RM Sotheby’s, Paul and Chris Andrews Collection, Fort Worth, Texas May 2, 2015
RM Sotheby’s has demonstrated that it is without peer in single owner collection auctions, establishing a record of effective promotion, lavish presentation and meticulous on-site event management that regularly produces eye-opening, record-setting results.
Paul and Chris Andrews, pére et fils, are the latest collectors to take advantage of RM Sotheby’s expertise, disposing of 78 vehicles at their private facility in Ft. Worth, Texas on May 2 in an all No Reserve auction.
The collection was notable for its scope, from rare Ferraris to rust-o-rod Fords, from magnificent multi-cylinder classics to a ’53 Bel Air convertible, from Pebble Beach quality restorations to semi-finished projects.The introduction to the nearly five pound, 12×12 inch catalog aptly described the diversity of father’s and son’s interests and how they have played off each other to expand their individual experiences. Aside from its bulk, the catalog itself was a work of art, featuring original artwork of each car by Stefan Marjoram, consistent photographic presentation and an imaginative layout. It’s probably appropriate that it is too big to fit in a file drawer and will have to be shelved in a fitting display.
Several of the cars set records but bidders’ focus was on the big cars of which fifteen were sold on hammer bids of seven figures. Some of the more modest vehicles seemed to be overlooked by bidders drawn by seven-figure rarities.
The top sale, not surprisingly, was a Ferrari, 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet s/n 3309SA, but it was followed by three magnificent classics; and a Packard brought more than either of the two Duesenbergs. Over thirty of the lots offered had prior auction history.
Here are the numbers:
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The Andrews kept a dozen or so selected cars, and to judge from the caliber of the deaccessioned lots the ones that remain must be very special. With $50 million in their pockets (from the cars alone, not including automobilia and music-making machines) and plenty of room in their Ft. Worth facility after the auction it won’t be a surprise to see them buying again soon.
[Andrew C. Newton made the on-site observations in Ft. Worth; comments are the responsibility of the editor.]
RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection – Auction Report
Lot # 184 1953 Mercury M100 Pickup; S/N MAC83BHQ13913; Maroon/Black vinyl; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Truck restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,400. No Reserve. 239/106hp flathead, dual exhaust, red steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, American Classic whitewalls, dual mirrors, wood bed boards, bench seat, dash clock. – Canadian market Mercury. Quickly done matte paint with a quarter-sized chip out of the nose. Tired chrome. Some dings in the hub caps. Very good interior. Dull wood. Used engine bay and undercarriage. A level of general wear that’s appropriate and even charming on an old truck. – Rarely seen Mercury truck and a Canadian market vehicle originally, even with the noted condition issues this is a sound value in a presentable and highly usable Mercury pickup.Lot # 189 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 30837S116260; Sebring Silver/Black vinyl; Estimate $80,000 – $110,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $253,000. No Reserve. 327/300hp, Powerglide, A/C, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, radio, dash clock. – All original and unrestored, ex-Chip Miller. Original and old-looking but complete engine bay that’s slightly grubby. Several tiny dings in the nose. Small scratch the passenger’s side door but otherwise blemish-free original paint that hasn’t lost much shine. Fantastic original interior. Showing 54,812 miles (and no one is claiming it is ‘believed to be’ all the miles it has covered), but it’s clearly been pampered for most of its 50 years on this earth. – The Fort Worth bidders looked past this car’s base engine and saw only pure, irreplaceable originality. Several people in the room very much wanted that originality and bid it to an astronomical price. This is a $50,000 Corvette with $180,000 in Chip Miller provenance and originality, ready to go the Bloomington Gold and be recognized as a Survivor (something that it troubling that it hasn’t accomplished already.)Lot # 191 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S05Y400375; Mk IV Red, White side stripes and script/Black leather; Estimate $240,000 – $280,000; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. No Reserve. BBS wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, red calipers, tinted glass, McIntosh stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Treated as an instant collectible from new with excellent paint and interior. Lightly used and blemish free with 800 miles on it. – Even this sale isn’t without a low-mile GT on offer. This one was in the Andrews collection from new and reached a price in keeping with the current craze for these cars.Lot # 192 1990 Lamborghini Countach Silver Anniversary Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N ZA9CA05A1LLA12049; Rosso Siviglia/Champagne leather; Estimate $375,000 – $475,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $410,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $451,000. No Reserve. OZ Racing wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, fog lights, power windows, Alpine CD stereo. – Very good paint other than a tiny chip on the driver’s side door. Excellent interior. Showing just 1,273 kilometers on the odometer and presents with a corresponding barely used condition. – Bought new in Canada and retained by its original owner until being bought by the Andrews in 2014. These final series Countaches have also spiked over the last year, causing many low mile examples like this one to emerge from hiding. Their march upwards in value doesn’t seem to be stopping, as this huge price shows.Lot # 194 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 Bertone Drophead Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N LML504; Engine # VB6E501230; Red/Red leather piped in White; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000. No Reserve. Dual SU carbs, centerlock wire wheels, Avon tires, fog lights, red vinyl top boot, matching luggage that fits beside the single rear seat, Autovox pushbutton radio. – Very clean engine bay. Clean undercarriage. Lightly worn interior. Very good paint. Restored in the 1980s and shown at Pebble Beach in 1987, 1997 and 2007 before making its way to the Andrews collection. Presents like a fresh restoration rather than one that’s 20 years old. – Given to Brown & Bigelow president and sales manager Charles A. Ward as a Christmas present by all his regional sales managers and emblazoned with his initials on the wheels, steering wheel, luggage and a plaque on the glovebox. Sold by RM from the Gene Ponder collection in 2007 for $847,000, then by Gooding & Company at Pebble Beach in 2009 for $1,650,000. The odometer shows just 31 more miles now than when it was on display at the Gooding auction six years ago. It is in magnificent condition, but it is hard to maintain the cachet over the years. Like the Pebble Beach Concours, cars shouldn’t turn up much more often that once every ten years.Lot # 195 1934 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster; S/N 902535; Engine # 902185; Ascot Maroon, Dark Maroon fenders/Dark Red leather; Black cloth piped in Red top; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $480,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $528,000. No Reserve. Red wire wheels with chrome hub caps and trim rings, BF Goodrich Silvertown blackwalls, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, Cormorant radiator mascot, Solar headlamps, single Pilot Ray, dual chrome horns, rear luggage rack, jump seat, wood steering wheel, wood shift knob, golf bag door, wood dash and window trim, Waltham dash clock, running board lights. Vehicle No. 739-54 – Small chip in the front of the driver’s side door. Long scratch on the right running board. A few light scratches on the tail. Otherwise very good paint. Excellent chrome. Very lightly worn seat upholstery. Exquisite interior wood. A solid older concours quality restoration. Original engine, chassis and body. Restored in the 1970s and again during the 1990s. Used in numerous CCCA CARavans. CCCA Senior winner. – This Packard is one of the most desirable autos of the classic period. Its big V-12 engine is smooth, quiet and powerful, its factory coachwork is refined and sleek and its restoration is nearly above reproach. Consider it all the (classic) car this much money can buy.Lot # 196 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 5029SA; Engine # 5029; Grigio Argento/Red leather; Estimate $3,500,000 – $4,500,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,860,000. No Reserve. Covered headlights, overdrive, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, woodrim steering wheel, Panasonic stereo, dash clock, locking filler cap. – Still fresh. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Phenomenal show quality car. Nearly perfect. 15th of 18 Series II LWB cars. Platinum winner at the 2011 Cavallino Classic. – Sold by Bonhams at Gstaad in 2005 to Lee Herrington for $560,922, then to the Andrews in 2008 at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction for $1,320,000. It is a marvelous automobile and a design statement. Its result should be compared with what it would buy in Ferraris of comparable design, performance and rarity, not in relation to its earlier transactions, but … its profit will make up for any number of lesser losses later in the auction.Lot # 197 1957 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N E57S104916; Engine # F503EL; Cascade Green/Beige vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,500. No Reserve. 283/283hp fuel injection, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, hardtop and power top, heater. – Excellent paint aside from a few chips and a crack around the filler cap. Beautiful chrome. Excellent interior. Even gaps. Multiple NCRS awards following its restoration at the beginning of the last decade. Beautiful car in a rare, pretty color with all the equipment you’d want in a ’57 Corvette, the first year the car was offered with Rochester mechanical fuel injection. An older Nabers Brothers restoration, but very well kept and still showable. 2001 Bloomington Gold, NCRS Duntov Award, and several others. – Bought new by a New York doctor who kept it until the 1990s, then restored by the Naber brothers beginning in 1998. Painted Cascade Green in place of the original Aztec Copper and equipped with a correctly date coded but non-original transmission. In the Andrews collection since 2010. It’s a fantastic car that brought the money it deserved.Lot # 198 1938 Lincoln Model K Coupe, Body by LeBaron; S/N K9314; Dark Blue, Black padded roof/Dark Brown leather; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $231,000. No Reserve. Greyhound radiator mascot, body color steel wheels with chrome hub caps and trim rings, BF Goodrich Silvertown wide whitewalls, Depress Beam headlamps, bench seat, golf bag door, no rumble seat, wood window trim, dome interior courtesy light, opening rear window, dash clock. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Represented as matching numbers. The final LeBaron Coupe built and originally sold in New York. Later acquired by King Hussein of Jordan. Acquired by the Andrews in the late 2000s and received extensive mechanical service. Showable as is, but probably best for touring in singular style. – This was an older restoration but in Dark Blue when it was sold in 1998 by Coys at Chiswick for $75,526. It obviously has had subsequent cosmetics as well as the documented engine overhaul in the Andrews’ ownership, and is pleasing in its authenticity and presentation. It has remarkable style, fit for a King, and is appropriately priced at this level.Lot # 200 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe; S/N 16144705; Engine # 16694; Burgundy, Silver/Red leather; Grey cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000. No Reserve. Dual exhaust, Depress Beam headlamps, dual chrome horns, dual enclosed sidemounts, dual Sportlite Model S spotlights, chrome wire wheels, Firestone wide whitewalls, gray cloth top boot, armrest, engine turned dash, jump seat, rear luggage rack, golf bag door. – Microblisters on the fenders. Two light scratches on the left front fender. Lightly scratched chrome wheel covers. Visibly worn seats. Light scratches around the top boot. Was an exquisite show car, but not quite any more. – One of three sixteen cylinder motorcars in the Andrews collection. The Marmon had the Cadillac beat on power, but the Caddy came first and thanks in large part to the Great Depression, the Sixteen was the last production Marmon. This car began to undergo restoration in the 1970s, but it passed through several owners and wasn’t completed until the early 2000s, sold at RM’s Arizona auction in concours condition for $456,500 in 2005, then sold to the Andrews at Meadow Brook in 2007 for $726,000. Its odometer shows just 34 more miles now than it did in 2007, but the car is ageing from more than miles. A gorgeous, distinctive automobile, it doesn’t wear its convertible coupe coachwork with the same panache of other, closed Marmon Sixteens.
RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 201 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002439; Engine # 19898010002477; Anthracite Grey/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500. No Reserve. Chromed steel wheels with hub caps, Michelin blackwall tires, dash clock. – Matching numbers. Class win at Amelia Island in 2004. Very clean, detailed engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior.. Color changed during restoration. A top notch example that needs nothing. Not done yesterday, but still a showable car that could win trophies. – A long-time California car before being restored by Mark Allin in the early 00’s In the Andrews collection since 2010 since it was acquired in 2010 at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction in 2010 for $671,000. While certainly not the rarest car in the Andrews collection, it was one of the star lots given the amount of attention it got. Bidders recognized it as the top notch, correct example that it is and bid it up to a generous price even for such a stellar 300SL Roadster.Lot # 202 1976 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Utility; S/N FJ40215538; Engine # 29482; Dune Beige, White roof/Gray vinyl; Estimate $65,000 – $80,000; Truck restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,750. No Reserve. Steel wheels, Nexian Roadian MT tires, dual mirrors, rear-mounted spare wheel, locking filler cap. – Clean, nearly like new engine bay. Small dent on the right side of the drip rail. Several paint blisters on the roof. Very good, lightly worn interior. A good, sound, not overrestored FJ in the standard colors. – Anyone who can figure out FJ40 values deserves to get a medal. They are all over the lot and this one is no more over-priced than some similar ones are under-priced at half as much.Lot # 203 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N VC55A060137; Engine # 0EI7412T55GD; Gypsy Red, Shoreline Beige roof/Red, White vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500. No Reserve. 265/162hp, 3-speed, body color steel wheels with wire wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, radiator mascot, bench seats, pushbutton radio, dash clock, P/B, P/S. – Clean detailed engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. A showable car with nothing wrong with it. Has to be one of the best examples to exist, and with a 3-speed, too, and an engine number that is appropriate to the car’s configuration. – The bidders paid for what this Nomad is, the best, but it could have been sold at the low estimate without being expensive, it’s that good.Lot # 206 1957 Oldsmobile 98 Starfire J-2 Convertible; S/N 579M22578; Sapphire Mist, Victoria White/Blue, White leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $140,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve. 371/300hp, three 2-barrel induction, automatic, tribar spinner wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, bench seats, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power top, power antenna, tinted glass, WonderBar Super Blue radio. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Driver’s side door fit is slightly off. Very well restored and equipped car that’s remarkable to look at. Even the engine compartment is to all intents and purposes like new. – An interesting observation in the catalog describes ‘the outside carburetors, working off the windshield wiper motor, would open up”. Not so much, as anyone with experience with a Fifties car could attest. The carbs were held closed by manifold vacuum and when the accelerator was floored the carbs opened up … and the vacuum-operated wipers stopped. It made for an challenging driving proposition when going up a long, steep grade in the rain and is why with Fifties cars it is significant when they have optional (or retrofitted) electric wipers. This is a sharp, crisp, better than showroom condition example in colors that are both typical of the Fifties and appealing to today’s collectors. Its price is superior, but so is the car and its long list of options and accessories. This is ‘your [grand]father’s Oldsmobile.’Lot # 207 1950 Oldsmobile 88 Deluxe 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 508M67772; Adler Green, Black roof/Green leather with Tan cloth inserts; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve. 303/135hp, column-shift Hydra-Matic, body color steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dual mirrors, bench seats, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Several small paint blisters behind the passenger’s side door. Very good paint and chrome, but the work wasn’t done yesterday. Clean engine bay. Very good interior. A high quality older restoration that needs nothing. – Sold by RM from Art Astor’s collection in 2008 for $99,000. With so many exceptional cars in Paul and Chris Andrews’ collection this very good if slightly aged, Olds didn’t get much attention and the buyer acquired a thoroughly enjoyable for a thoroughly reasonable price.Lot # 208 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Coupe, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N BC67LD; Engine # BCD66; Black/Maroon leather; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,025,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,127,500. No Reserve. LHD. 4887/178hp, column-shift automatic, wheel covers, Dunlop Road Speed tires, skirts, Lucas driving lights, single wing mirror, bucket seats, radio, wood dash and window trim. – Built to order with the automatic gearbox for a prominent Bentley customer who lived in Monaco. His name was J. Guinness, (Lord Moyne?) suggesting a stout connection. Lightly scratched up radiator shell. Big dings in the left front wheel cover. Paint is a bit tired overall and has light scratches around the hood and on the driver’s side door. Original upholstery is tired and discolored but still supple to the touch and complete. Crack in the steering wheel. Clean engine bay and undercarriage. Very good interior wood. Largely original and showing just 27,818 km. – There are few automobiles as seductively sleek, svelte, beautiful and imposing as a black Continental Fastback by Mulliner. The condition of this one isn’t what is expected these days, but is a superb driving automobile that can be enthusiastically driven as intended by Bentley and its first owner. Condition is reflected in RM’s pre-sale estimate range, and confirmed by the bidders’ reluctance to go further than the barely seven-figure bid. It is a serious value for money at this price for a dedicated Bentley driver even if restoration would be so costly it would make the project financially unrealistic.Lot # 211 1955 Kurtis Kraft 500 Swallow Coupe; S/N KK43; Red/Black leather; Estimate $140,000 – $200,000; Modified for competition during restoration 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. No Reserve. 