.73 limited slip, Rally Pack gauges, P/S, P/B, buckets and console, tilt steering column, Super Stock II wheels with trim rings, G70-14 Polyglas tires, heater, tinted glass, pushbutton radio, P/W – Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. – Rated at 350hp in the factory handouts, the 4-4-2 W-30’s 455 cubic inch V-8 saw that number very low on its dyno curve. This is an impeccably restored and heavily optioned example just like collectors like today. The weight of the convertible body and all those options just make it easier to turn the W-30’s torque into tire smoke. This is a representative price for this car’s exceptional restoration, options and presentation. Lot # 60 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, Body by Bertone; S/N 1012000339; Silver/Beige cloth, Blue vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500. No Reserve – Gaping hole in dashboard, 5-speed, steel wheels, hubcaps, Vredestein blackwall radials – Good chrome and interior. Sound paint over visibly filled wavy body. Paint blistered on right door. Generously filled and poorly blocked body. Underbody has been resprayed over superficial preparation. Clean and orderly underhood, though. A car that is better avoided. – The catalog recounts that the restoration of this Sprint Speciale began in 1987 and was completed in 2011. That’s 24 years between disassembly and completion. No wonder it looks like a committee did it. The consignor should be overjoyed to get this much for a Sprint Speciale with some of the worst bodywork seen on a Gooding auction car in a long time. Lot # 62 1964 Porsche 356C Coupe; S/N 217856; Engine # P713113; White/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve – Hubcaps, blackwall tires, no radio – Good paint, chrome and interior. Delaminating windshield corner but otherwise very good. Underbody shows some age and use, seats are lightly stretched. – The ultimate pushrod engined 356, the bidders here put a realistic price on an attractive, well restored example. Lot # 65 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 106000035; Engine # 104.000.000058; Metallic Ruby Red/; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,700,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,760,000. Spinner wheel covers, blackwall tires, Marchal lights. – Designed by Giovanni Savonuzzi for Ghia, built on Fiat’s delectable 8V chassis. The first of its series, bought by Paul Farago based on Luigi Segre’s presentation of the design drawings to Virgil Exner at Chrysler and bought by Paul Lazaros from Farago in 1955. Delectable original car with sound but aged paint, worn and surface cracked leather. Badly dented right door, cracking paint. Very clean and fresh engine. A fabulous, wonderful, exotic, stunning automobile accompanied by a file of documents and articles that defines the term ‘comprehensive.’ Too good to restore, but not good enough to keep the way it is. 2011 Pebble Beach Preservation class winner. – Sold at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction in 2011 for $1,705,000, close enough to today’s price that it establishes the bar for the fifteen 8V Supersonics built. Lot # 68 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500568; Engine # 1980101097150; Red, Black hardtop/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $625,000 – $750,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $595,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $654,500. Euro headlights, both tops, Whitewalls, hubcaps only, Talbot outside mirror – Factory replacement engine. Good paint over visible right front repairs, good interior, decent chrome. Fuel door twisted. Underhood, chassis and underbody are clean and orderly but not restored. A somewhat shaky driver quality cosmetic restoration. – This is a generous price for a marginal 300SL Roadster that probably has no good surprises for its new owner. Its tired condition and sketchy cosmetic restoration offer none of the ‘preservation’ attributes prized by today’s collectors. Lot # 69 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series II; S/N 08959; Engine # 08959; Silver-Grey/Black leather; Estimate $180,000 – $240,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000. Chrome spoke Borranis, Pirelli P77 blackwall tires, Becker Europa TR AM-FM, P/W, P/S, A/C, tool kit, owner’s manuals – Good paint with light checking on right rear fender. Good interior and chrome. Underbody freshly but erratically shot with fresh chassis black and showing light surface rust where the spray missed. A presentable driver but not reassuring. – The fanatical obsession with 330 and 365 GTCs seems to be flowing downhill to 2+2s, if this result is any indication. It was a $150,000 car not so long ago. In 1992 it was a $52,000 car at Kruse Auburn and $42,000 at The Auction in Las Vegas. Lot # 70 1967 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E15857; Engine # 7E13892-9; Beige/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio – Good paint over filled sills, good but musty smelling interior, decent chrome trim but dull bumpers, sound but dirty underbody. Too many buts to be comfortable. – But the price is appropriate to the car’s overall mediocrity and the (lack of) quality of its restoration. Lot # 71 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe; S/N DB5/2098/R; Engine # 400/2204; Sierra Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $350,000 – $425,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $330,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $363,000. 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall radials, P/W – Fair paint generously edge chipped, ripply bumpers, thin trim chrome. A sound but well used and aged driver quality Aston. – A used car, like it would have been on a dealer’s lot in 1971 or 1972. Honest and sound, but nothing special, the price reflects its mediocre presentation as well as its inherent appeal and performance.
[Source: Rick Carey]
