1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico
RM Sotheby’s, Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, Arizona, January 19-20, 2017
After a pair of strong $60+ million sale years at the Biltmore RM Sotheby’s took a step back, although still to a very credible $53.7 million sale total, the third highest in its Arizona auctions history. It was a pattern shared among all the major Arizona auctions except for Bonhams (more than double last year’s total) and Russo and Steele (up 14% from 2016.)
A look at the makeup of the consignment suggests the environment that RM and other auctions are facing.
• Twenty-seven of the 160 lots offered were from a single Seattle-area collector; seventeen of them were sold for hammer bids of under $100,000.
• Twenty came from the Morschadt Family Collection with nineteen sold; only one required a successful hammer bid over $100,000.
More significantly, of the 160 lots offered, 61 (38.1%) had prior auction histories, a clear sign that it is getting harder and harder to find fresh auction inventory in an increasingly crowded and competitive auction calendar. If anything, the concern is greater at the pinnacle of the value pyramid where two of RM Sotheby’s top four sales had prior auction history.
Within that context RM Sotheby’s had a highly successful auction with an excellent 88.8% sale rate and a healthy $378,248 average transaction led by some mouth-watering cars that represented a healthy diversity of vehicles.
Barely two weeks later RM Sotheby’s was at Place Vauban in Paris during Rétromobile week. That is followed not even a month later by Amelia Island. In other words, the diffusion of auction inventory is getting harder and harder to manage and it stands to reason that it will be seen not only in individual auction totals but also in pressure on reserves.
Here are the RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction numbers:
[table id=172 /]
Andrew Newton ably assisted with the on-site data collection and observations; as always it is the Editor who is responsible for the final content.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report
Lot # 107 1970 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Utility; S/N FJ4086368; Red, White roof/Grey vinyl; Estimate $65,000 – $85,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750 – White wheels, Warn front hubs, heater, center facing rear seats, rear mounted spare, 15 inch Goodyear Wrangler tires. – Standard suspension. Good recent paint although there is too much orange peel in places that were difficult to wet sand. Good new interior. Chassis is restored like new. An unusually purely restored Land Cruiser. – Bid to $45,000 at Mecum Monterey last August, the seller got real in Arizona and put it on the money, coming up only one bid short of the unsuccessful high bid five months ago, a fair result for both the buyer and the seller. Jacked up Land Cruisers may bring superior prices some places, but this is the real deal for real money.Lot # 112 1988 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFXA20A2J0076919; Engine # 12290; Red, Black roof panel/Beige leather; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – CD stereo, air conditioning, power windows. – Upholstery is lightly worn and a little soiled, underbody shows some use. Engine compartment has been quickly cleaned up to get rid of storage dust, missing a lot of dust in the corners. 9,153 original miles and looks like it. – This result is way at the low end of recent results for 328 GTSis in unrestored, low miles condition and is a good value for the new owner.Lot # 113 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe ‘Flying Mirror’, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSA17A7G0061481; Engine # 00205; Red/Black leather; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $137,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $151,250 – – Good original paint with some paintwork on the nose and lightly worn interior. Neat, little used engine compartment. The (exactly) 8,000 miles showing on the odometer are represented as original; freshly belt serviced and Ferrari Classiche certified. – This TR is arguably even somewhat better than the price it brought, imbuing the new owner with the confidence of low miles, pampered condition and a fresh belt service. With 2,000 miles to go before it turns the odometer over into five figures it promises significant enjoyment at a realistic price.Lot # 114 1932 Ford V-8 Drophead Coupe, Body by Carlton Carriage; S/N C18R1642; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $250,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000 – RHD. Crimson wire wheels, blackwall tires, Butler fender top parking lights, Ford Twolite headlights, rear-mounted cloth covered spare, integrated trunk, cowl mounted trafficators. – Very good paint, chrome, top, upholstery and interior wood. Restored to high standards and well maintained but showing some storage dust in difficult corners. Second in the prewar Ford V-8 class at Pebble Beach in 2003 and a class award winner again in 2011. Accepted as a CCCA Full Classic ™. – This is a coachbuilt Ford Deuce, restored to high levels and then maintained there for years. It is, by any standard, an exceptionally rare car but the Biltmore bidders gave it no more that credit for being an ordinary, concours restored, Deuce. Their mistake. It is worth a bunch more.Lot # 120 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 13183; Rosso Chiaro/Black leather; Estimate $700,000 – $850,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $600,000 – Ansa exhaust, Cromodora centerlock wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning, Becker Mexico stereo, Plexiglas nose. – Spotless engine bay and underbody. Lightly worn seats. An older restoration that’s been recently refreshed and has no needs of any consequence. – There was a dearth of interest in Daytonas in Arizona this year with both cars failing to find new owners despite being in good condition and well presented.Lot # 126 1998 Ferrari F355 F1 Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFXR48A2W0112320; Ice Blue/Cream leather, Dark Blue piping; Blue cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – Chrome 18 inch modular wheels, Continental tires, cassette stereo. – Sound original paint, no stone chips. Upholstery is barely used. Odometer shows 6,282 miles from new. – Creeping inexorably into ‘affordable’ range even if faced by the inevitable recurring expense of timing belt services (of which there is no mention in regard to this example and which should, then, be factored into the price it brought.) Low miles, virtually unused condition and a tinge of celebrity ownership (bought by country singer Reba McEntire for her then-husband) contributed to a healthy result.Lot # 129 1975 Maserati Bora 4.9 Coupe; S/N AM11749US916; Engine # AM1071149916; Blue Ischia Metalizzato/Light Blue leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500 – Michelin XWX tires, tool roll, books, jack. – Very good, paint and interior. Bright trim and bumper chrome and probably the nicest polished stainless steel roof I’ve ever seen on a Bora. Underbody is a little dirty, but even with that this is a very good Bora in unusual and attractive colors showing 38,770 believable miles. – An honest car in particularly attractive colors and not expensive at all when compared with its counterparts from Maranello. An astute acquisition at a reasonable price.Lot # 135 1955 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Roadster; S/N BN1L224877; Engine # 1B224877; Ice Blue/Dark Blue vinyl; Blue leatherette top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – 3-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Dunlop Road Speed tires, badge bar. – Restored like new and still very close with very good and consistent cosmetics. – Sold at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction last April for $88,000 with 11 miles added to its odometer since then (probably on and off the transporter and onto the preview lot at Hilton Head in November where it no-saled at $77,000) this is a charming BN1 that needs nothing more than a good new home. At this price the buyer can be proud of the Healey and of the price paid.