RM Auctions, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona, January 18, 2013
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
RM Auctions took a different tack in Arizona in 2013, cutting its sale back to just Friday and loading up on high value cars.
They moved into the big ballroom at the Biltmore and put together one of the finest displays ever seen at any auction, placing the headline cars on white carpeted platforms with white backgrounds that made the cars pop like fine jewelry. It was spectacular and the cars were easy to view and photograph as well as being right there for bidders to consider during the auction.
There were other subtle amenities, like ample seating and a secluded food court adjacent to the ballroom for quiet discussions.
Did it work? Oh, yes, with the total sale up 41.9% from last year and 17.5% from 2011. Even with only a one-day sale the consignment was down only slightly, from 129 cars in 2011 and 118 in 2012 to 104 this year. The consignment’s quality is evident from the sale’s average transaction, $571,700, and median, $193,600.
Thirty-five of the 118 cars in RM’s Arizona auction are described here.
RM Auctions Arizona 2013 – Auction Report
Lot # 111 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster; S/N 80745; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,500. Silver steel wheels, hubcaps, Talbot outside mirror. — Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Not original engine. Gauges could be better but overall a very good car with a fresh restoration. Originally red, later white and finally this triple black. The unauthentic colors probably color the bidders’ reception of this Speedster, but it’s nothing if not menacingly attractive in this color scheme. It’s been seeking home since Bonhams Greenwich sale last June where it brought a price of $194,000 and fell way short at Quail in August at a reported bid of $135,000. It’s a sound value at today’s price. Lot # 112 1968 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11853; Fly Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve. Blaupunkt cassette stereo, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, P/W, P/S. — Superficially cosmetically redone with decent paint and interior but little attention elsewhere. Door fits are decent, chrome is lightly scuffed. Looks good on the block, but not up close. A very ordinary Ferrari sedan, but more than ordinary in Giallo Fly. It’s easy to see why the bidders’ juices were stirred in the presence of this Queen Mother. It’s an heroic price for Ferrari’s executive sedan, but one of the few Enzo-era V-12s around that isn’t creeping into prohibitive prices. Enjoy it. Lot # 115 1953 Allard JR Le Mans Roadster; S/N 3403; BRGreen/Black; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000. Silver-Grey wire wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, full width windshield, Bluemels Brooklands steering wheel. Large supply of spare and original parts including nose. — Allard factory entry at Le Mans in 1953 driven by Zora Arkus-Duntov and Ray Merrick. Known history from new with a long vintage racing history. Sound but used cosmetics. A usable vintage race car that is eligible for just about anything. The object of much attention in the preview, attention that was rewarded with this over-estimate price. Its auction history is informative: $115,500 at RM Monterey in 2001, then $341,000 in 2007, also at RM Monterey. The value curve is very steep, but this is a car that will get its new owner into just about any event, and do it with big, lusty American V-8 power. Lot # 118 1933 Auburn 8-105 Retractable Hardtop Cabriolet; S/N GU37651; Silver, Metallic Grey fenders and accent/Grey leather; Chrome top; Estimate $275,000 – $375,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. Chrome plated retracting hardtop, chrome wire wheels, enclosed rear spare, rumble seat, whitewalls. — One-off 30’s modification by Conrad Jobst with roll-top desk like sliding hardtop with stowable sides. Ingenious, practical and attractive. Restored by RM in 2005-6. Still all but freshly restored and in concours condition. A unique, practical and good-looking car, top up or down, this is the pinnacle of Auburns, a Salon Eight with period coachwork. The Biltmore bidders accorded it singular recognition with this price, but it is a singular automobile. Lot # 122 1967 Shelby Cobra Roadster; S/N CSX 3045; Metallic Blue, White stripes/Black leather; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,700,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,825,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,007,500. Centerlock 6-spoke alloy wheels, Radial T/A tires, silver side exhausts, chrome paperclip roll bar. — A Shelby-built S/C, not an upgraded 428 street Cobra, with 18,330 miles. 