Worldwide’s two-day Houston Classic Weekend sale at the Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook opened on Friday, April 30, 2010 with 73 cars, all without reserve, from the R.E. Monical Collection.
It closed, a little later than expected, with ten cars, also all without reserve, from the Buess family culminating in the extraordinary ex-Tyrone Power Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Roadster by Thrupp & Maberly. The Buess cars were timed to begin at 7:53PM, sunset, to accommodate the family’s religion but the sale went faster than expected. The non-Buess consignments ended at 7:20PM.
Rod Egan and John Kruse of Worldwide honored their commitment to the family and put the sale on hold. The bar opened up. The bidders, knowing the caliber of the rare and mostly unrestored cars to come, stayed around and the sale picked up forty minutes later, right where it left off. It was one of the most unusual, but also honorable and respectful, events in collector car auction history.
This report includes detailed descriptions of more than 40 cars and a separate summary of results for all the cars that crossed the block.
Lot # 019 1919 Studebaker Model EH Little Six 5-Passenger Touring; S/N 255943; Maroon, Black fenders/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $11,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $12,650 – Disc wheels, blackwall tires, robe rail, folding windshield, rear spare mounting but no spare. Good cosmetic restoration with attractive and presentable cosmetics. Chassis is aged and dirty but respectable. Thin chrome. An unusual and interesting tour car that can be used as is after mechanical checks. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. With 51 brake horsepower from its six-cylinder engine, this Studebaker is more powerful than a Model T and will really stand out in parades or weekend drives around town. It will require little work to be used this summer and represents good value for money. Lot # 033 1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N E57S105735; Engine # F702LM; Venetian Red, Beige coves/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $62,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,200 – 283/250hp fuel injection, 4-speed, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, hardtop only from the factory. A quality older restoration that once was like new but now is aged and needs attention. Good paint, chrome. and interior. Shows little use but not much attention, either. Represented to be numbers matching. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. Not fresh, but that just means it needs some attention before it\'s driven and enjoyed without worrying about bug squash and sand pits on the nose. The odometer reads just 9 miles, probably all that it\'s been driven before it was stored in Monical\'s collection. It\'s a sound value at the price and with some mechanical freshening and cosmetic detailing has put money in the buyer\'s pocket. Lot # 039 1917 Peerless Model 56 Two-Power-Range Cloverleaf Roadster; S/N 172135; Green, Black fenders/Black; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000 – 300 cubic inch, 80hp V-8 engine, 3-speed gearbox with 2-speed rear axle (compound low will pull stumps), dual rear spares, top boot, pinstriped wood wheels, blackwall tires, Gabriel strap-type dampers, rearview mirror, trouble light, factory tool kit, jack. Sound paint and upholstery. An older restoration that approached 'like new' when done and still will tour with pride. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. One of the finest vehicles of its day, capable of cruising today at safe speeds and with attractive and unusual 4-passenger roadster coachwork, this is a very attractive purchase at this price. Lot # 040 1959 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N J59S106645; Engine # F518CQ; Roman Red, Snowcrest White coves/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $49,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $53,900 – 283/230hp, 4-speed, cassette stereo, Roman Red hardtop, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. An older restoration to like new now beginning to age but still very attractive. Good older paint, chrome and interior. No covering for the top frame. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. An unexceptionally equipped but nicely restored and presented Corvette that brought a respectable price. Lot # 055 1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe Convertible; S/N 5JK175022; Red/Binge vinyl; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750 – Automatic, P/top, pushbutton radio, clock, skirts, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, grille guard. Good paint, chrome, interior and top. Once was restored like new and could be like new again with some detailing. