RM Sotheby’s, Portola Hotel and Monterey Convention Center, Monterey, California, August 14-15, 2015
RM Sotheby’s Pinnacle Portfolio session on Thursday where 23 of 25 cars offered sold for $75,192,500 sucked a good bit of the air out of the Monterey auction rooms, not only for the other Monterey auctions but also for RM Sotheby’s regular two-day sale on Friday and Saturday. (See Pinnacle Portfolio Report).
While Pinnacle’s Ferrari 250LM s/n 6105 posted the Monterey auction week’s highest transaction at $17,600,000, RM Sotheby’s two-day sale saw two lots ring up eight-figure prices, the Jaguar C-type s/n XKC 052 and Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France s/n 0557GT, both at $13,200,000 including buyer’s premium.
The 2-day RM Sotheby’s sale total of $91,845,500 was, however, the lowest since 2011 and the whole comparison is made even more difficult by RM Sotheby’s decision to withhold the prices of three cars sold after they crossed the block. They were:
• Lot 215, Ferrari 250 GT Boano Coupe s/n 0667 GT bid to $960,000 on the block;
• Lot 230, Ferrari 330 GTS s/n 9781 bid to $2,250,000 on the block; and
• Lot 242, Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso s/n 5607 GT bid to $2,000,000 on the block.
RM Sotheby’s did announce a three-day sale total of $172,900,000 and a bit of subtraction shows that the three undisclosed price lots had aggregate prices of $5,592,000 including commissions. Hammer bids on these three lots were $5,210,000 which would have been $5,721,000 with the regular 10% buyer’s premium added, some $129,000 more than the amount indicated in RM Sotheby’s 3-day total.
The Friday-Saturday sale percentage of 84.8% [including the three undisclosed price cars as sold] is also less than any RM Monterey auction since 2011’s 84.25%.
All that does little or nothing to diminish the appeal of the cars RM Sotheby’s offered at Monterey. Looking at the transactions in terms of cars’ ages and quality also shows that some of the older, quality cars in exceptional condition and having notable histories were, relative to Ferraris, Porsches and the Pinnacle Portfolio supercars, great values.
Like the 4 1/2 Liter Blower Bentley lot 342. Sold for $4,015,000 with commission. It is a car welcomed anywhere not only on account of its configuration but also because it is likely the correct, original chassis, engine, supercharger and gearbox as-built by Bentley in 1931, a nearly impossibly rare surviving combination.
The RM Sotheby’s 3-day Monterey auction was far and away the most successful ever in Monterey, with memorable transactions both large and small[ish]. Whether it’s $167,308,000 or $172,900,000 this was a milestone auction.
Here are the 3-day figures:
[table id=138 /]
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 – Auction Report
Lot # 201 1962 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N AR1013171805; Red/Gray leather piped in Dark Gray; Black vinyl top; Estimate $55,000 – $85,000; Enthusiast restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve. Single Solex carb, steel wheels with hub caps, Radial T/A tires, wood shift knob, gray vinyl boot cover. – Reportedly driven less than 1,000 miles since restoration a number of years ago. Older respray that was never all that great to begin with. Drips around the panel edges and orange peel on the tail and left rear fender. Faded overall. The panels themselves have uneven fit. Upholstery is very good, but original gauges and steering wheel are showing their age, and the painted portions of the dash and doors are of the same average quality and dull finish as the outside. The bumper chrome is quite good, but the rest of the brightwork is old and dull. The engine bay is quite tidy, and the frame is clean and dry. This is an older enthusiast restoration of acceptable quality. It makes for an honest little Alfa and a fun casual driver. – This was not a bad car by any means, but its flaws stuck out in the field of immaculately presented cars that surrounded it. The RM bidders may have expected more, but they accepted less and this is an expensive Alfa Normale.Lot # 209 1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N AR1426330; Engine # AR0056402373; White/Dark Gray leather piped in Black; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. No Reserve. SPICA fuel injection, alloy wheels, Pirelli tires, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning upgraded to R134a. – Sizable touchup on the driver’s side door, but otherwise sound older paint and chrome. Driver door fit is a bit off. Tidy engine bay and underneath. Very good interior. A slightly older cosmetic restoration and mechanical rebuild by Silverstone Company in Wisconsin that has seen a bit of use since completion. – Sold at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction two years ago for $99,000 when it had 267 fewer km showing on the odometer. I liked it better then than it appeared to be now, a mediocre car that is not ageing well, but the bidders were not misled and it brought an appropriate price.Lot # 210 1958 Facel Vega FVS Series 4 Sport Coupe; S/N FV457H41; Beige Metallic/Maroon leather; Estimate $200,000 – $275,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve. 354/325hp, dual Carter carbs, automatic, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Michelin tires, dual antennae, pushbutton shift, Motorola pushbutton radio, luggage, Jaeger dash clock, wood dash, Wilton wool carpets, power windows. – Sold new in Dallas before being taken apart for restoration in 1968. It wasn’t completed until 2012. Lightly scratched and delaminating window glass. Slightly dull chrome. Very lightly worn upholstery. Rusty but straight original exhaust tips. Excellent interior wood. Very clean and tidy underneath and very good paint. A magnificent automobile recently restored not quite to show quality, and it does have some flaws. – Sold here two years ago for $302,500. While it would not have been surprising to see this Facel Vega bring over $200,000, its result here is closer to realistic than the price it brought two years ago. FVs are obscure cars that need great attention to finding the right buyers, something that is hard to do among the many great cars competing for bidders’ attention in Monterey. The new owner should be comfortable with the price paid.Lot # 215 1957 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe, Body by Boano; S/N 0667 GT; Engine # 0667GT; Red, Ivory roof/Tan leather; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,500,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Bid to $960,000 on the block and reported sold later at an undisclosed price. With Reserve. Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, Marchal head and driving lights. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Wiring is crudely spliced, hanging under the dash with a dangling toggle switch. Underbody is like new. Engine compartment is fresh and spotless. – A no-sale on the block at this hammer bid and reported sold post-block at an undisclosed price. It’s hard to sell a car at auction for over a million dollars when the wiring suggests it might catch fire at any moment, but RM Sotheby’s must have been able to assuage someone’s doubts in order to get the deal done.Lot # 217 1950 Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 0030 MT; Engine # 0030MT; Red/Brown leather, cloth; Estimate $7,500,000 – $10,000,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $7,250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,975,000. With Reserve. RHD. Silver painted Borrani RW3077B wire wheels, full width windscreen, covered headlights. Ferrari Classiche attestation for competition cars [i.e., not as-built, but pretty pure and very cool.] – Originally a Touring Barchetta driven by Ascari with Senesio Nicolini in the 1950 Mille Miglia, the first Lampredi-engined Ferrari competition car, later updated by Ferrari with 340 America power and raced by Scuderia Marzotto in the Mille Miglia in 1951 and 1952. At some early point rebodied by Scaglietti with the current body and passed through several hands before arriving with Peter Markowski where it stayed until 1999 (after an AutoWeek profile by some aspiring writer.) Enthusiastically used through the early 00’s in Europe. Sound but aged old paint over earlier paint and lumpy body. Sound but worn upholstery. Edges chipped, interior body panels still show the marks of Scaglietti’s hammers. Doors covered in old event stickers. – This is just a gorgeous old Ferrari race car with Ascari, Bracco and Marzotto history in three Mille Miglias. It’s never been made into a concours queen, instead being driven and enjoyed by its early Ferrari pilots, preserved by Peter Markowski and then honored without being iconified. I drove it for that AutoWeek profile years ago and it’s hard to imagine having more fun with this little horsepower. The new owner would be commended for retaining the nicks, dings and dimples that are the record of its history.Lot # 219 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Showcar; S/N 40837S101311; Fire Frost Blue/White leather; Estimate $700,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $550,000. With Reserve. 