427/485hp engine, known history, excellent provenance including a meticulous restoration for John Mozart in the late 80’s. Very good paint and interior. Clean, orderly and apparently race-ready. 1,227 more miles on the odometer than when it sold here in 2007 for $1,430,000 then it showed little use since the restoration. The same cannot be said any longer, even though it’s still crisp and fresh, and this over-estimate price impressed the audience at the Biltmore. Lot # 124 1956 Austin-Healey 100M Roadster; S/N BN2L/230129; Red, Black/Red leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000. Silver painted wire wheels, blackwall bias ply tires, 4-speed with overdrive. — Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Decklid twisted but other than that it is better than new. A factory 100M, U.S. delivered but without any period race history. The restoration is gorgeous, and the trunk is easily un-tweaked. This is more car than today’s money. Lot # 125 1938 Delahaye 135 Coupe, Body by Figoni & Falaschi; S/N 60112; Engine # ;/; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,400,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,540,000. RHD. Rumble seat, silver wire wheels, Marchal headlights and fog lights in the front of the fenders, trafficators in the top sail apnels, tri-color grille. — 1938 Paris Salon show car. Discovered in 1964 by Antoine Raffaelli who finally managed to acquire it in 1985. Restored by Conforti Freres in 1987. Acquired from the Dragone brothers in 1998 by Peter Kaus. Re-restored more recently by Tessier with consultation by Claude Figoni for John O’Quinn and essentially flawless. Great paint, interior and chrome. Chassis done like new. A quality restoration and a very attractive car that looks better in person than in photos. Sold by Bonhams in 2006 before restoration for $1,712,000, then offered by RM at Villa d’Este in 2011 with a high bid of $1,176,276. It was time for it to go away, and this price is a reasonable compromise between its presence and outstanding restoration. Mark this point: this is a more attractive car in person than in photos.
RM Auctions Arizona 2013 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 126 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe; S/N 194378S419258; Rally Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $420,000. 427/430hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels with trim rings, tee tops, P/B, J56 brakes, 4.11 Positraction, smog equipment, heater, no radio. — Original engine, tank sticker documented, NCRS Top Flight, Bloomington Gold. Known history from new. Bought by a very generous (or relieved) dad as a college graduation present. Restored like new. Very good paint, chrome and interior. C3 L88s were everywhere in Scottsdale, it seemed: stock configured at RM and Gooding and the OC Fiberglass racecar at Barrett-Jackson. The perception of L88s varies widely, and this car should have been sold, or brought more. It’s that close, but even at the low estimate it’s a whopping great Corvette for the money. Lot # 127 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500637; Red/Black leather; Estimate $800,000 – $900,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $770,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $847,000. Becker Europa AM-FM, hinged Nardi woodrim steering wheel, dual Talbot mirrors, chrome rim, body color center wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, black fitted luggage. — Cosmetically dressed up but still not done. In 2004 this Gullwing sold for $211,325 [don’t you wish you were the high bidder?] At Mecum’s Monterey auction last August it changed hands at $715,500. It’s covered barely 400 miles since 2004, isn’t really restored and the seller should be turning cartwheels at realizing this price. Lot # 131 1965 Shelby Mustang; S/N SFM5R531; White, Metallic Blue stripes/Black leatherette; Estimate $750,000 – $950,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $730,000. 5-spoke alloy wheels, wood rim steering wheel, bucket seats, roll bar, 347 cubic inch replacement engine. — Very well restored to extremely good historic race car condition. Excellent paint. Never looked this good before, even on the day it left Venice. You’d think a bid this close to the low estimate would have presented RM with an irresistible opportunity to give back a little commission and make a deal. In any event this is one very good GT350R that would be a sound acquisition at the reported bid or anything close. Lot # 132 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Corto Spider, Body by after Touring; S/N 813219; Maroon/Maroon leather; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Rebodied or re-created, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. RHD. Rebodied