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. It's very unusual to see a Chevy of this era, even a convertible, get a restoration of this quality. This car was sold here in 2008 for $38,500 in much less attractive condition and has been thoughtfully looked after and brought to very presentable and usable condition since then. If it's to your taste, its presentation couldn't be duplicated for the price it brought. Lot # 057 1961 Chevrolet Impala 'Bubbletop' Sports Coupe; S/N 11837S243589; White/Red, White vinyl; Modified restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – 409, dual quads, alternator, 4-speed, aftermarket A/C, later pushbutton radio, Torque Thrust wheels, blackwalls. Fair old repaint with some stress point cracks, custom upholstery. Pretty engine but the same can't be said of the chassis. Engine and driveline origin is unknown. Steering column and clutch linkage are newer than most of what else is under the hood. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. The price is appropriate for the uncertain combination of chassis and driveline and will be rewarding and fun driver for its new owner on cruise nights. Lot # 058 1961 Chrysler Newport 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 8113182888; Dubonnet, White roof/White vinyl, Dubonnet cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900 – 361/280hp Hemi, T-87 heavy duty close ratio 3-speed, Kenwood CD stereo on floor, original radio in dash, blackwall tires, hubcaps, no trim rings, no P/S or P/B, Firesweep deck lid. Good repaint and upholstery, otherwise original, clean and orderly but aged. Cosmetically restored in 2006 and comes with its build sheet showing the present equipment to be as-delivered. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. Bought here in 2007 in a post-block sale for $30,000 in pretty much the same condition it's in today. Luxury marques like this Chrysler are often overlooked by today's collectors who thought of them as their fathers' bankers' cars in their youth and lusted after Impalas, Galaxies and Furys. In fact, this is a lot of car and a real head-turner which was a major bargain at this price. The luminescent 'Dubonnet' color doesn't hurt, either. Lot # 065 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Spyder; S/N 40667W126971; Maroon/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,350 – 4-speed, Pioneer cassette, original pushbutton radio, woodgrain steering wheel, wire wheel whitewalls. Very clean and original with quality repaint, nearly like new upholstery and good chrome. Tidy and nearly like new engine. Top has a neatly heat patched tear. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. Very unusual, attractive and remarkably fast and good handling (Ralph Nader to the contrary), it is very unusual to find a Monza Spyder maintained and restored to these standards and represents full value for the money at this price. Lot # 068 1954 MG TF 1250 Roadster; S/N HDC465637; Dark Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100 – Chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, fender mirrors, finned aluminum valve and side covers, side curtains. Good paint, chrome, interior and top. A sound and very presentable older restoration. Runs well. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. This is strong money for a TF 1250, even one so nicely restored and presented. Lot # 070 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 900 Club Coupe; S/N 40927W212234; Desert Beige/Saddle, Beige vinyl; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400 – Powerglide, factory A/C, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. Original but with deteriorating old paint and body seals. Some pitted trim chrome, outside mirror head missing. Oily but respectably original engine. Odometer shows 45,461 probably accurate miles. R.E. Monical Collection. No Reserve. Valuable only for its originality and preservation, the combination of standard engine and Powerslide holds little attraction. Although...in the right hands, with a set of glasspacks and some cosmetic attention it will not be overlooked on cruise nights. Lot # 101 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Pickup; S/N TBA; Black/Black vinyl, Natural cloth top; Estimate $30,000 - $40,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $17,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,700 – Ruckstell 2-speed rear axle, Warford Model A 3-speed conversion using the original Model T tranny as the clutch, dual sidemounts, chrome radiator surround, Studebaker 18 inch wire wheels, two oil gauges on dashboard, Rajo overhead valve head, Simmons 'Swan' intake with Zenith downdraft carb, coil ignition, Remy gear driven generator with pressure oil pump driven off the back, electric fuel pump, water pump, finned exhaust manifold, spotlight, rear view mirror. Cracked old tires, dull old paint, faded top. Sidemount wells welded in by an apprentice, body sills repaired with riveted panels. New seat upholstery and door panels. Wonderful. Do nothing but keep it running. Chassis is clean, dry and lubricated. Bed is sound, with old wood floors. No Reserve. This is, without a doubt, the coolest and most unusual vehicle in the sale. Described as built in the late 30's by John L. Fernato in Modesto, California, it was parked in 1948, discovered recently and professionally and oh, so sympathetically resurrected preserving all its precious originality. It is sooo cool, ingenious, imaginative and unusual. Everyone was captivated by it, but apparently no one could figure out what to do with it so it sold cheap. It is a wonderful buy for the right person and will make 4-cylinder Ford folks and classic hot rod fans swoon with envy. Gee, do you think I liked it? Lot # 108 1967 MG B Roadster; S/N GHN3L99998; Red/Black vinyl, Red piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $35,000 - $45,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – BMC radio, laced-on steering wheel cover, fender mirrors, chrome wire wheels. Chrome bumpers, pre-smog. Excellent paint, chrome, glass, top and upholstery. Like new underhood and chassis. A very thoughtfully and carefully restored car in essentially fresh off the showroom condition. No Reserve. Exceptionally well and accurately restored and consistently impressive throughout, the price paid is only a fraction of what it would cost to replicate the restoration on a sound and rust-free MG B. It is a very good value. Lot # 114 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N E53F001062; White/Red; Black cloth top; Estimate $290,000 - $340,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $230,000 – WonderBar radio. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Fiberglass cloth weave visible (as it should be) on most of the body panels. NCRS Duntov Award winner. Not many '53 Corvettes are restored and maintained in operating condition of sufficient quality to win the Duntov award, so it's not surprising that the consignor wasn't impressed enough to let it go for the high bid. Lot # 124 1911 Rambler Model 65 'Wide-Track' 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 930; Olive Green, Red coachlines/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $325,000 - $425,000; Recent restoration, 1- condition; Post-block sale at $0 plus commission of -100.00%; Final Price – RHD. Jones speedometer and clock, jump seats, right side spare, Solar acetylene headlights, generator, kerosene sidelights, CAV spring dampers front and rear plus friction front shocks, Rubes-type bulb horn. Concours quality paint, brass, upholstery and top. Shows essentially no use and little age. Originally bought by the Coca Cola Company for use in Texas with the 'wide-track' option common then to fit Texas ruts and fitted with 40 inch wooden wheels for more ground clearance. Stored ages ago when tires weren't available for the wheel size and restored to Pebble Beach class award winning condition. Fitted with 37 inch wheels and new tires, the original wheels, stamped 'Coca Cola Company' on their rims have been restored and come with the car along with the original tires. Lot includes a custom trailer. A wonderful and remarkable old car presented in nearly perfect show quality condition. The only known Model 65 Rambler. Closed post-block at an undisclosed price. Offered at Worldwide's Auburn sale in 2009 where it no-saled at $350,000, then toted over to the Auction Park where Kruse encored the no sale at $300,000. Nearly closed on the block. Whatever the price, it is less than the fortune invested in the meticulous, sparkling, sympathetic restoration and a car that deserves to be shown proudly and frequently. Lot # 125 1963 Porsche 356B Super 90 Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 158609; Engine # P0800896; Black/Maroon leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $120,000 - $140,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $96,000 – Woodrim Moto-Lita style steering wheel, chrome wheels, blackwall tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio. Good paint, chrome, upholstery and top. Kardex-verified correct configuration, engine and colors. Chassis sprayed gloss black and shows use. Headlight covers stone chipped. 195/60 Dunlop radial tires. An attractive and usable driver that will show with pride at the end of the day's run. One of several exceptional 356 Porsches in today's sale, its condition indicates it's been driven with some frequency but also very well and consistently maintained. Its owners appear to like the car better than the very reasonable offer at the auction, an understandable but probably imprudent financial decision. Lot # 129 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible; S/N 50424347; Black, Gold/Gold vinyl, Beige, Black cloth; Beige cloth top; Estimate $200,000 - $250,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500 – Gold flecked brown carpet, radio, pushbutton automatic, P/W, P/bench seat, Benrus clock in steering wheel hub, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, dual rear antennas, P/B, P/S, 345/345hp Hemi with dual quads. Once was beyond perfect but no more. Engine paint is blistered and peeling with coolant and fuel leaks. One or two minor cosmetic issues but paint, chrome, upholstery and top are great. No Reserve. A rare and quite wonderful example of mid-50's Mopar muscle with some of the most egregious fins ever seen. The older restoration is pretty remarkable, too, and needs only some detailing, particularly in the engine compartment, to be once again show quality. It should be an AACA winner and is well bought at this price. Lot # 131 1940 Chrysler Newport Replica Roadster; S/N C2559937; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $40,000 - $60,000; Customized restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500 – 392/400hp Hemi, dual quads, TorqueFlite automatic, P/B, P/S, tilt, limited slip rear end, wide white walls, metal bodied, aluminum hood, Grant steering wheel, chrome wire wheels, CD player, gold rim 'Classic' instruments, tilt column, whitewalls, retracting headlights. Excellent paint, chrome and interior now showing a bit of age. No Reserve. Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2005, fresh from its creation, for $54,000, then taken to Kruse Auburn Fall the same year where it was reported bid to $45,000. Its Newport-ness is debatable (the side view looks more like an XK140 Jag) but it's an attractive and drivable custom with a quality metal body and a reliable drivetrain. And as a custom it's worth at least what it brought here. Lot # 132 1909 Cadillac Model 30 5-Passenger Touring; S/N 36948; Blue, Grey coachlining/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 - $130,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Post-block sale at $86,364 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $95,000 – RHD. Gray and Davis acetylene headlights and kerosene sidelights, Prest-O-Lite tank, Rubes style bulb horn, varnished wood wheels with blackwall tires. Show quality restoration with excellent paint, brass, top and upholstery. Brass is starting to need attention. Done to very high standards but without covering up the evidence of the car's underlying age like rust pits on the old frame metal. Still, it's good enough to win AACA Senior at Hershey last year and a class win at Hilton Head. This is a very attractive car with a long history from the yearly years of the car collecting movement before it was even 50 years old. It's been thoroughly restored, taken its awards, been driven a little and now is ready to return to brass and gas tours and similar events where it will be welcomed. It needs nothing and was bought reasonably in the post-block transaction. Lot # 133 1934 Duesenberg Model J Boattail Speedster; S/N 2159; Engine # J-134; Cream, Orange/Cinnamon leather; Estimate $475,000 - $575,000; Rebodied or re-created, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $390,000 – Dual cloth covered sidemounts, dual Lorraine remote spotlights, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, Pilot-Rays, flexible exhaust head pipes, screen hood side vents. Supercharger is not original. Good older paint, chrome and upholstery. An older show quality rebody that has been toured with unavoidable nicks and blemishes. Still an eye-catcher, though. The story of the Walton Speedster body is so convoluted it is essentially incomprehensible and includes modifying the boattail body's appearance with advice from Herb Newport for Rick Carroll. Other owners include Ray Lutgert and Richard and Linda Kughn. 2159 is the firewall number; no number is evident on the frame. ACD Certified Level Two and CCCA recognized as a Modified Classic. This car was close to selling at this bid and would have been a good value. Instead it will hang around for a while until the seller's expectations align with those of prospective owners. At anything close to the high bid it will be a very sound, but not inappropriate, value. Lot # 136 1965 Pontiac Bonneville 421 Tri-Power Convertible; S/N 262675C120780; Engine # None; Dark Blue/Blue vinyl, White vinyl top; Estimate $45,000 - $65,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $30,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,550 – 421 Tri-Power, 4-speed, radio, P/S, P/B, A/C (not installed but in the trunk), Safe-T-Track, 8-lug wheels with trim rings, narrow whitewall Tiger Paws, skirts, vacuum gauge, bench seat, P/W. All original and showing its age with one old partial repaint. Miles look real. Thin chrome, driver's seat seam pulled. Body is solid as a rock. Clean underhood and looks untouched except for removing the A/C compressor. Paint chipped around hood latch. Rear speaker cover rusted. Choice. PHS documented 421 and 4-speed as well as the myriad other options. No Reserve. While it's as clean and shiny as it might be, and a few trim bits need replacement or rechroming, and the Tri-Power isn't original, this is still one very, very nice and highly original 421 Bonneville convertible. It is way more car than the money it sold for, too, a very good value. Lot # 138 1927 Packard Eight 3-36 Torpedo Dual Windshield Touring, Body by Holbrook; S/N 223596; Engine # 223607C; Black, Red accent/Red leather; Estimate $175,000 - $225,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000 – Chrome hood and cowl top, no top, dual pedestal spotlights, red wire wheels with blackwall tires, drum headlights, donut chaser and Packard Motometer radiator cap, wood steering wheel, dual vee windshields, dual rear spares with chrome bands. Good paint and chrome, excellent upholstery. Blistered woodgrain paint on dashboard, missing one gauge glass. Colors are overdone and the restoration isn't. Chassis done to driver standards. More gaudy than classy. Livery copied from a 1927 NY Auto Salon show car. The combination of garish livery and superficial restoration weigh heavily on this otherwise very attractive Packard with its steeply raked vee windshields and close coupled coachwork. It could have been sold for the reported high bid, or maybe the next increment. Lot # 147 1962 Pontiac Bonneville Safari Station Wagon; S/N 762W1304; Engine # 762W1304 426889 49N; Metallic Blue/Blue vinyl; Estimate $35,000 - $45,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – Tri-Power 389 V-8, WonderBar radio, A/C (converted to