327/365hp, single 4-barrel, 4-speed, body color turbine centerlock wheels, Goodyear Blue Streak tires, side exhaust, woodrim steering wheel, dash clock, pushbutton radio. – Phenomenal paint and chrome. Very lightly worn upholstery in a fantastic interior. The only real flaws are two small chips on the bottom of the front lip. One of GM’s rare “styling cars” built for the company’s execs, this one was the second Corvette special ordered by GM President Bunkie Knudsen in the fall of 1963. Features that separate this car from regular production Corvettes are nose, grille, hood, vents and bumpers. It was rescued and restored in the late 1980s by a collector who showed it over the next several years, although today the car looks significantly fresher than that. – It is a measure of the power and prestige of GM and its executives in the Sixties that they could have unique, personalized cars like this built for them to use as daily drivers. The surviving examples are revered by Corvette collectors, especially when they are as well restored and preserved as this one, and the seller was not wrong in thinking it was worth more than the reported high bid.Lot # 220 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412003756; Ivory/Black vinyl; Black top; Estimate $175,000 – $205,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve. Automatic, wheel covers, Phoenix narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, VDO dash clock, Becker Europa II radio, air conditioning. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and engine bay and underbody. Represented as a two-owner car, it’s had a recent body-on full restoration and today is a very pretty restored Pagoda that’s better than most and needs nothing. – Pagodas have enjoyed popularity in the market recently, and the 280s are the quickest, most developed and most desirable of them. This 280’s equipment and condition combined with the venue brought a strong result even though the bidders weren’t misled by the optimistic estimate.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 224 1958 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk III Drophead Coupe, Body by Tickford; S/N AM30031451; Engine # DBA1056; Aston Green Metallic/Green leather; Green vinyl top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $975,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,072,500. With Reserve. Upgraded 5-speed gearbox and triple SU carbs, dual exhaust, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Dunlop tires, dual mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, Smiths dash clock. – Gorgeous highly detailed engine bay. Excellent paint and chrome. Top fits perfectly. Even gaps. Excellent interior. Fitted with a later 5-speed and a period-correct triple-carb setup, this DB2/4 was treated to a restoration that totaled over $400,000 and was completed in 2010, although it looks like it was done yesterday and is an absolute stunner. It’s an exquisite, show quality example of a rare drophead DB2/4, the model that first introduced Aston’s characteristic grille shape to the road cars. All proceeds to the St. Joseph Elementary School in Redding, California – Though it has been modified from original, the changes were both minimal and tasteful, and thanks to the car’s immaculate presentation the bidders didn’t care and bid it to a huge result that is indicative both of this car’s condition and of the popularity of vintage Astons in the current market.Lot # 230 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 9781; Engine # 9781; Nocciola (Hazelnut)/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,650,000 – $2,950,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Bid to $2,250,000 on the block and reported sold at an undisclosed price. With Reserve. Chrome spoke polished rim Borrani RW4039 wire wheels, Michelin X blackwalls, P/W, halogen headlights, owner’s manual, full tool roll, Ferrari Classiche certification in process. – Gorgeous paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. Restored better than new in the original colors but without going too far. – A no-sale on the block at this bid and reported sold post-block at an undisclosed price.Lot # 232 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002871; Dark Blue/Tobacco leather; Dark Blue top; Estimate $375,000 – $425,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. No Reserve. Automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, light brown leather boot cover, wood dash and A-pillar trim, Becker Europa radio, Behr air conditioning, VDO dash clock. – Used but very clean engine bay. Very good paint and chrome. Even gaps. Very good, plush interior. Exquisite interior wood. A high quality recent restoration by Road Scholars in North Carolina that’s seen a bit of very light use. – A beautiful car that caught the bidders’ attention and brought a full retail price.Lot # 233 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spider, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115S1001; Engine # AM115S1001; Giallo/Black leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,800,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $900,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $990,000. With Reserve. 4.7-liter engine, quadruple Weber carbs, Campagnolo wheels, dual mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, AM/FM radio, Veglia dash clock. – Numerous paint chips and light cracks in the nose and headlight covers as well as microblisters along the rockers, small blisters on the trunk and cracks on the tail. Aged wheels. Very good chrome. Imperfect door fit. Mellowed but sound and complete interior. Bottom lip is dented a bit. This is a 20 foot car that only reveals shortcomings up close. There were only 128 Ghibli Spiders built, but this one is even more special as the prototype introduced on the Ghia stand at the Turin Auto Show in 1968. Differences between it and the production version include a longer tail, lack of an external filler cap and different badging. It was repainted in 1975 and then put away in 1986 before being discovered and refurbished recently. Given that it’s almost completely original and that it’s the very first of the coveted Ghibli Spiders, this car’s shortcomings are easy to look past and it’s actually quite impressive. – RM’s presale estimate proved a bit ambitious in this case, but this car still had plenty of interest and brought well above what even a #1 car would bring and almost twice what a regular production example in this condition would. Its new owner gets meaningful bragging rights including the correct application of the often misused adjective ‘unique’. It is realistically expensive and the transaction is almost totally unrelated to the result for any other Ghibli Spider.Lot # 234 1976 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe; S/N 9306800014; Engine # 6860025; Oak Green Metallic/Brown leather with Green tartan cloth inserts; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $341,000. No Reserve. 