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 136 1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RS America Coupe; S/N WP0AB2963PS418276; Red/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000 – Alpine CD stereo, power windows, sliding sunroof, whale tail. – Shiny blemish-free original paint, very good only lightly used original interior. Underbody is road dirty but not abused. The odometer shows 15,371 miles and nothing about the car’s condition conflicts with that being all it has covered. – This is a driver’s Porsche 911, devoid of creature comforts and designed for driving enjoyment although with only 247 horsepower (less, it might be observed, than a 1963 XKE) the thrill is in the driving experience, not the performance. This is an appropriate price.Lot # 139 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 4946; Engine # 30680; Red, Gold sills/Blue leather; Estimate $2,300,000 – $2,600,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,700,000 – Split sump, gold alloy wheels, Radial T/A tires, air conditioning, power windows. – Steering column cover held together with string. Modern Sanden air conditioning compressor. Thick repaint, good interior, clear glass, good window and door seals, bright chrome. The engine compartment is done like new and highly detailed. Best Lamborghini at Concorso Italiano in 2016. A preserved SV that has never had, nor needed, a full restoration. – The reported high bid is modest but not unreasonable for a Miura, even a split sump SV with A/C, but a more realistic result for one in this fine and consistently maintained condition would have been $2 million.Lot # 140 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFJA09B000048165; Engine # 00717; Red/Beige leather; Estimate $250,000 – $325,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $190,909 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $210,000 – Pioneer cassette stereo, power windows, air conditioning, TRX tires. – Decent repaint, lightly worn original upholstery, good dashtop. Aged original chassis, underbody and engine compartment. Nearly bald tires. A decent mostly original BBi in need of new rubber. – Sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2002 for $71,500 and here at a price that is consistent with the two other Berlinetta Boxers sold in Arizona this week.Lot # 142 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr – 3-Window Coupe; S/N H71701; Black/Beige cloth; Estimate $175,000 – $200,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – Radio, no heater, skirts, remote spotlight, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls. – Quick older repaint, good interior and chrome. Poor door fit. Chassis looks good but done long ago. A recent cosmetic re-do, probably of an old restoration and a nice driver. – One of the prettiest cars to come out of the Thirties, it was sold at Auburn Spring in 2003 for $31,800, then at Bonhams Amelia Island auction last March for $165,000. Well maintained and attractive, it brought a seriously generous price.Lot # 144 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS Coupe; S/N WP0AE2A9XBS778120; White, Matte Black hood/Black leather, Red cloth inserts; Estimate $450,000 – $500,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $425,000 – Yellow calipers, black alloy centerlock wheels, dark tinted windows, carbon fiber seats, navigation – One owner and 4,650 or so miles from new and barely broken in with no evidence of wear or use. – The reported high bid is a happy return on the $250,000 or so this car sold for in 2011, and a new even more powerful GT2 RS is rumored to be coming so this would be a good time to take the money and use it for a deposit at a Porsche store with an allocationLot # 155 1999 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster S/N ZA9DU01B3XLA12246; Red/Beige leather piped in Red; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $220,000 – OZ Racing wheels, P Zero tires, power windows, air conditioning, Alpine CD stereo. – VT model, which was the first with all-wheel drive. Small scratch on the left rear fender. Clear bra on the front. Very light wear on the driver’s seat. Passenger’s seat and the rest of the interior looks new. Not quite like a new car, but close. Represented with 7,300 miles. – Bid to $230,000 at Mecum Monterey last year and not sold again here at a nearly identical high bid. Diablos have seen a surge in interest, brought up by rising Countach prices, but the consignor’s expectations seem to be a bit ahead of the curve. In today’s market, the car could have gone to a new home at either reported high bid.Lot # 158 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500626; Engine # 1989805500627; Gray/Red leather; Estimate $1,350,000 – $1,500,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,275,000 – Rudge wheels, Pirelli P4000 tires, VDO dash clock, fitted luggage. – Originally light metallic blue. Bought new by a gym teacher. Repainted in 1995. Used on the Colorado Grand. Rebuilt original engine. Paint is sound and shiny, but it’s older. There are some microblisters on top of the doors. Stampings in the wheels are a little tired. Original and worn but sound underneath. Original interior has the absolute perfect amount of patina. There are fine cracks in the steering wheel and definitely wear to the seats, but if you’re into patina, it’s a great look and it’s all there. Great colors. – This is a study in what a maintained, looked after and never neglected Gullwing should be, but some collectors today are paying serious amounts of money for Gullwings that aren’t this good, don’t run and have been sitting for years under a layer of dust, dirt and bird droppings. The low estimate on this Gullwing is entirely appropriate and the seller was justified in preferring the car to the money.Lot # 180 1961 Borgward Isabella 2-Dr. Sedan Rally Car; S/N 1169189; Engine # 1353900; Silver Grey/Green cloth; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500 – Blaupunkt multiband radio, VDO engine gauges, black steel wheels with hubcaps and Bridgestone Turanza tires, sliding sunroof. – Good engine compartment, lightly road grimy underbody and chassis. Dull paint with fisheyes and orange peel; it’s obvious the restorer was a much better mechanic than painter. – Not many cars in Arizona this year exceeded their high estimates but this Borgward did, an example of the its contrarian appeal. More rare than a Gullwing these days, if being different is the objective.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 211 1964 Fiat 2300S Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 114BS129460; Engine # 114B006068454; Blu Notte/Red leather; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,818 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $50,400 – Dual Webers, woodrim steering wheel, Michelin XZX tires. – Very good paint with very minor flaws. Panels generally good but the hood is wavy with a big bubble showing under the paint. Trunk lid fit is uneven and sits too far back. Hood sits slightly high at corners. All other gaps are excellent. Shiny, fresh-looking brightwork. Period correct tires look new. Excellent glass with only minor wear. Stunning interior with correct materials. Gas and water temp gauges are cloudy but others excellent. Clean underneath and in engine bay. Two-year restoration finished last year, and it still looks very fresh. – Sold at Bonhams Scottsdale in 2014, right before restoration, for $15,000. The seller may not have made back the costs of the work, but that 2014 result was a bargain buy for an unusual, fast coachbuilt Fiat and this is a pretty solid return in a transaction that closed post-block.Lot # 212 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo 930 Cabriolet; S/N WP0EB0936KS070302; Engine # 68K00558; Black/Black; Black top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $217,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $239,250 – Flachbau, black Fuchs, snorkely brake light, power windows, air conditioning, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, VDO dash clock. – Showing 9,310 claimed original miles. Excellent paint and plastic. Barely worn interior. Almost no sign of use underneath. As an ’89 model 930 Cabriolet Flachbau, it pretty much ticks all the right boxes for value when it comes to 930s. The CARFAX shows it as having been in an accident, but there are no signs of one. – The bidders ignored the CARFAX, focusing instead on the desirable configuration and low miles. This was a spot on result for a car in this condition and with the appropriate premium added for factory slant nose.Lot # 213 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air