Can a Seller “Undo” an eBay Deal? 177 Cars Rated
Sports Car Market
Keith Martin’s
The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
Red Hot Rod
$1.76m
Edsel’s
June 2008
$425k Carrera RS—How high will they go
Mussolini’s Million-Dollar Alfa
Bullish Ferraris and Bear Stearns
www.sportscarmarket.com
Sports Car Market
Keith Martin’s
The Insider’s Guide to Collecting, Investing, Values, and Trends
60
Edsel’s one-off
June 2008 . Volume 20 . Number 6
56
Carrera RS: They’re not getting cheaper
46
The “Miami Vice” era Ferrari
IN-DEPTH PROFILES
GLOBAL AUCTION COVERAGE
FERRARI
RM AUCTIONS
What You Need To Know
46 1988 Ferrari Testarossa
Supercar that’s looking better with age.
Steve Ahlgrim
ENGLISH
50 1960 Jaguar Mk II 3.8 Saloon
Jaguar’s “gentleman’s express” hits paydirt at $76k.
Gary Anderson
ETCETERINI
54 1935 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder
Il Duce’s rumbleseat special tops $1 million.
Donald Osborne
GERMAN
56 1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring
Privateer history adds to a big $425k pricetag.
Jim Schrager
AMERICAN
60 Edsel Ford’s 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster
Patina is Job One on this Ford relic.
Ken Gross
RACE
66 Lazenby Lotus 17 Special
Jim Clark’s mechanic builds an “über-Lotus” 17
Thor Thorson
Cover photograph: RM Auctions
177 Cars Examined and Rated at Seven Sales
70 Amelia Island, FL: Prewar classics carry the day as 91% sell.
Donald Osborne
MCCORMICK
82 Palm Springs, CA: More cars, same $4.7m in Southern California.
Carl Bomstead
BARRETT-JACKSON
90 West Palm Beach, FL: New bidders bolster this $23m weekend.
Dale Novak
BONHAMS
102 Warwickshire, UK: Ex-Waldegard Escort leads the way at $182k.
Paul Hardiman
RM AUCTIONS
112 Ft. Lauderdale, FL: RM quality reigns as 330 cars sell for $18m.
Carl Bomstead
KRUSE INTERNATIONAL
122 Honolulu, HI: Kruse says “aloha” to Hawaii at this $1m sale.
Phil Skinner
EBAY MOTORS
126 Porsches for the road, track, and field.
Geoff Archer
“Whizzo” gets loose
Jeff Bloxham
40
COLUMNS
10 Shifting Gears
The swap meet—just one of many choices
Keith Martin
36 Affordable Classic
Metropolitan magic from the 1950s
Rob Sass
38 Legal Files
A buyer, a seller, a BMW, and an undone eBay auction
John Draneas
48 Sheehan Speaks
Ferraris swerve to miss the Bear Stearns crash
Michael Sheehan
52 English Patient
Rover 2000, the geek who couldn’t make good
Gary Anderson
58 Porsche Gespräch
Traveling through time by Porsche
Jim Schrager
64 Domestic Affairs
Trans Am rumblings, past and present
Colin Comer
132 Motobilia
The Duesenberg of gas signs nets $58k
Carl Bomstead
134 Bike Buys
XB: Buell’s better mousetrap
Paul Duchene
146 eWatch
Packard neon brings a dazzling price
Carl Bomstead
FEATURES
40 Up Close: “Whizzo” Williams, the everyman racer
42 Collecting Thoughts: Why Voisin is the next big thing
44 Event: The Amelia Island Concours stretches out
DEPARTMENTS
12
16
18
20
22
28
30
Crossing the Block / Auction Calendar
The Inside Line
Contributors
You Write, We Read
Display Advertisers Index
Neat Stuff
In Miniature: 1959 AMC Metropolitan 1500,
1960 Jaguar Mk II, 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Comp
32 Icons: Revolutionary ads, tonneaus, and tough batteries
34 Our Cars: 1974 Ferrari 365 GT4/BB, 1959/61 MG A,
1976 Porsche 912E
37
110
120
127
20 Year Picture
Alfa Bits
Glovebox Notes: Mini Clubman and Honda Civic EX
Fresh Meat: 2003 Ferrari Enzo, 2008 BMW M3 4-door,
2009 Nissan GT-R
128
130
136
137
138
142
Automotive Investor: Mercedes-Benz 230/250/280SL
Book Reviews: Whizzo Williams’s sporting life
Mystery Photo
Comments with Your Renewal
Showcase Gallery
Resource Directory
Shifting Gears Keith Martin
The Shadow of the Internet
months later for $9,500.
But today, all the sellers are hooked up to cyberworld,
and consequently all the asking prices tend to be otherworldly, as if there were giant Speed Channel cameras
following every transaction, and every price was going to
be a world record. Where’s the fun in that for a buyer?
Can you hear me now?
I
Piled high, and staying that way
t’s a miserable, wet, 45-degree day in Portland as I compose this.
And for the first time in a decade, I have missed the 44th annual
Always-in-April Portland Swap Meet.
Billed as the largest event of its kind west of the Mississippi
River, it claims to have over 4,200 vendor stalls and 50,000 shoppers.
An event held at Portland International Raceway, just next door, attracts a large crowd as well.
But as I have said before, swap meets of all kinds are rapidly losing
their relevance in today’s collecting world. Fifteen years ago, when I
owned a restoration shop, Exotics Northwest, I recall looking forward
to the swap meet, as I needed a three-Stromberg intake manifold and
carburetors for the Devin I was restoring. In fact, I found several to
choose from.
And my collection of Dinky and Matchbox toys always grew in
April, the result of prowling the halls of the swap meet.
But today, if I go to eBay and type in “Stromberg,” 399 results come
up. And if exactly what I need isn’t there, I’d simply set my loyal and
trusty account to email me when a listing that matches “Stromberg and
intake” appears.
Simpler to find things online
The magic is completely gone with regards to finding toy cars at swap
meets. A search for “Dinky” produced 1,871 results, and “Matchbox”
14,415. How much simpler and more convenient it is to look at them
online, from the comfort of my home (okay, actually from my office
when I’m supposed to be working), click a couple of buttons, and have
them sent to me at home.
Also, swap meets used to be the only viable alternative to Hemmings
for selling a collector car. One April, my booth had a 1969 Road Runner
(orange/black, 4-speed, buckets, 383, nice car, paid $3,500 and sold
for $5,000) and an MG TD (burgundy/black, fine driver, paid $6,500,
sold for $8,500). Buyers came looking, sellers were prepared, and deals
were put together.
In the pre-Internet days, it was even possible now and then to steal
a car; friend Bill Woodard and I snagged an Isetta one year for $6,000
and drove it home, dead-mouse aroma and all. It went away a few
10
And if you do go to swap meets, communication with
your partners is a no-brainer today. When I first started
attending them, one of the biggest challenges was staying
in touch. In the pre-cell phone era, you would arrange to
“meet by the big tent at noon.” Invariably, someone would
get caught up in a deal, and after 30 minutes of waiting
you would go on with your searches, and maybe that night
back at the hotel you would touch base again.
This situation was ameliorated slightly when the first
hand-held CB radios were mass produced. I remember
long-time collector and friend of SCM Bob Ames boasting
how he and co-conspirator Monte Shelton had snagged a
pair of CBs, and could prowl the paths at Hershey independent of one another, yet be instantly in touch if they came
across the crown jewels. I was jealous.
Today, not only can you make a cell phone call, you can send a
picture to your buddies, either to inquire about value, or, post-purchase,
to brag about your find.
More reasons to avoid going
In fact, the primary reason to go to swap meets today, in my opinion,
is for the bragging rights. You gather with your buddies each night and
dump your bags of booty on the table, like children coming back from
an evening of trick-or-treating. Each bit is examined, and the group
gives its collective thumbs-up or thumbs-down to your acquisition.
But in the end, it gets easier and easier each year to just pass. If
the weather’s not good, if the schedule is crowded, if there’s a rally, if
you’ve heard that the parking is difficult—those all become reasons to
tilt the scales in favor of avoiding the swap meet altogether, and getting
the junk you really don’t need anyway by going online.
It’s not to say swap meets won’t continue, it’s just that they now
exist in a much more crowded marketplace, with far more choices for
gearheads who have an afternoon to waste. Most swap meets exhibit
an organizational antipathy to the Internet; I would suggest that those
best positioned to survive will learn to embrace it and use its power to
enhance their events. Offering vendors a way to list their wares online
would be a start.
The magic months
Despite our current gray skies, it’s time to prep your old cars and
motorcycles for the months ahead. Here in Portland, May through
October is our sunny time—six months, 26 weekends, just 184 days.
What we hope for is the confluence of good weather, properly running
machines, and days labeled Saturday or Sunday.
The underlying passion that ties us all together is the exhilaration
we feel when we actually get our cranky old cars running, and spend
time with our (often cranky as well) old friends, on empty roads to
nowhere.
If I were the king of your summer calendar, I’d have you pull it out
right now and clearly mark out the weekends you are going to spend
enjoying your cars. I’ve got mine done already. ♦
Sports Car Market
Armin Krueger Greenfield Gallery.net
Crossing the Block Brendan Floyd
Ex-Ralph Salyer McLaren at Bonhams & Butterfields, Greenwich, CT
Bonhams & Butterfields—
The Greenwich Concours d’ Elegance
Where: Greenwich, CT
When: June 8
More: www.bonhams.com
This will be Bonhams &
Butterfields’s inaugural auction
at the Greenwich Concours,
a sale previously held by
Christie’s. Early star consignments include the ex-Ralph
Salyer “Cro-Sal” Special 1965
McLaren-Chevrolet M1A, which
is expected to bring between
$250k and $350k, a 1915 Stutz
Bearcat, and a 1971 MercedesBenz 280SEL 3.5 convertible.
H&H—Fine Collector’s Cars
Where: Surrey, U.K.
When: June 8
More: www.classic-auctions.com
This will be H&H’s first auction at the historic Loseley Park,
Guilford in Surrey. Highlighting
the event will be an all-original,
unrestored 1936 Bugatti Type
57 Graber Sports saloon, which
has been in its current ownership
since 1962.
Kensington—Hamptons Auto Classic
Where: Bridgehampton, NY
12
When: June 10
More: kenmotor@gmail.com
Last Year: 17/55 cars sold / $410k
Held in one of the most affluent communities in the country,
this 16th annual sale alongside the
Hamptons Concours d’Elegance
expects high quality collectibles.
Last year’s top sale was a 1953
Jaguar XK 120 OTS, which
changed hands for $93,500.
RM—Joe’s Garage: The MacPherson
Collection
Where: Tustin, CA
When: June 14
More: www.rmauctions.com
This sale of the personal
collection of the late Joe
MacPherson, a lifelong auto
enthusiast and founder of the
private automotive museum,
“Joe’s Garage,” will feature
about 50 historic cars and 25
motorcycles. Several racers
will be on hand, including the
record-holding 1954 Chrisman
Ford Bonneville coupe, a 1957
McCluskey sprint car “Tamale
Wagon,” a 1966 Gurney Eagle
Indy Car, and a 1994 Chevrolet
Lumina formerly owned and
raced by Dale Earnhardt.
Silver—Coeur d’Alene Auction
Where: Coeur d’Alene, ID
When: June 14
More: www.silverauctions.com
Last Year: 50/101 cars sold / $787k
A relaxed, family atmosphere
and a good mix of about 100 affordable collectibles are expected
at this annual sale at the awardwinning lakefront Coeur d’Alene
Resort. The auction is held in
conjunction with the Car d’Lane
Classic Car Weekend, which
features a car show, swap meet,
and cruise-in.
Mecum—
St. Paul High Performance Auction
Where: St. Paul, MN
When: June 20–21
More: www.mecumauction.com
Last Year: 111/218 cars sold / $2.1m
Plenty of rods, customs, and
muscle cars will blanket the
Minnesota State Fairgrounds at
this annual auction, which will
Bonneville coupe at RM’s MacPherson Collection sale, Tustin, CA
Sports Car Market
be held along with the Minnesota
Street Rod Association’s 35th annual Back to the ’50s event. This
is a good place for the entry-level
collector, as many lots change
hands for less that $20k. The
weekend’s activities include a
swap meet, ’50s dances, and a
Cruise-n-Art craft fair.
Bonhams—Rolls Royce, Bentley, and
Select Prewar Motor Cars
Where: Northamptonshire, UK
When: June 21
More: www.bonhams.com
Last Year: 23/28 cars sold / $1.5m
Bonhams joins the RollsRoyce Enthusiasts’ Club at
Kelmarsh Hall for this 20th
annual sale of prewar RollsRoyces and Bentleys. Last year’s
high sale honors went to a 1920
Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver
Ghost Open-Drive Landaulette
at $242,550. Expect several lots
to reach the $100k mark.
Bonhams & Goodman—
Collectors’ Cars Auction
Where: Auckland, NZL
When: June 22
More: www.bonhamsandgoodman.com.au
Following several successful
sales in Australia, Bonhams &
Goodman has branched out and
become the first international
auction house to have a full time
resource in New Zealand. The
relatively small market is home
to many respected collectors and
enthusiasts and should garner
international interest. Auckland
will be the site of the first of two
planned auctions in 2008.
Mecum—Bloomington Gold
High Performance Auction
Where: St. Charles, IL
When: June 27–28
More: www.mecumauction.com
Last Year: 145/295 cars sold /
$8.3m
The place to be for fiberglass
fanatics, this all-Corvette auction expects some of the finest
examples of America’s iconic
sports car to cross the block.
Last year, an immaculate 1967
big-block convertible led the
charge at $467k, while early
C1 roadsters continued their
strong sales showing. Among the
highlights this year will be three
serial number 1 ’Vettes from
1955, 1956, and 1957, offered as
a collection.
June 2008
1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Playboy roadster at RM’s Astor Collection sale, Anaheim, CA
RM—The Astor Collection
Where: Anaheim, CA
When: June 27–29
More: www.rmauctions.com
About 250 highly original
and well-maintained American
vehicles from the ’20s through
the ’70s will be auctioned from
the personal collection of Art
Astor. Highlights include a 1927
Rolls-Royce Phantom I Playboy
roadster, a 1948 Hudson limou-
sine by Derham, and a collection
of Packards. Also to be auctioned
will be a large lot of radios and
telephones, along with various
pieces of art deco furniture and
automobilia. ♦
Auction Calendar
All dates listed are current at time of publication. Contact information for most auction companies may be found in the Resource Directory at
the back of this issue. Please confirm dates and locations before attending any event.
Email auction info to: jim.pickering@sportscarmarket.com.
May
3—BONHAMS &
BUTTERFIELDS
Half Moon Bay, CA
3—MECUM
Indianapolis, IN
3—WORLDWIDE
Seabrook, TX
5—SHANNONS
Sydney, AUS
9-10— MIDAMERICA
St. Paul, MN
10—BONHAMS
Monaco, MCO
10—COYS
Monte Carlo, MCO
15-18—MECUM
Indianapolis, IN
17—SILVER
Reno, NV
7—SILVER
Seattle, WA
20-21—MECUM
St. Paul, MN
11—BONHAMS
Sussex, UK
17—KRUSE
Lake Placid, NY
8—BONHAMS &
BUTTERFIELDS
Greenwich, CT
21—BONHAMS
Northamptonshire, UK
12—ICA
Iola, WI
21—KRUSE
Topsfield, MA
12—PETERSEN
Roseburg, OR
10—KENSINGTON
Bridgehampton, NY
22—BONHAMS &
GOODMAN
Auckland, NZL
18-19—KRUSE
Denver, CO
13-14—KRUSE
Goldsboro, NC
27-28—MECUM
St. Charles, IL
14—ICA
Hyannis, MA
28—LUZZAGO
Civitanova Marche, ITA
14—RM
Tustin, CA
27-29—RM
Anaheim, CA
14—SILVER
Coeur d’Alene, ID
July
26—KRUSE
Midland, MI
2—BRIGHTWELLS
Herefordshire, UK
26—MECUM
Des Moines, IA
17—KRUSE
Monterey, CA
18—RM
Maranello, ITA
24—ICA
Church Point, LA
24—KRUSE
Paso Robles, CA
25—COYS
Kent, UK
29-June 1—KRUSE
Auburn, IN
June
17—BONHAMS
Newport Pagnell, UK
2—SHANNONS
Melbourne, AUS
17—LUZZAGO
Brescia, ITA
6-8—LEAKE
Tulsa, OK
8—H&H
Surrey, UK
15—BONHAMS &
GOODMAN
Sydney, AUS
16-17—BARONS
Surrey, UK
21—SHANNONS
Sydney, AUS
21-22—BARONS
Surrey, UK
26—BONHAMS
Silverstone, UK
5—COYS
Oxfordshire, UK
5-6—SILVER
Jackson Hole, WY
13
Inside Line Brendan Floyd
Send news and event listings to insideline@sportscarmarket.com.
SCM News
■ Publisher Martin will
serve as Master of Ceremonies
for the 2008 Meadow Brook
Concours d’Elegance on Sunday,
August 3, 2008. Said Meadow
Brook Concours event chairman
Larry Smith, “Who better to
emcee this year’s spectacular
Concours than one of the most
recognized individuals in the
classic car field? We are thrilled
that Keith will be on hand
as many of the world’s finest
vehicles take to our magnificent
stage.” Featured at this year’s exhibition will be rare, open-hood
displays of 16-cylinder cars,
representatives from the class
of 1933, early- to late-model
Ferraris, and what is expected
to be the largest collection of
8-Liter Bentleys ever assembled
anywhere in the world. www
.meadowbrookconcours.org (MI)
News
■ The Worldwide Group
recently announced that it will
Coming soon—Worldwide Group’s new headquarters in Auburn, IN
build its U.S. headquarters
in Auburn, Indiana, the birthplace of the Eckhart Carriage
Company, which later evolved
into the Auburn Automobile
Company. Rod Egan, Managing
Partner and Chief Auctioneer,
said, “We are delighted to be
able to announce that plans for
our new headquarters are well
underway. Our 24,000-squarefoot, glass-fronted showroom
will open later this year in the
town that is synonymous with
historic automobiles and all of
the passion they evoke.” A highend catalog sale is planned at the
new headquarters on August 30,
the weekend of the Annual Labor
Day Auburn Cord Duesenberg
Festival. www.wwgauctions.com
(IN)
Events
Featured Event
■ For over 20 years, one of the best-kept secrets for lovers of beautiful
Italian cars has been an event with just that name. “Le Belle Macchine
d’Italia” holds forth each summer as the largest three-day gathering of Italian wheels in the nation. More of a happening for owners
than for spectators, it delivers enjoyment in equal measure to both, with a
relaxed but star-studded show on Saturday on the spectacular mountaintop grounds
of Pennsylvania’s Skytop Lodge and then two full days of track activities at nearby Pocono
Raceway. Owners get to exercise their cavalli at speed and visitors can sample hair-raising rides for
charity in the latest Lamborghinis driven by factory test drivers.
This year’s event takes place June 20 to 23, and will again host gatherings by clubs including
the Ferrari Club of America, Lamborghini Owners Club, Maserati Club International, Panteras of
New England, Iso Bizzarrini Owners Club, and the American Lancia Club, as well as the Sports
Car Market Historic Maserati Reunion. The Reunion has produced the largest display of Maserati
450S cars in 45 years, as well as the first gathering since 1948 of all three of the legendary Maserati
8CTF Grand Prix cars. This year’s edition pays tribute to the “Birdcage” and will feature at least one
example of each type made. For fans of the truly obscure, a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the
introduction of the Lamborghini Islero should see the largest assembly of these rare and little-known
GTs since they left the factory. $60 for the concorso, from $350 for track events. www.italiancarsatpocono.com (PA)—Donald Osborne
16
■ Expect vintage boats in the
water and boattails on land at
the thirteenth annual Greenwich
Concours d’ Elegance set for
June 7–8. Saturday’s Concours
d’Elegance will feature American
cars from 1900 to present, and
Sunday’s Concours Europa
will celebrate European and
import cars from 1900 to present.
Also look for the galleries of
automotive art and memorabilia,
a book alley, workshops and demonstrations, and new-car exhibits.
Tickets are $25 per day or $40 for
both days; children 12 and under
are free with an adult. www
.greenwichconcours.com (CT)
■ This year marks the revival
of the Coppa Intereuropa at
the Monza circuit in Italy. This
event is part of the GT & Sports
Car Cup, an invitation-only
series organized by Automobiles
Historiques for pre-’66 GTs and
pre-’63 sports cars similar to
those that raced in the World
Endurance Championship period. This two-hour race, which
is preceded by a qualifying session, requires two drivers, with
the owner of the car driving at
least 50% of the race. www.gpao
.fr (ITA)
Sports Car Market
■ Held at Reliant Stadium
in Houston, the Fifth Annual
Classy Chassis will cater to
a variety of car enthusiasts.
Vintage American and European
sports cars, hot rods, and fullout racing machines will be
on display at the June 8 event.
This year’s featured marque is
Bugatti, and show-goers will
be treated to a world-class collection of vintage Bugattis, as
well as the current-production
Veyron. Tickets can be purch
ased in advance at Ticketmaster
or at the gate; prices are $20
for adults, $7 for children ages
6 through 12, and children
five and under are free. Guests
purchasing a raffle ticket have
the opportunity to win a 2008
Mercedes-Benz. Proceeds
benefit United Cerebral Palsy of
Greater Houston. www
.classychassis.org (TX)
■ The annual Hamptons
Concours d’Elegance returns
to Bridgehampton on June 15.
Several judged classes will
be featured, encompassing a
wide range of collectibles from
the early twentieth century
through the ’70s. Proceeds
benefit Habitat for Humanity.
kenmotor@gmail.com (NY)
■ The 42nd annual Palo Alto
Event
Calendar
May 29-June 1 Portland Rose Cup Races (OR)
www.rosecup.com
May 30-June 1 Concours of the East (PA)
www.concourseast.org
1 Los Angeles Concours (CA)
www.laconcours.com
1 Original British Car Day (MD)
www.chesapeakechaptermgtclub.com
2-6 AACA Sentimental Tour (NC)
www.aaca.org
1938 Peugeot Darl’mat roadster at Classy Chassis
Concours, sponsored by the Palo
Alto Host Lions Club, is set for
June 22. Alfa Romeo will be the
featured European Marque, and
Corvette the featured American
marque. Held at the Stanford
University athletic fields, the
concours will present 27 classes
of classic, sports, vintage and
racing automobiles, along with
several special exhibits. “The
Drive” is scheduled for Saturday,
June 21, and the Concours Dinner
is scheduled for that evening.
Tickets are $25, 12 and under
free. www.paconcours.com (CA)
■ Bloomington Gold’s roots
began in 1973, when a group of
Corvette enthusiasts gathered to
display their cars and swap extra
parts with one another. Today it
has grown into a multi-feature
event, with the Bloomington
Gold certification being one
of America’s most prestigious
Corvette awards. Set for June
26–29, this year celebrates the
mighty Corvette L88 big-block
and will also feature the new All
Brands Survivor show, where
any all-original vehicle over
20 years old qualifies. Tickets
purchased in advance are $15
per person for one day, or $40
for a four-day pass. At the gate,
$20 for one day and $50 for four,
children 13 and under free. www
.bloomingtongold.com (IL) ♦
6-7 Fleetwood Country Cruize In (CAN)
www.fleetwoodcountrycruizein.com
6-8 All Ford Nationals (PA)
www.carsatcarlisle.com
6-8 56th Annual Glenwood Springs
Rallye (CO)
www.mgcc.org
7-8 Coppa Intereuropa (ITA)
www.gpao.fr
7-8 Greenwich Concours (CT)
www.greenwichconcours.com
8 Ault Park Concours (OH)
www.cincyconcours.com
8 British Motorcar Gathering (PA)
www.keystonemg.com
8 Classy Chassis (TX)
www.classychassis.org
8 Philadelphia Classic Italian Car Show (PA)
fludelaware.italiancarclub.com
11-15 Triumph Register of America
National Meeting (OH)
www.triumphregister.com
12-15 Watkins Glen Historic Races (NY)
www.vscca.org
13-15 Blackhawk Vintage Classic XVI (IL)
www.vscda.org
15 Classic Sportscar Concours (FIN)
www.concours.fi
15 Hamptons Concours (NY)
kenmotor@gmail.com
Hugues Mallett
15 Rodeo Drive Concours (CA)
www.rodeodrive-bh.com
20-22 All GM Nationals (PA)
www.carsatcarlisle.com
20-21 Bay Harbor Concours (MI)
www.bayharborconcours.com
20-23 Le Belle Macchine D’Italia (PA)
www.italiancarsatpocono.com
20-22 VSCCA 50th Anniversary June Tour (MA)
www.vscca.org
22 Palo Alto Concours (CA)
www.paconcours.com
25-29 MG 2008 (PA)
www.mg2008.com
26-28 AACA Central Spring Meet (NE)
www.aaca.org
Classics battle at the Coppa Intereuropa
June 2008
26-29 Bloomington Gold (IL)
www.bloomingtongold.com
17
SCM Contributors
STEVE AHLGRIM has been a car guy since
he raced his first quarter midget at age
10. A 17-year stint with the former Atlanta
Ferrari dealership, FAF Motorcars, gave him
the background for a career in the Ferrari
business and now he manages a Ferrari parts
house, consults on Ferraris, and brokers a
few cars. He has been involved in concours judging for more
than 20 years and is Chief Judge of the Celebration Exotic
Car Festival. To be sure, the Ahlgrims are a Ferrari family; his
wife Chris is Membership Services and Advertising Director for
the Ferrari Club of America, Steve is Vice President, and their
son, Alex, is starting to judge. Ahlgrim has been contributing
to SCM for six years, and on p. 46 of this issue he shares his
thoughts on the recent sale of a 1988 Ferrari Testarossa.
Sports Car Market
Publisher Keith Martin
keith.martin@sportscarmarket.com; 503.261.0555 x 210
V.P. Business Development/General Counsel Rob Sass
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Art Director Kirsten Onoday
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Executive Editor Paul Duchene
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Managing Editor Stefan Lombard
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Auction Editor Jim Pickering
jim.pickering@sportscarmarket.com; 503.261.0555 x 208
Copy Editors Yael Abel, Kristen Hall-Geisler, Bill Neill
Senior Auction Analysts B. Mitchell Carlson, Carl Bomstead
John Lamm
KEN GROSS has been an auto writer for
36 years, and his work has appeared
in Playboy (so you can tell your wife it’s
OK to read), Hemispheres, The Rodder’s
Journal, Street Rodder, and Hot Rod.
He wrote the award-winning TV series,
“Behind The Headlights,” and his books include Milestone Hot Rods, The Illustrated BMW Buyer’s Guide,
and Ferrari 250 GT SWB. His latest effort, Art of the Hot Rod, will
be published this fall. He is a former director of the Petersen
Automotive Museum and has judged at Pebble Beach for 19
years. Though he still laments the sale of his Ferrari 275 GTB,
he is a hot rodder at heart and owns a garage-full of bitchin’
old Fords. This month he profiles Edsel Ford’s own bitchin’ hot
rod—our cover car—and you’ll find it on p. 60.
Auction Analysts Richard Hudson-Evans (Europe), Daniel Grunwald,
John Clucas (Australia), Chip Lamb, Norm Mort (Canada),
Paul Hardiman (Europe), Jérôme Hardy (Europe)
Contributing Editors Steve Ahlgrim (Ferrari), Gary Anderson (English),
Colin Comer (Muscle Cars), John Draneas (Legal),
Donald Osborne (Etceterini), Jim Schrager (Porsche),
Michael Sheehan (Ferrari), Thor Thorson (Race Cars)
Contributors John Apen, Diane Brandon, Marshall Buck,
Miles Collier, Kathy Donohue, Martin Emmison, Paul Hardiman,
Simon Kidston, Raymond Milo, Steve Serio
Information Technology/Internet Bryan Wolfe
bryan.wolfe@sportscarmarket.com; 503.261.0555 x 215
Financial Manager Nikki Nalum
nikki.nalum@sportscarmarket.com; 503.261.0555 x 205
Editorial Assistant Brendan Floyd
brendan.floyd@sportscarmarket.com; 503.261.0555 x 220
Strategic Planner Bill Woodard
RAYMOND MILO reckons that nifty automobiles have always been the thing for
him. Following the war and his emigration
to France, he studied mathematics at the
Sorbonne and sculpture at Academie
Raymond Duncan, but was more interested in sports cars, girls, and jazz. He
came to America in 1956, joined the Chicagoland Sports Car
Club, and raced his various British mounts in local races. In the
late 1960s, Milo swore off neckties, clearance badges, and
working for anyone else, yet managed to get himself into the
latest Ferrari for European delivery. In 1989, he discovered a
two-sheet publication called the Alfa Romeo Market Letter,
and has been a contributor ever since. He is the “CEO and
chief sanitation engineer” of BB One Exports, specializing in
oddball exotics like Arnolts, Deutsch-Bonnets, and Voisins,
the last of which serves this month as a focus for “Uncle
Raymond” and his intense scrutiny. It appears on p. 42.
Print Media Director Wendie Martin
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Executive Producer, SCM Television Roger Williams
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MARK WIGGINGTON grew up as a track
rat teen at Riverside Raceway and is now
the manager of Portland International
Raceway, which he considers honest work
after 25 years in daily newspapers as both
a writer and editor. He has extensive experience in karts, on team timing towers at
endurance sports car races, and knows his way around both
the press room and the manufacturer’s hospitality chalet.
When he’s not overseeing day to day operations at PIR, he’s
reviewing books for SCM, and his knowledge of the automotive industry, his familiarity with racing’s many forms, his writer’s
wit, and his editorial eye make him the perfect car guy for the
job. Read his take on three titles on p. 130.
18
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The information in Sports Car Market magazine is compiled from a variety of reliable sources. However, we disclaim and deny any responsibility or liability for the
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You Write We Read
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Fax 503.253.2234, e-mail: youwrite@sportscarmarket.com
What’s the red light mean?
Running on home brew
Tony Quiroga’s article on GM
Diesels brought back some early
childhood memories from 1981
(April, “Have I Got a Smokin’
Deal for You…” p. 32). My
grandfather was driving a 1977
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Coupe at the time (think metallic blue with yards of crushed
blue velour) until one day, for
reasons unknown to anyone in
the family, he traded in what I
considered the most stunning car
I’d ever seen for—you guessed
it—a Cutlass Diesel Sedan.
I remember it clattering
up the driveway and lurching
to a stop, window sticker still
affixed to the rear windows, thin
whitewalls glistening with dealer
prep. It was Cotillion White with
a tan landau top and tan velour
seating in a pattern like wide
corduroy. I remember hating it
immediately simply because it
had two headlights, rather than
four, and more selfishly because
I wasn’t involved in the purchase.
My dislike was short lived when
I realized it had all the options:
power windows (in the front—in
the back there were terrible
power vents), power door locks,
seats, and mirrors.
This car was a leap forward
in technology for my family.
Until that day, I had been
subjected to the manual labor of
rolling a window or locking a
door, but this car had the magic.
And so it was, the new Cutlass
seemed a worthy replacement.
If nothing else, it had the same
painted rally wheels (tan this
time, rather than blue), and it
definitely had ice cold air. I
remember asking my first car
questions, like why does it have
two Delco batteries? Why won’t
it crank when it’s cold? Why is it
overheating? What does that red
light mean? Why are we stopped
at a steakhouse in Lenoir, North
Carolina, instead of watching
hang gliders at Grand Father
mountain like we planned?
It blew up on a Sunday morning on the way to church. I was
in the back seat, and I recall the
sound of the gas pedal being
stomped repeatedly in a vain
attempt at some sort of foot motion resuscitation. I could sense
I enjoyed Tony Quiroga’s
“Avoidable Classic” article on
GM diesels. I had no idea any of
them were still on the road, much
less collectible in any way.
In 1983, I went to work selling for an Oldsmobile dealer. By
then he had stopped stocking
diesels, except for the occasional
Ciera with the 4.3-liter V6,
which was a pretty decent little
car. I can remember how angry
customers would be when you
told them what their two-year-old
98 was worth. This was a car for
which customers often paid over
sticker and waited six months to
get, and you had to hit them with
the bad news. It got to where I
could spot a diesel pull onto the
lot; the hood ornaments were
different on Olds diesels than on
Olds gas-powered cars. If it was
a small square hood ornament, I
let another salesperson take that
one.
Another problem we had here
in Oklahoma was that we sold a
lot of cars that ended up in rural
settings and the oil patch, where
people “brewed” their own. That
diesel was not nearly as clean
as the diesel you bought at the
pump, which caused all kinds of
problems.
And then there was the
endless stream of tow trucks
bringing in cars after the first
really cold morning. Seemed the
fuel would jell if the car was sitting outside. A few hours in the
warm, toasty service department
and everything was okay.—Tom
Whiteley, Oklahoma City, OK
20
It blew up on a Sunday morning
on the way to church, and I recall
the sound of the gas pedal being stomped
repeatedly in a vain attempt at some sort
of foot motion resuscitation
the steering wheel tightening as
its wildebeest heart no longer
pumped that essential fluid of
its life—diesel. No loud pop, no
bang or explosion; it just crapped
out and poured vile fluids all
over the spring jonquils on the
side of the road as we stood there
in our church clothes. My grandfather demanded a new engine,
and it came, but it was never the
same. The damage was done.
I bought my fi rst diesel
in 1994. It was a silver 1983
Mercedes 300D with 158k on
the clock. I paid $3,300 at the
local Chevy dealer used car lot,
and looking now, they’re about
$2,000 more than that. I learned
the diesel rules with the Cutlass.
They had been ingrained in my
earliest automotive memories:
wait for the glow plug light to
go out, use the diesel mitt at the
Shell, run good oil, etc. I never
had a problem with the Benz.
It went to my sister when she
turned 16, then we passed it to a
friend who’s clocked 400k miles.
My grandfather and I spent
hours fixing little things on the
Benz—summer afternoons of
his retirement spent tinkering
and talking, relishing the tools
that his father used, which are
now mine, and though he never
owned a German car himself,
I think he appreciated that
someone had gotten the diesel
passenger car as much right as
GM got it wrong.—Neal Caudle,
Atlanta, GA
Stop hating our car
I enjoy SCM immensely and
am generally disappointed when
I finish an issue because there
is not more to read. For the sake
of accuracy, however, I have
some things to say about Jérôme
Hardy’s article on the 1955
Mercedes-Benz 190SL in the
April issue (“German Profile,”
p. 52).
Hardy says the car had
no radio or clock. On a ’55,
no clock would be correct, as
it was offered mid-1956. But
the chassis number of the car
(1210427502983) says this
is a 1957 190SL, not a 1955.
Ad Index
Aston Martin of New England ................91
Automobiles Historiques Limited .........109
Automobilia Monterey ..........................135
Autosport Designs.................................113
Baxter Portland Historic Races ...............67
BB One Exports ....................................119
Beverly Hills Classic Cars ....................101
Bonhams & Butterfields....................23, 55
Brighton Motorsports ..............................99
Canepa.....................................................71
Cars That Matter ...................................135
Chequered Flag Int’l .............................115
Classic Showcase ..................................117
Concorso Italiano ..................................133
Copley Motorcars Corp.........................123
Corvette Market ....................................131
Cosdel ...................................................119
County Corvette ......................................93
Davidoff Zino Platinum ........................119
Digit Motorsport ...................................107
Doc’s Jags .............................................135
Driver’s Source .......................................63
Exotic Car Transport .............................145
Family Classic Cars ..............................113
Fantasy Junction....................................109
Fourintune Garage Inc ..........................135
Gooding & Company ................................2
Grand Prix Classics ............................... 111
Griot’s Garage, Inc. .................................35
Grundy Worldwide ..................................65
H&H Auctions ........................................89
Hagerty Insurance Agency, Inc. ..............25
Heacock Classic ...................................121
Hotseat Chassis Inc ...............................145
Hyman .....................................................73
Intercity Lines .........................................39
Italian Car Parts.....................................141
JC Taylor .................................................81
JJ Best Banc & Co ................................139
Joe Sackey Classics.................................49
Kensington Motor Group ........................87
Kidston ....................................................21
Le Belle Macchine d’Italia......................95
Macneil Automotive................................79
Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance ....97
Mecum Auction.......................................75
Meguiar’s ................................................33
Mercedes Classic Center .........................43
Miller’s Incorporated ............................145
Monticello Motor Club ...........................31
Morris & Welford, LLC ..........................29
Motorcar Portfolio ................................105
Only Oldies LLC.....................................53
Palma Sola Media Inc. ..........................117
Park Place LTD .......................................77
Paul Russell and Company ...................107
Pebble Beach Retro Auto ......................103
Poff Transportation ...............................145
Pontiac...................................................148
Premier Financial Services ...................147
Putnam Leasing.......................................19
RM Auctions .............................4, 5, 11, 27
Ron Tonkin ............................................115
RPM Motorbooks .................................135
Russo And Steele ....................................14
Silver Auctions ........................................85
Sports Car Shop ....................................117
Spyker of North America LLC ...............83
Swissvax ...............................................125
Symbolic Motor Car Co ............................3
Ulysse Nardin Watches .............................9
Vintage Rallies ...................................... 111
VintageAutoPosters.com .......................145
Web Steel Sales, Inc. .............................145
Worldwide Group......................................7
22
Since when is
it acceptable to compare a 4-cylinder
car with a 6-cylinder car with over twice the horsepower?
Therefore, the lack of a clock is a
problem. Either because there is
an empty hole in the glove box or
the glove box has been changed
for an earlier style with no hole
for the clock.
He writes “An optional
Judson supercharger was available (but the engine was not
strong enough and bearings
failed quickly).” The Judson
supercharger was an aftermarket
item, not a factory option,
sold by the Judson Brothers of
Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The bottom end of the 190SL
engine (crankshaft, connecting
rods, etc.) utilizes diesel parts
with diesel casting numbers. The
only way to destroy the bearings
in a 190SL in less than 150,000
miles is to run the engine without oil. The Judson supercharger,
on the other hand, suffers from a
design flaw that does not distribute fuel evenly.
He writes, “The 300SL coupe
and 300SL roadster are icons,
heading fast for the million-dollar mark…. Part of the reason
they are prohibitively expensive
may be that their performance
is still real world… while the
dumpy 190SL is much more of
a Sunday cruiser.” Continuing
to compare the 190SL to the
300SL does no one any good.
The 300SL was derived from
a race car, has over twice the
horsepower of the 190SL, no
insulation, limited ability to
carry luggage, etc. As the former
owner of both a 300SL coupe
and roadster, and as the current
owner of two 190SLs, I must say
you can’t compare the 190SL
and 300SL, either directly or by
value. Since when is it acceptable
to compare a 4-cylinder car with
a 6-cylinder car with over twice
the horsepower?
He writes “The 300SL…
and Stirling Moss’s outright
win in a race-prepped SLR…
is still the stuff of legend. The
fuel-injected 215-horsepower
engine could propel the car
past 140 mph, while the 190SL
wheezes into the 90s on a good
day.” Come on, guys. You
are comparing a race car to a
production car. What part of
that sounds reasonable? Besides,
you are mixing up 300SLs. The
300SLR was based on the W196
race car, not the 300SL road car.
The 300SLR used an advanced
8-cylinder engine that produced
over 300 hp and featured
desmodromic valves. The production 300SL had a least two
horsepower ratings. The 215-hp
quoted is actually a DIN spec;
if you use SAE specs, the power
would be up to 250, depending
on the camshaft installed. Once
again, not a fair comparison to
the 190SL, which was lucky to
squeeze out 100 hp.
He writes, “Compared to
the extraordinary 300SL, the
190SL was just plain dull.”
About 3,200 of the 300SLs
were produced, compared to
well over 25,000 of the 190SL.
The “dull” 190SL outsold the
300SL for many reasons, but
most notably because of the
300SL’s high price—about
$1,000 more than a 1955 Cadillac
Eldorado. How about comparing
the 190SL to cars in its price
range? “Dull” is not a fair
comment or a term that conveys
any information. At least Hardy
acknowledges that “beauty is in
the eye of the beholder,” but only
after too many comments on the
visual appearance of the 190SL.
Last, but not least, is
the almost continuous use of the
label “slow” when SCM writes
any copy about the 190SL. When
compared to similar cars, it was
neither slow nor fast. A look at
the 0–30 mph acceleration times
of period cars shows that the
MG A, Porsche 1600, Sunbeam
Alpine, and 190SL are all
separated by .7 second, with the
190SL falling behind the Porsche.
Sports Car Market
You Write We Read
In 0–60 mph times, there is the
same .7 second of separation,
but the 190SL is quicker than
the Porsche. At the end of the
quarter mile, the Porsche posts
a 19.3 to the 190SL’s 20.1. Not
bad for a car that can carry three
people and their luggage. I have
yet to see written in SCM that
the Porsche 1600 is slow, but
mention the 190SL, and you
write like it can barely get out of
its own way. All I ask is that you
compare the 190SL fairly with
its contemporaries.
Finally, with regard to the
car’s selling price, private sales
of concours quality 190SLs have
been topping $100k for years.
The first 190SL I know of to
break the $100k mark was sold
about 15 years ago, and I personally sold a 190SL for $60k about
13 years ago. A 190SL selling for
over $100k is not uncommon; it
is just not common knowledge
outside the 190SL community.—
Will Samples, Dallas, TX
Jérôme Hardy responds:
Thank you for your letter, Will. It
is always good to exchange with
passionate drivers about their
favorite model. And you are correct; the chassis number is for
a 1957 model, although the car
was described by Artcurial as a
’55 and the official registration
papers states it is a ’52.
Looking back at my dashboard pictures of this car, the
clock is definitely not there, so I
would conclude the glovebox was
changed out at one point or another. I cannot speak to why such
an omission was made during
the car’s restoration by a marque
specialist in the Netherlands.
Comparing the 300SL and
the 190SL is obviously challenging, as these cars are different
breeds, but it was MercedesBenz’s own plan to give the
cars similar visual clues and
to launch them simultaneously.
This was an example of the
now-familiar marketing scheme
whereby the flagship pulls along
sales of the less potent and less
expensive automobile. It paid
huge dividends, as the 190SL
was a sales success.
That being said, the
performance of the 190SL
could be described as “dull”
when compared to the 300SL.
Contemporary models in both
that price range and in the grand
24
tourer philosophy include the
more powerful Jaguar XK 140,
but also the “lazy” 1959 Alfa
Romeo 2000. I feel the Porsche
1600 and MG A are more sports
cars than tourers and so less
comparable. But do these performance comparisons even matter
today? The 190SL is a gorgeous
looking car; it is extremely well
built and comfortable, and this is
what potential buyers should be
happy to pay for.
Analyzing the SCM Platinum
database from May 2001 to
December 2007, 50 190SLs of
all conditions sold for a total
of $1,860,000. This gives us an
average price of $37,200. The
Artcurial estimate for the profiled car was $67,000–$82,000,
which aligned with the market
on the European side of the
Atlantic. This car reached
$94,000, which makes it one of
the biggest sellers at public auction, topped only by another car
sold a year ago in France. No
doubt the 190SL is on the move,
so let’s see what the future holds.
A model letter
As a long-time fan of SCM,
as well as the models hand-built
by Marshall Buck, I was very
disappointed to see so many
factual errors in his review of
the 1970 McLaren M8D CanAm
car by GMP Diecast in the April
issue (“In Miniature,” p. 26).
Before I even read the article,
my first question is why Marshall
would even take the time to review a model that has been out of
production for almost five years?
This car has long been sold out
and will not be reproduced. To
not state that may mislead your
readers to believe otherwise.
He mistakenly says the car
was “mass-produced,” but it was
not. It was a limited-production
diecast and each one is serialized. He goes on to say, “Having
searched through my photo
archives and a dozen books on
the subject, I cannot find any car
that this model is supposed to
replicate.” Buck therefore concludes—in error—“the model
is not historically accurate.” It’s
puzzling why he would write
that when real photos of the car
in action and the complete story
appear all over the box. There
is even a separate photo of the
car with Dan Gurney included
with each model. This car won
two races in 1970 and was a contender to win the championship.
