Russo and Steele, Scottsdale, Arizona, January 15-19, 2015
Showmanship is an essential element in the collector car auction business. Every auction company practices it, each with its own style.
No one practices it with more style and flair than Russo and Steele where Drew Alcazar has elevated auction company showmanship to a new level. It’s loud, frenetic, even frantic. Drew, Marty Hill and the rest of the Russo and Steele auction crew do their best to excite and incite their bidders and consignors. Their best is very good, as good as or better than anywhere else, and the event they create is unparalleled in its atmosphere.
Each year Russo and Steele’s signature event, set up on the desert adjacent to the intersection of Scottsdale Road and the 101 Loop highway, adds its own pace and presentation, consistently showcasing a wide selection of very good cars, most of them at moderate prices for what they are, in a fast-paced show unlike any other in the Valley of the Sun.
They consistently have some of the best racing cars in the Valley, attracted by Drew Alcazar’s regular participation driving immaculately prepared cars in historic road racing events. It is a show not to be missed, for oh, so many reasons.
This year’s Russo and Steele Scottsdale sale was true to its history. A bit down on consignments and total dollars in 2015 from 2014, but up from 2013, and higher than both years in the sell-through rate, it is a key element in the Arizona collector car auction week.
Here are the numbers:
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Andrew C. Newton was “boots on the ground” at Russo and Steele this year; editing and the transaction comments are the responsibility of the editor, however.
Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report
Lot # F401 1991 Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 Coupe; S/N 1G1YZ23J2M5801085; Black/Black leather; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Post-block sale at $15,363 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,899. With Reserve – 350/375hp, 6-speed, saw blade wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, power adjustable seats, CD stereo, locking glove box. – Decent paint with some big scratches on the hood and tail. Bodywork on the nose is lightly warped. Very good weather stripping. Very good interior. Very well preserved car. Aside from some paint flaws, there’s not much to fault it for. – Bid to $15,000 on the block. There are many, many very good ZR-1s out there, often with little or no use, which is unfortunate because they are delightful road cars. This one has been used as intended and maintained to good standards which is reassuring, as is the price it brought. [Final price is $16,900, rounding error causes the result shown.]Lot # F425 1952 MG TD Roadster; S/N TD14710; Black/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Post-block sale at $25,455 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,001. With Reserve – Twin SU carbs, 4-speed, Lucas driving lights, Lucas headlamps, wing mirrors, disc wheels, Vredestein Sprint tires, luggage rack, rear-mounted spare wheel, banjo steering wheel. – Restoration completed in 2010. Excellent paint and chrome. Lightly worn interior. Fantastic, highly detailed engine bay. An ideal restored TD. – Bid to $26,000 on the block, closed later with this result, a reasonable price for a very pretty TC that should need nothing other than a new owner ready to take it out and extract as much performance as possible from its 54hp. [Final price is $28,000, rounding error causes the result shown.]
Lot # F432 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L38680; Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750. With Reserve – Centerlock wire wheels, Michelin Pilot Primacy tires, Lucas driving lights, Moto-Lita wood rim steering wheel, wood shift knob, heater. – 8,000 miles and 15 years on a restoration that is showing age. Tired paint with a big bubble on the hood and a few scratches and dings on each door. Dull chrome. Tired vinyl top with scratched window plastic. Poor panel fit on the trunk. Very good interior. May have been great when it was fresh from the shop, but that was quite some time ago. – While the BJ8 Phase 2 may be the most desirable of the grand touring Big Healeys, this isn’t the most desirable example, by a long shot. It brought the modest price it deserves, an appropriate compromise between its mediocre condition and drivability.Lot # F456 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194376S121595; Milano Maroon/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,550. With Reserve – 427/390hp, 4-speed, alloy aftermarket wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, wood rim steering wheel, push button radio, dash clock. – Very tired old repaint with chips around panel edges and swirl marks. Decent chrome. Right rear bumper is coming loose. Very good interior. Used but clean engine bay. Imperfect door fit. Non-original wheels. Presents like a preserved example but has a repaint and a rebuilt matching numbers engine. Not ugly, but definitely a driver. – Sold by Kruse here in Scottsdale in 1992 for $25,500, very fresh from a cosmetic restoration which is still on it today, 23 years later. Looks like it, too, but is sound and a new owner can spiff up its presentation and enjoy driving it. A sound value.Lot # F463 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback; S/N 1F05M136030; Grabber Yellow, Black/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700. With Reserve – 351/285hp, Ram Air hood, 4-speed, rear spoiler, Magnum 500 wheels, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, Hurst shifter, tachometer, Audiovox cassette stereo. – Represented as 23,542 actual miles. Very good paint and interior. High quality restoration. Not overdone. Still looks fresh. – Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas sale last September for $27,500, this Mach 1 with its high performance 351 is a highly desirable Mustang and even at this price represents a sound value. The seller’s astute buy-and-flip is irrelevant.Lot # F515 