RM Auctions, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona January 16-17, 2014
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
RM Auctions again changed its Arizona auction format this year, offering a few more cars than last year but in two separate sessions starting in the late afternoon each day.
The revised schedule overcame some of the marathon aspects of prior years, ending in time for a civilized meal or even a visit to one of the other venues running full bore well into the evening.
It proved commercially successful as well with the two day sale total of $45.6 million up 25% from last year’s one-day 84 lot auction and up 77.6% from the 140 lot two-day auction in 2012, seemingly demonstrating that ‘less is more’ especially when quality is maintained.
RM is juggling an ever-expanding auction schedule with its first auction during the week of the Rétromobile show in Paris following Arizona by only three weeks. Yet even at this fast pace each auction has an exemplary consignment of important cars and a good distribution of affordable ones [although how ‘affordable’ a six-figure Fiat Jolly is may be open to debate.] Here in Arizona the headliner — as it would be anywhere — was the Ferrari long wheelbase California Spider s/n 1055GT. At $8 million hammer, $8.8 million with commission, it set the Arizona standard this year, and an all-time Arizona auction record, beating last year’s LWB Cal Spider s/n 1073GT at Gooding & Company by $550,000.
Jaguar XKE prices are on a roll, and people brought truckloads of Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers to Arizona. There were at least 23 of them at the various Arizona auctions, with the top value going to RM’s at an eye-watering $101,750 with commission. The FJ40 phenomenon is understandable, but the prices some of them bring defies comprehension.
Andrew Newton assisted with this auction report but it is the editor who takes the blame (or the credit?) for its content.
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RM Auctions Arizona 2014 – Auction Report
Lot # 002 1957 BMW-Isetta 300 Coupe; S/N 501377; Blue, White/White; Estimate $30,000 – $35,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $27,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,250. No Reserve – US spec, big taillights, multiple front bumpers, folding sunroof. – Very well restored 500 miles and two years ago. Paint, fit and finish are still excellent. Seat pattern is not typical. – These range in price from $30,000 to $40,000 and tend to pop as impulse items at auction. This one is something of a mild bargain on the low end of that range for an example so well restored and maintained.Lot # 007 1978 Maserati Merak SS Coupe, Body by Giugiaro; S/N AM122AUS2258; Engine # AM1146330610128; Argento Silver/Blue leather; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve – 3000/217hp, triple Webers, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Bridgestone Turanza tires. – Tired paint and plastic bumpers. Lightly worn interior. Light rash on the wheels. Rear view mirror is coming apart. Aged, but it is all there, is a rare and desirable SS model, and is represented with low miles. Could be driven as is for a few years, then restored to showcar condition without being complicated. – A US-market later Merak without the Citroen-inspired complexity makes this a particularly desirable Merak, especially with the original paint, interior and low (13,520) miles. Fortunately it has enough miles and patina that a few thousand more won’t have much if any effect on its value as long as the maintenance continues to be kept current and it is a good value at this price.Lot # 008 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera Speedster; S/N WP0EB0916KS173315; Engine # 64K05823; Black/Cashmere Beige leather; Black top; Estimate $110,000 – $135,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500. No Reserve – Wide body, air conditioning, Blaupunkt Charleston stereo, short-throw shifter, black Fuchs alloy wheels, limited-slip differential. – A clean and highly detailed driver showing 57,779 believable miles. Some scrapes and swirls in the paint, worn driver’s seat, windshield chips and some road rash. – Since buyers initially hoarded this model as instant classics, it is now not difficult to find one for sale with next to no miles. This example was well used, but prices have been trending up. If the price wasn’t too much, it was perhaps a bit too soon.Lot # 009 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L36920; Engine # 29K/RU/H/11536; Golden Beige Metallic/Red Ambla leatherette; Black leatherette top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, powder-coated top frame, overdrive, leatherette upholstery, books and documents. – An older Kurt Tanner restoration, fair (but correct) panel fit, very clean engine compartment, clean and tidy interior, shiny chrome wheels are a bit over the top. – Big Healey prices have softened of late and the neutral color, popular a few years ago but not so much today, did this car no favors. Sold for $86,580 at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction in 2009 and bought appropriately here in Arizona five years later.Lot # 011 1959 Porsche 356A Convertible D, Body by Drauz; S/N 85719; Engine # 71496; Red/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000 – Represented as matching numbers, hubcaps, tools, books and complete records. – Full restoration completed in 2013, one owner for 50 years, excellent paint, tidy interior and engine compartment, body curves in at passenger side A-pillar, scraped steering wheel rim. – A very nice example of the rare Convertible D. 356s have been major movers in the market during the past year and look to continue. This price is reasonable and gives the new owner the prospect of some upside potential.Lot # 012 1959 BMW-Isetta 600 Sedan; S/N 133119; Blue, White roof/Grey cloth; Grey vinyl top; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $57,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,250. No Reserve – 4-speed, Zenith carburetor, Kumho tires, grey vinyl sunroof. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored in 2013, so still pretty fresh out of the box. The Isetta’s bigger brother, the 600 has all of the microcar charm with more usable space. It’s also rarer than the Isetta, and this is a top example. – Top price, too, considering it brought $49,220 at Mecum’s Monterey auction four months ago. There is nothing left for it at this price except to be driven around to maximize the enjoyment of ownership and use.Lot # 013 1962 Jaguar Mark 2 3.8 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 218961BW; Engine # LB76208; Regency Red/Tan leather; Estimate $85,000 – $115,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – 3781/220hp, automatic with overdrive, three S.U.’s, disc brakes, chrome wire wheels, Firestone wide whitewalls, push button radio, aftermarket air conditioning. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Very clean chassis and engine bay. Has the desirable 3.8 and disc brakes, and is certainly one of the nicer Mark 2’s around. A 100 point JCNA car in the past, it is more than ready to show again. – The A/C installation is a bit contrived, but it will make it much more comfortable to drive to JCNA events, or just show off around town. Mark 2s tend to receive upgrades for better handling and stopping, less often with comfort upgrades like A/C. The result here is a reasonable compromise between the exceptional restoration and the modification.Lot # 015 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe; S/N DB51965R; Engine # 400/1951; Silver Birch/Red; Estimate $525,000 – $625,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 – RHD. ZF 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, original leather interior, tools and manual. – Represented as matching numbers, a three-owner car with a documented $90,000 body-off restoration completed in 2007. Good repaint, respectable original interior, new wheels, OK chrome, uneven trunk fit. – In many ways this is more DB5 than the money it brought, a car that’s had good long term care and a quality restoration that suggests it will continue to be satisfying to own and drive. The colors are hard to beat and the new owner has every reason to be satisfied with the car and the price paid for it.
