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RM Auctions Amelia Island 2014 – Auction Report

RM Auctions, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, Florida, March 8, 2014

Highlighted by the disposition of Greenwich, Connecticut’s Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection, RM Auctions hit a home run at Amelia Island this year, recording a record total sale for the sixteen years they’re been at Amelia Island of $35.9 million, just over a third better than the previous best set last year.

The top sale, not surprisingly, was the Pray family’s 1937 Delahaye 135 with Figoni & Falaschi Torpedo Roadster coachwork at $6 million hammer, $6.6 million with commission. Runner up was another Pray family car, the BMW 507 that Malcolm had bought from its original owner in 1974. It brought $2.2 million hammer, $2,420,000 with commission.

Three more cars sold on hammer bids of $1 million or more including the Pray family’s Ferrari 250 GT Pininfarina Cabriolet Series II at $1.6 million hammer, $1,760,000 with commission.

RM fared very well with pre-war cars, selling 32 of 34 offered, 94.1% (not counting four pre-WWI Indian motorcycles which all sold as well.) There was no shortage of affordable cars, either. 24 sold for under $100,000 hammer, and six were under $50,000 hammer.

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[Catalog photos courtesy of RM Auctions, © 2013, 2014 Darin Schnabel, Corey Silvia, Mark Staff and Patrick Emzen]