16-inch black Fuchs wheels, later Turbo brakes, Michelin XWX tires, whale tail spoiler, rear wiper, sunroof, power windows, pushbutton radio, VDO dash clock, Porsche CofA. – Billed as a “U.S. Prototype”, but it is an early car retained by the factory for testing and sold to the US in November 1975. Very good paint and exterior plastic. Excellent, like new interior. Finished in a great color and made even cooler by the tartan cloth seat inserts and door panels, it’s a significant car in fantastic condition despite never having been fully restored and showing 111,446 miles on the odometer. It has a 15-year-old repaint and a seven-year-old interior, but presents like a more thorough restoration. – 930s are hot and increasingly desirable cars, so it was no surprise that several very good and significant ones showed up in Monterey this year. This one (which was reported sold at Russo and Steele in Monterey in 2006 for $57,200 with 472 fewer miles on the odometer) fell in the middle of RM’s presale estimate and commanded a premium appropriate to a significant pre-production example like this. It was, however, significantly outshone by the ex-Steve McQueen 930 across town at Mecum.Lot # 235 1953 Jaguar C-Type Lightweight Roadster; S/N XKC 052; Engine # E1054-8; Metallic Ecosse Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $9,000,000 – $12,000,000; Competition restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $12,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,200,000. With Reserve. RHD. Dual aeroscreens, low Plexiglas windscreen, silver painted wire wheels, – 4th overall at LeMans in 1953 driven by Peter Whitehead and Ian Stewart for the Jaguar works team. Campaigned by Ecurie Ecosse in 1954 driven by Jimmy Stewart, Roy Salvadori and Ninian Sanderson with eight wins. Raced by others until 1959 and later restored with a new body in the 60’s (which was replaced again during its most recent restoration by John Pearson in the early 00’s.) Shown and historic toured since then Gorgeous paint, interior, engine and underbody, still in concours condition. – There’s an intriguing note on the tachometer. In bold white letters on a clear tape it says, “Original Engine”, a reminder not to let the needle get too high. [RM made no representation of original engine in the catalog.] An historic Jaguar authentically carrying one of the C-type’s best known features, disc brakes, from new. The body may be new (and even the ‘old’ one that is included dates only from 1959) but the car is extremely important. The price it brought recognizes its importance and cannot be disputed.Lot # 242 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 5607GT; Dark Blue/Brown leather; Estimate $2,300,000 – $2,600,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Bid to $2,000,000 on the block and reported sold later at an undisclosed price. With Reserve. Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX tires, Carello headlights, Marchal fog lights. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior in attractive and unusual colors. Underbody is restored like new. Impressively flat panels, flush fits and even gaps. A beautiful car, beautifully presented. – A no-sale on the block at this high bid and reported sold post-block at an undisclosed price. The seller’s reluctance to accept the reported high bid for this choice, meticulously restored, Lusso is understandable. What it brought in the end is unknown, but certainly more (considering commission deals and all that) than this.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 244 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M BN2 Le Mans Roadster; S/N BN2L232319; Engine # 1B232319M; Silver/Red leather; Estimate $250,000 – $275,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500. No Reserve. Dual SU carbs, overdrive 4-speed, chrome centerlock wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, BMIHT certificate noting this is the original engine and body. – Very good detailed engine bay. Excellent paint and chrome. Excellent interior. Not overdone, but rather an excellent, fresh Healey Lane restoration of a genuine M, which included larger carbs, a hotter cam, higher compression and stiffer suspension. This car one of just 640 that were so equipped at the factory, making it significantly more desirable than the cars retrofitted with the Le Mans kit at the dealer or by the owner. – This car ticked all the right boxes for a Healey aficionado, and it was bid to an appropriate result that should leave both buyer and seller fully satisfied.Lot # 248 1970 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 13361; Engine # B362; Rosso Chiaro/Black leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000. With Reserve. Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, A/C, Voxson 8-track stereo, clear nose panel, covered headlights. – The U.S. prototype Daytona, delivered to Bill Harrah in Reno. October 1970 Road & Track cover car. Freshly restored to showroom condition with sharp paint, chrome and interior. – Sold by RM here two years ago for $583,000 before restoration to its original clear nose panel, covered headlight configuration. It was a good car then. It is a better (much better) car now, and relatively modestly priced for its history and configuration. The seller spent money wisely and prudently, caught the Daytona wave, and did well. The new owner could do as well if the wave curl doesn’t swallow Daytonas up.Lot # 256 1957 Porsche 356A Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 82852; Engine # P63868; Stone Gray/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $425,000 – $475,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. With Reserve. 1600/60hp, dual Solex carbs, chrome centerlock wheels, Michelin tires, Porsche CofA confirming the original engine and transmission – Excellent paint, chrome and interior as well as underneath. The top fits perfectly. Recently restored by a marque specialist, this is an over the top Speedster in stellar condition that could be shown and come home with a trophy. – Even though it has the base engine, this car brought a gigantic result even for the immaculately presented car that it is. This can be explained as much by the stupefying amount of money in the room at the Portola as by the current Porsche market.Lot # 257 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Touring Limousine, Body by James Young; S/N LCFL39; Engine # CL19F; Coffee Bean Brown, Honey Beige/Beige leather piped in Brown; Estimate $200,000 – $275,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000. With Reserve. Wheel covers, wide whitewall tires, air conditioning, Lucas driving lights, dual mirrors, bench seat, column shift, power windows, later digital Blaupunkt cassette stereo, wood dash and window trim, power division window, original Blaupunkt radio controls in rear, fold out tables in rear, interior dome courtesy lights. – Lightly scratched bumper chrome. Paint chips around the filler cap. Small scratch on right front door. Cracks just above the wheel on the left front fender. Another long crack just in front of the driver door. A few scuffs and a chip on the left drip rail. Tidy used engine bay. Lightly worn upholstery. Some cracks in the wood around the windows and a bit of wiring hanging out near one rear speaker. The last coachbuilt long-wheelbase Silver Cloud III built, this car is showing its age and displaying a number of issues but is overall definitely presentable and has a long documented ownership history. Long stored, it also needs mechanical sorting, so although it is rare and very attractive, it is neither usable nor showable as-is. – The new owner will need an extra deep garage to accommodate this imposing Rolls-Royce. In its specifications, history and preservation it is also as exceptional as in its presence and luxury and brought a fully deserved price even taking into account the work it will need before it once again sweeps down the highway in stately elegance and comfort.Lot # 260 1957 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N AR1900C10473; Engine # AR130810471; Bleu Colbato Scuro/Black leather with Gray cloth inserts; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $280,000. With Reserve. 