RM Sotheby’s Motor City, Inn at St. John’s, Plymouth, Michigan, July 25, 2015
RM Sotheby’s auction at the Concours d’Elegance of America is an essential part of a delightful weekend of collector car events in the heartland of the automobile industry. The atmosphere this year was helped in no small part by the resurgence of the auto industry in America.
Record sales, record profits and less expensive gasoline and diesel fuel go a long way to improving the attitude of collectors, sponsors and vendors. It helps that the automobiles being designed and built these days are good vehicles: fast, comfortable, fuel efficient and attractive. Their quality highlights the vast collection on display both in Saturday’s RM Sotheby’s auction and on Sunday at the Concours.
The Motor City auction furthermore is a relaxed and lower key buildup to the upcoming marathon of car events, concours, shows, tours and overlapping auctions that follows only two weekends after in Monterey. It’s a chance to get social updates on the auction regulars, work the bugs out of photographing and observing skills that have been less vigorously exercised in June and July and generally tune up for the intense grind that Monterey has become.
RM Sotheby’s Motor City auction has vastly different cars from what is about to follow. They’re older, less flashy and not as select but, as RM Sotheby’s has proven again and again in docketing its auctions, well suited to the bidders and spectators. It is, after all, a commercial endeavor where matching sellers, inventory and buyers is the recipe for success.
This year’s Motor City auction was highlighted by the Duesenberg SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton (s/n 2952, J-562) with coachwork after LaGrande, selling for $852,500, one of seventeen lots selling on successful hammer bids of $100,000 or more.
It sets the stage for Monterey in just three weeks.
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RM Sotheby’s Motor City 2015 – Auction Report
Lot # 103 1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 Convertible; S/N 338675M181711; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $25,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $27,500. No Reserve. Automatic, power steering, power brakes, buckets and console with tach, wire wheel covers, red line radial tires, pushbutton radio, remote outside mirror. – Represented as matching numbers original engine. Decent older paint, chrome and interior. Repainted underbody, some weak trim chrome. Orderly, detailed engine compartment with some oil mist and road grime along the chassis. A tidy and unusual driver quality car. – Sold for $37,800 at RM’s Ft. Lauderdale auction in 2007, time and miles have taken their toll on this older restored 4-4-2, but even at that, this is a modest result for an inherently sound and eminently usable example of unusual American muscle.Lot # 104 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0JB0931KS050487; Black/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $176,000. With Reserve. Blaupunkt Reno cassette stereo, Andial intercooler temp gauge, Black center Fuchs wheels, Comp T/A tires, A/C, power sunroof, power sport seats, power windows, power outside mirrors, Borla exhaust, aftermarket intercooler, original spare wheel and tire, tool kit, extra set of RUF wheels. – Good original paint and interior. Orderly but used engine compartment. Clean underbody. 51,419km and two family ownership from new, an exceptionally clean and consistently maintained example. – Ambitiously promoted by RM as “the last year of the 930 Turbo, ” this result at a hammer bid 14% over the high estimate is indicative of the near-frenzy that is manifest in 911 values in recent months. While this is a very good example, it also is a very expensive one.Lot # 105 1972 BMW 2002 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2581201; Chrome Yellow/Black vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500. No Reserve. 4-speed, 14-inch ATS alloy wheels, BFG blackwall radials, later sport seats, black 3-spoke leather rim steering wheel, antenna but no radio, 40DCOE Weber carbs, Hella driving lights. – Good paint, interior and major chrome. Aluminum trim is slightly dull. Underbody is original and hasn’t been touched. Orderly engine compartment. – A thoughtfully and competently built cafe racer 2002, the price it brought is full value for the car, but possibly a bargain for the fun it will be to drive.Lot # 106 1947 Packard Custom Super Clipper 7-Passenger Sedan; S/N 21513026; Packard Blue, Lowell Grey roof/Rose broadcloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000. With Reserve. Large hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, jump seats, rear compartment radio, fog lights, overdrive. – CCCA Full Classic ™. Poor but sound old paint, sound but old and slightly aged interior, weak old trim chrome. Underbody is original, clean and dry. An elegant and imposing but ultimately tired old car. – Offered here a year ago at a reported bid of 10% more than it attracted today, this is a big, imposing automobile, but an equally big, imposing project. The consignor should choose “No Reserve” next time and take any offer. In fact, the consignor should have grabbed this bid if there was any money in the Inn at St. John’s Grande Ballroom.Lot # 108 1948 Plymouth Special DeLuxe Convertible; S/N P15605096; Charlotte Ivory/Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900. No Reserve. 