1968 Jaguar XKE S1.5 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E16161; Dark Blue/Dark Blue; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $56,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $61,600. With Reserve – Triple SU carbs, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Coker Classic red line tires, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, locking glove box, Sony cassette stereo. – A tired older repaint with a touch up above the left front wheel, chips around panel edges and brightwork and a small bubble on the trunk. Small dents on the passenger door. Grille opening is badly bent out of shape. Good, lightly worn seats and top. Original top boot is pretty tired. An Arizona car from new. A car to drive, enjoy and not take too seriously. – With Jaguar XKEs pushing well into six figures this Series 1 1/2 Roadster is a very good value, a car that can be driven and enjoyed or in the hands of an experienced shop be turned into something much more impressive and valuable. As long as the E-type trend continues it has nowhere to go in value but up.Lot # F527 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N E7FH334664; Black, White hardtop/Black vinyl with White inserts; Black top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250. With Reserve – 312/270hp E-Code car with two four barrel carbs. 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, Firestone whitewalls, two tops, heater, power brakes, radio. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Highly detailed engine bay. Fresh frame off restoration that looks like it’s hardly been driven, which suggests the 183 miles on the odometer are since the restoration was completed. – An impressive car that brought a reasonable price that could have been $10-15,000 higher without going too far.Lot # F531 1971 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine; S/N PRH4609; White, Burgundy/Black leather piped in Red up front, Green cloth piped in Red in back; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $49,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $53,900. With Reserve – Brass Spirit of Ecstasy radiator mascot, wing mirrors, power windows, tinted windows with darker tint in back, burned wood dash and door trim, Kienzle dash clock, power glass rear division, interior courtesy lights, Clarion cassette stereo, barometer and Angelus dash clock set into the wood just below the division, Philips 45 vinyl player in rear, wood TV cabinet with Sony television, window curtains, telephone, another Clarion cassette in rear. – Ex-Tom Jones. Weak paint with long cracks throughout. Paint is chipping heavily on some of the burgundy parts. Poor panel fit. Big touch up beside right headlight. Worn leather in front. Excellent wood. Cloth is quite good. The seemingly endless list of equipment and luxuries as well as the celebrity ownership set this otherwise shabby vintage Rolls apart. Usable to arrive in style and impress your friends, but won’t go anywhere near a show field. – Even is such aged and used condition this is a rare and luxurious Rolls-Royce and is a very good value at the price.Lot # F567 1991 Ferrari 348tb Coupe; S/N ZFFRG35A9M0090679; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $38,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $42,350. No Reserve – 5-speed, Pirelli P Zero tires, power windows. – Very good original paint. holding up well. Very good interior. Clean wheels. Condition corresponds with the 36,668 miles on the odometer. – Sold here a year ago for $44,770 and worth modestly, and appropriately, less money now. 348s are still scratching for traction among Ferrari collectors, perhaps ignored on account of their cheesy Testarossa-styled flanks, but present a good opportunity for gaining the Ferrari experience for less than the cost of a college education.Lot # F571 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH203180; Light Green/Light Green vinyl with White inserts; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. With Reserve – 312/225hp, automatic, power brakes, power steering, wire wheel covers, Firestone whitewalls, rear fender skirts, Continental kit, Town and Country radio, dash clock. – 300 miles since restoration. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Top is a bit wrinkled up. Detailed engine bay. Unusual but attractive color combination. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2011 for $61,600 and very well preserved and little used since then which brought a superior return for the seller’s careful stewardship and limited use.
Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # F575 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I BT7 Roadster; S/N HBT7L16816; Old English White, Black/Black vinyl piped in White; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $63,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $69,300. With Reserve – Tri carb, overdrive 4-speed, painted centerlock wire wheels, Vredestein tires, single wing mirror, 2+2 seats, banjo steering wheel. – Restored in the last couple of years. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Near perfect vinyl top. Showable car. – This is a superior price, but it bought a superior car.Lot # F582 1949 Packard Custom Eight 22nd Series Club Coupe; S/N G283010CE; Black/Brown cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $17,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,250. No Reserve – Column shift manual, cormorant radiator mascot, windshield visor, dual mirrors, rear fender skirts, wood dash, dash clock, radio, locking glove box. – Strong paint. Tired chrome. Pitted brightwork. Worn steering wheel and interior controls. Very good upholstery that would be excellent but for a few small stains on the passenger side. Side moldings are poorly screwed on. Represented as matching numbers and with 42,114 actual miles. Superficially restored car with a level of rarity (less than 2,000 built) and a commanding presence that add to its desirability. – Sound and believably low miles, but mediocre at best, this result represents a significant premium for the