FI Convertible; S/N VC57L139902; Engine # F0215EJ; Black/Red, Silver vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $110,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – 283/250hp fuel injection, 3-speed, pushbutton radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Even gaps and flush fits except the hood. Underbody is like new. The FI air intake is bogus, with its duct ending snugged up against the radiator support. A high quality older restoration with little subsequent use and only a little storage dust in the far reaches of the chassis. – RM sold this Fuelie at Amelia Island in 2012 with 122 miles showing on its odometer for $99,000. It sold here for exactly the same price and now shows 573 miles but no deterioration in condition. It is a sound value at this price.Lot # 214 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N WDB2010361F734005; Metallic Dark Grey/Black leather; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – High back racing seats, 4-point belts, Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, OZ DTM-spec centerlock alloy wheels, Yokohama tires, full roll cage. – Unblemished save a small stone chip or two. In Japan for decades, unused, 5,277 km from new with upgraded Motec ECU, ex-DTM exhaust, intake, individual throttle bodies, larger injectors and fuel cell. – Evo II 190Es are serious automobiles with 235hp from their Cosworth 4-valve twin cam head engines. The updates add significant performance and value and this is a car that any fan of high performance sedans will know on sight is something to be reckoned with. The bidders responded to its menacing look, exceptional originality and undoubted performance with a generous price consistent with its specifications and presentation.Lot # 215 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe; S/N WP0AC2996VS375783; Engine # 61V01903; Mustard Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $425,000 – $500,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $380,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $418,000 – Yellow calipers, CD stereo, sunroof, sport seats, windshield wiper rain sensor. – Excellent original paint. Seats are lightly creased. 12,552 miles and still nearly like new. – The window sticker on this 993 Turbo S was $152,027 which makes the price it brought here a pretty good return on investment, particularly when there were this many miles put on it in the past 20 years.Lot # 216 1988 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSG17A7J0076424; Oro Chiaro Metallizzato/Black leather; Estimate $170,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500 – Motorized seat belts, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning. – Strong paint over straight panels. Factory gaps. Black trim generally good with minor fade. Excellent alloys with correct Goodyear Eagle VR50 tires. Excellent factory glass. Engine bay is clean with factory finishes. Driver level chassis. Good interior with age appropriate wear but slightly dirty carpets. Console cubby is slightly warped. Engine-out service last year. A mostly solid car showing 4,311 claimed original miles and cleaned up for the sale. It’s unusual and looks like it was lifted from the Toyota Camry paint catalogue, but this shade of Oro Chiaro really does look better in person. 2016 Cavallino Platinum award, Ferrari Classiche certified. – Highly original, well and freshly maintained and distinctively liveried to stand out among a field of TRs, the result here is reasonable but may stand as an astute acquisition for the new owner.Lot # 217 1934 Packard Super Eight Coupe Roadster; S/N 752604; Engine # 753291; Dark Green/Green leather; Beige cloth bound in green leather top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $242,000 – Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, vee lens Solar headlights, Pilot-Rays, rumble seat, luggage rack. – Very good paint, interior, chrome and top. Chassis and underbody were restored like new and now show a little road dirt from some careful use. A great looking car. – 1934 is most Packard collectors’ favorite year with a combination of refined classic era design, fully developed and powerful engine and great road manners, so it is not a surprise that the Biltmore bidders jumped on this one. It is especially appealing due to the quality of its restoration, done almost two decades ago and still in terrific condition.Lot # 218 1996 Porsche 911 GT2 Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZTS392120; Engine # 61T02497; Speed Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,500,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $850,000 – Red calipers, 18 inch Speedline modular wheels, yellow seatbelts, power steering, power windows, air conditioning, fog lights. – Dirty underbody. Upholstery shows scant wear. Paint is unblemished. Represented as 33,534 km from new. – Comment would be superfluous.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 219 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFMN34A9L0086678; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,500,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,100,000 – Assembly # 03592. Luggage. – Good paint and upholstery without the usual abrasion wear on the driver’s seat. Engine is orderly with oxidized bare metal and storage dust. The underbody is surprisingly clean. Shiny paint with no stone chips. 7,618 miles and three owners, California spec, 2016 FCA Platinum. – This result is modest for such a carefully maintained low mileage F40 but the challenge for the consignor is to find another venue willing to pay more than was apparently on offer here.Lot # 220 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS Convertible, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10689; Engine # 10689; Silver/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,200,000 – $2,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,475,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows, air conditioning. – Very good paint, chrome and interior done in 2013. Orderly and attractively presented engine compartment. Underbody and chassis have been restored but have some miles on them. Ferrari Classiche certified. – A sound, well maintained, attractive, thoughtfully presented car that brought a sound price from the RM Sotheby’s bidders.Lot # 222 1958 Facel Vega FVS Dual Carb Coupe; S/N FV457H41; Tan/Red leather; Estimate $200,000 – $275,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $247,500 – Dual quads, automatic, fitted luggage in back, dual antenna, chrome wire wheels, modern Michelin tires, period Motorola radio, Jaeger dash clock, power windows. – Originally sold in Dallas. Formerly part of the Wayne Davis collection. Restored in 2012. Good paint. Panels are straight with very good gaps, but the driver’s door is hard to close with chips at the front edge. Scratch on the left front fender. Bumpers and some trim are hazy but other pieces look fresher. Rust showing where exhaust exits bumpers. Interior is generally very good with excellent dash and gauges. Some weather stripping is coming loose. Scratches and delamination on the windshield but the rest of the glass good. Clean chassis and engine. Restored relatively recently, but not to particularly high standards. – Sold at RM Monterey in 2013 for $302,500, then sold at RM Sotheby’s Monterey in 2015 in essentially the same condition for $187,000. In 2013, it was expensive. In 2015, it was a bit of a bargain. In 2017, the result is just about right where it should be and something both parties can be happy with, particularly the seller when you consider the price paid two just years ago.Lot # 224 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Coupe; S/N DB62754L; Engine # 4002844V; Black/Claret leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $285,000 – ZF 5-speed, Becker Grand Prix multiband radio, chrome wire wheels, Pirelli P4000 tires, heated rear window, air conditioning. – Fair repaint and chrome, good interior and gauges. Superficially restored underbody with much left undone and original. A casual cosmetic redo to indifferent standards. Originally an automatic, the ZF 5-speed was added at the factory early on. – The Aston presented in Phoenix was inconsistent with the description in RM Sotheby’s catalog and while the bid here was appropriate for the car the bidders were looking at, the pre-sale estimate was appropriate to the car in the catalog. It was not surprising that the twain did not meet.Lot # 225 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback; S/N 67400F4A01016; White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000 – 4-speed, dual quads, power steering, power brakes, cassette stereo, Rally-Pack gauges under the dash, grille-mounted high beams, 10-spoke wheels, Goodyear Speedway tires, no console, functional rear brake ducts. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and glass. Engine compartment is clean, orderly and like new. Restored like new about ten years ago and has little evidence of any subsequent use, just a little storage dust. Represented to be the original engine and 4-speed. – Huh? Over a quarter-million real, honest U.S. American dollars for a GT500? The bidders must have seen something in this GT500 that was not apparent to those looking on. This is twice what any rational person would pay for it.Lot # 226 1987 Porsche 959 ‘Komfort’ Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ95ZHS900104; Guards Red/Black leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000 – Cassette stereo, heated sport seats. – Like new, with 12,997 km on the odometer. Comes with a stack of specialist shop service invoices totaling $175,000. – The clamor for late model high performance Porsches so evident both here and at the other Arizona auctions this year has had an impact on 959 values, which doesn’t give this technological marvel the credit it deserves. In the 1980s the all wheel drive, variable ride height, twin turbo 959 put every other automobile on the road to shame for technical features. The weakness in 959 prices, however, is an advantage for informed collectors who appreciate their performance and technical importance. Consistently seven-figure cars just a few years ago they have, as this example indicates, settled back to a high-six, low-seven band.Lot # 227 1995 Ferrari F50 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFTG46A6S0104092; Engine # 062349; Black/Black leather, Red cloth inserts; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,135,000 – All original accessories, most unused. – Original with scant evidence of use, represented with under 2,100 miles. One of only two U.S. cars delivered in black; the other one was crashed. Serviced a month ago including new fuel tank bladder. – This is a demonstrably superior price for a demonstrably superior F50, complete in all important respects and essentially unused. Its black over black and red livery is dramatic and contributed in no small measure to its appeal to the RM Sotheby’s Arizona bidders, but even that isn’t enough to make it anything less than an expensive indulgence.Lot # 228 2013 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport 300 Coupe; S/N VF9SG2C27DM795300; White/Black leather; Estimate $2,100,000 – $2,300,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,090,000 – 7993cc 4 turbocharger 1,200hp W-12, 7-speed sequential gearbox. The last Veyron built. – Driver’s seat upholstery is slightly stretched. Duct tape in the front wheel wells for stone chip protection. One of 48 Super Sports built, eight delivered to the U.S. Displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015 – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2015 for $2,310,000 and judging from its condition it has hardly been used except perhaps during servicing, with the most recent being in May 2016. It was expensive two years ago, and it’s still expensive today, although not quite as expensive.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 229 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster; S/N 83456; Engine # P65983; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $340,000 – $380,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000 – Chrome wheels, Michelin XZX tires, bumper overriders, Speedster seats. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. The engine compartment is crisp and like new. Body panels are flat, fits are excellent and evidence of filler is, particularly for a Speedster, minimal. – This is a beautiful Speedster, done to the highest standards and impeccably presented. It brought an entirely appropriate price, even if it is less than has been paid for barn find restoration project Speedsters.Lot # 230 1930 Cadillac 452 V-16 Roadster, Body by Fleetwood; S/N Engine; Engine # 702604; Putty, Blue-Grey fenders and accent/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,250,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000 – Blue hub and rim wheels with chrome spokes, dual remote spotlights, Pilot-Rays, radiator stoneguard, dual side wide whitewalls, rumble seat, wing wings, blue painted frame and chassis. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Chassis and engine show age and miles but are still presentable. The exhaust manifold porcelain is cracked and peeling. A spectacular driver and tour car. restored to Pebble Beach class winning condition in 1999. Also displayed at Pebble Beach in 2008. – The Cadillac V-16 is one of very few automobiles that always exude class, but especially when clad in a gorgeous Fleetwood Roadster body like this. The quality of the restoration, now almost two decades old, is evident and it was enthusiastically adopted by the Biltmore bidders with a serious but not unrealistic price.Lot # 231 1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica SWB Coupe Aerodinamico, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 2841SA; Engine # 2841SA; Metallic Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $3,250,000 – $3,850,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,080,000 – Blaupunkt multiband radio fitted luggage, Marchal head and fog lights. – Excellent cosmetics, sharp gauges, lovely upholstery. Chassis and engine compartment are like new. Pebble Beach in 2006 and multiple Platinum awards, Ferrari Classiche certified. As good as it gets in both presentation and its sleek aerodynamic design. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2013 for $2,750,000 with 314 fewer miles on the odometer, the result here is ample evidence of a sound, static market that continues to make sense if not dramatic jumps in value, not a bad thing at all.Lot # 232 1924 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A Landaulet, Body by Sala; S/N 655; Engine # 664; Dark Blue, Black fenders/Brown leatherette, leather in rear; Black leather top; Estimate $675,000 – $775,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $395,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $434,500 – RHD. Dual enclosed sidemounts, wheel discs, open drive with wind wings, driver’s sun visor – This is, by all accounts, an original, unrestored car that has never, ever, been registered for the road. It is the earliest known Tipo 8A, bodied by Sala with subsequent coachwork modifications by Carrozzeria Riva. Its history is postulated as having been used by Isotta to train chauffeurs, then put away as the marque declined and the car was too old to be sold. It was discovered in the 1990’s among assets of the company in a corporate acquisition, a forgotten relic and comes with appropriate documentation. Old paint with stress cracked areas, dull brightwork, good interior wood and sound upholstery, trim and folding top. Clean unrestored chassis and engine. New road tires, originals on the sidemounts. – Announced on the block to have, no surprise, an invitation to the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Preservation class where it will be hard to beat. This is a singular opportunity even with its elaborate formal Landualet coachwork to own a nearly pristine and unmolested relic of one of the great marques. It is a great value at this price.Lot # 233 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton, Body by LeBaron; S/N 7803613; Engine # C; Scarlet Red/Black leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $350,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $235,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $258,500 – Chrome wire wheels, dual enclosed sidemounts, wide whitewalls, vee windshield, integrated luggage trunk, rollup rear windshield, CH Imperial engine. – This Chrysler has probably the most colorful history of any Imperial. It was first owned by Lou Fageol, scion of the Fageol ‘Twin Coach’ truck and bus family, a Gold Cup boat racer and Indy 500 entrant of note and builder of dual-engined Porsche race cars among many other endeavors. After a short period with