from its original sedan coachwork in Italy in the 1980s. Dual carburetors added. — Rebodied in 2.9 style, an odd body shape with deeply cutdown doors and a high, bulky rear body with inset covered spare tire. Later gussied up with chrome fender trim and semi-open rear wheel skirts. Excellent paint, interior and chrome. Sold for $924,000 in RM’s auction of the Gene Ponder collection in 2007. This is an exceptionally statuesque Alfa that will be admired wherever it appears. Rebodies are not uncommon on Alfas of this era, but rarely are they as attractive as this one, or done as well. ‘6C2300’ however dooms it to ‘replica’ status forever and makes this price a gift to the seller. Lot # 133 1954 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupe, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0343EU; Metallic Green/Brown leather; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $925,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,017,500. Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Marchal head and driving lights, tool roll. — Restored in 2004 with FCA Platinum award and third in class at Pebble Beach to show for it. Beautiful color and very good paint and bodywork. Rich, inviting upholstery. Engine and chassis are nearly like new except for some preserved original items and a little corrosion on trim pieces. This is fairly breathtaking price until the Europa’s eligibility for events like the Mille Miglia is taken into account. Lot # 134 1965 Ford GT40; S/N GT40P/1034; Pine Green, White stripes/Black leather; Estimate $2,400,000 – $3,000,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,150,000. Four Weber carbs. — Road spec GT40 converted in the early 70’s for vintage racing and raced pretty regularly since. Orderly but obviously used. The owner of this very nice GT40 probably hoped the GT40 lightning that struck at RM Monterey would strike again. That doesn’t happen very often, and it didn’t happen here. Lot # 135 1956 Lancia Aurelia America Spider, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N B24S1131; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $825,000. Chrome wire wheels, Blaupunkt multiband radio, Nardi dual carb intake, Nardi wood rim steering wheel. — A good older restoration with sound and presentable paint, chrome and interior. Underbody shows use. The most desirable and rare of all the Fifties Lancia road cars, and exceptionally attractive with its shapely body and wraparound windshield, this car brought $550,000 at RM’s Monterey auction in 2007 and a price appropriate to its older restored condition today.
RM Auctions Arizona 2013 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 136 1959 Arnolt-Bristol DeLuxe Roadster; S/N 404/X/3022; Engine # BS1/MkII/223; BRGreen, Yellow stripe/Tan, Green leather; Green cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. Silver wheels, blackwall tires, tonneau cover, triple carbs. — Restored better than new with excellent paint, good brightwork and luxurious upholstery. Flawless. Infrequently seen and highly admired not only for their rarity but also their speed and roadholding, this car sold at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction in 2009 post-block for $135,000. The seller made a small profit, but the buyer got an exceptional car for a very reasonable price. Lot # 139 1966 Lamborghini 350 GT; S/N 0436; Metallic Green/Black leather; Estimate $345,000 – $425,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $332,500. Chrome spoke polished Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli P4000 tires, Blaupunkt radio. — Flamboyant paint, flawed trim chrome, sound upholstery shows age. Underbody has old undercoat. A somewhat gaudy touring quality Lambo. Lot # 140 1968 Ferrari 365 GTC; S/N 12059; Silver-Grey/Red leather; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $660,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $726,000. Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX tires, Voxson 8-track stereo. — Good paint, chrome and interior. Restored to nearly like new condition. Ferrari Classiche certified. 