RM Auctions Arizona 2014 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 020 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980428500244; Engine # 1989808500245; Light Blue/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000. No Reserve – 2996/215hp, 4-speed, Michelin XWX tires, European headlights and taillights, locking filler cap, dash clock, Becker Mexico multiband radio, fitted luggage. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Detailed engine bay. A beautiful car with an older European restoration recently updated by SL specialists. Finished in its original, rare factory color combination and with more elegant Euro-spec lights. A choice example in an eye-catching livery. – This is what it takes to own a 300SL Roadster these days when they are as meticulously presented as this one.Lot # 021 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Fixed-Head Coupe, Body by Park Ward; S/N BC35LDJ; Engine # BC34D; Sand Beige/Tan leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $465,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $511,500 – Lefthand drive. Automatic, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, P/S – One of 10 Park Ward S1 Continentals, of which six survive. Sold new in Venezuela; only two recorded owners. Body-off restoration in original colors, original engine refitted. All documents and tools. A superb example of a rare car, with paint, bodywork, plating and interior hard to fault. Has never been judged anywhere, but should be. – Considering its condition and the price of Continental Fastbacks, this was something of a deal for an exclusive variant of an already exclusive model.Lot # 023 1966 Fiat-Abarth 1000 OTR Coupe; S/N 100GC117626; Engine # AB20000009; Red/Black leather; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,750. No Reserve – 982/100hp, ‘radiale’ pushrod head, dual Webers, 4-speed, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Sumitomo tires. – 12,481 California miles from new. Very good chrome and interior. Good paint with a couple of small flaws. Mechanically restored but otherwise is largely original and remarkably preserved. – Whew! Big Money for a little car. Perhaps appropriate for its rarity, performance and originality, but still a lot of money for 982cc and no history.Lot # 025 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix; S/N 4948; Engine # 200T; Dark Blue/Black leather; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $580,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $638,000 – RHD. Single sidemount spare, alloy wheels, driver’s aeroscreen. Blower # 267, Steering Box #7. – Originally delivered to Guy Bouriat who drove it to third in the 1930 Monaco GP, then in Germany. Original frame rails sold (?) and now reproduced. Many original parts including upper and lower crankcase, blower drive, intake manifolds, steering box, gearbox and front axle. Recently given a thorough freshening by Jim Stranberg. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2007 for $605,000 before it most recent $161,000 in work by High Mountain Classics and other specialists. Ann historic 2.3 liter Type 35B with an off-putting history of mix and match that may have inhibited the bidders here but resulted in the new owner taking home a car acceptable anywhere at a modest price.Lot # 026 1970 Porsche 911E Targa; S/N 9110210715; Engine # 06201893; Bahia Red/Black; Black vinyl top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000. No Reserve – 134/175hp, fuel injection, 5-speed, Fuchs alloy wheels, Yokohama Radial tires, glass rear window, push button radio. – Very good older respray and original interior. Exterior plastic and weather stripping is tired but solid. Well maintained, honest car with desirable specifications and extremely low stated miles. Kept in the same family for 43 years, taken care of and driven sparingly (an understatement for a car with 5,546 miles from new.) Represented as ‘as new’, but not quite, just a very well kept original example. – Repaint aside, this is an exceptionally well preserved, original Porsche in a desirable body style. It might not be trouble free after so little use, but it is surely rare.Lot # 027 1960 OSCA 750 S Spider; S/N 769; Engine # 769N; Red/Blue cloth; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $660,000 – 850/75hp, dual 33DS Weber carbs, 4-speed, side exhaust, Amadori wheels, Michelin tires, wood-rimmed steering wheel, driver’s head fairing, full width windscreen. – Very good paint and interior. Dinged up wheels. Took a class win at Sebring in 1960 and 1962, but also ran very well at East Coast tracks like Watkins Glen, Lime Rock, Marlboro, and Vineland. Engine was enlarged in 1961 to 850 cc as SCCA’s H-Modified class allowed. A beautiful small-bore sports car with some serious history behind it. Raced from new until recently, and looks the part. – A Sebring class winner not once but twice, with prodigious performance for its size and a price that could be translated into its engine’s displacement duplicated in gold bullion. That’s a lot of money for a little car, but not unreasonable.Lot # 028 1964 Jaguar XKE SI Roadster; S/N 881186; Engine # ZB2974; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Leather upholstery, chrome wire wheels, stainless steel exhaust, canvas Stayfast top. – Old restoration refreshed. Clean but somehow feels hasty, with a homemade radio delete panel and mirror clamped to the driver’s window channel. Reportedly the original color combination. – Original black E-Types are rare and E-type prices are moving up following a few years in the wilderness and especially the pulse-popping result RM got in New York two months ago. Given the presentation and condition, the price paid was reasonable.Lot # 029 1956 Talbot-Lago T14LS Coupe; S/N 140037; Engine # 16028; Sage Green Metallic/Grey and Brown leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $385,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $423,500 – RHD. 2500/120hp, 4-speed, Marchal running lights, chrome wire wheels, Michelin X tires. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. A decade old restoration that has held up very well, winning Most Sensitive Restoration at Villa d’Este in 2013. A top-notch example of a top-notch classic GT car. – The trouble with this Talbot-Lago is that, rare and sexy as it is, only 120hp doesn’t give it much in the way of performance and explains why so few were built, and why it couldn’t save Talbot-Lago. The seller should be very happy to get this much from this one.