3-speed with overdrive, turn signals, pushbutton radio, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, heater. – Sound old paint but with abundant edge chips. Good upholstery and top. Steering wheel and instruments are sound but ageing. Dull gauge faces. Choke knob looks like it has been chewed on. Underbody is done but not recently. Front axle is either lowered or the springs have sagged noticeably. An unusual car but now just good for touring. – ‘Attractive’ does not apply to the Plymouth. Even at this price well under the low estimate it has so many needs that it won’t be particularly satisfying to own or to take out on cruise night. The seller should be extremely happy to get this much for it.Lot # 109 1950 Buick Roadmaster Limousine; S/N 16340056; Dark Blue, Black padded roof/Dark Blue leather, two tone Blue cloth; Estimate $35,000 – $40,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. With Reserve. Rollup divider, automatic, 4-barrel carburetor, high performance cam, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, power windows including ventipanes, radio, power division window, upgraded to 1952 appearance specs. – Sound but unimpressive old repaint, good upholstery front and rear, weak dashboard and some trim chrome, clean underbody. A sound but utilitarian old cosmetic restoration of a Buick built for Harlow Curtice after he moved from being President of Buick to the GM executive offices as Executive VP of GM on his way to the Presidency and Chairmanship of The General. – Harlow Curtice was fiercely loyal to Buick, where he had constantly picked, picked, picked away at Cadillac’s domination of luxury status with ever larger and more powerful Roadmasters and Limiteds. It was no surprise he eschewed a Cadillac when he advanced to GM’s corporate offices on the 14th floor. It must have stuck in the throat of Cadillac’s boss, but Curtice rode Buick to the top of GM. This car was sold by RM in Arizona in 2006 for $24,200, then reached a mind-bending result at Amelia in 2007 just over a year later when it sold for $110,000. Today’s sale makes more sense than either of the prior two and is a significant and unique car for a realistic price.Lot # 110 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH291216; Red, Red hardtop/Red, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250. With Reserve. 312/225hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, two tops, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, continental kit, cassette stereo, engine dressup. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Thoroughly restored to good but not top notch standards. Bought new by George and Peg Crockett, owners of Alamo Airlines and Alamo Field, now Las Vegas’s McCarran Field. Famously fed 5 gallon cans of fuel to a low flying Cessna 172 in 1958 to help keep it aloft for 64 days, 22 hours and 19 minutes. Later bought by Hughes Tool Company – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2006 for $86,400 and probably worth more in Vegas – where a replica is on display at McCarran – than in Plymouth, Michigan. This is a superior price for an otherwise ordinary ’56 T-bird, but its history sets it apart and makes is an unusual value at this price.
RM Sotheby’s Motor City 2015 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 111 1931 Cadillac 370-A V-12 5-Passenger Sedan; S/N 103536; Blue-Grey/Grey broadcloth; Estimate $60,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,750. No Reserve. Body color wire wheels, dual enclosed sidemounts, Trippe lights, radiator stoneguard, metal luggage trunk, smokers’ kits, pulldown shades. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored to show quality in 1993 and now a little aged. CCCA National First prize #1656. 2nd in class at Pebble Beach in 1999. Surface rust blisters under the left windshield post and minor paint lifting along the accents. Orderly and little used engine compartment. A great tour car that will show well at the end of the day. – For a restoration that is nearly a quarter-century old, or even one that is a half-decade old, this is a beautiful car that manifests the quality of the materials and workmanship lavished upon it, the craftsmanship of the restorer’s team and the care it has received subsequently. It’s “only” a Fisher sedan, but it can be driven and shown with unusual pride for a fraction of what it would cost to duplicate its quality today. At 21% over the low estimate the St. John’s bidders obviously appreciated its many qualities, but still got a great value for the money.Lot # 117 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N 7A1127916; Carlsbad Black, Red fender