RM Auctions, Don Davis Collection, Fort Worth, Texas, April 27, 2013
Report and photos by Rick Carey, Auction Editor
Auctions of single owner collections are always exciting. The owners’ reputations for quality and focus confer instant “provenance” and collectors flock to them to take home a piece of automobile, and automobile collecting, history.
Frequently those pieces come at a steep price. Competition with other collectors has a way of loosening bidders’ purse strings and makes reporting, let alone interpreting, the results a challenge.
That was the case at RM’s auction of Texas collector Don Davis’s 64 cars in Fort Worth.
Does a million dollar Toyota 2000GT represent a lasting value benchmark, or is it a unique confluence of time, place, participants and opportunity that ignited bidding for a rarely seen star car?
Do the generous prices for the low mileage series-built mid-engined Ferrari V-8s (328 GTSi and Mondial t Cabriolet) vindicate the results for similar cars at RM’s Monterey auction last August?
By my reckoning, of the 48 cars written up, four (the three mentioned above plus the Porsche 959 Komfort) achieved spectacular results. Another twenty-two were expensive in the current market. Only four could be considered good values. There were no bargains.
But that also shows the effectiveness of marketing single owner collections in an auction, a technique which RM has perfected in this and other recent sales.
Tread carefully through the results of the 48 cars reported here, there are land mines among the reported results.
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RM Auctions Don Davis Collection – Auction Report
Lot # 101 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N D7FH140526; Dark Grey/Red; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250. No Reserve – 312/245hp, automatic, A/C, P/S, P/B, engine dressup, Town & Country radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls – Restored like new with careful attention to details. Underbody is better than it came off the line. – Aside from its excellent presentation the best thing about this T-bird are the colors, rich dark grey metallic on the outside and lipstick red inside. It is spectacular. This is an heroic price for a ’57 T-bird with an ordinary equipment complement, but this is a good example of a car that deserves to be recognized as superior. The first car to cross the block in RM’s auction of Don Davis’s collection, its exceptional price set the tone for the rest of the sale. Lot # 103 1962 Chevrolet Bel Air 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 21637S294496; Engine # S294496 T0216QB; Red/Red vinyl, cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. No Reserve – 409/409hp, dual quads, 4-speed, P/S, steel wheels, hubcaps, blackwalls, bench seat, heater and radio delete, knee knocker tach, bubbletop body – Restored like new with lovely paint, chrome and interior and a gorgeous engine. Represented as numbers-matching, backed up by the original order form and dealer invoice. – Highly desirable hardly does this impeccably restored, maintained and documented 409/409 Bel Air Bubbletop. It was the king of the road in 1962 and even the bench seat adds to its appeal (and its lighter weight than more sporty buckets adds to its acceleration.) It is a premium car and it brought a premium price. Lot # 104 1991 Ferrari Testarossa; S/N ZFFSG17AXM0087423; White/Tan leather; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500. No Reserve – A/C, power locks, P/W – A clean, lightly used car with 10,184 miles and two owners from new. Driver’s seat is lightly stretched. Chassis and underbody are lightly oiled and road grimy but not gross. Major service in January 2012. Assembly #5015. – Reported sold for $61,480 at Mecum’s Dallas auction in September 2012, a price that is much more appropriate than the generous premium thrown at it today. There is no shortage of similarly low mileage, pampered, documented Testarossas out there that will be more than happy to rush to market at $20,000 or so less than the price this one brought today. Lot # 106 1946 Chrysler Town and Country Convertible; S/N 7400604; Engine # ;/; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. No Reserve – Fluid Drive, turn signals, pushbutton radio, heater, dual remote spots, wheel covers, wide whitewalls – Excellent paint, interior and chrome. Wood panels look like shelf paper and although they’re not the effect is not flattering. Framing looks perfect. Beginning to show some age here and there but still in nearly show car quality condition. – RM has made almost as much money off this car as it brought today. This is the fifth time they have sold it: $132,000 at Arizona in 2003, $104,500 at Amelia 2003, $187,000 at Meadow Brook 2007 and $126,500 at Arizona 2011. The odometer has added just 483 miles since 2003, most of them probably accumulated rolling on and off transporters to the various auctions. For all of that, however, it is a quality example of Chrysler’s highly desirable early postwar Town & Country convertible and is a sound acquisition at this price. Lot # 107 1974 BMW 3.0 CS Coupe; S/N 4310374; Anthracite