the standard straight eight Fageol installed a Cadillac V-16 with 40 more horsepower. It was later owned by actor Turhan Bey before passing to Laurence ‘Baron’ Dorcy. During a recent restoration the Cadillac V-16 (its second such engine) was replaced by the CH Imperial engine, more’s the pity. Good recent paint on a sound but well used older restoration. – This is an extremely pretty car, like all the Chryslers of this era, and its performance with the big 452 cubic inch Cadillac V-16 can only be imagined. Why it was re-engined with a CH Imperial eight after decades with the Cadillac is hard to conceive but it is a sound value at this price as it is, and would be an epic ride with a V-16 under its hood.Lot # 234 1979 Aston Martin V8 Vantage SII Coupe; S/N V8VOR12072; Black/Red leather; Estimate $350,000 – $400,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000 – 5-speed, BBS wheels, BFG G-Force tires, Alpine CD stereo, power windows, air conditioning, sunroof, upgraded Steel Wings suspension. – Oscar India car. Converted from RHD to LHD in the late 1980s. Recently given a cosmetic restoration and fully serviced. Doors don’t quite fit flush with the body. Sunroof doesn’t quite lay straight, either. Older restored undercoated chassis. Some very light wear to the original switchgear and shift knob, but the rest of the interior is restored and gorgeous. A very well kept and lightly used older restoration that’s mostly beautiful. – This is a handsome 5-speed Aston with exemplary performance bought for a realistic price.Lot # 235 1970 Jaguar XKE SII Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 1R27890; Claret/Black leather; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100 – 4-speed, wire wheels, Vredestein Sprint Classic tires, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, console, Kenwood cassette stereo, air conditioning. – Showing 56,952 believable miles. Rough, dull old repaint with small blisters all over the body. Inch long scrape on the left front fender. Dull, lightly scratched original chrome. Wheels are a little dirty. All original underneath and showing its 40-plus years. Mostly sound original interior other than light pitting on the steering wheel, dull dash and switchgear, and a loose passenger’s side door panel. A worn driver, all original other than a quick and cheap old respray. Not a pretty car, and its flaws really stick out among the manicured restorations at the Biltmore. – This is a roughly appropriate result, slightly favorable to the seller, that reflects a thoughtful balance among condition, appearance and originality. It’s no Preservation Class contender but is a realistic candidate for a competent but modest restoration.Lot # 236 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N E54S001388; Sportsman Red/Red; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500 – Spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – Used but tidy older restored engine bay. Grille trim doesn’t quite fit straight. Paint crack above the left side of the grille. Very good interior. The rest of the older paint is quite good as well. Original other than an old repaint. – Sold for $82,080 out of the Mecum Rogers’ Classic Car Museum collection in 2015. This result is slightly more appropriate to the car’s imperfections, but it’s still a number that the seller can be content with, having paid too much two years ago.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 238 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412014788; Fire Red, Red hardtop/Tan leather; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,750 – Automatic, Frigiking air conditioning, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, 1980s-era Alpine stereo. – Paint is cracking on the hood with lots of chips on the leading edge. Panels are generally straight with good gaps. Chrome shows age, scratches and light scrapes. Wheel covers are dull and dinged. Glass is good. Pep Boys gas cap and antenna. Messy engine bay with overspray and general dirt and age. Interior is pretty bad. Seats are overstuffed and misshapen. Filthy carpets and chipped dash wood. Console wood is dry and cracking. A driver, and not a particularly pretty one. – This car barely rates a ‘3-‘ condition and does so only on the basis of being largely physically sound. It was sold by Mecum at the Rogers Collection auction two years ago for $43,200 and the seller should be overjoyed to get this much for it in this condition two years later. The buyer may feel remorse in the morning.Lot # 239 1965 Plymouth Belvedere I Super Stock Lightweight 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N R051191722; White/Light Gold vinyl; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, Ram air hood, short crossram dual quads, 4-speed, lightweight buckets, no rear seat, Hurst shifter, trunk-mounted industrial battery. – Restored like new or better throughout and spotlessly presented with a 2002 restoration that looks like it was done yesterday. Not represented as the original engine. – Despite the Grandma appearance no one in his right mind will be fooled by the SS Lightweight Plymouth: it is purely designed to go very fast, very quickly in a straight line. The short crossram is designed for high rpm performance, contrasted with the long crossrams on later letter cars which were tuned for torque. It is a rare car (the catalog says one of eleven) and is a sound value for the money.Lot # 240 1982 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFJA09B000042507; Engine # 00218; Red, Black sills/White leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $214,500 – Pioneer cassette stereo, power windows, TRX tires, air conditioning. – Reported to have just 7,770 miles from new. Dirty dash top. Original undercoat in the wheel wells. Good, lightly worn original interior, crisp gauges. Good original paint. An exceptional survivor in strong condition. – Adding to the low miles may be some concern to the new owner but, really, how much difference could even an Italian tour of the Mille Miglia route make? It still would be a magnificent, low mileage, highly original BBi. It’s hard to get this combination of looks, performance, originality, exclusivity and usability for this kind of money.Lot # 241 1987 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV Coupe; S/N ZA9CA05A6HLA12197; White/White leather; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000 – Alpine cassette stereo, telephone dial wheels, wing, blocky US bumpers. – Stress cracks on the flare joints. Very clean leather with only a little use. Lightly scuffed original paint and some checking on the hood. Not driven much, just old and never restored or even painted. – Hardly used at all and in impeccable condition for its age and originality, all it needs is Farah Fawcett to step out of its scissors doors. It is bought appropriately for its condition, originality and Eighties white/white livery.Lot # 242 1963 Dodge 330 Max Wedge Lightweight 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 6132170287; Metallic Red/Red vinyl, cloth; Estimate $180,000 – $260,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 426/425hp Max Wedge, pushbutton automatic, heater, hubcaps, short crossram dual quad intake, 3.91 Sure Grip. – Impeccably restored with remarkably straight aluminum body panels, great paint and like new engine compartment and interior. – With the 727 TorqueFlite this is a mash the pedal and hang on car that will melt its skinny little rear tires for most of the length of a quarter mile. It could have brought significantly more without being expensive.Lot # 243 1966 Dodge Coronet 500 Hemi Convertible; S/N WP27H67258164; Red/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000 – 426/425hp Hemi, dual quads, 4-speed, power steering, no power brakes, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, Torque Thrust wheels, Radial T/A tires. – An impressive car, restored like new. Believed to be one of only twelve Coronet Hemi Convertibles built. – It is impossible not to like this strange, almost undrivable, car a lot. It is nothing but show-off, and it does it very well, particularly with the performance to back up its gorgeous restoration. The result here is a realistic price, and better than the more specialized pink slip hunting 2-door sedans in this collection. Considered as an alternative to a Hemi ‘Cuda convertible at ten times the price this is an exceptionally astute acquisition.Lot # 244 1965 Bentley S3 Continental Drophead Coupe, Body by Mulliner Park Ward; S/N BC176XC; Metallic Dark Red/Biscuit leather; Dark Red leatherette top; Estimate $180,000 – $240,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $152,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $167,750 – RHD. Body color accented wheel covers, wide whitewalls, Kenwood cassette stereo, power antenna. – Sound original interior, surface creased and lightly soiled front seats. Repainted assembled with more metallic than the original. Good chrome. Underbody, chassis and engine compartment are original but decently maintained. – Back in 1995 this Bentley sold at the World Classic auction in Las Vegas for $39,000, a below market price even in that beaten-down market where it was observed, ‘Chinese-eye drophead. RHD. Average restoration. Great interior, poor panel and door fit. Average paint. A driver.’ It still is a driver, just for $130,000 more 22 years later.Lot # 247 1965 Dodge Coronet Super Stock Hemi Lightweight 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N W051207356; Red/Light Gold vinyl; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 426/425hp dual quad Hemi, automatic, lightweight bucket seats, no rear seats, single headlights. – Gorgeous paint, trim, interior and accurate showroom quality engine compartment, chassis and underbody, a car done right and not overdone. – The concept of ‘de-contented’ is carried to the extreme in this Lightweight, to the point of eliminating one pair of headlights and the passenger’s side windshield wiper. It’s a surprise it has a passenger’s seat. The estimate range is realistic and the price is an exceptional value.
Lot # 249 1989 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante; S/N SCFCV81V8KTL15784; Engine # V5855784LFA; Cannock Black/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $375,000 – $425,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000 – 5-speed, fuel injection, BBS wheels, Pilot Sport tires, air dam, rear spoiler, black leather boot cover, later Pioneer stereo, dash clock, power windows, wood dash and door trim, power top, cruise control. – Engine bored out to 6.3 liters. Excellent paint and chrome. Spotless wheels with brand new tires. Clean and barely used underneath. Some very light wear to the seats and quite a few big cracks in the dash. Otherwise very good, clean interior. Showing 31,112 claimed original miles. Mostly gorgeous but let down by a few things that come from general age. – This Aston has all the earmarks of a treasured, babied car that has never fallen into neglect and it is on that basis as well as its generally excellent presentation a good value at this price.Lot # 251 2001 Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0 Coupe; S/N ZA9DU01B01LA12647; Grigio Antares/Black leather; Estimate $300,000 – $375,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $265,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $291,500 – Cross-drilled rotors, Pirelli Corsa tires, carbon fiber rear wing, Alpine stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Very late Diablo. Excellent blemish-free paint. Carbon fiber interior trim. Very light wrinkling to the seats. Little bit of condensation inside the right marker lens. Like new with only 9,300 miles – Extreme, but not Countach-extreme, the Diablo in its ultimate VT form was a breakthrough supercar delivering 575hp and pioneering all wheel drive. A babied and impeccable example, this is a sound value at this result and a car the new owner can be proud to own and drive.Lot # 252 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E11799; Engine # 7E63619; Blue Grey, Blue Grey hardtop/Biscuit leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $240,000 – $280,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000 – 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Michelin Defender tires, two tops. – Exceptional new clearcoat paint, chrome, glass and interior. Show polished engine compartment. Over the top concours restored. – This is staggering money for a Series I E-type, even the latest 4.2 liter version with synchromesh gearbox, 4.2 liter engine, both tops, comfortable seats and room for the driver’s feet, but this also is a staggering presentation far beyond anything that ever issued forth from Brown’s Lane. It’s over the top, and its price reflects its quality.Lot # 255 2006 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S46Y401580; Red, White stripes/Black leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $277,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $305,250 – BBS wheels, painted calipers, stripes, McIntosh stereo. – 195 miles. Your standard like new GT, although this one has low mileage even by Ford GT standards. – GT prices have corrected slightly, but they’re still high and there are still like-new examples coming to auction as this appropriate result shows.Lot # 256 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 08431; Engine # 08431; Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $2,400,000 – $2,800,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,925,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,117,500 – Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX tires, comes with its original alloy wheels and Pirelli tires. – Very good mostly original paint. Orderly, clean engine compartment and underbody. Good upholstery. Scuffed sill trim chrome and poorly finished sill paint under it. Stress cracked area on the front of the driver’s door. A well-maintained driver quality Ferrari showing 21,319 believable miles and represented to have its original engine. – With a limited ownership history and high level of preservation and originality this is a desirable example of one of Ferrari’s most appreciated designs and it was bought for an advantageous price.Lot # 258 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 408383; Engine # 408383; Dark Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $7,400,000 – $8,400,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $6,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,600,000 – Bosch lights, dual spotlight mirrors, chrome wire wheels, Michelin tires, mother of pearl instrument panel, tinted glass visors, 5-speed gearbox. – Excellent recent repaint, chrome and interior. New chrome wire wheels. A quality older restoration with more recent cosmetics and details. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2011 for $4,620,00 and two years later in 2013 for $7,480,000, this is by any measure an exceptional Mercedes-Benz even though its special design with truncated tail and cutdown doors doesn’t fit the image of a Special Roadster. It will, however, never have to decline its head to any of its siblings and stands proudly as an epic automobile, bought here for a realistic price.Lot # 260 1993 Ferrari 512 TR Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFLM40A0P0094507; Nero/Black leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $180,000 – Bridgestone Potenza tires, power windows, air conditioning, tool kit. – Panels are straight with factory gaps. Black paint is even with minimal hazing and flaws. Alloy wheels have a few dings on them. Correct tires show wear. Glass is good with delamination on lower corners of the windshield. Interior is stock with correct finishes. Minor damage and wear to center console. Seats show wear appropriate to the 11,003 miles on the replaced but represented as adjusted to be correct odometer. Carpets have a little dirt. Driver quality clean underbody. Engine-out belt service in 2015. – The 512 TR has nearly F40-level performance but in a quiet, comfortable, luxurious automobile that lends itself to high speed travel. This bid is modest for a 512 TR, but buyers are showing reluctance to tread into former ‘full retail’ prices.Lot # 261 1970 Ferrari 246 GT Dino Coupe L-Series, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 00690; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $375,000 – $450,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $315,000 – Cromodora alloy wheels, Pirelli tires. – Decent repaint, good chrome and interior except for a pulling seam in the driver’s seat cushion. Orderly unrestored engine and road dirty chassis. A driver quality Dino. – This Dino sold at the Gooding & Company Scottsdale auction six years ago in 2011 for $170,500. The seller’s decision to keep it in search of more sympathetic bidders is understandable, but optimistic.