RM Auctions Amelia Island 2014 – Auction Report

1974 Iso Grifo 7-Liter
Lot # 111 1974 Iso Grifo 7-Liter; S/N 250223; Ruby Red/Beige leather; Estimate $185,000 – $250,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000 – 427/400hp, Richmond 6-speed, electronic ignition, remote CD stereo, aftermarket A/C. – The last car on the Iso assembly line, completed by Ennezeta after Iso shut down – Sold by RM here in 2003 for $83,600 and bought today for a genuinely extravagant price, materially beyond any other Iso and with no allowance for the upgrades. And yet … with an Iso do upgrades really matter? Isos are not yet objects of veneration, although at prices like this they soon may be.
Lot # 112 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4; S/N 15859; Blue Ribot/Beige leather; Estimate $225,000 - $275,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $305,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $335,500. No Reserve – Cromodora centerlock alloy wheels, Becker Europa AM-FM, A/C, – Very good new paint and new interior. Engine is clean and carefully detailed. Very good new interior. A good C/4 serviced and detailed to showroom condition. Platinum at Cavallino this year. – Sold by Auctions America in Burbank, California last August for $134,750 with much subsequent work to cosmetics and mechanicals. The consignor was well compensated for the time, effort and money spent to create one of the best C/4s in the world, helped by an exterior color that complements Pininfarina's design, at a price that is the best in history for a C/4. best by $60,000 from the price RM got for s/n 14455 at Monterey last August, a result that recalls Christie's price of $260,972 for s/n 14815 at Monaco a lifetime ago (or so it seems) in 1989.
Lot # 112 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4; S/N 15859; Blue Ribot/Beige leather; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $305,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $335,500. No Reserve – Cromodora centerlock alloy wheels, Becker Europa AM-FM, A/C, – Very good new paint and new interior. Engine is clean and carefully detailed. Very good new interior. A good C/4 serviced and detailed to showroom condition. Platinum at Cavallino this year. – Sold by Auctions America in Burbank, California last August for $134,750 with much subsequent work to cosmetics and mechanicals. The consignor was well compensated for the time, effort and money spent to create one of the best C/4s in the world, helped by an exterior color that complements Pininfarina’s design, at a price that is the best in history for a C/4. best by $60,000 from the price RM got for s/n 14455 at Monterey last August, a result that recalls Christie’s price of $260,972 for s/n 14815 at Monaco a lifetime ago (or so it seems) in 1989.
Lot # 122 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500569; Engine # 1989807500545; Silver-Blue/Red leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,400,000 - $1,750,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500 – Euro headlights, Rudge wheels, Dunlop blackwall tires, Becker radio, books, tools, Rudge spare wheel and tire. – First owned by 19-year old actress Natalie Wood, who had it painted pink from the original Silver. Restored in the present intriguing shade in 2000. Class winner at Amelia Island in 2012. In impeccable condition showing slight evidence of use but meticulously maintained with excellent paint, chrome, interior and gauges. – The celebrity provenance is a slight bonus in the value of this gorgeous 300SL, which brought a realistic price amongst the exaggerated valuations placed on similar cars these days.
Lot # 122 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500569; Engine # 1989807500545; Silver-Blue/Red leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,750,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500 – Euro headlights, Rudge wheels, Dunlop blackwall tires, Becker radio, books, tools, Rudge spare wheel and tire. – First owned by 19-year old actress Natalie Wood, who had it painted pink from the original Silver. Restored in the present intriguing shade in 2000. Class winner at Amelia Island in 2012. In impeccable condition showing slight evidence of use but meticulously maintained with excellent paint, chrome, interior and gauges. – The celebrity provenance is a slight bonus in the value of this gorgeous 300SL, which brought a realistic price amongst the exaggerated valuations placed on similar cars these days.
Lot # 125 1953 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Fiesta Convertible; S/N 539M26760; Cadet Blue, Acacia Blue/Cadet Blue, Acacia Blue; Blue cloth top; Estimate $120,000 - $160,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500 – – -- Sold here in 2003 for $104,500, then here again in 2009 for $143,000 with the odometer showing the same 80,169 miles it does today. Far from the best Fiesta on the planet but attractively presented and an equally attractively rare example of the '53 GM Motorama cars.
Lot # 125 1953 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Fiesta Convertible; S/N 539M26760; Cadet Blue, Acacia Blue/Cadet Blue, Acacia Blue; Blue cloth top; Estimate $120,000 – $160,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500 – – — Sold here in 2003 for $104,500, then here again in 2009 for $143,000 with the odometer showing the same 80,169 miles it does today. Far from the best Fiesta on the planet but attractively presented and an equally attractively rare example of the ’53 GM Motorama cars.
Lot # 126 1972 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 Convertible; S/N 1Z67L2S520959; Mille Miglia Red, Black vinyl hardtop/Black vinyl; Estimate $110,000 - $120,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $117,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $129,250. No Reserve – 350/255hp, 4-speed, hardtop, rear window defroster, A/C, P/S, P/B, AM-FM, tilt/telescope steering column, Rally wheels with trim rings. – NCRS Top Flight in 2012. – This Corvette with the unusual combination of solid lifter LT1 engine, A/C, P/W and P/B has been on the market for some time starting at least back in May 2012 when it no-saled at Mecum Indy for $85,000, then at Kissimmee in 2013 with a reported high bid of $85,000. The wait proved to be worthwhile with this result.