RM Auctions Arizona 2014 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 030 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 915734; Engine # 928105; Primer/Blue leather; Estimate $325,000 – $425,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $295,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $324,500 – RHD. 2443/110hp, triple Webers, 4-speed, wire wheels, locking filler cap, heater, trafficators, fender mirrors, fog lights. – Good seats. Body in primer. Dashboard and steering wheel cracking and pitted. Well worn frame. Replacement engine. Still rather solid for a largely unrestored car of this vintage. Originally an Italian market car, it is believed to have been racer and American distributor Frank Griswold’s personal car for a time. Recent mechanical sorting suggests that it is drivable, but there is too much wear and tear for enjoyment or for it to be considered charming in its originality. – Somewhere between a barn find and a neglected project car, this Alfa has serious potential, even at this price.Lot # 035 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M Le Mans Roadster; S/N BN2L/230818; Engine # 1B/230818; Healey Blue, White/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $180,000 – $230,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000 – 2660/110hp, 4-speed with overdrive, leather hood strap, Lucas rally lights, chrome wire wheels, Vredestein Sprint tires, wood-rimmed steering wheel. – 100M Le Mans Registry, BMIHT Certificate authenticated factory-built 100/M. Excellent paint and chrome. Lightly worn but, importantly, original seats are slightly incongruous in an otherwise complete, high quality 2011 restoration. 100M’s are not all that hard to fake, but this one is genuine and a gorgeous example at that. – A sympathetically restored and thoroughly documented 100/M that could have brought a bit more without being over-priced, but nowhere near RM’s high estimate.Lot # 038 1905 REO 2-Cylinder 5-Passenger Detachable Tonneau; S/N 339; Red, Black fenders/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve – RHD. 2-speed, wood spoke wheels, Gray & Davis acetylene headlamps, center-mounted spotlight, clock, speedometer, bulb horn. – Very good paint, brass and leather. Given an electric starter for usability. A beautiful and running older restoration that is sadly just a tick too young for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. – Loaded with accessories and in overall very attractive and well maintained condition for an appropriate price.Lot # 039 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sport Touring Saloon, Body by Barker; S/N 2MY; Engine # QU45C; Mulberry, Black fenders/Burgundy leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $180,000 – $210,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $165,000 plus commission of; Final Price $165,000 – RHD. 7688/120hp, 4-speed with electric overdrive, Firestone blackwall tires, sidemount on driver’s side, Lucas headlamps, dual Lucas horns, locking filler cap, wheel discs, dip beam light. – Very good chrome. Good frame. Lightly worn seats. Cracking interior wood. Inconsistent gaps. Well used engine bay. Rough respray with orange peel, drips, cracks and bubbles. Originally a factory trials car, it was also used as a sales demonstrator and even tested by Sir Malcolm Campbell before being featured in the magazine Autocar in August of 1933. A pretty car with some good history, but it’s a shame about the paint. – It is somewhat surprising that this Rolls-Royce wasn’t bid a little more, it is a Continental, after all, but equally surprising the seller and auction company didn’t cooperate to see the deal done at the reported high bid.Lot # 042 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S85Y400057; Red, White Le Mans stripes/Black leather; Estimate $190,000 – $220,000; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $205,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $225,500 – 5.4/550hp, supercharger, 6-speed, cross-drilled rotors, BBS forged aluminum wheels, red Brembo brake calipers, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, tinted windows, McIntosh stereo. – Barely driven with just over 5,000 miles in nine years. These cars were collectible from the minute they rolled out of the factory, and this heavily optioned example was certainly treated like it. – Ford GTs have fared well in the limited production, high performance market, holding their value well and even exhibiting some strength in recent years. This is a representative result for a loaded GT with this kind of mileage.Lot # 043 1986 Toyota Celica IMSA GTO; S/N 86T002; White/Black; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000. No Reserve – All American Racers built IMSA GTO with 450hp turbocharged 2.1 liter Toyota four, 5-speed Hewland transaxle and more super-trick stuff. – One of three built, raced by AAR for Toyota 86-88, later sold to Chris Cord, updated with carbon fiber bodywork and more. In good, clean, orderly professional racing condition showing some age and use but no abuse. Awesome performance dictates thorough checking and preparation before being turned loose. – One of the more startling transactions at RM’s Arizona auction, a bidding contest that blew through the high estimate and riveted the attention of the entire room. Went to an experienced racer with his own well known shop who is ideally positioned to realize its potential and to realize its value.Lot # 046 1958 Facel Vega FVS Coupe; S/N FVSNY253; Silver/Burgundy leather; Estimate $185,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $182,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $200,750 – 354/340hp Chrysler Hemi V-8, automatic, represented as matching numbers, Series IV, US-spec, chrome wire wheels, tools and spare. – Preservation Class winner at Palos Verdes Concours in 2013. Preservation class cars can be tricky because they eventually just get tired, which is where this Facel is headed. Some admirable details like the dash and wheels, but flat paint, short door trim and silicone door seal substitute show where it’s going. – Facel Vegas are climbing in value, as they deserve, and two in Arizona sold for within $3,000 dollars of each other. $200,000 is the new going rate for a less-than-perfect car.Lot # 048 1932 Auburn Twelve Custom Phaeton; S/N 2572H; Blue, Dark Blue trim/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000 plus commission of; Final Price $210,000 – 391/160hp, 3-speed with Columbia electric overdrive, Stabilite headlamps, chrome wire wheels, dual cloth covered sidemounts, Lester wide whitewalls, dual chrome horns, mesh radiator stone guard, luggage trunk. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2009 by collector Larry Dorcy and still in stunning condition. Now sports an American-LaFrance engine block in place of the original Auburn one. – An extremely attractive Auburn, but one bedeviled by its details including the fire truck engine and the added Salon trim details that misrepresent its original configuration. On those facts the reported high bid is a realistic compromise.
