RM Auctions, The Inn at St. Johns, Plymouth, Michigan, July 28, 2012
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
RM Auctions returned to the Concours d’Elegance of America at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth, Michigan on July 28 for the second year at this successor to the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance.
The cars in the auction were by and large classics, antiques and pre-war (OK, maybe pre-Vietnam War). Only ten cars were built after 1960.
The sale featured fifteen cars from the collection of William Ruger, Jr. all without reserve. The Ruger cars contributed $1,835,900 of the auction’s $6,826,600 total (both totals include buyer’s commission). While his classics (and Ahrens-Fox fire apparatus) got the most attention the little Locomobile Model E Runabout embodied the early evolution of a sports car. The new owner has promised later this year to expose it to SCD’s readers in more depth, and in motion.
The auction offered 74 cars of which 61 were sold, an 82.4% sale rate, comfortably displayed outside (mostly protected from Friday’s torrential rain) and efficiently auctioned by RM’s Max Girardo who combined introductions with calling the sale. Top sale was Duesenberg Model SJ Rollston Convertible Victory s/n 2293 at $957,000. It then won first place in the Sunday Concours.
While sports cars were thin indeed in the auction (a Porsche 356C, three XKEs, an Alfa and a Ford GT pretty much exhausted the category at St. John’s) visitors to the Sunday Concours d’Elegance of America were greeted by two dented, used sports racers from the USRRC era that introduced a field of epic sports cars, Trans Am racers (including <2.5 liter cars with two GTAs and a GTV) and some of the most famous and successful racing Corvettes in history, fittingly for the northern suburbs of Detroit. (See 2012 Concours d’Elegance of America – Photo Gallery).
RM’s St. Johns auction and Mecum’s Des Moines auction the weekend before clear the field for what promises to be a mind-bending week in Monterey.
RM Auctions at St. John’s 2012 – Auction Report
Lot # 102 1967 Chevrolet Impala SS 427 Convertible; S/N 168677J221485; Engine # T0317IR 7221485; Black/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $30,000 – $50,000; Facsimile restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400 — 427/385hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels, redline tires, AM-FM radio, power bucket seats, console, P/S, P/B, A/C. Properly presented as a 427 Impala but with no documentation to back it up. Very good paint, chrome and interior with flat, even body panels. No Reserve. Sold for $85,800 at Barrett-Jackson in 2007, the engine stamping is almost too good to be true and the trim plate rivets are sealed with silicone. At this price it’s safe to conclude everyone accepted it as a fake, but what a fun, thoroughly equipped and attractively presented fake. It will be a delight to drive, a cruise night standout and an intelligent acquisition at this price.Lot # 103 1921 Cadillac Type 59 Seven-Passenger Touring Car; S/N C5962; Dark Red, Black fenders/Black leatherette; Beige cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 — RHD. Nickel boa constrictor horn. Quick repaint over an old restoration. Torn front seat upholstery. Usable, but nothing to be proud to be seen driving. Fresh mechanical service by Stone Barn. No Reserve. A quality old Cadillac in good running, driving condition in need of attention to the upholstery. It would help its presentation to get rid of the boa constrictor horn. The paint is sound enough to preserve the body and not bad enough to require replacement on a car of this price. It brought a fair wholesale price here and is a lot better car than a comparably priced Model T.Lot # 104 1963 Alfa Romeo 2600 Spider, Body by Touring; S/N 10601191503; Dark Blue/Dark Blue leather, Grey piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600 — Becker Europa II AM-FM, Michelin X blackwalls, heater. Later Weber carbs, but the post-emissions ones with throttle return detent built in which makes them nothing if not annoying to drive. Dull old repaint cracked on hood, weak chrome, sound but used upholstery. Underhood is clean but unrestored. A mediocre but sound driver. No Reserve. Reported sold by RM at Amelia earlier this year for $60,500 in a charity sale for which the price paid is disconnected from the value of the car. It is more realistically priced here and the Amelia buyer can honestly take a $25,000 deduction from 2012 taxes.Lot # 105 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N E7FH395517; Dusk Rose/White vinyl; 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 — 312/270hp dual quads, automatic, Town & Country radio, skirts, wheel covers, whitewalls, White porthole hardtop, P/S, P/B, P/seat, P/W. 2007 AACA National First Prize. Poor right door fit. No longer fresh, but still a high quality T-bird in all but the door fit. This has been a busy car, sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2008 for $93,500, a no-sale at Spring Carlisle in 2011, then sold at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction earlier this year for $75,350. Its failure to find a happy home hints that it might be a less than satisfying ownership experience. This result is modest for an E-bird, but maybe not so much for this one.Lot # 107 1957 Oldsmobile 88 Convertible; S/N 577L02657; Light Grey/White, Red vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,700 — 371/277hp J-2 3×2 intake added, automatic, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. Restored like new in 2005 with very good paint, chrome, interior, top, glass and engine. Two owners from new, with documentation back