In his book, McLaren Sports
Racing Cars, Dave Friedman
spends an entire chapter describing the season and the historic
significance of this very car.
Lastly, Buck writes the car
is a “ten-footer” and that “one
can see the lines between artistic
license and gross inaccuracy
have been blurred… a lot.” This
seems awfully inappropriate, and
diecast collectors did not share
his opinion when this model
was released, nor as I write this.
When introduced, this series
was a huge success, received
very positive reviews, and when
combined with the reprint of the
Dan Gurney photo, was certainly
an excellent value for only $80.
Fast forward to today and Mr.
Buck claims these can be found
on eBay for $80–$150. That’s
pretty strong money, and while it
may be true for some examples,
this particular car was at a high
bid of $245 the day I read the
review. All of which speaks to
the quality, attention to detail,
accuracy, historical significance,
and overall value of a model that
sold new for just $80.
I’m well aware, as are diecast
collectors, that diecast technology has improved dramatically
in the last five years and that
even greater detail is now available. But in all fairness, you’re
not reviewing a modern-day,
$10,000, Marshall Buck-handbuilt model. We’re talking about
a five-year-old, $80 model, and
to not review the car in a proper
context seems grossly unfair to
this particular model, to GMP,
and to your readers.—Tom Long,
President, GMP Diecast
Marshall Buck responds:
Thanks for your letter, Tom.
Please know that I pride myself
on my thorough research and
extensive knowledge of the model
industry, regardless of whether
the model in question is mass
produced, from a kit, hand built,
or a one-of-a-kind scratch-built.
I have always reviewed a
range of models perfectly suited
to the varied tastes of the SCM
readership, which follows the
same vein as SCM does in covering the auctions it does, as well
as the types of cars it profiles. As
collectibility is the magazine’s
focus, it would be short-sighted
and a disservice to readers to
only review new releases. So
much would be missed. However,
to address this exact point, I
will add a “production dates”
category to the details box in the
future.
I stand by my claim that the
model was mass-produced. That
is the realm to which diecast production models have always been
relegated. Generally speaking,
if a company is making diecast
models, then it doesn’t have
any choice but to mass-produce
in order to meet any realistic
price point. Diecast tooling and
production is designed to make
vast quantities of anything. Per
the hang tag GMP enclosed with
my M8D model, there were 2,304
of the specific Dan Gurney M8D
made, plus however many were
made of the almost identical
Denny Hulme car, as well as
some shared tooling with the M8A
and M8B variants.
Even though each GMP model
might be individually numbered
and not produced in numbers
as large as those from some
other companies, it is difficult
to consider a model made in
these numbers “limited.” In my
experience, editions generally
stop being truly limited after 500,
regardless of whether they are
numbered individually.
I believe I concluded nothing
in error when I said the model is
not historically accurate, and I
do not think it correctly replicates
the car GMP was trying to model.
I read the story on the box, and
it gave no indication of which
car GMP was representing. The
26
Charles Bronson
You Write We Read
Anyone who was even vaguely interested in paying real money
for the car knew the
details of what was original and
what was Memorex
photos on the box and the one
enclosed in it are all of the M8D
that Gurney raced at St. Jovite,
which is not a proper match to
either M8D model GMP made.
Gurney only ran in three races
that season, and the bodywork is
incorrect for the first two races,
so I would conclude this M8D is
supposed to be the Watkins Glen
car. But it is missing the extra
“Gurney” roll bar hoop to accommodate his height, as well as
the third mirror he had mounted
on the windscreen, which were
always on the M8Ds he raced
and are shown in all the photos,
including GMP’s.
All variants of GMP
McLarens can still be found on
eBay for $80–$150. Sometimes
they bring more, sometimes less,
though anomalies both low and
high are never a good means by
which to judge an item’s value.
This has been covered in SCM
by those with far more auction
experience than I.
In the end, I maintain that the
GMP McLarens are attractive
models, and attractively priced.
They simply aren’t as accurate as
they could be.
Body issues
Thor Thorson’s article on
the Glöckler-Porsche mentioned
that it was restored by Tempero
Restorations of New Zealand
(April, “Race Profile,” p. 60).
Wasn’t this car completely
rebodied by Tempero? Why was
this information left out of your
article?—Eric Meyer, San Luis
Obispo
Thor Thorson responds:
Thanks for your letter, Eric. The
car was thoroughly restored by
Tempero, and some sheetmetal
was replaced, but it was not
fully rebodied. In fact, the new
owner now has not only the car,
but all the old parts and old
metal as well, should he wish to
reincorporate those bits in the
future.
This car had the provenance
and chain of ownership that established its right to the history
and chassis number, and anyone
who was even vaguely interested
in paying real money for the car
knew the details of what was
original and what was Memorex.
That’s what I was talking about
when I mentioned “newcomer
commercial developers from
Tulsa” not being players. This
was a car for the pros.
The point of the article was
that the car is valuable strictly
because of its history as “the
first” racing Porsche, not as
a usable car. If you want that
bookend for your collection, you
decide what it’s worth to have it.
In this case, it was $616k.
Clarifications
On p. 110 of the April issue,
in our coverage of the Russo and
Steele Scottsdale sale, we incorrectly labeled lot S694, a 1959
Jaguar XK 150S, as a drophead
coupe. It is a roadster.
In the May issue, in our p.
76 introduction to the Bonhams
Automobiles d’Exception à
Rétromobile, we stated that lot
155, the 1928 Mercedes-Benz
S-type roadster, was sold
post-block. According to a representative from Bonhams who
contacted SCM, the car did in fact
sell on the block at $3,360,375.
In our May table of contents,
we incorrectly stated the years of
Paul Frère’s life. The span was
1917 to 2008. SCM regrets the
error. ♦
Stuff
Neat
WHAT YOU NEED AND HOW TO GET IT
by Brendan Floyd
Rolling in Style
Add some class to your classic with a set of wire
rims. After a ten-year absence, new and improved
Truespoke wire wheels are back in production. These
hand-built wheels have been re-engineered for improved
ride quality and load rating and can be ordered in sizes
from 13 inches to 17 inches, or even larger on special
order, with custom widths and offsets available. Features
include a direct-bolt pattern and
50 chrome steel spokes, and
optional stainless steel spokes
and nipples can be ordered
in standard, reversed,
or lip-lace styles. All
Truespokes carry a
three-year limited warranty. Roll over to www
.truespoke.net; prices
start at $1,700.
Caught in the Act
Need to document a grudge match at the racetrack? Or maybe you
want to take a potential buyer on a virtual test drive in your vintage Aston
Martin. Whatever the case may be, the new Motorsports HERO Video
Camera by GoPro has you covered. This shockproof/waterproof camera
is the world’s smallest wireless camera and features attachment accessories
for easy interior and exterior mounting on any vehicle. The HERO can
record up to 56 minutes of video to a 2GB SD card (not included) and
requires two AAA batteries (lithium recommended). So if you’re tired of
lugging your clunky camcorder and watching its nausea-inducing video,
head over to www.goprocamera.com. This mini-camera comes at a miniprice, $180.
Décor for Dummies
Car guys’ sense of home décor leaves a bit to be desired, and when your
significant other feels the need to alter the living room’s feng shui with a
cushion or vase, you bolt to the garage and turn some wrenches. But with
these photo throws, you can now tastefully contribute on redecorating
day. This package contains instructions for submitting your photo to create a
custom full-color or black-and-white throw. The design on these 100% cotton
50″ x 60″ throws is woven, not printed on. Your image doesn’t have to be
automotive, but it’s hard to imagine anything looking better than your prized
collectible gracing the entry hall, right? Check out www.fourth-gear-ltd.com;
these custom throws will set you back $100.
28
Sports Car Market
Morris & Welford, llc
INTERNATIONAL SPECIALIST HISTORIC
CAR CONSULTANTS & BROKERS
1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Lightweight
Chassis Number AR 1493.04067 was supplied new in March 1957 through the main Alfa agent
in Stockholm, Bonniers Bilakbiebolac, to H.K.H. Prins Vilhelm of the Swedish Royal Family.
Always blue from new, the car is superbly unmolested and original, matching numbers and with
intriguing extra features. These great little cars are a treat to drive and as entertaining on the
track or in road rallies. This one is a time-warp survivor and highly recommended.
OTHER CARS AVAILABLE
1911 Stanley Steamer 10hp Model 63 Touring
1924 Bentley 3 Litre Red Label Speed Model
1954 Jaguar XK120 Roadster
1958 Porsche 356A 1600S ‘Carrera Spec’
1961 Cooper-Monaco MkIII Buick
1965 Ferrari 275 GTB ‘Short Nose’
1968 Ford GT40 Mk III
Please Contact
Miles Morris
Mark Donaldson
Connecticut
Tel: 203 222 3862
Fax: 203 222 3863
Cell: 203 722 3333
E-mail: miles@morrisandwelford.com
Hampshire, UK
Tel: 01252 845818
Fax: 01252 845974
Mobile: 07901 712255
E-mail: mark@morrisandwelford.co.uk
Malcolm Welford
California
Tel: 714 434 8562
Fax: 714 434 8155
Cell: 949 500 0585
E-mail: malcolm@morrisandwelford.com
www.morrisandwelford.com
In Miniature Marshall Buck
A Daytona You Can Still Afford
This is a beautiful model, and it well represents the real thing, though
purists will likely have mixed feelings
1959 AMC Metropolitan 1500
The AMC Metropolitan has always
reminded me of a comic book car come to life.
Production:
They are nothing short of charming, and I’d
2003–on, 2,500 each of
even go as far as to call them cute.
2-color Conv. & Coupe;
This one was produced a few years ago in
2004–on, 1,500 each of
1:18 scale by Die Cast Promotions under their
black & white Conv. & Coupe
Highway 61 label. It was originally offered
Ratings:
in several colors and variations, including
Overall Quality:
hard top versions, a Yellow Taxi, and a police
Authenticity:
car. The Met has been modeled by other
Overall Value:
companies in 1:24 and 1:43 scales, but given
Web: www.ffert13.com
the choice, you should go with this H-61 piece.
Highway 61 has done a commendable job
with this and included a surprising amount of detail, too. Overall, the
proportions are excellent, and I am partial to the two-tone turquoise over
cream color combination. Lift off the top or open the doors and you’ll
see a well-replicated classic Metro houndstooth pattern on the tilting
front seats and the folding rears. Interior detailing is good and features
movable sun visors and an opening glovebox and vent windows.
Open the hood and you’ll find a nicely detailed Austin 4-cylinder
engine and working prop rods. The carpeted trunk contains a jack and
tools. The spare is mounted outside, Continental-style. The suspension
works, the wheels turn, and the antenna raises and lowers. They’ve
pretty much covered the exterior with all the right separate details, down
to painting the wiper blades and rubber gasket around the windshield.
The chassis is well detailed and paint finish is great.
The taxi and police car are still in
production, and dealers may still
have these in stock. Coupled with
eBay, you’re sure to turn
one up. Like the
real car, it is
economically
priced from
$25 to $50.
Details
1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Competizione
The Ferrari Daytona was and still
is one of the iconic cars of the early
1970s. This car, s/n 14141, in 1:18 scale
by Kyosho, is modeled as it ran in the
24 Hours of Daytona in 1973, where it
Ratings:
finished 2nd overall.
Overall Quality:
It is a great-looking model, though
Authenticity:
½
not without its flaws. While overall
Overall Value:
½
detail is not great—nor completely
Web: www.kyoshousa.com
historically accurate—it is very
good. To get true authenticity in some
of the details, you would of course have to pay more. In others,
well, I’ll just go by my usual mantra: “They should spend some
time and/or money on a little more research.”
That said, what we have here is a damn fine model with perfectly applied and polished paint and graphics on a superb body
shape. All the panels open and fit with precision. The interior is
close to correct, but the seats most likely are not and the bezels
around the dash gauges are wrong, as they should be black and
not chrome. Engine detail is decent, but the valve covers have
been painted red, which is a mistake. Kyosho has gone to the
extent of adding crystal-clear windows with crisp window trim,
which is a bit of a letdown; instead of having a chrome finish, the
trim is painted silver.
This is a beautiful model, and it well represents the real
thing, though purists will likely have mixed feelings. Kyosho
offers several other Competizione variants, which are all produced to the same standard. Reasonably priced at about $115.
Available from Motorsports Miniatures, 800.249.3763;
www.motorsportsminiatures.com.
Details
Production:
2007–on, 3,500 exclusively
for Minichamps Distribution
1960 Jaguar Mk II
Details
I have always been a Jaguar fan, likely the result of riding in my father’s ’61 Mk IX sedan when I was a todProduction:
dler. I can’t remember what I did yesterday, but I certainly remember that Jag.
1997–2006, several
The 1960 Mk II is another favorite. It has been modeled countless times in 1:43 and 1:24 scales by several
thousand by Maisto;
companies, but it deserves better than the sausage factory production job that Maisto has done here in 1:18 scale.
2008–on, several thousand
This piece happens to be a repackaged and relabeled Bburago item. Neither
by Bburago
company is known for quality or thorough detail.
Ratings:
There are, however, four good things to say about this model, as ofOverall Quality:
fered by both manufacturers:
Authenticity: ½
1. It is a good size piece.
Overall Value:
2. The overall shape is very good.
Web: www.maisto.com
3. There are a few color choices.
4. All doors open, as well as the trunk and hood.
The list of gripes would fill another page. But if you’re looking for a cheap Jag
to display from a distance, this will do the job. It’s currently in production, and
many dealers carry them, with prices ranging from about $25 to $40.
30
Sports Car Market
Icons Tonneaus, Diehard, and VW Advertisements
“Comes With Three Tops”
Tonneaus add raffish charm when covering the empty passenger seat,
but they also trap engine heat
by Rob Sass
DDB Volkswagen Ads
Fans of the Golden Globe-winning cable series “Mad Men” can imagine the
circumstances under which this series of 1959 Volkswagen ads were created. Sparse
and always in black and white, the most famous one consisted of the headline “Think
Small” with a very tiny VW Beetle in the upper left-hand corner, gobs of white space,
and some copy. Others had the headlines “Lemon” (referring to an otherwise finelooking Beetle that allegedly didn’t make the quality control cut for a seemingly trivial
reason) or “Ugly.” The campaign won its creator Doyle, Dane, and Bernbach, the
honor of the Number One Campaign of All Time from Ad Age. Originals of these iconic
20th century ads are common on eBay at around $6.95 each. www.ebay.com.
Tonneau Covers
DieHard Batteries
It’s hard for any Boomer to forget
the Sears DieHard commercials
involving encasing a battery in six
inches of ice, leaving it outside in
sub-zero weather in Alaska, and
then starting the car. But the advertising worked. At one time, DieHard
was one of the most revered and
valued brands in America. The lifetime warranty once offered didn’t
hurt either. As sponsors of numerous
motorsports events and race teams,
DieHard was the gold standard
(until sealed batteries from Exide
and Optima came out in the
1990s). Conventional DieHards are
still available from Sears, starting at
around $79.95, www.sears.com.
32
The word tonneau comes from the
French word that can be approximately translated as “cover” or “container,” not, as some might surmise,
“useless” or “redundant.” Tonneaus
as near as I can ascertain add little
in the way of theft deterrence or
protection of a parked car from a
sudden cloudburst. And although
they add a certain raffi sh charm
when driving your Healey, Triumph,
or MG solo with the tonneau in place
over the passenger seat, they also
act as a convection oven, trapping
even more engine compartment
heat. In ads, the phrase “comes with
three tops” always refers to a soft top,
a hard top, and a tonneau. Generally
secured in place by diabolical little
fasteners like Lift-a-Dots and Tenexes,
they still remain popular and soughtafter items. Moss Motors stocks a full
line of them for British cars from about
$295. www.mossmotors.com.
Sports Car Market
SCM Our Cars
This Boxer Coulda Been A Contenda
UC Bank had become the only bank to commission and own a Ferrari
race car
1959/61 MG A
Owner: Gary Anderson, Contributing Editor
Purchase date: October 15, 2000
Price: $25,000
Mileage since purchase: On which part?
Recent work: New head
Three years ago, I took my 1961 MG A in for a clutch repair. When the mechanic was
road-testing it on a back road, he swerved to miss a deer, and totaled the car. Fortunately,
the car was insured for street use, and he was an honest guy as well as a good race car
builder. Using the insurance money to buy a donor 1959 MG A body and new parts, he
built me a terrific new car around the 1961 drivetrain.
As I explained on the entry documentation for last year’s Monterey Historics, in the
best traditions of club race cars, the only parts that remain of this MG A race car are the
driver’s seat, the limited-slip differential, and the steering wheel. In the course of the past
seven years, everything else has been replaced.
My experience at the Historics led to the most recent work, the replacement of the head
after the engine—a new one I had built last summer—twice blew its head gasket. As I
learned later, the problem was not in the head, but rather in a rev limiter that was altering
the advance at high rpm.
I decided to replace the Derrington crossflow head—a period performance accessory
that came with the car when I bought it—with a stock MG head, which will assure the car
is vintage-legal for all events.
This past weekend I participated in the 2008 MG Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna
Seca, organized by the MG Vintage Racing Association. I’m pleased to say that my
new/old, 1959/1961 club racer managed to hold its own with some of the best MG As in
the country, so I’m looking forward to—knock on wooden cockpit rails—a successful
2008 racing season.
1974 Ferrari 365 GT4/BB
Owner: Mike Sheehan, Contributing Editor
Purchase date: December 2007
Price: $250,000
Mileage since purchase: 0
Recent work: Full cosmetic and mechanical
restoration in process
In 1974, 365 BB s/n 17577 was sold new as a standard production Boxer through Jacques
Swaters in Belgium. In 1980, it was imported into California, but the car’s owner ran into
financial difficulties, and 17577 was repossessed by United California Bank. As per notice from
U.S. Customs, the BB was sentenced to death by the crusher. The bank had to do something
with the car in order to save its own money, and the only way out was to turn the BB into a race
car under customs exemption laws.
In a frantic bid to beat the customs deadline, the car was prepped for the IMSA GTX class.
All the road-going equipment was ripped out, a cage was added, the brakes and suspension
were tweaked, and a high-compression dry-sump race engine was built. This was enough to
convince customs that 17577 was now a race car; UC Bank had become the only bank to commission and own a Ferrari race car.
UC Bank sold the car in 1982, and it was modified further, with Porsche 935K3-style front
and rear body panels, brakes and wheels, and a big rear wing. The car didn’t make Daytona,
but did practice at Riverside in April for the 6-Hour IMSA race. A blown engine put an end to
things quickly, and it failed to start.
I bought the car at that point to run in Ferrari Club track events. I even used it as an
outrageous road car until the attention of the local law enforcement officers persuaded me that
something a little less obvious would be an advantage. I sold it instead, and John Mecom Jr.
drove it to high school, because you can do that in Texas.
It found me again late last year, in need of the mother of all restorations, which has begun. I
hope to have it race-ready and on the track by the end of the year.
34
1976 Porsche 912E
Owner: Rob Sass,VP Business Development
Purchase date: February 2007
Price: $6,850
Mileage since purchase: 3,000
Recent work: A new coil
The 912E I initially bought as a flipper
has instead become a keeper. The reason
is simple—it works better than anything I
could replace it with for the same money.
In spite of Publisher Martin’s frequent
“neutered 911” taunts, I share his mirth
when it comes to the professional 912
apologists who point to its “supple ride
and slightly better balanced handling”
as proof that it’s “just as good as a 911.”
Comparing the two is folly.
On the other hand, its 0–60 time of 9.7
seconds and 115 mph top speed are miles
better than an MG B GT and about on
par with a BMW 2002tii and Alfa Romeo
2000 GTV. At $6,850, I’d have been hard
pressed to find a good early B GT, and
good GTVs and 2002tiis haven’t been
available at that price for a long time. In
build quality, the Porsche is miles ahead,
and its fully galvanized body will likely
remain rust-free.
And although not particularly collectible, several good 912Es have recently
sold on eBay for more than their original
$11,000 list price, odd since that is near
the entry level for a 911SC. My theory is
this: While SCs are generally long-lived
and not troublesome, the plummeting
dollar has raised the price of a rebuild to
$15,000 to $18,000. In my case, however
small, it’s not a risk I’m willing to assume
for a non-appreciating car.
The 912E will set me back
$1,800–$2,500 at rebuild time, which is
probably coming up in the next 10,000
miles. Will I do it? Hell yes; I’ll be far
from under water, nothing else has gone
wrong, and the car returns 23–30 mpg on
87 octane gas. (Editor’s note: We at SCM
have found that Sass’s emphatic, “Hell
yes, I’ll rebuild it!” attitude, along with
the implied “And keep it forever,” is likely
to last until the next something-or-other
turns up on Craigslist.)
Sports Car Market
Affordable Classic Nash Metropolitan
Nash’s “Mini Me” for ’53
Princess Margaret received one as a wedding gift for her 1960 marriage to
Antony Armstrong-Jones, but it was stolen
by Rob Sass
T
he American automotive scene is littered with the tiny
carcasses of small cars that U.S. manufacturers have
tried to foist on a largely unwilling and disinterested
market. American Bantam, Playboy, Crosley and Nash
with the Metropolitan all tried, with varying degrees of success. But in the end, the American market’s love for large cars
would always prove too strong.
But in the early 1950s, with the postwar import fad in
full swing, the unconventional Nash-Kelvinator corporation
believed there was a market for a small car that was backed
by a well-known name and dealer network. Austin Motor
Company in Birmingham, England, contracted to build
the Metropolitan for Nash in what may have been the fi rst
“captive import” sold on a large scale by a major American
manufacturer.
When production began for the 1953 model year, the car
was known by the awkward moniker “NKI Custom” for
“Nash-Kelvinator International.” This was quickly changed
to “Metropolitan”; however, a few slipped through with the
NKI badge. With the exception of unit construction, the
car’s engineering was quite conventional and shared the
1,200-cc engine and 3-speed transmission of the Austin
A40. Built on a tiny 85˝ wheelbase, and initially without
even an externally opening trunk, the Metropolitan was
smaller than a VW Beetle.
Not a bare-bones small car
The Metropolitan, however, was not positioned as
a bare-bones small car, but closer to the “premium”
small cars of today like the Mini Cooper and Audi A3.
All Metropolitans came equipped with radios and heaters and nicely finished interiors. Continental kits, wide
whitewalls, and two-tone paint schemes mimicked the
standard-sized cars of the day. A coupe and a convertible
were offered—shrunken versions of Pininfarina’s 1952
full-sized Nashes. The design would outlast the parent
company’s use of it by almost ten years.
Series II cars boasted some minor specification
changes; Series III cars from late 1956 on had 1,500cc engines from the Austin A50, and the Series IV of
1959 finally brought the practicality of an externally
opening trunk lid.
Details
Most early Metropolitans were badged as Nashes,
Years produced: 1954–62
although
Hudson dealers sold them under their brand
Number produced: 108,000
as well. When both of these brands expired in the
Original list price: $1,469
1958 model year, the cars were known simply as
Tune-up cost: $200
Distributor cap: $23.75
“Metropolitans,” which is how the majority were
Chassis #: In engine compartment
sold.
Engine #: Left side of engine block
A relatively small number of Metropolitans were
Club: Nash Car Club of America
sold
in RHD form in the U.K., where their atrocious
1N274 Prairie, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
handling proved a huge liability on winding English
More: www.nashmet.com
roads. Princess Margaret received one as a wedding
Alternatives: 1959–67 Triumph Herald,
1956–71 Morris Minor,
gift after her 1960 marriage to Antony Armstrong1956–75 Fiat 500
Jones. The car fared little better than the marriage—it
SCM Investment Grade: D
was stolen less than a year later.
36
Metropolitans had a decent run of sales, especially
around the recession of 1958–59 and the Suez crisis. At
one point, they trailed only the VW Beetle in import
sales. But by the return of prosperity in 1961, sales had
trailed off precipitously. Coupe production ended in
1959, while convertible production ended in April of
1961, but there were enough units on hand for sales to
continue until 1962, with the stragglers titled as ’62s.
Definitely no sporting pretensions
Dynamically, Metropolitans are at best lackluster.
In spite of their size, they had no sporting pretensions.
The very short wheelbase and soft springs endowed the
car with a somewhat bouncy ride. Handling was largely
Sports Car Market
theoretical, with extreme body roll and a lack of maneuverability, the result of bodywork that enveloped all four
wheels and gave the impression that they were huddled
together out of sight.
Even with the 1,500-cc engines, performance was
less than sparkling, particularly with a dismal, wideratio 3-speed transmission. In fact, they are quite hopeless in today’s traffic as anything more than a suburban
ice cream-getter. Forget taking one on a freeway.
Metropolitans are reasonably robust mechanically,
about like an Austin-Healey Sprite. Like most cars of
the day, they are also seriously rust-prone, a significant
concern for a monocoque car, especially one that has to
be jacked up high to change wheels.
Some reproduction sheet metal and a good number
of other trim parts are being reproduced, and some NOS
items are still around. Kip Motor Company in Dallas
stocks a large assortment of parts (www.kipmotor.com).
Mechanical parts are generally not problematic.
As a collector car, Metropolitans are neither fish
nor fowl. Not really embraced by the microcar crowd,
they are certainly not sports cars either. Nor are they
particularly rare. What they are is all kinds of cute. And
that’s good enough for the average Metropolitan owner.
In period “Easter egg” colors like white and turquoise,
white and salmon, and white and lemon yellow, they are
generally huge attention-getters.
Convertibles bring a bit of a premium over coupes, as
Jimmy Buffett’s Metropolitan
one would expect, though neither generally brings huge money. Prices in the high teens
seem about the end of the world, and even Jimmy Buffett’s own convertible sold for only
$19,250 at RM’s Ft. Lauderdale auction this past February. It’s doubtful Metro prices
will change any time soon. There are too many cars around for too few takers, especially
considering their limited usefulness. ♦
20-Year Picture
1954–62 Nash Metropolitan
1953–57 Volkwagen Beetle Sedan
1949–60 Morris Minor Sedan
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
1989
1994
1999
2004
2008
Prices are for cars in excellent condition. This information is provided by Black Book and Cars of Particular Interest Collectible Vehicle Value Guide, www.blackbookusa.com.
June 2008
37
Legal Files John Draneas
He Won the Bid, Not the BMW
If you’ve been tracking the legal analysis, you probably think the buyer is
going to get the BMW. Sorry, you’re mistaken about that
B
MW’s new M3 sport sedan offers very impressive performance in an appealing package. At
an MSRP of approximately $70,000, they fly
out of dealers’ showrooms, and there have been
reports of dealers selling them at $30,000 over MSRP.
So a BMW dealer apparently tried to cut a fat hog by
offering a heavily optioned new M3 on eBay on a socalled “no-reserve basis” with a $60,000 starting bid.
Of course, a sale isn’t truly “no reserve” if an opening
bid is set, as was the case here. However, the seller made
it clear that the first bid of $60,000 or above would be
enough to own the car.
Our bidder figured he couldn’t go wrong, so he bid
$61,000, and eBay dutifully recorded his $60,000 opening bid. A week later, he ended up as surprised as anyone
that his was the only bid in the auction.
About 15 minutes after the end of the auction, the
bidder claims the dealer called about the “mistake,” and
apologized that the “deal” was not going to be honored.
The bidder’s suggestion that litigation might ensue was
reportedly met with laughter. After all, how could this
guy hope to battle a multi-billion dollar company?
Gotta love the Internet
You might expect our bidder to get legal representation at this point, but that would cost money. Instead, he
posts to an M3 web site asking all of the “experts” to
chime in with their advice The blog even added a reader
poll, asking readers who they thought would win.
“Legal Files” couldn’t resist, and cast its vote in order
to see the results. Only 9% of the voters thought the
buyer would lose. A whopping 56% thought there was
no doubt the buyer would win. A relatively meager 35%
were astute enough to think the result would “depend,”
and that perhaps the buyer ought to get a lawyer.
What is wrong with 65% of these people? There is
absolutely no doubt the correct answer is “it depends,”
as all we have is the buyer’s side of the story. Who knows
what the dealer’s version of the story is going to be? And
given that the dealer has already laughed at the threat of
litigation, who in their right mind would think this buyer
is actually going to buy this car for $60,000 without a
lawyer’s help?
Contract Law 101
Under the law, a contract results when a party makes
an offer that is accepted by the other party. Listing this
car on eBay constitutes the offer. In a “no reserve”
format, the seller has committed to sell the car for the
highest bid, no matter how low it might be. The offer is
accepted simply by making the highest bid at the close
of the auction.
This seller’s listing was very extensive. It gave enormous detail about the car and contained 50 photographs
of the M3. An offeror is legally entitled to impose conditions on the offer, which this one did:
38
“We’re sellin’ to the highest bidder... sorta”
• They would not sell the car to someone who intended to export it.
• Since the car was in their inventory, they reserved the right to cancel the auction
if the car was sold locally.
• They reserved the right to cancel any bid at any time for any reason.
Neither of the first two conditions came up here. Analyzing the third is a little
trickier. In the listing, it was included in the paragraph that dealt with the “no export”
restriction, which would very likely limit its meaning to situations dealing with the
“no export” statement. Also, the dealer did not sell the car to someone else, nor did
they “cancel” the bid in time. So once the auction closed, the bid became a contract,
and it became too late to cancel the bid.
eBay rules
Several posts to the web site suggested the dealer was in violation of eBay rules
and filing a complaint with eBay should resolve the problem. But just what can eBay
do here? They can’t force the seller to deliver the car, and canceling the seller’s eBay
rights may not be much of a penalty, especially when a new account can be created
under another name quite easily.
Nonetheless, the eBay rules do serve a useful purpose. Since the seller agreed to
them when he registered as an eBay user, they do act as a portion of the contract
between the seller and the buyer. That adds teeth to the buyer’s legal claims, as it
appears fairly clear the seller violated these rules, at least if the buyer’s version of the
facts is correct.
Tough to claim “mistake”
The seller will likely have a very tough time with its claim that there was a “mistake.” Under the law, either party to a contract can rescind it if there was a mutual
mistake as to a material term of the contract. Say, for example, the buyer thought it was
U.S. dollars, the seller Canadian—clear grounds to rescind the contract. But rescission
is generally not available where there is a unilateral (one party only) mistake—for example, the buyer believes that delivery is included in the deal when the listing doesn’t
say anything about it—unless one actually knows that the other is acting by mistake.
But in this case, what would the “mistake” have been? Assuming that someone
Sports Car Market
would bid more? Listing the car for
auction in the first place? Looking
back, both of those decisions sure
turned out to be mistakes, but those
aren’t the kind of mistakes that
would allow the seller to back out of
the deal.
So who gets the car?
If you’ve been tracking the legal
analysis, you probably think the
buyer is going to get the BMW.
Sorry, you’re mistaken about that.
Based on the buyer’s version of
the story, it seems pretty certain
that he would win a lawsuit, and
the dealer would be found to have
breached the auction contract. But
there are two ways the court could
select the most appropriate remedy—force the dealer to sell this
particular car to the buyer at the bid
price, which the law refers to as specific performance, or
simply award money damages to the buyer.
Specific performance is generally awarded only
when money damages are inadequate to remedy the
breach. That usually comes up when the subject of the
contract is unique and there is no equivalent substitute.
For example, real estate is always considered to be
unique because each property has its own individual
June 2008
characteristics and location, and it’s
near impossible to find another one
that is exactly the same.
But no matter how hard it might
be to find a new M3, it is just another
production car, and the factory can
easily build another one exactly like
this one. Consequently, it is highly
unlikely that any court would order
the dealer to sell this particular M3
to this particular buyer.
Rather, the buyer will have to
go find another equivalent M3 and
buy it. The buyer can then recover
damages equal to what the other
M3 costs him less the $60,000 bid.
For example, if he has to pay the
$70,000 MSRP, he could recover
$10,000. But if he finds another one
for $61,000, then his damages are
only $1,000.
Sure looked right on eBay
And, once again, legal fees will
be an important component here. Unless applicable state law provides for the recovery
of attorney fees in such a case, which would be unusual, the buyer will be out of pocket
for his attorney fees, win or lose. That could make a relatively slam-dunk case into an
uneconomical pastime for the buyer. ♦
JOHN DRANEAS is an attorney in Oregon. His comments are general in nature and
are not intended to substitute for consultation with an attorney.
39
Up Close Barrie “Whizzo” Williams
Peter Pan of the Paddock
There he was, double-clutching a 45-year-old diesel, overtaking a semi,
nursing a coffee, and waving and honking at a pretty girl
Race photos: Jeff Bloxham
by Paul Hardiman
E
Williams at Race Retro
veryone in motorsports has a favorite “Whizzo”
story, and the biography of Barrie Williams,
Britain’s best-known historic racer, has been
long-awaited (see review, p. 130). It’s a wonder
nobody thought of it before. But perhaps it seemed too
obvious when the man himself is so accessible; at race
gatherings, Whizzo takes half an hour to cross a crowded
paddock because he has to talk to everybody.
He knows everybody, you see. Fifty years of racing
does that to you. The man never seems to get older but
he’s knocking on the door of 70, and the recent demise of
two of his contemporaries, Tony Lanfranchi and Gerry
Marshall (who was younger, though looked older, and
both were considerably less fit), may have spurred efforts to get this done.
For Whizzo is Peter Pan. He first competed at
Prescott in 1957, and remains a regular winner at the
Goodwood Revival; in five races in 2007, he won the
Glover Trophy and scored a second and third. A proud
BRDC life member, he is currently president of the
British Motorsport Marshals Club (whose members get
five pounds off each book).
“Driving is all I’m good at…”
A successful allegiance in historic racing—which
has increasingly taken up much of Whizzo’s time in the
past 13 years—has been with Ecurie Ecosse collector
Dick Skipworth. A couple years ago, at Skipworth’s request, he thought nothing of driving the famous restored
team transporter—with D-type, XK 120, and Cooper
Monaco on its back—the 600 miles to Mount Stuart
40
Drifting round Goodwood
in Scotland for the second of Johnny Dumfries’s motorsport extravaganzas. “Want a
lift?” he asked me. The answer was easy.
On the way, he told me a bit about his life, self-deprecatingly claiming that “driving
is all I’m good at… I can’t really do anything else.” As if—he did an engineering apprenticeship with David Brown and filled in his early career driving trucks, delivering
bricks still warm from the kiln.
But the memory that sticks with me from the trip is going through the twiddly
bit where the M8 winds through the middle of Glasgow. Whizzo was simultaneously
double-clutching the 45-year-old supercharged two-stroke diesel down a gear while
overtaking a semi, nursing a coffee, and waving and honking at a pretty girl walking
on an overpass. None of the public was inconvenienced in any way in the making of
this movie.
Later, he made the year of a guy working for the present incarnation of Ecurie
Ecosse by giving him a lift in the old transporter—rolling value at the time something
like $1 million—the last few miles to Mount Stuart. The lucky hitcher climbed out of
the historic cab like a dog with two tails. Actor Robbie Coltrane, a noted gearhead who
knows how things work, was fascinated by the unique three-cylinder, six-piston engine, and Williams was as at ease chatting to him as with any member of the public.
“Swap over, I’ll show you how…”
I always knew Williams was good value after the legion of stories that filtered out
of racing about the “terrible trio”—himself, Marshall, and Lanfranchi, racing rivals
if not always friends—though today he says he was the quiet one. But I found out for
myself when I did my Association of Racing Drivers Schools course to gain my racing
license in about 2000. I’d asked for Whizzo to be my instructor/examiner, all in the
name of a good story.
We tootled around Silverstone a bit in the rain until he reckoned I’d learned enough
to stay out of everybody’s way. Then he said, “Swap over, I’ll show you how to get
one of these [front-drive Peugeot 306s] sideways.” We did and he did, but this time
he failed to catch the massive lift-off oversteer and we rotated 270 degrees before
plopping gently into the gravel. Sadly, even with me sitting on the bonnet, it wouldn’t
Sports Car Market
drive out. Worse, we had come to rest unseen directly under one of the circuit cameras,
so to add insult to ignominy, we had to run around and wave to catch the attention of
race control for a tow.
A lesser man might have blamed the pupil, but Whizzo owned up to the spin, to
much ridicule from the tow-men and fellow instructors—and I got my license. Since
then, he’s helped me on track test stories at Silverstone, pulling strings so that we can
get out for a couple of laps with a camera car.
Graciously adjusted his pace to suit
I’d first come across his continual acts of kindness some years before, such as his
taking an unwell friend and fellow member of exclusive rally club Ecurie Cod Fillet to
another late member’s funeral. It’s also the first time I had to follow him on the road.
But Williams, gracious as ever, judged my top velocity at these highly illegal speeds
and adjusted his pace to suit, pulling me gently along but not dangerously over-extending me. It was plain what was going on, as he had at least twice the horsepower, but it’s
the thought that counts.
The book reviewed in this issue of SCM is packed with entertaining photographs
and hilarious anecdotes, but doesn’t plumb the depths of his character. Williams never
really opens up about his feelings and author Paul Lawrence obviously didn’t push
too hard, but then the subtitle is “The motorsporting life
of....” Silly typos such as “Betty” (Hill) and “Galaxy”
will irritate, but it was a rush job to get it finished,
especially as all and sundry (including me) wanted to
contribute, which goes to show how much affection he
engenders. Anyway, Williams wanted to subtitle it “The
motorsporting life of… the first 50 years…” so maybe
there will be room for a corrected and more in-depth
second volume in a decade or so.
Minor glitches aside, this book, like the man, will
give pleasure to everyone who comes across it. Humble
as ever, Barrie “Whizzo” Williams still makes part of his
living by trailering various historic racers around Europe.
Who better to look after an irreplaceable race car than the
man who can drive it faster than its owner? So if you come
across a tow-rig with BRW in its registration and “making progress” through the car-parks we laughingly refer
to as motorways, give the driver a wave. You’ll almost
certainly receive one back. ♦
Whizzo gets sideways... for the umpteen thousandth time
June 2008
41
Collecting Thoughts Voisin
Say Bonjour to Voisin
The French have kept Voisin to themselves; the make is unknown in the
English-speaking world, with very few cars available
by Raymond Milo
F
42
Sports Car Market
Artcurial
irst, let me disclose that I have three Voisins for sale,
namely a C14, a C28, and a C30. Last December, I
sold a coachbuilt C28, but I signed a non-disclosure
contract and thus cannot talk about it. I have been
an admirer of the make, I follow the market closely, and
those of you who know me know that I speak my mind
whether it benefits me or not.
Before we get to the example auctioned by Artcurial on
Saturday, February 9, a few words on Gabriel Voisin are
appropriate.
He was born in 1880, educated in École des Beaux-Art
de Lyon. He was fascinated by airplanes early on, and with
Louis Blériot and pilot Henri Farman the young entrepreneur produced a plane that in 1907 set a world record by
flying a whole kilometer.
By 1914, Gabriel and his brother Charles owned an aircraft factory near Paris. That same year Gabriel produced
and patented a fighter plane that was revolutionary for the
period—no cloth or wood was used, only metal. Voisin
offered it to the French War Department, and by the end
of WWI, some 8,000 Avions Voisins had been made. Just
Avions Voisin, the Next Big Thing
before the end of the war, Voisin sold licensing rights to the
Italian, Russian, and British governments.
has a major fault that is beyond rectification through
After the Great War, no one wanted fighter planes, but Gabriel Voisin did not care.
restoration: Nothing is known about it prior to 1962. The
He was a multi-millionaire who turned his energy and talent to his next love—the autopost-’62 history is like kissing your sister—it really does
mobile. Philosophically, Voisin belonged to the French offshoot of the German Bauhaus
not count. The wrong headlights, the frozen engine, the
movement, also known as functionalism, whose mantra was that only function matmissing transfer case for the sliding roof and such will be
tered, and it dictated the form. The best-known members of that group were architect Le
solved with money, good luck, and time. The lack of real
Corbusier and author Anatole France.
As a carmaker, Voisin practiced “infinite simplicity,” which dictated that no more history is insoluble.
So is it a good buy at a record $788,500? Yes, I think
than absolutely necessary was required to make any component. For instance, he develit’s a steal. Listen to me and hear me well: These Voisins
oped the epicyclic gearbox, which in effect doubled the number of speeds. He refined
are the Next Big Thing. (Did I mention I have three for
the Cotal pre-selector gearbox, with gear change executed by paddles on the steering
sale?)
wheel—in 1932, no less.
First, the French have managed to keep Voisin very
Voisin engines were of sleeve-valve design, and he faithfully paid royalties (if not
much an exclusive French domain. The few things that
always on time) to Charles Knight. Interestingly enough, the stroke never changed—it
stayed at 110 mm—only the bore size and the number of cylinders varied. The big have been written about the man and his cars are all in
French limited editions and are now out of print. The
Voisins attracted the big names of the period: Le Corbusier and Anatole France, but also
make is still virtually unknown in the English-speaking
H.G. Wells, Josephine Baker, and Rudolph Valentino, who had three—two for France
world. And only the most sophisticated collectors (Messrs.
and one for Hollywood.
The length and the intent of this article does not allow me to even scratch the surface Mullin, Mann, and Mounger come to mind) appreciated
Voisin and bought them when no one knew what a Voisin
of Voisin’s genius. He had over 200 automotive patents,
was. But the cat is now out of the bag.
from folding rear seats to that first paddle shifter.
Details
Secondly, there is a shortage of cars that pierce $2
The car sold by Artcurial in Paris on February 9 for
Years produced: 1934–36
million with ease in premier auctions. Don’t take my
Number produced: 6 approx.
$788,500 is one of two C25 Aérodynes that survive.
Original price: 180,000FF (about
word for it, just look objectively at marquee auctions of
The other one is in Musée National in Mulhouse and
$18,000)—a Bugatti T46 cost
December, January, and February—the pickings were
not likely to come on the market any time soon. Other
100,000FF
slim. There are two reasons for this: people who bought
C25 models were the Clariere and Cimier. A 1935
SCM Valuation: $700,000–$800,000
those big cars in the first place bought them to keep them,
Clariere
in
scruffy,
lovely
condition
sold
for
$330,000
Tune-up cost: $1,000
and they are not for sale, period.
at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction last summer (SCM#
Distributor cap: $150 (Delco-Remy, not
expensive, but you have to find it)
In addition, emerging markets in both Eastern Europe
46547).
Chassis #: Brass plate riveted to firewall
and Asia are beginning to reduce the meager supply.
The C25 Aérodyne was Voisin’s idea of combining
Engine #: Right side brass plate
the size and comfort of a four-door, the versatility of And the cars to be found are what I call necro cars; they
Alternatives: 1936 Cord 810 Westchester,
come from the estates of dead collectors. So welcome the
a convertible (with its sliding roof center), and effort1935 Daimler Double Six, 1933 Minerva
less cruising with a very sleek aerodynamic body, a Voisin, unknown no more, and I say a new king of the
SCM Investment Grade: A
hill. ♦
feat he certainly achieved. But this car (S/N 50023)
Event Amelia Island Concours
Fun in the Sun, Eventually
Sunday’s show seemed like the icing on the cake, with 314 classic cars lined
up in 37 classes
by Rob Sass
T
Trans Am racers thundered at Amelia
here’s no disputing the fact that the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance has
enjoyed a meteoric rise in stature in the last several years. As long time SCMer
and magazine magnate Tom DuPont points out, while it’s impossible to compare
Amelia with its West Coast counterpart, there is the sense that if you’re a car
guy, you have to go to Pebble, but you want to go to Amelia.
The Amelia Concours is in its 13th year and sprawls across the 100-plus acres of
the huge seaside Ritz-Carlton Resort 35 miles northeast of Jacksonville. Running from
Thursday through Sunday and including a $16.7 million RM auction of 105 outstanding cars, it drew an estimated 18,000 motorheads of all types.
Sunday’s concours seemed like the icing on the cake, with 314 classic carriages
lined up in 37 classes along the golf course to the north of the hotel. Perfect bodywork
could be seen in all directions, though waterproof shoes were a desirable accessory.