R134), P/S, P/B, buckets and console, automatic, accessory rear window screen, clear steering wheel rim, 8-lug wheels with twin rings and narrow whitewalls, roof rack. Superficial repaint over chipped old paint, thin trim chrome but good major bits. Sound replaced interior, delaminating vent windows but good windshield and side glass. Old undercoat on chassis. Straight, sound body. PHS documented original configuration except for color change. No Reserve. Offered by Kruse at Fall Auburn in 2003 where it no-saled at $17,800. The repaint does nothing for its appeal and its general lack of care and attention left the bidders bidding in anticipation of unfortunate surprises. At this price they can be fixed, or if there are no mechanical issues the unfortunate repaint can be redone properly and this car turned into a real showpiece. It is a sound value at the price. Lot # 148 1957 Porsche 356A 1600S Super Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 82622; Engine # P80595; Aquamarine Metallic/Red leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $160,000 - $190,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500 – Chrome wheels, blackwall tires, bumper overriders, headlight stoneguard without clear covers. Excellent paint, chrome and good interior. Restored like new with some subsequent age and miles. Color changed from Ruby Red to Aquamarine Metallic, which is a much more attractive color. Numbers are appropriate for a 1957 1600 Super and are correct for its Kardex. A very nice car. A very nice price, too, for the buyer. This is more like 1600 Normal money. Lot # 150 1963 Maserati 3500 GT Spyder, Body by Vignale; S/N AM1011337; Engine # AM1011337; Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $250,000 - $275,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $220,000 – Nardi steering wheel, P/W, 5-speed, 16 inch chrome wire wheels, disc brakes. Good paint, chrome, top, glass and upholstery. Chassis redone to presentable driver standards and recently treated (?) to a fresh squirt of chassis black. Driver's door panel loose. A very nice older cosmetic restoration. Think of this as the functional equivalent of a Ferrari 250GT Series II Pf Cabriolet with better build quality, a more reliable engine (with half as many cylinders to rebuild), a better gearbox and a body that is maybe not as pretty and little over-embellished but still representative of classic 50's Italian design and it looks like a very good value at close to this price. You could have this Maserati and its coupe counterpart (for rainy days) for the same total investment. Lot # 161 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout; S/N 184029; Engine # 184015; Dark Blue, Light Blue accent/Dark Blue leather; Beige cloth top, Blue piping; Estimate $275,000 - $375,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000 – Chrome win wheels, wide whitewalls, dual cloth covered sidemounts, Pilot-Rays, radiator stoneguard. 1988 AACA Senior winner that has been redone and freshly detailed. Excellent paint, chrome, upholstery and everything else. Chassis is show ready. Body origin is unknown, as is the car's early history but the numbers are correct for a 734 Speedster. Sold at the Hershey Auction in October 2004 for $132,000 and gone through since to bring it back to fresh, crisp condition. That, however, isn't enough to make it worth any more than the reported high bid, a value that is marked down by about 50% from the value of one of the eleven known remaining documented 734 Speedsters. It will, however, drive like a real one which is, in the low $200K range, a very good performance value. Lot # 164 1910 Mitchell Model S 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 14751; Blue, Red coachlines/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $325,000 - $425,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – RHD. Dual right side spares, jump seats, Solar acetylene headlights and generator, Neverout acetylene pedestal spotlight, Solar kerosene sidelights, Mitchell Motometer, Solar kerosene taillight, Stewart speedometer and rim wind clock, blackwall tires on body color wheels, cream chassis. Excellent paint, brass, upholstery and top. Concours restored with a few miles on the chassis. A great, big automobile and a 2007 Pebble Beach class winner and recipient of the Charles Chayne Trophy for advanced engineering. Bid to $210,000 on the block and closed later at this price, it's done its thing at Pebble Beach and now has utility as a great tour car. One of only two known survivors of its year and model, it once was a taxi in Billings, Montana and has had only four owners from new. The buyer has a very good value for the amount of money paid. Lot # 166 1934 Ford Model 40 Phaeton; S/N 18840790; Cordoba Grey, Orange coachlines/Brown leather; Heather cloth top; Estimate $125,000 - $150,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $63,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $69,300 – Body No: 750-LB-5242. Red wire wheels, dual sided whitewalls, enclosed rear spare, cowl lights, wind wings. Original except for some paint touchup, showing 33,902 probably original miles. Sound but stiff original upholstery with pulled seam in driver's seat cushion. Dash and gauges are original and very clean and sharp. Body and frame have been