RM Auctions Arizona 2014 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 050 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio Cabriolet, Body by Gangloff; S/N 57569; Engine # 411; Black, Red sweep/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $850,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $875,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $962,500 – RHD. 3,257cc/135hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, rear-mounted spare wheel, Marchal head and fog lights, landau bars, Dunlop Racing tires, integrated headlights, single rear spare recessed into the rear deck. – Very good chrome and interior. A couple of small paint flaws. Freshly mechanically overhauled including a new block, rods, pistons and crankshaft. A much older but quality restoration that been fortunate enough to remain with sympathetic collectors since the 1960s. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2011 for $693,000, a tidy profit for the seller even taking into account the recent cosmetic freshening and engine rebuild. Classic Bugatti design with unusual features like the headlights faired into the front fender catwalks, and fully valued for its history and features by the Biltmore bidders.Lot # 051 1961 Porsche RS 61 Spyder; S/N 718066; Engine # P90316; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $2,800,000 – $3,200,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $2,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,750,000 – 1600/178hp, dual Webers, 4-speed, Dunlop Racing tires, driver’s head fairing, full width windshield. – Excellent paint and interior. Filler cap is dinged up. Campaigned by privateer Bob Donner, 7th overall, 2nd in class at Sebring in 1961 and won at Pike’s Peak later that year. Later raced by Don Wester with two-tone paint and a 1,700 cc engine to more good results on the West Coast. Restored to original specs in the 1990s. A splendid late Porsche Spyder that should really be raced. – Easily one of the most charismatic of early Porsche competition cars and blessed with a superior US competition history, it should be no surprise that the Biltmore bidders rose to the bait and collected this RS 61 at a healthy but not extravagant price.Lot # 052 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 1E30527; Engine # 7E23289; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve – Matching numbers, aluminum radiator, 5-speed Tremec transmission, stainless steel exhaust, competition exhaust, 16″ cooling fan, four-piston front brake calipers, chrome wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Spotless engine bay. Concours-quality restoration that leaves nothing to be desired but significantly upgraded for better performance and reliability. A little bit better in every way than RM’s other SI 4.2 Coupe, but not comparable because of the modifications. – The bidders clearly put great value on the utility of the modifications – although why they didn’t include A/C in the work list on an Arizona coupe is hard to fathom. This is an outlier transaction because of the modifications, but reveals a strong segment of the XKE market and, if this car’s reception and price are any indication, there should be lots more shortly.Lot # 053 1935 Lincoln Model K Convertible Roadster, Body by LeBaron; S/N K3872; Engine # K3872; Yellow/Brown leather; Brown cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000 – 414/150hp, 3-speed, P/B, chrome wire wheels, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, BF Goodrich wide whitewalls, rumble seat, luggage rack. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Highly detailed and polished engine bay and undercarriage. Very well presented car in an unforgettable color, it is also extremely rare with only three known to exist. The color is eye-wateringly bright. – Sold by RM here in 2010 for $209,000 and still in concours quality condition showing 227 miles on the odometer, presumably since it was restored. This is a CCCA Full Classic ™ at a highly reasonable price, an automobile that will hold its own with Packards and Duesenbergs on the show field and on tour, an astute acquisition.Lot # 059 1930 Packard 734 Speedster Replica Runabout; S/N 184012; Engine # 184015; Blue/Blue leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Rebodied or re-created, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – 385/145hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, dual sidemounts with mirrors, Lester wide whitewalls. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Faithful but non-original Boattail coachwork. Engine, chassis and cowl plate restamped with 734 Speedster series numbers. Restoration was done in the 1980s, but still presents extremely well. – Famed for their performance, but surpassingly rare, the adoption by Packard of 734-style modifications as standard in 1931 makes creation of replicas like this cost-effective. The price recognizes the replica-ness but will still be a thoroughly enjoyable tour car.Lot # 060 1960 AC Aceca Bristol Coupe; S/N BE772; Blue/Dark Grey leather; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000 plus commission of; Final Price $140,000 – RHD. Original 100D2 128hp engine, chrome wire wheels, UK Motorola radio, woodrim steering wheel, still with Birmingham license plate. – Restoration completed in 2000, beautiful paint and body, excellent interior, correct engine compartment, but the chrome (as opposed to painted) wire wheels are jarring. – One of 169 built. The Aceca has never had the same following as the Ace roadster, and it’s not for the claustrophobic. This car was sold freshly restored at Barrett-Jackson in 2001 for $64,800. The Ace family has followed Cobras upwards in price but the reserve was still ambitious. The money (if there was any) should have been enough at this reported bid, and a good value for the next owner even at the low estimate.Lot # 063 1967 Fiat-Abarth 1000TC Berlina Corsa; S/N 100D2179468; Engine # A1120000143367; White, Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Competition restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750. No Reserve – 1050/110hp, single Weber, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Hoosier tires, full roll cage, G-Force harness, fire system, Plexiglas windows, limited slip, Girling disc brakes, logbook. – Clean, solid frame and engine bay. Rock chips and small dings from competition use. Clearly used and not entirely period-correct, but a solid vintage racer that is ready to be driven in anger with a fresh 110hp engine. – This is far more fun than the money it brought, even within RM’s estimate range.