Amelia’s cheery goodwill echoed throughout the weekend (at least after the reallife re-enactment of the movie “Twister” concluded Friday night and things dried out
a bit). The show has an overriding sense of fun that’s a testament to its founder Bill
Warner. In both the setting and the tone of weekend itself, there is a relaxed feeling
that comes from the fact that the celebration has room to stretch out, rather than fighting a rearguard action with its back to the beach, like the Spartans at Thermopylae.
The big news during the past year was the appointment of Tom Cotter as co-chairman of the event. He is well known to SCMers as the author of the books, The Cobra
in the Barn: Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology and The Hemi in the Barn: More
Great Stories of Automotive Archaeology, as well as being an occasional contributor to
the magazine. His personal collecDetails
tion includes a 289 Cobra, several
British sports cars, and a group of
Plan ahead: March 13–15, 2009
Ford Woodies. It will be interesting
to see whether Cotter’s personal afWhere: Ritz-Carlton Resort, Amelia Island, FL
finity for barn finds and unrestored
Cost: $40 for adults; $20 for students
cars translates into regular preservation classes at next year’s event.
More: www.ameliaconcours.org
This is one area where Amelia has
44
been a bit behind some of the other concours.
Best in Show this year was won by perennial concours
contenders Sam and Emily Mann and their stunning
1935 Duesenberg Model J roadster, with its immaculate
white finish, rear skirts, and rumble seat. Best Sports
Car in the show was won by a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport.
Other class winners included a 1967 Bizzarrini Strada
5300 GT, a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K cabriolet A, and
a lovely 1934 MG K3 Magnette brought by the Collier
Collection in Naples, Florida.
This year, Amelia featured the cars of the Trans Am
series from the 1960s and 1970s. Series heroes Parnelli
Jones, Dan Gurney, George Follmer, Sam Posey, and
John Morton were all on hand. Even 33 years after his
death, the absence of Mark Donohue was apparent.
Still, it was an amazing collection of talented drivers and phenomenal cars that reminded one of how fun
racing could be when the cars that raced on Sunday
resembled something you could buy on Monday.
With products like the Mustang on hand and the new
Challenger and Camaro in the pipeline, now would seem
the appropriate time to revive Trans Am, and indeed,
there have been industry murmurings about it.
As usual, Amelia attracted its share of unusual cars,
none of which fell into the category of “rare and should
be.” Winner of Best in Class in the category of Cars You
Never Knew Existed was the 1938 Tatra T77a of John
Long and Helena Mitchell of Toronto, Canada. It was
a splendid example of the Paul Jaray art deco streamliner.
A feature of Amelia has always been the breadth
of its presentations, from racing cars to motorcycles to
grand classics. Each year, the quality of the top cars in
each class gets better, which, when coupled with the
variety on the field, makes for a perfect way for anyone
who has any affection for old cars to spend a day. ♦
1930 MG 1212 Brooklands racer of SCMer Jack Kahler
Sports Car Market
SCMers at Amelia Island
Michael Amalfitano—Jupiter, FL
1963 Fiat Abarth
Sam Cummings—Grand Rapids, MI
1971 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT, Best in Class
Thomas & Margaret Keller—Manitowoc, WI
1933 MG J-3
William B. Ruger, Jr.— Newport, NH
1925 Locomobile 48 Sportif phaeton
Barbara & Jerry Andres—Richmond, VA
1956 MG A 1500 roadster
Joseph Dockery—Cos Cob, CT
1965 Shelby GT350 R
Bill Kennedy—Taylorville, IL
1911 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost
Tom & Susan Armstrong—Issaquah, WA
1968 Chevrolet Penske Sunoco Camaro Z/28
Leonard & Lisa D’Orlando—Lynnfield, MA
1960 Porsche 356B 1600 roadster
Philip & Diane Bagley—
North Palm Beach, FL
1973 Porsche Carrera RS
Matthew Drendel—Hickory, NC
1977 Porsche 935, Best in Class
Randy Kimberly & Bill Warner—
Jacksonville, FL
1928 Chevrolet Beach racer
John Gillespie & Jack Ruscilli—Mount
Airy, NC
1949 Jaguar XK 120 Super Sport
Robert & Sandra Bahre—Alton, NH
1910 Thomas Flyer M-640 touring
John Baldwin—Covington, LA
1972 Datsun 510
Howard & Diane Banaszak—
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
1953 MG TD Sport Speciale
Bob Birdsall—West Palm Beach, FL
1954 BSA Daytona Gold Star, Best in Class
David Boland—Titusville, FL
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
1969 Chevrolet Camaro
Andy Boone—Dallas, TX
1970 Plymouth ’Cuda
Jack & Kathy Boxstrom—Picton,
Ontario, CAN
1949 Cadillac Club coupe
Allan Brewer—Daytona Beach, FL
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
Joe Buzzetta—St. James, NY
1969 Porsche 908 Spyder
James & Marion Caldwell, Sr.—
Toms River, NJ
1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I convertible sedan
David C. Campbell—Norwell, MA
1937 AC March 16/80 Sports tourer, Amelia Award
Bruce Canepa—Scotts Valley, CA
1970 AMC Javelin, Amelia Award
Joe & Angela Cantore—Oak Brook, IL
1936 Mercedes-Benz 290 cabriolet A
Ele Chesney—Toms River, NJ
1928 Minerva AF Transformable town car
Richie & Sharon Clyne—Las Vegas, NV
1909 Thomas Flyer Flyabout 670
Miles Collier—Naples, FL
1934 MG K3 Magnette, Best in Class
1935 MG PA/PB
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, Amelia
Award
Gary S. Collins—River Forest, IL
1968 Porsche 911
Nick Colonna—Palos Verdes Estates, CA
1964 Iso Grifo Bizzarrini 5300 Corsa A3C,
Amelia Award
Tom, Pat & Brian Cotter—Davidson, NC
1966 Austin-Healey Sprite Prototype
Chris & Anne Cox—Chapel Hill, NC
1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
June 2008
Jim Duncan—Beverly Hills, MI
1949 Zimmerli Vauxhall Velox 18-6
Timothy S. Durham—Indianapolis, IN
1929 Duesenberg J Derham phaeton
Ed Dwyer—Los Angeles, CA
1970 Chevrolet Camaro
James Edwards—Show Low, AZ
1984 Porsche/Fabcar 935
Gene & Marlene Epstein—Wrightstown, PA
1962 Bentley S II Continental DHC
Dave & Kimber Feece—Los Gatos, CA
1968 AMC Javelin
E. Ronald Finger—Savannah, GA
1909 Buick F touring
Gary Ford—Pipersville, PA
1949 HRG Hurgenhauser
Darren Frank—Charlotte, NC
1969 Iso Grifo
Joe & Cynny Freeman—Brookline, MA
1914 Mercer Type 35 J raceabout
Frank Gallogly—Lakeville, CT
1973 Porsche Carrera RSR 2.8
Mark & Connie Gessler—Potomanc, MD
1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Berlinetta Aero,
Amelia Award
Gary Goeringer—Nipomo, CA
1968 Ford Mustang
Victor Gomez, Jr.—San Juan, PRI
1957 Bentley S Continental Park Ward DHC
Jon J. Goodman—Gladwyne, PA
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato
Terri Henning—Charleston, SC
1963 Lotus 23B
Todd E. Hensley—Springfield, MO
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Pinin Farina coupe
Lee & Joan Herrington—Bow, NH
1931 Duesenberg J Murphy coupe, Amelia
Award
John & Deborah Hunt—Santa Maria, CA
1953 Nash-Healey Le Mans coupe
Sean, Kent & Kevin Hussey—Birmingham, AL
1957 Chevrolet Corvette, Amelia Award
Mark & Kim Hyman—St. Louis, MO
1936 Delage D8-120 Aerosport coupe
Bob & Betsy Jenkins—Grenada, MS
1920 Paige 6-66 Daytona, Amelia Award
Jack E. Kahler—Littleton, CO
1930 MG 1212 Brooklands racer, Amelia Award
Ray Scherr—Westlake Village, CA
1934 Packard 1108
Irwin Kroiz—Ambler, PA
1968 Chevrolet Corvette
Jim & Rick Schmidt—Ocala, FL
1957 Ford Thunderbird
Richard & Linda Kughn—Dearborn, MI
1934 Packard 1101
Steven A. Schultz—Chicago, IL
1935 Duesenberg SJ Convertible Coupe
1953 Cadillac Eldorado
John W. Linfesty—Santa Monica, CA
1968 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS
Sam & Emily Mann—Englewood, NJ
1935 Duesenberg J roadster, Best in Show
J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr.—Washington, DC
1938 Darracq/Talbot Lago T150C
Bruce & Jolene McCaw—Bellevue, WA
1961 Ferrari 250 GT Sperimentale, Best in Class
Tom McIntyre—Burbank, CA
1968 Chevrolet Camaro
John W. Mecom, Jr.—Houston, TX
1955 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
Don & Diane Meluzio—York, PA
1968 Bizzarrini Spyder S.I.
Tom Mittler—Three Rivers, MI
1922 Wisconsin Special Open-Wheel Sprint
Neil Moody—Evergreen, CO
1966 Ferrari 275 GTB
James & Silvia Moore—Boca Raton, FL
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe
Wellington & Janet Morton—Fruit Cove, FL
1912 Cadillac Model 30 touring, Amelia Award
Peter & Merle Mullin—Los Angeles, CA
1937 Delahaye 135M roadster
1937 Delahaye 145
Mark J. Murphy—Scottsdale, AZ
1969 Chevrolet Baldwin Motion Chevelle,
Amelia Award
Don & Carol Murray—Laguna Beach, CA
1955 Porsche 550 Spyder
Robert Pass—St. Louis, MO
1937 Rena Phaeton, Amelia Award
Buddy & Arline Pepp—Beverly Hills, CA
1974 Iso Grifo
William & Joan Perretti—Ormond Beach, FL
1904 Siddeley 6hp
Henry & Gale Petronis—Orlando, FL
1931 Bentley 8-Liter tourer
Malcolm Pray—Greenwich, CT
1937 Delahaye 135M, Best in Class
1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III
John W. Rich, Sr.—Pottsville, PA
1939/47 Rolls-Royce Phantom III “Vutotal”
Weldon W. Scrogham—Waynesboro, VA
1980 Interscope Porsche Indy Car
George R. Shelley—Pompano Beach, FL
1934 MG PA/B Le Mans
Jack Simpson—Dallas, TX
1933 MG J-2 open sports
Len & Suzie Star—Hudson, OH
1935 MG NB, Best in Class
Martin & Dottie Stickley—Winter Park, FL
1951 Allard K2
David Stitzer—Warminster, PA
1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S roadster, Amelia
Award
Jeffrey & Christine Stout—Manhattan
Beach, CA
1970 Chevrolet Camaro
Mike & “Ralph” Stowe—Boyne City, MI
1956 Lincoln Premiere convertible
Gerry & Nancy Sutterfield—Palm Beach
Gardens, FL
1953 Muntz roadster
Chuck & Carol Swimmer—San Diego, CA
1931 Bentley 8-Liter
Mark & Pam Thomas—Birmingham, MI
1908 Pontiac Buggy runabout
John Thompson—Atherton, CA
1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 race car
1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1 race car
Bill Warner—Jacksonville, FL
1955 Chevrolet Corvette roadster
1958 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham
Court Whitlock—Springfield, MO
1957 Maserati 150S, Amelia Award
Henry B. Wilkinson—Asheville, NC
1964 Shelby Cobra roadster, Amelia Award
Roger Willbanks—Denver, CO
1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Kombo roadster,
Amelia Award
John H. Willock—Chestertown, MD
1958 Ferrari 250 GT Ellena
John & Linda Wright—Upper Black Eddy, PA
1932 MG P
1960 MG A
Frank A. Rubino—Pinecrest, FL
1950 Aston Martin DB2 DHC, Best in Class
45
Ferrari Profile
1988 Ferrari Testarossa
The initial response was wildly enthusiastic and fueled a buzz that attracted
people who had never before considered a Ferrari
by Steve Ahlgrim
Details
Photos: Hyman Ltd.
Years produced: 1985–91
Number produced: 7,200 approx.
Original list price: $89,000 (1985),
$172,000 (1991)
SCM Valuation: 1985–1987.5,
$40,000–$60,000;
1987.5–1991, $50,000–$70,000
Tune-up cost: $7,000, but expect to pay
way more
Distributor caps: $490 each, 2 required
Chassis #: Top frame rail in engine
compartment, passenger side
Engine #: Top of engine block, just right
of center, close to bell housing
Club: Ferrari Club of America
PO Box 720597
Atlanta, GA 30358
More: www.ferrariclubofamerica.org
Alternatives: 1978–85 Porsche 930 Turbo,
1967–73 Maserati Ghibli coupe
1985–89 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV
SCM Investment Grade: C
Comps
Chassis number: ZFFSG17A4J0075523
T
he Testarossa was a significant advance for Ferrari.
Designed for series production, this flat-12 supercar continued Ferrari’s 12-cylinder tradition in a
modern, mid-engined configuration that could be
traced directly to the 512 and 312 sports prototypes and
Ferrari’s years of Formula One experience.
This 1988 Testarossa is a U.S.-delivery example
equipped with stereo sound system and air conditioning. Its odometer shows just 37,227 miles, a reading that
appears to be appropriate to its condition. It is complete
with its books and tools and comes with an extensive file
of ownership documents and service history.
Perhaps best of all, it is distinctively finished in
Argento (silver) over Bordeaux leather upholstery, an
attractive complement to the distinctive lines of the
Testarossa’s Pininfarina body design and a refreshing
change from the common red over tan. Freshly serviced,
this attractive, handsome Argento Testarossa is ready to
be used and enjoyed.
This car sold for $63,250 at RM’s
Collector Cars of Ft. Lauderdale
auction on February 16, 2008.
One of the perks of being a franchised automobile
dealer is going to dealer meetings. The meetings are often
lavish affairs in fun locations with an obligatory excess of
food and libation. Dealers complain about having to go
to the meetings, but few share the chore with the next in
line or gain much sympathy from their audience.
Ferrari is no different from other manufacturers and
as you can imagine, Ferrari throws quite a soirée. In
SCM Analysis
46
1984, franchised Ferrari dealers from around North
America were treated to a pilgrimage to Maranello
for a dealer meeting and their introduction to a new
model that would forever change the business of selling
Ferraris.
Near silence when the car appeared
The guests were taken to the Imola race track, where
three new Testarossas were waiting for critical inspection and track time. The car had already been shown in
Europe and anyone interested could have seen detailed
photographs of it, but this was the first time most of
the guests had seen the car in the flesh. I’m told there
was near silence while everyone crawled into, out of,
and under the car. It was stunning in the flesh, a total
departure from its predecessor and a bold statement of
Pininfarina’s talent. Everyone recognized it would be a
cash cow, but no one could have anticipated what the
next few years would bring.
You might expect Ferrari’s test drivers to cut back
a couple clicks when chauffeuring an important guest,
but the reality is the opposite. The drivers seem to relish
showing off for a passenger by dancing the car around
the track in a flamboyant fashion that is as much a demonstration of their car control as it is the fastest way
around the track. The Testarossa event was no different.
The pilots showed the grand touring machine could be
as nimble as a sports car, pushing the car to its limits
and encouraging the guests to be aggressive when it
was their turn to drive.
The demonstration hit its mark, and the dealers
1986 Ferrari Testarossa
Lot# 623, s/n ZFFTA17C000066161
Condition 1
Sold at $80,134
Bonhams, London, UK, 12/3/2007
SCM# 48066
1991 Ferrari Testarossa
Lot# SP118, s/n ZFFSG17A8M0086416
Condition 2Sold at $81,540
RM, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2/9/2007
SCM# 44276
1986 Ferrari Testarossa
Lot# 1546, s/n ZFFSA17AG0063567
Condition 3
Sold at $55,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale AZ, 1/18/2007
SCM# 44168
Sports Car Market
returned home wildly enthusiastic about the new
car. Not long after the dealer event, the first North
American preview of the Testarossa was staged.
The invitation-only presentation was sponsored by
Philip Morris and held at the Whitney Museum of
American Art in New York. Few people even noticed
the Marlboro-liveried Ferrari F1 car, as the red
Testarossa stole the show. Again, the response was
wildly enthusiastic and fueled a buzz that attracted
people who had never before considered a Ferrari.
Almost no way to lose money on one
Testarossa hysteria exploded through the late
’80s and peaked in late 1990. In the U.S. the 1974
Daytona was the last officially imported 12-cylinder
Ferrari. By 1985, the strong pent-up demand for a
12-cylinder Ferrari fueled the anticipation of the exciting new model. Before the first car was delivered,
many dealers had sold their allocation way into the
future. When the first cars began to hit the dealerships, the law of supply and demand kicked in. Buyers
unwilling to wait in line for a car started offering a
premium for an early delivery position or a resale.
Almost immediately the premium was $10,000 over
list price, which quickly rose to $30,000, then crept
to nearly $150,000. For five years, there was almost
no way to lose money on a Testarossa. All you had to
do was get your hands on one and you either owned
it for free or made money on it. Everybody wanted one.
Today the Testarossa is still an impressive car, but it no longer commands the
attention it once did. The styling that was so exciting in 1985 does not have the timeless quality of many Pininfarina designs. Like other items from the “Miami Vice”
era, what was cool then seems over the top today—but unlike pastel sports coats with
T-shirts, the Testarossa still has a large following.
You will find a wide variance in Testarossa pricing, and with good reason; there is
a wide variance in condition. Many Testarossas were purchased as investments and
tucked away in the corner of a warehouse, covered, and left for someone with lots of
bucks who wanted it worse than the present owner. The low mileage and unused condition became an albatross the next owner felt obligated to feed, so it is not unusual to
find virtually new Testarossas for sale.
Once the market crashed in 1991 and used Testarossas became relatively affordable, many owners discovered they really enjoyed driving their cars. Examples with
June 2008
40,000 miles are commonplace, with even higher mileage cars dotting the classifieds. Naturally, with mileages ranging from under 10,000 miles to over 75,000,
and with conditions varying from new to scruffy, the
corresponding pricing can be diverse.
Big services often exceed $10,000
The big cost of owning a used Testarossa is maintenance. An engine-out major service is necessary
around every five years (or 30,000 miles, but few hit
that number first). The base service can probably be
done in the $6,000 area, but “while we’re here” items
usually push the total over $10,000, a number that has
significant influence on the value of a Testarossa.
Along with service, cosmetic condition also plays a
big part in a Testarossa’s value. Few buyers of $50,000plus cars have to stretch to buy the car, and few will
settle for a scruffy one. Shrunken dashes, worn interiors, paint issues or stories are the kiss of death to a
Testarossa. If $5,000 more gets a better car, then the
buyer just digs a little deeper.
The Testarossa RM sold is just what you want to
find. As a 1988, it is essentially cosmetically identical
to the last car that came off the line and benefits from
most of the updates that were made during the model’s
production. It has been freshly serviced and comes with
service records plus books and tools. The mileage is appropriate to the model. Silver is not my favorite color,
but it should be acceptable to anyone who doesn’t have
to have a red one. It was sold by a dealer who usually
deals in older exotics to a Midwestern dealer who deals
in all kinds of collector cars.
The buyer and seller know each other, and I think
the result—at the high end of wholesale market—came
after a personal assurance that the car was as good as
it looked. Had a retail buyer held his hand up, he would
have gotten a good deal, as it will take a good deal more
cash to buy the car from the current owner. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Rick Carey.)
47
Sheehan Speaks Michael Sheehan
Convertible Assets Indeed
Bear Stearns and the U.S. market were sub-primed to fail—but classic
Ferraris just head overseas to the next party
Vintage Ferraris were immune to the stock market gyrations
T
hroughout the week of March 12–17, the demise
of Bear Stearns sent a shudder through the world’s
economy. If, like me, you consider The Economist
fun reading, and you survived the 1974 and 1979
gas crisis and the 1980–85, 1990–95, and NASDAQ
2000 recessions, it’s been all-too-predictable. The U.S.
economy went wrong again. So what, now what?
This mess started about 1998, when real estate,
hammered by the 1990–95 recession, looked like a
bargain. Wall Street, eager for higher returns, and with
a performance-based incentive compensation system
that would push the boundaries of any compliance
envelope, transformed the mortgage business from a
local one—centered around banks—to a global one.
Global investors, flush with cash from Asia’s boom and
ever-rising oil prices, demanded high returns, and Wall
Street’s answer was sub-prime mortgages.
Creative loans allowed those with little credit history
to buy houses they couldn’t afford with teaser-rate loans
whose low interest rates soon went up, giving investors higher returns—if the loans were paid. The Fed’s
Alan Greenspan helped to make it possible, dropping
interest rates to prevent a double-dip recession after
the NASDAQ bust of 2000, and keeping them low for
years.
AAA rated into the dumpster
These teaser-rate mortgages were bundled into
supposed investments, or derivatives, known as
Collateralized Debt Obligations, or CDOs. Bond rating
48
companies such as Ambac and MBIA, which had once charged a fee to lend their
AAA bond ratings to state and city governments to improve these agencies’ bond
ratings, now made much fatter fees lending their AAA bond ratings to the newly invented CDOs. With their new-found AAA ratings, these bundles of sub-prime based
CDOs were now easy to sell to global investors.
As more loans were sold, they were in turn used as collateral for even more loans,
and so credit standards were lowered to get more paper out the door, sold by fly-bynight loan brokers making big commissions. Buyers of these CDOs were insurance
companies, pension funds, and hedge-fund managers from Sweden to Shanghai.
Because the U.S. had low interest rates, and Japan had ultra-low interest rates,
money managers leveraged their bets by buying the CDOs with borrowed funds.
Because the CDOs were AAA rated, they were in turn used as collateral for more
borrowing, so if you followed the bouncing ball, borrowed money was used to borrow
more borrowed money. Bets of $35 million could be made by hedge funds with only
$1 million of their own money and $34 million in debt. If the value of the investment
rose to just $36 million, the investors would double their money, but if the value fell to
$34 million, the fund was broke.
Bear Stearns barbecued
On March 12, Bear Stearns CEO Alan Schwartz had to assure Wall Street that Bear
Stearns was not in trouble from sub-prime exposure. Yet on March 14, the company
was insolvent and sold over the weekend by the New York Fed to competitor JPMorgan
Chase for a bargain-basement $2 a share (subsequently raised, see below), or $236.2
million.
The New York Fed and the Federal Reserve approved the all-stock buyout, pushed
through on Sunday before world markets opened Sunday night. The Fed also made the
takeover risk-free by guaranteeing up to $30 billion of Bear’s portfolio while pumping in
liquidity to the markets, with a cut in its lending rate to banks from 3.5% to 3.25%.
To sweeten the pot, Bears’s midtown Manhattan headquarters, worth a cool $1 billion, was thrown in. When the dust settled, JPMorgan’s takeover of Bear cost about 1%
Sports Car Market
of what the investment bank was worth just two weeks
earlier and a 93.3% discount to Bear’s market capitalization on the previous Friday. Goodbye, Bear Stearns.
Best Ferraris didn’t miss a beat
Ever cautious, I was on the phone the morning of
March 17 and asked dozens of dealers over the week
for their feedback. I was relieved to be told, over and
over, that the market for the older Ferraris was booming
along, with only a few hiccups, while the newer cars had
taken an instant 10% haircut! Those who sold the newer
cars, from the 360s on, were dropping their bids on new
inventory and more than eager to sell off their existing
inventory. The “normal” depreciation curve on 430s and
599s, starting at $150,000 over sticker when introduced,
had steepened in the dive toward sticker.
As for the older cars, Boxers were still strong,
while TRs and newer were unchanged, already fully
depreciated, with value a function of miles, condition,
and service history. The TRs and newer Ferraris are
“local market” cars, which can be sold in the U.S. or
into Canada’s booming economy, but can’t be sold to
Europe, as they fall into a 10% duty and 17% to 19.5%
VAT category. The Daytona-and-older market remained
strong, with the most desirable cars—the competition
GTs and coachbuilt specials—selling easily to the very
rich in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere. These best-ofthe-best continue to be solid investments, with a strong
market in the U.S., or are easily sold to Europe, where
they face a modest flat 5% duty and VAT.
June 2008
A week after the Bear Stearns debacle, the bid on Bear stock had jumped from $2
to $10 a share, reflecting that Bear had been undersold. The Dow was up 500 points
and normalcy began to return to the financial markets. While many feel that Goldman,
Lehman, and other players have many unanswered questions, and the bond companies
like Ambac or MBIA that underwrote the CDOs are far from solvent, the Fed had
acted exactly as it had to. We are not yet at the bottom of this cycle, but this too shall
pass, as have other recessions. For example, the worst decision any investor could have
made after 1987’s Black Monday was to sell his positions, though many did, only to
see them more than recover within several months.
Ferraris as world travelers
Although few stop to analyze the economics, Ferraris have always been an arbitrage
trade, the practice of taking advantage of price, currency, and economic differentials
between markets. As arbitrage examples, Ferraris first came to the U.S. in the 1950s
and ’60s, when the U.S. economy was booming, the dollar was king, and Italy was
recovering from the disaster of WWII.
Just as the Iraq war is bleeding America, the Vietnam war was financially devastating and many Ferraris flowed back to Europe in the late 1970s. In the 1980s, the dollar
was again strong and Ferraris came back to the U.S. From 1985 to 1990, when the
yen doubled in value relative to the dollar, thousands of Ferraris went to Japan, only
to come back in the late 1990s. Today’s example shows Ferraris going to Europe and
elsewhere, because the U.S. economy and the dollar are in the tank.
The Fed’s ongoing actions will guarantee the dollar remains weak for several years
to come, and printing presses pounding out dollars will push inflation ever higher.
New wealth is continually being created worldwide, and as communication and transportation become easier, Ferraris are liquid and transportable.
Like art, gold, and diamonds, they can be on a plane and moved quickly to multiple
markets, and will always have a much higher pride-of-ownership factor than Treasury
bonds. Over the last few years, real estate and the stock market have proven to be the
wrong investments. Better a Ferrari in your garage than a house in foreclosure. ♦
49
English Profile
1960 Jaguar Mk II 3.8 Saloon
Concours restorations can exceed six figures; if you’re very lucky, you might
get half of that back when you sell
by Gary Anderson
Details
RM Auctions
Years produced: 1960–67
Number produced: 30,140
Original list price: $5,765
SCM Valuation: $28,000–$45,000
Tune-up cost: $300–$500
Distributor cap: $15
Chassis #: Plate on firewall
Engine #: On head between cam covers
Club: Jaguar Clubs of North America
234 Buckland Trace
Louisville, KY 40245
More: www.jcna.com
Alternatives: 1962–65 Bentley S3,
1960–65 Mercedes-Benz 220SEb
1962–69 Daimler 2.6 V8
SCM Investment Grade: B
Comps
Chassis number: 212739DN
G
race, pace and space” was the Jaguar slogan
in the 1960s, and no model epitomized
this more than the mid-sized Mk II sedan,
which was affordable, elegant and quick.
In its ultimate form as the Mk II 3.8, it was termed the
“gentleman’s express” and the car of choice for British
bank robbers and the pursuing constabulary.
As Jaguar’s most popular model at the time, this
sedan also marked a turning point for Jaguar Motor
Cars. Previously, Jaguar’s line appealed primarily to the
well-off sportsman, with two-seat sports cars and large
luxury sedans. Since the introduction of this model,
Jaguar has always had a mid-sized sedan in its line-up.
However, it took Jaguar a while to reach the zenith of
development represented by this car. Introduced in 1955,
the Jaguar 2.4 (these cars weren’t called Mk Is until the
launch of the Mk II in 1960) adopted the monocoque
construction first used by Jaguar in the D-type race
cars.
This chassis was adapted to a small sedan with a
styling theme that replaced the swooping front fender
and short rear fender lines of the XKs and Mk VIIs with
a single fender/beltline extending from headlamp to
taillamp in one continuous sweeping curve.
The Mk I wasn’t entirely successful, however, since
the design had fat A-pillars and solid door frames, which
gave the greenhouse an awkward appearance.
On the inside, Jaguar worked its artistry with leather
upholstery and wood trim on every possible surface
except the center instrument panel, which juxtaposed
a WWII fighter look of white-lettered black dials on a
matte-black background.
50
Unfortunately, perhaps to underline the sleekness of
the body, the rear wheel track was 4.5 inches narrower
than the front track, which seriously affected handling.
Still, the model sold well and in 1960, Jaguar unveiled
the substantially improved Mk II.
Though the sweeping lines of the Mk I were preserved, the rear track was widened to match the front.
Gone were the full rear fender skirts, replaced by partial
skirts that displayed the rear wheels and tires, which
came optionally with centerlock wire wheels and even
with white sidewalls.
The Mk II was the same length as the Mk I, and the
open and airy greenhouse—restyled with slender pillars
and window frames outlined in chrome—made the car
more elegant and graceful.
Two major performance improvements accompanied
the changes. The Jaguar 3.8-liter DOHC engine, shared
with the Mk IX and XK 150, made the car the fastest fourdoor production sedan. With 220 horsepower on tap, 120
mph was easy to achieve, and the car could outrun bigger
cars (police Wolseley 6/99s, for example). The 2.4- and
3.4-liter engines, carried over from the Mk I, continued
to be available.
Four-wheel disc brakes had proven their worth on
the D-types and were standard. Jaguar was so proud
of this that a red caution triangle and the words “Disc
Brakes” were incorporated into the rear bumper trim.
The interior was as Jaguar-luxurious as ever, and even
the smallest details were attended to. As an example,
the chrome pivoting lock on the rear door wind wings
consisted of nine separate pieces, accented with a crosshatched finger pad.
1966 Jaguar MK II 3.4
Lot# 21, s/n 170052BW
Condition 2
Sold at $21,879
H&H, Duxford, UK, 10/10/2007
SCM# 47386
1966 Jaguar Mk II 3.8
Lot# 721, s/n 235072BW
Condition 2+
Sold at $28,014
Bonhams, Beaulieu, UK, 9/8/2007
SCM# 46793
1960 Jaguar Mk II 3.8
Lot# 55, s/n 214320BW
Condition 1
Sold at $77,616
H&H, Cheltenham, UK, 3/1/2007
SCM# 44605
Sports Car Market
provide reasonable service. Such cars can be had for
around $25,000 but could cost $50,000 or more to take
to the next level.
SHOW STARS: These were once probably old retainers, but have benefited from complete restoration
by a Jaguar specialist. In such a restoration, the engine
and suspension would be rebuilt, and expensive body
work would repair any faults in the stressed chassis. A
first-class paint job would cap the refinishing of every
piece of wood, and leather interior would be replaced.
Such concours restorations are labors of love and can
exceed six figures. Unfortunately, they typically fetch
half that investment when their owners move on.
BESPOKE RESTO-MODS: These are the few
cars remanufactured on a bespoke basis by Vicarage
in England, or Beachams or McLaren in New Zealand.
Building a modern car within the traditional Jaguar
shell, the buyer can specify powertrain and suspension from a Jaguar XKR, as well as climate control
and audio systems of Bentley quality. Cost for such
a project will also be in the Bentley range, though
the custom nature of the project typically means the
car will also sell for half or less what it cost when the
owner decides to move on.
The example here clearly falls into the second
category. Restored for show and displaying its thoroughly deserved AACA award badges, and complete
with the very rare tool kit in its fitted case, it is as
good as any judge could hope to see.
Nods to convenience and drivability
Fully restored from the ground up with no expense
spared, this Mk II was an AACA National Prize winner.
Finished in black with a biscuit interior, it was described
as fully sorted and upgraded with a 5-speed transmission.
SCM Analysis This car sold for $75,900 at RM’s
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, auction
on February 14, 2008.
Three categories of Mk II sedan
In my experience as a buyer, owner, and seller of
the Jaguar Mk II, the examples that appear at auction
fall into three categories: Old Retainer, Show Star, and
Over-the-Top Resto-mod. Each has its own distinct
price range.
OLD RETAINERS: These are generally cars lovingly owned and driven by the same family from new.
They may be a bit shabby around the edges, with fading
wood and a greasy engine compartment, but they’ll
June 2008
As a nod to convenience and present-day drivability, a modern 5-speed T5 transmission conversion—an imperceptible bolt-in—has been installed
in place of the original 4-speed plus overdrive.
Judging from the car’s stance, it also appears to
have benefited from a competition suspension system
to cure the excessive roll that was typical when new.
It likely has an XJS power steering system as well.
Such upgrades are nearly invisible to the observer
and make the car perform, in both creature comfort
and road-handling, in
a much more contemSeat Time
porary fashion.
Though this car isn’t
John Shuck,
air-conditioned (availWestport, CT: In 1959,
able new, but trunk-mounted and ineffective), a period-lookDad was thinking about eiing custom air conditioning system could easily be installed.
ther a 150 FHC or a 3.4 Mk
This example is presented in black with tan, which is a
I sedan, and the only thing
slightly anachronistic color combination not available on
that needed to be decided
Mk IIs until five years after this particular car was built.
was whether I could fit
However, the colors highlight the car’s beautiful lines
in the back seat. I was in
and complement the honey-colored wood and Coombs
sixth grade at the time, but
wood-rimmed competition steering wheel.
was almost six-feet tall, so
Even though this is the most desirable version of
the 150 looked like a long
the Mk II, with 3.8 engine, manual transmission, and
shot. The 3.4 sedan was
wire wheels, I’d have expected a final sales price in the
a treat, however, because
$50,000 range. However, this price might have reflected
my girlfriends were really
the meeting of two equally determined buyers.
impressed with the little
In any case, this is a comfortable choice for vintage
fold-down picnic tables in
car tours, will always be parked in front of a four-star
the back seat, and my budrestaurant, and—unlike a new luxury sedan—isn’t likely
dies were impressed with
to depreciate. I call it fully priced, yet still an excellent
the Abarth exhaust system
value. ♦
Dad had MidWest Jaguar
(Introductory description courtesy of RM Auctions.)
install in Indianapolis.
51
English Patient Gary Anderson
Bad Dog, Rover
At the end of the day, the Rover P6 counts as a “nice try.” It’s the equivalent
of a brainy kid who’s always sick
by Gary Anderson
S
Rust in peace
ome of you may find this hard to believe, but I’m the last person to argue that all
old British cars—regardless of how quirky or unusual—are collectible. There,
I’ve said it.
Just because a car was made by a company that is now out of business, was
trimmed in leather and wood, and stood out from the crowd when new, doesn’t make
it valuable today. How else can you explain the innovative Rover 2000—the basic
platform was referred to as the P6 by Rover—introduced in 1963 with a 4-cylinder
engine, and then upgraded in 1968 with a V8?
The SCM Price Guide doesn’t even list Rovers, going right from Rolls-Royce to
Saab. What does that tell you? The few other price guides that do list this model suggest
that it’s not worth more than $7,500 in good condition, and that may be optimistic.
Granted, there are two clubs for Rover P6s in the United Kingdom (www.p6roc
.co.uk and www.p6club.com), but then again, put two or more Brits with a common
interest in the same room, and they’ll form a club.
So what’s the problem? After all, when the first 2-liter, 4-cylinder version of the
Rover 2000 was introduced in 1963, it was certainly attractive, with smooth lines and
quad headlights flanking a small grille that replaced the kennel-gate grille of the P4
“Auntie Rover.” The P6 gestation was as long as an elephant’s—Rover sent designer
David Bache to France soon after the launch of the Citroën DS19 in 1955, and early
prototypes have the rounded DS19 nose.
Innovation came with a cost
This complete redesign that replaced the Rover P4 had a long list of innovations,
including deDion rear suspension with inboard disc brakes (one of the first cars to have
disc brakes on all four wheels).
The P6 was built around a unibody chassis, but the aluminum external panels were
unstressed and most could be removed and replaced like those of the Citroën DS.
In addition, the car incorporated revolutionary safety features, such as standard seat
belts and safe interior trim pieces. The engine was also designed to be driven below
the firewall in the event of a head-on crash. Perhaps all these factors accounted for
extensive police use.
The engine used in the first version of the P6 was designed specifically for the
car. It had an overhead camshaft layout with the combustion chambers cast into the
52
piston crowns. However, as innovative as this design
was, it only put out 104 horsepower, so for 1966, Rover
introduced the 2000 TC, which had a redesigned top
end and twin SU carburetors. The improvements added
20 more horsepower, and the car had some successes in
rally competition.
Unfortunately, all of this innovation came at a cost:
Customers didn’t appreciate the technical niceties and
instead noted how the rear suspension reduced trunk
space significantly, so that the spare either occupied
most of the space or—optionally—was fitted on the
trunk lid, which was considerably inconvenient.
Even though North American market cars were fitted with a variety of features, such as the Icelert sensor
on the front bumper that flashed a red light on the dash
when the road temperature dropped below freezing,
they couldn’t attract a customer base.
The innovative features also brought a host of mechanical problems that required a mechanic’s intervention. Rover-trained mechanics were scarce in North
America, and while 327,808 P6s were sold in ten years
of production from 1963 to ’73, few came to the U.S.,
and running survivors are as rare as running DS19s.
By 1968, it was clear the 4-cylinder engine was
not competitive in a heavy four-door sedan, so Rover,
now a part of the Leyland combine, installed the Buick
aluminum V8, the rights to which it had acquired from
General Motors.
Rover 3500S introduced with fanfare
That extra space in the P6 engine compartment, thanks
to the horizontal front springs, made the upgrade easy,
and the Rover 3500S was introduced with great fanfare.
Sports Car Market
In the United States, the new model was even recognized
by Road Test magazine as “among the best-engineered
cars produced in the automotive world today.”
However, any pride over this was followed by a fall
1970 Road & Track magazine survey of Rover 2000 TC
owners. To be fair, the 100 owners hated their dealers
more than the car (32% rated them as “poor”), but the
only dealers who trailed them in R&T surveys sold
Triumphs, Jaguars, and Corvettes, so there’s little consolation.
There were 24 problem areas (Fiat scored 15!).
Main issues were: speedo/odo—43%; starter—32%;
tires—30%; gearshift—28%; clutch—28%; cooling
system—25%; spark plugs—22%; alignment—21%.
As a bitter footnote, the sole owner who had reported
no problems (at 8,000 miles) wrote to R&T in 1971 (at
63,000 miles) to report all but one of the 24 problems
and to conclude bitterly that none of the Rover dealers in
the Bay Area would take his car in trade.
Today, preserved examples of the 3500 that survived
the demand for their V8 engine among rebuilders of
Range Rovers are the most desirable model in the P6
family (if a classic car selling for $7,500 can be called desirable). There were also between 160 and 170 Crayfordbodied station wagons and one or two convertibles by
Panelcraft in the U.K. and Graber in Switzerland, but
there’s a distinction between curiosity and collectible,
and they come down on the wrong side of that line.
After the 1971 model year, during which Rover offered one of the largest rebates—$6,000—offered by an
automotive manufacturer, the company withdrew the P6
June 2008
sedan, keeping its U.S. dealers alive with Land Rovers. Of the 79,057 3500 sedans
produced from 1968 to ’77, perhaps 2,000 came to the U.S., and a handful survive.
Sadly, no 5-speed 3500S was sold in the U.S.
In the rest of the world, the 2000 was upgraded to a 2200 model in 1973, and
the 3500S continued to be available into 1977. In 1980, Rover made one more stab
at the U.S. market with the daring (for them) 3500 hatchback, powered by the 133horsepower Rover V8 engine, which was coupled to a 5-speed transmission and sold
through Jaguar dealers. Crippled by poor construction quality from the start, only 481
of these cars were sold in the U.S., so finding one these days is difficult. And most
likely unrewarding, anyway.
Sterling qualities unremarkable
Let’s not even mention the Sterling, a joint venture between Honda and AustinRover that was sold in the United States from 1987 to 1990 and is an orphan with a
capital O.
The V8 3500S engine is easy to maintain and parts are readily available, in contrast
to the difficulties of dealing with the complex 4-cylinder engine, but those attributes
just make the 3500 an attractive donor car for Range Rover restorations.
So perhaps we should just say, “rust in peace” when we think of any Rovers after
the P4s. The Auntie Rovers of the 1950s and ’60s are probably the best way of remembering this company, now dead and buried after the Chinese buyers recently rifled the
British plant of its machinery.
At the end of the day, the Rover P6 falls into the “nice try” category. It’s the equivalent of a brainy kid who may be smart but lacks charm. The P6 also suffers from the
“Peugeot syndrome”; that is, cars that seem to have proven records in countries with
no roads at all, but won’t start if it rains. To wit: P6s were campaigned energetically
in everything from the Monte Carlo Rally to the East Africa Safari Rally in the 1960s
with some success. You can imagine owners asking, “If the car is so damn tough, how
come little stuff goes wrong all the time, when all I want to do is go to work?”
Rover never managed to find the answer to that fundamental question, for the P6 or
even succeeding models. And consequently, Rover is no more. ♦
53
Etceterini & Friends Profile
1935 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300 Pescara Spyder
“La bella figura” means presenting the best face to the world. Mussolini
wore tailored uniforms and was equally attentive to his cars
by Donald Osborne
Details
Photos: H&H Auctions
Years produced: 1934–35
Number produced: 60
Original list price: 70,000 lira
($3,800)—chassis only
SCM Valuation: $150,000–$250,000 (all
special coachwork)
Tune-up cost: $500
Distributor caps: $500
Chassis #: Right rear frame rail above wheel
Engine #: Left rear engine mount
Club: Alfa Romeo Owners Club
Gum Tree Lane, Fallbrook, CA 92028
More: www.alfaclub.org
Alternatives: 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio,
1935 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet,
1936 BMW 328
SCM Investment Grade: B
Comps
1933 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza replica
Lot# 547, s/n 2211083
Condition 2
Sold at $907,500
RM, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2007
SCM# 46319
Chassis number: 700635
B
y the early 1930s, Alfa Romeo was accumulating silverware and losing money in seemingly equal measure. It was rescued by the
state-backed I.R.I. (Institute for Industrial
Reconstruction). To attract new customers while maintaining the marque’s sporting credentials, the 6C 2300
was launched at the 1934 Milan Motor Show. Successor
to the iconic 6C 1750 and stopgap 6C 1900, it was powered by a clean-sheet 2,309-cc DOHC straight-6 engine
available in three states of tune, the most powerful of
which developed 95 hp at 4,500 rpm.
To celebrate its victory in Pescara’s Targa Abruzzo
and Coppa Acerbo, Alfa Romeo sanctioned the production of just 60 6C 2300 Pescara chassis, all of which
shared the same 2,925-mm wheelbase and potent twin
carburetor engine. Chassis 700635 was supplied new to
Benito Mussolini on August 10, 1935. A long-term supporter of the Milanese marque, who once described it as
a “national jewel,” the fascist dictator owned twelve Alfa
Romeos.
His chauffeur and confidante, Ercole Boratto, was
an ex-Alfa Romeo test driver, who said that Mussolini
“adored machines, especially motor cars and parading
about in them. He loved to be recognized by the people
and to be noticed principally by the female sex.... If by
54
chance some young thing caught his eye, he was quite
capable of taking the same street several times in succession so as to pass by the target woman.”
The bodywork fitted to chassis 700635 did not have
an easy genesis. Bereft of any bulletproof glass or armor
plating, the Spyder was initially rejected by Mussolini,
not because it lacked such protective measures but due to
the absence of a rumble seat. Rarely without his chauffeur, Il Duce perhaps felt the need to accommodate any
“target women” he might encounter. To raise the height
of the car’s rear deck to integrate the new due posti
dietro seating, the spare was made almost flush with
the bodywork, the fuel tank was repositioned, and the
rear wings reshaped to fit a discreet fold-away step. The
bonnet was altered so that cooling vents ran horizontally
rather than vertically, giving the impression of greater
length.
Mussolini was delighted with the result and duly paid
50,000 lira—something of a discount on its true cost.
The only open 6C 2300 of a quartet entered for the 1936
Mille Miglia, chassis 700635 was piloted by Boratto and
Guido Mancinelli. The duo finished a strong 3rd in the
over 2-liter unsupercharged class and 13th overall.