317/257hp Lincoln Y-block V-8, 4-barrel Edelbrock carb, 5-speed, side exhaust, front disc brakes, centerlock Halibrand style alloy wheels, Pirelli tires, fuel cell, fire system, fog lights, dual mirrors, Plexiglas rear window with hinged center panel for ventilation, roof vent, roll cage, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Stewart Warner gauges. – One of two Kurtis Kraft 500s fitted with fiberglass bodywork modeled after the Cisitalia 202 made by an American company called Allied. Reportedly built for the 1955 Carrera Panamericana, but that event was canceled after the disaster at Le Mans that year. Prepped for modern day competition in the early 1990s and vintage raced ever since at events including the modern iteration of the Carrera Panamericana. Numerous rock chips on the nose. Paint gouge on the left front fender. Some fluid on the valve cover but otherwise very clean engine bay. Hammer marks on the wheels lobes. Uneven door fit. Good competition interior. Used in competition and cleaned up for auction, thoroughly prepared and still very much presentable. – What’s intriguing about this car is that it’s a real Kurtis Kraft with a rarely-seen period built fiberglass body and appropriate period engine. It is prepared to the high standards an event like the Carrera Panamericana demands and its modest evidence of use makes it all the more desirable. It couldn’t be duplicated for the price it brought here, a fact recognized by the bidders who took it right to the top of its pre-sale estimate range and even at that is a sound value for an appropriately ambitious driver.Lot # 212 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Fastback; S/N SFM5R108; White, Red and Green stripes/Black; Estimate $850,000 – $1,000,000; Competition restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000. No Reserve. 289/325hp, 4-speed, side outlet exhaust, Hoosier tires, Plexiglas windows, detachable OMP steering wheel, Torque Thrust style wheels – First raced by Pedro Rodriguez for Gene Hamon and won first time out. Later prepared by Freddy Van Buren who was SCCA B-Production regional champion in 1966 and 1967 with it. Retired at Daytona in 1967 while leading its class. First in class at Sebring in 1967. One of 36 GT350Rs made. Restored in 1983 and vintage raced since. Used but tidied up original engine bay. Dull paint with the chips, dings and small cracks that come with racing in anger. Clean but worn competition interior. Competition car cleaned up for auction. Restored in the 1980s – For Mustang people who care about racing, the GT350R is the ultimate Shelby Mustang. This one sold at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2006 for $748,000 and at barely more than that today is an excellent value.Lot # 215 1953 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible; S/N 536234856; Azure Blue/Light Blue leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $240,000 – $300,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $265,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $291,500. No Reserve. 331/210hp, column-shift Hydra-Matic, chrome wire wheels, Firestone wide whitewalls, skirts, bench seat, pushbutton radio, power windows, P/S. – Gorgeous detailed engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior with no wear. A fresh, top notch car that’s fantastic and showable. – RM touted this car as the best example that they have ever offered and its appearance in Ft. Worth reveals nothing to contradict that claim. The bidders certainly seemed to think so and bid it to a seriously premium price. Not having to make excuses or provide explanations, however, is worth a lot to a demanding collector.
RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 216 1958 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible ‘Raindrop’ Prototype; S/N 58G049932; Red, Black wheel well scallops/Ivory leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $400,000 – $600,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $295,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $324,500. No Reserve. 365/335hp, three 2-barrel carbs, automatic, Autronic Eye, P/W, P/B, A/C, Sabre wheels, whitewalls, six-way power front seats, console ice bucket for ‘travelers’ – Excellent paint, interior and chrome. Restored to better than new without going overboard. A one-off with fiberglass rear body built to test various high tech components including the automatic rain-sensing top erection system that gives it its nickname. Possibly given to Harley J. Earl to use in Florida in his retirement (where the afternoon showers made the ‘Raindrop’ feature important. Unusually attractive design with minimal chrome adornments and a prototype pre-’59 fiberglass rear body. Salvaged in pieces and reassembled on top of a different ’58 Cadillac frame in the mid-90’s. One of two ‘Raindrop’ survivors, restored to high standards. – Sold by RM from the Al Wiseman collection in 2007 for $330,000. This is twice the price of a ’58 Eldo Biarritz, but at least twice the car. (photo: RM Sotheby’s]Lot # 218 1957 Dual-Ghia D/G Convertible, Body by Ghia; S/N 162; Maroon/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $400,000 – $475,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. No Reserve. 325/230hp Dodge Red Ram V-8, PowerFlite transmission, dual exhaust, floor-shift automatic, chrome wire wheels with spinner hub caps, power steering, power brakes, power windows, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Excellent paint, chrome and top. Very good, only slightly worn interior. Proven show car with Pebble Beach under its belt that still has a ton of eyeball. Restored in 2006 and still presents like a fresh restoration to showroom condition and better. – This is a top notch price for a Dual-Ghia. Even freshly restored examples in recent auctions have brought only a few dollars more, which attests to the quality of the car and its restoration. It’s a car that deserves the premium price it brought.Lot # 219 1953 Cunningham C3 Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 5206; Engine # IND 20-1004; Black, White hood and roof/Tan leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $790,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $869,000. No Reserve. 