detailed but not restored and are very nearly like new except for some age and miles. Windshield frame chrome is weak. 1991 AACA Senior and Early Ford Dearborn Award winner. A superb original car that can be shown proudly with the finest restored Fords. When I first looked at this Ford I thought it was an older restoration. When I looked at it more closely I was convinced, except for some obviously original features like the upholstery. Then I read the catalog, and looked a third time. Wow! This is nearly unprecedented preservation and it would not have been expensive at another $10-20,000. Very well bought, and very attractive. Lot # 171 1936 DeSoto Airflow III S-2 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 5092645; Two tone Green/Beige cloth; Estimate $40,000 - $60,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700 – Clock, heater, overdrive, skirts, whitewalls. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new. Old running board covers, some trim rechromed over pits but overall a pretty impressive presentation. Very nice interior with restored gauges and dash. No Reserve. Looking more and more like a conventional sedan of the mid-30's and less and less like an Airflow, this '36 DeSoto still retains the design and layout elements that made the Airflow such a dramatic engineering statement. It just lost its aerodynamic edge. Widely appreciated by collectors who recognize engineering wizardry, and by those who relish lost causes and orphans, this Airflow is about as good as they get in appearance and is a good value at its price here. Lot # 172 1963 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 157655; Heron Grey/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $400,000 - $500,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $340,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, factory woodrim steering wheel, clock (works), Grey headliner, chrome wheels. Excellent cosmetics throughout. Flat panels, even gaps, flush fits. Better than new. Bulb headlights with Bosch covers. NOS unnumbered engine case, original transaxle, correct original colors. Meticulously and completely restored without destroying its accuracy and appeal. A wonderful car. The consignors' decision to keep the car in preference to the money is warranted, but barely. The 15% gap between buyer's and sellers' expectations is pretty small especially as it could have been made much smaller by the auction company giving back part of the buyer's premium. Sometimes, though, a car means so much to the seller they're fixated on getting the hammer bid, and getting the expected net after commission just isn't an acceptable alternative. Lot # 177 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 409/409 'Bubbletop' Sport Coupe; S/N 21637F125429; Engine # S104893 T1206QG; Black/Red vinyl, cloth; Estimate $85,000 - $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000 – 409/409hp, 4-speed, dog dish hubcaps, heater and radio delete, P/S added, Sun tach. Excellent paint, chrome and upholstery. Clean and restored like new with better paint but some nose chips. Represented as a factory 409/409 4-speed car with a replacement block. Sold here two years ago for $110,000 with 78 miles on the odometer since, it's not a surprise the seller elected to try again another time, another place. Lot # 180 1960 Maserati Tipo 61/60 'Birdcage' Sports Racer; S/N 2459; Red/Blue cloth; Rebodied or re-created, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $750,000 – RHD. Silver wire wheels. Fresh and better than new. Like a bride: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Although in this case the new vastly outnumbers the old. Freshly completed by Steve Hart Racing in the UK with a 2-litre engine using an original cylinder head, crankcase, sump, cam covers, 45DCO3 Webers and gearbox/differential. The frame and body are newly built. Some miscellaneous bits thought to be from 2459, the crashed and parted-out Cunningham car, include taillights, front wheel hubs and dashboard switches, which are cited in support of the 'borrowed' part, its identity number. Vetted by Richard Crump and with an FIA Historic Technical Passport applied for, it is one very pretty and accurate 'tach needle' turned into a car. Denis Jenkinson would have called it a 'resurrection,' and who's to argue with Jenks. It is as close to correct as many Birdcages with more secure claims to their identities and will, once it has its FIA paperwork, be a competitive entrant in historic events. With Tipo 61 s/n 2470, a car made from the front of 2471 and the back of 2470, selling for $3.3 million in Monaco this weekend a discount of something like $2.25 million for this one is an attractive opportunity for someone who wants to go racing. Lot # 181 1975 Lancia Beta Montecarlo Spyder Series I; S/N 137AS0000370; Engine # 137AS0000000475; Silver/Blue vinyl; Estimate $18,000 - $28,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $15,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,500 – 120hp Euro spec engine, clock, no radio. Jack and spare secured with original rubber straps. Fair old repaint with masking oversights. Good upholstery looks replaced. Neglected old chassis. Engine compartment is aged but clean, orderly and original. Freshly brought in from Italy where it was