RM Auctions Arizona 2014 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 064 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II LWB Limousine; S/N LCD15; Engine # LC15D; Black Pearl, Shell Grey roof and hood/Grey leather; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve – RHD. 380/200hp, automatic, Remington whitewalls, dash clock, later Soundstream radio, electric glass division. – Excellent older repaint and very good chrome. Decent original interior with worn seats and remarkably nice wood. Strong original engine bay and undercarriage. A used limousine with 98,007 miles on it, but solid and still classically elegant. – Rare, elegant and comfortable, a Rolls-Royce that still commands respect and even a measure of awe. Its preservation adds to its value but is largely unrecognized in the price it brought.Lot # 065 1959 Imperial Custom Southampton 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N M617106651; Yellow, Silver, Brown vinyl roof/Brown leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve – 413/350hp, automatic, BF Goodrich whitewalls, P/S, P/B, P/W, Sure Grip, leather-wrapped steering wheel, bench seat, factory air conditioning, modern stereo. – Excellent interior. Very good paint and chrome. Fully restored and impressively equipped with options like the Landau hardtop roofline. Big, pretty car with interesting colors and a rare example from Chrysler’s luxury brand. – Rarely seen, luxurious, comfortable, powerful, and bought for less than the price of a Chevy Impala.Lot # 067 1966 NSU Wankel Spider; S/N 5601908; Engine # 50202192; Red/Red and Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200. No Reserve – Wankel rotary engine, 4-speed, Kumho tires. – Chipped and tired paint, tired chrome and brightwork, tired frame. Represented with just over 20,000 miles (21,164 on the odometer), it is almost completely original as well as historically significant since the NSU Spider was the first production car to be powered by a rotary engine. – This may not have been the best presented car in the Arizona auctions but it was one of the most significant. At the price of an ordinary MG A or Triumph Spitfire it has real value as well as bragging rights. Leaky tip seals might be a problem, but most people will overlook them in recognition of the Wankel’s importance.Lot # 068 1959 Autobianchi Bianchina Transformabile Series II; S/N 022919; Engine # 122648; Mint Green, White pillars and sills/Yellow and White leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve – 499cc/21hp, 4-speed, Vee Bubbler tires, suicide doors. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Small crack in the steering wheel, otherwise near perfect. Completely and beautifully restored example of one of the world’s most attractive microcars. – Considering the continuing popularity of microcars, the price this immaculately restored and presented Bianchina brought is surprisingly light. It would not have been a surprise at the low estimate.Lot # 071 1948 Packard Super Eight Convertible Victoria; S/N 22795628; Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve – Overdrive, fender skirts, large hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewall tires, power top, power windows, power seat, AM radio, under seat heater. – Ground-up restoration completed in 1999 and still holding up quite well. Largely original mechanicals are said to work well and were deemed not necessary to rebuild. Paint is still perfectly presentable and chrome is good. Interior is serviceable if a little bright. Numerous Packard Club awards. – It may have been Packard’s first new car after the war (there was no convertible in the 1946-47 series), but its looks have always been controversial. The long-time owner was wise to let this go under the low estimate. The new owner got a distinctive, rare Packard bathtub.Lot # 072 1961 Fiat-OSCA 1500S Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 118S006560; Engine # 118000002763; Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – 1491/75hp, dual Webers, 4-speed, Michelin XZX tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Well used engine bay. Older restoration that has seen some miles. A strong, very pretty driver, it is also the rare and very desirable version with the relatively powerful 1500cc OSCA engine. – One of only 3,089 built, a car that is significantly more valuable because of the OSCA name that is attached to it although with only 75hp from its 1,491cc engine it does not compete with an Alfa in performance. It brought a generous price considering its condition.Lot # 073 1955 Chrysler C-300 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3N551301; Engine # CE555235; Red/Cream leather; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve – Non-original 1955 Imperial engine block installed at some point, though equipped with 300 performance bits. Kelsey-Ha wire wheels, whitewall tires, Town & Country radio, power steering, power brakes. – Superb 10 year-old restoration that has held up extremely well. Paint is excellent, as is the chrome. Interior is unmarked. Engine compartment is correct and spotless. – The first example of Chrysler’s milestone ‘banker’s hot rod’ combining exemplary performance with comfort and luxury. Sold here in 2009 for $82,500. The buyers may have been deterred by the replacement block, but the quality of the car was indisputable. A very good buy, and one that can be driven and enjoyed without worry, an excellent value for an eye-catching weekend driver of the highest quality.