392/350hp Firepower Hemi, log manifold with 4×1 Zenith carbs, 5-speed, dual exhaust, Halibrand centerlock alloy wheels (modern comparable wheels mounted), Excelsior radial tires, bench seat, matching luggage, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio. – This was the first Vignale-bodied C3 built after Briggs Cunningham was forced by a rules change to build a road-going product in order to qualify for Le Mans (and mollify the IRS.) Only one C3 was built in-house before an agreement was reached with Vignale, making this the production prototype. It was used for publicity before being sold to its first owner, Mercury outboard motor magnate Carl Kiekhaefer, and was off the road from 1962 to 2004, when it was restored. It was then modified with a 5-speed and a later Chrysler 300C engine, but the original powerplant and 4-speed are included in the sale. Long scratch on the right front fender but excellent quality paint otherwise. Clean, detailed engine bay. Excellent chrome and interior. Restored about 10 years ago and still presents like a fresh restoration. – It would have been realistic to expect a record price here given the car’s rarity (one of 36 built) and the first example of Cunningham’s magnificent C3. Its value was mitigated by its mild hot rodding, but still reached a respectable price for an important Cunningham in this condition.Lot # 220 1962 MG B Lightweight Roadster; S/N GHN3L112; Light Blue, Red, White stripes/Dark Blue leather piped in Light Blue; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve. 1798/140hp, single Weber 45DCOE carb, side exhaust, painted centerlock wire wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, Wizard radiator, matching hard top. BMIHT documented as no more than the 12th MG B built. – 4th in class and 17th overall at Sebring in 1964. One of four lightweights built using factory parts and featuring aluminum fenders, bonnet, boot lid and doors as well as Perspex windows. Joe Huffaker modded the engines and the cars also got dual fuel tanks. Retired from competition after Sebring and was restored in 2002 by Butch Gilbert, who has a Jones for these cars, with its original alloy body panels and Sebring competition engine. Signed by Kjell Qvalle and Joe Huffaker on the dashboard and glove box. Crack in the left headlight cover. Very clean engine bay. Very good paint and interior. A competition restoration that wasn’t overdone. – The historic race car buyers were poorly represented in Ft. Worth this weekend. This is about as important an MG B as exists, meticulously restored as-raced. It sold at RM Monterey in 2004 [with a very good catalog description] for $104,500, then no-saled at Russo and Steele Monterey in 2008 and Gooding Scottsdale in 2009. It is more car than money, at least for the MG folks.Lot # 222 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Cabriolet, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 3309SA; Engine # 3309; Black, Black hardtop/Red leather; Estimate $7,000,000 – $8,500,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $6,950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,645,000. No Reserve. 3967/340hp, 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Avon blackwall tires, covered headlights, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, locking filler cap, Veglia dash clock. – 1962 New York and Geneva show car. The final SWB Superamerica. Timed at 145mph at Bonneville in 1962. Restored by Patrick Ottis for William Grimsley in 2005 in its present colors. Platinum at Cavallino in 2009, Pebble Beach in 2009. Highly detailed engine bay. Spectacular interior. Excellent paint. A top notch Ferrari. One of the stars of the sale. – Sold by RM at Monaco in 2010 for $3,724,593 ($2,501,340 in today’s strong dollars), the result here in contrast to its Monaco sale is indicative of the profound effect varying exchange rates can have on relative transaction values. It also shows that the premier Ferrari market is dollar-centric, without regard to what collectors spending Euros, Pounds or Yen may want. 250GT California Spiders are bringing well over $10 million and this is more powerful and more rare. In that context it looks to be a rarely good value.Lot # 224 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M Le Mans Roadster; S/N BN2L233008; Engine # 1B233008; Black, Reno Red/Red, Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,500. No Reserve. 2,660/110hp, overdrive 4-speed, red centerlock wire wheels, Firestone F-560 blackwall tires, banjo spoke steering wheel. BMIHT and 100M Le Mans Registry documented. – Excellent paint, chrome and new interior. in the original colors. An original US-delivery lefthand drive car. Driver door fit is slightly off, engine compartment is polished up to concours standards. A stellar car and a genuine 100/M Le Mans, not one of the many cars retrofitted later, but no history. – One of just 640 cars equipped as 100M Le Mans Healeys at the factory. These have risen sharply in value over the last couple of years, and this was somewhat of a deal for a genuine 100/M in this condition, but not a steal (unless you were the seller at RM’s Arizona auction in 2011 for $107,250 after having been sold at RM’s Gene Ponder sale in 2007 for an astounding $231,000.)Lot # 225 1961 Pontiac Ventura Super Duty Cloke Sport Coupe; S/N 561S3274; Black/Green vinyl; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Facsimile restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $112,750. No Reserve. 421/405hp, dual quads, floor-shift 4-speed, Safe-T-Track, silver steel wheels with chrome trim rings, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dash clock. – Not a real Super Duty, but fitted with the 421 during a body-off restoration in the late 1980s. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Not done yesterday, but still a gorgeous facsimile restoration. – In the Andrews collection since 2010 when it was bought at RM’s Milt Robson auction for $110,000. It’s a beautiful bubble top Ventura, but overvalued for what it is.Lot # 226 2008 Ferrari 599 GTB Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFFC60AX8015928; Red, Matte Black roof/Beige leather; Estimate $240,000 – $280,000; Original, with non-original appearance items, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $214,500. No Reserve. 5999/611hp, F1 transmission, Pirelli P Zero tires, power windows, climate control, 20 inch Black alloy wheels (original wheels and tires included), SF shields, red calipers, Daytona power seats, carbon fiber interior trim, Red stitching. – Two-owner car with 2,800 or so miles. A handful of small chips on the nose and front of the hood. Small scratch on the trunk. Excellent interior. Very lightly used, but used. Still a second-hand Ferrari at this point and gussied up with 599 GTO appearance items. – A snazzy show-off Ferrari that is still depreciating. “Tasteful” begs the question, but it’s still a show-off.Lot # 227 1953 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N A1047113; Lido Green/Light Green, Dark Green leather; Dark Green cloth top; Estimate $180,000 – $260,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve. 322/200hp, column-shift Dynaflow automatic, Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dual mirrors, vinyl top boot, bucket seats, Selectronic radio, dash clock. – Small chip on the nose near the hood but otherwise excellent paint and chrome. Even gaps. Excellent interior. AACA Junior National First Prize. An older restored show car that’s been kept in prime condition. – Sold for $242,000 at RM Arizona in 2008, a price that was generous at the time. The car is, to all intents and purposes, just as good now as it was then, with just 24 more miles on its odometer, and its price is about as generous now as it was then.
RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 231 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Town Car, Body by Bohman & Schwartz; S/N 2582; Engine # J553; Black/Black leather in front, Dark Red cloth in back; Estimate $3,400,000 – $4,500,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $3,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,630,000. No Reserve. Black wheels with chrome hub caps, Denman wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, landau bars, skirts, dash clock, robe rail, glass rear division, opera windows. – The streamlined bodywork for this SJ was penned by J. Herbert Newport of Bohman & Schwartz for actress Mae West but actually purchased by Ethel Mars, the widow of the fellow who invented the Milky Way and Snickers bars. After her death in 1945, it passed through several owners (including being sold for $2,500 and used as a ‘rainy day car’ by a Chicago banker) before going to the Harrah Collection in 1966. It was then completely restored by its next owner in the 1980s and was in the Blackhawk Collection by 1995. After going to two more owners, it was in the Andrews collection and repainted in the current black. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored in the 1980s and repainted during its time in the Andrews collection. A stupendous one-off automobile in concours condition. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2007 for $4,400,000 and no less spectacular today than it was then, this is one of the benchmarks of the classic period, a combination of Duesenberg’s supercharged J chassis and drivetrain and Bohman & Schwartz’s semi-streamlined coachwork. It took a lot of Mars Bars to pay for it, then and now. ‘Flamboyant’ hardly begins to describe this Duesenberg.Lot # 232 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 10867S101971; Engine # 101971; Jewel Blue, White coves, Jewel Blue hardtop/Blue leather; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. No Reserve. 283/230hp, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, matching hard top (only), WonderBar radio, dash clock. – Represented as matching numbers. Clean but lightly used engine bay. Some cracks in the windshield molding. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Driver’s side door fit is slightly off. A strong, slightly older restoration inside and out in a one year only color. – A totally unremarkably Corvette aside from its Jewel Blue paint, this is an heroic price.Lot # 233 1934 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Stationary Coupe, Body by Dietrich; S/N 901968; Engine # 901979; Light Green/Light Green cloth; Estimate $2,400,000 – $3,000,000; Older restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,180,000. No Reserve. Pilot Ray driving lights, Solar headlamps, dual chrome horns, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, chrome wire wheels, Denman whitewalls, suicide doors, rear luggage rack, jump seat, dual Orion brake lights, wood dash trim and window trim, dome interior courtesy light, rear window curtain, running board lights, wood steering wheel, wood shift knob, Waltham dash clock. Vehicle No 1108-32, documented with the original service booklet. – Restored over many years by Charles Earle Theall, acquired from his estate by Ralph Marano for whom it was restored by Stone Barn, then passed on to Carmine Zeccardi and J. Fran Ricciardelli. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Exquisite interior wood. Debuted at Pebble Beach in 2005, where it won Best in Class, CCCA Award of Excellence and Most Elegant Closed Car. Still exquisite in its presentation and would be a show winner pretty much anywhere. – One of 5 known survivors, its style, elegance, provenance and presentation brought it a seriously premium, but fully deserved, price that embarrassed RM’s pre-sale estimate. Class shows.Lot # 235 1955 Lincoln Indianapolis Exclusive Study Coupe, Body by Boano; S/N 58WA10902; Orange/Black, White leather; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,600,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000. No Reserve. 341/225hp, automatic, dual rear-exiting exhaust (side exhaust is non-functional), Goodyear wide whitewalls, dash clock, power windows, Blaupunkt AM/FM pushbutton radio. – A project undertaken entirely by Boano for the 1955 Turin Automobile Show in an attempt to seduce Ford into a contract with them. Very lightly worn interior. Excellent paint. Restored in the late 1990s and a winner at its debut at Pebble Beach in 2001 as well as at Amelia Island and Greenwich and again at Pebble Beach in 2013. – Sold at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach auction in 2006 for a stunning $1,375,000 and offered by RM at Sotheby’s in New York with a high bid of $1,550,000, this is a radical (which doesn’t mean attractive) design study but in the fashion of Fifties Italian show cars it runs and drives, a car that will stop traffic in its tracks. The small declension in its transaction price from 2006 is relatively insignificant even though it shows a lack of attention to breathtaking cars that don’t say ‘Ferrari’ on them.Lot # 237 1962 Shelby Cobra 289 Competition Roadster; S/N CSX2011; White, Light Metallic Blue/Black vinyl; Estimate $2,200,000 – $2,600,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,980,000. No Reserve. 289/340hp, 4-speed, side exhaust, centerlock wheels, radial tires, single Raydyot wing mirror, Lucas driving lights, braced paperclip roll bar, woodrim steering wheel, Stewart Warner gauges, newer AutoMeter speedometer, fire bottle. – The first competition Cobra sold to a private owner, with a long Texas and US SCCA history including Nassau and Daytona. Carefully preserved in as-raced condition at Daytona ’64 with regular use on tours and vintage rallies. Several rock chips around the grille. Several small dents in the mirror. Lots of rock chips on the rear fenders. Grubby interior with heavily worn original upholstery. – Attractively preserved and maintained in pretty much the same condition as it appeared at Daytona in ’64. Properly prepared for vintage road events, but not for current vintage racing safety standards. The racing history isn’t particularly glamorous, and no one famous contributed to the wear on those old seats making the price it brought reasonable.Lot # 238 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N P857H33383; Engine # P857H33383; Raven Black/Black, White leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000. No Reserve. 