coves/Red leather; Black vinyl top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. With Reserve. Automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, WonderBar radio, chrome wire wheels, radial wide whitewalls. – Good older paint, chrome and interior, engine compartment is nearly like new showing a few miles and some age but amenable to being much better with some attention. Good dashboard, instrument and interior trim chrome. Isolated areas of bodywork prep flaws. Shadowed taillight chrome. Rear springs are far, far too strong and the whole car looks like it’s prepped for off-roading. A sound and presentable driver quality older restoration with some miles. – Even though this Skylark isn’t the best in the world, it is more than good enough to be worth the price it brought here, which leaves the new owner enough flexibility to fix some of the things it needs. It is a sound value.Lot # 131 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S55Y400095; Mark IV Red, White stripes/Black leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $319,000. With Reserve. BBS wheels, McIntosh CD stereo, red calipers. – Under 400 miles and pristine. – Sold for $259,600 by Auctions America in Ft. Lauderdale just four months ago. It seems like no auction these days is complete without a Ford GT and over $300,000 is what it costs to add one (with essentially zero miles) to a collection. It is more rare to find a GT with miles.Lot # 132 1968 Shelby Mustang GT500KR Convertible; S/N 8T03R199223-02334; Acapulco Blue/Black vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $190,000 – $240,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500. With Reserve. 428/335hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, pushbutton radio, 10 spoke alloy wheels, E70-15 Goodyear Speedway blackwall tires, Lucas fog lights, tilt steering column, glass back window. – Very good paint and major chrome. Good interior except for spots on the driver’s window sill. Underbody is done to good driver standards. Pitted wind wing chrome trim and some interior trim and bezel chrome. – Nine years ago, in 2006, RM sold this Shelby in Boca Raton for $240,750 and it is essentially the same car now that it was then, with only 152 more miles showing on its odometer. The price it brought (and RM’s estimate for it) is evidence of a slack Shelby GT500KR market.Lot # 134 1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible; S/N 8413197153; Mardi Gras Red/White leather; White cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Customized restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. With Reserve. 413/375hp, dual quads, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power swivel seats, pushbutton radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, power antenna, white cloth boot cover, MSD ignition. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody was done like new sometime ago but looks no more than a few months old. Chromed up underhood with aftermarket Edelbrock carbs. A showpiece. – A decidedly odd 300G individually presented with a coarse cloth top and boot cover and excessive chrome under the hood. Anyone who’s laid eyes on the underhood presentation of a long crossram 300 knows it needs no embellishment to make a huge impression. Frequently traded, too, starting at the Seroka auction in West Palm Beach in 1991 a no-sale at $42,500, then sold by Worldwide in Houston in 2008 for $115,000 and no-saled there in 2009 for $110,000. RM peddled it in Monterey later in 209 for $96,250; Mecum sold it in Indy in 2010 for $111,300, then back to RM in John Staluppi’s auction in December 2012 where it brought its best price ever, $137,500. Whew!Lot # 137 1930 Packard Deluxe Eight Dual-Cowl Sport Phaeton; S/N 185699; Engine # 186153; Dark Blue, Black fenders and accent/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $308,000. With Reserve. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts with mirrors, dual spotlights, wind wings, dual windshields, Pilot-Rays, radiator stoneguard, – Excellent paint, chrome, interior, top and trim. An older concours restoration showing little evidence of age or use. Best in Class at Pebble Beach in 1970, cosmetics redone by RM Restorations in the late 00’s, known history since the 1960’s. – This one heck of a fine Packard, a car good enough to be shown with some confidence but also not so good it can’t be driven and enjoyed, which is a rare combination. The St. John’s bidders recognized its attributes and paid a reasonable price for them.Lot # 141 2001 BMW Z8 Convertible; S/N WBAEJ13481AH60437; Titanium Silver/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. With Reserve. Two tops, 6-speed, xenon headlights, navigation, CD changer, alloy wheels, blackwall tires. – 15,500 miles from new and nearly flawless, a very well looked after example. – The result here is a third more than the Z8’s original sticker price. This one is extremely well equipped and has been meticulously looked after and in the mind of collectors this is appropriate money to pay.