Reconfigured as a road car, the Pescara remained in
Il Duce’s possession until November 1939. Bought back
1934 Alfa Romeo 6C2300 Aero Pillarless Saloon
Lot# 289, s/n 710645
Condition 1
Sold at $214,200
Bonhams, Monte Carlo, MCO, 5/16/2005
SCM# 38546
1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Spyder
Lot# 167, s/n 6C10814356
Condition 4
Sold at $946,000
Gooding, Pebble Beach, CA, 8/18/2007
SCM# 46542
Sports Car Market
by Alfa, chassis 700635 then passed to a lesser Fascist Party official. Hidden away
at the end of World War II, it was acquired from his relatives in 1972. Still highly
original, it was treated to a mechanical overhaul and took part in the Mille Miglia
retrospective before entering the current ownership during May 1995. After several
years, it was restored by Dino Cognolato. As a just reward for the meticulous care and
attention to detail that went into the rejuvenation, the Pescara placed second in class at
the 2005 Pebble Beach concours.
As far as we are aware, chassis 700635 is the only first-generation 6C 2300 Pescara
to have been bodied as a Spyder by Touring.
SCM Analysis This car sold for $1,079,681, including premium, at the H&H
Cheltenham Racecourse sale in England on February 27, 2008.
Royalty, dictators, and other absolute rulers are often connected with fancy cars.
Whether the Shah of Iran, “Baby Doc” Duvalier, the Aga Khan, Hitler, Stalin, or
Mussolini, the automobiles associated with them are always the subject of interest,
even if sometimes fairly morbid in nature. Like other “celebrity” motoring relationships, it does make a difference if the ruler in question was actually a “car guy.”
Mussolini was by all accounts an enthusiast
A car known to have been owned and driven by Steve McQueen has usually brought
a premium over a “civilian” car of the same make and model. Conversely, since Elvis
Presley was known to have purchased many cars but to have driven relatively few, the
value bump for an “Elvis car” is in some cases surprisingly modest. While Mussolini’s
partner in crime, Hitler, never possessed a driver’s license, the Italian was by all accounts quite an enthusiast. As “Il Duce,” he preferred to be driven rather than to drive,
but he was quite particular about the cars he bought and followed contemporary motorsport quite closely. He was of course fortunate that his government, through the I.R.I.,
had taken over Alfa, as it provided him with a ready source of discounted sports cars.
The 6C 2300 is a very good car, too often overshadowed by the better-known 6C
1750 and the extraordinary 8C 2900. Although conceived as an effort by Alfa to increase
sales as the Depression widened across the Atlantic and demand for the larger 8C 2300
had fallen, it still presented some important advances. Given a more modern, lighter
chassis, and with hydraulic brakes and fully independent suspension in the 1935 6C
2300B, it proved a savior for the
company. Alfa sales rose from 489
in 1933 to 689 in 1934, before armament manufacture largely took
over in 1935, when sales totaled a
mere 91 units.
The 6C 2300 was also adapted
for racing. What would become
the Pescara was based on the
GT variant of the 6C 2300, with
a shorter wheelbase and an uprated engine, which produced 76
hp vs. the standard 68 hp. When
the Scuderia Ferrari team ran a
tweaked version of the GT with
95-hp engines and made a 1-2-3
sweep of the Pescara races, it
was natural for the street version
to be put into production. Only
180 were built, available in the
usual assortment of factory-made
and coachbuilt sedans, as well
as custom coupes, cabriolets,
and roadsters. Of those, the cars
created by Carrozzeria Touring
stand out, with their typical clean
styling and excellent detailing.
Mussolini’s Pescara was the
last built before the changeover
to the “B” model, so it retained
beam-axle suspension and me-
June 2008
chanical brakes. Some say the balance achieved by Alfa
designer Vittorio Jano with solid-axle cars was superior to most 1930s independent suspensions, especially
in competition vehicles.
A stunning restoration
“La bella figura” is the uniquely Italian requirement
to present the best face to the world. It’s no surprise that
Mussolini, who carefully chose his tailored uniforms,
suits, and hats, was equally attentive in the style of his
cars. Chassis 700635 is sleek and well balanced, a masterpiece of Italian design and the gifts of Touring. It’s
equally well suited for a run in the Mille Miglia or for—as
the late, great, Henry Manney would put it—“crumpet
catching.” The restoration of this car was stunning, as I
quite well recall spending an inordinate amount of time
drooling over it at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours.
H&H estimated this car to sell in the range of ₤600k
to ₤800k ($1.17m–$1.5m), and it had failed to sell earlier
in the month at a different auction venue at a high bid of
₤450,000. In the end, the just over $1 million achieved
was impressive enough and by far a world record for the
model, clearly into 6C 1750 Zagato territory. This 6C
2300 Pescara has a blend of subtle elegance and sportiness not often encountered, and the bid reflected that.
A superbly executed restoration of a rare car with
documented period Mille Miglia history almost guarantees value, and a spokesman for H&H didn’t put too much
of the result down to Mussolini’s ownership. That’s hard
to say, as the car was relentlessly promoted as having
been his. Nevertheless, even putting Il Duce aside, it’s a
great Alfa. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of H&H.)
55
German Profile
1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring
This car’s history makes it correctly priced as a race car, although it was
delivered in Touring trim
by Jim Schrager
Details
Bonhams
Years produced: 1972–73
Number produced: 1,580 (Touring and
Lightweight)
Original list price: $16,500 approx.
SCM Valuation: $250,000–$300,000,
without racing provenance
Tune-up cost: $350
Distributor cap: $18
Chassis #: On horizontal bulkhead under
front hood
Engine #: Stamped into alloy block just
right of cooling fan
Club: Porsche Club of America
5530 Edgemont Dr.
Alexandria, VA 22310
More: www.pca.org
Alternatives: 1973–76 Lancia Stratos,
1965–67 Alfa Romeo GTA,
1967–72 Alpine Renault A110
SCM Investment Grade: A
Comps
Chassis number: 9113601115
T
his Porsche 2.7-liter Carrera RS, a left-hand
“Touring” model delivered in Light Ivory, was
supplied new to private owner Bernard Dulcy,
who had previously raced Renault Dauphines and
Alpines from 1961 to 1966. With his regular co-driver
Jean-Francois Bagarry, the French privateers drove their
new Porsche in a number of road events, including the
1975 and 1977 Monte Carlo Rallies (3rd in group in
1975), the Acropolis four times from 1975 to ’79 (1st in
group in 1975), the 1975–76 Polish Rallies (1st in group
both 1975 and 1976), the 1976 Rally of Portugal, the East
African Safari of 1978, the 1978 Rumanian and Tour of
the Mediterranean events (1st in group for both events),
and the 1979 Ivory Coast Rally.
In the days when privateers like Dulcy and Bagarry
conducted much of their own servicing without a fleet
of service vehicles and mechanics in tow, crew and car
impressively collected six class awards on 14 World
Championship and major European events in four seasons.
In completing the long 35.5-kilometer St. Barthélémy
to St. Michel les Portes special stage in 3 minutes 53
seconds during the 1975 Monte Carlo Rally, this RS
achieved the fifth fastest time overall behind such legends
as eventual winner Sandro Munari (Lancia), Jean-Pierre
Nicholas (Alpine) and the Fiats of Marku Alen and Hannu
Mikkola (the latter co-driven by the now-famous executive director of the Ferrari F1 team, Jean Todt).
Among the many press clippings on file, one records
56
a most dramatic arrival for the 1978 East African Safari
after the Telfair Pioneer freighter transporting their
Porsche had been held up for several days at Mogadishu
by the Ogaden war. With the ship unable to dock at
Mombasa until the night before the rally and their car not
offloaded by crane until 2 am, the intrepid crew was faced
with a frantic dash during the early hours to reach Nairobi
just in time to make the start.
Following retirement from competition in 1979 and a
period of careful preservation at Dulcy’s Avignon home,
in 1992 a sensitive restoration was completed by the
body shop of Frank Alesi, father of former F1 driver Jean
Alesi. As photographs in the history file record, much of
the original body shell was retained, although the bonnet
panel was renewed and lightweight-type bumpers were
fitted prior to the car being repainted as currently presented in Grand Prix White with Signal Red Carrera RS
graphics.
The interior is also currently to factory “lightweight”
style, as are the carpets, while a pair of high-back competition seats trimmed in black cloth and an alloy competition
steering wheel have also been fitted. The car currently
sits on period-correct Fuchs alloy wheels—7˝ x 15˝ in
the front and 8˝ x 15˝ in the rear—with polished lips and
painted centers. An additional set of four similarly finished alloys of 6˝ x 15˝ and 7˝ x 15˝ are included with the
car, as are the original driver’s seat, belts, steering wheel,
and several period Cibié lamps.
The RS engine first fitted to the car, number 6631092,
1973 Porsche Carrera RS Touring
Lot# 471, s/n 9113600866
Condition 2
Sold at $271,000
Bonhams, Carmel, CA 8/17/2007
SCM# 46391
1972 Porsche 2.7 Carrera RS prototype
Lot# 29, s/n 9113600012
Condition 3+
Sold at $334,000
Christie’s, Monterey, CA, 8/17/2006
SCM# 42513
1973 Porsche Carrera RS
Lot# 4597071911, s/n 9113600578
Condition 1Sold at $215,000
eBay, 1/21/2006
SCM# 40884
Sports Car Market
was subject to a Porsche factory exchange, hence the
Stuttgart-supplied “AT” prefix to the 6630900-numbered motor currently in place. According to the vendor,
the exchange occurred during the car’s rally career,
circa 1976/77. Since then, the engine has been rebuilt.
Originally numbered 7831060, the 5-speed RS transmission has the benefit of competition ratios and a limitedslip differential, claims the vendor. When cataloged and
road tested recently, it started promptly, the oil pressure
reading remained good when warm, the gears engaged
correctly, the brakes proved to be very effective, and the
car performed strongly.
Following the death of the original owner, this still
highly original example of what has become one of the
most iconic of all collector performance cars passed
directly into the hands of his son, Sebastian Dulcy
of Cortina, so was thus owned until 2007 by the same
family for 34 years. Since 1975, the Porsche has always
been maintained by respected marque specialist Michel
Baurmet at his Morières les Avignon workshop.
Complete with significant competition history file,
which contains event and restoration photos as well as
period rally plates, this important Porsche, one of the
most successful of all privately entered Carrera RS rally
cars from the 1970s, would be both eligible and competitive for major post-historic competition today, whether on
special stage or circuit.
SCM Analysis This Carrera RS sold for $425,575
at the Bonhams Rétromobile sale on
February 9, 2008, in Paris, France. To make sense of this
significant price, we must first categorize this machine
along the single most important axis for any vintage
Porsche: street car or race car?
While clearly produced as a standard road car,
complete with the “Touring” package (known to Porsche
anoraks by its official option number, M472), the car as
delivered included no options and was painted in the
inoffensive color of Light Ivory. But the use this car was
put to changed all that, and today it is correctly priced as
a race car, even though it was never factory campaigned
and was delivered as a street car.
One of the reasons this car makes the grade as a
race car is because of its spectacular success in road
rallies of the day. It is a testament to the drivers and the
intrinsic competitive nature of the Carrera RS that these
unheralded privateers could perform so well with so little
support.
Motor swap doesn’t matter
As a race car, we don’t care a whit that its engine has
been swapped, that it is painted a different color, or that
it is being sold in a different configuration; that is, as a
“Lightweight” (option M471) rather than as originally
delivered.
As to its condition today, it looks to be in great physical and mechanical shape. For some reason, the restorers chose to leave off some of the package of graphics
that came with M471 cars when new, including the Signal
Red tape stripe that belongs on the front and rear bumpers. The car looks unfinished without these details but
it would be simple to rectify. The car retains its original
and rare large plastic gas tank, but the space-saver spare
is not in place. The original 380-mm steering wheel is
included with the package, as are the original non-sport
seats. The wheel lips are polished but of course were
anodized when new.
All this is nit-picking, and mattered not a single iota to
June 2008
the bidders, who placed this car at a market-correct price. This one is sure to appreciate
with the market in general, and with its special pedigree, will be most welcome in fast
European rally events all throughout the Continent. For a vintage Porsche to drive and
enjoy at the highest levels, this one would seem hard to beat. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)
Seat Time
Chris Wilson, Perth, West
Australia: I bought my 911 2.7
Carrera RS, s/n 9113600972, in June
2007. It is one of the 200 lightweight
or sports models and was purchased
through specialist dealer Maxted-Page
in the U.K. At the time I felt I was
paying absolutely top dollar for the
car, but can now see what all the “fuss
is about” and why these cars are so
highly thought of.
#972 is my tenth 911 and has
Wilson’s RS, s/n 9113600972
joined a 911 3.0 RS (replica) that
I keep here in Australia to compete in tarmac rallies such as Targa West and Targa Tasmania. In
many respects, the 3.0 RS was my benchmark, as this car is built to the limits of the Confederation of
Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) regulations here and is in fact a 3.4-liter engine running PMO carburetors and a host of trick components to make it a potential front-running car. As a result, a genuine
35-year-old 2.7 RS had a tough act to follow. But it made my jaw drop when I got the chance to run it
in anger at the recent Philip Island Classic meeting in early March.
It is so well balanced, so predictable, has amazing brakes with no fade, and great power throughout the range. The wonderful steering lets you know when the front end is biting, and the whole
package is just so user friendly that I am simply staggered at what it can do. Over the course of the four
races that weekend, my times dropped to within five seconds of the front-running cars—and this was
against cars that were highly modified and driven by people far more capable than I.
Due to heinous local taxes, I have imported the car to Australia on a one-year bond. I plan to use
it in a variety of historic events, including Sandown at the end of the year and hopefully Bathurst early
next before exporting it back to the U.K. for use in some of the European touring events.
In many respects, I feel I am keeping the flame burning. This car was originally delivered new to
a German racing driver who competed with it in 47 events in period, taking several podiums in the
process. In the interim, it was extensively raced and rallied, including runs in the Tour Auto and Modena
Cento Ore by the previous owner. In short, it has spent its life being lovingly maintained and heartily
thrashed by a variety of enthusiastic owners who have fallen for its charms over the years.
A good friend of mine is of the opinion that one day these cars will be looked upon with the same
sense of awe and respect that is afforded to early Bugattis, due to what they are capable of and just
how dominant they were in period. Now, owning and enjoying one, I would not be inclined to disagree.
If there is a gripe it is this: With the huge proliferation of RS clones, a genuine RS does not stand out
in the crowd and hence lacks the same “sense of occasion” generated by some of the other more exotic
contemporary vehicles. I think I can live with that.
Matt Frankel, Prescott,
AZ: I bought my ’73 Carrera RS,
s/n 9113600824, about three
years ago in the middle of the
price climb. I had always wanted
one but didn’t buy when they
were in the $60k–$80k range,
so I hustled as the prices rose.
The car has been totally
restored and came with exhausFrankel’s RS, s/n 9113600824
tive receipts. I found it on eBay,
and after not meeting the reserve, I discovered the car was just two hours away. My mechanic (a Porsche
specialist) and I went and checked it out thoroughly and it was exactly as represented. I bought it and have
never looked back.
The most enjoyable thing about driving this car is the balance and the way its light weight is conveyed
through all one’s senses when driving it. It revs without hesitation and is as reliable as any Porsche. The
brakes really impress compared to its contemporaries. It is a blast to thrash on the back mountain roads
around my home, and it never ceases to entertain thoroughly. This is a driver’s car and will never leave my
collection. ♦
57
Porsche Gespräch Jim Schrager
The Time-Traveling Investor
To earn 8% over 30 years, that $12,000 “concours” Speedster from 1977
would have to bring $224,000 in 2008
W
Porsche Gespräch / Jim Schrager
hat if you could go back 30 years and buy
any Porsche you’d like? What a way to
make a killing. With what we know now,
we’d know exactly what to buy and hold
for today’s great market. Right?
Noted below is every 356, 912, and 911 Porsche for
sale from the September 11, 1977, San Diego Union.
Take a look at the list and note which ones you would
buy, as the time-traveling automotive investor.
1958 356A Speedster, $6,000
1957 356A Speedster, excellent, $9,900
1955 356 Speedster, concours, $12,000
1957 356A Speedster, concours, $14,000
1961 356B Cabriolet, rebuilt engine, $1,950
1959 356A Coupe, good condition, $2,950
1965 356C Coupe, very fine, $5,100
1963 356B Coupe, rebuilt engine, mint, $5,800
1967 912 Coupe, rebuilt engine, $3,500
1968 912 Coupe, new engine, carbs, $4,500
1966 912 Coupe, one owner, $4,700
1966 912 Coupe, new engine/trans, $5,500
1969 912 Coupe, reduced price, $5,900
1968 912 Sunroof, rebuilt engine, alloys, $6,800
1968 912 Targa, rebuilt engine, $8,500
1966 911 Coupe, must sell, $3,100
1969 911T Coupe, rebuilt engine, $5,800
1967 911S Coupe, air, mint, $6,800
1970 911T Coupe, excellent, low miles, $7,400
1970 911E Coupe, European, excellent, $7,650
1970 911T Coupe, Sportomatic, rebuilt, $7,800
What do you see about this list? Can you find the cars
that best represent your shot at investment success? Since
condition is paramount to value, we’ll assume the claimed
condition is accurate, even though it is often overstated.
Notice that five out of the seven 912s have rebuilt motors. This was a common need for a 912, even when they
were still fairly new. Notice also how close the prices
were for the 912s and our sample of 911s.
Speedster market still just as busy
Note that there are as many Speedsters for sale as all
the rest of the 356s combined, even though Speedsters
are just about 6% of 356 production. Back then, much as
today, people seemed to move in and out of Speedsters
frequently.
Finally, note the rarity of sunroofs in these early cars.
Then as now, pre-1973 Porsches with sunroofs were hard
to find, with only one on our list of 21 cars.
So which provides the best return? With the tremendous benefit of hindsight, can we pick a winner? Using a
very simple benchmark, a return over 30 years of 8% with
58
total ownership costs (maintenance,
insurance and storage) of $500/year for
the first ten years, $750/year for the next
ten, and $1,000/year for the last ten, we
can see which cars make the grade.
Those costs seem quite conservative,
as in some years, the entire accrual may
be used for regular repairs; in all cases,
rebuilds or restorations would have to be
added on top of these minimal expenses.
To earn 8% and pay for those costs,
over 30 years, you would have had to obtain a price in September 2007 of 17.3 times
what you paid. So that $12,000 “concours”
Speedster would have had to sell in 2007
for a bit more than $207,000. Sell it in
2008? You’ll need to get $224,000. If you
bought the better Speedster at $14,000,
you’d need to have netted $242,200 in
2007; for 2008, $261,300.
Just too new to be valuable
Looking at the values for 912s, even the lowest priced one at $3,500 would have to
be sold today for $60,550, about three times what a nice 912 sells for. Step up to the
special 912 with a sunroof at $6,800? You’ll need to get about $116,000 today to make
your benchmark 8%. It’s pretty much the same for 911s. Most of them are just too new
to be valuable.
Notice the 1970 911T Sporto Coupe? I bought an identical car in California in 1984,
after concours paint and full rebuild, for $6,500. Hardly a good investment for the
original owner, and the Sporto surely didn’t help. Today, if in excellent (but not mint)
shape, it would sell for about $25,000. As a car, it was great. As an investment, it was
horrible for its first 15 years and not much better for its second 15.
If you picked the 1961 356B Cabriolet, you’d be right on the numbers, but my guess
is the condition was only fair and you’d have spent a small fortune—at the time or
later—putting it in top condition. If you spent just $8,000 to fully restore the car in
the late 1970s, you’d have needed to get over $170,000 for it in 2007. Possible, but not
likely.
How about the 356A Coupe? They have appreciated solidly in the past ten years.
Again, the condition is the big equalizer, and if you had to restore it, you’d be buried
quickly. Not well known was the existence of a small band of individuals “importing”
Porsches from the rust belt into California to supply the demand for used 356s. So there
is a chance a car like this needed major work. It’s not likely it would be a winner.
How can you win in vintage Porsches?
Perhaps the 1967 911S would work. I recently heard of a superb original ’67 S
sunroof selling for $100,000, but it was an exceptional example. How’d we do with
hindsight in our list from San Diego? We’d need about $117,000 for the 1967 S advertised above, if we spent no money on major work over the 30 years.
If you can’t pick a single car from 30 years ago and make it a winner, how the heck
can you win at investing in vintage Porsches?
One important lesson from history: It has been the factory race cars that have been
the big gainers. These cars from the classifieds were all road cars. Another lesson is
that the rate of price changes in vintage Porsches is anything but constant. Porsche
prices accelerate strongly at times, can flat line, and do actually go down. Think about
that as you consider the “investment quality” of what you own.
Or better yet, invest in financial instruments and enjoy your Porsches... as cars.♦
Sports Car Market
American Profile
Edsel Ford’s 1934 Model 40 Special Speedster
A determined, wealthy collector slugged it out with Ford family
representatives, resulting in the $1.76 million price
by Ken Gross
Details
Photos: RM Auctions
Year produced: 1934
Number produced: 1
Original list price: NA (concept car)
SCM Valuation: $1.76m on this date
Tune-up cost: $75–$100
Distributor cap: $14.95
Chassis #: Front left frame beside engine
and on clutch housing
Engine #: Same locations (same number)
Club: Early Ford V8 Club of America
PO Box 1715, Maple Grove, MN 55311
More: www.earlyfordv8.org
Alternatives: 1954 Oldsmobile F-88,
1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special,
1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt
SCM Investment Grade: A
Comps
Chassis number: FLA15512
A
s president of Ford Motor Company from
1925 until his untimely death in 1943, from
cancer and undulant fever, Edsel Bryant
Ford had a considerable influence on Ford
styling, first with Lincoln, then with the 1928 Model A,
the 1932 Ford, and models that followed. He oversaw
the design of the first Mercury cars and initiated the
Lincoln Continental. A true enthusiast, Edsel’s personal
automobiles ranged from Model T speedsters to a Stutz,
a Bugatti, and a Hispano-Suiza.
An accomplished artist who took art lessons all his
life, Edsel Ford studied design and styling—issues that
didn’t interest his Puritanical father. Henry Ford’s nofrills styling emanated from Ford’s ultra-conservative
engineering department, but Edsel established Ford’s
first design group and chose E.T. “Bob” Gregorie to
run it. Gregorie, who’d worked briefly at Harley Earl’s
General Motors Art and Colour studio, was an accomplished “sketch artist” and adept at translating his boss’s
visions into reality.
Edsel Ford and Bob Gregorie began their collaboration in 1932. Gregorie had been a draftsman at Lincoln
and could quickly transform Edsel’s ideas from two
dimensions to three. After Edsel returned from a 1932
European trip, he asked Gregorie to design and supervise the construction of a “sports car” like those he’d
seen on the Continent.
The result was a boattail speedster on a ’32 Ford chassis. It was a smart-looking runabout with styling cues
that foretold the 1933 Fords, but Edsel wanted a more
60
streamlined creation. In 1934, Gregorie sketched several
alternatives, built a 1:25-scale model, and tested it in a
wind tunnel in Ford Aviation’s Air Frame Building.
To achieve the dramatically low silhouette Edsel
wanted, Gregorie reversed the stock ’34 Ford frame’s
rear kick-up and welded it back upside down so the
frame rails passed under the rear axle. He also moved
the front axle forward ten inches.
The Ford Air Frame team fabricated a topless, two-passenger, boattailed aluminum body with a sharp V-grille
and cut-down doors, mounted on tubular framework. Ford
Tri-motor aircraft “wheel pants” were made into cycle
fenders. The speedster’s stock wire wheels were covered
by custom wheel discs. Painted Pearl Essence Gunmetal
Dark (which Edsel favored), with a gray leather interior
and an engine-turned instrument panel, the 2,400-lb
Speedster was powered by a stock 75-hp Ford Model 40
V8, with straight exhausts that ran through a section of
the frame. Custom bucket seats and a three-spoke steering wheel rounded out a remarkably integrated design.
Canted louvers matched the angle of the grille and the
rakish windscreens. The frame was hidden under a tapered valance that was attached to the alloy body with
rivets, a vestige of this car’s aircraft construction.
More custom touches included twin Brooklands
screens, a louvered alligator hood, low-mounted, fairedin headlights, a fully enclosed radiator with no radiator
cap or ornamentation, no brightwork, and no running
boards—styling features that would not appear on production Fords for years.
1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special
Lot# 1304, s/n NA
Condition 1Sold at $3,024,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/14/2006
SCM# 40464
1954 Oldsmobile F-88
Lot# 992, s/n E54S003701
Condition 1Sold at $3,240,000
Barrett-Jackson, Scottsdale, AZ, 1/26/2005
SCM# 36957
1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt
Lot# 140, s/n 7807976
Condition 2
Sold at $1,320,000
RM, Phoenix, AZ, 1/18/2008
SCM# 49585
Sports Car Market
According to author Jim Farrell, “Mr. Ford took title
to the car personally, liked the way it handled, and was
generally pleased with its design.” As he had done with
his first Speedster, Edsel stored the trim two-seater in
an unheated shed on his Fair Lane estate. Unfortunately,
a sudden freeze in the winter of 1939–1940 cracked the
engine block, so a new 1940 Mercury V8 was installed.
The enclosed sheet metal below the radiator partially
blocked the flow of air, and the Speedster had a tendency
to overheat. Gregorie shortened the upper grille and
fabricated a new horizontal lower grille with matching
bars, flanked by large headlights. No top was ever designed for the Speedster.
After Edsel Ford died in 1943, the second Model
40 Speedster, one of six cars in his estate, was driven
to Miami, Florida, then to Atlanta, Georgia, where
it was sold for $1,000. In 1947, the owner shipped the
Speedster to Los Angeles and an ad appeared in the May
1948 issue of Road & Track. It read:
“Priced reasonably at $2,500”
“Especially constructed Ford chassis. Aluminum
body built for Edsel Ford. Now powered with special Mercury Engine. Priced reasonably at $2,500.
COACHCRAFT, LTD, 86 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles,
Calif.”
Apparently, the Speedster did not sell; $2,500 was
a lot of money in 1948. Four years later, the Speedster
reappeared in Auto Sport Review, photographed in
Hollywood with an aspiring actress named Lynn Bari.
Then it went back into storage until 1957, when it
was driven back to Georgia. In January 1958, registered
as a 1940 “Ford custom-built speedster,” it was offered
for sale on the Garrard Import used car lot in Pensacola,
Florida. Not long afterward, the Speedster was purchased for $603 by John Pallasch, a U.S. Navy sailor,
who drove the car home to Sebring, Florida.
By now, the Speedster was painted red with matching
red leather upholstery. Pallasch claimed he could “bury
the speedometer at 120 mph.” He reportedly drove the
car for a while before disassembling it in 1960 for an
engine rebuild. Then Pallasch shipped out for Vietnam.
June 2008
On his return in the late 1960s, he found the engine had seized. The car remained apart
and in storage for nearly 40 years.
In 1999, Bill Warner, founder of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, was
searching for the Edsel Speedster for a special display. Warner had read an article in
Special Interest Autos that told the story of Edsel’s three roadsters, and noted that all
had dropped out of sight. The last owner of the 1934 Edsel Speedster was listed as Earl
Pallasch, in Deland, Florida. Warner called then-SIA Editor Mike Lamm, who helped
locate John Pallasch, who said his father had passed away. Invited to bring the car to
Amelia Island, Pallasch replied that it hadn’t run for years, and he wanted to sell it.
Warner hitched up a trailer and immediately drove to Deland. Sitting in the Pallasch
garage, dusty and forlorn, covered with junk and tin cans, the long-lost Speedster was
complete except for its custom wheel discs. The car’s odometer read just 19,000 miles.
Stopped by to show it to the designer
Warner wrote Pallasch a check on the spot and hauled his discovery away. “I
decided to show the Speedster to Bob Gregorie (who was then 91 and living in St.
Augustine) on the way home,” said Warner. “Mr. Gregorie came out of his house,
smiled, and ran his hands over the surface of the car. “I haven’t seen it since 1940,” he
said. “The old girl still looks pretty good for her age.”
Although he considered restoring the Speedster to its first iteration, with narrowed
V-grille and Pearl Essence Gunmetal finish, Warner decided to preserve the car’s
patina. “It was prettier with the front end that was designed in 1934,” he said, “but the
1940 grille was original. It would have been a travesty to restore it.”
So Warner rebuilt the Speedster’s Mercury V8, touched up the body, and repainted
the fenders. Al LaMarr replicated the aluminum wheel discs. Bill Warner’s crew removed a set of finned Edelbrock high-compression heads that were on the engine,
because they rubbed on the inside of the hood, lending credence to the theory that the
Mercury engine was modified when the car was in Hollywood, not Dearborn.
Warner believes the car’s red paint was hastily applied when it was used in a movie
(and if anybody can name the film, he’d love to hear from you). The well-preserved
Speedster still has fewer than 21,000 miles on the odometer.
A few years ago, at the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance, Bill Warner allowed
me to drive the Speedster. I was surprised at the car’s peppy acceleration, and enjoyed
the visceral rap of the un-muffled exhausts. The gearshift is a 3-speed, floor-mounted
setup with a handle that extends out from under the dash.
You sit low in the narrow cockpit, and can actually watch the front tires and fenders
as they respond to the changing road surface. The steering is a tad lazy, in a characteristic early Ford V8 way. There’s virtually no cowl shake, and the overall ride,
cushioned by the car’s extended wheelbase, is pleasantly firm. The Speedster sits much
lower than a typical ’34 Ford roadster, and its long, stylish hood stretches forward like
a 1930s classic. Even with its “push and pray” mechanical brakes, Edsel’s Speedster
remains a stylish performer.
61
American Profile
SCM Analysis Edsel Ford’s long-lost Model 40
Special Speedster sold for $1,760,000
at RM’s Automobiles of Amelia sale on March 9, 2008.
Before we begin a discussion of the market value of
this car, first a disclosure. I was hired by RM to write
the catalog description of this car; however, I was not
involved in any way in the actual sale of it.
Discovered by Amelia Concours founder Bill Warner,
Edsel Ford’s Speedster was shown at Meadow Brook
and Pebble Beach, and displayed at the 1932 Ford 75th
Anniversary Show at Pomona in January 2007.
Though this is a one-of-a-kind from the early 1930s,
it’s clear from records that Ford and the car’s designer,
Bob Gregorie, considered a limited production run. But
the uncertain sales climate at Ford Motor Company
during the Depression, not to mention Henry Ford’s personal bias against “ frivolous” transportation, rendered
this notion impossible.
This car has provenance, rarity, high style, even
limited utility for the occasional vintage car show or
road event. I applaud the decision not to restore it. With
the exception of a repaint half a century ago, it remains
almost exactly the way it was modified by Bob Gregorie’s
Ford Aviation team.
62
Arguably, Edsel’s Speedster belongs in the Ford family or in the Henry Ford
Museum, but RM’s promotional plan included catalog coverage, stories in other periodicals, as well as alerting prominent collectors, practically guaranteeing a sevenfigure sale price.
More expensive today than last year
Ironically, the Speedster could have been purchased last year at less than the final
bid. But the heady combination of bidder interest, culminating with a determined collector and Ford family representatives slugging it out, resulted in the $1.76 million
price. Edsel Ford’s Speedster is going to Houston to become part of the colossal John
O’Quinn Collection.
The inevitable dilemma about whether to restore a car like this or simply preserve
it really doesn’t apply. The car’s originality and weathered state are an essential part
of its appeal.
As far as value is concerned, consider this: Edsel Ford commissioned just three
Speedsters over a four-year period. The first of these rare cars recently surfaced in
very poor condition, with its unique fenders missing. The third, and least attractive,
has been out of sight for 56 years and is feared irrevocably lost. I’d imagine John
O’Quinn is a happy man having landed the best of the lot.
While $1.76 million is a large sum of money for a custom-built car with humble
Ford V8 origins, this car’s famous first owner, well-documented history, stunning
good looks, and its fine state of preservation make it impossible to duplicate. I’d call
this well sold, but also well bought. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of Ken Gross for RM Auctions.)
Sports Car Market
Domestic Affairs Colin Comer
Trans Am: The Beat Goes On
These homologation specials are among the most enjoyable muscle cars—
they can actually dance, rather than just run fast
1967 version is desirable for its low production numbers,
and great examples bring north of $100,000. Zs from 1968
don’t seem to bring the money a good ’67 or ’69 will; they
tend to live around $60,000–$75,000.
Strangely, the highest production 1969 Z is to many
the most desirable. Great examples with some of the rare
factory performance options can bring $125,000. By 1970,
Ford’s Boss 302 Mustang came back and stole the Camaro’s
candy, taking back the Manufacturer’s Championship and
apparently the Z/28’s sales. Just over 7,700 1970 Z/28s were
sold in its first year of the new body style. Today, these early
second-gen Zs are gaining popularity quickly, and prices
reflect this. A great ’70 Z/28 will be solidly into first-gen
money, roughly in the $60,000-range.
Pontiac Firebird Trans Am
F
1969 Camaro Z/28
rom humble beginnings, by the late 1960s, the
Trans-American Sedan Championship Series
grew into one of the most popular events in
SCCA history. Conceived as a sedan racing class
for production-based cars with a minimum of four seats
and engine displacement of between 2 liters and 5 liters,
everything from Datsun 510s and Alfa Romeo GTVs
duked it out with big American iron.
Manufacturers such as GM, Ford, Chrysler, and even
AMC jumped at the chance to get their wares in front
of literally thousands of spectators from their key pony
car-buying demographic. The SCCA was aware of what
heated competition between factory-sponsored teams
could do to draw (paying) spectators to race tracks, and
the factory teams were more than happy to oblige, as
winning races on Sunday meant selling cars on Monday.
Let’s see how the major players compared on the track,
in the showrooms, and now:
Pontiac took a novel approach to naming their homologation special option package for the Firebird. The new-for-1969
racer for the street was named the (drum roll, please) Trans
Am, used under license from the SCCA for a $5 royalty for
every car sold. In an odd twist of fate, the car named after the series couldn’t race when
Pontiac decided not to build their 303-ci engine and instead fitted 400-ci units, as used in
the GTOs. Without meeting the SCCA requirements for a production version of the Trans
Am, which were essentially similar to the race car, the 1969 Trans Am became a racer in
name only. All was not lost, however, as the street cars had some excellent chassis and
suspension tuning by GM engineer Herb Adams, along with a great-looking “any color as
long as it’s white with blue stripes” exterior treatment. Just 697 were built in ’69, and lack
of racing provenance doesn’t seem to hurt them today, with great 4-speed cars eclipsing
Z/28 values in the $100,000–$125,000-range. Second-generation Trans Ams follow along
the lines of second-generation Z/28 prices.
Ford Mustang Boss 302
One can assume the product planners at Ford were getting an earful in 1968 after
GM stole their SCCA title. Ford practically owned SCCA racing up until this time with
the A/Sedan and B/Production Mustangs, as well as the T/A cars of 1967 and 1968. So
for 1969, they fought back with the Boss 302. Much like the first-gen Z/28s, the Boss
302 was only available with a potent solid-lifter 302 with a 4-speed behind it, and no
Chevrolet Camaro Z/28
The 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 was the first TransAm homologation special to hit the market. With its
302-ci engine rated at 290 hp, it was an honest attempt
at a street version of the car GM was racing. A solidlifter cam, 4-speed manual transmission, heavy-duty
suspension, 15-inch wheels, quick steering, and the
conspicuous absence of comfort options such as an
automatic transmission or air conditioning announced
it as a serious high-performance street car. They revved
like crazy, sounded great, and had a host of high-performance race options available over the counter at the
dealer. In competition, the first-year Z finished behind
the Ford Mustang in ’67, and well behind it in sales, with
just over 600 units sold.
However, in 1968, the Z/28 was back, and clinching
the SCCA Manufacturer’s Championship helped sales
jump to just over 7,200 cars. In 1969, the Z/28 again
grabbed the championship and made another quantum
leap in sales, with over 20,000 Z/28s sold. Today, the
64
1969 Firebird Trans Am
Sports Car Market
1970 Mustang Boss 302
air conditioning. Ford’s 302 had fairly radical, big, canted-valve cylinder heads with
huge ports, along with other trick race items like a 6,750 rpm rev limiter. As hard as
they tried, Ford still couldn’t stop the Z/28 on the track in ’69, and certainly not in the
showroom, with a little over 1,600 Boss 302s sold. But 1970 saw the Boss 302 winning
the SCCA title, although still lagging in sales with just over 7,000 1970s sold. Today, a
great ’69 brings about $100,000, while a ’70 costs roughly 10% less.
Plymouth AAR ’Cuda & Dodge T/A Challenger
Chrysler entered the game late, as it wasn’t until a 1970 SCCA rule change allowing production engines to be destroked and/or debored to meet the 5-liter limit made
their new 340-ci engine eligible. Using the new-for-1970 E-body pony cars, Plymouth
introduced the All American Racers ’Cuda, while Dodge rolled out the T/A Challenger
production specials. Both were fitted with the 340-ci “Six Pack” engine, staggered front
and rear tire sizes, side-exit exhaust, fiberglass fresh-air hoods, and other “racy” items.
Although visually stunning, not even Dan Gurney in his AAR ’Cuda or Sam Posey in
his T/A Challenger could get the job done in Trans Am for 1970. Gurney’s AAR team
finished 5th overall and Posey managed 4th. While brutally fast, the new Chrysler entries
1970 AAR ’Cuda
in the Trans Am war lacked development, not to mention
the extra years of experience both Chevrolet and Ford had.
For 1970, 2,724 AAR ’Cudas and 2,399 T/A Challengers
were sold. Today, a prime AAR 4-speed will bring right
around $100,000, while a T/A will bring slightly less.
So does racing really improve the breed? Judging
by the above examples, the answer is a resounding yes.
These Trans Am homologation specials are some of the
most enjoyable and usable cars from the muscle era, and
they can actually dance rather than just run fast. With real
American racing history, stable values, great looks, and a
racy feel, compared to similarly priced big-block muscle
cars, these remnants of SCCA-mandated production
requirements offer a ton of bang for the buck. Pick your
flavor, find your favorite twisty road on the way to cruise
night, and keep the revs up. You may not be Dan Gurney,
but you can sure look and sound the part. ♦
With just one glance at her, your eyes light up and a fiery passion overwhelms all your senses. At Grundy Worldwide,
we know that the relationship between you and your collector car is one of a kind. With that in mind, we offer one of a
kind insurance that is only available through our
company. Our Agreed Value policies include
Unlimited Mileage, Trip Interruption,
Auto Show Medical Reimbursement,
Towing and Labor Expenses, Spare
Parts and Inflation Guard. Let us
help you keep that passion going
strong...
WORLDWIDE
Call for a fast, accurate quote: 800-338-4005 or log on to www.grundy.com
June 2008
400 Horsham Road, Horsham, PA 19044
65
Race Car Profile
Lazenby Lotus 17 Special
Jim Clark’s future mechanic had to design and build a suitable frame
and scavenge everything else he needed. That appears to be what he did
by Thor Thorson
Details
H&H Auctions
Year produced: 1962
Number produced: 1
Original list price: n/a
SCM Valuation: $51,145 on this date
Cost per hour to race: $700
Chassis #: unknown
Engine #: front right side of block
Club: Historic Lotus Register
Flitcroft, 13 Astons Road
Moor Park, Northwood, Middlesex
HA6 2LE
More: www.historiclotusregister.co.uk
Alternatives: 1958–62 Lola Mk I,
1959–61 Elva Mk 4/5,
1959 Lotus 17
SCM Investment Grade: B
Comps
Chassis number: DL0262SP
H
aving created his first special while training
as a mechanic with the RAF, it was perhaps
inevitable that David Lazenby would embark
upon a similar project once he began working
for Lotus in 1961.
Although he was destined to become Jim Clark’s
F1/Indy 500 mechanic and later the manager of Lotus
Components, Lazenby’s initial salary of about $32
per week would not even stretch to a Lotus 7 kit.
Determined to build an exciting road car, he convinced
Works Manager “Nobby” Clark to part with a surplus
Lotus 17 bodyshell, and he then set about fabricating
a suitable spaceframe chassis to underpin it. Although
influenced by the Lotus 17’s overall dimensions, the
resultant design was notably stronger.
Taking full advantage of his Cheshunt surroundings,
Lazenby fitted a Lotus 23-style swaged bulkhead, Lotus
23-style front suspension, Lotus 22 FJ-style rear suspension, and the differential from a crashed Elite. Fitted
with a pre-crossflow Ford Cosworth engine allied to an
MG A gearbox, the special was painted bright red and
road registered as 9584 UR in spring 1962.
Some two years later, Lazenby sold the two-seater to
Bob Sparshott, who was then part of the Lotus Cortina
program. The Special passed through several hands
before ending up with Lotus aficionado Alan Brownlee.
Rechristened the “Brownlee 17,” the Special became a
familiar sight during the 1971, ’72, and ’73 JCB Sports
Car Series.
Advertised for sale in 1975, it caught the attention of
Belgian doctor Pierre Haverland. As well as the Special,
Haverland reputedly persuaded Brownlee to part with
the Coventry-Climax FEW engine and gearbox from its
then-stablemate, the famous racing Elite DAD 10. The
subsequent transplant was performed by Willy Widar.
The Special underwent further development at the hands
66
of German Dieter Berg, who raced it for eight years at
numerous European historic sports car events.
In 2001, the vendor determined to bring things full
circle and set about making the car street legal again.
Describing the Coventry Climax engine and MG A 4speed gearbox as “raced but OK,” he feels that the rest
of the car is in good overall condition. Repainted so as
to evoke the “bright red noisy sports car” that Lazenby
created, this historic special is offered for sale with two
large files of paperwork and MoT certificate.
SCM Analysis This car sold for $51,145 at the
H&H Auctions sale at Cheltenham
Racecourse in England, on February 27, 2008.
This is a very cool car, but it’s a bit tough figuring
out how to approach it. It’s not really a Lotus or a 17,
though it looks like one and is configured like one. It’s
not really a vintage racer in the classic sense, though it
has been vintage raced and certainly could be again.
It was built as a one-off street special, but though it’s
street legal (in the U.K.), you’d need to be a certified
masochist to drive it more than 50 miles on the highway.
It sold, however, for roughly a third of what a real Lotus
17 would bring, and assuming it was as well built as it
appears to have been, it’s a lot better car. Let’s start by
talking about the inspiration, the Lotus 17.
1959 Lotus Elite
Lot# 388, s/n 1165
Condition 3
Sold at $49,450
Bonhams, Sussex, UK, 6/22/2007
SCM# 45873
1963 Lotus 23B
Lot# 212, s/n 23S50
Condition 1
Sold at $78,296
Bonhams, Chichester, UK, 9/1/2006
SCM# 42998
Colin Chapman wasn’t always right
Though very pretty, the Lotus 17 was working proof
that Colin Chapman’s ideas about race car design
weren’t always right. The car was conceived as the successor to the Lotus 11 and as an answer to Lola’s suddenly dominant Mk I racer. It was smaller, lighter, and
more aerodynamic than the 11, and was the first racing
Lotus to utilize a fiberglass body (the Type 14 Elite was
fiberglass, of course).
1959 Lotus Elite
Lot# 16, s/n 1037
Condition 4
Sold at $40,392
H&H, Duxford, UK, 10/101/2007
SCM# 47243
Sports Car Market
Chapman and his then-lead designer Len Terry fashioned a tidy little package that
was conventional in its layout—a Climax FW engine driving an MG A transmission
and a chassis-mounted differential with inboard disc brakes. Rear suspension was
independent and utilized the “Chapman strut” arrangement, in use since the Lotus 12
and well proven. So far so good. The problem with the Lotus 17 was at the front.