mileage, a premium not entirely deserved on account of the condition.Lot # S600 1962 Ford Thunderbird Coupe; S/N 2Y83Z102293; Beige/Beige vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $16,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $17,600. No Reserve – 390/300hp, automatic, chrome wire wheels, Fortune Delta narrow whitewalls, air conditioning, power windows, push button radio. – Strong paint with some chips and dings on the hood. Strong interior with nothing more than general wear and tear on the seats and dash. Tidy original engine bay and undercarriage. A solid, mostly original car that’s gotten the work it needed when it needed it and would make a satisfying driver. – This price is more money than car, but not enough to be significantly expensive; in percent it is a big number, but it dollars it is not even the value of the paint job.Lot # S611 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SE Coupe; S/N 11102412001426; Silver/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000. With Reserve – Automatic, Kelly Explorer tires, power windows, Becker Europa radio, VDO gauges, dash clock, locking glove box. – Tired paint and interior. Strong chrome. Used but fairly tidy engine bay. Cracking steering wheel. Showing close to 100,000 miles both on the odometer and in its condition. In preserved condition, but you wouldn’t say carefully preserved. – There are too many flaws on this 280SE to justify paying much if any more than the reported high bid for it. Making it the car it deserves to be requires expensive attention to every aspect and the seller’s hope of getting more for it than the reported bid is vain.Lot # S613 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 4R47K102909; Rangoon Red/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $36,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,150. With Reserve – 289/271hp, 4-speed, Firestone FT10 narrow whitewalls, dual mirrors, column-mounted tach, factory radio. – Very good paint overall, but with some orange peel on the roof and runs near the drip rail. Strong chrome. Engine bay is correct and spotless, almost without flaw. Very good lightly worn interior. A decent but not meticulous restoration, desirably equipped. – An unusual high performance Fairlane 500 with the desirable K-code V-8 and 4-speed. Its presentation has some shortcomings but it is still a sound and usable driver that will make a good account of itself on cruise night if not on the show field. Sold for $64,660 at Mecum’s Anaheim auction in 2012, the price it brought here is a sound value.Lot # S616 1987 Rolls-Royce Corniche II Drophead Coupe; S/N SCAZD02A5HCX20882; Black, Black vinyl roof/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $51,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $56,100. With Reserve – Automatic, Spirit of Ecstasy radiator mascot, Michelin XW4 tires, black vinyl roof, tinted windows, wood dash and window trim, power windows, factory cassette stereo. – Very good original paint. Good, presentable roof vinyl. Very good, lightly worn interior. A well kept and lightly used Corniche II with condition that corresponds with the 57,455 miles showing on the odometer. – Remarkably well preserved and equipped, an old Rolls-Royce that still epitomizes luxury and quality and is a sound value at this price. It is a car that will even three decades after it was built (and sold for $162,500) get front row placement outside pretty much any fine dining establishment.Lot # S624 1997 Dodge Viper GTS Coupe; S/N 1B3ER69EXVV301643; Blue, White stripes/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200. With Reserve – 8.0/450hp, 6-speed, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, aluminum filler cap, tinted windows, CD stereo. – Very good paint with only a few small rock chips on the nose. Excellent interior. Showing just 7,625 miles, and clearly pampered the whole way. Fully documented. Exactly the kind of Viper that you’d want to buy. – The condition of this Viper GTS is exceptionally reassuring with less than a thousand careful miles since it was delivered and that is an excellent reason to support the price it brought here.Lot # S663 1984 Lamborghini Jalpa P350 GTS Coupe; S/N ZA9J00000ELA12127; Rosso Corsa/Crème leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800. With Reserve – Four twin choke carbs, 5-speed, OZ alloy wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires on the front, Bridgestone Potenza tires on the rear, removable roof, tinted windows, power windows, Pioneer CD stereo, air conditioning. – Good paint overall with a scuff on the front bumper and a big scratch on the engine cover. Front bumper is also ever so slightly crooked and has some drips from a repaint. Chip with touch up paint above right rear wheel. Passenger side mirror is dropping permanently. Very good, lightly worn interior. Presentable, neat example of one of Lamborghini’s underappreciated entry level cars. Stallone drove a black one in one of the Rocky movies. Stand out from the 308 crowd. – A handsome flip for someone, having changed hands at Fall Auburn for $52,250 four months ago, but a result here the new owner shouldn’t expect to repeat. This car is fully retail valued at this price, and then some.Lot # S667 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 30837S102202; Sebring Silver/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,200. With Reserve – 327/340hp, single four barrel carb, alloy wheels, Uniroyal Rallye GT tires, factory AM push button radio, dash clock, aftermarket passenger cupholder. – Strong paint with a small chip and a scratch on the passenger door. Inch long scratch on hood. Noticeable scratch on the rear glass. Very good, clean engine bay. Excellent interior. Collectible Split Window in very lightly used restored condition and in a very attractive color combination. – The combination of the high performance 340hp 4-barrel engine and a very good and lightly used restoration make this a highly desirable Corvette with nearly the power of the FI engine and none of the service issues. It is a sound value at this price.
Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # S673 1964 Porsche 356C 1600 C Coupe; S/N 215355; Yellow/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $39,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $42,900. With Reserve – Firestone Firehawk FTX tires, FM radio, leather-wrapped steering wheel. – Awful paint coming up around the window edges and with obvious touch ups to try to hide it. Bubbles around the bottoms of the doors and edges of the engine cover. Dull, pitted chrome. Bad weather stripping that is coming up in places. Pitted wheels. Reasonably clean engine bay and undercarriage. Decent interior. Late 356 that benefits from disc brakes and 1600 C engine, but let down at every angle by poor exterior cosmetics and potentially serious structural issues. – Potentially a six-figure Porsche but it will take much, if not all, of the difference between that and the purchase price to realize that potential. The risk is that it becomes a quickie project with superficial attention to visual appearance and no meaningful attention to any serious faults found in the process.Lot # S700 1963 Jaguar XKE SI Coupe; S/N 887002; Blue/Blue leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000. With Reserve – 2 previous owners, chrome wire wheels, tool kit, original jack, operating manual and service manual. – Repaint was sloppy, especially underneath the hood. Recently powder coated undercarriage is a little sloppy but not bad. Chrome wire wheels are unpolished with minimal surface rust. Engine bay is very tidy. Interior is in good shape with minor wear to the center console. A great driver that missed the mark with its last paint job. – It deserved to be loose and selling long before reaching the reported high bid.Lot # S702 1975 Alfa Romeo Montreal Coupe; S/N AR1428702; White/Black leather; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Post-block sale at $73,636 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $81,000. With Reserve – SPICA fuel injection, ZF 5-speed, limited slip differential, Campagnolo wheels, Toyo tires, wood rim steering wheel, Becker Monza Sport radio, power windows. – Very good newer paint and interior. Used but tidy engine bay. Pitting on both door handles. Scratched up glass. Represented as only having 54,088 km. A recent import from Europe and recently restored, but it was not a no expense spared job. F1 and endurance racing-derived engine, Marcello Gandini design and rarity are what make these cars. This isn’t the world’s best example, but there’s little serious to fault it for. – Bid to $80,000 on the block, closed later at this result. It’s the engine that makes the Montreal significant and has always endeared it to Alfa fans. As Dinos climb steadily in value the Montreal, at a quarter or less of the price, is ever more appealing, not to mention being a lot more car (and more rare) than a 190SL. This is a strong result for an example with easily identified shortcomings, but not unreasonable.Lot # S710 1963 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 12104010025509; White/Red; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $112,750. With Reserve – Hard and soft top, bumper guards, Becker radio, canvas top, wheel trim rings – Car was recently repainted and looks excellent except under the hood where the paint is cracked and chipped. Engine has been rebuilt and is very tidy under the hood. Undercarriage has been recently powder coated and looks great. Trim is pitting and cracked all over the car. Interior looks great aside from the pitting trim. An attractive car missing the final touches. – 190SLs are a hot commodity and the consignor prepared this one to appeal under the lights of the auction arena. The bidders weren’t misled, however, and discounted it appropriately for its myriad faults but the superficial work doesn’t give much confidence in how well the rest of it was done.Lot # S728 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B159416; Limelight, Black vinyl roof/Black; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $247,500. With Reserve – 426/425 Hemi, Shaker hood, power front disk brakes, power steering, competition style hood pins, rear leaf springs, A-727 Torque Flight, Vinyl bucket seats, floor console, Music Master AM radio – Original paint looks good from about 10ft out but closer inspection shows severe road rash and surface rust underneath the front bumper. Engine bay is tidy but has some minor rust and chipped paint. Vinyl roof is in excellent shape. Under carriage is in good shape with no signs of rust. Interior Vinyl is faded. Well kept highly original Hemi Cuda. – No representations were made about mileage but the 426/425 Hemi (represented as matching numbers) was documented with a copy of the original production broadcast sheet. The originality is impressive and the color is desirable. The price is an intelligent reconciliation of specs, age and originality.Lot # S754 1962 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I Roadster; S/N HBT7L19072; Blue/Dark Blue leather piped in White; Dark Blue vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700. No Reserve – Triple SU carbs, 4-speed, badge bar, painted centerlock wire wheels, side curtains, banjo steering wheel, heater. – Very good paint. Good, presentable chrome, top and interior. Tidy, very lightly used engine bay. Three owner car. Was a concours car in the 1990s and another restoration was started in 2012. Not quite a concours car now, but a gorgeous driver. – Not as popular as the later Big Healeys but possessed of a character more in tune with the earlier 100/4s, this is a sound and presentable example at a price that is fair to both the buyer and the seller.Lot # S756 1990 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe; S/N ZFFSG17A2L0086183; Black/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500. No Reserve – 4942/380hp, 5-speed, BF Goodrich tires, locking filler cap, tinted windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, power steering added. – Represented as 18,074 miles from new. Excellent paint. Very good, lightly worn interior. Under 1,000 miles on a full engine-out belt service. Tidy, low mileage Testarossas that haven’t seen abuse are the ones to have. – Testarossas are showing strong price movement, exemplified by this example which sold in essentially the same condition here five years ago for $66,000 and now shows 884 more miles. It should be noted, however, that the ‘recent’ engine-out service predates the 2010 sale; it may be less than 1,000 miles but it’s more than five years and soon will need to be updated.Lot # S773 1964 Amphicar 770 Convertible; S/N 100441; Fjord Green, White rub strip/Apricot and White leather; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200. With Reserve – 4-speed, steel wheels with hub caps, Dunlop Axiom Plus thin whitewalls, transistor radio, dash clock, locking glove box. – Has seen some restoration work but is mostly original. Strong repaint. Very good interior. Tired wheels and brightwork. These were bad cars and worse boats, but they are certainly not lacking in character. This is a strong, largely preserved and rust free example. – Sold at Russo and Steele’s auction at the Hard Rock in Florida in 2008 for $49,500, crossed the Russo block in Monterey last August with a reported high bid of $40,000. The seller wisely took the money here in Scottsdale, a fair price for a fair Amphicar.Lot # SN801 1993 Acura NSX Coupe; S/N JH4NA1152PT000060; Red, Black roof/Black leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $29,000. With Reserve – 5-speed, Motegi Racing wheels, BF Goodrich g-force T/A tires, aluminum shift knob, factory-equipped Bose cassette stereo, power windows. – Good paint overall with a couple of chips around the headlights. Tired interior with worn seats and carpets and some paint chipping off the console. 80,351 miles is a lot for a supercar, but it’s nothing for a 1990’s Honda. It would be an eye-catching ride as-is, but would be better with new upholstery and OEM wheels. – This NSX deserves to bring over $30,000, and compared with many of its contemporaries, would still be intrinsically an excellent value. Collectors who love to drive really competent cars are going to discover the NSX sooner rather than later. Now is the time to buy.
Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # SN802 1963 Studebaker Avanti Coupe; S/N R4789; Blue/Blue cloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $6,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,600. No Reserve – 289/240hp, automatic, wire wheels, Michelin energy tires, power windows, factory push button radio. – First year Avanti. Weak paint with chips on the nose and hood as well as touch ups on the driver’s door. Tired chrome. Good upholstery. Dash is worn a bit. Used but tidy engine bay. A solid driver but no prize. – This is parts car money for something that runs and drives. It is a serious value at this price.Lot # SN804 1974 Ford Thunderbird Coupe; S/N 4J87A133990; Blue, White vinyl roof/Blue vinyl with blue cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,300. No Reserve – Lee narrow whitewalls, sunroof, Dolby cassette stereo, Autogage oil pressure, amp and water temperature gauges, power windows, air conditioning. – 120,218 mile car. Part of an estate sale. Decent paint with some chips on the fenders and around the doors. Uneven roof vinyl. Overspray on the sunroof frame. Dull chrome. Very good interior. Lots of miles, but a lot of car. Well equipped for what it is. – For Three Grand? That sounds like an amazing deal, even with the miles, for a sound, flashy, commodious T-bird.Lot # SN806 1987 Toyota Celica GT Convertible; S/N JT5ST62K8H7146596; Red/Gray cloth; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400. No Reserve – 4-speed automatic, Warrior tires, power windows, power side mirrors, cruise control, air conditioning, cassette stereo. – Very good paint with a scratch on top of the right headlight and some dings on the trunk. Scratched up wheels. Very good original interior and top. Showing 66,000 miles, so it’s essentially a used Toyota that you could drive every day. Mostly all original and without major issues. Still a number 3 car, but still one of the nicest ’87 Celica GT that exists. – A car built and sold in vast numbers, but epic in its quality and reliability, this is not so much a collector car as it is an important milestone in the transition of the automobile industry. The new owner is going to have great fun with it, including driving by gas stations and auto parts stores with impunity. On a Saturday evening gathering of modern lowriders it will be treated with honor and respect. Not for everyone, but there’s no reason it couldn’t and shouldn’t be.Lot # SN812 1971 Volkswagen Super Beetle Sedan; S/N 1112873421; Light Yellow/Black vinyl with Grey cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400. No Reserve – Single Solex carb, body color steel wheels, store brand all season tires, wood shift knob, Sony CD stereo. – Showing 32,000 miles, but it’s 132,000. Average quality repaint five years ago with some small bubbles on the fenders and chips inside the drip rail. Front bumper is bent, the rubber rub strip is coming loose. Very strong interior. Very tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Heavily used car, but holding up pretty well. A reasonably solid runner/driver. – Attend to some of the cosmetic issues and load this Beetle up with a roof rack and it’ll be worth 3x the price it brought here.Lot # SN818 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL Convertible; S/N WDBBA45A4CB012884; Red/Gray vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $6,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,150. No Reserve – GT Champion tires, power windows, Alpine CD stereo. – Decent, somewhat tired old repaint. Dull chrome front bumperettes look like they are going to pop off over the next bump in the road. Dull exterior plastic. Rear bumper fit is off. Clean, lightly worn interior. Relatively low 66,456 miles showing on the odometer, which roughly corresponds to the condition. Not the most collectible 107 chassis Mercedes. Solid, lightly used old car to cruise around in. – Sold here a year ago for $7,260. A year doesn’t make a lot of difference in a 380SL like this.Lot # SN820 1966 Ford Ranchero Pickup; S/N 6K27T151062; White/Grey vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400. No Reserve – 200/120hp, 3-speed, Hankook Optima narrow whitewalls, spray-on bed liner, air conditioning, Dual CD stereo. – Average quality repaint but with overspray on the brightwork, window trim, window edges and driver’s side door handle. Presentable chrome. Scratched up window glass and the windows themselves rattle around freely. Engine bay and undercarriage are less scruffy than up top. New clutch and air conditioning. Basic equipment and weak cosmetics. Nothing to write home about but more than good enough to go pick up mulch at the garden center on a weekend. – This Ranchero is valued more for its utility than for its collectability. Still, it has some appeal and at this modest price is thinly valued.Lot # SN836 1974 MG B Mk III Roadster; S/N GHN5UE346781G; Maroon/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $6,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,875. No Reserve – 4-speed with overdrive, General tires, dual mirrors, Carrera cassette stereo. – Poor repaint with orange peel and bubbles down the sides. Decent top vinyl but window plastic is scratched and foggy. Scratched up chrome bumpers. Imperfect panel fit. Excellent, fresh upholstery. Last year for the much prettier and more desirable chrome bumper cars. This example is straight, clean and dry but nothing more than a cute driver. – It will take much to make this MG B desirable, but that is fully factored into the price it brought. Any more that this would be too much; any less would be a bargain.Lot # SN854 1959 Plymouth Fury 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N M264102272; Light Yellow/Grey vinyl, Grey cloth inserts; 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,800. No Reserve – 318/230hp, pushbutton automatic, Atlas blackwall tires, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Sound older repaint with some scuffs on the nose and scratches around the door