RM Sotheby’s Motor City 2015 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 144 1958 Buick Limited Convertible; S/N 8E4012620; Warwick Blue/White, Blue leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. With Reserve. Dynaflow, P/S, P/B, dual remote spotlights, WonderBar radio, power seat, wheel covers, whitewalls, chrome fender skirts, power antenna. – Good paint in an eye-catching color, good interior and chrome. Orderly underbody with like new undercoat, Interior switches and chrome trim are old, weak and at least needs to be cleaned and polished. Engine compartment is neat and orderly but the chassis itself is old and grimy. A land yacht with eye-appeal and presence, but no better than a natty driver. – This result is a little generous for the condition and areas that need attention, but in line with Limited convertible values. It is a serious statement on the road, however, and the eye-appeal accounts for much of its value, along with its rarity.Lot # 146 1957 Buick Century Caballero Estate Wagon; S/N 6D2016949; Garnet Red, Dover White/Garnet, White vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000. With Reserve. Two-row seating, roof rack, aftermarket radio, P/S, P/B, Vintage Air, dual circuit brakes. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Driver’s door panel autographed by George W. Bush #43. Orderly and only lightly aged engine compartment. A competent older restoration with some more recent freshening. – Sold in a charity transaction for the George W. Bush Military Service Imitative after restoration by Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage at Pebble Beach in 2014 for a highly generous $280,000. It should have brought more than the reported high bid but would have been expensive even at the low pre-sale estimate.Lot # 147 1960 Pontiac Bonneville 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 860P21034; Coronado Red/Brick Red vinyl; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. With Reserve. Tri-Power, automatic, P/S, P/B, 8-lug wheels, whitewalls, WonderBar radio, power rear antenna, cruise control, Speed Guard speedometer, electric wipers, bucket seats, no console, P/W, A/C. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is like new. Multiple AACA awards including Repeat Grand National and Preservation. – A thoroughly spectacular, unusually comprehensively optioned and beautifully restored and maintained Pontiac. Both the buyer and the seller should be satisfied with this result, although 5 or 10 thousand more would not have been excessive given its equipment and condition.Lot # 148 1958 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible; S/N 58F048074; White/Red leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. With Reserve. Automatic, P/B, P/W, P/S, power seat, wheel covers, Vogue gold line narrow whitewall radial tires, signal seeking radio. – Dull old paint with popped microblisters, chips and scratches. Cracked original leather with pulled seams in the front. Cracked and peeling old undercoat. Tired original engine compartment detailed with a steam genny. Duct taped hood insulation. Aged but not dilapidated, represented as 24,454 miles from new. – Generously promoted by RM as a ‘Preservation Class’ contender, the badly blistered paint and cracked upholstery pulling apart at the seams do not commend themselves to preservation. The seller should be extremely happy to get this much for a car that could have been sold for much less without the hype.Lot # 149 1922 Mercer Series 5 Raceabout; S/N 15150; Engine # 6073; Yellow/Black leather; No top; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $300,000. With Reserve. Cylindrical bolster tank, bucket seats, dual rear cloth covered spares, black Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels, blackwall tires, wind wings, Gray & Davis electric headlights. – Discovered in Venezuela by Ray Wolff in 1967. Very good older paint, chrome and upholstery. Shows some age and use but is still a show stopper. – Circumstantial evidence, including its old Venezuela registration, supports the conclusion this Mercer was a Raceabout from new and it today is both striking and rare. Its consignor was determined to get his price in the low $300Ks and not a penny less, determination that is understandable, but should have gotten closer consideration at the reported high bid.Lot # 152 1957 Daimler Conquest Century New Drophead Coupe; S/N 90550; Yellow/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. With Reserve. RHD. Fluid Flywheel, fender mirrors, banjo spoke steering wheel, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, fog light, driving light, heater, single side-facing rear seat. – Sound repaint, chrome, interior and new top, fresh but done to mediocre standards. Old, dried out door seals. Superficially repainted underbody. Hood and cowl paint don’t match. Top of the engine is tidied up but the chassis is old and grungy. A recent superficial cosmetic redo to auction car standards. – Less bizarre than many Daimlers of the Fifties, but still pretty strange looking, no car got more attention during the preview than this one. Unfortunately its auction-car presentation was less than reassuring and that is accurately reflected in the price it brought.Lot # 156 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Dual-Cowl Phaeton, Body by after LaGrande; S/N 2592; Dark Blue, Tan sweep panel/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $850,000 – $1,100,000; Rebodied or re-created, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $775,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $852,500. With Reserve. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls. dual sidemounts with strap-on mirrors, Pilot-Rays, dual remote spotlights, dual windshields, Beige leather trunk. – Used as the Chicago factory demonstrator, supercharger installed by Duesenberg in period. Later had a Willoughby Berline body, then rebodied by Harold Orchard in a copy of the original LaGrande dual cowl phaeton for Hubert Fischer during restoration. Very good paint, chrome and interior. 2014 Greenwich Concours Best of Show. Its older concours restoration now shows some tour miles but is still beautiful and imposing. – Sold by Auctions America in 2013 at Auburn Fall for $858,000, offered at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale this January with a reported high bid of $700,000. This is a real Duesenberg with a factory-installed supercharger on the engine originally in this chassis. Its acknowledged rebody in one of the most attractive of all Duesenberg designs is the burden it bears, but so many other Duesenbergs carry the same burden it’s hardly significant, especially at this price. It’s a quality car in nearly impeccable older restored condition and is a sound value at this price.