Grey/Beige leather; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. No Reserve – Extensively upgraded including 3.5 liter engine, 5-speed, limited slip, suspension work, upgraded R134a A/C, CSL air dam, Euro bumpers, P/W, Becker Europa II cassette, power sunroof, Alpina alloy wheels, blackwall radials – 7,202 miles showing and immaculate. Restored like new and highly detailed with an abundance of performance and comfort enhancing upgrades that contribute to a driving experience that should be as satisfying as its meticulous presentation. – Some might quibble with the modifications, but they are so well thought out and implemented nearly seamlessly that they add to rather detract from the CS’s value as a superb driving automobile. A $50,000 car in stock form, the bidders added another $50,000 in recognition of the potential driving satisfaction, a generous increment but difficult to argue with. Lot # 108 1957 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Starfire Convertible; S/N 579A04375; Coronado Yellow/White, Silver, Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. No Reserve – 371/300hp J-2 with three 2-barrels, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, WonderBar radio, flipper wheelcovers, whitewalls, skirts – Very good, clean and well maintained older restoration to like new condition. Good paint, bright chrome and stainless. Shows some age but is still in very sharp, clean, presentable condition. – A pretty car under any circumstances, and very well restored in a bright, cheerful color, the J-2 engine adds substantially to the value of this 98 Starfire. The bidders responded accordingly but a bit over-enthusiastically even considering the J-2 engine and factory A/C. Lot # 109 1963 Chevrolet Corvette FI Coupe; S/N 30837S117508; Gold/Tan vinyl; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. No Reserve – 327/360hp fuel injection, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, woodgrain steering wheel, AM-FM, P/W, 3.36 Positraction – Restored like new. Windwing chrome is thin. Excellent chrome, paint and interior. Sharp underhood. Represented as matching numbers with original Protect-o-Plate, owner’s packet and manual. A first class Corvette. – Much was made of this being the 50th anniversary of the Sting Ray Corvette, which may account for this car bringing $52,000 more here than it brought last year at Mecum Houston where it sold for $140,450. That was only the Sting Ray’s 49th anniversary, a milestone of little significance. Lot # 110 2005 Ford GT; S/N 1FAFP90S85Y400530; Centennial White, Blue stripes/Black leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $231,000. No Reserve – MacIntosh CD stereo, BBS wheels, red calipers – ‘Under 900 miles’ according to the catalog, the odometer is electronic and thus no readable on preview. Essentially unused and in showroom condition or better. – After dropping into the low-mid $100,000s in 2008-9 Ford GTs have attracted renewed interest as their rarity and performance comes to be better appreciated as collector cars. This car is a good example of most of them – barely used and well maintained – and of their current prices in this condition.
RM Auctions Don Davis Collection – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 111 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Touring Coupe; S/N 9113601108; India Red, Black ‘Carrera’/Black; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $460,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $506,000. No Reserve – 2.7/210hp, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, power antenna, sport seats, limited slip, fog lights – Restored like new, everywhere. Extremely impressive. – This Porsche Carrera RS 2.7 is forty years old but still one of the most desirable of all Porsche 911s. It must also be one of the best restored and presented, a sharp, clean, crisp car that isn’t overdone, just the way a classic Porsche should be. The bidders at RM’s Don Davis sale appreciated it and paid dearly to own it, but if the best is what is sought, it has to be paid for. Lot # 112 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX 2332; Black/Black leather; Estimate $650,000 – $850,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $910,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,001,000. No Reserve – Rack and pinion steering, chrome wire wheels, F70-15 Polyglas tires, wind wings, complete weather equipment including tonneau cover, rear trunk guard nerf bar, silver painted wire spare with Polyglas tire – Excellent paint, good chrome and interior. Very well maintained and restored. Not fresh but very clean and crisp. Documented with original registration application, window sticker and original selling dealer paperwork The odometer shows 36,799 probably original miles. – This Cobra has no history of any interest, no famous (or infamous) owner, it’s color changed from the original blue. It probably has limited miles as indicated by its history and certainly its condition since it was restored and has no bad stories about wrecks or fires, but why it brought $910,000 hammer and a tick over a million bucks with commission is difficult to