RM Auctions Arizona 2014 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 075 1968 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E16228; Engine # 7E148599; Golden Sand/Tan; Biscuit top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000 – Chrome wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust certificate. Reportedly the only documented biscuit colored soft-top from factory. – Obvious rotisserie restoration in original colors with fabulous panel fit, paint and chrome. Clean and correct under hood; overall, hard to fault. Owned by JCNA judge and national Best in Class winner in 2013. – Sold here in 2012 for $123,750, its recent JCNA judging, provenance and the obvious quality of its restoration along with the highly attractive colors tipped the scales in its favor today, although the price is probably unrepeatable for quite a while. It’s hard to say where E-Type values are going to end, but for the foreseeable future it is ‘up.’Lot # 078 1961 Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus Samba 23-Window; S/N 704734; Orange, White/Gray vinyl; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500. No Reserve – Walk-through front seats, sunroof, roof rack, Bendix AM radio, later engine, lacks opening front windshields, California black plate. – Great colors, but only in driver-quality paint job. Clean and well presented interior, strong brightwork, clean but not overly detailed engine compartment. A quality driver. – The engine swap offset the good colors and multiple windows in the eye of the market, but also makes this microbus usably faster in today’s traffic. The result here appropriately reflects its compromises and condition.Lot # 082 1990 Ferrari F40; S/N ZFFMN34A9L0087085; Rosso Corsa/Red cloth; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000 – 2936/478hp, twin-turbo, 5-speed, Pioneer radio. – Seats lightly worn. Otherwise practically as new. Displayed for some time at the Petersen Museum, it has been recommissioned and is ready to be enjoyed as one of the finer examples of this iconic supercar out there. – Sold for $715,000 ten months ago at Gooding’s Amelia Island sale. Although it’s rare to see an F40 with more than a few miles the interior materials and not up to even a little use and quickly show scuffing and abrasion. It’s hard to keep up with the rate of F40-inflation, of which this is a good example.Lot # 085 1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton; S/N 149659; Blue/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $165,000 plus commission of; Final Price $165,000 – 385/120hp, 4-speed, painted wire wheels, Michelin tires, dual enclosed sidemounts, luggage rack, CM Hall Depress Beam headlamps, dash clock, dual windshields, wind wings. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Spotless purple painted undercarriage. Spotless engine bay. Documented ownership history from new. An AACA and Packard Club winner with a fresh engine rebuild by LaVine. Concours-ready and that is sure to finish well. – Sold by RM at Amelia Island in 2010 for $170,500 before the engine rebuild. The elegant and understated colors make this a particularly attractive car, especially with this desirable open coachwork, and help explain why the owner declined the reported high bid.Lot # 086 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 SII, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 8251; Engine # 8251; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $260,000 – $300,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000 – 3967/300hp, 5-speed, triple Webers, Centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX radial tires, Blaupunkt radio. – 84,813 km. Good original chrome and interior. Clean engine bay. Tired original paint and wheels with numerous flaws. The more desirable two headlight version and mechanically sound thanks to the care of only three owners from new, regular service and a ten year old overhaul drivetrain, but in serious need of cosmetic attention. – This 330 GT 2+2 is reassuring in its originality and regular attention which may account for its generous price, but it shows its age and will have to appeal to the limited cadre who have seen too many restored cars and appreciate one that has never been apart and wears its history of use proudly.Lot # 089 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso; S/N 5215GT; Engine # 5215GT; Burgundy/Beige leather; Estimate $1,700,000 – $2,000,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $2,225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,447,500 – Marchal lights, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, owner’s wallet with manuals, tool roll, Ferrari Classiche certified. – Restored like new seven years ago with excellent paint, interior and chrome. Known history from new. – Sold for $704,000 at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction five years ago in 2009 following its most recent restoration and engine rebuild, this result is nothing less than mind-bending, a 250% increase in five years. Two and a half million dollars would have bought so many rare, exotic and in some cases Mille Miglia eligible Ferraris in the Valley of the Sun this year that this transaction begs understanding. Oh, wait, ‘Follow the crowd’?Lot # 092 1963 Chevrolet Corvette FI Coupe; S/N 30837S108615; Daytona Blue/Black vinyl; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $236,500 – 327/360hp, 4-speed, Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection, 3.36 Positraction, off-road exhaust, metallic brakes, spinner wheel covers, Goodyear narrow whitewalls, dash clock, WonderBar radio, original warranty book, owner’s manual, radio instructions and keys. – NCRS Top Flight, represented as complete numbers-matching drivetrain. Excellent paint and chrome. Very good interior. Engine bay shows use but is well kept. Very well-equipped with the L84 fuelie and not at all overrestored, it is the Corvette to have if you really need a Split Window. – This is a choice Corvette in about as desirable a configuration as it’s able to get and the Biltmore bidders rose to the occasion, giving it a superior price that reflects its configuration, condition, documentation and judging. The one thing missing is Bloomington Gold.Lot # 097 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N F7FH351668; Flame Red/White vinyl; Black top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Post-block sale at $181,818 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $200,000 – 312/300hp, 3-speed, hubcaps, BF Goodrich Silvertown blackwall tires, heater. – Amos Minter restoration with very good paint, chrome and interior. Spotless engine bay. Restored in 2008. Very strong example of the powerful, significant and rare F-Code Thunderbird. One of the ultimate early T-Birds. – A serious premium price for a seriously premium Thunderbird.