RM Sotheby’s Motor City 2015 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 158 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Roadster; S/N WDBBA48D2GA041947; Red, Red hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $25,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750. No Reserve. Automatic, later alloy wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, Clarion CD stereo, A/C, P/W, two tops, original books and manuals. – Good repaint, upholstery and chrome. Very clean underbody. 36,772 miles from new and a clean CarFax. – This is an unusually good example of a great driving M-B. Most have been driven into the ground exactly because they’re such user-friendly automobiles, so finding a low miles, exceptionally clean example like this is rare and the St. John’s bidders recognized it as such. It’s no bargain, but it’s not expensive, either.Lot # 160 1958 Buick Special Convertible; S/N 4E6002362; Carlsbad Black/Red; White vinyl top; Estimate $65,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,750. With Reserve. P/S, P/B, automatic, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, aftermarket radio. – Two owners from new (with an intervening period with a dealer) and still titled in the name of the first owner. Decent paint, interior and top. Old, cracked vent window seals, grungy chassis. Chipped original interior window sill paint. The top of the engine compartment has had some attention, but not the bottom. A superficially attractive cosmetic redo to usable driver condition. – The superficial cosmetic work on this bottom-of-the-line Buick Special convertible gave it the bling it needed to impress the St. John’s bidders. It would not have been a good value at $40,000 and at this price it is expensive.Lot # 161 1960 Mercury Monterey Convertible; S/N 0J35N504465; Yellow/Gold vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $20,000 – $40,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,750. No Reserve. 383/280hp, wheel covers, whitewalls, dual outside mirrors, pushbutton radio, P/S, P/B, automatic. – Good older repaint, major chrome, original interior and top. Pitted vent window post chrome. Clean, orderly engine compartment. Underbody painted over old undercoat. A good driver quality Mercury with a known ownership history and 34,490 miles from new. – The St. John’s bidders put a modest premium on this rather ordinary Mercury for its known miles, history and originality (other than the paint) and even at that it’s less than a comparably equipped Pontiac Catalina convertible without the originality. The difference is typical for Mercurys, but represents an astute buy for someone who appreciates value.Lot # 165 1957 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer ‘Super D-500’ 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 37275779; White, Metallic Blue/Blue vinyl, cloth; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve. 325/310hp dual quad V8, automatic, P/W, P/S, P/B, P/Seat, A/C, dual antennas, pushbutton radio, wide whitewalls, spinner wheel covers – Restored to showroom condition and done right throughout but now showing some age. Die cast side trim is chromed over pits. Interior is still nearly like new. Fenderwells have some sort of splotchy growth on them. An impressive and powerful Dodge with a restoration that is holding up very well. – Sold by RM at Boca Raton, Florida in 2004 for $42,265 and in nearly as good condition today as it was then with only 290 more miles on the odometer. Even at recent subdued inflation rates, this car has failed to keep up. The price it brought is appropriate and represents a good value for someone with the perspective to recognize its rarity and performance.Lot # 166 1941 Buick Roadmaster Convertible Phaeton; S/N 13940312; Gunmetal Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve. 320/165 hp, Compound Carburetion, 3-speed, turn signals, heater, pushbutton radio, rear seat ashtray and courtesy lights, fog lights, grille guard, skirts, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls. – Excellent older clearcoat paint, very good chrome, upholstery and top. Underbody is like new. A quality older restoration showing little use and holding up very well. – The last year that Buick built a convertible sedan, one of only 312 of which about 17 are known to survive. Compound Carburetion makes this one especially desirable, and its condition is hard to fault. The bidders recognized the Roadmaster’s rarity as well as its exceptional condition, and still got a good deal in a fine automobile.Lot # 168 1954 Mercury Monterey Sun Valley 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 54SL28589M; Parklane Green, Dark Green