fathom. It sets an important benchmark for 289 rack and pinion Cobras, though, no matter what one thinks of its reasonableness. Lot # 114 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002839; Black, Black hardtop/Dark Grey leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000. No Reserve – Polished alloy wheels, radial blackwall tires, air conditioning, alternator and Euro lights added, disc brakes – Good paint, chrome and interior. Sharp and orderly underhood with a little extra chrome. Upholstery, chassis and engine show some use. The A/C installation is subtle and unobtrusive. A classy, fast and versatile tour car. – There seems to be no end of fascination with the 300SL, but this is a hefty price to pay for one even so well presented and thoughtfully modified for better function. It would not have been anything more than a sound value at the low estimate and is expensive at this price. Lot # 115 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 150638; Engine # P70169; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. No Reserve – Chrome wheels, Michelin XZX blackwalls, period Blaupunkt dual band radio – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine and underbody are a little used. Delightful, soft leather upholstery, square weave carpets. A quality car restored to good standards but showing age and some careful miles. – Not so long ago this much money would have gotten you a Speedster, but no more as the prices of 356 Porsches increase across the board. A 356A Cabriolet benchmark price. Lot # 116 1980 BMW M1; S/N WBS59910004301360; Henna Red/Black leather, cloth; Estimate $150,000 – $250,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000. No Reserve – 5-speed, P/W, Becker Mexico cassette, A/C – Mostly original with a sound repaint over old paint with some minor masking holidays. Good interior. Engine is detailed on top, the rest and the underbody are original. Grey market not legal in California. A sound, largely original car that’s showing its age. – A rare and desirable car, particularly among BMW enthusiasts, that brought a reasonable price. But, really, what’s so special about a 277hp car? The design and rarity are significant – and even the power and mid-engined layout for the early 80’s – but it ends there. (photo: Darin Schnabel) Lot # 118 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 RS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N642448; Black, White stripes, Black vinyl roof/Black houndstooth; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500. No Reserve – Cross-ram dual quads, 4-speed, JL8 4-wheel disc brakes, Rally wheels with trim rings, F70-15 Polyglas tires, console gauges, Positraction. – Restored better than new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Represented as matching numbers, documented with ‘some’ original documentation and damaged build sheet. A particularly choice Z/28 with all the right stuff – I have this car selling for $232,200 at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach in 2006 when it was White with Black stripes. It then showed up at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2012 in the negative color scheme it now displays, Black with White stripes, and sold for only $95,400, a huge bargain for a cross-ram JL8 Z/28. It is still a sound value here. This is the highest and best spec Z/28, the one to have, and at this price it’s not even expensive. Lot # 120 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 100208; Engine # P80924; Silver Metallic/Green leather; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000. No Reserve – Sliding sunroof, period Blaupunkt Bremen dual-band radio, power antenna, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, chrome wheels, Yokohama blackwall radials, bumper overriders, 80 liter (21 gallon) fuel tank – Freshly restored to accurate but better than new condition. Excellent paint, bright chrome and inviting upholstery. Paint is Porsche #5706 on the hinge post plate. Documented with a Porsche certificate and restoration photos. An exceptional Porsche, desirably equipped. – An ordinary (i.e., solid roof, regular tank) 1600 Super coupe has become a $100,000 car, so the buyers’ confidence instilled by the exceptional condition and the unusual and desirable options as originally fitted increased its value by 60%. That is an impressive and generous increment. Lot # 122 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Deluxe Convertible; S/N 508K17320; Red/Maroon leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $92,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,750. No Reserve – Automatic, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, skirts – Restored like new. Excellent paint and interior, great interior. Exceptionally tidy underbody. Even the insides of the fenders are clean, sharp and like new. – Introduced in 1949, the Oldsmobile Rocket V-8 was the first high compression, overhead valve V-8 engine in the postwar era, the trendsetter for the American automobile right up to the present day. This is a beautiful example, but it’s not from the first year and the price is generous by $15,000 or so.