Colin Chapman was brilliant, creative, innovative, and (legend has it) just a little
stubborn. When he decided to do something in a certain way, that was it, there was
no arguing the point. For the 17, Chapman’s bright idea was to adapt the “Chapman
strut” to the front. Len Terry emphatically did not think it was a good idea, to the
extent that this appears to have been the probable cause of his parting with Lotus and
becoming an independent designer. Chapman prevailed, but the resulting suspension
proved completely inadequate to the purpose, with the struts both flexing and binding
up under racing loads.
The Lotus 17 was an immediate failure, with only 23 cars produced and really no
period racing success. Ironically, Len Terry started his post-Lotus career by designing a proper double A-arm front suspension that was in turn offered to all owners.
The new arrangement “worked a treat” and made the car handle very well, but it was
too late, as the competition had moved on to mid-engined designs. The Lotus 17 was
quickly forgotten as a failed experiment and has languished until recently, when a few
vintage racers figured out how good they really are and have made them a rare but
formidable competitor against the Lola Mk Is.
A street toy that morphed into a racer
By the time Lazenby joined Lotus, close to two years had passed after abandonment
of the 17 and Lotus was fully involved with the development of the second generation
of mid-engined racers, the Lotus 22 and 23. For a talented fabricator looking to build
a street special with no money but with access to the Lotus junk piles and spares room,
the 17 would have been a natural place to start. As a front-engined car in a newly
mid-engined Lotus world, parts would have been easily available and cheap. They’d
have been happy to get a dead Lotus 17 body shell out of the rafters; the engine and
MG A transmission would be junkyard items. Differential, hubs, and wheels were old
June 2008
Elite parts, as were at least the rear brakes. Front and
rear suspension bits were contemporary production
22/23 pieces, off the shelf and far better than anything
the original ever knew. Basically, Lazenby had to design
and build a suitably dimensioned frame and scavenge
everything else he needed. That appears to be what he
did.
The car was built as a street toy but quickly morphed
into a racer. I can understand this. I’ve driven Lotus
17s and they’re fun, but the fit and comfort level aren’t
something I could survive long without racing adrenaline to mask the pain. The market seems split on whether
this car is street or racer, valuing it a bit high for a street
special but at a fraction of what an equivalent sports
racer would bring. Part of the problem is its 1962 build
date, which by FIA rules makes it race against Lotus
23s, where it wouldn’t even be in the hunt.
This is a problem for European racing, which is
mostly to FIA rules. In the U.S., however, configuration
(front engined, skinny tires) tends to trump build date
as long as it’s a legitimate car, so it could be a fun and
effective competitor over here. I’ll admit that (though I
didn’t follow through) I did seriously consider taking a
run at this car personally. Brought to the U.S. and with
some money spent getting it back into racing condition,
I think this car could be a serious contender in what has
become a very desirable run group. At half to a third
of what an equivalent Lotus or Lola is worth, I would
suggest that this car was an undiscovered gem and was
very fairly bought. ♦
(Introductory description courtesy of H&H.)
67
Market Reports Overview
Six Early Spring Sales Total $65 Million
Poor weather played a role in many places, and while totals were still strong,
most sales struggled to meet last year’s numbers
by Jim Pickering
E
arly spring in the collector car
$17,976,715
world uncovers collectible cars
Sales Totals
that have been parked since
the weather went south in the
$4,719,120
RM, Amelia Island, FL
fall. But Mother Nature is not always
$16,724,750
kind in the springtime, and this year,
RM, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
bad weather was a significant issue at a
McCormick, Palm Springs, CA
number of early sales. As a result (and
because of a slightly sluggish market),
Barrett-Jackson, West Palm Beach, FL
several events in February and March
Bonhams,
Warwickshire, UK
struggled to match 2007 totals.
$1,008,153
Contributing Editor Donald Osborne
Kruse, Honolulu, HI
$23,162,095
and “Affordable Classics” guru Rob Sass
$1,100,711
traveled to RM’s sale at Amelia Island,
Florida, in early March, where 96 of 105
cars offered found new homes. This year’s
total of $16.7 million fell short of the $20.4 million realized in 2007, but Osborne noted
new homes.
the final sell-through rate of 91% was up from last year’s 89%. High winds and torBomstead also traveled to Florida in early February
rential rain pounded the pre-sale activities, which likely turned off some bidders and
for RM’s Fort Lauderdale auction, where 330 of the
ultimately limited RM’s final numbers. The high sale went to a 1931 Duesenberg Model 455 lots sold for a total of just under $18 million. A vaJ convertible coupe at $2.6 million, with Edsel Ford’s 1934 Speedster making almost
riety of vehicles crossed the auction block, including a
$1.8 million.
Derham-bodied Duesenberg and Jimmy Buffett’s Nash
McCormick’s Palm Springs auction in late February also saw wet weather, but it Metropolitan, but by the end of the weekend, final numproduced more consistent results, with 2008’s total close to last year’s $4.7 million.
bers were down from the $21 million from 339 cars sold
Senior Auction Analyst Carl Bomstead reported that the average sale price was slightly
here in ’07.
higher than at the last Palm Springs sale in November, with 54% of the 471 lots finding
Up the coast, the slide continued, as Barrett-Jackson’s
Total Sales Percentages
100%
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
80%
60%
2002
40%
20%
RM,
Amelia Island, FL
68
RM,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
McCormick,
Palm Springs, CA
Barrett-Jackson,
West Palm Beach
Bonhams,
Warwickshire, UK
Kruse,
Honolulu, HI
Sports Car Market
Kruse International (K)
Honolulu, HI, p. 122
McCormick (MC),
Palm Springs, CA, p. 82
RM Auctions (RMFL)
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, p. 112
total slipped to $23 million from last year’s $32 million
at its West Palm Beach event at the end of March. Spirits
seemed undampened by the weather, reported Auction
Analyst Dale Novak, who said that bidders paid up cheerfully to own cars that were, in some cases, just average
examples. Novak also noted the absence of high-end
vehicles, as in Scottsdale, which suggests that a growing
number of consignors prefer the security of a reservebased auction.
Across the Atlantic, Auction Analyst Paul Hardiman
made his way to the Bonhams Race Retro sale in midMarch. This second annual auction, held in conjunction
with the International Historic Motorsport Show, sold 34
cars for a total of just over $1 million. Both racers and
Barrett-Jackson (BJ)
West Palm Beach, FL, p. 90
Top10 Sales This Issue
1: National concours standard/
perfect
1. 1931 Duesenberg Model J convertible coupe,
$2,640,000—RMA, p.78
2. 1931 Bentley 8-Liter tourer,
$2,200,000—RMA, p. 72
3. 1934 Ford Model 40 Special speedster,
$1,760,000—RMA, p.78
4. 1929 Duesenberg Model J convertible berline,
$1,210,000—RMA, p. 78
5. 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster,
$495,000—RMFL, p.114
6. 1933 Packard Super 8 convertible victoria, $412,500—RMA, p.78
7. 1959 Chevrolet Corvette 283/290 racer, $275,000—RM, p.80
8. 1938 Lagonda LG 6 drophead coupe, $247,500—RM, p. 72
9. 1956 Porsche 356A 1600S speedster, $220,000—RM, p.74
10. 1967 Shelby GT500 fastback, $209,000—BJ, p.98
3: Average daily driver in decent
condition
4: Still a driver but with some
apparent flaws
5: A nasty beast that runs but
has many problems
6: Good only for parts
June 2008
Bonhams (B)
Warwickshire, UK, p. 102
street cars rounded out the consignment list, with a 1972 Ford Escort rally car making
high sale at $181,685. Final totals fell slightly from last year’s $1.2 million, but four more
cars sold, raising the final sell-through rate from 65% in ’07 to 68% this year.
Auction Analyst Phil Skinner took in Kruse International’s first-ever Hawaii sale in
Honolulu in February, where 47 of the 135 cars offered traded hands for just over $1 million. As this was a new marketplace for Kruse, Skinner reported that one of the largest
hurdles the company faced was instructing both the consignors and bidders on the terms
and methods of buying and selling at auction. A 1940 Willys street rod topped the sales
chart at $75,600, with many other lots finding new homes for under $30,000.
Porsches were a source of inspiration for Geoff Archer in his report on recent eBay
Motors sales, with some of the best (and strangest) examples ever to come from Stuttgart.
Whether it’s a top-money 912, a decent-quality 356, or a bright red tractor missing from
your garage, if you’re an aspiring Porschephile, his report should have just what you’re
looking for. ♦
SCM 1-6 Scale
Condition Rating:
2: Very good, club concours,
some small flaws
RM Auctions (RMA),
Amelia Island, FL, p. 70
Best Buys
(Land Auctions Only)
1. 1954 Buick Skylark convertible,
$74,800—RMFL, p. 118
2. 1937 Cord 812 SC convertible,
$220,000—RMA, p. 78
3. 1934 Ford Model 40 3-Window
Custom coupe, $17,820—K,
p. 125
4. 1966 Morris Mini Cooper 1275S rally
car, $14,886—B, p. 104
5. 1948 Lincoln Continental convertible,
$59,400—RMA, p. 80
69
RM Auctions Amelia Island, FL
Automobiles of Amelia
The Bentley was understandably the focus of a great deal of interest, and its
new owner paid handsomely for the pleasure of its company
Company
RM Auctions
Date
March 8, 2008
Location
Amelia Island, Florida
Auctioneer
Peter Bainbridge
Automotive lots sold / offered
96 / 105
Sales rate
91%
Sales total
$16,724,750
High sale
1931 Duesenberg Model J
Murphy convertible coupe,
sold at $2,640,000
1931 Bentley 8-Liter with original coachwork brought $2.2m
Buyer’s premium
10% (included in sold prices)
Report by Donald Osborne and Rob Sass; photos by Osborne, Sass and Liz Scheffler
Market opinions in italics
A
winter auction in Florida is eslanguishing in a Florida garage years earlier by Amelia Island founder and
pecially appealing in March, as
director Bill Warner. With its worn, uneven paint and seats like the proverbial
Amelia Island, FL
people eager for the start of spring
favorite baseball glove, it oozed period charm. No one knew where the bidlook to get a head start on the season. For
ding would go, but since this is the only one to have, it’s safe to say $1.76
RM Auctions’s annual sale at the Amelia Island Concours
million was the right price. Considering its unique nature, it might actually
d’Elegance, it seemed as if mother nature sought a bit of
have been a bit of a bargain.
revenge on the snowbirds coming down south for relief.
Other noteworthy transactions included what must be record amounts
Cool temperatures gave way to torrential rain and
raised for a 1962 Fiat Abarth 850TC Nürburgring café racer from the
strong winds, and the power was knocked out for four
collection of the late Bob Snodgrass, which sold for an impressive
hours in the early hours of Friday.
$61,600, and the literally unbelievable $68,200 for which a 1985 Daimler
The preview, normally held in and around a tent on
DS 420 limo changed hands. A 1966 Shelby GT350 sold for a mid-estimate
the lawn adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton hotel, was divided
$165,000, and a beautifully turned-out 1965 Brabham Formula C BT15 was a terrific buy
between those cars already placed in the tent on Thursday
at $44,000. In the interest of disclosure, I must reand the remainder, which were parked in the lower level
port that I sold my one-off 1950 Crosley-Gardner
Sales Totals
of the hotel parking garage. In the end, the RM crew
Special vintage racer at $27,500.
stared nature down and won, with bright, sunny skies on
Last year, RM sold 91 of the 102 cars on offer $25m
2008
Saturday morning for the sale. However, stiff winds ocfor a total of $20.4 million, with three lots selling
2007
casionally whipped the tents, dramatically reminding us
for over $1 million. In this year’s sale, out of a
2006
who was in charge.
total of $16.7 million, four cars were over the mil- $20m
2005
2004
The stars of the sale were all prewar cars, topped by a
lion-dollar mark and two of those broke through
2003
stunning Murphy-bodied 1931 Duesenberg Model J con$2 million. At a time when some people are con- $15m
2002
vertible coupe. Estimated at $1.6 million to $2 million, it
cerned about the effects of the equities markets
sold for a market-right $2.6 million. Not far behind was
and energy prices on interest in collector cars, it’s
a contemporary competitor from across the pond in the noteworthy to see such strength at the top as well $10m
form of a rare Bentley 8-Liter tourer. As it still had its as the middle of the market. This strength drove
original body, it was understandably the focus of a great the sell-through rate up to 91% from 2007’s 89%.
$5m
deal of interest, and its new owner paid $2.2 million for
The RM Amelia Island sale always offers
the pleasure of its company.
something for just about all tastes, and if you don’t
Perhaps no lot was more eagerly anticipated than the
end up buying or selling a car, at least there’s that
one-off Ford Speedster built for Edsel Ford, discovered
great Florida weather—maybe. ♦
70
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Amelia Island, FL
ENGLISH
#256-1913 NAPIER 30/35 Model T44
tourer. S/N 11667. Eng. # 18798. Blue/black
canvas/blue leather. RHD. Odo: 81,910 miles.
Coachwork by Cunard. Old paint is still shiny
in places, but is chipped, cracked, and worn in
others. Very good panel fit throughout. Plastic
“wicker” appliqué on body sides, good brass
trim shows a few small dents and scratches.
and fading on left side dash wood. Sliding side
windows. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $148,500. A
lovely and rare fastback Airline coupe in great
colors. This car wore an older restoration
which was still holding up rather well. These
cars rarely come to market, so valuing one can
be difficult. Given the great eyeball this car
had, it was no surprise that it blew through the
high estimate of $125k.
Interior is at the edge of patina and just sliding into worn. Refurbished in 1966. Cond: 4-.
NOT SOLD AT $190,000. This was a good
example of the way “restorations” used to be
done. Extensively used in VCC events in the
U.K., this now carries its wear and use proudly.
High bid was much too low for such a rare and
usable car, so the seller can’t be faulted for taking it home again.
TOP 10 #263-1931 BENTLEY 8-LITER
No. 2 tourer. S/N YR5076. Eng. # YR1576.
Velvet Green/black canvas/dark green
leather. RHD. Odo: 44,842 miles. Coachwork
by Harrison. Very good panel fit, both right
doors tight at top. Well-applied paint shows
some subsurface sanding marks, chrome and
stainless bright trim have minor scratches on
door top pieces. Excellently retrimmed seats
and door panels, wood dash and door caps
show some finish issues. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$2,200,000. One of ten 8-liter tourers built.
Most unusually, given the musical chairs
changes on most prewar Bentleys, this one
was still wearing its original coachwork. Well
restored many years ago and with newly refurbished upholstery, it was a center of attention
during the sale previews, so it should be no surprise that it made $2.2m. That’s a lot of cents,
and it was worth every one of them.
#281-1934 MG PB Airline coupe. S/N
PB0384. Two-tone blue/blue leather. RHD.
Odo: 14 miles. Very good panel fit throughout.
Paint shows some orange peel, some minor blistering, and bubbling on rear deck. Well-fitted
interior shows some soiling on steering wheel
72
TOP 10 #264-1938 LAGONDA LG 6
No. 8 drophead coupe. S/N 12334. Dark
green/beige canvas/tan leather. RHD.
Odo: 56,046 miles. Very good panel fit, left
door out at front edge. Good older repaint shows
microblistering, chips at door edges, and some
subsurface issues. Good chrome is somewhat
faded and has small dents in radiator shell. Well
fitted soft top, interior shows a nice patina with
nice dash wood. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $247,500.
A beautiful and rare Lagonda, the product of
W.O. Bentley’s talents. From 1985 through
1992, it appeared three times at Coys London
sales. It was first seen in December ’85, where
it sold at $167,633 (SCM# 19945); it was seen
again in July ’86, where it sold at $180,995
(SCM# 12769); and finally, it appeared in July
’92, where the now “tired” car was a no-sale at
$109,250 (SCM# 7369). Refreshed (and color
changed) sometime shortly thereafter, it was
wonderfully mellowed here. Well bought.
#284-1956 AUSTIN-HEALEY 100M Le
Mans roadster. S/N BN2L232183. Black
& silver/black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 6,009
miles. Older hobbyist-quality restoration with
dull, checking, and blistering paint all over.
Tired but straight brightwork, incorrect vinyl
interior, painted wires, Lucas PL lamps. Very
good panel fit, color change sometime in the
past. Catalog claims this is a documented factory Le Mans kit car. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT
$82,500. An amateur restoration that appeared
to be over 30 years old. It needed just about
everything, but the silver lining here was that
it appeared to be a solid, straight car. We know
what Healeys cost to restore versus Ferraris,
and at this price, there is a definite upside,
as the 100Ms (which are eligible for all the
events that 3000s aren’t) are the new darlings
of Healey collectors. I wouldn’t be surprised to
see it a year from now in its original white and
blue livery, and it’ll look well bought then.
#236-1963 AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 Mk II
BJ7 convertible. S/N HBJ7L18025. Red/black
vinyl/black leather. Odo: 3 miles. Exceedingly
fresh, high-quality restoration by marque specialists Healey Lane of Riverside, CA. Paint
and engine compartment better than new, door
gaps and rocker panel fit essentially as per factory but not the best that I’ve seen on a restored
car. Fresh top, bows already scratched. Gauges
left unrestored, horn button crazed. Five new
chrome wires. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $62,700.
The BJ7 had little less horsepower than a BJ8
and a more basic dash, which some prefer to
the walnut. However, the market likes BJ8s,
and at this point, the supply of great 3000s
seems to be catching up with demand. This
below-estimate result was a bit of a deal, and
at this price, there would be little harm done in
making it a driver rather than a trailer queen.
Further major appreciation seems unlikely in
this market at this time.
#265-1965 JAGUAR XKE SI convertible.
S/N 1E1070. Eng. # 1E1070. British Racing
Green/black cloth/black leather. Odo: 9,740
miles. Fresh restoration by noted West Coast
E-type specialist. Sides laser straight, hood and
door fit very good. Minor material shrinkage
and sanding scratches on driver’s side rear
fender. Detailed engine compartment and rear
end, fender to sill seam inexplicably unleaded,
rock chip paint on sills unattractive. Well done
interior down to correct and not often seen
rubber gearshift gaiter. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$123,750. Excellent E-type roadsters have settled into the $125,000–$140,000 range. These
are still an excellent value, as you would have
to spend several multiples of this price to get
something with more eyeball and performance
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Amelia Island, FL
shows polish marks. Polished brass and copper
trim shows well aside from various small dings
and light scratches. Very good interior, nicely
finished wood dash panel. Clean engine compartment with polished brass fittings. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $137,500. A brightly-colored and very
French brass tourer sold by an SCMer. Looks to
be a very comfortable ride for road events, and
it just screamed for its occupants to wear period
clothing. The seller was pleased with this result,
and the buyer should be as well.
than a Series I roadster. There are always
plenty to choose from, and that, in a nutshell,
is why they’re not $500,000 cars.
#248-1970 JAGUAR XKE SII 4.2 coupe.
S/N P1R27962. Silver/tan leather. Odo: 65,583
miles. Hood and door fit exceptionally good,
sills straight and generally done to a decent
standard. Prep work uneven around door
handles and windshield, which were clearly not
removed prior to painting. Interior fresh and
well-installed, although Heritage Certificate
indicates a blue interior from new. Engine and
subframe nicely detailed. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$60,500. Even with the inconsistencies in the
paint prep, this was still a very appealing car
in good colors with a/c that the catalog claimed
to be functional. A true coupe (not a 2+2) with
the desirable a/c and 4-speed plus the Series II
cooling improvements, this would make a nice
daily driver. Although sold at the low estimate,
this was very big money for a Series II coupe.
It’s doubtful there will be an upside any time
soon, but taking into account the cost of the
work done, this has to rate as well bought.
GERMAN
#293-1954 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
sedan. S/N 10771855. Stratos Silver/gray
cloth. Odo: 15,055 miles. Good panel fit, both
doors out at rear bottom. Excellent paint shows
no issues. Chrome nice except for some pitting
under plating of vent window surrounds. Superb
“deluxe” cloth interior trim, every possible
aftermarket accessory fitted. Fabric sunroof.
Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $39,600. An over-the-top
oval-window Bug with colors that kept it from
going too far. Last seen at Christie’s Monterey
sale in August ’07, where it was a no-sale at
$34k (SCM# 46213). This sale was basically at
the same number, so the seller, an SCMer, cut it
loose. A fair deal on both sides.
TOP 10 #240-1956 PORSCHE 356A 1600S
No. 9 speedster. S/N 82311. Adria Blue/gray
leather. Odo: 2,317 miles. Excellent
panel fit and paint. Very good chrome shows
some minor polish scratches. Clean interior
appears as new. Detailed engine compartment.
FRENCH
21,472 km. Restored in the ’90s and still holding up rather well. Very good door fit, decent
paint shows appropriate orange peel and a
small polish run over engine cover, whose rubber is slightly perished. Excellent chrome and
interior. Offered with trailer. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $34,100. This was very cute, but aren’t
they all? Very well restored, but not over the
top as so many are. It was sold with modern
but perfectly-proportioned mini-trailer which
folded into a suitcase-sized package—the perfect thing for a cross-country trip by microcar.
A market-correct price.
#277-1963 PORSCHE 356B 1600S cabriolet. S/N 158165. Eng. # 705709. Signal
Red/tan canvas/tan leather. Odo: 34,669 miles.
Very good panel fit aside from right door alignment at rear edge. Smooth paint has a few
minor prep issues. Excellent interior with good
reproduction period radio. Cond: 2+. SOLD
AT $99,000. A well-done 1600 B cabriolet that
just needed a bit more to be a top example.
Prices have been steadily moving up on these
cars, but this should be considered well done
for the seller.
#201-1971 BMW 2002 coupe. S/N 2575092.
Beige/tan vinyl. Odo: 757 miles. Interior freshly
done in correct BMW “Skai” vinyl, decent
replacement carpeting, fine-looking uncracked
dash with accessory VDO gauges. Non-period Momo aftermarket steering wheel is too
small, factory (although possibly not correct
#242-1906 PANHARD-LEVASSOR 25/30
touring car. S/N S4R1. Two-tone blue/beige
canvas/blue leather. RHD. Left door slightly
raised, other panel gaps consistent. Good paint
Glasspar hardtop, chrome Rudge wheels, Carrera
bumpers. Bridgestone Potenza RE950 185/65
R15 tires fitted. Cond: 1. SOLD AT $220,000.
The Super Speedster, beautifully restored with
upgrade modifications by Gary Kempton. Superb
and stunning, and sold right on the money given
the quality of the work... maybe even considered
a good deal for the buyer.
#291-1957 BMW ISETTA 300 coupe. S/N
501295. Blue & white/dark blue vinyl. Odo:
74
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Amelia Island, FL
for the year) alloy wheels fitted. Paint nicely
color sanded and buffed to a better-than-new
standard. No typical dings on stainless trim,
fresh rubber all around. Dual Webers replaced
single Solex. Black plastic Pep Boys mirrors
and discolored nose badge the only real jarring
notes here. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $22,000. This
was not without its faults, but it was still a very
appealing round taillight 2002. Dual Webers
should give most of the performance of a
mechanically injected tii without the potential
headaches. This was a huge price for a nonsunroof, non-a/c car in a less popular color.
The money paid could have bought an Inka
Orange tii with a sunroof. Well sold.
#220-1979 PORSCHE 930 coupe. S/N
9309800608. Chiffon Yellow/brown leather.
Odo: 18,272 miles. At least some of the paint
purported to be original, but it’s a bit thick in
places and shows minor cracking around the
rain gutters as well as a few touched-in chips on
the hood and bumper as usual with 911s. Sides
straight and gaps per factory, no overspray
noted, soft trim and gaskets still supple. Full
leather interior exceedingly nice with no bolster wear or shrinkage on dash. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $40,700. Last seen at RM’s Monterey sale
in August ’00, where it sold at $38,500 (SCM#
10285). It was refreshing to see a well-cared
for and bone-stock 930 in a color other than
silver or Guards Red. In spite of its iconic status and evil reputation as the killer or maimer
of professional athletes and plastic surgeons,
930s are still traversing the nether world between sought-after collectible and interesting
used car. Those days may finally be nearing an
end. This will likely seem well bought by this
time next year.
ITALIAN
#282-1958 FIAT 1100 TV convertible. S/N
002039. Red/beige canvas/red & tan leather.
Odo: 44,621 miles. Variable panel fit is somewhat beyond factory specs. Good paint shows
some prep issues throughout. Exterior chrome
decent except rear license plate light housing
is painted rather than plated. Well done new
interior, with complex steering wheel in excellent condition. Recent top fits well. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $36,300. This was rare, slightly
wacky, and Italian—of course I loved it. The
styling was very “transatlantic,” as the key
market for these cars was the U.S.—sort of the
poor man’s 8V. This one was better presented
than most, but some details let it down. I was
an underbidder on this car, as I’ve wanted one
for a long time. Fairly priced for the buyer, and
a bit light for the seller.
#234-1958 LANCIA AURELIA B20 GT
6th Series coupe. S/N B20S1801. Blu Lancia/
tan cloth. Odo: 7,878 miles. Panel fit decent
aside from wide hood gaps on right side and
right door out at rear bottom edge. Very good
paint, redone chrome shows many flaws under
plating. Interior features seats done in incorrect style, some dash bright trim shows pitting.
Later Becker Grand Prix radio fitted. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $129,250. The 6th Series B20 coupe
is generally the most desired in the U.S., while
Europe prefers the earlier models. This one was
converted to floor shift from column, and it was
not likely an original Nardi conversion. This
car was nicely presented, but it was let down by
its rather poor chrome. Values of Aurelias, both
closed and open, are rising faster than Italian
governments fall. This is now market correct.
#212-1962 FIAT ABARTH 850TC
Nürburgring 2-dr sedan. S/N 1258429.
Red & gray/black cloth. Odo: 23,614 miles.
Variable panel fit as per factory. Shiny paint
shows some appropriate orange peel, some
subsurface sanding marks, and one touchedin chip. Very good chrome, alloy bright trim
nice. Clean interior fitted with modern Cobra
racing seats and Abarth wheel. Campagnolo
alloys, Abarth data plate. From the Snodgrass
Collection. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $61,600. A
very well-presented 850TC sedan, the Abarth
“giant killer.” Most you will see are replicas
built from customized stock Fiat 600Ds. This
one wore an Abarth data plate, but the catalog
didn’t mention any period race history or FIA
certification. It blew way past the high estimate
of $24k, which is where replicas usually sell. If
it was a real one, the price could be justified; if
not, it was exceedingly well sold.
#237-1967 FERRARI 330 GT Series II 2+2
coupe. S/N 8601. Silver/black leather. Odo:
21,580 km. Decent panel fit, except hood wide
at sides. Older paint shows many issues, good
chrome has some scratches and fading. Clean
interior shows nicely worn seats and good dash
wood. Period three-band radio fitted. Roadclean engine compartment with Car Quest oil
filters installed. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $107,250.
A 2nd series 330 2+2, stated to be unrestored.
Clearly some paint was newer, but the overall
feeling of the car was that of a nicely worn
original. Chain store oil filters don’t inspire
confidence on the recent maintenance, but it
had only been driven 62 km since its last appearance at RM’s Maranello sale in May ’07,
where it sold for $96,525 (SCM# 45351). The
seller lost a bit after transport and fees, but he
still got all the money here.
#294-1967 FIAT DINO coupe. S/N
135AC0000651. Red/black leather. Odo:
98,942 km. Panel fit nice, right door out at rear
bottom. Good paint shows polish scratches and
some minor prep issues. Very good chrome
with strange gold “Dino” script on front bumper. Clean interior retrimmed in non-original
leather and fitted with newer, small-diameter
Nardi wheel. Very clean engine compartment
with polished air cleaner. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$30,800. The early 2.0 liter models like this
are beautiful cars in my opinion, and they’ve
never been given their due respect. Although
this example wasn’t great, it still sold for a very
healthy price. Perhaps the market is finally rising... let’s just hope the new owner won’t need
an engine rebuild any time soon.
#292-1972 FERRARI 246 GT Dino spyder
conversion. S/N 03128. Silver/red & black
leather. Odo: 29,249 miles. Very good panel fit,
front lid slightly uneven from side to side. Wellapplied paint shows a color mismatch from
rear clip to rest of body. Very good chrome and
trim, well-fitted interior. “Chairs and flares.”
76
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Amelia Island, FL
Converted from a coupe by Shelton Ferrari of
Fort Lauderdale, FL, in the late ’70s. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $156,750. A well-done conversion
of a Dino coupe into spyder, but why? Given
the color disparity in the rear clip, one doesn’t
want to consider accident repair, but the
thought lingers. Sold at about a 10% discount
to the genuine article, so no bargain.
AMERICAN
good older paint shows some polish marks
and chips on edges of battery box cover. Very
good interior has a few small marks on front
seat cushion and worn steering wheel rim.
Equipped with divider window. Nice restoration just starting to go off. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$1,210,000. One of three with this body, which
was fitted at the factory in 1935. After a freshening, this will be a potent concours contender
again very soon. Correctly priced.
TOP 10 #241-1931 DUESENBERG MODEL
No. 1 J convertible coupe. S/N 2414. Eng.
# J395. Red & black/beige canvas/tan
leather. Odo: 44,509 miles. Coachwork by
Murphy. Nice panel fit aside from both doors
slightly out at bottom front edge. Excellent
paint shows only light polish scratches. Superb
chrome and interior. Murphy body #921, Brian
Joseph mechanicals, Steve Cooley cosmetics.
#297-1918
MILBURN
ELECTRIC
MODEL 27 Brougham 2-dr sedan. S/N
458143. Green & black/green brocade cloth.
Odo: 17,599 miles. 76-volt General Electric
DC motor. Reportedly capable of 19 mph with
a range of 60 miles on fully-charged batteries.
Older paint shows polish burns, some scratches,
and fading. Good panel fit throughout, glass and
trim unmarked. Very good interior has neat trim
ster. A wonderfully historic car with a delightfully used look. It was discovered by seller Bill
Warner as a non-runner, and was mechanically
recommissioned with repainted fenders. No one
knew what this one-of-a-kind artifact would
bring, but the price paid seems to make sense.
It could be considered a bargain considering
you’ll never find another. See profile, p. 60.
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $2,640,000. A well-done
Murphy-bodied disappearing top Model J,
and a First in Class winner at Pebble Beach
in ’05. ACD Category One certification. Sold
in November 2002 at the Blackhawk auction
at Hershey, PA for $737,000 (SCM# 29237), at
which time it was a very ’70s tan with brown
trim. Interestingly, the mileage here was exactly the same as it was then. A big price, but
a superb car.
details, side curtains don’t quite go with brocade
upholstery. Cracking visible on wood door caps.
Cond: 4. SOLD AT $46,750. Milburn entered
the market with its electric in 1914 and was gone
by 1923. The company pioneered conveniently
removable batteries, which meant less down
time for charging. This had been a museum car,
and it’s probably best moved to another as a
static exhibit. A fair price.
PACKARD
SUPER
TOP 10 #247-1933
EIGHT
convertible
victoria.
S/N
No. 6
66712. Black & silver/black canvas/
burgundy leather. Odo: 169 miles. Coachwork
by Dietrich. Panel fit somewhat off at rear of
both doors. Excellent paint shows light polish
marks and one tiny chip. Very nice chrome and
trim, excellent interior with nicely broken-in
TOP 10 #257-1929 DUESENBERG MODEL
No. 4 J convertible berline. S/N 2127. Eng.
# J103. Silver & black/black canvas/
red leather. Odo: 72,286 miles. Coachwork by
LeBaron. Somewhat variable panel fit, very
seats. Trippe lights fitted. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$412,500. Restored in 1999, Pebble Beach class
winner in 2000, AACA National First, CCCA
Senior award. A very high-level restoration that
was still showing extremely well. With lovely
style and dramatic colors, this was hard to fault.
Priced right.
78
TOP 10 #252-1934 FORD MODEL 40
No. 3 Special speedster. S/N FLA15512.
Red/red leather. Odo: 19,999 miles.
Excellent hood fit. Old paint on body is worn,
with touch-ups, chips, and rubs visible. Newly
painted fenders excellent. Seats show a nice
patina but aren’t worn. LaMarr wheel discs
fitted over wire wheels. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT
$1,760,000. Edsel Ford’s custom-built speed
#238-1937 CORD 812 SC convertible
coupe. S/N 32485F. Eng. # FC2399.
Cigarette Cream/tan canvas/dark red
leather. RHD. Odo: 2 miles. Five-month-old
high level restoration shows well. Good panel
fit aside from both doors sitting out at front
edge and trunk lid slightly off from side to side.
Excellent paint, chrome, and interior, showdetailed engine compartment. Replacement
engine fitted. One of the last Cords built. Cond:
1-. SOLD AT $220,000. Stunning in yellow
with red interior, this just needed some final
tweaking to be a show winner. The price was
a bit on the low side, which was perhaps due
to the bright color or the replacement engine.
Either way, the buyer got a very good deal
here.
#239-1939
CADILLAC
V16
FLEETWOOD convertible sedan. S/N
3290740. Eng. # 5290025. Maroon/tan canvas/
burgundy leather. Odo: 454 miles. Converted
from an original Series 75 with Series 90 front
sheetmetal and V16 engine. Very good panel
fit, except center door gaps uneven. Excellent
paint shows some minor final polish issues.
Chrome has some waviness under plating
on front bumper top blade, grille shows very
well. Older interior has some bagging on front
door panels. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $170,500.
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Amelia Island, FL
and left door pinched at top rear. Very good
paint shows light polish marks and one chip at
the left door top. Chrome nice except for small
kink in left front door top trim, some delamination in lower left corner of windshield and vent
glass. Very good interior, two small cracks in
wheel rim. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $74,250. It’s
always nice to see an Olds convertible instead
of the ubiquitous Chevys and Pontiacs. Finished
in attractive period colors, this was nice, but it
was no show car. Appropriately priced.
This was not one of the four original V16
Convertible Sedans built in 1939, but the 15year-old conversion was very well done and
still presented quite well. With a bit of attention
to the details, it could be stunning, but it’ll still
be a car you’ll have to explain. Priced correctly
for what it was.
#287-1955 FORD THUNDERBIRD convertible. S/N P5H111201. Turquoise/black
canvas/turquoise & white leather. Odo: 5,214
miles. 292-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Variable panel
fit, left door very hard to shut. Well-done paint,
chrome, and interior. Detailed engine compartment appears mostly factory. Fitted with hard
#310-1948 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
convertible. S/N 8H174303. Black/
beige canvas/black leather. Odo: 84,940
miles. Very good panel fit, hood gap wide at
rear edge. Shiny paint shows some areas of
microblistering as well as minor bubbling and
polish scratches. Replated bumpers and grille
excellent, other chrome fair to good. Well-fitted
interior with excellent steering wheel. Equipped
with pw and seatbelts. 1970s restoration still
showing well. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $59,400.
The postwar Continental is much fussier in its
detailing than prewar examples, but it still has a
devoted following. This car was sold in October
’04 at the RM Elkhart sale for $75,900 (SCM#
35200). 419 miles and three years later, it’s
lost over 20% in value—not the way to get rich
quick. If the V12 runs well, the buyer got himself
a very good deal.
top and wire wheel covers, front disc brakes
and KYB gas shocks added. Radial tires on
the road, bias-ply spare in the trunk. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $55,000. Sold with 2008 Amelia
Island Concours entry. This had a curiously
uneven presentation, with great paint and
chrome and casual door fit. Perhaps it was an
older high-quality restoration which needed
some sorting. It could have done better, but the
price paid was right on the money.
#217-1959 CADILLAC SERIES 62
convertible. S/N 59F104226. Beige/beige
vinyl/brown leather. Odo: 55,550 miles. 390-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Variable panel fit, OK paint
shows some light polish marks, chrome has
light pitting on many pieces. Clean interior
with creased, redyed seats, some wear on
steering wheel spokes, and fit issues on left
However, the colors did the car no favors, as it
had all the sex appeal of vanilla pudding. Very
well sold.
TOP 10 #260-1959 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
No. 7 convertible. S/N J59S104283. Black/
red vinyl. Odo: 90,368 miles. 283-ci
290-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Paint, gaps, and
panel fit far better than original. Front bumpers
and grille intact and quite nice, rear bumpers removed. Full interior includes carpeting in decent
reproduction materials. Dash and steering wheel
nicely restored. Cut down Plexiglass windshield,
painted steel wheels. Extensive club racing history in period. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $275,000.
Far better prepared cosmetically than any
period race car would likely have been. The engine was purported to be the same fuel-injected
unit originally installed in the first Scaglietti
Corvette. The car had so much eyeball, it would
seem a shame to actually use it for its intended
purpose. So what then do you do with it?
#286-1969 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302
fastback. S/N 9F026221365. Blue & black/
black vinyl. Odo: 60,318 miles. 302-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Recent restoration on a reported
low-mileage one-owner car. Gaps uneven per
factory, hood fit particularly egregious. Several
paint and prep gaffes, most notably around
A-pillars and rain gutters. Overspray on rear
window molding indicates glass not removed
#227-1954 OLDSMOBILE SUPER 88
convertible. S/N 548M44109. Blue/navy
canvas/two-tone blue leather. Odo: 266 miles.
Panel fit decent, with right door out at rear edge
end of dashboard top. From the Snodgrass
Collection. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT $71,500.
Last seen at Mecum’s Elkhart Lake, WI, sale
in July ’00, where it was a no-sale at $27,000
(SCM# 10026). A cruise night car, and it must
look great at ten feet, especially after sundown.
80
before paint. Interior and engine compartment
don’t pop, poorly fitted rear bumper with thin
chrome appears to be a reproduction item.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $99,000. The closer I got
to this car, the more questions arose. It had the
look of a car with good bones that was subject
to a rather unsympathetic and casual restoration. Nevertheless, it brought better than midestimate money. It was, however, one of the few
1960s American cars in the sale, and that may
have been a factor in its strong price. ♦
Sports Car Market
McCormick Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs Winter Auction
Automotive oddities, which delightfully appear with regularity at most
McCormick events, were out in force
Company
Keith McCormick Auctions
Date
February 22–24, 2008
Location
Palm Springs, California
Auctioneer
Jack Stokes & Rob Ross
Automotive lots sold / offered
252 / 471
Sales rate
54%
Sales total
$4,719,120
High sale
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
convertible, sold at $105,000
McCormick always has something for every bidder
Buyer’s premium
5% (included in sold prices)
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
M
uch to the dismay of the Palm
Springs Chamber of Commerce
and the local tourism board, the
sun does not shine 365 days a year
in the California desert. It even rains every now
and then, and Friday, February 22, was one of
those days.
It was also the first day of Keith McCormick’s
44th auction, and over 500 cars were expected.
Unfortunately, not all braved the weather, and with 30
staying home, there were actually fewer cars offered
than at the company’s November sale.
The overall quality of the offerings was also slightly
off, although average sales prices were a bit higher.
Corvettes were offered in abundance, but of the 41 crossing the block, only 15 changed hands. Those that did sell,
with three notable exceptions, were all under $20,000.
Automotive oddities, which delightfully appear with
regularity at most McCormick events, were out in force.
The 1989 ELMCO Rolls-Royce golf cart that sold for
$2,205 in November reappeared, and the seller was willing to take a several-hundred dollar hit to get it out of
his garage.
A horrid 1957 Corvette replica, which was a no-sale
at $16,200, was so poorly done that even grade school
kids would not be impressed. Perhaps in an effort to appeal to elusive Middle Eastern buyers, a 1959 Corvette
was offered with all its brightwork redone in 24-karat
gold. Not even the valve covers or hubcaps escaped, and
82
the owner proudly stated that he had over $70,000 “invested” in plating. In the words
of Dr. Phil, “What were you thinking?” It failed to sell at $69,000.
On the other hand, there were a number of very desirable collector cars that
crossed the block. A well-restored 1967 Amphicar with an unusual but correct
yellow and white vinyl interior was stated by the owner to have had more
than $70,000 invested. When asked why he mentioned that, he replied that
he had no idea these things were so expensive to restore. Unfortunately
Palm Springs, CA
for him, he’ll have to wait to recoup his money, as bidding stalled at
$64,000.
A very nice 1969 Italia, which had been owned by two collectors
in the Pacific Northwest, sold for
$56,700, which in my opinion was a bargain. A
Sales Totals
well-restored ’68 Camaro SS 396 convertible
sold at $60,900, and while it was one of the bet$5m
2008
ter-presented cars at the auction, the owner did
2007
2006
not provide any documentation or build sheets to
2005
authenticate the highly-optioned car.
$4m
2004
2003
The McCormick auctions are always enjoy2002
able, as they offer an eclectic mix of cars presented in an area that provides adequate room
$3m
for viewing, and of course, Palm Springs offers
a variety of restaurants, golf, hiking, and shop$2m
ping as well. Last year’s auction saw 232 of 380
cars sell for a final total of just under $4.7 million, and although more cars were sold this time
$1m
around, a consistent $4.7 million was again realized, which should be considered good news for
both McCormick and the Southern California
market. ♦
Sports Car Market
McCormick Palm Springs, CA
if you let it sit in less-than-ideal conditions, it’ll
deteriorate. Either way, this was a lot of money
for a ho-hum car under any circumstances.
ENGLISH
#201-1969 AUSTIN MINI COOPER
coupe. S/N AA2SAU16151A. Glacier White/
black vinyl. Odo: 83,802 miles. Respray to an
acceptable standard, panel gaps decent throughout. Nice chrome and trim, glass unmarked. Dash
cracked, seats replaced, carpets worn. Cond:
3. NOT SOLD AT $11,000. Stated to have
#476- 1954 PACKARD SUPER CLIPPER
Panama 2-dr hard top. S/N 54675075.
Yellow/red/black vinyl & red fabric. Odo:
60,751 miles. 327-ci straight 8, 2-bbl, 3-sp.
Recent respray in a bold but not necessarily
attractive color combination. Needs a good wet
was looking to recover his restoration costs, but
boat sales are tough in the desert.
ITALIAN
top speed of 79 mph, but that must be downhill
with a tailwind. As we enter the era of $4 a
gallon gasoline, these make a bit more sense.
However, with all the goofy drivers in the
Palm Springs area, you would not last long in
something this small. Guides say that these are
worth a touch more, but don’t know where the
seller will get it.
#190- 1969 INTERMECCANICA ITALIA
convertible. S/N 50060. Red/tan cloth/tan
vinyl. Odo: 41,799 miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5sp. Recent respray shows well, very good panel
fit throughout. Nice brightwork and glass.
Covered headlights, Nardi wheel, power windows. Engine clean with no leaks or streaks.
Was once an a/c-equipped car but is now missing
its components. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $56,700.
sand and buff. Window fit off, glass delaminating, brightwork shows a few scratches. Engine
compartment filthy. Has the look of a quickie
pre-sale redo. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $12,000.
This was not a lot of money, but it was not a
lot of car either. At least it’ll be the talk of the
new owner’s next neighborhood get-together.
Well sold.
#436-1955 CADILLAC ELDORADO
convertible. S/N 556287035. Light blue/white
vinyl/blue & white leather. Odo: 69,813 miles.
331-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Complete with plastic
parade boot. No serious issues with paint or body
fit. Interior not worn, seats show few signs of use,
carpet clean. Exterior trim tarnished and worn.
#273- 1983 ROLLS-ROYCE CORNICHE
convertible. S/N SCADZ42A1DCX05829.
Gold & brown/tan leather. Odo: 39,176 miles.
A well-maintained R-R Corniche convertible.
Body straight and solid, no door dings or road
rash, windows not chipped or scratched. Little
Last seen at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale sale
in January ’06, where it sold at $48,600 (SCM#
40380). A new paint job, 100 miles, and a few
years later, this did only slightly better. I keep
waiting for the market to appreciate on these,
as they offer tremendous performance and styling for not a lot of money... then again, I own
one, so I’m a bit biased.
AMERICAN
wear noticeable, with interior, dash and window
wood trim in good repair. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$46,988. Palm Springs is home to the world’s
largest R-R dealer, so there’s no shortage of
used examples in the area. The price paid here
was in line with market considering this car’s
outstanding condition. Well bought and sold.