handles. Dull chrome with some pitting. Tired upholstery in front with a big rip in the driver’s seat. Dents above right front wheel and on window frames. Scruffy but mostly complete original engine bay, same story with the undercarriage. Put away in 1973 and passed through a couple of owners who didn’t do much with it. Represented as a running, driving car with new brakes, water pump, fuel pump, fuel tank, spark plugs and heater core. Looks tired cosmetically and under the hood, even if it runs well. Will need a lot before it’s a car someone will be willing to be seen driving. – This isn’t a very interesting car, but it’s a Plymouth with big fins in a good body style and will be Christine-like on cruise night. The price it brought is full retail, but not beyond.Lot # SN856 1957 Buick Century 2-Dr. Hardtop Riviera; S/N 6D1130003; Dark Green, Light Green roof/Green vinyl; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,800. No Reserve – 364/300hp, single four barrel carb, automatic, BF Goodrich Silvertown radial whitewalls, power steering, Sonomatic push button radio, dash clock. – Discovered in a barn in 1981 and refurbished by the consignor. Aside from some chips around the edges of the doors and a few light scratches on the front bumper, all is incredibly preserved and its condition corresponds with the 22,037 miles on the odometer. – The lightweight Special body with the big Roadmaster V8 made Buick’s Century one of the first Muscle Cars. This Century is an unusual find, little used, well preserved and sympathetically brought back to presentable, drivable condition. It’s a lot more performance than a ’57 Bel Air, even with its loads of chrome and brought a realistic price.
Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # SN862 1957 Oldsmobile Golden Rocket 88 2-Dr. Hardtop Holiday; S/N 577M39753; White, Grey roof/White vinyl with Grey cloth inserts; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $22,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,475. No Reserve – 371/300hp, J-2 three two barrel carbs, automatic, red steel wheels with full wheel covers, General narrow whitewalls, dual spotlights, dual mirrors, pushbutton radio, dash clock. – Tired white paint with chips near hood and around the trim. Grey paint is strong overall but coming up inside the drip rails. Imperfect panel fit on hood and doors. Huge scrapes on right side of chrome bumper. Tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Strong interior with lightly discolored vinyl in the front. Desirable triple carb engine. Part of a museum display, which means protection from the elements but also sitting still for extended periods. An older restoration that presents like the museum car it’s advertised as. – There isn’t a lot going for this Oldsmobile, until the hood opens up and the J-2 engine with three deuces intake shows up. Then it’s a star. The compromise is reflected in the price it brought, but the new owner has the chance to make more of it with some attention to its cosmetics.Lot # SN880 1954 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup; S/N H54J010543; Cream, Tan roof/Brown leather; Truck restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,400. No Reserve – Blue Flame I-6, single carb, steel wheels with hub caps, Sunny tires, wood stake bed, aftermarket cassette stereo. – Tired paint and chrome. Loose door fit. Very good interior with newer upholstery. Clean engine bay. A sound and usable driver quality truck. – Trucks are always popular in Scottsdale, and there are many good ones around, like this. Not ‘done’, but not neglected, either, a good truck at a fair price for a trip to the recycling center on Saturday.Lot # SN898 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Coupe; S/N 2W87Z7N119160; Black/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $24,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,950. With Reserve – 400/185hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels, Uniroyal Royal GT tires, Tinted windows, Hurst shifter, tilt steering column, air conditioning, AM/FM 8-track stereo. – A presentable older repaint with some chips in the nose and one big one on the passenger side mirror. Very good original interior. Clean engine bay. A well kept car showing 67,739 miles and in corresponding preserved condition. – Firebirds’ recent return to widespread attention is nowhere better shown by the price brought by this mediocre ’77, aided only by its 4-speed transmission. The result is not out of line, but at the head of the line.Lot # SN902 1972 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 1Z37K2S510917; Ontario Orange, Black hood stripes/Black vinyl; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $28,000. With Reserve – 350/200hp, 4-speed, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, luggage rack, push button cassette stereo. – A sound repaint that’s a few years old and has a few dings on the nose. Good chrome. Very good interior. A sound Enthusiast restoration that’s been driven a bit. – This sound but unimpressive chrome bumper Sting Ray could have gone away without regret at the reported high bid.Lot # SN906 1970 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible; S/N 1502011830; Red/Grey tweed cloth; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $7,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,250. No Reserve – Single Solex carb, 4-speed, Nexen tires, later Sony cassette stereo. – Rough repaint with overspray, drips, scratches and dings throughout. Sizable dent on nose. Cracking indicator lenses. Missing driver’s side mirror. Strong interior with incorrect upholstery. Filthy engine bay that looks like it went through a quick romp on the beach. The seller might want to take the Carl’s Jr. trash out of the back seat before it crosses the block. If you want a running Beetle convertible for fun and fun only, then this could be a bargain. If you want a good example, keep looking. – Nasty cars don’t do well at auction, or anywhere else for that matter. A few dollars and