Lot # 126 1972 Chevrolet Corvette LT1 Convertible; S/N 1Z67L2S520959; Mille Miglia Red, Black vinyl hardtop/Black vinyl; Estimate $110,000 – $120,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $117,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $129,250. No Reserve – 350/255hp, 4-speed, hardtop, rear window defroster, A/C, P/S, P/B, AM-FM, tilt/telescope steering column, Rally wheels with trim rings. – NCRS Top Flight in 2012. – This Corvette with the unusual combination of solid lifter LT1 engine, A/C, P/W and P/B has been on the market for some time starting at least back in May 2012 when it no-saled at Mecum Indy for $85,000, then at Kissimmee in 2013 with a reported high bid of $85,000. The wait proved to be worthwhile with this result.
Lot # 127 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino; S/N 08286; Silver/Red leather, Black stripes; Estimate $340,000 - $400,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. No Reserve – A/C, P/W, Daytona seats, Becker Mexico cassette, headrest seats, Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin blackwall tires. – Good paint, lightly worn interior. Good window channels and window seals. Orderly engine showing a little use. An appealing driver. – While in general is is hard to comprehend recent Dino values this result is representative of them.
Lot # 127 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino; S/N 08286; Silver/Red leather, Black stripes; Estimate $340,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. No Reserve – A/C, P/W, Daytona seats, Becker Mexico cassette, headrest seats, Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin blackwall tires. – Good paint, lightly worn interior. Good window channels and window seals. Orderly engine showing a little use. An appealing driver. – While in general is is hard to comprehend recent Dino values this result is representative of them.
Lot # 130 1930 BNC Type 527 Voiturette; S/N 27119; Blue/Red; Estimate $170,000 - $220,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500 – RHD. 139/60hp Ford V8-60 flathead, 3-speed, silver painted wire wheels, driving lights, cycle fenders, hydraulic brakes. – Raced in the early postwar years by George Caswell, who did the engine swap, and his friend Otto Linton, competed in the first Watkins Glen road races in 1948, finishing 8th overall, 4th in class. Stored since the early 70's in home built as-raced condition and still that way with scratched, dinged, peeling paint, scruffy upholstery and grimy engine and chassis, a marvelous old crock begging to be brought back to decent running, driving condition. – People kept opening the hood of this BNC to marvel at Henry's little flathead powerplant tucked inside. Finding any car that competed at Watkins Glen in 1948 is an event, but to find one that so proudly bears its racing history and hasn't been 'restored' to beyond perfect condition is even better. Let's hope it found its way to Naples, Florida or Philadelphia and gets treated with love and respect while being brought back to life to stand and be demonstrated proudly beside some of its more famed counterparts from Watkins. The history alone is worth the price it brought, the patina (if it can be called that) is priceless.
Lot # 130 1930 BNC Type 527 Voiturette; S/N 27119; Blue/Red; Estimate $170,000 – $220,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500 – RHD. 139/60hp Ford V8-60 flathead, 3-speed, silver painted wire wheels, driving lights, cycle fenders, hydraulic brakes. – Raced in the early postwar years by George Caswell, who did the engine swap, and his friend Otto Linton, competed in the first Watkins Glen road races in 1948, finishing 8th overall, 4th in class. Stored since the early 70’s in home built as-raced condition and still that way with scratched, dinged, peeling paint, scruffy upholstery and grimy engine and chassis, a marvelous old crock begging to be brought back to decent running, driving condition. – People kept opening the hood of this BNC to marvel at Henry’s little flathead powerplant tucked inside. Finding any car that competed at Watkins Glen in 1948 is an event, but to find one that so proudly bears its racing history and hasn’t been ‘restored’ to beyond perfect condition is even better. Let’s hope it found its way to Naples, Florida or Philadelphia and gets treated with love and respect while being brought back to life to stand and be demonstrated proudly beside some of its more famed counterparts from Watkins. The history alone is worth the price it brought, the patina (if it can be called that) is priceless.
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan, Body by Dietrich
Lot # 135 1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan, Body by Dietrich; S/N 900104; Engine # 900116; Maroon/Plum leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Post-block sale at $763,636 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $840,000 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, rollup division, vee windshield. – Concours restored and maintained in show ready condition. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Body swapped from a Super Eight during restoration. Bob Bahre collection. – Bid to $700,000 on the block and closed later at this price, an astute compromise between the innate appeal and superb lines of this car and its mixed history. A car the new owner will be as proud to own and show as Bob Bahre has been, but even better to drive.
1914 Packard 1-38 Six Runabout
Lot # 137 1914 Packard 1-38 Six Runabout; S/N 38878; Engine # 38878; Red/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $400,000 – $450,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $375,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $412,500 – A prodigious automobile with 415 cubic inches, rated 60 ALAM horsepower with lightweight coachwork and 115 inch wheelbase. Reported sold by Mecum Auctions at Monterey last August for $668,750, a result that followed two no-sales with RM at Arizona in 2010 ($335,000) and Hershey in 2012 ($370,000). Hard to ‘splain, but a magnificent car for the money here.
1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Special Roadster, Body by Hibbard & Darrin
Lot # 140 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Special Roadster, Body by Hibbard & Darrin; S/N S297FP; Engine # 22977; Red, Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $275,000. No Reserve – – — Sold by Gooding at Scottsdale in 2013 for $308,000.