347/315hp, fuel injection, automatic, wheel covers, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dual mirrors, power steering, power brakes, power windows, bench seat, dash clock, Wonder Bar radio. – Excellent top. Very good paint and chrome. Very good interior with almost no signs of use in the seat upholstery. Body-off restored over ten years ago, but looks significantly newer. Rare equipment and a gorgeous car. – One of only 630 produced and represented as the only fuel-injected example in Raven Black. Offered at Barrett-Jackson in 2001, fresh from restoration showing 47 post-restoration miles, with a high bid of $91,000, then sold by RM at Amelia in 2005 for $128,700 and Arizona in 2008 for $242,000. Today the odometer is not much advanced at 707 miles but the use and age are beginning to tell and the bidders appropriately compromised rarity and condition with this price.Lot # 239 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS Targa; S/N ZFFXA20A6K0079517; Rosso Corsa, Black vinyl roof/Nero leather; Estimate $75,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve. Alloy wheels, Michelin tires, roof spoiler, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning, Alpine CD stereo. – Excellent paint. Barely any signs of use in the seats. Fantastic original example with 26,000 miles on it. A standard 328 that’s been babied, pampered and lightly driven from new. – The past year has seen 308s and 328s shoot way up in value as the general Ferrari market has climbed. While this would have been an astronomical price in 2014, it’s not unusual today for a strong, low miles example like this.Lot # 243 1989 Porsche 911 930 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0JB0935KS050251; Black/Beige leather; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500. No Reserve. 5-speed, limited slip differential, black Fuchs wheels, Kumho tires on the front, Fuzion tires on the rear, whale tail spoiler, sunroof, fog lights, climate control, power windows, Alpine CD stereo, VDO dash clock. – A few tiny dings and scratches on the nose. Otherwise very good paint. Clean used engine bay and undercarriage. Visibly but very lightly worn interior. Looks like a car with significantly fewer than the 57,383 miles shown on the odometer, but does show like a used car. A strong, honest late 930 with the desirable 5-speed gearbox and 3.3-liter engine. The mismatched tire brands are troubling, though. – After being forced to live with a 4-speed for over a decade, 930 buyers were treated to an extra gear just before the car was replaced by the 964 Turbo. These final year 930s therefore command quite a premium. Aside from a newer Cayman track car, this was the only Porsche in the Andrews collection. While not immaculate, it’s a very good car and could have brought another 30 grand without being excessive.Lot # 245 1935 Cadillac 452-D V-16 Imperial Convertible Sedan, Body by Fleetwood; S/N; Engine # 5100043; Diana Cream/Dark Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000. No Reserve. Dual exhaust, floor-shift 3-speed, black steel wheels with chrome hub caps, Denman wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, suicide front doors, banjo spoke steering wheel, roll-up glass rear division, robe rail, dash clock in the rear. – Excellent paint, chrome and top. Very good, lightly worn interior. Restored in the 1980s but still presents as a phenomenal, showable example of a grand, significant motorcar. One of only 50 V-16s and 6 Imperial Convertible Sedans built in 1935. – Purchased from the estate of Dr. Barbara Atwood at RM’s Arizona auction in 2009 for $473,000 and subsequently detailed and mechanically serviced to a near show quality presentation by the Andrews who were fully compensated with this price.
RM Sotheby’s Andrews Collection – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 246 1966 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242176P217751; Barrier Blue/Dark Blue vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve. 389/360hp, Tri-Power, 4-speed, fog lights, Rally wheels, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, dual mirrors, bucket seats, woodrim steering wheel, woodgrain dash, factory radio, Vintage Air A/C added, window sticker documented but no PHS paper. – First year of the GTO as its own model. Originally delivered to Ohio and equipped with Tri-Power and the Ride and Handling package that included beefier shocks, stabilizer bar and Rally wheels. Clean, not overly detailed engine bay. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Needs nothing. A showable car with desirable equipment and pretty, tasteful colors, but let down by the underhood preparation. – Though the room at the Andrews sale wasn’t filled with the typical muscle car crowd, this car brought a correct price given its condition and its top of the line Tri-Power engine.Lot # 247 1960 Fiat 500 Jolly, Body by Ghia; S/N 110032743; Engine # 110000037618; Light Metallic Green/White leather piped in Light Green covers over wicker seats; Estimate $90,000 – $125,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve. Body color steel wheels with chrome hub caps, Michelin MX tires, dual mirrors, Alpine CD stereo. – The engine cover is not quite the same shade as the rest of the car. Big touch up on the right side of the tail. Lightly scratched windshield glass. Restored 10 years ago and presentable but not perfect. – The sheer novelty of the Jolly continues to attract big money at auction, even for less than stellar examples like this one. The estimate range is ludicrous, and even the price it brought is expensive.Lot # 249 1959 Lister-Chevrolet Knobbly Sports Racer; S/N BHL127; Engine # 3789935; Light Green/Black; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $375,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $412,500. No Reserve. 283/436hp Chevy, 4-speed, deDion rear axle, dual side exhaust, centerlock wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, fire extinguisher, spares include an engine, gearbox and hood panel – Only 16 Listers were Chevy-powered, and this one originally received the smoother bodywork designed by Frank Costin. It was raced in the US in period but has no serious history before it went to England and later Switzerland, during which time it received Knobbly bodywork. Vintage racing maintained sympathetically to continued preservation. Numerous dings, cracks and rock chips in the paint from general competition. Lumpy bodywork on the rear. Wheel lobes have hammer marks on them. Worn seats. Clearly raced and wants to be raced some more. Clean undercarriage. – It’s not the most significant example, but it’s ready to race although its Knobbly-ish body is only a reasonable facsimile of the work turned out by BHL. Sold by RM in Arizona in 2013 for $528,000, a price which is more appropriate to its performance than what it brought here. In other words, the new owner got an exhilarating vintage race car and an authentic Lister for a modest price. It would be probably be worth more with a reproduction of its original Costin body, but why would anyone trade a Costin for a Knobbly?Lot # 251 1962 Chevrolet Corvette FI Race Car; S/N 20867S103980; Engine # 2103980; White, Blue coves and stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $2,000,000 – $2,750,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000. No Reserve. 