to the first owner’s bill of sale and license plate. A little dusty but that’s easily remedied. This is more Oldsmobile than the money it brought.Lot # 108 1929 LaSalle 328 Convertible, Body by Fisher; S/N 421186; Burgundy, Maroon fenders/Maroon leather: Beige cloth top and boot; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750 — Dark Grey wire wheels, whitewall tires, rumble seat, beige cloth covered luggage trunk, turn signals added, radiator stoneguard, dual sidemounts with mirrors. Handsomely restored to better than new condition with limited subsequent age or use. Quality paint, chrome and interior. Known mostly Canadian history from new, matching numbers engine. No Reserve. This LaSalle illustrates an important milestone in American car design, the first automobile designed from scratch by Harley J. Earl, and it is undeniably handsome. It was almost overlooked among the Cadillacs and Packards in RM’s St. Johns auction and is a good value at this price.Lot # 109 1936 Packard Twelve Club Sedan; S/N 903338; Dark Green/Tan vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100 — Dual sidemounts, whitewall tires, grey painted wire wheels, fog lights. Crazed and shrinking old repaint, upholstery redone long ago. Otherwise a sound and usable old car. No Reserve. A bargain luxury car at this price, and something the new owner can take great pleasure in owning and driving even in this condition. Replacing the vinyl with cloth would enhance the value significantly, even with a modern synthetic material that is of no interest to moths.Lot # 111 1911 Overland Model 38 Roadster; S/N 46819; Burgundy, Black fenders/Red leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 — RHD. Acetylene headlights, Prest-o-Lite tank, kerosene sidelights, bulb horn, Stewart speedometer, round bolster tank, small metal trunk. A used but maintained old restoration in good touring condition. John M. O’Quinn Estate. Sold by RM in Arizona in 2005, presumably to Mr. O’Quinn who was just beginning his splurge in the collector car market, for $41,800, this ‘sprightly example’, as the catalog appropriately describes it, is going to be a fun driver and event car. Its condition, while not fresh or pristine, is more than good enough to be driven and shown at the end of the day.Lot # 112 1922 Chevrolet 490 Canopy Express Truck; S/N SH4877PA; Green, Black fenders and hood, Black composite roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Truck restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,800 — Varnished oak bed floor and sideboards, natural canvas rollup sides. 1986 AACA Senior winner. Excellent paint and varnish. Chassis is covered in road grime but the engine is painted and nearly like new. John M. O’Quinn Estate. A fun and charismatic little truck in very presentable condition. The 3-speed gearbox makes it much more familiar to modern collectors than the Model T’s epicyclic transmission and it is a good value at this price.Lot # 113 1934 Oldsmobile Eight Convertible Coupe; S/N L33171; Tan, Orange accent/Olive leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $52,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,200 — Dual enclosed sidemounts, steel spoke wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewall tires, rumble neat upholstered in brown, fog lights. 2002 and 2007 AACA Senior award. Rusty grille. Good paint, chrome and interior. Was restored like new, now shows some age but little use. A strange two-tone color combination with olive in the passengers’ compartment and brown in the rumble seat. The interior upholstery appears to be newer than the rumble seat, but still, why a different color, particularly olive which doesn’t harmonize with the tan exterior. At this price it should have gone together better.Lot # 117 1935 Packard Twelve Close-Coupled Limousine, Body by Brewster; S/N 1207215; Engine # 903773; Grey, Black padded roof/Maroon leather; Estimate $90,000 – $130,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $51,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $56,100 — Rollup division, luggage trunk, dual enclosed sidemounts, red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, fog lights, pulldown rear window shade, vent panels behind rear doors. Varnished wood interior panels. Sound old paint, probably original with later clear coat. Leather redone a while ago. Very original and complete. Owned by E.F. Hutton and his wife Marjorie Merriwether Post, Brewster Kenilworth body transferred from Phantom I chassis S105RP, until 1947, then by Lewis L. Smith until 1990. Engine rebuilt, high speed axle fitted. Featured in The Classic Car, Spring 2012. No Reserve. Despite Humer-Binder’s best efforts to modify this body to the Packard chassis it looks awkward and unbalanced. The preservation is exceptional, and the history is intriguing, but the car is, uh, peculiar looking, which no doubt affected its price here. In some senses it’s an exceptional value, but aesthetically it’s not such a wonderful find. Call the price reasonable under the circumstances.Lot # 118 1963 Jaguar XKE SI Roadster; S/N 878978; Engine # RA1011-9; White/Red leather; Beige cloth top, Black cloth boot; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $97,500 — Chrome wire wheels, Pirelli blackwall tires, Motorola AM radio. RA4013 on block, RA1011-9 on head and repro data plate. Polished up underhood. Decent paint, good chrome and interior. Good dash and instruments. Was restored like new and now is a little aged and used but still a handsome early E-type driver. This is a realistic bid for this XKE. The seller could have made it bring more by spending some time (or money) on a thorough detailing, but didn’t and as a result the car didn’t impress.