roof/Dark Green, Ivory vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $45,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve. Automatic, P/S, P/B, windshield washer, wheel covers, whitewalls, Green transparent roof panel, skirts, pushbutton radio. – Good paint, chrome, interior, glass and roof panel. Engine compartment was done some time ago and the hood won’t be opened on cruise night ’til it’s had lots of attention. Driver’s seat cushion corner springs have collapsed. Underbody got a recent quick respray that left almost as many shadows as it covered up. A sound driver that will reward some care and attention. – This is a disappointing car with many shortcuts and shortcomings despite being a desirable model. The price it brought accurately reflects its superficiality, as well as its potential.Lot # 169 1947 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible; S/N 8432566; Engine # 8402282; Blue Grey/Grey cloth; Beige cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250. No Reserve. Automatic, pushbutton radio, sombrero wheel covers, wide whitewalls, skirts, P/W, 1946 engine. – 1982 AACA National First Prize and Senior. Excellent older paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is like new. Dash, gauges, steering wheel and knobs are sharp, crisp and like new. – Do you suppose the bidders penalized this ’47 Cadillac on account of its ’46 engine? Nothing else seems to be reasonable, in which case the last bidder standing got an outstanding Cadillac convertible for a highly reasonable price.
RM Sotheby’s Motor City 2015 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 170 1941 Chrysler Windsor Highlander Convertible; S/N 7954032; Brick Red/Red leather, Red and Blue plaid; Beige cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. No Reserve. Fluid Drive, pushbutton radio, bumper overriders, fog lights, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts. – 1998 AACA Grand National winner and still beautiful. Great paint with only small chips where the hood meets the fender. Interior is lightly stretched but still nearly like new. Great interior trim including marbleized dash, steering wheel and windowsills and folding knobs on window winders. Engine compartment is, if anything, better than new. Still a show car. – Really? Restored and a 1998 AACA winner? This car is nearly as perfect today as it was seven years ago. The marbleized dash, interior trim and steering wheel are a marvel. The engine compartment is better than cars restored six months ago. When seeking ‘the best car you can afford’ this Windsor Highlander should be high on the list and is a beautiful buy at this price. ‘Quality’ is hard to define, but its picture in the dictionary should be this Chrysler.Lot # 171 1950 Buick Roadmaster Convertible; S/N 15848949; Metallic Blue/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $65,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve. Dynaflow, sombrero wheel covers, wide whitewalls, signal seeking radio, P/W, heater. – Good older clearcoat repaint, decent but not exceptional chrome, excellent upholstery and interior trim. Clean, orderly engine compartment. A quality older restoration to good standards that is holding up very well. – A quality car, both intrinsically and in its condition, this Roadmaster could have brought another $10,000 without being expensive.Lot # 172 1950 Chrysler Royal Town and Country Station Wagon; S/N 70067570; Pagoda Cream/Brown alligator grain; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,250. No Reserve. 2-speed semi-automatic with overdrive, windshield visor, remote spotlight, heater, pushbutton radio, wheel covers, whitewalls. – Good paint, chrome, wood, interior. Dead body seals, old window channels, front door inner window felts missing, broken antenna mast, grungy old undercoat in wheelwells. A superficial cosmetic redo that has no good surprises. – Sold by RM at Boca Raton in 2004 for $42,265, then a no-sale at Meadow Brook in 2009 at a reported high bid of $45,000, this is a pretty car, from 15 feet. Any closer than that and the stuff that hasn’t been done quickly overshadows the pretty wood, paint, chrome, interior and roof. The trouble is that correcting the oversights will almost inevitably lead to a succession of ‘while-we’re-at-its’ and soon be a full restoration (as well as discovering what has been glossed over.) The seller should be supremely happy to get this much for this superficially presented Plymouth.Lot # 174 1959 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible; S/N 59F127640; Seminole Red/Red; White vinyl top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750. With Reserve. Automatic, P/S, P/B, signal seeking radio, skirts, wheel covers, whitewall tires, Autronic Eye, power windows. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment is nearly like new, showing some age but little if any use. Underbody was done like new. A sound and very presentable older restoration that could be better with some attention to cleanup and details. – This is a quality restoration of a quality automobile. It shows a little age now, but nothing that some attention can’t compensate for and the price is nothing if not reasonable.Lot # 177 1954 Packard 5431 Convertible; S/N 54792420; Chariot Red/Red, Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,250. No Reserve. Automatic, P/S, P/B, windshield washer, 4-barrel carburetor, signal seeking radio, skirts, wheel covers, wide whitewalls. – Fair repaint with light texture for extra character. Good interior, chrome and top. Cracked door seals. Old undercoat in fenders. Orderly but aged engine compartment recently pressure washed in lieu of detailing. A superficial auction car. – It may be more rare than a Caribbean, but it isn’t more attractive and the price it brought here is entirely appropriate.Lot # 178 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194677S111701; Engine # F0201JC 7111701; Goodwood Green, White stinger/Black vinyl; Black top; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. With Reserve. 427/400hp, 4-speed, side exhaust, Rally wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, red line tires, wood grain steering wheel, AM/FM radio. – Oil misted engine compartment and chassis but clean and detailed up top. Good upholstery and top. Windshield header chrome is scuffed. Clean, orderly underbody. A quality car, but getting a little old and shopworn. – Cataloged as a 435hp but badged and numbered as an hydraulic lifter 400 hp. It’s been looking for a home for a long time, starting at Auburn Fall last August at $97,500, then Mecum Chicago in October at $92,500 and Kissimmee in January at $95,000. Two of those three times (as well as here) it’s been represented as a 435hp car, a claim that begs understanding when the engine is clearly marked and stamped as a JC-code 400hp. Let’s just say it brought a reasonable price today for what it is, a very pretty Corvette roadster with three deuces on its Big Block motor.Lot # 180 1963 Porsche 356B 1600 Coupe; S/N 121371; Engine # P609112; Silver-Grey/Black leather; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. With Reserve. Sliding sunroof, chrome wheels, blackwall radial tires, no radio, mismatched spare. – Empty emblem mounting holes on rear deck. Sound but thickly clearcoated paint, good interior and chrome. Old undercoat in the wheelwells. Clean, orderly engine compartment with Solex carbs. Scratched windshield trim. A good driver quality Porsche coupe. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2006 for $55,000, then at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale in 2007 for $45,100, the price here is indicative of 356 Porsche values, even ones with only 28 more miles on their odometer than they had back in 2006. Why own a 356 coupe and not drive it? It’s not a showpiece like a Speedster or Convertible D, it’s just a sunroof 356B coupe. The whole idea is to drive it.
Curious what Mr. Carey thought of the ’33 Packard phaeton? Seemed like a very good buy on a lovely car–but mostly we read about cars from the ’40s–60s here.
Everett,
I apologize for disappointing you on the ’33 Packard, but I can’t view and do justice to all of them.
I was a little tarnished (that’s a level below rusty) at St. John’s, having been moving into a new home for the preceding two weeks.
I’ll keep your interest in mind when I’m in Monterey next week.
Rick
I was a bidder on that ’31 Cadillac V12 Sedan, and I think your description is dead on. Fantastic car; so much presence. If it were an open model, it would have been 3x the cost. I just wish I was the successful bidder instead of an unsuccessful one.
It seems like there are a lot of great deals right now in 1930s Full Classic closed models. Cars that were very expensively restored 20 or 30 years ago are coming up for sale at reasonable prices, often as their long-term owners are thinning out their collections. The buyers for 1930s Full Classics are heavily focused on open models, and they tend to be a pretty specific group. With closed models out of fashion, there are some great deals out there.
Thanks for the excellent coverage, as always.
-Regular Reader
Total novice here – – but curious how you obtain the auction histories, which are often very enlightening (though also often sad to see how little most of the cars are driven over many years of ownership).