Lot # 100 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 08349; Engine # 08349; Cunningham Blue/Ice Blue leather; Estimate $1,750,000 – $2,000,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,815,000 – Centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, original tool roll, jack and owner’s manual; long nose, torque tube. – A solid restoration by Fred Peters and Chuck Betz without going overboard. Good paint, chrome and upholstery in unusual colors. – Not the original color, but a very attractive one compounded especially for Briggs Cunningham’s Ferraris, with the added comfort of a Chuck Betz restoration that looks much more crisp and fresh than its age would suggest and long term Betz and Peters ownership. This is a Ferrari that instills confidence, and it brought a price appropriate to its history.Lot # 101 1966 Porsche 906 Carrera 6 Coupe; S/N 906-116; Engine # 906120; White, Silver sills/Red vinyl; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,600,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,180,000 plus commission of; Final Price $1,180,000 – Fire system, steel wheels. – Thoroughly restored to race-ready condition without going overboard. Decent cosmetics, especially for a fiberglass bodied race car. Raced in Germany with modest success especially in hillclimbs driven by Helmut Leuze when new, eventually sold to Vasek Polak in disassembled condition before being restored by Freisinger Motorsports in the early 90’s and apparently little used since. Not ‘race-ready’ but close and nearly all original as delivered by Porsche. – A million dollars buys some pretty interesting and exciting cars, but rarely one so fast, quick, charismatic and adaptable as this Porsche 906. Let’s assume that $1.2 million would buy it (and it’s hard to see why at the quoted estimate it couldn’t have gone to a new home at the reported high bid) the new owner would have a rare, sexy, fast, limited production Porsche that could probably get a set of road plates in a liberal jurisdiction and be a thoroughly enjoyable car for high speed tours (Colorado Grand, anyone?) or on track. This is a lot of performance for the money.Lot # 103 1953 Fiat 8V Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 106000042; Engine # BS099; Silver/Burgundy leather; Estimate $800,000 – $950,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $860,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $946,000 – Chrome spoke wire wheels, Marchal driving lights, Carello headlights. – Restored like new, now showing a few small chips and paint flaws. Glass and chrome are excellent. Interior is lightly used. A design by Mario Boano for Ghia with a mixture of mid-50’s design elements that may not fit comfortably together but are nonetheless eye-catching, especially in these dramatic colors. – Sold by RM in London in 2009 for $563,543, the price here is indicative of collectors’ recognition not only of the Fiat 8V’s appeal but also the extravagant coachwork this one wears. No bargain here, but a lot more exclusive than a Gullwing or V-12 Ferrari for less money and still capable of keeping up with traffic.Lot # 106 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona; S/N 16355; Red/Black leather; Estimate $475,000 – $525,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $505,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $555,500 – Chrome spoke wire wheels, Comp T/A blackwalls, A/C, Sony cassette stereo, tool roll, jack, books. – An impressive Daytona with a fresh repaint and quality original interior in like new condition with some miles but still in very good cosmetic condition and mechanically orderly. 41,817km from new. – An unusually well preserved Daytona that is presented on a par with restored cars without ever needing restoration. It brought a slight price premium, and could have brought a little more in recognition of its unusual quality and preservation.Lot # 107 1961 Chaparral 1 Sports Racer; S/N 003; White/Black vinyl; Estimate $2,250,000 – $2,750,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,750,000 plus commission of; Final Price $1,750,000 – Centerlock alloy wheels, braced rollbar, two seats, full wraparound windscreen, side exhausts. – Clean, orderly used racecar with good paint. Built by Troutman & Barnes for Jim Hall, raced with some success in 1962-63 including 6th overall, 1st in class at Sebring in 1962, then sold to Gary Wilson and later to Joe Starkey. Acquired by Dr. Gary Lund in about 1970 and eventually restored by Steve Schultz in 1997 with new nose and tail. Last campaigned at Goodwood in 2007. One of only two Chaparrals (both this front-engined configuration) not retained by Jim Hall. – Stalled on the block at RM Monterey in 1999 at a high bid of $500,000, then reported sold by RM at Monterey in 2004 for $1,111,000. This is the original lift-inducing airfoil section body that must have been exciting to drive at high speed. The Chaparral legend must be strong to warrant the pre-sale estimate or the consignor’s reluctance to accept a money bid of this amount.Lot # 110 1966 Ferrari 275 GTS; S/N 08353; Engine # 08353; Grigio Fumo/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,600,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,485,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX blackwalls, tool roll, service and owner’s manuals – Clean, well presented engine compartment. Good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody has old, peeled undercoat that has been painted over, a disquieting oversight in an otherwise thoroughly and attractively restored Ferrari with only 11,161 miles from new. – This GTS was red when it was sold by RM at Amelia Island in 2002 for $170,500. It has been transformed, particularly by the repaint in the original Grigio Fumo color, but also by the passage of time which has launched it and other V-12 Ferraris into the stratosphere of values. It’s a question only time will tell, but it’s hard to think it might see another 8.7 times increase in value in the next dozen years.Lot # 111 1958 Fiat 500 Jolly, Body by Ghia; S/N 110032738; Engine # 110000037496; Blue/Tan wicker; Blue and White cloth top; Estimate $65,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. No Reserve – 500, 4-speed, white wall inserts, Abarth floor mats. – Excellent paint and chrome. Wicker is a little frayed, top is faded, white wall inserts are poorly fit. Noticeable flaws to be sure, b6t well presented little machine overall that will garner lots of attention, as all examples do. Still a totally impractical toy of a car, just as it was in the ’60s. – Sold by RM at Amelia Island in 2012 for $68,750 and how with just 43 more km showing on the odometer. The 2012 price was all the money for it, its result here is irrational and makes the Bianchina sold earlier today look like a bargain.