serviced by Lancia specialists and fitted with new tires just before being shipped. One owner from new with 77,237 km. No Reserve. This is much more car that it is given credit for and with this one's combination of low miles, originality and Euro spec engine it will be a ball to drive as well as attracting plenty of attention when it's shown. It is a sound value at the price. Lot # 182 1912 Benz 14/30 Touring; S/N 7882; Ivory/Brown leather; Estimate $120,000 - $150,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – RHD. Goerz-Gerhardt acetylene headlights, single DRGM kerosene sidelight, dual right side spares, vee windshield, Hassia acetylene generator, light word trim, jump seats. Cracked old repaint, good older upholstery. Wood steering wheel separating at joints. Sound and usable on tours but aged and only superficially restored and maintained. Origin of the coachwork is unknown and it's funky rather than elegant. Offered by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2003, then reported sold by Kruse in Scottsdale in 2008 for $216,000. The result here is nothing if not a good value even taking into account the marginal condition and unknown history. Its shaky origin makes restoration a losing proposition, but on tours it should be useful, fun and unusual enough to make it one of the stars. Lot # 187 1932 Ford Highboy Roadster; S/N TBA; Maroon/Brown vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $125,000 - $175,000; Customized restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – Offenhauser heads, Thickstun intake with dual Strombergs 97, Winfield cam, Johnson lifters, Zephyr gears, Ford wire wheels with trim rings, 3-speed, Halibrand quick change, banjo-spoke steering wheel, engine turned instrument panel with S-W speedometer and neat Westach dual face engine gauges. Steel body, transverse leaf spring suspension, lever shocks, juice brakes, dual exhausts, headers, dropped front axle. Excellent paint, chrome, upholstery and top. Very nicely done traditional style highboy done right without being loaded down with chrome and junk. A sweet ride done in the 50's and subsequently very well restored. Sharp and clean throughout. No Reserve. This is a very sweet street rod and its restorer should be given full marks for doing it right and using an abundance of the right period equipment. It needs absolutely nothing except someone to take it out and drive it and at this price is a good value by any measure. Lot # 199 1963 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N 863W49088; Black/Burgundy vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $30,000 - $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $21,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,100 – 389/313hp Tri-Power, automatic, buckets and console, vacuum gauge, AM-FM radio, P/W, P/S, P/B, P/top, 8-lug wheels with trim rings and narrow whitewalls. Poor, dull old repaint with orange peel, good interior, glass and major chrome. Clear steering wheel rim badly cracked. Body appears to be sound and the car could be an attractive driver but its present neglected condition is not reassuring. No Reserve. The price reflects the work this Poncho will need to be shown or even cruised with pride. It's pretty dilapidated. Lot # 210 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Sport Phaeton, Body by Brewster; S/N S346KP; Light Green, Dark Green fenders/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $275,000 - $325,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $182,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $200,750 – Drum headlights and cowl lights, dual sidemounts, whitewalls, folding windshield, tubular bumpers, cloth covered luggage trunk fitted to the rear of the tonneau, dual taillights. Flush side body with hidden hinges, one of only five built. Four owners from new, sound but aged old repaint, tattered original upholstery, 48,000 miles. Owned by the Buess family since 1950 and almost wholly original and unrestored. Buess Family Collection. No Reserve. A remarkably well preserved and original example of one of Brewster's and Rolls-Royce's most attractive bodies made even more significant by its rare flush side body. It really deserves to be preserved as it has survived although the tattered leather upholstery will need to be replaced or at least carefully covered up under something usable. The price is in line with recent sales of similarly attractive and preserved Ascots but doesn't give appropriate weight to the unusual body features. Lot # 211 1912 Cadillac Model 30 4-Passenger Touring Car; S/N 46462; Black/Black leather; Estimate $40,000 - $60,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – RHD. Gray & Davis Cadillac-badged acetylene headlights, Kettering electric starter, Gray & Davis sidelights, folding windshield, footrest, full top frame. Unusual 4-passenger touring body. Acquired by the Buess family in 1935, original, unrestored and complete in all significant respects. The lights even have their original lenses. Runs and drives, barely. Buess Family Collection. No Reserve. Mechanically gone through to make it safer and more reliable, this Model 30 will be an attractive entrant in Preservation class events or a rewarding and very complete basis for a straightforward restoration. The bidders