RM Auctions at St. John’s 2012, Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 121 1909 Washington 30HP 5-Passenger Touring; S/N 592; Red, Black accent, Carmine coachline/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 — RHD. B&L headlights, Gray & Davis sidelights, no taillight, wicker trunk, leather covered top bows, Nonpareil bulb horn, New Haven clock. Very good older concours level cosmetics still in nearly like new condition. Even the body step plates show no wear. Offered at Bonhams Hershey in 2003 where it was reported bid to $81,000 and sold at RM Amelia in 2004 for $82,500, it’s as good today as it was eight years ago and is a sharp car at a reasonable price here.Lot # 124 1948 Chrysler Windsor Town and Country 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 71003985; Engine # 1ND251 34455C; Maroon/Maroon vinyl, Red plaid; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $105,000 — Fluid Drive, roof rack, dual remote spotlights, pushbutton radio, turn signals, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls. Good paint, chrome and interior. Engine, underbody and chassis are orderly but not show quality. Good exterior wood aside from a crack on the driver’s door and small delaminations on both front doors. Pitted door handles. This isn’t as attractive as the seller thinks. The driver quality presentation and significant shortcuts challenge even the high bid reported here. It could have been loose and selling at this bid without being a bargain.Lot # 126 1940 Packard One-Twenty Convertible Coupe; S/N 13992845; Burgundy/Maroon leather; Beige vinyl top; Estimate $70,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $47,500 — Hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts, K-D turn signals, fog lights, grille guard. Quick repaint over poor prep, weak chrome, old top. Orderly chassis repainted assembled, tidy underhood. Sound interior. Dash and gauges given a quick redo. A mediocre driver. This is a One-Twenty caliber cosmetic redo and a high bid that reflects the car’s many shortcomings, not least being a One-Twenty.Lot # 129 1974 Jaguar XKE SIII V12 Roadster; S/N UE1S24965; Black/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 — 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, A/C, British Leyland AM-FM. Good repaint, otherwise clean and like new with just 6,297 miles from new. No Reserve. While this is a sizable premium (on the order of 50%) for originality and low miles the appeal of this triple black XKE is undeniable and its presentation is nearly flawless. Call it a fully deserved originality premium, but it verges upon being excessively generous.Lot # 131 1948 Hudson Commodore Eight Custom Station Wagon; S/N 48480899; Maroon/Tan leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Rebodied or re-created, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500 — 3-speed, pushbutton radio, large hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts, two-row seating. Good paint, chrome and interior. Fair wood laid over steel panels with large steps at front fenders. Varnish lifting in some corners and along front of right door. Underbody is clean and like new. New coachwork created to express an illustrated but unbuilt variant of the ’48 Hudson, it resembles the exaggerated illustrations more than the real car might have had Hudson built it. Passion for a particular marque sometimes brings unexpected results, like this ’48 Hudson Station Wagon that Hudson never built but was included in some sketches by Hudson design artist Don Butler. Is it worth $150K? To the builder it certainly was — and probably cost much more to create. The buyer here shared the passion and it is impossible to dispute the valuation that was put on it.Lot # 133 1907 Locomobile Model E Roadster; S/N 1322; Red/Black leather; Estimate $90,000 – $130,000; Rebodied or re-created, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250 — RHD. 199 cubic inch T-head four-cylinder, 3-speed, double chain drive. Sibley & Pitman “Climax” acetylene headlights, Corcoran kerosene sidelights, Rubes bulb horn, single rear spare, Dietz Dainty taillight. Red wood spoke wheels, blackwall tires. Individual cylinder mechanical make-break ignition. Clean and orderly with little evidence of use or age except some dull brass. Very orderly and fresh engine. Good paint and upholstery. Bill Ruger, Jr. Collection. No Reserve. Purchased from the Richard C. Paine, Jr. collection as a Type I touring car in fairly parlous condition in 2008 for $128,000, then extensively restored and rebodied in this runabout configuration using the original bodywork from the seat forward. Done to high standards and will be show quality with some attention to details. The engine details and mechanical ignition system are beautiful to behold. The Type I body wasn’t original to this chassis, so its replacement is of little consequence and the result should be a ball to drive. At this price it’s a very good value.Lot # 134 1911 Stanley Model 63 Toy Tonneau; S/N 6076; Brewster Green, Black fenders/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 — RHD. Rushmore headlights, E&J taillight and side lights, nickel trim, yellow wood wheels, black tires, yellow chassis. Excellent cosmetics. An older and well maintained concours