1975/115hp, dual carbs, chrome spoke Borrani centerlock wire wheels, column-shift 5-speed, Michelin tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, radio. – Represented as the matching numbers engine. Very clean engine bay. Very good paint and chrome. Lightly scratched window glass. Excellent interior. A barn find in 2007, it was treated to a ground-up restoration that retained the original engine and was completed just last year. A beautiful but not overdone car with Touring coachwork and an unusual column-shift 5-speed, has just 995 km on it since completion and needs nothing. – Given the venue and the strong results throughout this sale, the seller here wasn’t crazy to expect more than the $280,000 reported high bid, but in reality if there was money at the high bid it could have been accepted with gratitude.Lot # 263 1971 Mazda Cosmo Sport Coupe; S/N L10B11120; Engine # 10A2079; White/Black vinyl with houndstooth cloth inserts; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. No Reserve. Air conditioning, steel wheels with hub caps, Michelin tires, dual wing mirrors, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, center console, pushbutton radio. – Very good paint. Good chrome. Tidy used engine bay. Excellent interior. Door fits are visibly off. A straightforward and good but not over the top fresh Japanese restoration on this second-series Cosmo that, along with the Toyota 2000 GT, has become the standard bearer for Japan at high-end collector car auctions over the past couple of years. – For rarity, and particularly the benign air conditioned specification, this Cosmo should have sold for more without being a surprise, even with the sound but not exceptional restoration. The result here is modest by some $40-50,000, a real bargain in an important Japanese sports car.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 264 1962 Messerschmitt KR200 Coupe; S/N 79003; Engine # 3472601; Teal/Red leather piped in White; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve. Wheel covers, Metzler blackwall tires, dual mirrors, dash clock, Blaupunkt AM/FM stereo. – Very good paint and brightwork. Some of the rubber molding around the top is uneven. Very good, clean interior. Class win at Pebble Beach in 1997 and still in very good condition, though no longer immaculate. – Counting the Fiat Jolly in the sale, microcars were rarer than Ferrari Daytonas at RM this year, so buyers looking for something in a small package this year had little choice. That still doesn’t explain the huge result for this car, though, which brought well over 10 grand more that what even a fresh concours-ready KR200 Bubble Top is worth.Lot # 265 1969 Shelby Mustang GT500 Fastback; S/N 9F02R481634; Acapulco Blue, White side stripes/White vinyl; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. No Reserve. 428/335hp, automatic, Shelby wheels, Polyglas GT tires, power steering, power brakes, dual mirrors, bucket seats, center console, radio, dash clock. – Hood fit is way off. Lightly scratched bumper chrome. Small paint crack next to the left edge of the hood. Small dent right below the left edge of the windshield. Bottom edge of the windshield trim fits unevenly. Driver door and trunk fits are slightly off. Paint is otherwise very good and the interior is excellent. It’s far from the best in the world, but still very good. Not much is known of the ownership history, but it was fully restored at some point and shows a bit of age today. – While RM isn’t always the ideal place to sell Mustangs, it is a place where six-figure prices are the norm, contrasted with Auctions America’s Auburn Fall a year ago where it sold for $90,750. The result here for this older restoration with a wide gap in its ownership history was an expensive one, and the seller should be quite pleased.Lot # 301 1968 Toyota FJ40V Land Cruiser Utility; S/N FJ4057301; Engine # F259460; Dune Beige, Cygnus White roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250. No Reserve. 235/135hp, overdrive 3-speed, BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A tires, power brakes, factory winch, dual mirrors, rear-mounted spare wheel. – Freshly detailed and nearly spotless engine bay. Excellent paint. Shiny fasteners. Straight bodywork. Excellent interior. The cracking steering wheel cap is the only sign that this thing was made any time other than last week. Nothing was left undone on this Land Cruiser and all the details are right. Even with the deluge of freshly restored FJs at auction lately, this one stands out. – It is a tribute to the durability of FJs that the boom in FJs has brought a seemingly endless supply of them in a variety of configuration out of barns and fields to capitalize on their newfound popularity among collectors. This beautifully restored FJ might have brought six figures eighteen months or so ago, but supply has a way of catching up with demand and the resulting price suppression is eminently apparent in this result which is appropriate to the FJ’s wonderful condition and the proliferation of FJs on the market.Lot # 304 1962 Ghia L6.4 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 0308; Engine # 308; Black/Burgundy leather; Estimate $300,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $270,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $297,000. With Reserve. 383/335hp, automatic, Cibie headlights, hidden turn signals, chrome wire wheels, Hankook narrow whitewalls, floor shift automatic, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, power sunroof, bucket seats, power windows, air conditioning, dash clock, pushbutton radio. – One of six modified by George Barris with features like the headlights and hidden turn signals also featured on the L6.4s of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. This one was delivered new to Bill Van Grove. Very good paint. Two touched up chips on the front edge of the driver’s side door. Passenger door fit is slightly off. Very good, lightly worn interior. A full restoration was finished in 2001 and a thorough mechanical servicing was completed last year. It’s no longer a concours car, but it needs nothing serious and is still a fine example of the final chapter in the Dual Ghia saga. – RM got a milestone $412,500 for 0305, a freshly and magnificently restored L6.4 without the Barris kustom touches, in Arizona in January. By that standard this well-preserved older restored Ghia L6.4 could have brought over the low estimate and still not been unduly expensive. At this price it is a sound value even if the new owner has to spend a good sum to make up for hidden problems resulting from years of storage.Lot # 306 1968 Triumph TR5 PI Roadster; S/N CP1011LO; Engine # CR1349HE; Red/Black vinyl piped in White; Black cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $67,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,250. No Reserve. 2498/150hp, 4-speed, Lucas mechanical fuel injection, painted centerlock wire wheels, Michelin red line tires, wood dash, wood shift knob, BMIHT certificate. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine bay is very clean and looks barely run. Equipped with a non-original but appropriate engine at some point in the 1970s and well restored some time ago. Sold new in Portugal, this is the rare euro-market TR5 PI (petrol injection), the fuel injected 150-hp version of the TR5 that would blow the doors off of the 104-hp carbureted cars that we got here in the States. – When it comes to classic sports cars in the U.S., the euro-spec cars with more pep and a few different features tend to command a premium. Exactly how much of a premium depends on many sometimes competing considerations, but in the case of this Triumph, it’s about $20,000, a realistic premium for 46 more horsepower, which sounds more significant when it is stated as ‘a 44% increase.’Lot # 309 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Alloy Coupe, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 08517; Engine # 08517; Ice Blue/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $3,600,000 – $4,200,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,960,000. With Reserve. Long nose, torque tube, alloy body, six Webers, outside fuel filler, alloy wheels (a set of Borrani wire wheels is included), Michelin X blackwalls, halogen headlights, tools, books and jack, Ferrari Classiche certification in process and represented as matching numbers drivetrain. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored like new although the color is changed from Rosso Chiaro over Black leather to the current livery. First in class at the 2014 Forest Grove Concours and still Impeccable. Represented as matching numbers drivetrain. – So many Ferraris have been changed from their individual original liveries to generic Rosso over Tan that it is almost impossible to imagine this 6-carb longnose 275 GTB going to Celeste Chiaro Metallizzato over Black. And yet it works, highlighting the longnose 275 GTB’s lines with subtlety and style. It is an exceptional Ferrari, by any standard, in impeccable condition and deserves the result it brought.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 311 1964 Porsche 356 Carrera 2 GS Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 126269; Engine # 97303; Slate Grey/Red leather; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $725,000. With Reserve. 1966/130hp, 4-speed, dual Solex carbs, chromed steel wheels, Michelin tires, gold badges, woodrim Porsche steering wheel, fog lights, Blaupunkt stereo, VDO dash clock. – Gorgeous detailed engine bay. Sound, shiny and pretty paint. Good chrome. Very good interior. Nut and bolt restored in 2013 by European Collectibles in Costa Mesa and shown at the Quail last year. Nothing is over the top, but everything was redone and, just as important as its condition, it’s a genuine Carrera with a Kardex and Porsche CofA showing matching numbers engine and transmission. – When the reported high bid gets this close to the low estimate it is hard to imagine how, if there was money at the bid, the deal couldn’t get done.Lot # 313 1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Sedanca de Ville, Body by James Young; S/N 5AT76; Engine # PV88A; Black/Beige leather; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $370,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $407,000. With Reserve. Wheel covers, Dunlop tires, dual wing mirrors, Lucas driving lights, badge bar, suicide rear doors, removable tendelet, burled wood dash and window trim, column shift, power windows, Smiths dash clock in front, power division window, Smiths dash clock, fold out tables, bar and glassware in rear cabinet, full tool set, jack. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Exquisite wood. Clean and detailed underneath. A proven show car that’s still a concours winner and a star at any RROC event. Dead straight body and even gaps. Phenomenal in both its presentation and equipment, it has a presence that few other automobiles do. This was the 1960 Earls Court Motor Show car, one of only seven like this built and a Best in Class winner at Pebble Beach last year. – Sold at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2005 before its restoration for $187,000, then offered by Gooding in Scottsdale in January of this year with a reported high bid of $400,000. It is a magnificent automobile that might run the risk of being pretentious were it not for its innate elegance and style and represents good value for money at this price.Lot # 314 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712001038; Engine # 11698012000836; Light Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $375,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. No Reserve. Automatic, wheel covers, Hankook narrow whitewalls, floor shift, wood dash and A-pillar trim, Becker Europa II radio, power windows, Behr air conditioning, fog lights. – Very good paint. God older chrome. Slightly dull plastic rub strips. Lightly worn top. Tidy used engine bay and undercarriage. Lightly scratched window trim that’s also starting to pit lightly. Very good interior with light signs of age. A recent cosmetic restoration and mechanical servicing has left this car looking quite pretty. It is represented as having just two owners and 54,864 believable miles. – A clean, unpretentious, quality car with long term single family ownership in California and all the good things that description implies. While far from a show car, it is a sound, attractive example that can be used and enjoyed with both confidence and pride at a price that is appropriate for the car.Lot # 315 1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe; S/N 1054; Engine # V1212914054; British Racing Green/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $375,000 – $475,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $320,000. With Reserve. RHD. Chrome centerlock wire wheels, Martin blackwalls, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, Lucas headlamps, landau bars, floor shift, wood dash and window trim. – Two owners since 1958. Older paint showing its age. Several small chips on the front fenders. Crack on the right front fender as well as a long scratch. Spare wheel covers were done separately and are lightly scratched up and have orange peel and gloppy finish near the edges. Light scratches on the running boards. Big touched up scratches just behind the driver’s side door. Body sides are slightly wavy and the door fit is off. Sound older chrome. Very good lightly worn upholstery and presentable wood. Top liner is stained and discolored even though the outside is very good and fits well. Pedals are very worn. Tidy used engine bay. A brilliant W.O. Bentley design and an undeniably pretty car, but it has only gotten intermittent restoration work and what it has received was a while ago. It needs and deserves a lot of attention before being a stunner again. – One of the great classic cars of the late 30’s, often overlooked but an example of what W.O. Bentley might have accomplished if he had been able to pursue his vision. While this car’s history of just two caring and informed owners is positive, its condition leaves much to be desired and requires a buyer who can recognize and continue the underlying quality while celebrating the evidence of use. That buyer wasn’t here at the Portola this weekend, at least one willing to step up to the consignor’s expectations.Lot # 319 1969 Lamborghini Islero 400 GTS Coupe, Body by Marazzi; S/N 6531; Engine # 50179; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $365,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $401,500. With Reserve. 3929/350hp, 5-speed, six Weber carbs, Campagnolo centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin tires, locking filler cap, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, wood dash, power windows, Jaeger dash clock. – Very tidy engine bay. Excellent paint and chrome aside from two unfortunate scratches at the bottom of the hood. Very good, barely worn upholstery. Sold new in Switzerland after being painted red in place of the original green. Cosmetically restored at the beginning of the last decade and rebuilt mechanically five years ago. A very good but imperfect car, it has flaws that one could easily live with. It’s also one of just 225 Isleros, a conservatively but elegantly styled car penned by Marazzi (hired after Touring went bust) that was one of Ferruccio Lamborghini’s favorite models to bear his name. – A mediocre Lamborghini for which a mediocre price was paid.Lot # 321 1937 SS Jaguar 100 2 1/2 Liter Roadster; S/N 253163; Engine # 4834; Maroon/Biscuit leather; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. With Reserve. RHD. Chrome centerlock wire wheels, Dunlop tires, Lucas King of the Road headlamps with mesh stone guards, single Fogmaster fog light, windshield, Brooklands aeroscreens, tan cloth boot cover, dual rear-mounted spares. – Clean restored engine bay showing some use and road miles. Very good paint and good interior. One of 198 2 1/2-liter cars. Discovered as a disassembled barn find by the consignor, fully restored from 2001 to 2014. Fully and correctly but done without going over the top, a car that can be driven or shown as is. – A fourteen year restoration always involves some compromises if only by the deterioration of the initial work and materials until the final screw is turned. This SS 100 is rather better than most, but the bidders’ observations led to reservations reflected in the price realized. It’s a wonderful car, bought realistically and maybe even advantageously.
RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2015 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 324 ; 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002552; Engine # 19898010002603; Red, Black hardtop/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,210,000. With Reserve. Chrome wheels, body color accented hubcaps, Dunlop blackwall radial tires, two tops, Talbot mirror, Becker Mexico AM-FM, belly pans, full tool roll, fitted luggage, original M-B tire pressure gauge – Four owners from new and probably 34,725 original miles. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Freshly restored better than new inside, outside, topside, and underside. Seats are lightly stretched but still sound and attractive. – A benchmark 300SL Roadster bought for a price that reflects increasing introspection on the part of 300SL buyers. It would be hard to better (without the involvement of celebrity owners) the fully documented ownership history, limited miles and fastidious restoration of this automobile. The price it brought is reasonable. (photo: RM Sotheby’s)Lot # 327 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Drophead Coupe, Body by Park Ward; S/N BC54LAF; Engine # BC53A; Scarlet, Claret/Beige leather; Burgundy top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,050,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,155,000. With Reserve. Wheel covers, Silvertown whitewalls, Lucas driving lights, Flying B hood ornament, beige leather boot cover, bucket seats, column shift, Panasonic AM/FM radio, Smiths dash clock, power windows, burled wood dash, window trim and A-pillar trim. – Excellent paint and chrome that really pops. Immaculate interior wood. Very lightly worn high quality leather. Very clean detailed engine bay and underbody. Door and trunk fits are slightly off, most noticeably on the trunk. This is a magnificent automobile, and you’d have to be actively searching for flaws to pick up on its shortcomings because otherwise it’s a breathtaking automobile to look at with a casual eye. It was restored over 20 years ago and displayed in a private museum since, and though it needs mechanical sorting, it is much better cosmetically than the typical museum car. – Offered by Christie’s at Pebble Beach in 2003 where it attracted a high bid of $320,000, its odometer shows only 42 more miles now that it did then and the car is, if anything, in better cosmetic condition although 42 miles in 12 years in not conducive to good mechanical condition. It brought an exceptional price, even for a coachbuilt S1 Continental, that has been stationary for so long.Lot # 330 1965 Porsche 911 Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 303093; Engine # 903173; Polo Red/Black leatherette; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve. 1991/130hp, 5-speed, chromed steel wheels, Michelin tires, gold badges, woodrim steering wheel, Webasto gasoline heater, driving lights, wood dash, Blaupunkt AM/FM radio, VDO dash clock. – Dull but actually quite sound original paint. Chips across the nose but no crazing, cracks or other big scratches. It’s just dull. Dull but not ugly chrome and brightwork. Tidy original engine bay. Very good original interior. A dry, clean and honest all original car that looks like it should have fewer miles than the 95,560 on the odometer. Although it was an East Coast car for most of its life, it looks like the kind of original, lightly worn car you see buzzing around Monterey and parallel parked on the street. It’s an ideal preservation class example of a very early Reutter-bodied 911. – There’s a premium for originality and this result was no exception, though it wasn’t as big of a premium as RM hoped for. Early short wheelbase 911s are suddenly popular and in the midst of that popularity this thoroughly original example could have brought considerably more without comment.Lot # 332 1956 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 0557GT; Engine # 0557GT; Light Blue/Black leather; Estimate -; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $12,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,200,000. With Reserve. Silver painted Borrani RW3264 wire wheels, Marchal head and fog lights, Blaupunkt multiband radio, passenger’s seat headrest. – Alfonso de Portago and Edmund Nelson’s 1956 Tour de France winning car, sold after de Portago’s death to C. Keith W. Schellenberg. Restored by Bob Smith Coachworks in the mid-90’s for Lorenzo Zambrano and shown regularly in following years with a string of awards to show for it. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored better than new but not to excess and holding up nearly unbelievably well, the prime example of the first series LWB 250 GT competition berlinetta that became known as the Tour de France for the series of victories that began with this car, Portago and Nelson in 1956. – One of the stars of the 2015 Monterey week, a car that combines beauty, performance, purpose and a singularly important history with a first class restoration and superb preservation. It’s worth every penny of the not inconsiderable price it brought.Lot # 333 1952 Siata Daina Gran Sport Spider, Body by Stabilimenti Farina; S/N SL0255B; Engine # 9790; Neptune Blue/Cognac leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $325,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $325,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $357,500. No Reserve. 1394/64 hp, dual Weber carbs, floor shift 4-speed, steel wheels with hub caps, Firestone tires. – Fresh, detailed engine bay. Very good paint. Good older chrome on the bumperette and brightwork. Excellent top. Excellent interior. Always a West Coast car, it’s had American V-8 power under the hood in its life but now features an appropriate Fiat motor with the original Siata intake manifold and carbs. Rotisserie restored from 2008 to 2012 and still gorgeous. – This is an influential design by Stablimenti Farina. It doesn’t take a very close look to identify elements that predict many subsequent designs. It’s also MM Retro eligible, and in excellent, freshly restored condition. All that adds up to a very desirable little Italian car that caught the attention of the bidders at the Portola and brought a superior price.Lot # 337 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Coupe; S/N DB62448R; Engine # 4002394; Oyster Shell Grey/Red leather; Estimate $350,000 – $425,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $429,000. With Reserve. RHD. Triple SU carbs, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Vredestein tires, woodrim steering wheel, Motorola radio, power windows, Smiths dash clock. – Small scratch on the hood and another tiny one on the tail, but otherwise excellent paint. Excellent chrome. Cracked and worn original upholstery but otherwise very good redone interior. A Scottish market car that was brought to the U.S. shortly after, then restored to high standards three years ago. – Sold by RM here in 2008 for $123,750 before restoration in the aforementioned sound, unrestored condition. It is much better today, as the price it brought proves.Lot # 338 1935 Auburn 851 Supercharged Speedster; S/N 33222E; Engine # GH4633; Cigarette Cream/Brown pigskin; Estimate $600,000 – $750,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000. With Reserve. Dark-brown wire wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, radio, clock, heater. – Excellent older show quality restoration shows minimal age and use. Not flawless but way better than most. Owned for many years of Charles G. Arlington, one of a pair of identical 851SC Speedsters he owned, then sold to Glenn Pray and used as the model for his line of Boattail Speedster replicas. Restored in the mid-90’s to CCCA National First Prize winning condition with a new interior in 2008. – Sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2007 for $506,000 and maintained since then in even better condition with a new interior and mechanical attention when needed. One of the best of its breed, with an intriguing history and a restoration that is demonstrating its quality by holding up so well over time.