RM Auctions Don Davis Collection – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 124 1954 Chrysler GS-1 Special Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 7252368; Metallic Green, Dark Metallic Green roof/Dark Grey leather; Estimate $700,000 – $800,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $560,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $616,000. No Reserve – Automatic, P/W, P/B, P/W, P/antenna, pushbutton radio, chrome wire wheels – One of two GS-1s built by Ghia for Chrysler but apparently never shown and eventually offered to the company’s directors. Purchased by W. Alton Jones, former president of Cities Service and given to his wife who didn’t like it, then to his daughter, Elizabeth, who eventually stored it in the carriage house of her Aspen, Colorado, home. Discovered there in 1999 and restored to this magnificent condition. Very good older concours restoration to better than new condition. Shows a little age and use but still in beyond perfect condition. – RM sold the other one, known as the Thomas Special, at Amelia Island in 2006 for $715,000. This one is in better condition and it is surprising it didn’t bring more. It is an excellent value at this price, no way about it. Lot # 125 1953 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N E53F001274; Polo White/Red vinyl; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $315,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $346,500. No Reserve – WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, bullet air filters – Aged a little since the restoration, especially the chassis, but still essentially as-restored. It will be better after a thorough detailing. – Sold by Worldwide at Auburn in 2010 for $247,500 in essentially the same condition as it is today, just with 17 fewer miles on the odometer. A ’53 is an important bookend for Corvette collections, and at this price there must have been at least two collectors, well-heeled and determined collectors at that, looking for something to hold that position. This is a lot of money for a ’53 Corvette, although others have brought significantly more in the recent past. Lot # 126 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 14819; Fly Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $370,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $407,000. No Reserve – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, A/C, P/W, popup lights, painted nose panel – A US delivery Daytona. Thorough cosmetic restoration to very good touring condition, then toured and shows it. Smog pump belt removed. Includes tool roll and owner’s manual Sound, clean and presentable, a Daytona to be enjoyed and to be proud to drive. – Sold by Barrett-Jackson in Los Angeles in 2003 showing 22,947 miles on the odometer for $145,800, then by Gooding & Company in Scottsdale in 2010 for $291,500 showing 24,311. The odometer now shows 25,816 miles and the 1,500 since 2010 are reflected on the car. This price is representative of what Daytonas bring these days in a quickly escalating Ferrari market. Lot # 127 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 84073; Engine # P67483; Silver Grey (608)/Burgundy leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $265,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $291,500. No Reserve – Chrome wheels, hubcaps, blackwall radial tires, bumper overriders – Excellent paint and chrome, seductive butter-soft leather interior. Engine is like new. Superb fits and panels. Done to perfection as Porsche only wished it could do. – A magnificent, accurate, meticulous restoration that is a joy to behold and brought the same response from RM’s bidders. This Speedster is something else and deserves the expensive price it brought. Lot # 128 1941 Chrysler Newport Dual Cowl Phaeton, Body by LeBaron; S/N C7807503; Light Bronze/Red leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $880,000. No Reserve – Overdrive 3-speed, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewall tires, dual folding windshields, biplane bumpers, open headlights – The 1941 Indy 500 pacemaker later owned by W.P. Chrysler, Jr. Stored for many years until discovered by Tony and John Pascucci in 1999. Now exceptionally well restored in its original Indy 500 livery and in show car condition. – Sold while unrestored and needing attention everywhere by RM in Phoenix in 2000 for $275,000, it was sold again by RM at Amelia in 2009 after restoration for $687,500 and offered last year at Amelia after it was again cosmetically restored in its original light bronze over red leather livery to its present magnificent condition. The price it brought is under RM’s low estimate, one of just twelve (19%) to fall short of estimate at the Don Davis collection sale. Eighteen cars (28%) hammered sold over their high pre-sale estimate. An important piece of history, one of five built in this transitional body style combining modern streamlined design with the historic dual cowl phaeton body design, one of three not in long term public museum collections, and bought at a reasonable price. Lot # 131 1958 Dual-Ghia D/G Convertible, Body by Ghia; S/N 194; Silk Khaki/Grey leather; Grey cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $450,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $380,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $418,000. No Reserve – Dodge 315/230hp Red Ram V-8, automatic, chrome wire wheels, whitewall tires, Town & country radio, P/S, P/B – Owned for many years by Hoagy Carmichael, later by his son. Restored in the early 00’s, shown at Pebble Beach in 2001 and winner of Best in Show at Amelia Island in 2003. An older show quality restoration with superb paint, chrome, interior, dash and gauges. The only knock might be an odd greenish tinge to the leather. Underhood is like new. Front seats are lightly stretched. – Only four Dual-Ghias have sold for all-in prices over $300,000, and this is the only one over $400,000, a price its celebrity history – although most Dual-Ghias have celebrity histories – and beautifully preserved restoration richly deserved. Its appeal was, as the wide pre-sale estimate band set by RM amply witnesses, hard to predict but the combination of great lines, magnificent restoration (even over ten years old) and assiduous preservation awakened the bidders’ interest and brought a superior result. Lot # 132 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS; S/N 10719; Dark Blue/Claret leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,760,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,936,000. No Reserve – Chrome spoke wire wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, P/W, Becker Europa II AM-FM – Very good cosmetics. Restored to showroom condition with some age but scant evidence of use. Nose repairs after an old accident are invisible. – This got everyone’s notice, Big Time. A short time ago one and three-quarter million dollars was 365 California Spider money ($1.375 million in 2007 and $1.167 million in 2010.) Now the pursuit of the 330 series has delivered its blow to those who’d like to have one of the twenty 330 GTS built and no doubt pushed the next 365 California Spider well over $2 million. It is breathtaking to witness. Lot # 133 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N F7FH339026; Black, Black hardtop/Red; None top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. No Reserve – 312/300hp supercharged, 3-speed overdrive, steel wheels, hubcaps, bias ply blackwall tires, hardtop only – An Amos Minter restoration to better than showroom condition without going too far. Brilliant chrome, excellent paint and interior. – A particularly attractive, purposeful and aggressive T-bird that has the performance to back up its serious mien and the reassurance that buying a car that has been restored by the acknowledged best in the business can provide. This is an expensive but deserved price for an unusual T-bird that will take a premier position wherever it appears.