several hours spent detailing this Beetle convertible could have brought it to the next higher level. As it is the owner’s lack of care shows and leads inevitable to suspicion about things that can’t be seen in a few minutes in the auction preview. Given the lack of attention the consignor should be happy to get this much for it.Lot # SN909 1974 Datsun 260Z Coupe; S/N RLS30001633; Leaf Green/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $12,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,475. No Reserve – Two single barrel carbs, 4-speed, Dayton Daytona tires, air conditioning, later JVC stereo. – Mostly original with newer upholstery and a repaint in 2004. Very good paint. Presentable exterior plastic. Very good interior with little visible wear. Grubby original engine bay. California and Arizona car. Free of the rust that has claimed many of these. A very pretty driver. – Acknowledged as landmarks in the development of Japanese cars and their sales success in the US, there is however a nearly endless supply of them in this condition or better. Demand has never caught up with supply, and despite their great driving characteristics and performance-for-money value their prices have never left the launching pad. Like this one.Lot # SN919 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza Club Coupe; S/N 40927W190827; Red/White vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $9,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,175. No Reserve – 164/95hp, dual Rochester carbs, 4-speed, body color steel wheels with hub caps, Milestar narrow whitewalls, Delco pushbutton radio. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Very clean engine bay. Weak weather stripping. Quality restoration. Fresh cosmetics. Rebuilt carburetors. Far better than most Corvairs. – The 4-speed and generally clean, well-maintained condition elevate this Monza above most of its counterparts and makes this price realistic.Lot # TH249 1995 BMW 840Ci Coupe; S/N WBAEF6328SCC90123; Alpine White/Gray leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $8,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,800. No Reserve – Automatic, alloy wheels, Toyo tires, tinted windows, sunroof, power windows, factory cassette stereo, locking glove box. – Good original paint. Could use a detailing. Trim around the grille is coming loose. Good interior with fairly worn seats. Not a bad example, but not the best. The 840 had the smaller engine in the 8-Series range, making this car among the least collectible. The next owner can at least look forward to a less appalling service bill than someone with one of the big V-12 cars. – A clean Southwest (presumably) car, bought for less than its aura implies.Lot # TH260 1983 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider Veloce, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZARBA5413D1016804; Red/Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000. No Reserve – 1962/115hp, Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Yokohama tires, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, power windows. – Good repaint with some noticeable scratches behind the passenger door. Very good newer upholstery. Clean wheels. Older tires. Very used, slightly scruffy engine bay that matches the 75,703 miles on the odometer. Superficially done, but pretty and very presentable. – If you’ve had one of these, or one of its predecessors, you know they are delightful, responsive, rewarding driving cars worth far more that the market gives them credit for. This, however, is market for a used 2000 Spider Veloce and that makes it, all things considered, a good value.
Russo and Steele Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # TH272 1970 Chevrolet El Camino SS 396 Pickup; S/N 136800L143352; Cranberry Red, Black vinyl roof and stripes/Saddle vinyl; 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $27,000. With Reserve – 396, automatic, Firestone red line tires, black vinyl roof, sport steering wheel, factory pushbutton radio, air conditioning, tinted windows. – Very good paint. Good chrome. Slightly tired, dinged up and scratched brightwork and exterior trim. A few small scratches on the rear glass. Tidy engine bay. Very strong and desirably equipped car. It’s not easy to find an El Camino so equipped and in such good condition. – It should have been easy to buy this one for the reported high bid. It sold at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction three years ago for $30,210.Lot # TH285 1957 Pontiac Star Chief Custom Station Wagon Safari; S/N P757H53449; Lucerne Blue, Kenya Ivory/Blue and White leather; 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $34,000. With Reserve – 347/290hp, Tri-Power, Strato-Flight Hydra-Matic automatic, dual spotlight mirrors, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dash clock, push button AM radio, under-seat heater. – Decent paint. Several noticeable dings and chips on the hood and rear. Strong, lightly worn interior. Tired chrome and brightwork. Well kept and attractively finished car. It’s rare, too, as only 1,292 of these Custom Safari wagons were built in 1957, the last year for them. – Even fewer had the 290hp Tri-Power engine. Pontiac’s interpretation of the Chevy Nomad, and much more rare (if a bit more hyper-chromed.) This car crossed the block here a year ago with a high bid of $28,000, then at Auburn Fall last August with a high bid of $37,500. It’s time the consignor got the message.Lot # TH297 1971 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS Coupe; S/N 124871N565490; Tuxedo Black, Black vinyl roof/Saddle vinyl; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $29,000. With Reserve – 350/270hp, 4-speed, sport suspension, rear spoiler, Firestone red line tires, tinted windows, pushbutton AM radio. – Strong original paint. Some dents and dings on the hood and nose. Good chrome. Very good interior. Tidy engine bay and undercarriage. Represented as almost completely original, matching numbers, and with just 32,050 actual