RM Auctions Amelia Island 2014 – Auction Report Page Two

1949 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster
Lot # 141 1949 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster; S/N 670061; Engine # W1114-8; Silver/Dark Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $495,000. No Reserve – RHD. Steel wheels, hubcaps, wide trim rings, Vredestein blackwall radial tires, skirts, wind wings, tribar headlights, Lucas fog lights, converted (for some obscure reason) from lefthand to righthand drive. – No engine block number. Good older restoration with some miles. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Chuck Swimmer collection. – A seasoned tour car with two Colorado Grands and a California Mille to its credit, thoroughly shaken down and meticulously maintained in nearly like new condition, a quality Jag bought entirely reasonably.
1953 Allard K3 Roadster
Lot # 144 1953 Allard K3 Roadster; S/N K3/3189; BRGreen/Tan leather; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – Chrysler 331/325 Hemi V-8 with dual quads, 4-speed, wire wheels, banjo spoke steering wheel – Sold by Gooding at Amelia Island in 2012 for $151,250.
1983 Ferrari 512 BBi
Lot # 145 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi; S/N ZFFJA09B000044881; Red, Black sills/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $200,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – A/C, cassette stereo, Michelin TRX tires, centerlock 5-spoke alloy wheels. – Clean, mostly original car with some paintwork and filler, 23,003 km represented as original. Good original interior. – Long overlooked by collectors fascinated with Daytonas, 275 GTBs and Dinos, the flat-12 Ferraris have started to come into their own, but still represent extremely good value for money relative to contemporaries and the aforementioned hot tickets.
1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Fastback
Lot # 147 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Fastback; S/N SFM5R538; White, Blue stripes/Black; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $895,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $984,500 – Woodrim steering wheel, 5-spoke black alloy wheels, Comp T/A blackwalls, Hurst shifter, roll cage, documented with stuff that is only the dream of most old race cars. – Charlie Kemp’s 1968-69 race car with 17 straight wins, including clocking 184 mph on Daytona’s back straight (before the bus stop) in 1969. Restored to as-raced condition by Charlie Kemp and his chief mechanic, Pete Hood, using the old parts including those developed by Hood to make this the best GT350R ever. Orderly but not fresh vintage race car. Warped hood, scratched rear window. Decent paint. Unmatched history and remarkable undamaged with mostly original body panels and even the original Mustang VIN on the front fender apron. Charlie Kemp collection. – If there is a million-dollar GT350 it is this car, with a fabulous racing history and an impeccable history, sold by the driver who whomped the competition to three SCCA National Championships. Buy a legendary car from the guy who developed and drove it in the Sixties? Priceless.
1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster
Lot # 149 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010020361; White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. No Reserve – AM-FM, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, Solex carbs, side facing rear seat. – Freshly restored to auction car standards. Good paint, chrome and interior. Engine looks good on top, not so good underneath. Overspray in wheel wells. – A mediocre driver quality 190SL sold at the Leake Tulsa auction in 2013 for $121,000, and brought a reasonable price here in Amelia Island nine months later.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet
Lot # 151 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002841; Engine # 11898012002543; Anthracite Grey/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $185,000 – $235,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $305,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $335,500 – Automatic, P/W, A/C, Becker Europa AM-FM, console, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights, limited slip axle, owner’s and parts manuals, tool roll, jack, wheel chock. – Good repaint, top, chrome, original interior and wood trim. Clean and orderly underhood, good old underbody. A reassuring car with 56,553 miles from new represented as original paint but suspect on the car. – The bidders bit on the original paint and paid a big premium for this 280SE 3.5. Even if the paint’s been lightly touched up it is a superbly maintained and preserved car that will give its new owner bragging rights, albeit at heavy cost.
1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster
Lot # 152 1958 BMW 507 Series II Roadster; S/N 70156; Engine # 40024; Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,420,000 – Rudge wheels, whitewall tires, Becker Europa II multiband radio, two tops. – Good paint job, good upholstery only lightly stretched. Weak windshield frame and taillight chrome. Acquired by Malcom Pray from its first owner in 1972, updated and refreshed from time to time but largely original and choice. Sold with its original (40167) engine and unrestored hardtop. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection. – This 507 is just about everything a collector could desire, as is the price it brought for the Pray Achievement Center’s endowment. It brought a third more than Gooding got yesterday for their comparable Series II 507, a credit to this car’s history, preservation and equipment.
1938 SS Jaguar 100 3 1/2 Liter Roadster
Lot # 157 1938 SS Jaguar 100 3 1/2 Liter Roadster; S/N 39010; Engine # M1398E; BR Green/Biscuit leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $410,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $451,000 – RHD. Silver painted wire wheels, Dunlop bias ply tires, folding windshield, dual aeroscreens, windshield post mounted minors, rear-mounted spare, Lucas fog lights, headlight stoneguards. – A good older restoration done to better than driver but less than concours condition. Very good paint, chrome and upholstery. Chassis and underbody leave a little to be desired and show age and use. Later engine of the correct original type. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 1998 for $197,522 where it was represented, and presented, as a solid original older restoration with the 3 1/2 liter engine as originally delivered. It’s no less good today from Malcolm Pray’s collection, just 2 times more valuable.
1934 Auburn Twelve Salon Speedster
Lot # 159 1934 Auburn Twelve Salon Speedster; S/N 1122E; Engine # BB 2530; Maroon, Silver/Grey leather; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Rebodied or re-created, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewall tries, dual enclosed sidemounts, single Pilot-Ray, Motorola radio with steering column controls. – An older concours quality rebodied restoration showing a little age and use. 1990 Pebble Beach Best in Class and A-C-D Festival Best Auburn when owned by Gordon Apker. Polisher swirled paint and chrome, lightly creased upholstery, otherwise impossible to fault in any meaningful way. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection. – Auburn Twelve Speedsters are cherished collector cars, as this result for a quality rebody indicates.
1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Cabriolet Sportsman
Lot # 160 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Cabriolet Sportsman; S/N 8121163F; Engine # FC2133; Cigarette Cream/Crimson leather; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. No Reserve – Radio, outside exhaust headpipes, large hubcaps, wide whitewalls, later supercharged engine, renumbered 1936 chassis. – Very good older paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is done and orderly with use showing appropriate to the 999 miles on the odometer. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. Collection. – While this supercharged Cord 812 is not what it purports to be it is everything it should be, an inherently desirable original Sportsman with later supercharged engine bought entirely reasonably.