RM Auctions Don Davis Collection – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 134 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 577036954; Copper, Brushed stainless roof/Beige leather, cloth; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $253,000. No Reserve – A/C, polished aluminum Sabre wheels, whitewalls, power everything – Excellent older paint, chrome and underbody. Upholstery shows some wear and stretch on the driver’s seat and faded color but overall is in excellent condition. Beautiful colors. Upgraded to steel spring suspension, no vanity accessories. 43,466 miles and three owners from new. – Eldorado Broughams are incredibly expensive to restore, which makes a carefully preserved, known miles example like this particularly attractive. It has had just enough done to it to ensure preservation and reliable operation, a serendipitous set of circumstances that produced a superior result. Lot # 135 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500E Convertible; S/N CSE001C; White, Blue stogies/Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $300,000; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. No Reserve – 408 cubic inch aluminum block 525hp engine, Tremec 5-speed, 17 inch wheels, low profile tires, driving lights, R-style nose, enclosed side exit exhaust, CD stereo, fuel cell – 6T03C199460 modified by Shelby automobiles with all the ‘Eleanor’ touches. The only one built. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. A show car. – The appeal of the ‘Eleanor’ style has dropped drastically as the forgettable movie remake fulfills its destiny and even Built by Carroll Shelby helps only this much in preserving values. The seller should be very pleased to get this much for it. Lot # 136 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback; S/N 9F02Z150456; Wimbledon White/Dark Blue vinyl; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000. No Reserve – 429/370hp, 4-speed, Magnum wheels, Polyglas GT tires, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio – Kar Kraft #1303. A drag racing project from new, abandoned shortly after it started then stored. Restored with the original engine block and 97 miles from new. Very good paint, chrome and interior. An older restoration to like new condition with some subsequent use but detailed nearly to perfection. Documented with window sticker, factory delivery paper, owner’s card and manual and Marti Report. – A well known Boss 429 believed to be the lowest mileage in existence that has seen more miles across auction blocks than on streets (or drag strips) since it was restored. Offered by Russo and Steele in Monterey in 2007, then sold by them in Scottsdale in January 2008 for $253,000 and again in 2012 for the same price (with 84 miles on the odometer). That flat value curve pretty much describes Boss 429 values over the past five years. Lot # 137 1966 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E13355; Maroon Metallic/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Recent restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500. No Reserve – 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, red line tires, driver and passenger side mirrors, hardtop – New paint is very shiny but has very poor and erratic panel gaps. Hood to cowl gap varies from 1/8″ to 3/8″. Gap on driver’s side of trunk lid is easily 3/4″. Rubber seal on rear bumper is poorly fitted. Undercoated in rear fender wells but not in front. An inconsistent car. – Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2012 for $72,600. The preceding observations were made there and still apply today. This is an inherently desirable XKE, but one that has material needs to bring it up to the price it brought here. Lot # 138 1965 Lamborghini 350 GT Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 0262; Silver-Grey/Lipstick Red leather; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000. No Reserve – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X blackwalls, P/W – Good older cosmetic restoration with sound paint, good chrome and a soft recent leather interior. Orderly and clean engine but aged and dirty chassis and underbody. – The estimate for this car is generous, but the price it brought is more than magnanimous. The car’s history is reassuring, particularly having had regular attention to its needs as they came up, but this is still huge money for a well maintained but not freshly (and magnificently) restored car, in other words a handsome driver. It would have been a good value at the low estimate. Lot # 139 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Deluxe Club Coupe; S/N 508A1558; Red/Beige, Grey cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,250. No Reserve – 304/135hp V-8, automatic, windshield visor, stoplight viewer, clock, pushbutton radio, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts, fog lights – Restored like new, with better paint and chrome. The upholstery is an odd-looking material. – The upholstery many be odd, but it’s probably correct based on the rest of the very careful and thorough restoration of this rather ordinary Oldsmobile. It is nothing special, except for its exceptional, thorough restoration that must have cost more than the price it brought. It may not be ‘inexpensive’ among its peers, but it is a real value for a collector looking to own one of the best of its kind in the world. Lot # 141 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster; S/N CSX 2121; Red/Black leather; Estimate $650,000 – $850,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, F70-15 Polyglas tires, windwings, chrome paperclip rollbar, grille and trunk guards, front fender vents added – One of the last built with worm & sector steering. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Underbody shows a little age. Clean underhood. A very good older restoration with some use and age, a superb tour car. – This is a very good early worm and sector Cobra, color changed from its original Princess Blue/Red, updated with 6 inch rim wheels and little used despite a succession of owners over the years. In 1970 it had 12,000 miles and its odometer shows only 13,739 today but that number is unchanged from what it showed at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction last year strongly suggesting the connection between the odometer and the driveline is not operating. Its condition is not quite as good as CSX 2332 offered earlier in this sale, and reflects an appropriate discount from that $1 million result but even with Cobra values increasing at a dramatic rate this result is at a premium for the history and condition of this example. Lot # 142 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500621; Silver/Dark Grey leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,237,500. No Reserve – Sport camshaft, Rudge wheels, fitted luggage, hinged steering wheel, belly pans, competition style belts, Talbot mirrors, Dunlop blackwall tires – Owned for many years by Air Force Dr. Alex Locke until 1999, then restored like new by marque experts with excellent paint, chrome and interior and only three owners from new. Luggage color is slightly lighter than the upholstery and there is a big paint peel in the left front wheel well but otherwise the Gullwing is exceptional. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2011 for $803,000 in essentially the same meticulously restored condition it is in today and showing 69 fewer miles on the odometer. Even though Gullwing values have ramped up dramatically recently, a 50% increase in 2 1/2 years is eye-popping.
RM Auctions Don Davis Collection – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 144 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412021634; Black, Gold coachlines, Black hardtop/Tan leather; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. No Reserve – Becker Europa AM-FM, automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls – Mostly original car with one decent repaint. Orderly but aged underhood. Untouched original underbody. Freshly and thoroughly detailed. A quality pagoda roof 230SL. – Sold by RM in its sale of Charlie Thomas’s collection last October for $50,600, today’s result of 97% more in just six months renders me speechless with admiration for RM’s auction presentation. Lot # 145 1960 Porsche 356B 1600 Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 154251; Silver/Dark Blue leather; Black cloth, Dark Blue boot cover top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve – Chrome wheels, blackwall tires, woodrim Porsche steering wheel, Blaupunkt multiband radio, Weber carbs – Orderly mostly original car with a good repaint, fresh, sharp chrome and excellent new leather upholstery. Engine is orderly but used, with a quick recent solvent-based detailing. Underbody still has its original undercoat. Flawed windshield frame paint. Lumpy body panels. An attractive but ordinary tour car. – Sold for $95,700 at Russo and Steele’s Monterey auction in 2011, a price that should have been sufficient to buy it here a year and three quarters later. The Don Davis Collection provenance helps this car’s value, but it is difficult to justify it helping this much. Lot # 146 1975 Porsche 911S Targa; S/N 9115210561; Irish Green, Black roof panel/Cinnamon vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – Concord stereo, black painted Fuchs wheels with polished spokes, Kumho radial blackwalls, glass back window, underbumper driving lights – Erratically masked old repaint. Underbody is original. Upholstery is sound. Good chrome. Good body fits and gaps, good trim chrome. Engine is orderly and lightly oiled and used. A good driver. – Sold for $9,612 at Auburn Fall in 2005, $34,100 at Worldwide Houston in 2012 and $42,400 at Mecum Anaheim four months ago. A good investment. It is for the seller, anyway. Lot # 147 1988 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ95ZJS900143; Graphite Metallic/Grey leather; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000. No