miles. Stored by the original owner for 25 years, then seldom used. A desirable RS/SS, but from a year when the horsepower was starting to go down. A very solid preserved example, unusually finished in a subtle color and with a vinyl roof. – A usable car, but not a special one in any individual respect except its preservation. The high bid is reasonable for it.Lot # TH305 1972 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Coupe; S/N 1Q87L2N162336; Golden Brown, White Le Mans stripes/Black vinyl; 3 condition; Post-block sale at $31,727 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,900. With Reserve – 350/245hp, M-22 Rock Crusher 4-speed, torque thrust wheels, BF Goodrich Radial T/A tires, dual mirrors, power steering, tinted windows, Hurst shifter, push button radio. – Good paint with a couple of light scratches. Numerous small scratches on the rear glass. Very good interior. A solid, well-equipped car with lots of eyeball. – Bid to $28,750 on the block, closed later at this price. Not the best ’72 Z/28, but good enough to deserve this price.Lot # TH309 1968 Plymouth GTX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RS23L8E108388; Canary Yellow, Black roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $17,750 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,525. No Reserve – Coded for a 440/375hp but now powered by a 383, Torqueflite automatic, Grand Prix Performance GT tires, power steering, power brakes, Grant GT woodrim steering wheel, Sunpro temp gauge. – Good paint and interior. Very clean engine bay. Represented as a good driver quality restoration, and that’s exactly what it is. – It brought driver money, too.Lot # TH316 1967 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242177K141563; Cream, Black vinyl roof/Dark Red vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,800. With Reserve – 400/335hp, Turbo-Hydramatic, Firestone red line tires, black vinyl roof, dual mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, power steering, air conditioning, push button radio, locking glove box. – Very good paint and roof vinyl. Very good chrome and interior. Tidy engine bay. Well documented car that’s gotten the work it needed when it needed it. Presents like a very good older restoration, and finished in a great color combination. – By 1967 Pontiac made the GTO a separate model and built them in their thousands. In the case of the 2-Dr. Hardtop, 65,176 of them to be exact. With the standard engine and an automatic, then, one is like any number of others and the price this one brought is representative.Lot # TH328 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet; S/N WP0CB2961MS460739; White/Black leather; Black cloth top; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $34,750 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,225. With Reserve – Tiptronic automatic, Yokohama tires, automatic rear spoiler, power windows, Premier stereo. – Good paint with big scratch behind the right headlight and a couple of scratches on the engine cover. The ‘2’ script in ‘Carreras 2’ has a big crack in it. Top is good. Strong, lightly worn interior. Owned by Whitney Houston at some point, which explains the Tiptronic and the cocaine white paint. It looks like she took better care of the car than she did of herself, although it’s unclear how long she owned it. All in all, a clean 964 Cabriolet that’s really only let down by Whitney’s transmission choice. – Apologies to Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney Houston’s and Bobby Brown’s daughter, but the car sold before Bobbi Kristina’s bathtub incident. It’s a sound and presentable cruiser, and the Tiptronic in operation isn’t half as bad as it sounds.Lot # TH331 1956 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup; S/N 3A560010028; Red, White B pillars/Red; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Post-block sale at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600. With Reserve – Blue Flame 140 I-6, column shift manual, BF Goodrich Silvertown whitewalls, dual mirrors, wooden bed floor. – A fresh nut and bolt restoration. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Spotless engine bay and undercarriage. Nothing to complain about. Ideal for those who want a fresh, fresh and correct vintage pickup. – Bid to $36,000 on the block, sold later at this price. A sharp, clean, accurately restored six-cylinder Chevy pickup in good colors. Too good for dump runs, but exceptional for running around town on weekends.
the 62 AH really took me back.freind,now deceased,1st car i ever drove..in 1968,underage also but…just like this one but he had a roll bar in his.a car sat for years in a garage then was sold and shipped back to England.now having flashbacks of better times.
Anyone who has ever consigned a car with these people no longer refers to Russo & Steele, but rather they are known as Rustle & Steal . . . for good reason! Which is why anyone who has ever consigned a car once never does it again either.
Funny, I’ve sold several cars with Russo (none at this years sale though), and I have always done very well. RS has been remarkably reliable for me. Certainly much better than the guys up the street.
This was a truly wonderful event. Russo and Steele is our favorite auction house by far. We can’t wait for the next one!
You guys left out almost every high end car at this sale (???). I was hoping to see some analysis on those (especially the 911 2.7 RS, the Superbird and the 300SL roadster). Wish I could have made it this year!
russo rip off is their true name, they kept 1500 from me and a ton of other people have not got paid in full over the years , a signed pink commission slip on the stage, or handshake means nothing to drew, he much rather screw u out of $ and have u spread the word about his slimly ways for years,, instead of doing things right ,,now that is a dumb ass
WE LOVE RUSSO AND STEELE!
Results for sales of’34 fords, auction-wide?
Results for the 1975 Porsche 914
Consignment # 5555 #TH165 Thursday 3:22PM-3:42PM, anyone?