Lot # 262 1967 Maserati Mexico 4.2 Coupe, Body by Frua; S/N AM112001; Engine # AM112001; Eggplant/Tan; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $315,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $346,500 – 4.2 V8, 5-speed, factory prototype with quadruple Webers, wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, power windows. – Prototype for the production car with different nose and other details. Restored in the late 1990s. Good paint on straight panels. Some prep work visible under paint on the hood. Passenger’s door fit is uneven at the bottom and hard to close. Chrome is good and shiny. Glass is good with minor scratching. Interior presents very well with no notable flaws or issues. Clean engine and chassis. A stunning car let down only by the door fit. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2000 for $102,300, at RM Monterey in 2003 for $77,000, at Gooding Scottsdale in 2010 for $187,000. An attractive car, but Frua couldn’t resist a busy grille, chrome headlight surrounds and thin bumpers that are distracting from the overall design which itself suffers from a tall windshield and down-sloping roof line. An awkward car that did well to bring this much.Lot # 263 1969 Ferrari 365 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 12489; Engine # 12489; Dark Blue/Cream leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $2,900,000 – $3,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,275,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,602,500 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows. – An older restoration with a few miles. Good paint, lightly scuffed trim chrome, lightly creased upholstery. Some underhood details have been compromised perhaps in pursuit of reliability. Ferrari Classiche certified and a multiple Platinum Award winner a few years ago. – The bidders didn’t seem to notice the inconsistencies or the 100K+ kilometers and paid a full retail price for this 365 GTS. It will be a great tour car, but it will take some attention before it will get its next Platinum.Lot # 264 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R Coupe; S/N BNR32002354; Gray/Black; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500 – 280hp, 24-valve twin turbo 2,568cc six, 5-speed, strut tower brace, 5-spoke alloys, Skyline factory floor mats, rear wiper, wing, air dam – Showing 23,367 km represented as original. Bone stock and low mileage, which is not something you see often with popular tuner cars like this. Good original paint with very minor chips and flaws. Clean original engine bay and underbody. Excellent glass looks original with Japanese inspection decals. Good interior with minor wear to the console, but otherwise all surfaces look undamaged. – RM Sotheby’s seems to have developed a pipeline out of Japan for quality Skylines. This is a nearly singular example, carefully maintained, entirely original and untouched by the tuners who regularly make them into caricatures. Even at this price it will more than hold its own at any car show where it will receive deserved veneration by rice-burner fans, an emerging cadre of collectors that is assuming greater importance.Lot # 265 1981 Lamborghini Countach LP400S Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 1121252; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $600,000 – $700,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $481,818 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $530,000 – Campagnolo wheels, Pirelli tires, Ansa exhaust, Alpine stereo, (cold) air conditioning, power windows. – Showing 34,638 km. Rare ‘Low Body’ model with no wing. Flawless and like new restoration. Nothing to pick on. The car looks great in silver with no wings. – Invoices accompanying this Countach total a quarter million dollars for its restoration which is still fresh, crisp and sharp but its requisite Valentino Balboni signature is faded. Closed post-block with this result, a realistic price for an exceptional Countach.Lot # 267 1971 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT Coupe, Body by Bertone/Marazzi; S/N 10066; Engine # 40505; Brown/Tan leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500 – Miura style Campagnolo alloys, Ansa exhaust, factory air conditioning, woodrim steering wheel, power windows. – Two-owner car. Represented as the first Jarama sold in the U.S. Repainted body and restored interior. Rebuilt engine. Excellent paint. Factory panel gaps except the right door that sticks out at the bottom and back edge. Correct tall profile Michelin tires. Finish on the Miura style Campagnolo alloys is unusually bright. Interior is very good. Dash veneer cracked and wear and age shows on the controls and switches. Clean driver level chassis. – Offered at Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale in 2015 with a reported bid of $160,000 in essentially the same condition as it is here. The Jarama is not one of Lamborghini’s greatest designs, which the Biltmore bidders confirmed with this result for an otherwise sound and usable car.Lot # 268 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton; S/N 81232013H; Engine # FC2773; Black/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000 – Lester wide whitewalls, Cord amber fog lights, pre-selector transmission, engine-turned dash, dash clock. – Top is older and lightly worn. Engine bay and underbody look fresh and hardly used. Seats are very lightly worn, but the rest of the interior is excellent. Restored in the 1980s and was a concours car, winning awards up until the mid-2000s, CCCA National First Prize 1274. No longer a show winner, but still gorgeous and wearing a top notch restoration gracefully. – This is superior money for a Cord 812 Phaeton, even with a correct supercharged engine and corresponding to the factory records as compiled by Josh Malks. The restoration is hard to fault in any significant way and this is a Cord to be owned and driven with pride. When spending serious money, spend it on the best around and this is if not the best so close as to make little difference.Lot # 271 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E57S100815; Venetian Red, India Ivory coves/Red; White vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000 – 283/245hp, dual quads, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, Remington whitewalls, WonderBar radio, Positraction. – Originally an automatic but fitted with 4-speed during restoration. Clean and used, partially restored engine bay. Small crack above the grille. Very clean underbody. Tight fitting top with a few small dirt spots. A handful of chips on the painted wheels. Excellent interior. A sound, straightforward older restoration, but this car is curiously not represented with much in the way of documentation. – Sold at Russo and Steele in Scottsdale in 2009 for $63,800, offered at Mecum Seattle in 2014 with a reported high bid of $65,000 and sold here generously, but not unreasonably, with its later installed 4-speed which will be a lot more fun to drive than the original Powerglide.Lot # 272 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Convertible; S/N 11304212003621; Black, Black hardtop/Red; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700 – Automatic, Kuhlmeister under dash air conditioning, both tops, Becker Europa radio, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls. – Very good black paint over straight panels. Factory quality gaps and panel fit. All chrome trim is excellent. Good glass with correct markings. Cheap tires with yellowing whitewalls detract from overall strong presentation. The interior looks fresh with correct materials, but the carpets could use cleaning. Dash wood is very good. Used engine bay with generic hose clamps and service items. Driver quality underbody. Restored a while ago and serviced recently. A solid driver. – Sold by Auctions America in Burbank in 2013 for $55,000 and bought here for an advantageous price considering its presentation and condition.