restoration. Thoroughly serviced and maintained over many years since restoration in the late 90’s, with some upgrades for better performance and reliability by Don Bourdon. Original bodywork. Bill Ruger, Jr. Collection. No Reserve. Susan Davis steamed this beautiful old Stanley around the grounds and up onto the auction block in a display of its silence and drivability that brought it a superior price. It’s rare to find an old Stanley like this with a continuous history of over 70 years and the original coachwork. It’s a usable and handsome piece of history the brought an appropriate result.Lot # 135 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Sport Sedan, Body by Brewster; S/N 295AJS; Engine # R45A 22 21918; Black; Black padded roof/Tan leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 — Wheel discs, blackwall tires, smokers’ kits, rear-mounted spare. Elegant coachwork with good paint, chrome and interior. Owned for many years by Jack Frost and later by the Atwell Collection, it had been modified at some time with dual sidemounted spares, faux landau bars and a permanent trunk but was extensively reworked by the previous owner to return it to its original configuration by eliminating the sidemounts and trunk, relocating the spare behind the body tonneau and fitting body color Ace discs to the centerlock wire wheels. Chassis done to lesser standards and shows use and age but is orderly and in good touring condition. Upholstery is starting to gain some patina. Bill Ruger, Jr. Collection. No Reserve. Sold at the Hershey Auction in 2001 in its original configuration for $69,300, then offered at Meadow Brook by RM and at Auburn Fall in 2002 where it didn’t find a buyer. The revised coachwork gives this car style, panache and quality. Even with the closed body, it looks lean and sinister. It is thoroughly enjoyable and will be appreciated by anyone with a feel for gracious coachwork, particularly at this reasonable price.Lot # 139 1928 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Tilbury Saloon, Body by Brewster; S/N S123RP; Burgundy, Black fenders, Black padded roof/Grey broadcloth; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500 — Burgundy painted wire wheels, wide whitewalls, drum headlights, German Silver trim, sprung tube bumpers. Sound paint, spotted brightwork, good upholstery. Oily chassis with road dirt. Dirty underbody. A sound and handsome but aged, used and neglected old restoration said to run and drive well. Bill Ruger, Jr. Collection. No Reserve. Stately, elegant and a welcome participant in many events and tours, this Phantom has abundant potential either as a driver or the basis for a straightforward restoration. As a driver it’s a very good value. As a restoration project it’s reasonably priced.Lot # 145 1925 Ahrens-Fox N-S-4 Triple Combination Pumper; S/N 1641; Red, Gold accents/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000 — Nickel plated kerosene lantern, suction hoses, 12-foot ladders, bell, drum headlights, copper SirenLite siren, nickel drum headlights. Meticulously and completely restored to a high standard by the best experts in the business. Owned from new until 1960 by the Dover, NH FD. Some of the aluminum could use some polishing but beyond that it is spectacular. Bill Ruger, Jr. Collection. No Reserve. Famed among fire apparatus collectors, Ahrens-Fox pumpers with their distinctive chrome globe pressure equalizing globe and instantly recognized. The engine in this beast is a 998 cubic inch T-head six said to make 100 brake horsepower and enough torque to dislodge an entrenched Congressman. This is a generous price, but it bought a more-than-generous fire truck.Lot # 147 1929 Ford Model AA Popcorn Truck; S/N A1005147; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Truck restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 — Repro truck wired for 120 volts. Yellow steel wheels, four old fashioned soft drink fountains, lemonade chiller, sink, popcorn popper, awnings. Neat, good older paint and chrome. This is a neat truck, not old in the sense of a Cretors but neat nonetheless. Its vending equipment can be expected (being fairly new) to work better than older trucks, making it a good opportunity to have some fun and entertain grandkids and their friends. It would be even better as a promotional item at fairs and street events to draw attention to a business. This is all it should be worth.Lot # 149 1931 Cord Front Drive L-29 Boattail Speedster Recreation, Body by after LaGrande; S/N 2927156; Engine # FD2687; Cranberry, Cashmere Cream/Maroon leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Rebodied or re-created, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $335,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $368,500 — Chrome wire wheels, Jaeger clock, altimeter. A meticulously re-created example of a car that has been lost, done by the Tyree Brothers in Turlock, California for Arnie Addison. Teardrop fenders with matching door handles and hinge covers, working top, liquour decanters and glasses in passenger’s door pocket. Excellent paint, chrome, interior, engine and chassis. A show car. Sold by Bonhams at Scottsdale in January of this year for $290,800 but found a more appreciative audience here in St. Johns.