Reserve – Blaupunkt Montreal cassette, A/C – Nearly spotless with only a little age and use. Serviced in 2012 by Canepa Designs. A Show and Display import with limitations on use. – A legendary car that firmly established Porsche’s mastery of high tech electronics from engine management through suspension to antilock brakes, this low kilometer (17,728) original car will always attract a crowd and still give modern supercars a run for their money. A 959 has never brought over $500,000 at auction before, let alone $700,000 but the bidders appreciated the performance potential, the technical sophistication, immediately identifiable design, originality and rarity of this example and brought it a benchmark but expensive price. Lot # 148 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 16857; Red/Tan, Black stripes; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000. No Reserve – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, blackwall radials, A/C, P/W, painted nose panel, pop up lights – U.S. delivery factory Daytona Spider. Good older restoration but showing age and use. Smog pump disconnected, scuffed trim chrome, dusty underbody. A toured car in good but not exceptional condition. Originally Blu Dino, but Ferrari Classiche certified in the current red, 21,082 miles, thoroughly documented including books, tools and jack. – Wouldn’t this car stand out in its original color. It was offered by RM in Monterey in 2011 with 15 fewer miles on the odometer. It could certainly add one or two thousand more miles without material effect on its low mileage status or, given its present condition, on its presentation. An ideal tour car that brought a very healthy price giving full value to its low miles and pampered history. Lot # 149 1967 Toyota 2000GT Coupe; S/N MF1010147; Bendix Yellow/Dark Blue leatherette; Estimate $650,000 – $850,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,050,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,155,000. No Reserve – Alloy wheels, blackwall tires, pushbutton radio, clock, stopwatch, fender mirrors, Solex carbs – Good paint and chrome. Upholstery is scuffed and probably original. Engine is detailed and orderly but the chassis and underbody are aged, dirty and largely untouched. One of 62 built in lefthand drive, an original U.S. delivery car. – Think about this for a moment: this is a Million-Dollar Toyota. If it is thought of as a million-dollar Yamaha (where it was built under contract for Toyota) it’s even more extraordinary. Gooding & Co sold MF1010219 for $627,000 only eight months age in Pebble Beach, so the result this car achieved is nothing less than stupendous, a transaction that had literally everyone in the room (and on the internet) aghast. It will be informative to see if it is repeated, but don’t be surprised to see a flood of 2000GTs coming to market to try to take advantage of the benchmark set by 0147 at RM’s Don Davis collection auction. Lot # 151 1966 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser; S/N FJ4041897; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Polished alloy Eagle tires, 33×9.50R15 BFG tires, folding windshield, center-facing rear seats – A 6,831 mile Land Cruiser freshly done to an impressive standard everywhere. Better than new underhood. Great paint and grey painted grille and bumpers. Meticulously detailed interior and engine compartment. Wow. – Sold at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction before restoration in 2009 for $50,350, a price that much have been at least equaled and probably exceeded by the cost of its beyond perfect restoration. No FJ40 has ever come close to costing this much even as they are more and more sought by collectors (except for one heavily customized vehicle sold for nearly a quarter-million bucks at Russo and Steele Monterey a few years ago.) This result is a tribute to the caliber of the restoration (and the bright red paint) and the low miles. It sets a new benchmark in FJ40 values, as it should. Lot # 152 1957 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Starfire 2-Dr. Hardtop Holiday; S/N 579C06051; Coronado Yellow/White leather, Green brocade; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve – 371/300hp J-2 three 2-barrels, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, P/W, flipper wheel covers, whitewalls, WonderBar radio, power antenna, power seat, skirts – Attractive older cosmetic restoration with good paint, major chrome and interior. Top of engine is freshly detailed and like new, the bottom isn’t. Cracked steering wheel rim. Old undercoat on underbody. An attractive, but ultimately mediocre, driver. – RM was probably as disappointed with this Starfire’s price as the bidders were with its presentation. That’s fair and, if anything on a day when more cars sold over estimate than under it, represents a moment of rational decision-making by the bidders. It could be worth more, but it will take a lot of attention and no small investment to realize its potential.