RM Sotheby’s Arizona 2017 – Auction Report Page Nine
Lot # 273 1963 Dodge Polara Max Wedge 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 6332133686; White/Blue vinyl; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250 – 426/425hp Max Wedge, dual quads on short runner crossram intake, pushbutton automatic, radio, heater, bench seat. – Restored to showroom condition in 2006 and carefully and consistently preserved since then in immaculate condition. The rebuilt engine was ‘pickled’ after it was finished and will need to be recommissioned and broken in, that’s how little use it has received. – It looks like Mopar fatigue had set in at the Biltmore as pristine drag racers paced across the block with the result that this otherwise exceptional and powerful example went away cheaply, thoroughly in bargain territory.Lot # 274 1964 Plymouth Belvedere Race Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3241257503; Engine # A864EX89; Red/Red vinyl, cloth; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500 – 426/425hp Hemi, short crossram dual quads, automatic, bench seat, ram air hood, hubcaps. – Restored in 2004 and unused since then, this is one of the first so-called ‘transitional’ Belvederes with the earliest version of the fabled Race Hemi engine, ordered with a Max Wedge but delivered with the full-on Hemi motor. Its condition is above reproach. – While the condition and configuration of this Belvedere is impeccable the lack of any known competition use may have hindered its price, as did the continuing supply pressure of Mopar Muscle in the Biltmore’s ballroom. The new owner got an exceptional car at a modest price.Lot # 275 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RM23U0A175651; Orange, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000 – 440/375hp Magnum, automatic, Rally wheels, trim rings, Radial T/A tires, hood pins, console, 8-track stereo, power front disc brakes. – Represented as matching numbers. Clean, lightly run restored engine bay. Good paint. Very good, straight, tight roof vinyl. Interior is original and has two big cracks on the dash, worn switchgear and faded upholstery, although all is sound and presentable. Pitted wind wing frame. Scrape on the left A-pillar and lightly scratched up window frames. Older body-on restoration that addressed everything but a well kept original interior. – Sold at Auburn Fall in 2006 for $140,000, then sold at the RM John Staluppi Collection sale in 2012 for $110,000. Sold for the exact same amount four years later. This is a pretty good buy and mirrors the lackluster performance of Mopar wing cars at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction last week where prices were a bit stronger (for overall better quality cars) but the sell-through was disappointing.Lot # 276 1967 Dodge Coronet 440 Super Stock Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N W023J71206306; White/Black vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $67,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $73,700 – 426/425hp Hemi, inline dual quads, automatic, bench seat, ram air hood and air filter housing. – Restored to showroom condition in 2004 and unused since. The engine was preserved after being rebuilt and will need recommissioning and break in. This is to all intents and purposes a brand new Super Stock Hemi. – The steady stream of pristine Mopar Muscle poured across RM Sotheby’s auction block in the Biltmore’s’ ballroom offering patient bidders the opportunity to add important examples of rare and desirable high performance straight line cars at reasonable prices like this.Lot # 280 1974 Jaguar XKE SIII Roadster; S/N UE1S24278BW; Green Sand/Gold leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700 – Centerlock wire wheels, Bridgestone Turanza tires, 8-track stereo, air conditioning. – Front bumperettes are wavy and the left one doesn’t fit right. Single repaint with chips on either front fender and at the back edges of the hood. Doors don’t fit flush. Good, like new replacement top on the tired original top frame. Lots of chips and paint rub through right in front of the poor-fitting driver’s door. Somewhat tired original interior, but other than some popped seams in the seats it’s not too bad. Clean and dry underneath. A reasonably well kept and almost totally original late E, but the automatic and these colors are two strikes against it. – This result is cheap compared to most ’74 Roadsters, but not really any less than the car deserved. It is an ideal base for a complete concours quaity restoration, but equally one that can be driven and enjoyed as is.Lot # 282 1964 Imperial Crown Convertible; S/N 9243105242; Nassau Blue/Blue leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,350 – Under dash air conditioning, power windows, headrests, power antenna, pushbutton AM/FM radio. – Generally straight panels with wide factory level gaps. Older repaint shows fading and thin spots. Jambs not painted at the same time and are dirty and used looking. Chrome is generally good but the wheel covers are dull and dinged. White convertible top is good. Original interior is lightly worn and well kept. Surfaces show age but are presentable. Missing knob on the radio. Engine and chassis are as aged as the top of the car. Original and showing 83,714 believable miles. – Mecum sold this Imperial at the Rogers Collection auction in 2015 for $34,560. It was reportedly bid to $47,500 at Mecum Monterey later in 2015, then again at the same sale the following year at a high bid of $30,000. While commendably original, the car is still in driver condition. Sold at no reserve, it probably didn’t bring what the seller was hoping for but it’s still a perfectly reasonable price for what this car is and what it isn’t.
Rick, I always enjoy reading your auction reports. Great job as always. Thank you.
Hi Rick,
Great report as always. Were the auction estimates considered high on the auction floor pre-sale or was this not apparent until the hammer started to fall?
Thanks,
Allan
This site is a gem; Rick Carey’s reports are the best part of the site. Period.