Lot # 340 1933 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe, Body by LeBaron; S/N 16143907; Engine # 16846; Dove Grey/Grey cloth; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $825,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $907,500. With Reserve. Dual enclosed sidemounts, chrome spoke body color wire wheels, rollup window shades, power brakes, adjustable shocks. – Mosier restoration and 1995 CCCA Grand Classic First Prize winner. Sympathetically and carefully restored to beyond perfect condition without going crazy, a brilliant, sophisticated and imposing automobile that needs nothing. – Offered at Barrett-Jackson in 1995 with a reported high bid of $165,000. Sold by Christie’s at Pebble Beach in 1995 fresh from restoration for $96,000, then by RM from Bernie Ecclestone’s collection in London in 2007 for $250,124 and at Worldwide Auburn in 2010 for $341,000. Its price here, hammered sold at double RM’s low estimate, is a remarkable event, but this is a remarkable automobile. No matter how remarkable, however, this is a staggering price.Lot # 342 1931 Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Supercharged 2-Seater Sports, Body by after Vanden Plas; S/N MS3929; Engine # MS3932; Dark Green, Black hood/Burgundy leather; Estimate $4,500,000 – $5,500,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $3,650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,015,000. With Reserve. RHD. 4382/182hp supercharged sohc four, 4-speed, aluminum fenders and hood/bonnet, fabric body, dual aeroscreens, Marchal headlights, dual SU carbs, Amherst-Villiers supercharger, radiator stoneguard, single sidemount, chrome spoke black hub and rim wire wheels, Blockley tires, Jaeger clock, original body included. – Currently wears bodywork reproducing the Vanden Plas 2-seater built for the first Blower Bentley raced at Brooklands in 1929. Thoroughly inspected and documented including an exhaustive report from Dr. Clare Hay supporting the conclusion that the frame, engine, supercharger, gearbox and Vanden Plas tourer body are as built by Bentley. Built to purposeful high speed touring standards with utilitarian and highly presentable cosmetics. Shows a little age and use. – This is the essence of a ‘Bentley Driver’ and unlike so many of its counterparts a highly original example with all its important as-delivered components still attached. It will be a long time before another of the 50 Blower Bentleys built becomes available, and one as complete and correct as this may never show up, making its acquisition for this price an event, and a sound value.Lot # 345 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980404500080; Engine # 1989804500093; Black/Green leather, Plaid cloth; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,800,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,450,000. With Reserve. Green fitted luggage, hinged steering wheel, black center wheels with polished rims, bias ply blackwall tires, belly pans. – Restored better than new with lovely engine compartment, beautiful paint and chrome and attractive interior. – Sold here by RM in 2012 for $1,171,500 in comparable crisp, sharp condition and showing just 34 more miles on its odometer now than it did three years ago. It is difficult to understand why the consignor didn’t accent the reported high bid if there was money anywhere close.Lot # 346 1954 Fiat 8V Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 000047; Engine # 000090; Red/Beige leather; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $700,000. With Reserve. 1996/110hp V-8, 4-speed, chrome spoke wire wheels, Michelin X blackwalls, Marchal headlights. – Restored by Mike Fennel for the Blackhawk Collection in the late 80’s, a restoration it still wears. Very good paint except for surface prep problems that have blistered at the bottom of the left windshield post. Very good interior. Chrome trim replated over small pits and defects, dull aluminum brightwork. Orderly underbody. Makes a good first impression but is troubling at a closer look. Represented to have its original engine. – A handsome and unusual 8V, but its Vignale coachwork has been overshadowed recently by the appearance of some spectacular 8Vs by other coachbuilders including the Ghia Supersonic at Bonhams this week. The Supersonic at Bonhams, in concours condition, sold for $1,650,000 hammer and it is not hard to see why the RM Sotheby’s bidders didn’t think this older restored Vignale wasn’t worth more than half that, even if the seller and RM did. Sometimes time and place work for a car; other times they work against it, as in this case.Lot # 348 1959 Porsche 356A Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 152136; Engine # 73117; Ruby Red, Black hard top/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000. No Reserve. Chromed steel wheels, Vredestein tires, Karmann hard top, gold badges, Blaupunkt AM/FM radio. – Small scratch above the passenger’s side door handle. Very good slightly older paint and chrome otherwise. Slightly dull rubber rub strips. Very good interior. Very clean engine bay and underbody. A 2012 restoration that has seen some use but doesn’t really need anything and comes equipped with the rare hard top. Represented as matching numbers engine. – An unusually complete list of options and accessories, including soft top and the factory option Karmann hardtop, make this a highly desirable Porsche even with its standard specification 60hp 1582cc engine. By some standards it is expensive, but not when the full list of equipment and the high quality restoration are taken into account.Lot # 350 1965 Bizzarrini P538 Roadster; S/N BP538001; Blue/Red leather; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $430,000. With Reserve. 327/365hp Chevy power, four Weber 45DCOE carbs, 5-speed transaxle, center driver location with passenger seat on the left and luggage space on the right. – A legendary automobile built to test the limits of FIA regulations. The originals were few and far between but the cars’ reputation was such that Bizzarrini built several in the 70’s for dedicated enthusiasts. This car was cataloged as one of the original 60’s-built cars, but qualified in as Sale Notice which described it as built by Bizzarrini in the mid-70’s. – Another P538 ‘continuation’ was at Mecum Monterey last year and brought a reported high bid of $500,000. The same car (s/n B04) was at Barrett-Jackson in January and again went home with the consignor on a reported bid of $575,000. Had this car been a real 60’s P538 the estimate might have been reasonable, but as a ‘continuation’ it could have been sold for the reported high bid rather than prolonging the agony now that its bona fides are established.