4.4 liters are better than 3.96 by almost any standard and GTCs are emphatically the hottest current Ferrari. It won’t be long before they’re ringing up seven figures if the present trend continues, but still the nagging thought comes to mind: is a 365 GTC worth two Daytonas? It hardly seems logical, so either Daytonas are seriously under-valued in the current market or GTCs are over-valued. Lot # 141 1931 Duesenberg Model J Tourster, Body by Derham; S/N 2440; Engine # J-423; Light Olive, Metallic Olive fenders and accent/Taupe leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, Trippe lights, metal trunk, rollup rear windscreen, tinted glass visors. — A quality old restoration in dated colors. Paint has several age-related flaws. Upholstery and chrome are good. A fine old car in good touring condition. Owned since 1968 by Tony Pascucci and his son, something of a legend among Duesenbergs and a car that is complete and original in all important respects. One of only eight built by Derham in this body style. They don’t get much better than this, and the price is nothing if not reasonable even with the antique restoration. This is a car that should be driven and enjoyed before it is restored, if it should be restored at all. Lot # 144 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Cabriolet; S/N 1880136500077; Dark Blue/Light Grey leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,100,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $990,000. Chrome wheels, whitewalls, Becker Mexico radio, fog lights, fitted luggage. — Restored better than new in the early 80’s and still with excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Recently extensively serviced and freshened with new carpets and interior wood veneer. A remarkably well preserved three decade old restoration that speaks to the quality of the workmanship and materials, as well as subsequent limited use and regular care. The 300Sc made a particularly important statement for Mercedes-Benz as it once again positioned the company at the pinnacle of the luxury car market just ten years after the end of World War II. These cars have always been valuable and appreciated by collectors and this result is a tribute both to the inherent quality of the car and its condition. It is full value for the not insignificant money it brought. Lot # 145 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4; S/N 10195; Blue Sera/Bright Blue leather; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,750,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500. Chrome spoke Borrani wheels, Michelin XWX tires, P/W, reproduction tool roll and jack. — Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Better than new and very pretty but, boy, is that interior Bright. Ferrari Classiche certified. The catalog refers to ‘its original matching-number [engine] stamping was restored by Classiche.’ For what it’s worth. Make your own judgment about Ferrari Classiche ‘restoring’ an engine stamping. Lot # 150 1962 Shelby Cobra Roadster; S/N CSX 2032; Black, Yellow nose stripes/Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $950,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $710,000. Kidney bean centerlock alloy wheels, Goodyear slicks, four Weber intake, quick release fuel cap, Moto Lita woodrim steering wheel, braced chrome paperclip rollbar, chrome side exhausts, fender vents. — First owned by Lance Reventlow, known history from new with many modifications by a stream of owners. A very well restored and lightly used historic race car. Nearly like new. Opened at $500k. RM offered this Cobra at Monterey in 1998 with a high bid of $210,000 and a half-million dollars more in the succeeding fifteen years is indicative of what’s happened to the Cobra market. It would seem like RM could have found enough room at the reported high bid to make this work.
RM Auctions Arizona 2013 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 151 1972 Maserati Ghibli Coupe; S/N AM115/492490; Engine # AM115/492490; Dark Blue/Beige leather; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. Alloy wheels, Pirelli P5 tires, A/C, automatic, Blaupunkt stereo, P/W, — Lightly scuffed old repaint, good interior. Underbody and engine compartment are aged and covered in old sound deadener. Restored to good driver standards in the mid-90’s and bought for an appropriate price for its condition and automatic transmission here. Lot # 152 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB; S/N 08697; Engine # 0006; Silver/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,600,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000. Centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin X tires, full tool roll, books. — Restored in the mid 00’s, FCA Cavallino Classic Platinum in 2007 and still in better than new condition. Ferrari Classiche certified. This was 4-cam money not long ago. Lot # 153 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400S ‘SV Specification’; S/N 3952; Engine # 2871; Metallic Lime Green, Silver sills and wheels/Cognac leather; Estimate $700,000 – $850,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $710,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $781,000. Alloy wheels, P/W — Freshly restored by Gary Bobileff and upgraded to SV specs. Far better than new. Great paint, luxurious upholstery. Original engine. Spotless. Even without the SV modifications