RM Auctions Amelia Island 2014 – Auction Report Page Three

1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II
Lot # 162 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet Series II; S/N 2093GT; Engine # 2093GT; Ruby Red, Ruby Red hardtop/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,800,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,760,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X blackwall tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, two tops. – Fair older repaint with small areas of poor adhesion. Creased, stretched older interior. Thin, peeling trim chrome. Dull wheel rims. Dirty, aged underbody. An honest but not attractive car. Malcolm Pray Collection, owned since 1969 and credibly believed to be 46,627 km from new. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection. – No one claimed this Cab was show ready, but its long history with Malcolm Pray had assured it of consistent, top quality attention to its needs and it is appealing on many levels, not least the reasonable price for which it was acquired.
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster
Lot # 163 1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster; S/N 57617; Engine # 16C; Maroon/Beige leather; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Rebodied or re-created, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $820,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $902,000 – RHD. Marchal headlights, vee windshield, rear wheel skirts, chrome fender margins. – Originally a Vanvooren 4-seater, rebodied by Alan Taylor for Malcolm Pray in the 90’s in this style. Original chassis, engine and supercharger. Concours restored with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. Collection. – Sweeping, seductive coachwork attributed to no one but beautifully executed and maintained in exquisite condition. It’s impossible to argue with the Amelia Island bidders’ determination of value.
1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet
Lot # 164 1948 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet; S/N 8H176397; Maroon/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Not evaluated; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection – Acquired from RM’s Arizona auction in 2010 for exactly the price it brought here four years and two months later.
1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster, Body by Figoni and Falaschi
Lot # 167 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster, Body by Figoni and Falaschi; S/N 48667; Engine # 48667; Light Yellow, Dark Blue/Burgundy leather; Estimate $5,000,000 – $6,000,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $6,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,600,000 – RHD. Marchal head and fog lights, folding vee windshield – MS series engine. The crown jewel of Malcom Pray’s collection and a car with a singular history and originality. Concours older restoration with some use but excellent care. Displayed by Figoni & Falaschi at the Gardenia Concours in 1937 with Ovidio Falaschi’s stepdaughter, then sent to New York in 1939 where it was acquired by Bob Grier. Driven and hillclimbed by Grier (with marvelous chrome tube nerf bumpers.) Bought by Malcolm Pray in 1964 and in his collection ever since, his ‘French Mistress’, Natalie says. Restored in 1970 to the highest standards, a car that will not need to be done again for a long time. Door cap wood varnish needs to be redone. Upholstery is lightly creased. Body is gorgeous. Malcolm S. Pray, Jr. collection. – One of two similar cars built by Figoni & Falaschi, the only survivor with the Geo Ham badge. It is impossible not to be captivated by this short chassis Delahaye, just the best of Art Deco, Machine Age design. Never messed with, documented from new, can you imagine driving this fantastic creation on the streets of New York in the Fifties? Malcolm Pray could and honored it by driving it frequently. Fabulous and bought right not only for its design and specifications but also for its history.
1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Convertible D
Lot # 169 1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Convertible D, Body by Drauz; S/N 86142; Engine # P83559; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500. No Reserve – Chrome wheels, woodrim steering wheel, bumper overriders. – Good paint over thoroughly filled body. Very good chrome and interior. Orderly engine compartment. Pretty but not exceptional. – The Convertible D is the comfortable Speedster and has been pushing Speedster values for several years. This one was sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction in 2012 for $151,050, then at RM’s sale of the Don Davis Collection in April 2013 for $137,500. Its condition is not getting better with age, but its price is.