RM Auctions Don Davis Collection – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 153 1991 Ferrari Mondial t Cabriolet; S/N ZFFRK33A5M0088428; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250. No Reserve – Alpine CD stereo, 5-spoke Ferrari wheels, 205/55R16 Michelin tires. – Very clean, orderly, original Mondial with sharp cosmetics and just 5,527 miles from new. – Sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction last August for $44,520. Clean, sharp, original and low miles, but it’s a Mondial that would have been a sound value at the low estimate. At 93.5% over it (and 29.2% over the high estimate) it suggests the bidders lost their orientation in the heat of bidding. Up was down, left was right, and this price should be considered an aberration. Lot # 155 1959 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Convertible D, Body by Drauz; S/N 86142; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. No Reserve – Chrome wheels, Michelin XZX tires, bumper overriders, radio antenna (no radio), accessory woodrim steering wheel – Restored to showroom condition with very good paint, excellent chrome and interior but wavy body panels. Small crack in front of the lower corner of the left door. Color changed from Ivory long ago. – Sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction last August for $151,050, a rare example among Don Davis’s collection of a losing transaction pair and a smart acquisition for the prudent buyer. Lot # 158 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500303; Silver/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000. No Reserve – Polished alloy wheels, blackwall tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel – Good paint, chrome and interior. Orderly underhood. Underbody shows age and use. A possibly four-owner 300SL Roadster that has been driven, but very well kept, a great driver. – No hardtop, no radio, no luggage, just a very well and consistently maintained 300SL Roadster with a Nardi steering wheel enjoying the rapid escalation in value (‘appreciation in value’ doesn’t apply to the rate 300SLs are getting expensive) that brought a substantial price. Its presentation is sweet, with all the evidence of continuing care and attention that conveys confidence to bidders. At this price it was a lot of confidence. Lot # 159 1959 Ford Galaxie Skyliner; S/N H9RW194513; Surf Blue, Wedgewood Blue/Blue, White vinyl, Dark Blue cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250. No Reserve – 352/300hp, automatic, P/S, no P/B, wheelcovers, whitewalls, chrome rear fender shields, pushbutton radio – Thoroughly, completely restored to concours quality. Over the top. – Frequently restored with more attention to the functioning of their complex hardtop mechanisms than to the car that carries it, this Skyliner’s restorer has checked all the boxes with a presentation that is far better than the majority. It’s a surprising bargain at this price. Lot # 160 1957 DeSoto Adventurer Convertible; S/N 50415283; Black, Gold/Beige vinyl, Black cloth; Black vinyl top; Estimate $150,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500. No Reserve – 345/345hp dual quad Hemi, pushbutton automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, dual rear antennas, tinted glass, dual outside mirrors, chrome wire wheels, bias ply whitewalls – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. No longer fresh but still an arresting presence. One of just 300 Adventurer convertibles built in 1957 – Sold at RM Monterey in 2006 for $123,750. This is so much more car, not only in its dart-shaped ‘Forward Look’ design but in its 345hp dual quad Hemi power. It is the pinnacle of DeSoto’s evolution, a car to reckoned with cruising down the avenue or lined up at a stoplight with pink slips at stake. The restoration is aged but still exceptional and it is a solid value at this price, particularly here where collectors clambered over each other to acquire a piece of the Don Davis collection. Lot # 161 1988 Ferrari 328 GTSi; S/N ZFFXA20A3J0078078; Red, Black roof panel/Cream leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Alpine cassette stereo – Good repaint, original interior. Clean, orderly engine. Underbody and chassis are original and slow age and use appropriate to the 25,749 miles on the odometer. – After the Mondial t Cab this 328’s result is congruent, although both results are incongruent. This is just a 328 GTSi, without even the benefit of verification of its mileage. It’s a $40K car that sold for twice that. And it looks like a $30,000 308 GTS. Lot # 163 1960 Chevrolet Impala Convertible; S/N 01867F212448; Engine # T0308FA; Red/Red vinyl houndstooth; White vinyl top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750. No Reserve – 348/280hp Tri-Power, Powerglide, P/S, P/B, spinner wheelcovers, whitewalls, WonderBar radio, dual rear antennas, dual outside mirrors – Meticulously restored and better than new without going overboard. The block is stamped T0308FA, correct for the hydraulic lifter 280hp it has but intended for a stick shift car, not the Powerglide it’s connected with here. – Sold at a slight discount to its estimate range, the bidders accurately sussed out the inconsistency in this gorgeous Impala’s configuration. How many times will onlookers see past the magnificent restoration to identify the soft lifter engine under the Tri-Power intake and the wrong transmission? Approximately none is the answer and it is a superb car for a responsible price. Lot # 164 1954 Mercury Monterey Convertible; S/N 54LA28800M; Yosemite Yellow/Red, Primrose vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – 4-barrel, automatic, P/S, P/B, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, windshield washer, P/W – Handsome older cosmetic restoration with quality paint, chrome and interior. Chassis is road grimy and underbody is covered in old undercoat. A good looking driver. – Sold at Mecum’s Anaheim auction last November for $55,120, this superficially presented Mercury deserved to bring its price. Good sense finally prevailled on the Don Davis auction on its final car.
[Source: Rick Carey]
I have a time capsule 1973 ford ranchero with 604.5 miles on it original perfect still smells like new car inside,!!! Need help on how to market it probably only one like in the world.. Can u please help me with this car still original tires. My name is Don 3039132850