this would be a reasonable price for this Miura with its superb restoration. The SV treatment adds style and panache, although even a plain piperacks Miura is plenty stylish and loaded with panache. Lot # 156 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210003003; Engine # 19898010003056; Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $760,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $836,000. Chrome wheels, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, dual Talbot mirrors, Becker Mexico radio, disc brakes, two tops. — Good older paint, chrome and interior. Underbody shows use and age. Never had a restoration, nor needed one, and only three owners from new. This result is right on the money in the fast and furious market for 300SLs. Lot # 159 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4; S/N 15211; Red/Black leather; Estimate $160,000 – $220,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000. Chrome Borrani wire wheels, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, A/C, P/S — The bodywork is wavy but with excellent paint. The leather interior is mildly worn. Underhood is pristine and like new. This car looks sharp and is better than just about any other C/4 out there. At RM Monterey in 2001 this C/4 was a post-block sale at $55,000. Worldwide sold it in Auburn 2008 for $159,500. Then it got restored, selling at RM Monterey in 2011 for $170,500. Even at this within-estimate price it is a fine value for the money, one of few early front-engined V-12 Ferraris not commanding eye-popping prices. Lot # 164 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione; S/N 1905GT; Engine # 1905GT; Red/Black; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $7,400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,140,000. Silver-Grey painted Borranis, Dunlop Racing tires, Marchal headlights and fog lights, alloy body. — Ex-Norman Blank, 2002 FCA Platinum award winner, 2008 Concorso Italiano Best in Show and 2009 Cavallino Classic Platinum. Displayed at Pebble Beach in 2010. Restored like new, with better paint and upholstery. Chassis, underbody and engine compartment are fresh and sharp. No racing history. One of the rare, powerful and valuable alloy bodied competition berlinettas, with a known history and no stories. It could have brought more without being over-priced. The SWB Berlinetta is without doubt one of the best-looking Ferraris ever built, and often faster than GTOs. It’s impossible to argue with the price this one brought. Lot # 167 2003 Ferrari Enzo; S/N ZFFCW56A030133923; Argento Nurburgring/Black, Red leather; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000. Assembly #51008 — Two owners from new, just over 9,000 miles, recently serviced. A little dusty from age but no evidence of use. A few more miles than Gooding’s Enzo, and accordingly a little bit less costly, but in Silver, one of some six believed delivered in a shade of that color, a standout even among a field of Enzos.
RM Auctions Arizona 2013 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 168 1941 Cadillac 60 Special Town Car, Body by Derham; S/N 6343167; Black, Black leather roof/Black leather, Grey cloth; Estimate $150,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $117,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $129,250. Automatic, pushbutton radio labeled with New York stations, power division window, large hubcaps, wide whitewalls, grille guard, skirts, Black leather tendelet. — One of two built, first owned by Bette Davis. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and wood. Restored like new, Second in Class at Pebble Beach in 1998. A quality restoration, beautifully preserved, and a rare coachbuilt Cadillac with celebrity history. Seems like a bargain at this price. Lot # 169 1938 Lincoln Zephyr Convertible Coupe; S/N H47211; Wren Tan/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $250,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. Wide whitewalls, large hubcaps with trim rings, dual outside mirrors, skirts. — Concours quality restoration with excellent paint, interior, chrome and top. Excellent door, hood and deck fits. This is a gorgeous automobile with an equally gorgeous restoration and it deserves every nickel of the price it brought. Lot # 171 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster; S/N 33811E; Cigarette Cream/Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $470,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $517,000. Red wire wheels, Startix, remote spotlight, oil filter. — Excellent paint and interior. Engine compartment shows some age but is clean and orderly. Better than a driver but needs a thorough detailing to be show quality. This is what it costs to own a correct 851 Supercharged Boattail Speedster. There is latitude to make this one better without undoing its restoration. Lot # 174 1932 Cadillac 452-B V-16 All-Weather Phaeton, Body by Fisher; S/N 1400208; Maroon, Black fenders/Gray leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $265,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $291,500. Pilot-Rays, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, spotlight, wire wheel trim rings, rollup rear windshield. — Known history from new. Quality older restoration to concours quality except for paint which is thick and lacks definition, however the 1980’s restoration is holding up extremely well and the car is both well equipped and rare. Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2004 for $270,000, in 2005 for only $135,000 followed by a sale at Auburn Fall the same year for $302,400. At Gooding’s Scottsdale auction in 2009 it brought $231,000. The close-coupled Fisher coachwork is unusual on the V-16 chassis and quite attractive, as is the price it brought here at the Biltmore. Lot # 175 1967 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series II; S/N 8601; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. Centerlock alloy wheels, Pirelli P4000 tires, P/W, Blaupunkt multiband radio. — Ferrari Classiche certified. Good repaint, chrome and interior. Under the hood and under the car it is not so nice. Sold by RM in Maranello in 2007 for $96,482, then at Amelia in 2008 for $107,250. This is a strong result for a driver-quality 330 GT 2+2. Lot # 178 1959 Lister-Chevrolet Sports Racer; S/N BHL127; Metallic Green/Black leather; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $480,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $528,000. Full windshield, pleated leather cockpit liner, side exhausts, single 4-barrel, 4-speed — Originally Costin bodied, now with replacement Knobbly-ish body done many years ago and enthusiastically raced since. Used, dented, stone chipped and marvelous. This may be the best value in a thoroughly competitive vintage race car among the many offered in Scottsdale. It needs nothing except an enthusiastic, skilled and brave driver. At this price it can continue to be campaigned enthusiastically, to the delight of both its driver and onlookers. Lot # 179 1916 Pierce-Arrow Series 4 48HP 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 14041; Maroon/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $190,000 – $230,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500. White tires, two spares on right running board, Dawley headlights, luggage trunk, electric Klaxon horn. — Excellent paint, upholstery, top and nickel brightwork. Three owners from new including Albert Swabacher who owned it from new until 1963 and kept it at his ranch in the Teton mountains. Freshly, completely and fastidiously restored and concours ready. This Pierce is impressive no only on account of its prodigious size and 525 cubic inch T-head 6-cylinder engine but also for its meticulous restoration and presentation. The tread of the all-white tires is hardly dirty. The price the Pierce brought here can hardly be more than was lavished on its restoration.
[Source: Rick Carey]
Rick , thank you another great article , one thing , Lot 112 the Ferrari 365 GT 2+2
the correct nick name for these cars is Queen Mary as in the Ship ,( due to its size when new ) NOT Queen Mother , a very common mistake , makes sence if you think about it
Mmmm, I don’t agree. I’ve never heard anyone refer to a 356 GT 2+2 as a Queen Mary, not even Bard Wolfe, who was for years the Prince Consort of the Queen Mothers, i.e., he was the master at making them look great.
Across the pond in the UK (from which we Americans are, after all, separated by a common language) that may be the case, but not here in the U.S.
Hi rick,
I really enjoyed reading this article. It’s very complimentary and extremely well written. A strange request but is there anyway I can get a paper version of this article? Kind regards
So Rick , what you are saying is we Europeans nicknamed the 365 gt 2+2 the ” Queen Mary ” after the largest most powerful moving object in the world and you Americans named it after a little old lady who happen to be the Queens Mother ?
We colonials have always been prone to speaking our minds, haven’t we.
But revenge will be yours eventually — when the Duchess of Cambridge becomes “Queen Mother.” Maybe then we’ll have to change our minds on the 365 GT 2+2’s nickname, cuz it sure isn’t as svelte as Kate.
Mr. Carey, how many Lamborghini 350 GT’s have you restored? Have you ever driven one? Have you ever restored a car?
Roscoe,
These are open-ended and non-specific rhetorical questions.
If you are taking a position or have an observation to make about the report on the 350 GT, please state it.