#259- 1950 CHRYSLER WINDSOR 4-dr
sedan. S/N 70876721. Gray/blue fabric. Odo:
10,758 miles. Mileage stated to be documented
and original. Chrome and brightwork show
well, paint has no notable issues. Interior looks
to have been replaced, interior plastic excellent.
GERMAN
#188- 1967 AMPHICAR 770 convertible.
S/N 106522273. Light blue/yellow & white vinyl.
Odo: 6 miles. Extensive and expensive restoration to a high standard. Nice paint and chrome
appear recent and have few issues. Unusual but
correct color combination inside, with yellow
and white vinyl showing well. Appears to have
not seen any real use since restoration. Cond:
1-. NOT SOLD AT $64,000. Ever since one
of these sold at Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale
event in 2006 for $124k (SCM# 40359), no selfrespecting auction is without one. The seller here
84
Owner states a bearing is going out. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $63,000. The price paid was about
right for a #3 car. The only question was how
expensive it’ll be to repair the mechanical issues. The location of the bad bearing will likely
determine whether or not this was a decent buy
or a big mistake.
#171-1956 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E56S003900. Red/tan fabric/
red vinyl. Odo: 193 miles. 265-ci 225-hp V8,
2x4-bbl, 3-sp. Quality restoration by Walden
Dalton. NCRS Top Flight award. Excellent
panel fit and top installation, engine compart-
Presto-matic transmission. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$32,025. The problem with a low-mileage car
like this is what do you do with it? If you were to
drive it, the value would go away. Then again,
Sports Car Market
McCormick Palm Springs, CA
ment sparkles, interior as-new. Slightly overrestored, but certainly nice throughout. Cond:
1-. SOLD AT $90,038. I’d say that this was
well bought, as the price paid was fair for a
quality restoration of a car with the desirable
265/225 engine. It could have done another
$7,500 without question. Well done.
#471-1956 HUDSON HORNET Hollywood
2-dr hard top. S/N Z1387. Lime & black/lime
& black fabric. Odo: 88,460 miles. These are
often referred to as a “Hash,” as they had a
Nash body with Hudson name plate. Recent
respray in striking colors done to good standard. Brightwork very nice, window rubbers
old and deteriorating. Chip in window detracts
from otherwise nice glass. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $22,050. This was the Baby Boomers’
high school dream car, as the seats fold all
the way down.... These are becoming much
more popular, so yesterday’s premium price is
today’s correct market value. A solid transaction all around.
#51-1957 OLDSMOBILE 98 2-dr hard
top. S/N 579L02732. White/white & gray
vinyl. Odo: 35,948 miles. 371-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Richard Petty drove Oldsmobiles in NASCAR
during the 1957 season. A very presentable
example showing a nice interior and a quality respray. Body straight with good panel fit.
Minor scratches on trim, chrome and glass nice.
Equipped with Continental kit. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $39,375. The 98 series was loaded with
power equipment, and the Jetaway transmission
was standard. Although this one was a decent
car, the buyer paid for a #1 and got something
that most would consider to be rated less.
#279-1957 FORD FAIRLANE 500 Skyliner
retractable hard top. S/N D7RW207387.
Black & white/black/black vinyl & fabric. Odo:
89,259 miles. 312-ci V8, 4-bbl, 3-sp. Restored
by a local marque specialist. Equipped with ps,
pb, Continental kit, and fender skirts. Quality
respray shows well, hard top retracts at least for
now. Interior in good repair, engine clean and
detailed. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT $29,500.
According to the guides, the price bid here was
light by as much as $20k. These do not have a
86
large following, so it takes the right buyer to
appreciate the car and pay the price to own one.
This seller was right in holding on for now.
a lot of money for a Playboy Bunny T-Bird that
had been neglected for years. If you need to sell
one of these, this is the town to do it in, but do
you really want to have to explain what it is?
#215-1958 MERCURY MONTCLAIR 2dr hard top. S/N ME529796. Cream & silver/
gold/gold fabric & tan vinyl. Odo: 45,520 miles.
383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The Montclair features
two unique chrome strips down side with silver
trim between them. Older respray shows age
#114-1959
DESOTO
FIREFLITE
Sportsman 2-dr hard top. S/N M451101305.
Light green/green fabric & vinyl. Odo: 38,170
miles. 383-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Considering the
weather, this car looked presentable. Interior
worn, dash and gauges decent. Chrome nice,
trim scratched and tarnished, paint appears to
and wear. Steering wheel cracked, radio and
power steering fitted. Whitewall tires yellowed
with age. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $26,250. The
price paid was for a car in excellent condition,
and this did not fit that description. As such, the
buyer got a little carried away and overspent
by about $5k. Well sold.
be well maintained. TorqueFlite push-button
transmission. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $24,675. In
the late ’50s, rear fins could not be tall enough,
and this DeSoto fit right in. The interior was
the major issue, but regardless, it still sold for
a reasonable figure. I would have preferred it in
a more attractive color.
#78-1958 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. S/N F58L163846. Light blue/blue
vinyl & fabric. Odo: 94,858 miles. 283-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Awful Easter egg exterior color
choice shows few issues, interior sun-damaged
#213-1959 CHEVROLET IMPALA 2-dr
hard top. S/N F59S132176. Red/white/red
vinyl & fabric. Odo: 6,932 miles. 283-ci V8,
2-bbl, auto. Recent quality restoration looks
nice throughout, but I’m not sure about the
two-tone color combination. Excellent paint
and panel fit, engine clean and highly detailed.
and faded. Trim pitted and scratched, glass still
nice. Aftermarket rims and narrow whitewall
tires fitted. Cond: 3. NOT SOLD AT $28,000.
This was not a bad car, but why let it live its
life waiting for the bunny to come around once a
year? A market-correct bid.
#126-1959
FORD
THUNDERBIRD
Playboy Bunny Edition convertible. S/N
H9YJ38826. Pink/black vinyl/black vinyl.
Odo: 1,828 miles. 430-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. The
Playboy Edition features unique colors and a
Playboy logo on seatbelt buckles. Seats and interior worn, window fit off, Continental kit with
chrome cover fitted. Paint dull and chipped,
with numerous visible touch-ups. Aftermarket
radio. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $29,400. This was
Interior spotless. Very nice throughout. Cond:
1-. SOLD AT $38,325. 1959 was the first year
for the “Spread-Wing” horizontal-fin rear deck
treatment. I owned one of these many long years
ago and at the time I loved the rear wing treatment... but now I’m not so sure. This example
sold for a strong price, but the money spent was
not out of line considering the condition.
#366-1960 CADILLAC ELDORADO
convertible. S/N 6062FW12834. Black/black
vinyl/red vinyl. Odo: 81,670 miles. 390-ci V8,
3x2-bbl, auto. Listed as an Eldorado with the
correct trim and nameplates, but VIN indicates it
Sports Car Market
McCormick Palm Springs, CA
#364-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S110847. Riverside
Red/red hard top/black vinyl. Odo: 66,575
miles. 327-ci 300-hp V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent
respray to acceptable standards, original color
was Sebring Silver. Fitted with ps, pb, and
to be a Series 62. If it were an Eldorado, it would
be a Biarritz. Respray to good standard, panel
fit as good as factory. Original leather interior
replaced with vinyl, steering wheel trim pitted.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $55,125. If the car was in
fact an Eldorado, then this was an excellent buy.
If not, the buyer paid #1 money for a playedwith car. As there were still some questions to be
answered, I’ll call this one well sold.
#362-1962 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 20867S109469. Roman
Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. 327-ci 340-hp
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. The last year for the solid rear
Powerglide automatic. Glove box door damaged, aftermarket radio fitted. Panel fit typical,
with the usual fit issues throughout. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $29,663. The price paid was about
right considering this car’s condition and
needs, and the new owner should be able to
write a few checks and upgrade the car a bit. A
fair transaction for all concerned.
#367- 1965 FORD MUSTANG convertible.
S/N 5F08F201004. Wimbledon White/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 89,133 miles. 260-ci
V8, 2-bbl, auto. Equipped with 260-ci V8 and
generator rather than alternator, proving it to
be an early-production car. Very presentable
interior with minor wear noted on seats and
axle and exposed headlights. Respray to high
standard, bodywork far better than factory,
brightwork in good order. Interior in good
condition except for some notable carpet wear.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $52,500. The final price
paid here was just about in line with the current
market. The buyer paid a fair price for a solid
car, so both sides should be happy here.
#138-1962
STUDEBAKER
GRAN
TURISMO HAWK 2-dr hard top. S/N
62V23419. Tan/light blue vinyl. Odo: 95,874
miles. 289-ci V8, 2-bbl, auto. Body not great but
acceptable, with minor gap and fit issues. Few
blemishes in paint, window rubbers worn. Odd
carpets. Good panel fit, minor paint touch-ups
and scratches. Cruise-O-Matic transmission
and radio fitted. Cond: 2. NOT SOLD AT
$24,000. V8 Mustangs have been appreciating
of late, so I’d say the money was a bit light on
this early convertible. This would have bought
the car a few years back, but examples in this
condition are worth close to $30k today.
vinyl. Odo: 49 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
A quality car with documentation. Equipped
with L78 engine package, Tick-Tock Tach, and
Redline tires. Engine compartment spotless and
appearing factory throughout. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $60,900. Super Sport models equipped with
the RS option featured a special grille with hidden headlights as well as all-red taillamps with
separate reverse lights. As a documented car,
this example sold for well under the money...
it could have brought another $10k without
concern. Well bought.
#299-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS
convertible. S/N 124679N586138. Garnet
Red & black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
15,007 miles. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A basic
300-hp Camaro with the common SS option.
Top shows fit issues, recent respray done to
an acceptable standard. Nice chrome and trim,
glass shows wiper marks. Interior far from
fresh, radio missing from car. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $27,300. This was not a lot of money for
an SS Camaro, but then again, this was not a
lot of car. It was lacking many of the desirable
options that muscle car collectors dig deep for,
such as the 396 engine or Pace Car trim. Still,
it’ll make a nice driver or weekend cruiser for
the new owner.
#372-1970 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
S/N 8A444140232. Grabber Orange & white/
black vinyl. Odo: 61,786 miles. 428-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Arizona title. Documented with a
Marti report and the Shelby Registry. Striking
paint with minor blemishes here and there,
brightwork excellent. Interior appears to be as-
#170-1968 CHEVROLET CAMARO
RS/SS 396 convertible. S/N 124678N474085.
Cordovan Maroon/black vinyl/parchment
blue interior, dash faded. Fitted with radio, ps,
and pb. Engine clean but not highly detailed.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $14,963. These have a
following, but they’re still a bit of an automotive oddity. The price paid here was more than
reasonable for a car that will attract a lot of attention at the local show n’ shine. Well bought.
88
new, with only slight age-related wear. A strong
example. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $91,350.
1970 Shelbys were leftover ’69s that were
updated with twin hood stripes and Boss 302
chin spoilers. An assigned title held back the
bidding here, raising a red flag despite other
documentation. Shelbys in this condition can
sell for much more than what was paid here,
so this was either a great buy or a big question
mark. ♦
Sports Car Market
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
West Palm Beach Collector Car Auction
Collectors, dealers, and investors free-wheeled their bidder’s paddles in a
carefree manner—there were no signs of recession in the skyboxes
Company
Barrett-Jackson
Date
March 26–30, 2008
Location
West Palm Beach, Florida
Auctioneer
Tom “Spanky” Assiter &
Mark Gellman
Automotive lots sold / offered
493 / 493
Sales rate
100%
Sales total
$23,162,095
Large and in charge beneath the Stars & Stripes
Report and photos by Dale Novak
High sale
1967 Shelby GT500 fastback,
sold at $209,000
Buyer’s premium
10% (included in sold prices)
Market opinions in italics
A
free-wheeling their bidder’s paddles with almost total disregard for typical market
t first, it appeared that
prices—in some cases even on very average cars. If there is a recession going on,
Mother Nature was not
it apparently had no effect on those in the skybox seats.
going to look favorably on the 6th
A few bargains appeared as bidding slowed on several worthy vehicles.
Annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car
Among these was an excellent 1969 Dodge Super Bee 440 6-pack, which came
Event in West Palm Beach, Florida. Early Friday
West Palm Beach, FL to a gear-grinding halt at $45,000 before finding a second wind that took it to
morning rain clouds rolled in.
a sale price of $78,100. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird in #1 condition and with
Rain quickly soaked the grounds, vendors scramboth tops went for a bargain price of $66,000. Other cars followed suit as the
bled to close up shop, and B-J staffers were busy doing
day wore on, but the Barrett-Jackson auctioneers worked the cars to bring up
all they could to prevent a mud bath. Joint prayers paid
bids significantly.
off when the clouds broke around noon, and the baking
This year’s list of cars seemed to be made up primarily of American steel, with
Florida sun turned the wet black asphalt to a sauna-like
foreign makes being vastly outnumbered. Mopars
steam.
were also noticeably missing in action, but there
This year’s event sold 493 cars for a total of $23 million
Sales Totals
were three Superbirds in play, with the highest
in Barrett-Jackson’s standard all-no-reserve format. The
sale among them totaling $184,800. A great
figure was down from last year, which brought $32 million
$35m
2008
selection of tri-five Chevrolets were on hand,
from 574 consignments. With a nearly 37% drop in total
2007
including a well-done fuel-injected 1957 Bel $30m
sales, you might think the atmosphere would have been
2006
Air convertible, which brought a market-correct
muted, but you’d be wrong. Attendance was up 5% to set a
2005
2004
price of $121,000. An rare 1965 Chevelle Z16, $25m
Florida record for B-J, and the carnival went on.
2003
one of 201 built, sold for $194,700, and in the forA press release trumpeted that new bidders purchased
eign arena, a 1955 Porsche Speedster in driver $20m
44% of the cars on offer and were responsible for 39% of
total sales revenue, which B-J claims are significant in- condition made a surprising $165,000.
Noticeably absent were the ultra-rare pre- $15m
creases from last year. The company also raised over $1
mium vehicles, as this year’s high sale honor
million for several charities, including $300,000 from
went to a 1967 Shelby GT500 fastback in Lime $10m
a pair of KITT Shelby Mustangs from the new “Knight
Gold with a C6 automatic at $209,000. This
Rider” TV show, with the proceeds from those cars
$5m
could be a signal that many collectors are holdgoing to benefit Ford’s Salute to Education program.
ing onto their best cars for a venue that offers the
Spectators packed the auction block on Saturday
safety net of a reserve. ♦
to witness seasoned collectors, dealers, and investors
90
Sports Car Market
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
ENGLISH
GERMAN
#654-1965
AUSTIN-HEALEY
3000
Mk III BJ8 convertible. S/N HBJ8L30885.
Silver/black vinyl/red leather. Odo: 53,907
miles. Trunk gap wide at passenger’s side
and out at bottom. Passenger’s door wide at
bottom, hood slightly off center, driver’s door
in at lower front. Excellent chrome, trim, and
weatherstripping. Top fit could be better, interior sparkles as new. Show-quality paint with
excellent metallic paint finish. Overdrive fitted.
#638.1-1955 PORSCHE 356 Speedster. S/N
145729. White/black vinyl/black & red leather.
Odo: 36,057 miles. Serial number indicates
a Cabriolet chassis; Speedster numbers were
five digits and began with an “8”. Passenger
door out at bottom, driver’s door tight at back.
Uninspiring chrome lacks any kind of luster,
engine vent grille poorly fitted and oxidized.
Older paint shows chips at door edges and
numerous sanding marks throughout. Engine
rebuilt to S-specs. Interior features loose seat
Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $137,500. Kurt Tanner
is well known in Healey circles as one of the
premier experts for this marque, and this was
one of his restorations. By the notes attached
to the windshield it would appear that this was
originally red, but there was no mention of
that on the car card. It was vigorously bid to
$100k before interest dropped off, and BarrettJackson’s staff worked the car and the bidders
for an extended time to achieve this final bid.
Well sold.
#657.1-1967 JAGUAR XKE SI 4.2 convertible. S/N 1E13391. Blue/blue cloth/dark
blue leather. Odo: 52,498 miles. Paint shows
very light buffing and polishing marks as well
as one small chip at cowl. Passenger’s door has
a small but visible dent. Trunk fit slightly offcenter, both doors out at bottom. Brake light
chrome and headlamp trim heavily pitted, light
scratches in door handles and window trim.
Excellent top fit. Showroom interior with only
slight blemishes in steering wheel. Completely
restored with all original engine and drivetrain
components. Rare original Jaguar build sheet.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $146,300. The 1967 XKE
retained all of the pure styling of the original
1961 model but added the improved synchromesh transmission, 4.2-liter engine, and the
more comfortable interior introduced in 1965.
This was a very original and superbly restored
Jaguar Series I XKE in a great color, but this
was a high price to pay. Well sold.
92
covers and a weathered dash that’s cracking
around the gauges. Top fit only average. Strong
fuel odor inside cabin. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT
$165,000. This car had plenty of needs. The
seller noted some body work had been performed, including a new right rear quarter
panel, and plenty of new mechanical upgrades
were listed as well. The s/n issue bears further
investigation. The car stalled at $90k and came
close to selling, but it took off from there as two
guys decided they had to have it. Very well sold.
AMERICAN
#684-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S002316. Polo White/tan
canvas/red vinyl. Odo: 76,930 miles. 235-ci
straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. Driver’s door out at
bottom, hood fit off. Chrome and brightwork
scratched and dented in various areas. Driverquality paint shows flaws, lacks luster, and
is heavily touched up. Excellent newly-fitted
seats, painted area of dash shows heavy polish marks. Restored steering wheel, but not to
show quality. Claims to have original soft top fitted. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $79,200. The paint and
body showed numerous flaws with all the usual
suspects, and had the car been original, this
would have been more acceptable. But as stated,
the car’s paint and body had been restored...
just not to high standards. The owner stated that
many mechanical issues had been attended to
and that it was in tip-top shape mechanically,
so all it really needed was a new paint job and
some improvements to the interior. Well sold, but
they won’t be getting any cheaper.
#672-1956 CADILLAC ELDORADO
Biarritz convertible. S/N 5662009752.
Maroon/white vinyl/white & black leather.
Odo: 886 miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto.
Trunk fit tight to driver’s side, driver’s door in
at base. Chrome and trim shows small dimples,
scratches, and dull spots from over-polishing.
Paint has numerous particles under finish showing polishing marks as well. Glass good but
a bit foggy in areas. Steering wheel cracked,
interior could be cleaner, factory operating tags
hang on dash clock and lighter. Tidy engine bay
could be better presented. Cond: 3+. SOLD
AT $112,200. Last seen at Fall Carlisle in
October ’07, where it failed to sell at $72,500
(SCM# 47088). Since that event this car had
only traveled eleven miles, most likely on and
off a trailer. Plenty of spectators combed over
this car while on display, and I noted a bunch
of them commenting on specks in the paint. A
detailer kept working on the car during much
of the time it was on display, but it still wasn’t
perfect. The owner wisely held on to this car at
Carlisle, and his efforts rewarded him with a
40% bump in price. Well sold.
#677-1957 CADILLAC ELDORADO
Brougham 4-dr hard top. S/N 5770093126.
Black/stainless steel/black leather. Odo: 68,840
miles. 365-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Nice paint on
straight body shows chips and touch-ups. Trunk
out at rear, hood wide at front, variable panel fit
throughout. Decent chrome shows some pitting
and scratches, driver’s vent window delaminating. Restored grille to very good standards,
excellent chrome wire wheels. Clean interior
has recent seat upholstery and shows signs of
use. Mileage claimed original. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $143,000. The spectators just could not get
enough of this. It had obviously been driven and
enjoyed, but was still in great shape overall. It
originally sold for over $13,000, which was a
Sports Car Market
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
staggering amount in 1957. Even considering
this car’s original miles and options, I’d consider this a strong sale. Well sold.
#675-1957 CHEVROLET BEL AIR convertible. S/N VC57L129647. Aqua/white vinyl/
white & aqua vinyl. Odo: 1 mile. 283-ci fuelinjected V8, 3-sp. Very light sanding marks in
paint finish, some small areas of musclebound
buffing have burned through paint. Trunk wide
at driver’s side, passenger-side door a bit high.
Excellent chrome and trim shows only light
polishing marks and one scratch at windshield
surround. Tight top fit, interior is as new
or better. Engine compartment spotless. Cond:
2+. SOLD AT $121,000. This car had everything going for it. It was the right color, had a
high-quality restoration, a great interior, and
was fitted with the fuel-injected small-block...
and you have to love the three-on-the-tree
shifter. The burned paint was very minor, and
hey, at least you know it was buffed out. This
might have easily brought over $150k not that
long ago, so this was just further proof that the
market has slowed down a bit on cars like this.
A decent deal.
#674.1-1958 CADILLAC SERIES 62 convertible. S/N 58F080255. Black/red & white
leather. Odo: 33,151 miles. 365-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Trunk pinched at driver’s side corner with
paint chips showing. Driver’s door sits low
to the body, passenger’s door tight at bottom
edge. Chrome polished to good standards and
presents well, some trim shows small dimples.
Very slight ripple to body panels, paint shows
light polishing marks. Interior dingy and soiled
along stitched seams, with otherwise good
patina to leather. Well-sorted engine bay not to
show quality. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $88,000. A
former Grand National and Senior Certificate
winner, also awarded the Cadillac LaSalle Club
Senior Gold Badge from Rhode Island... but the
card failed to mention when those awards were
presented. I presume that at one time this car
94
was restored to a very high standard and was
now just naturally showing its age. Well sold.
#658-1958
CHEVROLET
IMPALA
convertible. S/N F58T226552. Black/black
vinyl/black, gray, & green vinyl. Odo: 78 miles.
348-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Less than 100 miles
on restoration. Hood tight on driver’s side, trunk
fit slightly skewed, door out on passenger’s
side. Nice chrome to club standards, excellent
hubcaps fitted. Sanding marks in paint, slight
wave to body panels, dull spot visible near base
of trunk. New glass and weatherstripping fitted.
Rare 4-speed on the floor. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$132,000. The tri-colored interior really stood
out in contrast to the black paint on this rare
and highly-optioned Impala. It was claimed to
be a matching-numbers example. The 4-speed
was a 1959 option, and as this car had a very
late 1958 build date, it was claimed the option
was available... but there was no mention of
documentation to support that claim. With great
documentation the buyer should be fine, but if
the paperwork is absent, this was well sold.
Odo: 72,082 miles. 283-ci 290-hp fuel-injected
V8, 4-sp. Trunk out at rear. Convertible top
cover pinched to body at driver’s side. Fuel filler
door poorly fitted. Driver’s door pinched near
bottom. Hard top has rusty drip rails. Driver
chrome throughout showing scratches and light
pitting, trim coming loose on driver’s side.
Older repaint in driver quality. Engine bay neat
and clean, but nowhere near show. Grille was
in very good condition and well fitted. Claims
to be numbers matching. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT
$123,200. The low production number and
matching-numbers engine certainly helped out
with this strong price. Resale red couldn’t hurt
either. The seller stated that the car had over
$60,000 in restoration receipts but no mention of when that restoration occurred. By the
condition, a while ago would be a safe guess.
They are meant to be driven, and that was the
case with this car. Keep driving it and restore it
again down the road. Very well sold.
#616-1959
CADILLAC
COUPE
DEVILLE 2-dr hard top. S/N 59J136837.
Blue/white/blue cloth. Odo: 89,819 miles.
390-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Trunk tight at right rear,
driver’s door out at bottom, other gaps good.
Recent budget paint job was poorly masked
and shows overspray throughout and several
subsurface bubbles under rear window. Chrome
#686.1-1961 CHEVROLET IMPALA SS
2-dr hard top. S/N 11837B132265. Black/red
& white vinyl. 409-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed
matching numbers. Driver’s door out at top and
in at bottom, passenger’s door tight at rear of
door. Front bumper heavily scratched, all other
trim shows age. Paint in good condition with
only light polishing marks. Body straight but
not perfect, original glass hazy in areas. Very
pitted and weathered, glass delaminating in
areas. Driver-level interior is holding up well
in places but is lifeless. Overall does not appear
abused, but is lacking some 1950s sizzle. Cond:
4-. SOLD AT $19,800. The big fins will help
sell this car, but I don’t think the color will...
although had the paint been fresh, it probably
would have looked great. The interior just
lacked the sparkle you’d want if you’re going
with a coupe. There were no rips or tears, but it
had a dull look throughout. The bubbles under
the paint told another story altogether, so buyer
beware. The market loves these and they are
showing some strong appreciation, so I would
call this market correct with a slight edge to
the seller.
nice interior shows only minor use. Engine
bay clean, but not done to show standards.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $66,000. Stated to be an
original 409 with documentation, and claimed
to be one of only 142 SS cars built. The car
had some needs, but it was better than a driver.
Even though this was rare, it lacked the aggressive styling you’d expect in a performance
car. Regardless, it was a forerunner of the more
brutal muscle cars of the late ’60s and early
’70s, and in this condition, it was fairly bought
and sold.
#672.1-1960 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 00867S107391. Red/red/red.
#678.1-1961 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 10867S110573. Blue &
white/blue vinyl. Odo: 19 miles. 283-ci 270-hp
V8, 2x4-bbl, 4-sp. Trunk high on driver’s side,
Sports Car Market
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
other panel fit beyond factory specs. Small
blemish on license plate frame chrome, other
brightwork shows minor scratches but is nice
overall. Driver’s seat a bit loose, balance of interior as new or better. Front bumper sits about
a quarter inch low on passenger’s side. Show
quality paint on a better-than-factory body.
Very little to fault. Claimed to have matching
numbers. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $129,800. An
over-the-top restoration allowed for a betterthan-factory finished product. With excellent
paint and a brand-new interior, this car just
sparkled. You’d be hard pressed to find a better
one. There was no mention of documentation,
but the car was claimed to be a true 283/270. A
market-correct result for the quality and precision of the restoration, but I would have wanted
to see some paperwork.
#645-1965 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194375S111131. Rally Red/black
leather. Odo: 8,267 miles. 396-ci 425-hp V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed to have matching numbers. Driver’s door tight at bottom, passenger’s
door in slightly at bottom. Excellent chrome is
a notch below show. Light polishing marks in
paint all around. Hood paint shows noticeable
prep issues and inconsistencies, nose at passenger side headlamp bucket shows poorly executed repair. Tidy engine bay could be better,
interior appears mostly new, with teak steering
wheel and nice leather. Older restoration,
limited documentation. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT
$117,700. A sandwich board strategically
placed at the right front of the car made seeing
the repair to the nose difficult. The hood paint
showed many issues and was not consistent
with the otherwise excellent paint. The L78 is
one of the best big-block Bowtie powerplants
ever produced, with published horsepower ratings most likely on the light side. This car could
easily have some issues addressed to bring it
up a notch or even two. A fair deal all around.
#660-1965 CHEVROLET MALIBU SS
Z16 2-dr hard top. S/N 138375K167369.
Red/black vinyl. Odo: 55,330 miles. 396-ci
96
#656.1-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 396 convertible. S/N 138676B185924.
Black/white vinyl/white vinyl. Odo: 11,076
miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Excellent panel
fit to GM specs or better, great chrome shows
only minor polishing marks and some very
minor flaws in places. Relentlessly unforgiving
black paint applied to show standards on a laserstraight body. Some unusual blemishes in paint
on hood, including fairly large spotting that
appears permanently embedded. Windshield
frame shows noticeable wear at convertible top
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. One of only 201 built. In the
Z16 Registry. Very minor prep issues in paint,
slight orange peel at cowl, excellent panel fit
throughout. Trunk trim heavily scratched and
weathered, passenger’s vent window pitted,
other chrome shows only minor flaws. T3
headlamps and Goldline tires fitted. Clean,
detailed engine bay with very light use. Nice
interior is losing the original luster. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $194,700. The Z16 package was
made up of heavy-duty suspension, heavy-duty
rear axle, 4-speed transmission, special frame,
heavy-duty power brakes, unique power steering components, and a 160-mph speedometer.
This Z16 had been previously owned by the
founder of the Z16 Registry, so one would assume it was as correct as possible, and it seems
the bidders agreed with that assessment. Rarely
offered at auction, the registry claims that only
65 Z16s have been accounted for. Well bought
and sold.
#642.1-1966 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 396 2-dr hard top. S/N 138176K1166773.
Blue/black vinyl. Odo: 99,837 miles. 396-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Driver’s door out at bottom,
passenger’s fender tight at cowl. All trim polished with only light marking evident. Front
bumper shows numerous scratches, paint
blemished from poor paint booth conditions
and shows touch-ups in places. Plastic windshield wiper arms look out of place. Restored
interior shows use, with nice seats not done
to show quality. Claimed to have matching
numbers, but there’s no mention of any documentation. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $74,800. This
car was equipped with the desirable 375-hp
engine rather then the more common 325-hp
version. The consignor claimed a total frameoff restoration was completed on a no-rust
body, and although there was no mention of
when that restoration took place, it was easily
apparent that it had been some time ago. Now
in high-level driver condition, this was a great
car—and it had already been broken in. Just on
the high side of market correct.
latches, dash and gauges near perfect. Tight interior shows almost no wear. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $117,700. This consignor went into great
detail about the restoration and claimed that
99% of the car still sported the original “bornwith” GM parts. The mileage was stated to be
original, with the car being trailered from show
to show and not actually driven since 1982. As
an investment, I agree this would be a great car
to own, but not being driven since 1982 might
spell trouble for someone looking to put it back
on the road. Big money here, but this might
have been the lowest mileage, most original SS
396 convertible extant.
#635.1-1967 PONTIAC GTO convertible.
S/N 242677K107580. Gold/black vinyl/black
vinyl. Odo: 80,190 miles. 400-ci V8, 4-bbl,
4-sp. Fresh restoration with under 500 miles
since completion. Passenger door wide at
front, left fender out, other gaps very good.
Show-quality paint, very nice chrome with
almost no flaws, clean engine bay with some
light use evident. Mint interior with only very
minor wear. Replacement engine with PHS
documents. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $66,000. This
stalled on the block at $50,000, and then the
bidders woke up to try and pick up a bargain.
This Goat had the sought-after 4-speed tranny,
but it was lacking a sizzling color combination,
which might help explain the pause in bidding.
Regardless, it was in fine condition throughout,
and I see no harm in the price paid. Let’s call
this market correct.
Sports Car Market
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
TOP 10 #659-1967 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
No. 10 S/N 67410F7A2853. Green & white/
black vinyl. Odo: 72,883 miles. 428-ci
V8, 2x4-bbl, auto. Trunk sits high, driver’s door
fit in at bottom front, other panel fit OK. Chrome
and brightwork have numerous scratches and
much appears original. Very good paint shows
only minor prep issues, vent windows missing
weatherstripping in places. Well-fitted interior
has some minor wear throughout. Driver-quality engine bay is clean but not detailed. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $209,000. This was a nice driver-
level Shelby that obviously has been used and
enjoyed. I don’t know how old the restoration
was, but I would say it was done in stages as
items deteriorated. Shelbys seem to be holding
their own in the market despite the decline in
muscle, and even though this was not the best
car here, it was the high sale of the weekend.
This was strong money based on condition, so
I’d chalk this one up as well sold.
#648-1968 SHELBY GT350 convertible.
S/N 8T03J192482. Red/black vinyl. Odo:
42,740 miles. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Older
respray with masking issues visible throughout. Trunk pinched at passenger side corner,
door fit varied, bumper skewed and pushed in
at passenger’s side. Driver-quality chrome and
trim, engine bay clean but not detailed. Interior
weathered and looks very tired. An old used
Shelby but should be a good candidate for restoration. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $106,700. This
Shelby had plenty of needs that showed from
even ten feet away. The red paint lacked any
real zest and the interior had clearly seen better
days... had you walked on a used car lot around
1983 or so, you might have found this Shelby
with its top down and a few balloons tied to the
roll bar. This car was the right color and had
some nice options, but the money could have
bought a better GT350.
#639.1-1969 OLDSMOBILE HURST/
OLDS 2-dr hard top. S/N 344879M396634.
White & gold/black vinyl. 455-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Claimed matching numbers. Hood fit tight
98
towards back window, other panel fit excellent.
Some very minor blemishes in paint, highly polished chrome with only minor scratches. Rear
window trim shows more scratches than other
trim and has a few buffing burn marks where
finish is dull. Interior is crisp and as-new. Mint
grille. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $126,500. One of
304 equipped with the factory a/c of 913 built.
This highly-restored example was displayed by
the consignor in fine fashion and drew a large
crowd both before and after the sale. Bidding
stalled at a more market correct $75k before a
three-way bidding frenzy took off and ended at
this number. This was a fine example, but the
new owner spent over-the-top money to own it.
Somehow, I expect to see a fresh crop of H/Os
coming to auction in the near future. Very well
sold.
#658.1-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
RS/SS 396 coupe. S/N 124379N610922. Black
& white/white vinyl. Odo: 7 miles. 396-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Variable panel fit probably near
factory specs, but shows some issues. Trunk
lid high, hood wide on right side, driver door
out. Black paint shows every flaw in slightly
wavy body. Slight cracking at rear window
seams, minor scratches on bumper, single dent
in window trim. Very nice interior shows little
wear. New glass all around. Excellent overall,
but paint and body is a let-down. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $107,800. I can’t justify the price
paid here no matter how optimistically I look
at it. Granted, the black with white interior
looked stunning, but the car appeared to have
plenty of needs. There was no claim of matching numbers, which often means they don’t, and
there was no mention of documentation, either.
This had plenty of desirable options, but the
money spent was well over the top, and I’d call
it very well sold.
#649-1969 FORD MUSTANG Mach 1 428
SCJ fastback. S/N 9T02R126501. Black &
red/red vinyl. Odo: 33,827 miles. 428-ci V8,
4-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed matching numbers and
correct mileage. Excellent panel fit, no specific paint issues to note, ultra-straight body.
Original unrestored interior looks immaculate.
Excellent under the hood as well. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $121,000. Mach 1s don’t come
much nicer than this. It was black, it had an
R-code 428 SCJ, the numbers matched, and it
had low original miles and a complete restoration. Even all the smog equipment was present
in a box. The original interior was excellent,
but even so, the car came with a new interior
kit. This was by far the best R-code at the sale,
and although it was expensive, I can’t fault the
buyer for paying up to own it.
#659.2-1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO
Z/28 coupe. S/N 124379N566465. Silver
& black/black vinyl. 302-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp.
Trunk fit off, passenger’s door fit wide at
bottom, chip in paint above driver’s side rear
wheel. Seventeen-year-old metallic repaint
appears cloudy in areas, with a few touchups around hood and minor prep issues. Tidy
engine bay shows some use. Claimed to have
a GM warranty replacement block along with
its original Protect-O-Plate. Interior excellent
and shows nearly as new, with some wear to
steering wheel. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $63,800.
If you had been looking for an authentic Z/28
that you could drive, this may have been a good
choice. This one had a great color combination, although the paint was clearly showing its
age. I’ll call this a fair deal for both buyer and
seller—with the advantage to the buyer.
#640.1-1969 DODGE SUPER BEE 2-dr
hard top. S/N WM23M9A270693. Orange/
black vinyl. Odo: 55,395 miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2bbl, auto. Trunk out a tad, passenger’s door out
at bottom. Excellent paint on a straight body
shows only light polishing marks, decent chrome
lacks good luster. Interior in very good condition
showing only light use. Offered with build sheet
and original window sticker. Correct appearance under the hood, no mention of matching
numbers. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $78,100. These
cars started their lives as 383 cars before being
upgraded as “package cars” with A12 options.
They are reportedly the fifth fastest muscle cars
of all time, but don’t put them into the twisties,
as they handle like a bathtub on two wheels.
Sports Car Market
Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach, FL
painted in silver rather than original chrome.
Nice engine bay is by no means anywhere near
original, with new engine reportedly putting out
525 hp. Pistol grip shifter. Cond: 4+. SOLD AT
$55,000. The VIN showed this to be a real Road
Runner, but it was a made-up faux Hemi car
with a 5-speed Tremec transmission. Although
I’m sure this will make a great Saturday night
bruiser, it was a lot of money to spend just to be
able to say, “It’s got a Hemi.” Very well sold.
This one had good basic documentation, but the
automatic on the column held it back as bidding
stalled at $45k. As I scrambled to explain my
creditworthiness to a nearby B-J spotter, bidding
warmed up to this final sale amount. A fair deal
for both buyer and seller.
#676.1-1969 SHELBY GT500 fastback.
S/N 9F02R480601. Red/black vinyl. Odo:
60,544 miles. 428-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Trunk out
at rear, appears to have body putty in lower passenger door. Paint shows some prep issues, light
polishing marks, and one heavy scratch to rear
tail pan. Interior is rather well worn and shows
plenty of use. Fitted with tilt wheel. Claimed
full rotisserie restoration of a matching-numbers
example. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $110,000. This
seemed to be a very honest example that showed
road use and plenty of enjoyment over the years.
It appeared to have been consigned by the same
seller as the GT350 in lot 648, since both cars
displayed dealer-like vinyl graphics affixed to
the windshield attesting to their rarity and desirability. The automatic will hurt the end result on
a car like this, as 4-speeds will always command
a higher premium. Market correct and a fair
deal all around.
#691-1970
PLYMOUTH
ROAD
RUNNER Hemi Replica 2-dr sedan. S/N
RM21NOG148543. Orange/black vinyl/black
vinyl. Odo: 77,715 miles. 472-ci V8, 4-bbl, 5sp. Driver’s door out at bottom, some Bondo
patching visible in trunk channel, cowl dented
and creased at driver’s door edge. Bumpers,
chrome, and trim dented in areas and not wellfitted. Decent paint shows some masking issues,
flat black stripe bleeds into orange paint. Newly
fitted interior with dash gauge edges poorly
#640-1970 FORD TORINO Cobra 2-dr
hard top. S/N OR38J141854. Yellow/black
vinyl. Odo: 39,655 miles. 429-ci V8, 4-bbl,
auto. Numbers-matching J-code Ram-Air V8.
Driver’s door sits a tad low, all other gaps
excellent. Beautiful paint over excellent prep
work, superb chrome and trim. Rear driver’s
side quarter glass trim dented. Very nice engine
bay to factory specs or better, gauges faded
in dash, steering wheel shows use. Carefully
restored using as many OEM parts as possible,
and very well presented with lots of documentation. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $68,200. This car
sparkled, and it had a constant crowd around it.
It might have just been the bright yellow paint,
but it was more likely a combination of the
huge 429 Cobra Jet engine, matching numbers,
original body panels, and great documentation. Price paid was market correct for what is
surely one of the best Torinos out there.
#649.1-1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD
2-dr hard top. S/N RM23VOA181268.
White/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 20,753
miles. 440-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, 4-sp. Claimed original mileage. Excellent paint shows no serious
issues. A-pillar area under front glass on both
sides shows signs of previous corrosion repair.
Panel fit as good as original, with both doors
out at bottom. Chrome nice, but not to show
standards. Engine compartment factory-correct with only minor modifications such as
hose clamps. Black vinyl top very well fitted.
Good options and lots of documentation from
new. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $184,800. One of
two Superbirds given to a pair of brothers by
their father, who owned a Chrysler dealership.
This one had a repaint and was claimed to be
numbers-matching, and it was restored to be as
100
correct as possible. Only 716 Superbirds were
built with the 440 Six-Pack option, and considering the miles, 4-speed, and great documentation, I’d place this in the well bought column.
#690-1972 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 454 2-dr hard top. S/N 1D37W2B651652.
Orange & white/parchment vinyl. Odo: 50,077
miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. One owner from
new. Mostly original paint shows evidence of
touch-ups in places, plenty of polishing marks,
and some very thin spots. Good panel fit varies
in places. Rear SS stripe bleeds into paint at
trunk channel as per factory. Interior excellent and claimed all original except for back
seat cover. Carpet appears to be new as well.
Clean engine bay, replacement engine. A great
factory-typical car for paint, interior, and panel
fit. Much documentation, miles claimed original. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $66,000. The owner
purchased this car when he was 16. Richly
documented with original papers, repairs,
insurance invoices, track time slips, and every
receipt since new. He even had the Chevrolet
brochure with the boxes checked for the 454
and special orange paint. It was an emotional
result, as the now-52-year-old “kid” watched
his car skyrocket to a strong result. He told me
it was very tough to let it go.
#614.2-1976 PONTIAC TRANS AM 50th
Anniversary coupe. S/N 2W87W6N588098.
Black & gold/black vinyl. Odo: 62,734 miles.
455-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Passenger’s door wide
at back, driver’s door front out at bottom, trunk
fit good. Fitted with 50th Anniversary gold
package. Decent paint shows plenty of prep
issues and light polishing marks, very good
interior fitted with new seats. Engine bay clean
but shows plenty of use. A notch above driver
quality, but not by much. Mileage claimed
original. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $34,100. This
T/A had all the desirable features, and it represented the last of the big-cube engines, and
as such, it was one of the last iconic American
muscle machines. Well sold, but prices seem to
be heading north. ♦
Sports Car Market
Bonhams Warwickshire, UK
Collectors’ Motor Cars at Race Retro
$181,000 for a Ford Escort? It was a special one, but these little cars are big
news at the moment, and Bonhams achieved two world-record prices
Company
Bonhams
Date
March 15, 2008
Location
Stoneleigh Park,
Warwickshire, England
Auctioneer
James Knight
Automotive lots sold / offered
34 / 50
Sales rate
68%
Sales total
$1,100,711
High sale
1972 Ford Escort RS1600 rally
car, sold at $181,685
Series I XKE made $51k
Report and photographs by Paul Hardiman
Buyer’s premium
15% on first $60,900, 10%
thereafter, included in sold
prices (£1=$2.02)
Market opinions in italics
B
onhams assembled a mixed bag for its
The other had been converted to a V8 rally car, and it sold to a new owner at $58,363.
second auction at Race Retro, the annual
A ’68 Corvette convertible showed promise, but TV serial use hadn’t been kind to
International Historic Motorsport Show.
its cosmetics, and it was bid to only $15,600.
Ford Escort Mk Is, a flavor of the last
As almost always is the case, competition cars usually sell for less than
couple years with their dominance in the still-grow- Warwickshire, UK
their build costs, and this year there were some super deals to be had. Two
ing sport of historic rallying, featured heavily, with
rally Minis sold after the sale at $9,923 and $14,886, respectively, or about
“ultimate,” “nice,” and “needy” examples on offer.
half what their sellers originally envisioned, and a barn-find Emeryson
This year’s star lot was the 1972 2-liter RS1600
Special will make a fascinating project at $40,854. Among the noteworthy
built at a cost of over $250,000 for Bjorn Waldegard
road cars available, a very original ’90 Audi “MB” Quattro went home with a
to contest the recent East African Safari Classic.
delighted private buyer after he had successfully bid $22,878 to own it.
Thankfully for its lady patron, he was successful and
There’s debate over whether it’s a good plan to hold a sale in conjunction with an auto
triumphed, and the almost-new car that had been extenshow, however popular that show may be. These two
sively rebuilt halfway through the rally could not have
were separated by a couple minutes’ hike, and alSales Totals
been replicated for the $181,685 it cost its new owner, who though some potential bidders saw nearby halls full
secured the car via telephone.
of automotive displays as simply another obstacle
$1.5m
2008
The second Mk I, an ex-Ford press and then rally
to negotiate, a few show-goers were curious enough
2007
back-up car, had been restored to better-than-new road
to shell out another $40 to see what the fuss was all
2006
$1.2m
trim, and it found new ownership here at $51,359. It was
about in the “added attraction” of the auction.
the second ex-company fleet restored Mexico in as many
Thanks as ever to the ebullient efforts of aucmonths to hit more than $50,000—both the above prices
tioneer (and International Managing Director)
$900k
being records. Even a basket-case ’74 rolling shell sold at James Knight, plenty of good cars found new
$3,735, helped along by MSA rally papers. Their lighthomes at fair prices. But there’s a further question:
weight, good handling, and simplicity have made Escorts
Do the interspersed road cars leaven the otherwise
$600k
winners since their launch in 1968, but what keeps them
wall-to-wall competition iron, or do they break up
on top in the U.K. market now is that just about all comthe rhythm, making the sale a schizophrenic ordeal
$300k
petition parts are available.
for serious buyers? It’s hard to say, but regardless,
Two ’65 Mustang coupes were offered, both originally sales dropped only slightly from the $1.2 million
base-model 6-banger coupes. One had a super-sharp resrealized last year, which showed a solid market for
toration to original condition, but it didn’t sell at $18.000. both types of fare in Stoneleigh Park. ♦
102
Sports Car Market
Bonhams Warwickshire, UK
ENGLISH
#344-1947 EMERYSON SPECIAL SingleSeat racer. Red/bare aluminum. No chassis
number, engine, or transmission. Quite possibly a “lost” car from the fertile imagination of
Paul Emery and his father. Found with Bristol
engine, since removed. Rolling chassis with
may be genuine. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $4,436.