recognized the possibilities and paid a healthy price for it. Lot # 212 1910 Stanley Model 60 Runabout; S/N 5332; Black/Black; Estimate $140,000 - $180,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500 – RHD. Dickey seat, acetylene headlights with Prest-O-Lite tank, kerosene taillight and cowl lamps. Acquired in 1937 and stored since 1947 but recently serviced and driven onto the block under steam from its original and recently hydro-tested boiler. Original and unrestored although serviced back in the late 40's when it was regularly used. Leather upholstery is torn and ripped. Spare Bourdon boiler included. Buess Family Collection. No Reserve. A thoroughly wonderful and intriguing Stanley with a colorful history that will find instant acceptance among steam enthusiasts. A sound value at the price and a rewarding acquisition. Lot # 214 1898 Unknown Builder Steam Runabout; S/N Bill of Sale Only; Black, Red accent/Black leather; Estimate $30,000 - $50,000; Unrestored original, 4- condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000 – Tiller steering, buggy wheels with the original canvas tire carcasses. Builder unknown despite years of research. Original, unrestored, not running and needs everything. Buess Family Collection since 1946. No Reserve. A wonderful thing that when restored will earn its new owner an early start time in the London to Brighton Veteran Car run, and just about anywhere else it wants to go.Lot # 215 1908 Holsman Model 10-K High-Wheeler; S/N 3031; Black/Black leather; Estimate $30,000 - $50,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,800 – Righthand tiller steering. Single headlight, brass kerosene sidelights, Rubes-style bulb horn. One of only two known Holsman Model 10-Ks, with opposed two-cylinder engine and infinitely variable speed chain/belt drive using tapered drive sheaves that close up to expand their diameter. Reverse engaged by moving a small drive wheel back to friction drive the solid rubber rear tires directly. A remarkably ingenious piece of machinery. Sound and usable upholstery with reupholstered driver's seat cushion and seat back. Runs and driven onto the block. Buess Family Collection since 1946. No Reserve. Unfortunately because of its build date this Holsman isn't Brighton-eligible but aside from that it is a charming vehicle with a remarkable history. It needs nothing to be driven and enjoyed and its combination of simplicity and ingenious mechanical design will make it an appreciated participant in veteran vehicle shows and events. The bidders here in Houston appreciated it with their pocketbooks. Lot # 219 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Roadster, Body by Thrupp & Maberly; S/N 2SK; Dark Blue/Cognac leather; Dark Blue leather top; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $660,000 – RHD. Driving light, tri-bar headlights, polished wheel discs, dual enclosed sidemounts. One-off body with cutdown doors and low windshield, low rake 'F' steering column, 3.42:1 rear axle originally built for Sir Auckland Geddes, MD, later owned by Rowland Smith, director of the coachbuilder's parent, Rootes. Bought in the 50's by movie star Tyrone Power. Acquired by Fred Buess in 1958. Never restored although it has received regular mechanical and cosmetic attention as need to keep it in pristine and presentable running and driving condition. Recently repainted and reupholstered and has a standing invitation to be displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2010 with freshening, detailing and preparation by Fred Buess included. Buess Family Collection. No Reserve. This is an extraordinary automobile, a Rolls-Royce sports car with sleek, streamlined one-off bodywork (one of only two roadsters built on the Phantom II Continental chassis), high performance suspension and a wonderful history. It brought a premium price, but the buyer could have paid more without being profligate. It is a very good value.
Worldwide’s two-day Houston Classic Weekend sale at the Keels & Wheels Concours d’Elegance at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook opened on Friday, April 30, 2010 with 73 cars, all without reserve, from the R.E. Monical Collection. 
Wonderful report Rick. I welcome your contributions to Sports Car Digest.
I agree …. great report ,
Great report Rick. It is a rare instance where I get goosebumps watching cars cross the block. That occurred several times watching the incredible cars from the Buess family collection. One interesting story that did not get discussed; Fred Buess is a tinkerer. He spent most of his time there working on his cars making sure they were running perfectly. One of the O’Quinn Rolls Royces had some mechanical issues. When Fred found out, he ordered parts from his personal collection to be shipped to Houston (at his expense) and spent the entire day Friday bringing a car back to life that had not run in many years. By the time the car was to cross the block, it ran across effortlessly! The car likely sold for DOUBLE what it would have if Fred had not stepped up and repaired it.
Last point; I could not agree more about Rod’s and John’s handling of the Buess collection with respect to the Buess religious views. Outstanding, classy and first-rate all the way!
GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!