Lot # 351 1954 Talbot-Lago T26 Record GSL Coupe; S/N 111012; Burgundy/Gray leather piped in Burgundy; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $385,000. With Reserve. RHD. 4482/190hp, triple Solex carbs, Wilson pre-selector, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Michelin whitewalls, Cibie fog lights, column shift, Jaeger dash clock. – Good, sound older paint and chrome done in the mid-90’s. Very good lightly worn interior. Sidewalls are cracking a bit on all four tires. Tidy engine bay and underbody. An older restoration from the mid-1990s that’s seen light but careful enjoyment now in sound driver condition although needing attention to the front suspension and a new rear window. – This Talbot-Lago probably needs more attention than just to the suspension, having seen little use in years, but on the other hand is in remarkably good condition for a two decade old restoration. The big six-cylinder engine and Wilson pre-selector gearbox should give excellent performance and the T26 Record GSL is nothing if not rare and distinctive. This is an astute acquisition at a moderate price; the new owner should be proud of the car and of the transaction.Lot # 356 1936 Packard 120-B Convertible, Body by LeBaron; S/N 120B1112; Engine # X55750; Caramel/Brown leather with Taupe cloth inserts on the rear seats; Dark Brown cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. No Reserve. Body color steel wheels with hub caps and trim rings, Firestone wide whitewalls, Goddess of Speed radiator mascot, Packard amber driving lights, bench seat, floor shift, banjo steering wheel, Jaeger dash clock. – Believed to be one of two LeBaron bodied 120-Bs built for George Washington Hill, president of American Tobacco, the other being a similar fixed roof Victoria coupe for Mr. Hill’s wife. Very clean detailed engine bay. Very good, but not fresh paint and chrome. Excellent interior. Top fits perfectly. Restored in the 1990s by RM for actor Edward Herrmann, who narrated a History Channel documentary that covered the restoration. The car’s condition today is a testament to the quality of the work. While it may not be a top level concours winner, it’s still a gorgeous car with rare LeBaron coachwork on the light 120 chassis. – Probably unique coachwork (on this chassis), celebrity ownership, detailed television exposure, CCCA Full Classic ™ status and a restoration that has stood up to the test of time are the elements of a remarkable automobile. It could have brought more without testing the realm of reason and is a sound buy at this price.Lot # 359 1953 Austin-Healey 100/4 BN1 Roadster; S/N BN1L144642; Engine # 1B139318; Light Metallic Blue, White/Blue leather piped in Grey; Blue vinyl top; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve. 100/M spec engine with dual SU H6 carbs, 8:1 compression, alloy cylinder head, cold air box, overdrive 3-speed, painted centerlock wire wheels, Nankang tires, leather hood strap, banjo steering wheel. – Excellent, near perfect paint other than an unfortunate small but deep scratch one foot in front of the left edge of the windshield. Very good chrome. Tidy underneath. Lightly worn upholstery. Very well but not overdone car that’s been enjoyed a bit. It’s also been upgraded with Le Mans specification bits, so offers the added pep of an M-equipped car for driving events but doesn’t come with the added price of a factory 100/M like lot #244. – Sold by Gooding & Company at Pebble Beach in 2009 for the exact same amount that it brought here. The Healey market has grown since 2009, and the value of this very well restored 100/4 probably peaked a few years ago well above the price it brought today but has come back down to this level. Drivers like the 100/4s for their quick, responsive handling and the stump-pulling torque of their brawny four-cylinder engines, even if they don’t have the comfort of their 3000-series successors.Lot # 360 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Mk I Shooting Brake, Body by Radford; S/N DB6S2688L; Engine # 4002413; Goodwood Green/Tan leather; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $620,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $682,000. With Reserve. Automatic, chrome centerlock wire wheels, Pirelli tires, Marchal fog lights, Triumph taillights, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, Coolaire air conditioning, passenger’s side headrest, Smiths dash clock, Blaupunkt pushbutton AM/FM radio, power windows. – Tidy used engine bay. Good older paint overall but one long scratch down the left front fender and another down the driver door. Very good chrome. Lightly worn original upholstery that is impressively preserved. One of four Radford DB6 shooting brakes. Ordered new at the New York Automobile Show in 1966 by William E. Weiss, Jr. and kept in the same family since. Other than new paint and extensive mechanical service, it’s all original. The level of preservation is commendable, and while the Borg Warner automatic is a bit disappointing, it’s an impressive car. – The automatic may be less impressive but with a few hunting dogs in the back on gravel roads it is much more user-friendly. Some regard the surpassingly rare Aston Martin Shooting Brakes as a bit less elegant than the DB5 coupes but they are a visual statement of elegance and utility that makes an FJ40 or Range Rover look like the commodities they are. This car’s single family ownership, cosmetic and mechanical upkeep and originality are exceptional and brought a price no more than what was due.Lot # 361 1948 Tatra T87 4-Door Sedan; S/N 222667; Silver/Red; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. No Reserve. Single downdraft carb, steel wheels with hub caps, wide whitewalls, dual wing mirrors, suicide front doors, rear fender skirts, floor shift, banjo steering wheel, dash clock, sunroof. – Not a single panel fits quite right. Paint is decent. Lightly scratched window glass. Paint is a bit gloppy around the door hinges. Very good newer upholstery, but the paint on the dash is less than perfect. Tidy, cleaned up engine bay. Slightly dirty underbody. Tatras are quirky, interesting and rare, but this Tatra has imperfections that are hard to ignore. – Sold at the Bonhams Simeone Museum sale last Fall for $104,500 and at Leake Tulsa earlier this year for $75,000. All of its recent auction results have been expensive, but the Leake transaction was the most appropriate. Although it’s been cleaned up a bit since then, it still needs a lot and the new owner here has now sunk more into it than can support additional work.Lot # 362 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 673870; Engine # W8109-8; Old English White/Burgundy, Biscuit leather; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve. Body color steel wheels with hub caps, Vredestein blackwall tires, skirts, locking filler cap, leather-wrapped steering wheel. – Uneven panel fit all around. Decent paint quality but plenty of flaws. Masking mistakes with some overspray on the grille edges and Jag badge. Touch up on the back of the hood. Lots of big scratches in a cluster on the middle of the tail. Tired chrome, especially on the windshield frame and taillight bezels. Scratched windshield glass. Good interior overall. Used engine bay and underbody. Plenty of imperfections, but it’s hard not to like a white over red XK 120. Restored in the early 1990s and still sound, but nothing more than a 20-foot car and a driver. – Sold by Barrett-Jackson in Las Vegas in 2013 for $73,700 by its second owner. The result here is ample for a driver quality older restored XK 120 Roadster with plenty of miles since it was restored.
Reading Rick expert commentary on these auction events is ALMOST as good as being there and gives one an excellent sense of the market and how an experienced, pragmatic eye evaluates a car, whether as spectator or potential buyer. Thanks Rick and SCD !
I notice that several times you have said, ” if there was money at the bid, the deal couldn’t get done”, apparently questioning if some of the bids were real or not. Wayne Carini once said on his show Chasing Classic Cars, that apparently the auctioneers are allowed to make up “blue sky bids” up to any stated reserve on the car. I believe this happens more often than not!
Weather it is a “chandelier bid”, where the bidder does not exist, or a shill bidder who has been planted to run-up the price – – auctions can be a dangerous place for the uninformed.
I was delighted to see the little SIATA gran Sport in the auction and very pleased to see the selling price. A bit more than the $ 1500. I paid for mine in the early 1980s. Fortunately mine had never been given the American V8 exchange that so many had received as the little Fiat based engines gave problems, hence I still have the original Siata engine that was installed in the car in late 1951 with the Siata maifold & 32DRP 5 Weber carbs. My compliments for an excellent restoration right down to the wire wrapped fuel lines. I would enjoy communicating with the new owner if he is so inclined. Harry Hart