As it was at a motorsport-oriented auction, this
was aimed at the historic rallying fraternity, as
these do well in road events. Sold at a fair price
for condition.
#330-1959 MG A 1500 roadster. S/N
HDK1340287. Eng. # 2230B148. Red/white
fiberglass/black leather. RHD. Odo: 10,067
miles. Described as a 1600 Mk I, but chassis
number says it started as a RHD 1500 in Orient
Red. Restored in ’88, built into a rally car later
and still solid. Door fit a bit approximate, some
paint scuffs, interior leather good. Competition
prep includes bored and tweaked B motor
with SUs fitted for road use, hard top, harnesses, Halda tripmeter, and 60-spoke wheels.
exhaust good, tidy engine bay. Leather looks
fairly recent, Moto-Lita wheel fitted. Cond:
3+. SOLD AT $44,356. This may have been a
left-hander at one time, but so many have been
converted that it’s not as much of an issue in
terms of pricing anymore. Not a bad price at
auction for buyer or seller.
body easily restorable. Unique trailing arm suspension all there, brakes and wheels look OK.
Cond: 4-. SOLD AT $40,854. Someone had researched thoroughly enough to reckon this was
worth building up. It was unique and therefore
hard to value, but if a Cooper-Bristol is $160k,
then this could have been a smart buy.
#325-1950 JAGUAR XK 120 roadster. S/N
660348. Eng. # W25237. Green/black leather.
RHD. Odo: 23,050 miles. Some way off
concours, but wonderfully appealing overall.
Doors fit well, rear floor perfect, paint shows a
few bubbles and sink marks. Chrome OK with
minor dings and pitting, interior good. Kept by
the last owner since 1965. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$71,152. Sold to a telephone bidder after dealers climbed out, saying “It’s too much.” Perfect
XKs are $100k, and this one wasn’t quite there
and was all the better for it. A fair buy.
#327-1964 AUSTIN-HEALEY 3000 Mk
III Phase II 2+2 convertible. S/N HBJ827763.
Eng. # 29KRUH2486. Red/black mohair/black
leather. RHD. Odo: 17,676 km. Restored
in 1991. Body still straight, good paint and
chrome. Chassis rails solid and not hammered,
Ready for more rallies but could be made to
look near-standard again quite easily. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $23,345. Last sold for $20,079 at
H&H’s London sale in May ’06 (SCM# 42278),
then described as a 1957 1500. It was cheap
compared with standard A roadsters in similar
condition, and as with all competition machinery, you couldn’t build it again for the price.
With the hammer price $3k behind the bottom
estimate of $26k, this was well bought.
#318-1964 JAGUAR XKE SI coupe. S/N
861530. Eng. # RA57549. Red/tan leather.
RHD. Odo: 2,654 miles. Straight body, restored
in the 1980s and put away since. No rot visible,
but body is slightly rough in upper door shuts
and shows a few dust marks in paint. Recent
rear suspension rebuild and other work leaves
it looking new underneath. Chrome wires starting to surface rust, other chrome slightly pitted,
#335-1964 JAGUAR S-TYPE 3.8 racer.
Blue/black velour. RHD. Well-known race
car built up from ’97-’98, and one of quickest in the U.K. Straight and tidy for a racer,
good Minilites fitted. Seam-welded body,
massive welded-in cage, original timber dash.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $15,174. Last sold by
Bonhams here last year for $23k, but unused
since. With that in mind, this looks a bargain.
Well bought.
#332-1966 MORRIS MINI COOPER
1275S rally car. S/N KA2S4799834.
Eng. # 8AMUH54370. Blue/white/red
velour. RHD. Odo: 21,557 miles. An original
S restored in 1993 after years of competition.
Straight body and chrome, very good floors,
tidy interior with buckets, roll cage, and Brantz
tripmeter. Engine rebuilt as a 1293 in 2001. FIA
#304-1956 STANDARD SUPER EIGHT
saloon. S/N CS77525DX. Gray/gray vinyl.
RHD. Odo: 57,361 miles. Restored from bare
metal from 1989-1994, and still a nice clean
car. No obvious rot, chrome in good shape, interior original and tidy. Rebuilt engine. Mileage
interior like new. Engine bay concours with
no leaks. Dunlop RS5s a nice touch. Cond:
2-. SOLD AT $51,359. Last seen at Sotheby’s
London sale in March ’92, where it sold at
$18,925 with zero miles on the clock (SCM#
20067). A good buy for a sharp-looking early
XKE that, despite concours pretensions, probably wasn’t quite as good as it looked. It was
slap in mid-estimate territory, so both the buyer
and seller should be happy.
104
Sports Car Market
Bonhams Warwickshire, UK
papers. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $14,886. Sold immediately after the sale at about half what the
owner was originally looking for. A good buy at
far less than the sum of its parts.
and this perfect car, obviously from the hands
of a fastidious owner, was unrepeatable. The
money spent was justified.
#346-1966 ASTON MARTIN DB6 coupe.
S/N DB62673R. Metallic red/black leather.
RHD. Odo: 25,523 miles. Sharp body and
paint, chrome redone and still good, interior
fairly fresh, dash excellent. Engine bay poorly
new owner should drive and enjoy... just don’t
lift the lid at club meets.
presented but fitted with new coil. Engine converted to run on unleaded fuel in ’01, transmission rebuilt in ’06. Believed to be a no-stories
example. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $92,365. This
sold bang in middle of its estimate and was a
fair price for the model and its condition. The
auto trans keeps the price down in U.K., but if
you’d rather leave the shifting to the slushbox,
this was a decent deal.
#329-1969 FORD LOTUS CORTINA Mk
II 2-dr sedan. S/N BA91GT30950. White &
green/black vinyl. RHD. Odo: 2,281 miles.
Body straight and looking hardly used, paint
shows one blemish one bubble on left door.
Underside rot-free and not bashed. Done to full
rally specs, including cage and extinguishers.
Spares include extra wheels and sumpguard.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $20,544. As is almost
always the case with competition cars, this one
was bought for way less than its build cost. Mk
IIs (which Ford called Cortina-Lotus) have always lagged behind Mk 1 Lotus Cortinas, and
this is still the case. A market-correct price.
#342-1969 ASTON MARTIN DBS
Vantage coupe. S/N DBS5533R. Red/black
leather. RHD. Odo: 83,062 miles. A Vantage
without a Vantage motor. In fact, it doesn’t
have an Aston motor at all, instead sporting an
XK six, presumably because it was cheaper,
which was installed when the car was restored
in ’04. The conversion was well done and the
owner claims 40 psi and 70 degree temps with
no leaks from the engine or trans. Good body
and paint, leather just starting to crack. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $28,599. This final number was
not far off the price of a half-decent DBS with
the correct motor, so bidders clearly agreed
with the converter here. The car was also probably helped by being in overall fine order. The
106
#328-1972 FORD ESCORT RS1600 rally
car. S/N BFATMS00041. Eng. # MS00041.
White & blue/black cloth. The “ultimate
Escort” East African Safari winner, built for
Bjorn Waldegard at cost of $250k in 2007 using
the best of everything. Many major components changed for new mid-way through rally.
Presented just as it finished the event, with a
covering of Kenya dust and bent and welded
#301-1969 MG C convertible. S/N
GCN12416G. Blue/black vinyl/black leather.
RHD. Odo: 9,947 miles. Not pretty, but appears
solid and original. Older repaint microblistered
and fading, overspray showing on rubber trim.
Black leather cracking and fading, painted
wires rusting. Structurally looks OK, but it’s
hard to tell with the front fenders installed. One
owner from new with no documentation, but
mileage could be genuine. Cond: 3-. SOLD
AT $8,404. The price paid here was about all
one could reasonably expect, as Cs are worth
little more than Bs. If sills and castle sections
are sound, this could turn out to be a nice easy
project, but even if best-case scenarios are
found throughout, there’s no profit here. One
for the home restorer.
#315-1972 FORD ESCORT Mexico 2-dr
sedan. S/N BFATMC70033. Eng. # MC70033.
Red & black/black vinyl & velour. RHD. Odo:
22,579 miles. Ex-Ford Sweden press car, used
as back-up on ’73 Safari Rally, immaculate
restoration in early noughties by leading specialist and still with original bodyshell and
engine block. Converted to RHD. Owner has
‘roo bar on front. With mods to suspension and
roll cage plus smaller brakes and wheels, it’s
eligible for European historic events. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $181,685. Sold to a telephone bidder who paid a new world record for a Ford
rally car and for an Escort rally car. A readymade Safari winner at less than its build cost.
Probably $20,000 would be needed to make it
Euro historic eligible, but this price was still
not out of line in the current market.
#322-1973 JAGUAR XKE SIII coupe.
S/N 1S51779BW. Eng. # 7S10971SA. British
Racing Green/green leather. RHD. Odo:
84,091 miles. Relatively straight body with no
obvious rot, claimed restored in 1983 although
no receipts are present. Fair paint with a few
minor dings, scratches, and bubbles. Good
chrome, leather could use a cleaning. Newish
stainless exhaust. Said to start and idle easily.
MOT good till August. Cond: 3. SOLD AT
$18,676. Not on the road for a while and a
bit of an unknown quantity, although the low
price will allow for some recommissioning
and sorting on a fundamentally sound base.
Bonhams didn’t expect much for this, so it can
be considered fairly bought and sold at this
upper-estimate valuation.
even had special “1760GT” badges made up
to denote overbore. Minilites, strut brace, twin
40s, bucket seats. Pull off some of the stickers
and it would be spot-on. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$51,359. This sale price was just over the low
estimate of $48k, but it was still a record for a
road Mexico. Escorts have gone mad recently
#324-1973 ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE
coupe. S/N AM6023RA. Eng. # 4004935SVC.
Blue/blue leather. RHD. Odo: 65,839 miles.
Restored in 1993 and still in overall sound condition. Good panel fit, rocker panels, and jacking
points. A few dings and scrapes visible in left
rear flank, several blemishes in rear bumper.
Sports Car Market
’49 Stanguellini
’53 Bandini 750S
’62 Lancia Flaminia
’53 Bandini Maserati
’57 Fiat 1200
’23 Delage DIS
’34 MG
’63 Porsche 356B
’56 Facel Vega
’63 Triumph TR4
’33 Fiat Ballila
Coppa d’Ora
Velam Soft Top
Barchetta Sport 1100
PA Supercharged
Carrera
Coupe Zagato
FV2
Grandluce
Torpedo LWB
’56 Isetta
Coming Soon!
D!
SOL
’63 Maserati 3500
GTi Superleggera
’56 Rolls Royce
Silver Cloud I
’46 Delahaye 135 MS
Body by Chapron
1971 Lamborghini
Miura SV
D!
SOL
’72 Fiat Dino Spider
2.4 ltr
’48 Fiat Gobbone
1100 S
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
2-Door
Bonhams Warwickshire, UK
Interior good, engine bay tidy. Said to have
good oil pressure. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $44,356.
This brought a premium over its high estimate
of $34k, but this was not massive money for a
solid car. Sixes were considered less desirable
than V8s, but they’re catching up. From same
deceased estate as the V12 XKE coupe and
Mondial in lots 322 and 323, and all sold to the
same buyer.
#340-1973 JAGUAR XKE SIII convertible. S/N 1S51958. Eng. # 7S12886SB. Green/
black mohair/tan leather. RHD. Odo: 10,927
miles. Left the factory as a 2+2, converted in
the ’90s using a new convertible tub. Panel fit,
paint, and chrome good, interior unworn, runs
71,129 miles. No motor or transmission. A rolling caged shell with MSA Rally logbook, last
used in ’91. Rust present nearly everywhere, especially in A-pillars, but body is generally more
solid than it looks. Unobtainable front fenders
unique to RS/AVO cars OK. Suspension needs a
complete rebuild. Still has dash and headlights.
Cond: 5. SOLD AT $3,680. Prices of Mk I twodoor Escorts have gone mad recently, and this just
illustrated what the market thinks a rough rolling
shell with a logbook is worth. This was a total
project, which would usually be bought for its
identity only. However, the private buyer said he
intended to restore it into a rally car. Most parts
are available (apart from those front fenders),
but he’s certainly in for some tough sledding.
Well sold.
#301A-1975 MG B GT coupe. S/N
GHD5369136G. Eng. # BHM111E61524.
Green/black velour. RHD. A tidy car with bills
for fenders, rocker panels, and doors. Recent
repaint still looks decent, engine number suggests replacement Heritage unit. Interior just
quietly. Mileage shown is since rebuild. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $70,035. An original this good
would be worth close to $100k, so buyers were
quick to see the appeal of this 15-year-old,
35-year-old roadster. It was not hiding anything
and was very well done, and that was reflected
in the fair price paid.
#349-1973 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR
Series III coupe. S/N 1368514. Eng. #
3C11572. Venetian Red/cream leather. RHD.
Odo: 10,055 miles. 440-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Nice overall look, all chrome and grille show
well after $80k restoration in 1992. Some
OK. Fitted with overdrive transmission. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $3,502. Rubber-bumper Bs in
unflattering colors aren’t worth much, but at
this money, you couldn’t have gone wrong with
this straight coupe as a cheap daily driver. Well
bought and sold.
straight enough, but rust is creeping out of rear
arches and grille surround is dented. One star
ding in hood. Interior good, dash excellent.
Engine replaced by 2.8 unit in 2006. Cond:
3-. SOLD AT $32,683. Last seen at Bonhams
Hendon in April ’05, where it sold at $32,865
(SCM# 38456). With dinged chrome and rust
worries, it was good to get it away at this price.
The seller had taken the fall for the cost of the
engine change and servicing, which made both
parties about even. A fair deal.
#343-1982 PORSCHE 911 TURBO
coupe. S/N WPOZZZ932C5000657. Red/red
leather. RHD. All 911 body pitfalls show
up here, including rust bubbles in scuttle to
front fender joints and under both headlights.
Welded repairs in front trunk corners were
probably due to rust, not crash damage. Interior
not bad, alloys unscuffed, exhaust and heat
exchangers OK. Oil mist visible under motor.
Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $22,178. The price says it
all. This would have been cheap even for a 3.2
Carrera. However shrewdly informed, this was
a brave buy, and there are other much better
cars out there that could work out to be more
economical in the long run.
#308-1990 AUDI QUATTRO coupe. S/N
WAUZZZ85KZA00086. Eng. # MB001559.
Pearlescent White/gray cloth. RHD. Odo: 95,118
miles. Turbocharged all-wheel-drive coupe.
Almost unmarked original condition with a few
minor paint scuffs at back of driver’s door and
GERMAN
#331-1967 MERCEDES-BENZ 250SL
convertible. S/N 11304322064147. Red/red
steel/cream leather. RHD. Odo: 93,888 miles.
California coupe equipped with hard top and
small rear seat in place of soft top. Looks
surface rust on rocker panel joints underneath
will need attending to soon. Interior clean, later
alloys unmarked. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $22,178.
This was close to the lower estimate of $20k,
but it was a relative bargain for a Series III, as
prices of good examples of all ages are hardening. A good buy.
#351-1974 FORD ESCORT Mexico 2-dr
sedan. S/N BFATPS000400. White. RHD. Odo:
108
one tiny ding to top of front fender. Alloys unmarked, digital-dash interior clean. Full service
history. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $22,878. Sold to
a delighted private enthusiast after telephonebidding dealers had dropped out. He said he’s
going to keep it “and drive it.” Good Quattros
are hard to find now, and this was a fair buy at a
market-correct valuation.
ITALIAN
#348-1974 FERRARI 308 GT4 Dino
coupe. S/N 08602. Red/black leather. RHD.
Odo: 5,980 miles. Original RHD car supplied
Sports Car Market
Fantasy Junction
1145 Park Avenue Emeryville, California USA 94608
Phone: (510) 653-7555 • Fax: (510) 653-9754
www.fantasyjunction.com
Investments in special interest, classic and high performance cars
1955 Bristol 404. Known as the “Businessman’s Express” due
to its unique combination of speed and refinement. Very rare LHD
example inexcellent mechanical condition. $118,500.
1960 Lotus Elite Series I, s/n 1503. Restored. Properly sorted
and a proven competitor. Ideal for tour car for an enthusiastic
owner. LHD. Black leather upholstery, ZF gearbox, twin Webers,
roll-bar, fuel cell. $85,000.
1958 Kellison J-4R coupe. Early Kellison frame with correct
J-4R body. Fresh 327 Chevy, Saginaw 3-speed. Successful tour
competitor. California title and registration. $45,000.
1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia GT Veloce. Beautifully restored
“Step Nose” in great colors. Solid, low miles with all of the neat
features that make this model so desirable and fun to drive.
$38,500.
Bonhams Warwickshire, UK
Alfa Bits
Recent Il Biscione sales on eBay
by Geoff Archer
(All English within quotes exactly as presented by sellers on eBay.)
#160171434491-1974 ALFA ROMEO GTV 2000
coupe. S/N AR3024419. Putty/black. Odo: 95,345 miles. 16
Photos. Santa Barbara, CA. 95k miles. “California Blue Plate
Special... New paint (within 2 years) same factory formula
putty beige.” Interior almost entirely new. Lots of new trim,
rubber, and chrome. “Runs better than it looks and is a true
quality unmolested example of the very last year that these
wonderful cars were produced. The Spica fuel injection works
great and I have it on all my Alfas and continues to be very
reliable.” 15 bids, sf 104, bf 0. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $18,810.
If you don’t have to have patina, this was the car to buy. It
was restored, ready to enjoy, and cost less than the price of a
new GTI. Well bought by a few thousand dollars.
#130183503698-1974 ALFA ROMEO GTV 2000
coupe. S/N 3022608. Silver/black. 22 Photos. Sarasota,
FL. “$30,000 in receipts for work completed in last 2 years.
Mechanically fantastic - just completed 1,000 mile ‘Mountain
Mille’ without a single hiccup. Body is straight, no rust. Older
repaint is decent, but not perfect. Chrome bumpers, mirrors,
grill, etc is in great condition.” 17 bids, sf 26, bf 0. Cond: 3+.
SOLD AT $20,000. This was re-run on eBay for “failure to
pay.” If we ignore what that might have to say about how
bad the paint really is (and assume it was just a deadbeat
bidder), this was a real bargain—but that’s not to say that it
should have cost more. Price was fair, but the seller’s loss on
mechanicals indicates real value pricing.
#180168395455-1974 ALFA ROMEO GTV 2000 coupe.
S/N AR3024583. Burgundy/tan. Odo: 143,173 miles. 18 Photos.
Costa Mesa, CA. Entire description is “Original California car
with very solid untouched floors, runs very good, second gear
syncro is in good shape, all the gauges work, brakes are firm,
steering is straight. A nice driver ready to enjoy.” Underside
is solid but oily and orange. 24 bids, sf 132, bf 232. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $11,221. Half Price? Maybe. What are the odds that
a high-volume, low-priced sports car dealer would misprice
this fine car? I’ll give you better odds that a middle-aged bus
driver from Milan just died and went to heaven for €8,000 and
a prayer. Do you feel lucky? ♦
110
to Jersey, on the mainland from ’83. Overall
good condition as part of ongoing restoration.
No rot at windshield surround, sills, or door
bottoms. Retrimmed interior nice, good Ansa
exhaust fitted, some suspension rubbers perishing. Speedometer changed in 1987, mileage
unknown before. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $20,544.
Prices of sharp-creased ’80s Ferraris are hardening, but they haven’t affected this one yet. A
fair and honest price for a decent example.
#323-1983 FERRARI MONDIAL coupe.
S/N 47377. Eng. # 47377. Chiaro/tan & gray
leather. RHD. Odo: 54,642 miles. Paint and
body fair for the year but showing some issues,
including various touched-in paint chips, flaking finish to black trim around windows, rear
window surround dinged in places. Alloys
unscuffed, interior complete and good for the
year. Unused since at least early ’07, so it will
need some light recommissioning. Cond: 3-.
SOLD AT $14,007. This wasn’t the most desirable variant, but nice early ones of this type cost
twice as much. It could lead to a rewarding relationship with a couple thousand bucks thrown at
it, or it could just get expensive in a hurry.
SWEDISH
mostly good but flaking from trunk handle and
bezel. Expensive race-prepped motor and trans,
no leaks. Five spare wheels and tires included.
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $19,143. This final sale
price was just under the lower estimate of
$20k. With FIA papers and being eligible for
pre-’65 European events, there’s a lot you could
do with this, especially if you sourced some
interior trim to go road rallying. Couldn’t be
replicated this well for the money, so consider
this a good buy.
AMERICAN
#333-1965 FORD MUSTANG coupe. S/N
5ROT224756. Red/black velour. Odo: 14,000
miles. 289-ci V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body straight,
sills and floors good. Tidy 2003 rally build of
a sharp-looking original straight-six coupe.
Fenders and doors removed for painting. Good
spec engine shows no leaks, Monte Carlo bars
fitted. Dated fuel cell. MSA papers. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $58,363. This sale price fell slightly
behind the low estimate of $60k. Mustangs are
rare on the Euro rally circuit, and it’s a fair bet
that this may metamorphose into a racer. It was
not original anyway, so it’ll be a good starting
point at a fair price.
#317-1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194678S402918. Red/black
vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 27,596 miles. 327-ci
300-hp V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Body fair, fiberglass
shows chips in nose and one chunk missing
from driver’s door, possibly from its life as a
TV car in the U.K. Paint microblistered, interior good, dash OK, door trim fit poor. Western
turbine wheels good, outside exhaust fitted. No
#312-1964 VOLVO 122S rally car. S/N
109440. Eng. # 92727. Red/black velour. Odo:
40,794 miles. A well-prepped example of a
solid saloon built from a bare-metal shell in
1997, with some class wins in historic stage
rallies. Straight body, painted bumpers, chrome
confirming if all vacuum flaps and fiber-optics
still work, or if it still has its original 327. Irish
registration. Cond: 3-. NOT SOLD AT $15,600.
This Florida import from 1988 might have been
a bit rough, but it would have sharpened up
easily, and it was still a ’68 with manual shift.
Sadly, most British buyers don’t recognize the
distinction, and it remained unsold. ♦
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Collector Cars of Ft. Lauderdale
A Derham-bodied Duesenberg convertible coupe went unsold at $640k, but
Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” Metropolitan found a new home at $19,250
Company
RM Auctions
Date
February 15–17, 2008
Location
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Auctioneer
Brent Earlywine
Automotive lots sold / offered
330 / 455
Sales rate
73%
Sales total
$17,976,715
High sale
1966 Shelby Cobra 427
roadster, sold at $781,000
Quality remained high across the board in Ft. Lauderdale
Buyer’s premium
10% (Included in sold prices)
Report and photos by Carl Bomstead
Market opinions in italics
F
or the second year after having
moved from its traditional location in Boca Raton, RM Auctions,
in conjunction with Donnie Gould, returned to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County
Convention Center for its annual mid-February sale.
RM refers to this three-day event as its general line
auction, and even though the 455 cars on offer were
more eclectic than those at its more specialized events, a
certain standard of quality was apparent.
Offerings ranged from a very nice 1929 Duesenberg
convertible coupe with coachwork by Derham to
Jimmy Buffet’s 1958 Nash Metropolitan convertible.
The Duesenberg was a no-sale at $640,000, while the
“Margaritaville” Metropolitan found a new home at
$19,250.
If small cars are of interest to you, then this was your
event. About a dozen were offered, including a 1951
Cushman Ice Cream cart, which sold at $30,800 (see
May Profile, p. 60), a 1957 Messerschmitt KR200 that
brought $28,050, and a well-presented 1951 Fiat Jolly,
which sold for a strong $70,400.
A number of CCCA Full Classics were presented,
and the majority sold at current market levels or above.
Three Chrysler 300 letter car convertibles sold at sixfigure prices, with the highest of the three—a 1960 300F
convertible—bringing $170,500. A 1966 Shelby Cobra
112
427 roadster, which was well maintained and documented by the Shelby
American Automobile Club Registry, was the high sale of the auction. It
had been in the same ownership for the past 20 years, so a tidy profit must
have been realized when it sold for $781,000.
Batmobiles have been in abundance of late. Only one was presented
here, and it sold for $134,750— significantly below the $203,500 realized for one at Barrett-Jackson in January of this year. Another,
driven to the auction by its curious owner, was parked outside the
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Convention Center. All were from a run of about 25 recreations of the
original George Barris cars.
Aside from the Duesenberg,
Sales Totals
notable no-sales included a 1953
Cadillac DeVille convertible that was bid to an
$25m
insufficient $39,000, a 1957 Ford Thunderbird
2008
that failed to find a new home at $77,000, and a
2007
$20m
1969 Camaro SS L89 that returned to its seller
2006
2005
at $95,000.
2004
If there was a concern with the auction it was
$15m
2003
with the accuracy of the information cards on the
vehicles. Some errors, such as colors, were obvious, but others, such as calling a 1948 Chrysler
$10m
T&C a Full Classic, were misleading. But overall, it was a wonderful event, a great location,
$5m
and the cars were high quality. Besides, where
else in the country can you have a plate full of
delicious Conch Fritters and convince yourself
you are eating “heart smart?” ♦
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Jackson’s Scottsdale event in 2007 for
$81,400 (SCM# 44055). Based on condition,
this was not a bad buy, but nothing to brag
about.
ENGLISH
#SP34-1956 JAGUAR XK 140 MC roadster. S/N 5811670. Red/tan fabric/tan leather.
Odo: 39,945 miles. Recent restoration to high
standard. Excellent panel fit, quality respray
with no issues. Engine bay clean with no
Jaguar leaks and streaks. Tan leather interior
AMERICAN
be blue-chip investments, and this one can be
considered well bought and sold.
newly installed and well done. MC performance package fitted, including fog lights and
30 more horsepower. Cond: 1-. NOT SOLD
AT $95,000. The seller was looking for a
bunch more than was bid here, and rightly so.
An example in this condition and with the MC
package should bring closer to $125k, so by all
accounts, this bid was off the mark.
#SP166-1964 AMPHICAR 770 convertible. S/N 100569. Red/white vinyl/red &
white vinyl. Odo: 23,650 miles. Nicely done
newer paint, body straight and seemingly solid.
Chrome pitted, trim decent, interior clean. Small
wide whites a good look. Check the door seals
before you head down the boat ramp. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $61,600. Last seen at Kruse Auburn
with Derham convertible coupe coachwork.
2007 Eastern Concours award winner. Cond:
2. NOT SOLD AT $640,000. Duesenbergs are
again bringing strong money, and the price bid
here was off the mark by a bunch. I think we
just might see this again in Monterey.
GERMAN
#NR90-1957 MESSERSCHMITT KR200
cabriolet. S/N 555554. Red/black vinyl. Odo:
10,158 miles. More like a motor scooter than a
car, with three wheels and handlebar steering.
Claimed top speed of 62 mph. Decent but not
great overall condition, with paint chips around
panel edges and some dry weatherstripping.
#SP57-1929 DUESENBERG MODEL
J convertible coupe. S/N J150. Light green/
tan fabric/black leather. Odo: 36,535 miles.
Coachwork by Derham, rebodied from Murphy
Convertible Sedan. Presented at Pebble Beach
about ten years ago. Fitted with polished aluminum beltline and Pilot Rays. One of two
in September ’04, where it sold at $48,060 in
#3 condition (SCM# 35004). Many feel these
are bad boats and worse cars, but they’re very
cool if you live on a calm lake. One of these
seems to show up at every major auction, as
sellers are looking to duplicate the $124k
sale at Barrett-Jackson two years ago (SCM#
40359). The market seems to have settled at the
$60k–$70k mark, and this one sold at the going
rate for its condition.
#SP170-1938 PACKARD 1608 Touring
cabriolet. S/N A600193. Brown & tan/tan fabric/tan fabric. Odo: 23,550 miles. Coachwork
by Brunn. One of nine Touring Cabriolets built,
known for its distinctive upper windshield. Top
can be opened over rear passengers. Recent
cosmetic touch-ups, paint not done in the most
ITALIAN
Cond: 3. SOLD AT $28,050. Last seen at RM’s
Wiseman Collection sale in December ’07,
where it sold at $20,900 (SCM# 47755). A cute
little automotive oddity that brought a steep
price, but after two trips around the neighborhood, what do you do with it? Well sold.
MERCEDES-BENZ
TOP 10 #NR26-1958
300SL
roadster.
S/N 7500257. Silver/
No. 5
maroon leather. Odo: 88,900 miles.
Striking combination of silver and maroon
leather. Engine compartment a touch over-restored. Attractive paint with no issues noted, very
nice brightwork throughout. A strong presentation. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $495,000. Last seen
at RM Hershey in October ’07, where it sold at
$434,000 in #2- condition (SCM# 47346). Some
cosmetic work had been done since, and it was
resold here at a small profit. These continue to
114
#SP103-1961 FIAT 500 Jolly beach car.
S/N 110032743. Metallic lime/lime & white
vinyl/tan wicker. Odo: 33 miles. Recent restoration to high standard, with nice paint, decent
chrome, new wicker seats, and new top. Radio
installed. About as cute as it gets. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $70,400. A Palm Beach grocerygetter designed by Ghia. Aristotle Onassis once
had one. These show up at most major auctions,
with most bringing about $40k. However, one
that wasn’t as nice as this sold at Barrett-
attractive color combination. Minor nits to
pick here and there. An impressive CCCA Full
Classic. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $187,000. These do
not pass many gas stations, as 7 mpg is about
it. Stately and impressive, these have appeared
from time to time over the past few years, and
this was about the strongest price paid.
#NR119-1940 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
convertible. S/N H95945. Black/black fabric/
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale, FL
red leather. Odo: 80,459 miles. Attractive early
Continental styling by Edsel Ford. Gold trim
and dash worn, leather seats show minor wear
and signs of use. Body straight with good panel
fit, window rubbers worn. Decent brightwork
has several minor scratches. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $53,900. These are excellent driving cars
once the V12 oil pressure issues are fixed. The
seller was brave to offer this at no reserve, and
the final price was a bit light, as RM sold a
comparable example at Meadow Brook in 2007
for $66,000.
#SP181-1941 PACKARD 120 convertible. S/N 1499251334. Black/tan fabric/green
leather & tan fabric. Odo: 58,997 miles. Stated
to be original and unrestored with two owners
from new. Paint has good luster but shows
some issues, body straight and solid. Bumper
guards fitted, no sidemounts, radio, or clock.
OK chrome looks redone. Seats show minor
wear, dash plastic excellent with slight warp
on ashtray cover. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $79,200.
This seller needed to check the definition of
“original” and “unrestored.” Chrome, paint,
interior, and top must not count. These are not
CCCA Full Classics, but they are very nice
driving cars that have been appreciating. The
price paid was in line with the current market
regardless of the originality claims.
#SP197-1942 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
convertible. S/N H130011. Maroon/tan fabric/
maroon leather. Odo: 44,185 miles. Original
paint shows all kinds of problems, including
scratching and numerous chips. Fog lights
fitted, incorrect hood ornament and hub caps
installed. Top filthy, messy engine bay fitted
with 302-ci V8. Original V12 claimed to be
#SP171-1946 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
Indy Pace Car convertible. S/N H141724.
Yellow/black fabric/red leather. Odo: 72,846
miles. Finished as the Pace Car for the 1946
Indy 500. Excellent interior with good plastic
and trim. Good panel fit. Glass not chipped,
but rubber is old and tired. Excellent paint
with minor buff marks throughout. CCCA
First #1433. Meadow Brook winner. Possibly
the original pace car driven by Henry Ford
II in 1946, but it can’t be proven as another
car contends for the honor. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $104,500. Clark Gable owned a ’46
Continental and was frequently photographed
driving it. This one sold for serious money, but
that money was justified, as it was a strong car.
It’s also made as a 1:43 scale die-cast model,
so if this price was too steep, you can buy the
little version for a lot less.
#SP174-1946 MERCURY SERIES 69M
convertible. S/N 11A1094917. Black/black
cloth/red leather. Odo: 338 miles. Bought new
by a young woman who earned her money welcoming home returning service men. Very deco
dash, recent scratch in leather on driver’s seat.
116
#NR138-1948 CHRYSLER WINDSOR
Highlander convertible. S/N F0667885. Red/
red plaid. Odo: 35,266 miles. Average paint
with swirls and scratches touched up in places.
Fluid Drive. Chrome and trim pitted, bumper
guards fitted. Engine bay has not seen a clean
rag in years. Optional Highlander interior worn,
seats sag. Equipped with radio. Offered at no
reserve. Cond: 4. SOLD AT $26,125. These
have, in much better condition, been selling in
the $50k+ range. I don’t think this one could be
saved for $25k, so the buyer would have been
better off to pay more for a better example.
#SP189-1950 CHRYSLER NEWPORT
Town & Country 2-dr hard top. S/N 7411710.
Green/white/green leather & fabric. Odo:
59,849 miles. Body straight and solid, minor
scratches and pitting in chrome and brightwork.
Very nice interior with attractive dash and only
Quality restoration with excellent paint and interior. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT $112,750. Last seen
at RM’s sale of the Dingman Collection in June
’06, where it sold for $71,500 (SCM# 42214).
Let’s see... the seller drove the car 300 miles
in less than two years and made $125 per mile
doing so, so it’s safe to say this was well sold.
#NR128-1948 CHRYSLER TOWN &
COUNTRY convertible. S/N 7408375. Noel
Green/green leather & Bedford cord. Odo:
in the garage with oil pressure issues. Little
redeeming value here. Cond: 4-. SOLD AT
$17,050. Only 136 of these had been built when
production ended due to war. Although this was
a rare and desirable CCCA Full Classic, just
thinking about all that needed to be done was
enough to give someone a headache. It was
cheap here, but it won’t be when the new owner
is done with it.
2,532 miles. Listed as a CCCA Full Classic, and
I wish it were so. Fitted with dual spots, radio,
clock, and heater. Fluid Drive. Older restoration
has been well maintained, but shows several
runs in varnish. Very nice dash and interior,
clean engine. A strong #2 car. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $107,250. I hope this was not purchased
based on the info card on windshield, or else the
buyer will be in for surprise when he attempts
to register for a CCCA CARavan, as he won’t
be accepted. The price paid was just about right
considering the condition of this example.
minor wear to seats and carpet. The last of an
era. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $49,500. 1950 was the
last year for wood-trimmed cars from Chrysler,
which were part of the New Yorker series. It
would be a stretch to call this a Woody, as the
trim was minimized compared to prior years.
The price paid here was a bit on the light side,
but not by much.
#NR39-1953 OLDSMOBILE 98 convertible. S/N 539K9517. Red/white vinyl/red leather.
Odo: 2,217 miles. 303-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An attractive and striking Olds 98. Excellent interior
with Autronic Eye and as-new seats. Fitted with
power windows and dual spot lights. Excellent
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale, FL
present from her father... all I got was a cheap
watch. These have been solid investments of
late, and there’s no reason that trend won’t
continue. Well bought.
brightwork, minor issues with paint due to age
and light use. Engine clean and tidy. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $67,100. A strong car that sold for
strong money. A Fiesta would cost five times
what was paid here, so on a relative basis, this
can be considered well bought.
#SP71-1953 BUICK SKYLARK convertible. S/N 170469957. White/white vinyl/red
& white leather. Odo: 6,927 miles. 322-ci V8,
4-bbl, auto. Red inner fenders. Attractive paint
from a distance shows nicks, touch-ups, and
scratches up close. Interior has no glaring issues, incorrect hubcap centers fitted. Good panel
fit and convertible top. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT
$120,000. Pricing these is like pinning Jell-O
from a distance. Very nice leather interior, fuel
gauge not working. Red inner fenders nice,
door gaps off along with window fit. Chrome
scratched and pitted, numerous paint chips and
touch-ups throughout. Engine bay just OK. Lots
of needs here. Cond: 3-. SOLD AT $74,800. Last
seen at Mecum’s Kissimmee sale in December
’07, where it failed to sell at $120,000 (SCM#
47894). These have been selling for huge numbers of late, so I wonder what happened here.
Sure, it needed some work, but someone could
spend $50k on it and make a handsome profit.
The buyer should be happy, and the seller is
likely still wondering why it didn’t bring double
this amount.
#SP77-1954 CADILLAC ELDORADO
convertible. S/N 546243027. Black/black
vinyl/red leather. Odo: 63,437 miles. 331-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. Loaded with options including
Autronic Eye, ribbed lower fender moldings,
to the wall. Prices have been all over the board
with not a lot of tangible evidence to justify
where they end up. We’ve seen examples rated
at the same level of condition sell for as much
as $495k (SCM# 45549), so I’m willing to bet
the seller was disappointed here.
#SP92-1954 KAISER-DARRIN convertible. S/N 1611181. Yellow/yellow vinyl/yellow
vinyl. Odo: 5,053 miles. One of 435 made
with unique but impractical sliding doors.
Impressive paint and interior, usual issues with
fiberglass body. Incorrect hubcaps. Engine
clean with no glaring issues. Look at these long
and gold Cadillac crests. Older repaint showing age, nice interior with minor leather cracks.
Parade boot. Engine clean and tidy. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $77,000. The Eldorado convertible
was introduced as a 1953 Motorama show car.
This car was not perfect, but it was very presentable and the money was not silly. Kudos to
both parties. A spot-on result.
#SP89-1954 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
roadster. S/N E54S003279. Polo White/beige
fabric/red vinyl. Odo: 42,271 miles. 235-ci
155-hp straight 6, 3x1-bbl, auto. NCRS Top
Flight at 97.9 a few years back. Normal panel
fit issues, trunk off more than most. Engine
properly presented, no issues with interior.
enough and you start to like them. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $126,500. This was the third one of
these I’ve watched sell in the past two months,
and it was the least expensive of the group. The
market has caught up with these, and I’d say
this is the new price for a quality car. Time to
update the price guides.
#NR38-1954 BUICK SKYLARK convertible. S/N A1044429. White/black
fabric/red leather. Odo: 74,836 miles.
322-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. An attractive Skylark
118
#SP82-1956 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL
Mk II 2-dr hard top. S/N C56G3187.
Maroon/maroon & white leather. Odo: 46,887
miles. 368-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recently restored
to a high standard. Very good panel fit, minor
scratches on rear bumper and trim. Quality
respray shows a few swirls, leather interior
correctly installed and showing only light wear.
A strong presentation. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT
$64,900. Priced at $10,000 when new, with a/c
as the only available option. For years these
were undervalued, but now they’re coming into
their own, as they’re excellent driving cars with
attractive styling. Price paid here was in line
with the quality of the car, so both the buyer
and seller should be content.
#SP20-1956 FORD FAIRLANE Sunliner
convertible. S/N P6RC17776. Red/tan fabric/
red & white vinyl. Odo: 65,214 miles. 312-ci
V8, 4-bbl, auto. One of 634 convertibles fitted
with factory a/c. Older restoration still shows
well, AACA Senior badge fitted to grille. Paint
and brightwork very strong for their age, excellent interior in original style. Continental
kit, Thunderbird Special V8, pw, and Town &
Country radio. Complete books and records.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $64,350. The engine and
air add about $7,500 to the value here, and as
such, I’d call this well bought. It could have
brought another $5k or so without concern.
#SP88-1957 PONTIAC STAR CHIEF
CUSTOM Safari wagon. S/N P757H29424.
Maroon & white/maroon & white leather. Odo:
349 miles. 347-ci V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. Recent
restoration to high standard. Equipped with
a/c, pw, six-way front seat, and triple carbs.
Brightwork has minor scratches and is dull in
a few places. Overall a strong #2 car. Cond: 2+.
SOLD AT $95,700. This car’s original owner
was a young lady who received it as graduation
Sports Car Market
Glovebox Notes
A brief look at cars of interest that have
passed through the SCM stable.
HHHHH is best
2008 Mini Clubman
Price as tested: $28,700
Likes: Fantastic interior in chocolate brown with
contrasting cream piping. Same sharp steering
and decent ride; pleasing exhaust note and revhappy engine. Right side clamshell door makes
rear seat access easier, but RHD models dump
passengers in the street, which can’t be popular.
Dislikes: Rear visibility is as bad as looking out
the windshield of a DC-3. Normally aspirated
engine makes very little low-end torque, necessitating downshifts of up to three gears to pass
on the highway. Why didn’t designers add about
six more inches of rear overhang to give the car
some useful carrying ability? Controls (especially the radio) counterintuitive and confusing.
Fun to drive: HHH
Fun to look at: HHH
Overall ownership experience: HHH
Verdict: Mini’s third body style is probably the
least compelling. It sacrifices some of the style
and much of the visibility of the coupe for a bit
more rear seat room. Real carrying ability comes
only with rear seats folded down. Still, for thrifty
HOV users, it’s more stylish and efficient than
most alternatives in the U.S.—Rob Sass
2008 Honda Civic EX Sedan
Price as tested: $21,444
Likes: Leather, navigation, good stereo with
wheel-mount controls, standard safety features,
loaded with options at a bargain price. Attractive styling works better as sedan than coupe.
Gracious cabin and trunk space, easy-to-use
nav system; solid engine with fair power.
Dislikes: Auto transmission lags when gas is
stomped. Looong dash seems like wasted
space. No way to get sporty SI bits in the sedan.
Fun to drive: H
Fun to look at: HH
Overall ownership experience: HHH
Verdict: Umpteen generations since its debut, the
Civic is now as big as the early Accords, but better looking. A relative bargain, but an automatic
Civic sedan is like a bowl of gruel: It gives me
what I need to get by, but lacks any real punch
on my taste buds. Still, all the nutrients are there,
in spades, so I’ll keep eating.—Stefan Lombard ♦
120
Leather interior flawless, brightwork excellent
throughout. Attractive paint was well applied,
with only minor swirls evident. AACA First and
Grand National prize winner. Cond: 1-. SOLD
AT $112,750. Quality wagons have been bringing serious money of late. This sold for a topof-the-chart price, but it had all of the desirable
options, and while it might seem expensive now,
it’ll likely seem cheap in a year or so.
#NR30-1957 CHRYSLER 300C convertible. S/N 3N571890. Coral/tan fabric/tan leather.
Odo: 91,466 miles. 392-ci V8, 2x4-bbl, auto.
Once owned by Valerie Harper. Striking coral
color, average tan leather interior. Fitted with
pw and radio with period RCA record player.
A well-presented and desirable Chrysler letter
car. One of just 484 300C convertibles built in
1957. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $132,000. Sold at
Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale event in 2006 as
a package with a black twin 300C at $108,000
(SCM# 40433). The seller made a small net
profit in a little over two years, and even so, the
same thing could well occur again in another
couple of years. Well bought and sold.
#SP56-1957 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N E57S106287. Inca Silver/red
vinyl. Odo: 27 miles. 283-ci 283-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp. Only 65 were finished in Inca
Silver, although the catalog states 48. Highquality restoration was rewarded with blue
ribbon at Meadow Brook. Fit and body much
nicer than typical factory production. Unusual
radio and heater delete. A striking car finished
in an unusual color. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$154,000. Prices paid for quality examples of
straight-axle fuelies continue to escalate, and
the money here was strong but not out of line
with the current market.
#NR32-1958 CADILLAC ELDORADO
Brougham 4-dr hard top. S/N 58P021928.