1928 Bugatti Type 37A Grand Prix
Lot # 171 1928 Bugatti Type 37A Grand Prix; S/N 37343; Engine # 218CP; Blue/Red leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,300,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $875,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $962,500 – RHD. Black wire wheels, single sidemount, Marchal headlights, turn signals. – Poor cracked, peeling paint job over old paint and body work, oversprayed through hood louvers. Torn old upholstery. Aged and used but extremely appealing and usable. Scruffy in a Bugatti driver sort of way. Mixed drivetrain with engine from 37319, supercharger from 37318, later generator and fan. – Bugatti’s baby GP car, with original frame, radiator, bulkhead, fuel tank, front and rear axles and bodywork. Otherwise mixed up but Molsheim origin. I’ve never driven a Type 37 but I’ve experienced the Pur Sang Type 35 and it is a transformative driving experience, like little or nothing else ever built. This ratty supercharged Type 37A isn’t pretty but that makes driving it even more attractive. Is it worth nearly a million dollars? Only the buyer can know, but he or she will crank off miles in this GP Bugatti and earn bags of endorphins worth untold dollars.
1966 Lola T70 Mk II Can-Am Spyder
Lot # 175 1966 Lola T70 Mk II Can-Am Spyder; S/N SL71/36; Dark Blue, Red stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $295,000 – $395,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000. No Reserve – RHD. 327/578hp Chevrolet, four Weber 58DCOE carbs, Hewland LG504 transaxle, Lola Registry, FIA HTP. – Very clean, sharp, orderly and successful vintage race car. Stone starred rear fenders indicate use as intended in Historic Can-Am including six overall or class wins between 2008 and 2010. Impressively presented in immaculate condition, class winner at Amelia Island in 2011. Documented ownership chain from new. – Highly competitive on the track and on the show field, this is a lot of Lola T70. Plus, it’s seductively svelte, a package that is, all things considered, hard to beat at this price.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona
Lot # 176 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona, Body by Pininfarina/Scaglietti; S/N 15569; Dark Red/Beige leather, Black stripes; Estimate $675,000 – $775,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $710,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $781,000 – Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX tires, Becker Mexico cassette, A/C, manuals, tools, some documentation. – Very good older repaint, good lightly worn original interior and chrome. Clean, orderly underhood, repainted engine compartment. Underbody repainted over old undercoat. Multiple Platinum winner. – Reported sold at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction in 2008 for $390,500 and bought here for a generous price that anticipates further inflation of Daytona values.
1994 Ferrari 512 TR
Lot # 178 1994 Ferrari 512 TR; S/N ZFFLG40A2R0098634; Black/Black leather; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. No Reserve – Tubi exhaust, A/C, 18 inch alloy wheels, books, tools, manuals. – Good original paint, lightly worn interior appropriate to the 12,668 miles represented as ‘from new’ with three owners. Engine is dusty but represented as 300 miles and less than a year on a timing belt service. – This is a serious premium price for a 512 TR, even with the known low miles, three owners and recent belt service. It would have been expensive at the high estimate and the hammer bid here is 30% over it.
1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster
Lot # 179 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX 2421; Engine # PA 5044; Ivory/Red leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $990,000 – Silver painted wire wheels, Eagle GT4 tires, grille and trunk guards, wind wings, original top and side curtains. – New wire wheels and tires. Thin chrome, good 1970’s paint and interior. Underbody is lightly used. Stored in 1978 by the owners since 1974, Bill and Kathy Armstrong, and remained there until recently. A charming storage unit find in very well preserved and presentable condition. – Another ‘Cobra in the Barn’ find, but in unusually good and well preserved condition. Never been apart, which should – after suitable maintenance – present some marvelous driving experiences. The price it brought here at Amelia Island is entirely appropriate for its condition, specification and history.

[Source: Rick Carey]