Lot # 112 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 1055GT; Engine # 1055GT; Rosso Rubino/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $7,000,000 – $9,000,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $8,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,800,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, covered headlights. – Restored in 1994 by European Auto Restoration and looks today as good as it did then. Apparently very sparingly and carefully used and maintained since then, a beautiful example of the early LWB Cal Spider. – It’s impossible not to admire this car for its design, performance, restoration and subsequent care. The odometer shows 2,748 miles, probably since the restoration, 137 miles a year in the two decades that have passed. It deserves more. This result is appropriate for this car, and is an auction record for Arizona, even, I think, inflation adjusted (which is an obsolete consideration when applied to high dollar Ferraris today.)Lot # 113 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Wingham 4-Door Cabriolet, Body by Martin Walter; S/N GLP10; Silver-Grey, Red trim and fenders/Red leather; Red cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – RHD. 4-speed, white wall tires, Lucas headlamps, locking filler cap, heater. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Beautifully presented older restoration that looks much fresher than thirty years old. – This 25/30 will get its new owner into the same RROC events as other, much more expensive, Rolls-Royces and do it with special coachwork that is practical and adaptable. It is a sound value at this price.Lot # 114 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Sprint Speciale, Body by Bertone; S/N 00440; Engine # 00945; Black/Brown leather; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000 plus commission of; Final Price $120,000 – 4-speed, Vredestein Sprint Classic tires. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Beautifully restored car with near perfect fit and finish. Undeniably pretty, it would be equally at home on the show field or on a vintage tour or rally, but sits high on its new springs and needs to settle down. – It sits so high it invites closer inspection to identify the fitted lift kit for offroad use. The high bid may reflect the ungainly appearance, but it is far too light for the otherwise excellent restoration and presentation.Lot # 118 1954 Kaiser-Darrin 161 Roadster; S/N 161001072; Yellow Satin/Yellow leather; Yellow vinyl top; Estimate $130,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500 – 161/90hp, 3-speed, BF Goodrich whitewalls. – Reportedly only 19,638 miles from new. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Recently restored to very high standards and judged International Gold by the Kaiser-Frazer Owners Club. An unusual footnote in American sports car history and controversially styled. This is one of the better examples to be found. – More car than money here.Lot # 120 1977 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Utility; S/N FJ40244609; Engine # 2F254160; Green, White roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $65,000 – $85,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $92,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,750. No Reserve – 5-speed with low-range and part-time AWD, OME lift kit, 21-gallon auxiliary gas tank, rear-mounted spare, BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires, flip down seats, Sanyo radio. – Excellent paint, trim and interior. Restored mechanically and cosmetically to very high standards for a utilitarian vehicle such as this. Everyone was selling at least one FJ in Arizona. Some were good and some were bad but, cosmetically, this was probably the best. – The Land Cruiser phenomenon is simply amazing. From nowhere a year ago they are today everywhere, from B-J (where there were eighteen of them) to RM and everywhere in between. The ‘restorations’ range from superficial cosmetic fluffing to completely like new, and better. But a Hundred Large for an FJ40? With a lift kit and 5-speed? C’mon. Reality has been left in the dirt.Lot # 123 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N J58S107999; Snowcrest White, Red/Red leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250. No Reserve – 283/245hp, 3-speed, Vintage Air air conditioning, later AM/FM radio, Mastercraft blackwall Radial tires. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Shabby top. Frame has seen plenty of use. Overall a sound driver condition Corvette in an attractive color combination, but not a showpiece. – Sold by Mecum at Kissimmee in 2010 for $62,010 and it is difficult to see how it could possibly be worth more, even this little bit more, two years later, let alone the generous estimate. There were better Corvettes in Scottsdale for this kind of money.Lot # 125 1955 Jaguar XK 140MC Fixed Head Coupe; S/N S814360DN; Engine # G3915-8S; Imperial Maroon/Biscuit leather; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve – Overdrive, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, 4-spoke woodrim steering wheel, fender mirrors, fog lights, aluminum radiator, electric fan, XK 150 block. – Block is V6017-8, head is G3915-8S. Freshly restored with very good cosmetics, fresh interior that looks barely used and crisp, sharp and orderly underhood. A superb ride for tours or weekends. – The XK 120-140 fixed head coupe is a lovely example of William Lyons’ deft eye for line and grace. Luxuriously appointed inside with leather, carpet and varnished wood, it is a rolling gentlemen’s club and this fine example brought a reasonable price.Lot # 126 1986 Ferrari 328 GTS, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFXA20AG0062781; Azzuro Blue/Beige leather; Estimate $65,000 – $85,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. No Reserve – A/C, alloy wheels, Alpine cassette. – Crisp, sharp, clean original car with 9,079 miles owned until recently by its first owner, hot rodder James Khougaz. Excellent paint and interior. Vinyl roof panel is very good. Recently serviced including timing belts. A very well kept original 328 finished in a great color that isn’t red. – It’s time to replace the original tires, even if they aren’t cracking, although they’re better left on the original wheels and hermetically sealed to be brought out and proudly displayed for preservation judging. Continued preservation is the only possible way to explain this price, an astounding premium over the usual $50-60,000 values of even the best 328 GTSs.
RM Auctions again changed its Arizona auction format this year, offering a few more cars than last year but in two separate sessions starting in the late afternoon each day.
Any comments on the Carrera Speedster that didn’t sell only 50k from low estimate? https://www.rmauctions.com/lots/lot.cfm?lot_id=1063866
Boomer,
I assume you’re referring to the Carrera GS and not the 911 Carrera (which sold.)
An interesting topic: ‘how close is ‘enough’?’
While it’s easy to say the auction company could take $50K from the buyer’s $105,000 commission, there are other scenarios:
1– The consignor might insist that the car bring his reserve, no deals or finagling;
2– The high bidder might have a commission deal that is less than the regular 10%;
3– The reserve may be more than the pre-sale low estimate, either intentionally or because at the last minute the consignor raised it (there’s no estimate adjustment in the Saleroom Notices.)
4– There may have been no money in the room or on the phone with Max ‘bidding for the reserve’ to a respectable result.
5– There might have been money at the previous increment ($1MM), a ‘bid for the reserve’ at $1.05MM and the last bidder declined to go $1.1MM; now Max is stuck and has to close the car and hope Rob can prevail upon the last bidder after the auction. They usually succeed, but sometimes bidder’s remorse sets in early and the bidder walks away.
I wasn’t in the room when it crossed the block, so I have no first hand opinion.
But thanks for asking.
Rick
Thanks, Rick. I bet the 356 Registry will have some more information when the next magazine issue comes out in a couple weeks. The car did well on the show circuit this year but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s perfect.
Thank you yet again for your incisive and entertaining commentary.
Rick, thank you for another excellent auction report. I especially appreciate your candid remarks and insights such as
“…will have to appeal to the limited cadre who have seen too many restored cars and appreciate one that has never been apart and wears its history of use proudly.”
and
“Luxuriously appointed inside with leather, carpet and varnished wood, it is a rolling gentlemen’s club and this fine example brought a reasonable price.”
or
“But a Hundred Large for an FJ40? With a lift kit and 5-speed? C’mon. Reality has been left in the dirt.”
I also very much appreciate seeing, when available, the histories on each lot — always interesting to see what kind of past a given car has had.
It’s clear that you put a lot of time, effort, and consideration into your reports, and your efforts are appreciated!