RM Auctions at St. John’s 2012, Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 151 1933 Packard 1006 Twelve Convertible Coupe; S/N 901615; Metallic Green/Taupe leather; Dark Green cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $325,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $385,000 — Apple green chrome spoke wire wheels, trim rings, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, windwings, rumble seat, luggage rack, wide whitewall, Pilot-Rays, vee lens Solar headlights. CCCA National First Prize # 1967 and Senior. Excellent paint, chrome and interior in the original color. Chassis shows a little age and use but is very presentable in high class tour condition. This Packard is an intriguing dichotomy, a 1933 Packard body style with 1934 Packard running gear. Its restoration is sharp and has fresh cosmetics in colors that complement the body design. It caught the St. Johns bidders’ eye and brought an exceptional price but it is a car that will distinguish itself on the show field or on tour.Lot # 152 1928 Cadillac V8 Town Sedan Al Capone; S/N 306449; Green, Black fenders/Beige cloth; Estimate $300,000 – $500,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $341,000 — Green wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual sidemounts, spotlight. Accessory eagle hood ornament. Armor shielded body, multi-layer glass, siren, police radio receiver. Loose roof drip rail. Sound but old paint and interior. Fair chrome. John M. O’Quinn Estate. Over the years there has been a lot of noise made about this car’s Al Capone history, largely if not entirely unsubstantiated. RM went to work and developed more history from period sources. Much is circumstantial but it more closely ties the car to Capone’s pals and with its myriad defensive and offensive features builds a more convincing case. It was sold by RM to John O’Quinn in Arizona in 2006 for $621,500, then passed at RM’s Monterey auction in 2010 at a bid of $335,000. Given the nature of the story this is a good result for this car’s condition and history.Lot # 153 1957 Jaguar XK 140 Roadster; S/N S812485; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $57,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $63,250 — Moto-Lita 4-spoke woodrim steering wheel, chrome wire wheels, 225/70R16 Goodyear radial tires, windwings, Lucas driving lights, fender mirrors. Sound paint, chrome and interior. Dirty engine begging for detailing, driver’s door cap leather discolored from use. Road grime on chassis. Authentically wavy bodywork. A used driver that will be much better after a thorough detailing. No Reserve. This otherwise attractive XK 140 provides an important lesson in selling anything, particularly automobiles and especially at auction. If the seller doesn’t care enough about the car to clean it up the bidders are going to infer awful things below the surface and be disinclined to make positive assumptions about its condition. The consignor here didn’t do even the most simple cleanup and preparation and took a serious hit in the pocketbook, but under the circumstances this is all the car deserved to bring.Lot # 155 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria, Body by Waterhouse; S/N 185625; Black, Red accent/Blade leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $275,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $275,000 — Chrome disc wheels, blackwall tires, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, trunk rack, windshield visor, tube bumpers with driving light tips in front and taillight tips in rear, radiator stoneguard in front of red painted radiator shutters, dual inside rear view mirrors, varnished wood running boards, sliding boy mascot. A beautiful automobile with a quality old restoration now wearing out. Thin window chrome, chipped paint, surface creased upholstery. Chassis is oily and dirty but could detail to be much better. There must be something particularly unsatisfying about this otherwise beautiful Packard because it’s now been sold three times in less than a year: for $249,100 at Mecum Monterey last August, for $238,500 at Mecum Kissimmee in January and now here for $275,000. Maybe it’s due to the chrome disc wheels. In any event, it’s not getting any better with age even over the span of just eleven months and the seller should be satisfied with the result it brought.Lot # 158 1930 Duesenberg Model SJ Convertible Victoria, Body by Rollston; S/N 2293; Engine # J-272; Burgundy, Maroon fenders and accent/Maroon leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $850,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $870,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $957,000 — Chrome wire wheels, Pilot Rays, dual enclosed sidemounts, mesh hood side vents. Originally delivered with LeBaron sport phaeton coachwork to Paul Whiteman in 1930, rebodied with this 1931-vintage Rollston convertible victoria body and supercharged through Duesenberg for 2nd owner in 1933. Restored about 10 years ago and at some time the original supercharger was replaced by a reproduction. CCCA National First Prize # 1759. Firewall # 2293. Starting to show age. Some defects on trim chrome, paint chipped above right hood vent but chassis doesn’t look used at all. Upholstery is nearly like new. Water spotted aluminum on engine. Unused for a decade and recently mechanically gone through. This car was offered at The Auction’s Las Vegas Expo in 1992 with just 80 fewer miles than the 51,357 showing today on its odometer. It was sold by RM at Amelia in 2001 for $687,500 and is still in nearly concours condition. Displayed the day after the auction at the Concours of America. A pretty special car that brought an important price.Lot # 160 1914 Detroit Electric Model 46 Cape Top Roadster; S/N 6367; Beige, Burgundy chassis and accents/Grey tweed; Estimate $75,000 – $125,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 — Lefthand tiller steering, varnished wood wheels, blackwall tires, nickel brightwork. Decent paint, upholstery and nickel trim. Chassis is aged and chipped. A presentable driver. This is a cheeky little runabout although it is misleading to refer to its “Cape Top” when the top and bows were not presented with the car. Antique electrics are enjoying a surge in popularity, as this handsome price demonstrates.Lot # 161 1912 Chalmers Model 9 Torpedo Roadster; S/N 18910; White/Red leather; Black top; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,750 — RHD. 226 cubic inch F-head 4-cylinder, 3-speed, dual rear spares, Rubes-style horn, acetylene headlights, kerosene sidelights, round bolster tank. Seam pulling on driver’s seatback. Sound paint, good brass. A usable old restoration. John M. O’Quinn estate. ‘Jaunty’ would be a good adjective for this Chalmers and its 30hp engine should give it performance to back up its appearance. It was sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2007 for $60,500, then by Worldwide in Houston in 2008 for $71,500, transactions which give perspective both to its appeal and to the result here.Lot # 162 1937 Dodge Westchester Suburban; S/N 8178600; Brewster Green/Dark Red leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 — 3-row seating, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, single enclosed sidemount, fog lights, grille guard, heater. Erratically orange peely repaint, good wood and interior, ugly steering wheel, nice instruments. Tidy driver-quality chassis and underbody. A useful weekend driver. A rare bird bought at a price that reflects its rarity and the age of its 1993 restoration.Lot # 166 1969 Jaguar XKE SII Roadster; S/N 1R9116; Willow Green/Olive leather; Green cloth top and boot cover; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500 — Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Kenwood cassette stereo. Good paint, chrome, upholstery and top in attractive colors. Underbody and engine are largely like new but now look several years old. No Reserve. A thoughtfully maintained XKE with fresh cosmetics to high standards, this is a lot of car for the money.Lot # 167 1964 Porsche 356C 1600 Coupe, Body by Karmann; S/N 217404; Engine # P71259; Irish Green/Fawn vinyl; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500 — Color # 6406. Blaupunkt multiband radio, silver painted wheels, blackwall radial tires. Good paint and interior, fair window chrome. A few small paint flaws. Clean engine shows use. A very nice driver. No bargain here, but neither is this result generous, a reassuring Porsche bought for an appropriate price.Lot # 170 1935 DeSoto Airflow 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 5088307; Copper/Tan cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 — Overdrive, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts, enclosed rear spare. Cosmetically restored with decent interior and chrome but failing paint. Bad old side window seals, quarter windows delaminating. A tired and unattractive Airflow that inexplicably displays a 2001 AACA National First Prize badge. No Reserve. The price befits the car’s age and deteriorating restoration. It needs a repaint, sooner rather than later, and that will lead to all sorts of ‘while we’re at it’ and ‘while it’s apart’ added projects.