327/360hp fuel injection, 4-speed, Big Tank, RPO 687 brakes and quick steering, side exhaust, mesh headlight covers, driving lights, hood louvers, hardtop, roof light, Goodyear Blue Streak tires, Stewart Warner tach, Motorola intercom. – SCCA A-Production champion in 1962. Daytona and Sebring history with class wins at both, then won 12 of 14 SCCA races in 1962 driven by Dr. Dick Thompson, prepared at Don Yenko Chevrolet. First ever NCRS Heritage Award. Detailed engine bay. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Restored with many original parts, including the engine, obtained from the second owner and not raced much, at least not visibly given the condition. A very good, highly competitive car. – Sold by Gooding & Company at Pebble Beach in 2008 for $1,485,000 in essentially the same immaculate, accurately restored condition in which it is today, now showing 16 more miles on the odometer than it did then. The price it brought here is, if anything, a very good value and may be a bargain for one of the most important and successful Corvette race cars.Lot # 253 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N C53B088834; Target Red/Red, White vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250. No Reserve. Single exhaust, Powerglide, wheel covers, Coker Classic whitewalls, fog lights, remote spotlight-mirror, fender skirts, white vinyl top boot cover, bench seats, dash clock, pushbutton radio. – Trunk fit is off. Excellent paint and chrome. Top boot cover and the white part of the upholstery is slightly discolored. 52 miles since restoration, but has older upholstery. – A very good but not pristine older restoration that brought a seriously premium price for what it is. It is impossible to tell what this car’s fascination was, but it hit a resounding chord with the bidders today.Lot # 254 1987 Land Rover Range Rover Utility; S/N SALHV1142HA296603; Tuscan Blue/Pembroke Gray leather; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000. No Reserve. Kenda Klever A/T tires, amber fog lights, tow hitch, power seats, power windows, dash clock, walnut veneer dash, window and console trim, newer aftermarket stereo. – Long scratch on the driver’s side door but otherwise a good repaint. Clean engine bay and undercarriage. Slightly dried out upholstery with some wear and a small rip in the driver’s seat, but overall very good interior. Showing 79,676 miles but it looks better than that and must be among the better 1980s Range Rovers out there. – Back in 1987, long before Range Rovers were seen ferrying around trophy wives and rappers all over the United States, Land Rover sold less than 1,800 of them here. It is an open question why a good Range Rover like this should sell for only 1/3 the price of an only slightly better FJ40. It is expensive to follow fads.Lot # 255 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Cameo Pickup; S/N VH2550022560; Bombay Ivory, Red pickup bed/White vinyl with Red cloth inserts; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve. 235/180hp, automatic, dual exhaust, later Holley carb, column-shift automatic, wheel covers, dual mirrors, windshield visor, bench seat, heater, factory AM radio, alternator. – Gorgeous highly detailed engine bay. Excellent paint and like new wood. Very good, lightly worn interior. This is about as good as a truck restoration gets. A stellar example of an important truck. In the Andrews collection since 2010. – Sold by RM at Ft. Lauderdale in 2011 for $63,800. Both prices are reasonable in their respective time frames.Lot # 256 1955 MG TF 1500 Roadster; S/N HDP4677691; British Racing Green/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve. Dual SU carbs, painted centerlock wire wheels, single wing mirror, rear-mounted spare wheel, rear luggage rack, tan cloth tonneau cover, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob. – Very good paint and chrome. Tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Very good interior. Not overrestored jewelry but doesn’t need anything. – The price that this one brought would have been a serious bargain even if it was a regular 1250 and for a 1500 was practically a steal. This was a high profile auction, but with all lots at no reserve and not many MG people in the room it didn’t bring the money it probably might have achieved even at a less heavily promoted auction.Lot # 257 1941 Packard Custom Super Eight One Eighty Sport Brougham, Body by LeBaron; S/N 14522063; Black/Tan cloth; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500. No Reserve. Column-shift 3-speed, black steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, Denman wide whitewalls, Cormorant mascot, dual enclosed sidemounts with a mirror on the driver’s side, CM Hall driving lights, factory radio, dash clock, robe rail, dome interior courtesy light. – The consummate barn find. Pitted, chipped, crazed original paint with surface rust on the exposed spots. Dull, pitted chrome. Big patch of paint off of the right front fender and right rear fender. Rusty wheels. Uneven gaps. Worn out, dirty dash board and steering wheel but surprisingly good, complete seat upholstery. Roof lining is coming off. Grubby, slightly rusty engine bay and undercarriage but not beyond hope. A run down automobile, but everything is there. A restoration candidate. – For a CCCA Full Classic ™ in complete, restorable condition this price represents a good place to start spending money. Considering how much needs to be done the money spending process will continue for some time.
“It is an open question why a good Range Rover like this should sell for only 1/3 the price of an only slightly better FJ40. It is expensive to follow fads.” Could the reason be that FJ40s didn’t break down suddenly or blow their engines?
Another wonderful report, in any case.
Pietro,
Looking at prices for FIAT Jollys, DeLoreans, Jaguars and Sixties Chevys it is hard to discern any unreliability handicap reflected in the values collectors assign to cars. “Bulletproof” is not a term applied to early Ferraris, either.
Rick,
Why no comment about the 1960 Watson? Any thoughts?
Matt E.