Black/polished aluminum/black leather &
fabric. Odo: 67,097 miles. 365-ci V8, 3x2-bbl,
auto. One of only 905 built between 1957 and
1960. Paint not perfect but acceptable, scratches
in chrome, vanity set missing a few pieces.
Interior shows slight wear. American luxury
at its finest. Cond: 3. SOLD AT $88,000. This
Brougham would have brought at least $5,000
more if it had all of the pieces in the vanity
set, but as it was, it sold for under the money
and should be considered a good buy. The new
owner shouldn’t be afraid to pay silly money
for whatever was missing from the set, as it’ll
be worth it in the long run.
#NR87-1958 NASH METROPOLITAN
convertible. S/N E52367. Caribbean Green &
white/lime & white vinyl. Odo: 79,689 miles.
Once owned by and still titled to Jimmy Buffett.
Lots of edge touch-ups visible, including crude
repairs to a minor hit in the rear. Incorrect
interior color, but well done throughout. Cute
as can be. Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $19,250. These
were built in England with an Austin motor.
This buyer paid about $5k over market for
the privilege of ordering a “Cheeseburger in
Paradise” at the local drive-in. Well sold.
#SP86-1963 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 30867S118137. Tuxedo
Black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo: 33,613
miles. 327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected V8, 4-sp.
Knockoff Kelsey-Hayes aluminum wheels a
rare dealer installation. Very nice black paint,
lighting highlights swirls and other flaws. New
interior well done throughout, window rubbers
worn. Engine clean and well detailed. Z06
suspension and brakes fitted. Cond: 2. SOLD
AT $71,500. Knockoffs add about $2,500 to the
value of ’63 ’Vettes, so this fuelie convertible
could have sold for another $5k and still have
been considered well bought.
#SP75-1966 LINCOLN BATMOBILE
Replica roadster. S/N 3Y82A912645. Black/
black leather. 460-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. Recent
quality respray. One of 25 built on a Lincoln
chassis, but not one of the first three replicas
built by George Barris. Complete with Bat Ray
Protector, Bat Phone, and Homing Receiver
Sports Car Market
RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Scope. Cond: 2. SOLD AT $134,750. Robin,
these things are everywhere. Another one drove
up to the auction as the owner wanted to check
out this one. This was a better presentation than
the Batmobile that sold at Barrett-Jackson’s
Scottsdale sale in January for $70k more
(SCM# 48751). All things considered, this was
well bought—but it was still a replica.
#SP48-1967 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
convertible. S/N 194677S107383. Sunfire
Yellow & black/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
2,501 miles. 427-ci 400-hp V8, 3x2-bbl, auto.
Documented with build sheet. Several NCRS
awards, much nicer than factory in most places.
Respray to high standard, black stinger not
typical to factory production. Excellent interior. Equipped with a/c and power windows.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $155,100. These continue
to march up the chart, and yesterday’s silly
money is today’s market-correct level. A strong
price for an equally strong car.
Odo: 68,520 miles. 396-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto.
Documented with factory build sheet and
Protect-O-Plate. Fitted with Cowl Induction
hood and a/c. Restored to a high standard, with
excellent panel fit and sparkling paint. One
of 91 365-hp LS5 convertibles built. A strong
presentation throughout. Cond: 1-. SOLD AT
$113,300. Without a build sheet it takes hours
and lots of knowledge to document these. This
one was the real deal with desirable options,
and as such, it sold for appropriate money.
auto. Build sheet from Canada documents
unusual paint delete option, F41 suspension,
LS6 engine, and Cowl Induction. Restored to
the highest standard. Excellent interior, engine
bay as-new. A strong ’70s muscle car. Cond: 1-.
SOLD AT $184,250. The performance market
is still strong for no-questions cars such as the
one presented here. One new price guide places
the value of this car at twice what was paid
here, so although this was expensive, it was a
decent buy due to its rarity and condition.
#NR08-1971 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
coupe. S/N 194371S112916. Mulsanne Blue/
blue vinyl. Odo: 49,794 miles. 350-ci 270-hp V8,
4-bbl, auto. Recent respray shows some body
prep issues and blisters in places. Aftermarket
#SP36-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 454 LS6 2-dr hard top. S/N
13637OB145979. Vitamin C & white/black
vinyl. Odo: 27,251 miles. 454-ci V8, 4-bbl,
trunk rack, trim dented and scratched. Interior
shows minor wear. Just a used Corvette. Cond:
3-. SOLD AT $19,250. This was not very expensive, but then again, it wasn’t worth a lot in this
condition either. The new owner should drive the
wheels off this one and not worry about it. ♦
#SP66-1968 DODGE CHARGER “General
Lee” 2-dr hard top. S/N XP29G86441410.
Orange/tan vinyl. Odo: 27,950 miles. 318-ci
V8, 2-bbl, auto. One of four remaining Dodge
Chargers used in the 2005 movie “Dukes of
Hazzard” with Jessica Simpson. Certified
by Warner Bros. as one of the 25 originally
built. Quickie paint job with lots of overspray.
Interior a mess with cracked dash and missing
knobs. Well documented as movie car. Cond:
4. SOLD AT $82,500. The “General Lee”
car that sold at Barrett-Jackson in January
for $495,000 (SCM# 48758) was a better car,
but it was not in the movie. If you absolutely
must have one—and I wonder why that would
be—this was a far better buy.
#SP50-1970 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE
SS 396 convertible. S/N 136670L178930.
Astro Blue & white/white vinyl/ivory vinyl.
June 2008
121
Kruse International Honolulu, HI
1st Hawaii Auction
Island air is not kind to automobiles, and not all the lots were concoursready, but there were a few jewels in the mix
Company
Kruse International
Date
February 8–9, 2008
Location
Honolulu, Hawaii
Auctioneer
Dean V. Kruse, Jim Ritchie &
Kenneth Garmin
Automotive lots sold / offered
47 / 135
Sales rate
35%
Sales total
$1,008,153
High sale
1940 Willys Americar street
rod, sold at $75,600
Custom Buick surfmobile went unsold at $8,200
Buyer’s premium
8% (included in sold prices)
Report and photos by Phil Skinner
Market opinions in italics
K
Honolulu, HI
ruse International may have breached
its last new frontier, as the state of Hawaii
saw the first collector car auction held by the
company in early February. There was noticeable excitement and a bit of apprehension in the air on
site, as many consignors had never been involved in a
collector car auction, and bidders who also shared the
virgin experience wandered about the vehicles ready to
be offered over the next two days.
In following the auction circuits, there is usually a lot
of predictability as to what you are going to see. Many
cars get transported from one sale to another in quick
succession, usually being offered by the same dealer or
groups of dealers. This was not the case in Honolulu’s
modern Hawaii Convention Center. There were a couple
of small island dealers and one major mainland dealer,
but most sellers were individuals who the promoter of
the sale, Robert Smith, had personally contacted.
A number of the marques and models offered here
had not been represented at mainland sales over the past
few years, which was quite refreshing. Island air is not
kind to automobiles, and not all the lots were concoursready, but there were a few jewels in the mix.
It seemed the biggest hurdle for Kruse was teach-
122
ing people who came to buy or sell how to bid and how to use the auction
method to their benefit. Reserves and commissions had to be explained,
and in the hurry-hurry atmosphere of an auction, some people may have
been confused by the answers. Not all sellers invested a few dollars
in cleaning and detailing their wares, and in at least two cases, sellers
weren’t worried about getting the cars running before they crossed the
block.
Several lots of interest included a rugged-looking 1934 Morgan with what
appeared to be a home-built plywood body “in the style of a 1929 Super Sports.”
Powered by a noisy Matchless V-twin, it was a bargain at $25,110. One local collector
brought down a selection of early XK Jaguars, many needing detailing and tune-ups,
only to take them all back home. Several sellers made celebrity claims but had no
documentation to back up those claims, again not fully understanding that having
something like a title or an official registration is a thousand times better than simply
stating “from what I understand.”
The idea of a collector-car sale in Hawaii is a good one, as the destination is
so appealing. One concern was getting cars to this island outpost, but the cost of
shipping from San Diego to Honolulu is less than that of closed transportation from
Dallas to San Diego. For future island events, the auction house should work with a
good travel agency to offer week-long packages, where the first four days are spent
enjoying the sights of the islands, followed by two or three days of auction action.
This could be the formula for success, and let’s face it, taking a week in the winter to
be off with a special friend in this island paradise after the topsy-turvy atmosphere
of Scottsdale just sounds right. ♦
Sports Car Market
ENGLISH
#763-1934 MORGAN SUPER SPORTS
roadster. S/N D1100. Dark green/black leather.
RHD. Odo: 32,372 miles. Has what appears to
be a homemade body constructed of plywood
to resemble a 1929 Super Sports. Workmanship
amateur but shows some potential, engine
noisier than expected, transmission works with
two speeds forward and one in reverse. Wheel
alignment and overall physical appearance
in need of a lot of TLC. Cond: 4. SOLD AT
$25,110. This was probably the only tri-wheel
Morgan on the island. At first people thought it
was a novelty, but then they began to look at the
chassis and overall layout. I did hear there was
a JAP engine around that might be available,
and that would be a nice enhancement. A fair
price for condition.
#736-1953 MG TD roadster. S/N TC20150.
Red/black vinyl/black leather. Odo: 4,176
miles. Straight metal with no signs of rust-out
repair, soft trim in very good condition, engine
better than driver quality but not quite concours.
Chrome has light patina, but top bows sport
a light layer of surface rust. Wood dash very
good, gauges all appear to work although they
do look a little more yellow than when new.
Cond: 2-. SOLD AT $17,820. It’s interesting
how the TDs are starting to catch up with the
TCs. With more detailing this price might have
climbed a little higher, but as it was, the bid
was in line with mainland values.
#717-1960 MG A Twin Cam roadster. S/N
XD714832. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
97,068 miles. Cosmetic and mechanical restoration at least a decade old, paint well prepped
and in good order. Seats very nice with no wear,
top fits snugly, glass shows very light wiper
marks. Chrome trim has a light hazing which
could be polished out, sill plates have some
scuffing, Dunlop knockoff wheels refinished
and looking new. Engine compartment shows
minor seepage around cam cover as well as the
June 2008
addition of an electric fan to help with cooling. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $15,228. Twin Cams
are still hot property. They’re more fun to drive
than to buy and just park, and both mainland
and European buyers have warmed up to them.
In my opinion, values are sure to stay at or
ahead of the market trends, and while this was
not a steal, it was a very fair price.
#731-1966 TURNER MARK III roadster.
S/N 65626. Red/black vinyl/black vinyl. Odo:
41,858 miles. The seller knew the history of
the car and that it had a Ford Cortina engine
and transmission, also noting that 1960s pop
star Petula Clark owned one. Wiper marks on
windshield, fiberglass body on tubular chassis
1984 Ferrari 512 BBi Boxer
Red/tan, 10k km, tools, manuals
1972 246 Dino GTS
Giallo Fly, Daytona seats, 50k mi.
1963 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2
disc brake, two headlight
in good shape overall. Wiring looks good, pedals show wear, chrome aged. Cond: 3. NOT
SOLD AT $16,500. This looked to be on a
par with an MG Midget or Austin Sprite. It did
have some history in Hawaii, but nothing on
the track, and there weren’t any record books
to go along with the ride. This car needed more
promotional work to attract the right buyers, so
maybe it’ll find a new home at the next venue.
#805-1967 SUNBEAM TIGER Mk IA
convertible. S/N 13328000411LRXFE. White
primer/black vinyl. Odo: 55,989 miles. 289-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restoration started in January
’88, put on hold in February ’88, and has
been waiting ever since. Sheet metal smooth,
with doors, decklid, and hood all well placed.
Top material and door panels removed, trim
parts missing, engine compartment scary.
1966 Jaguar E-Type roadster
Series I 4.2, show quality resto.
PARTIAL LISTING:
’74 Maserati Bora . . Silver w/black, US 4.9 V8, 36k miles
’70 Alfa Romeo GTV . . . . . Dark Blue w/tan, 2.0l, 5 speed.
’67 Ferrari 275 GTB . . . Giallo Fly, alloy, long nose 2 cam.
’67 Austin Healey 3000 MkIII BJ8 . . . .Healey Blue w/blue
’61 Jaguar MkII Vicarage . . . .Dark Blue, 5 speed, 12k mi.
’58 Jaguar XK150S OTS . . . Dark Blue w/tan, 3.4l tri-carb
’67 Mercedes Benz 250SE coupe . DB717 Papyrus White
’68 Mercedes Benz 250SE cabriolet . .DB670 Light Ivory
’58 Mercedes Benz 190SL roadster . . . DB190 Graphite.
’70 Ford Mustang Boss 302 . . . . . Grabber Blue, 4 speed
’39 Cadillac Fisher 61 sedan-convertible . . . Black w/red
’97 Land Rover Defender 90/110……15+ always in-stock
Aftermarket wheels don’t look quite right here,
but at least they all match. A family fun project
when there is nothing else to do. Cond: 4-.
SOLD AT $11,016. This could have been one
of the best buys of the sale. It was a real Tiger,
Stuart Carpenter
37 Chestnut Street
Needham, Massachusetts 02492
Tel. 781.444.4646 Fax: 781.444.4406
www.copleymotorcars.com
copleycars@aol.com
123
Kruse International Honolulu, HI
and it did have some photos and documentation
showing the car had been complete at one time.
The seller did say that some of the missing parts
“might” be at his home and that they would be
included, so the only problem here would be
making sure the 20-year lapse in being titled
was not going to be a major hassle when the
new owner goes to put it back on the road.
#808-1968 PORSCHE 912S Soft-Window
targa. S/N 12870553. Red/black vinyl/black
vinyl. Odo: 70,627 miles. Clean inside and out
with a recently replaced top and lots of recent
mechanicals. The seller made it clear that the
engine was all Porsche—no VW substitutes.
Several minor flaws in repaint, few light chips to
#827-1971 JAGUAR XKE SII coupe.
S/N 2R28266. Brown/tan leather. Odo: 50,896
miles. Claimed to be unrestored. Paint looks
original, chrome wheels clean, tires fresh.
Doors, hood, and rear hatch all seal well and
line up to factory specs. Pedal and floor wear
seems to be at a faster pace than the odometer.
Tired seats likely factory, glass appears to be
all original. Fitted with factory a/c. Cond: 3.
SOLD AT $19,440. This was a decent driver
which sold long after going across the block. It
had too many miles for pure preservation and it
was not valuable enough for a full restoration,
so cosmetic upkeep would be advised at this
point. The buyer appeared to be fairly knowledgeable about the car and seemed very happy
to have struck this deal in post-block action. A
decent deal.
GERMAN
#414-1961 PORSCHE 356B coupe. S/N
114903. Silver/black leather. Odo: 20,005
miles. Quality color by Rust-Oleum applied
one can at a time as finances allowed. Interior
complete but not ready for the show circuit,
engine’s origin not confirmed but I think a
VW might have been the donor. If you think
the top was rough, you should have seen the
paint prepwork that caused the paint and metal
to blister, this car received more attention than
anything else at the sale. Everyone loved it,
and in light of the $88k sale of a similar car in
Arizona—admittedly in better condition—this
still fell in the bargain column.
windshield. Interior tight and smells fresh. Cond:
3. SOLD AT $15,120. This failed to sell at $12k
toward the end of the first day when there were
still plenty of bidders. It ran late on the second
day when there were fewer bidders, but it managed to eek its way toward $15k, which the seller
claimed was his absolute bottom line. This was
no steal, but it was a solid buy that appeared
turn-key ready for island fun.
#433-1973 BMW 3.0CS
coupe. S/N
2940747. Red/white leather. Odo: 94,119
miles. Car shows signs of use, but not too
badly abused. No sign of surface rust or major
body problems except alignment of sunroof.
Few minor chips on hood edges. Chrome and
glass both in very good condition. Some light
wear and discoloration to white leather. Some
overspray noted underhood. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $15,228. Sold on its second run over the
block. Presented by the founder of the local
BMW club, this was really a driver, but still a
pretty car even by today’s standards. The price
it fetched was about in the market range on the
mainland—maybe just a little better—and the
new owner seemed delighted to get this car.
ITALIAN
bottom... but it did run. Cond: 5+. NOT SOLD
AT $6,100. Barn finds have been a good topic
of late, and several Brass Era vehicles have
broken the bank in condition not much better
than this one. However, those cars were put
away and preserved to some degree, and this
example was put away wet and then abused.
You have to give the seller credit for getting this
car running, but it really should be returned to
the barn.
124
#749-1960 FIAT-ABARTH 750 Double
Bubble coupe. S/N 719895. Blue metallic/
saddle leather. Odo: 59,030 miles. Nice paint
over poor body prep, with more bubbling than
a bottle of Dom Perignon. Chrome shows
minor pitting all around. All the proper badges
are present and intact. Good wheels. Interior
seems in order. Underhood, all is well cared for
though not perfect. Runs well. Cond: 3. SOLD
AT $29,160. Despite the salt air or the bad
SWEDISH
#817-1957 VOLVO TP21 utility. S/N
TP2153. Olive Drab/olive canvas. Odo: 73,518
km. 350-ci V8, 4-bbl, auto. A unique military
vehicle upgraded with a Chevrolet engine and
transmission. Pretty bare-bones otherwise,
and perfect for a wilderness tour into the back
country. Built on a budget, with cosmetics
pretty much as it must have been when retired
from the Swedish armed forces. Cond: 4-.
SOLD AT $10,800. This was a no-sale on its
first run over the block, and as it sat in line
on the second day, an offer was made and car
was removed from the line up. While some
military vehicle collectors might have had an
interest in this car, it was more of a “isn’t that
strange” novelty collectible and will probably
be relegated to someone’s pool of forgotten
automotive dreams.
AMERICAN
#438-1924 FORD MODEL T roadster.
S/N 9291493. Black/black canvas/black
leather. Very tired barn find. Rusty front fender
tips. Electric lights still intact, as are kerosene
cowl lights. Fitted with original seats; top is an
older replacement. Non-running, but engine
is complete. Unmolested and complete, and it
carries a 1989 Hawaii safety sticker. Cond: 5-.
SOLD AT $5,292. With its original turtle-back
body and a couple of period extras, this was an
exciting car. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, and
the seller lifted his reserve at $1,700. The sale
price was what some running, decent-looking
examples have brought in recent months. Let’s
Sports Car Market
Where can you find a genuine 49-year-old, running collector car for $1,350? It had been used
as a daily driver up to the sale by the second
owner, who said he got the same money he paid
for it back in 1965. Even with shipping back to
the mainland, this was the bargain of the sale,
despite how you might feel about this maligned
marque.
hope the new owner treats this one to preservation and sympathetic restoration work and
nothing more.
#422-1934 FORD MODEL 40
3-Window Custom coupe. S/N
18360104. Yellow/black leather. 324-ci
V8, 3x2-bbl, auto. A real-deal hot rod from the
late 1950s with minimal updates. Still sports
1954-era Rocket V8 and Hydramatic from an
Oldsmobile. Needs to be completely detailed
throughout; has not run in at least a decade
and wasn’t running at the auction. Offered
with a bill of sale and at no reserve. Cond: 4+.
SOLD AT $17,820. Had the seller invested a
few dollars to get this car running and actually
driven it across the block, his fortunes would
have been much greater. This car had a lot of
potential, and if the new owner plays his cards
right and does only what is needed to make it
legal on the street, twice this price should be
relatively easy.
#784-1961 FORD ECONOLINE pickup.
S/N E10SH192924. Red/black vinyl. Odo:
7,266 miles. Very straight panels. Bed walls
are texture-coated. Front glass shows minor
pitting, and some aluminum trim is scuffed.
Interior clean and tidy, as is engine compartment. Undersides show some minor surface
rust. Generally complete and very presentable.
Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $6,210. This was a very
good buy. There was lots of interest, but many
bidders seemed hesitant to step up. I sure don’t
know why. In fact, after the sale, two different
people asked if they could buy this little guy.
If I could have driven it home, my hand would
have been up on this one. Along with the Dodge
A-100 and the Corvair Rampside, these early
’60s compact pickups are a novelty collectible
that can be used and appreciated.
#754-1970 FORD MUSTANG Boss 302
fastback. S/N 0F02G184328. Calypso Coral
& black/black vinyl. Odo: 84,920 miles. 302-ci
V8, 4-bbl, 4-sp. Restored according to the build
sheet. Top-shelf paint and graphics application.
Magnum 500 wheels and all the Boss amenities. Tight, fresh interior with the proper smell
and factory AM radio. Not quite as clean as it
#432-1959 EDSEL RANGER 2-dr sedan.
S/N A9UC700999. Light blue/blue vinyl &
cloth. Odo: 93,379 miles. Tired paint, tired
chrome, very tired interior. A couple of patches
over bad rust on lower metal panels. Ugly seat
covers hide bare springs, radio is inoperable,
heater is disconnected, but who needs it in
Hawaii? The engine runs, and mechanically
it seems tight and shifts with little problem,
so there’s that. Cond: 5+. SOLD AT $1,350.
could have been, especially on exposed interior
surfaces. Underhood is clean but not detailed.
Cond: 2. SOLD AT $70,200. Mechanically,
this car was equal to the Camaro Z/28, but the
Mustang has always trailed the Chevy. Had a
real Z car been here, then this car might have
done even better. As it was, the seller thought
long and hard about lifting his reserve, but he
shouldn’t have too many regrets. ♦
June 2008
125
eBay Motors
Online Sales
Column
Author
Air Suckers for All
While it was probably the most expensive thing ever sold at the local
isoldit.com franchise, $120k was not a lot of money for a real steel Speedster
A CULMINATION OF HIS LIFES WORK,
HE SAYS IT’S HIS MASTERPIECE WITH
OVER 5,000 MAN HOURS OF LABOR. THIS
AUTOMOBILE HAS NEVER BEEN TITLED,
IT WAS DRIVEN ONE SUMMER IN 1957
WITH A SUPER CHARGED MOTOR. IT
NOW HAS A FACTORY PORSCHE PERIOD
CORRECT MOTOR AND RIMS (WHICH
ARE WORTH THE PRICE ALONE).” 1 bid of
$2998. Not sold. Reserve of $2999 met offline.
Cond: 4. NOT SOLD AT $2,998. I emailed
this funny link to a friend (and SCMer), and
he replied that he liked it so much he actually
BOUGHT it. Schadenfreude is not exactly the
right word. Einkaufsassistenzglueck? Anyway,
we call it the Devin Platypus for obvious reasons, and I concur with the seller that it came
free with a market-priced 356 long block and
date-stamped steelies.
Report by Geoff Archer
Market opinions in italics
I
f both corner carving and field
plowing are on your to-do
list, this month’s collection
of Porsches should include
the air-cooled tools you’ll need
to get the job done.
Condition inferred from
seller’s descriptions; cars were
not physically examined by the
author. All quoted material taken
from the eBay listings. sf=seller’s feedback; bf=buyer’s feedback
#270177241751-1953 PORSCHE 356 PreA outlaw coupe. S/N 50181. Fishsilver Gray/
black. Odo: 2,400 miles. 24 Photos. Sarasota,
FL. 2,400 miles in seven years since meticulous,
period-correct race car build. “This is not an
‘outlaw’ in any manner. As original in appearance as possible to how a PreA race car looked in
the era while incorporating the very best racing
modifications possible. Qualifies in the Historic
Minor Class for the Carrera Panamerica Road
Race!” Paint is “flawless.” Full cage, Lexan
windows, front discs, velocity stacks, stainless
exhaust, etc. 2 bids, sf 390, bf 1507. Cond: 2.
SOLD AT $95,000. Unlike eBay sellers who
misleadingly slather their ads with NOT this
and NOT that keywords, I really think this seller
believes this car is not an outlaw... although it
pretty much has to be one with all these modifications. Semantics aside, a lot of work went into
this race- and road-ready piece of art, which
“could not possibly be duplicated under $100K
today NOT INCLUDING A CLEAN STRAIGHT
1953 COUPE!” Well bought.
#220154817452-1956 PORSCHE 356
Speedster. S/N 2DSDRD82741. Signal Red/tan
canvas/oatmeal leather. Odo: 66,000 miles. 7
Photos. Lloyd Harbor, NY. Matching numbers.
Using an automatic listing template, a professional eBay seller (not the vehicle’s owner)
explains “66000 MILES FROM ORIGINAL
MANUFACTURE DATE, BUT VIRTUALLY
ZERO MILES SINCE RESTORATION!
126
#250217831718-1960 PORSCHE JUNIOR
tractor. Red/red & white umbrella/red metal.
21 Photos. Phoenix, AZ. Recent cosmetic restoration including, “$4,000.00 base coat, clear
coat, 4 new tires and tubes” and new battery.
“1cyl diesel air cooled runs excellent...own a
piece of German history, a must to have to a
THIS VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY BEEN
RESTORED FROM THE GROUND UP!...
TOTAL CUSTOM INTERIOR WITH PITTARS
LEATHER FOR A WONDERFULLY SOFT
AND COMFORTABLE FEEL!” I count six
speakers, including two huge woofers in a fiberglass box behind the seats. 27 bids, sf 2739,
bf 1322. Cond: 2+. SOLD AT $120,000. While
probably the most expensive thing that will ever
be sold at the local www.i-soldit.com franchise,
this was not a lot of money for a real steel
Speedster. As the 356 Registry guys were busy
woofing about the inappropriate custom stereo,
somebody snagged a $30k bargain. Well bought.
#270214314974-1957 DEVIN D Custom
coupe. Black primer. 24 Photos. San Francisco,
CA. One-off coachwork looks like a Saab
Sonnett by Picasso. “RE-BODIED BY A
GENTLEMAN
NAMED
FIBERGLASS
BOB (ROBERT DALE). THIS VEHICLE IS
356 collector.” 30 bids, sf 11, bf 12. Cond: 1.
SOLD AT $17,000. If it turns out that we’re
really headed into the second Great Depression
and we’ll need to revert to living off the land, at
least this one rare, exotic, arrest-me-red vehicle
could help you grow your own food and burn it
too. Here’s to hoping it remains frivolous yard
art. Price was appropriate for condition.
#120212599845-1967 PORSCHE 911S
coupe. S/N 308141S. Black/black vinyl &
houndstooth cloth. Odo: 144,579 miles. 25
Photos. Portland, OR. Francis Coppola bought
this new and owned it until ’73. Sunroof. “Bare
metal repaint in 1997. The finish is truly exceptional. The sides are dead straight, and the paint
has a deep reflective gloss... The color of the
car was changed at this time from 6605 bahama
yellow to 6609 black.” No rust, seats recovered,
trans rebuilt. “Based upon visual inspection,
the leak down, total mileage, and the overall
fitness of the engine I’m sure it was rebuilt at
Sports Car Market
Fresh Meat
Porsche 912 will only be listed one time. If the
reserve is not met, back under the cover it will
go” (car cover is also pictured). Even if a personal inspection were not possible on such short
notice, the PCA awards validated the condition.
The threat worked, pulling absolute top dollar
for a unique and perfect car... normal examples
trade for 75% less all day long.
one point.” 41 bids, sf 22, bf 6. Cond: 2-. SOLD
AT $60,200. Several of us saw this very car on
Craigslist about six months earlier for a little
more than half this figure. D’oh! I guess we
missed out on a $25k flip. Given the Coppola
provenance, nice overall condition, and the trajectory of long-hood 911 prices (especially an
early S sunroof car), I fear we might be missing
out on another $25k in the coming six months.
#180206306748-1968 PORSCHE 912
coupe. S/N 12802651. Olive/cream leather. Odo:
41,000 miles. 24 Photos. West Los Angeles,
CA. Somewhat confusing description does not
present a 100-point restoration. “Some areas
had to be repainted due to long term storage
hazards (i.e. dings, scratches and stuff falling on
the car)... very little rust exists but minimal at
most... Interior is redone in rich cream leather
with champagne carpeting complete headliner
paneling ect. 0 miles since Engine and compartment were meticulously detailed and restored
to original.” 18 bids, sf 56, bf 200. Cond: 2-.
SOLD AT $30,389. The buyer was American...
otherwise I would have guessed that a European
olive grower avoided the over-2-liter displacement tax while spending crazy valuable Euros.
Nope. No sunroof, no 911 engine whine, and the
rust is not going to win any concours either. Very
well sold.
#120195739705-1969 PORSCHE 912
coupe. S/N 129021706. Eng. # 4094714.
Champagne Yellow/black leatherette. Odo:
69,010 miles. 10 Photos. Orlando, FL. Fourtime Porsche Parade concours winner. Details
found at www.1969porsche912.com include
the Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, which
confirms matching numbers, 5-speed, Special
Wishes paint color, Konis, Fuchs, and Blaupunkt
stereo. Almost 70 photos show a gorgeous car,
but there’s no explanation of how it got to be that
way. 38 bids, sf 95, bf 85. Cond: 1. SOLD AT
$34,500. Seller threatens, “This pristine 1969
June 2008
#220212600117-1970 PORSCHE 914-6
roadster. S/N 9140432141. Signal Orange/
black/black vinyl. Odo: 43,602 miles. 24
Photos. Old Fort, NC. 43k miles. Complete history from new. “Recently spent several months
and many thousands of dollars on a restoration
using all NOS or excellent used parts. The motor
was recently gone over by a longtime Porsche
mechanic who rebuilt the carbs and adjusted
everything (total cost of $2800). The car was
Online sales of contemporary cars.
(Descriptions exactly as presented by sellers, including non-stop capitalization and creative grammar.)
2003 Ferrari Enzo
Date sold: 02/18/2008
eBay auction ID: 160207789638
Seller: Bobileff Motorcar Company, San Diego,
CA, www.bobileff.com
Sale Type: Used car, 11,700 miles
Details: “Repainted from red to black by Ferrari”
Sale result: $975,101, 16 bids, sf 17, bf private.
MSRP: $643,330 (2003)
Other current offering: Lamborghini Las Vegas,
Las Vegas, NV, www.lamborghinilasvegas.com,
asking $1,395,000 for red/black car with 2,800
miles.
2008 BMW M3 4-door
then stripped of all parts (except the interior
and engine) and two rust spots repaired... The
car was repainted in correct Signal Orange.”
55 bids, sf 65, bf private. Cond: 2. SOLD AT
$38,855. Looks to me like #1 money for a #2 car.
Thorough history and lack of major rust or accident damage probably helped. Still, I have to
say this was well sold, if only by a few grand.
#320228043209-1971 PORSCHE 911E
RS Replica coupe. S/N 9111201054. Silver
w/Martini stripes/black leather. Odo: 100,000
miles. 17 Photos. Williamsburg, VA. “This car
was purchased on 4-2-05 at Barrett Jackson.”
(SCM# 37721 at $32,400... sans Martini
stripes). “Many of you know the reputation of
Barrett Jackson... I took the car to a whole new
level. I have over 30k in reciepts for the rebuild
and restoration alone.” $20k of these are engine
Date sold: 03/27/2008
eBay auction ID: 150228637954
Seller: BMW of Macon, Macon, GA, www.
bmwofmacon.com
Sale Type: New car, 117 miles
Details: Silverstone Metallic/red leather; 6-speed
manual, navigation, 19″ wheels, HD satellite
radio, iPod adapter
Sale result: $66,445, 1 Buy-It-Now bid, sf 0, bf 100.
MSRP: $66,945
Other current offering: Sanfer Sports Cars, Miami,
FL, www.sanfersportscars.com, asking $76,500
for similar used car with 172 miles.
2009 Nissan GT-R
receipts from Eurosport in VA. “Next the trans
everything was rebuilt to handle the new power.”
1500 miles on rebuild. Period-correct mirrors,
basketweave GT Classic seats, etc. 48 bids,
sf 628, bf 22. Cond: 3+. SOLD AT $45,500.
$32,400 + $30,000 – $45,500 = $16,900. Heck,
that’s roughly $10/mile. Although that was not
as cheap as a few hundred hours playing Gran
Turismo, it was in line with what a similar tenure
would cost on the seller’s next purchase; a 997
Turbo. For a palatable price, this guy lived the
R Gruppe dream, and now it’s someone else’s
turn to do the same without losing any money.
Market price. ♦
Date sold: 03/25/08
eBay auction ID: 150227382900
Seller: eBay ID bommaritoexoticcars
Sale Type: New car sold by Midwest dealership
salesman
Details: “I prefer not to deal with anyone out of
the country or anyone that does not speak good
english”
Sale result: $85,040, 1 Buy-It-Now bid, sf 128, bf 16.
MSRP: $71,900
Other current offering: Morrie’s Brooklyn Park
Nissan, Minneapolis, MN, www.morriesbpnissan.com, asking $99,995 for a late-summer
arrival. ♦
127
Automotive Investor
Picking a Pagoda
The Paul Bracq-designed 230SL faced a high level of expectation,
considering it had to replace the iconic 300SL
by Alex Dearborn
Mercedes-Benz
M
280SL
ercedes offered the all-new, Paul Bracq-designed 230SL as
a replacement for the 300SL roadster, which was last produced in early 1963. The 300SL had become prohibitively
expensive to build, so it was logical for the company to seek
a design using the MB family bits and pieces assembled on a platform of
stamped steel, instead of the complex multi-tubular space frame of the
300SL. The new 230SL replaced the aging 190SL as well.
Although the wheelbase was kept at the exact same 94.5˝ as the 300SL
roadster, the 230SL was much roomier. It was also lighter, quieter, and
easier to drive. It offered power steering, reclining seats, a large trunk
and performance approaching that of its famous predecessor. The car
faced a high level of expectation, considering it had to replace the iconic
300SL, but it was instantly recognizable with its concave “pagoda roof.”
230SL
cessive blow-by due to crankshaft wear. 230SL buyers should check for
blow-by by removing the oil filler cap on the cam cover with the engine
running to see what comes out. A durable and positive-shifting 4-speed
automatic was offered as well as the expected 4-speed stick.
250SL
To update the successful 230SL, Mercedes installed an all-new,
seven-main-bearing 2.5 liter OHC inline-6, essentially the 250SE sedan
motor but producing 160 hp. Disc brakes were now standard on the rear
as well as the front. Trim details were essentially unchanged.
280SL
For the next iteration, Mercedes improved (some would say encumbered) the SL with more sound deadening, better rust-proofing, shorter
gearing, and more torque and power. The six was now at 2.8 liters and
produced 170 hp. Contemporary road testers didn’t discover much per-
The 230SL made do with an evolution of the 220SE SOHC inline-6,
which was itself evolved from the
1951 220 sedan engine. For the
2.3-liter SL version, there was a
230SL
hotter cam, tubular headers, and
1963–67
Years
some fuel injection tuning to
produce 150 hp. The five-main9,830
Production
bearing design proved reliable
Prices
by the standards of the day, easily achieving over 150,000 miles
$80,000
Concours
in many cases.
$35,000
Very Nice
This engine was stretched to
the end of its development cycle,
$20,000
Driver Project
however. Some examples had ex128
250SL
280SL
1966–68
1967–71
5,196
23,995
$80,000
$90,000
$40,000
$50,000
$25,000
$35,000
Sports Car Market
Mercedes-Benz
1966 230SL, Euro-spec
250SL
formance gain for this model, however. An aftermarket under-dash air
conditioning system made in the U.S. by FridgiKing was blessed by the
factory for installation by dealers or at the port of entry. These systems
blew pretty cold air, although it was not well diffused. The natural-fiber
square-weave carpeting of the early cars gave way to nylon floor coverings, and some of the interior chrome trim details were replaced with
anti-glare matte finishes. Headrests and shoulder harnesses appeared.
Which model to buy?
The earlier cars, the 230/250SLs, were for a long time ignored by
collectors, as they were the first to deteriorate from age, wear, and rust.
Buyers simply found better-preserved cars in the 280SL fleet. Now it’s
getting hard to find any nice original SL, so some 230SLs are getting
restored, thereby raising the value (and the awareness) of these early
examples.
We had three restored 230SLs at Dearborn Automobile Company to
sell last year, all in the $65,000–$80,000 range. These early cars have
seen the biggest rise in prices in the past five years, compared to the
280SLs. All models have risen in value, as nice originals are getting
scarce, and more cars are being restored well.
Even though the 280SLs are generally favored as the most highly-
developed examples of the series, the earlier cars are rarer. This factor,
along with rare options in the early cars like a 5-speed ZF gearbox,
seems to offset the intrinsically higher value of the 280SLs in some
cases.
How to build a dream SL
How to compare these W113 (the internal Mercedes designation)
SLs? Let me describe the SL of my dreams, which would incorporate
the best features of each car:
Buy the latest, pre-emissions car, the 1969 280SL. Make sure it
has the ultra-rare ZF 5-speed overdrive transmission, as the too-short
gearing of the standard 4-speed box translates to a buzzy 4,600 rpm
at 80 mph. Add an enhanced version of the “factory” air conditioning.
Back-date the visuals to 230/250SL specs by retrimming the car with
square-weave carpeting, chromed interior touches, hubcaps and beauty
rings. Delete side markers and bumper guards. Toss the U.S. headlamps
and install full-cover European-spec units.
The resulting car will cruise more quietly than any ’60s-era sports
car, handle and track better than all but the most aggressive (and more
expensive) sports cars, and exhibit the smart, clean look of the original
Paul Bracq design. ♦
Top Pagoda SL Sales*
Rank
Model
Sold Price
Location
Date
Lot#
230 SL
1
1966 230SL
$139,185
RM—London, UK
10/31/07
208
Rank
8
Model
1967 250SL
Sold Price
Location
Date
Lot#
$32,683
Bonhams—
Stoneleigh Park, UK
3/15/08
331
10/6/05
474
9
1967 250SL
$30,250
Hershey, LLC—
Hershey, PA, USA
10
1968 250SL
$28,875
McCormick—
Palm Springs, CA, USA
11/18/07
392
1
1969 280SL
$96,460
G. Potter King—
Atlantic City, NJ, USA
2/28/08
6144
2
1970 280SL
$76,871
Bonhams—Nürburgring, DEU
8/10/02
113
3
1969 280SL
6.3L Special
$66,235
Poulain—Paris, FRA
2/10/03
21
4
1969 280SL
$66,000
Gooding—
Palm Beach, FL, USA
1/24/06
40
213
5
1970 280SL
$61,900
Bonhams—Nürburgring, DEU
8/9/03
67
$61,600
Barrett-Jackson—
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1/21/07
2
1965 230SL
$61,335
Christie’s—London, UK
12/6/05
68
3
1966 230SL
$37,800
Barrett-Jackson—
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1/14/06
626
4
1964 230SL
$36,380
RM—Boca Raton, FL, USA
2/10/06
644
5
1964 230SL
$36,080
Shannons—Sydney, AUS
7/23/07
6
6
1967 230SL
$34,214
Coys—London, UK
12/4/03
757
7
1963 230SL
$32,400
Kruse—Auburn, IN, USA
5/19/05
820
8
1965 230SL
$31,875
Coys—Monte Carlo, MCO
5/20/06
202
9
1965 230SL
$31,825
Bonhams—Nürburgring, DEU
8/10/02
140
10
1965 230SL
$31,724
H&H—Buxton, UK
11/21/07
96
250 SL
280SL
1
1968 250SL
$42,521
Bonhams—
Monte Carlo, MCO
2
1967 250SL
$40,206
Coys—Nuremberg, DEU
7/22/06
211
6
1971 280SL
3
1968 250SL
$39,094
Barons—Esher, UK
12/11/06
119
7
1969 280SL
$57,319
Poulain—Paris, FRA
2/10/03
4
1967 250SL
$35,039
Artcurial—Paris, FRA
4/16/07
11
8
1968 280SL
$56,891
Bonhams—London, UK
12/12/06
659
5
1968 250SL
$34,100
RM—Amelia Island, FL, USA
3/10/07
210
6
1968 250SL
$33,699
Shannons—Melbourne, AUS
12/6/04
46
9
1969 280SL
$55,200
Bonhams & Butterfields—
Carmel, CA, USA
8/15/03
532
7
1967 250SL
$32,865
Bonhams—Hendon, UK
4/18/05
634
10
1971 280SL
$55,097
Coys—Nuremberg, DEU
7/22/06
246
5/20/06
408
23
*As recorded in the SCM Platinum database. May not reflect all public sales.
June 2008
129
Book Reviews Mark Wigginton
50 Years of Flat-out Fun
Hilarious tales from Whizzo Williams. The only thing better would be a
few long dinners and pub crawls with the man himself
Whizzo: The Motor Sporting Life of Barrie Williams
by Paul Lawrence, tfm Publishing Ltd., 2008, 182 pages,
£14 ($28), Amazon.co.uk
It’s hard to find a photo of Barrie “Whizzo” Williams
that doesn’t include a lurid slide, a wheel off the ground,
the mangled remains of a race car, or a huge, cloud-chasing grin. From his start in karts to his now-legendary
yearly drives at Goodwood, Williams stands as one of
the most versatile, talented drivers produced by England.
Along the way, he seems to have had more fun than anyone
else, and it comes through in page after page of anecdotes.
Whether it’s dashing across Europe in a rally car or hard
fought battles in English sedans, the competition is just the
beginning of the tale, and often the real fun comes after.
Provenance: 
It’s not a story of life at the top, but instead a nice sense of the huge range of racing options and experiences for a talented driver in Europe in the ’60s and ’70s. And what could
be more authentic than photo after photo of Whizzo at speed and his stories to match?
Fit and finish: 
Nicely designed, but the black and white photo printing is spotty. Too bad, as you can
barely make out the parking tickets still on the dash of his Renault 5 as he leads a sedan
race at Snetterton in 1976.
Drivability: 
Tales from Whizzo himself, well told, and often hilarious. The only thing better would
be a few long dinners and pub crawls with the man himself.
Sports Car Racing: In Camera 1960–69
by Paul Parker, Haynes Publishing, 2008, 256
pages, $34.62, Amazon.com
Paul Parker’s latest addition to his In Camera
series focuses on European sports car racing in
the decade that saw the rise of the Ford GT40 at Le
Mans, the fall of classic circuits, and the introduction of the miniskirt. All turned out to be dangerous to the sport in one way or another. Parker has
tried to put together a collection of images that
both illuminate the years of beautiful prototypes
and production cars and showcase rarely seen
photos. All are in color, and the quality varies from
tack-sharp professionalism to many that are little
more than snaps. But the breadth is striking, and
the long captions are full of interesting tidbits.
Provenance: 
Lots and lots of detail fills the captions and year-by-year drivers and results pages, providing an important, though admittedly incomplete, look at the decade.
Fit and finish: 
This isn’t exactly the quality printing one should expect from a photo book. Some comes
down to the source images, but too many pages are muddy and over-saturated.
Drivability: 
Eye candy was the goal, and eye candy was the result. If you are looking for much more
than a page-flipping tour of the decade, keep looking. If you are willing simply to enjoy the
memories and cars of the era, you won’t be disappointed.
130
Triumph and Tragedy:
The 1955 World Sports Car Season
by Yves Kaltenbach, Automobiles
Historiques Limited, 2004, 232 pages,
$79, Amazon.com
There is a wonderful book to be
written about the 1955 season, built
around the horror of Pierre Levegh’s
Mercedes tearing into the crowd at Le
Mans, killing some 90 spectators. It will
be a book filled with the dominance of
Mercedes, the hard-fought season when
Stirling Moss reigned supreme, and the
awful cost to drivers and fans alike, in
an era where safety was little more than
a lap belt.
It just won’t be this book.
Instead, Triumph and Tragedy is a
nicely printed collection of bloodless
facts constantly interrupted by clichés
and tortured prose. And that’s just too
bad.
Provenance: 
Well researched and dense with
photos and race results.
Fit and finish: 
Quite serviceable design, and the
image quality is above average.
Drivability: 
If you put this year, these stories,
men, cars, and circuits in the hands of a
real writer, you have the ingredients for
a successor to The Perfect Storm. As a
wise old editor once told me after reading a newspaper story I turned in that I
thought was finished, “You’ve done the
reporting, now go back and write it.”
Sports Car Market
Why Not
Buy Smart?
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Corvette collectors”
In the past few
years, Corvettes have
gone from being
everyday drivers to
highly collectible
American classics. But
with the huge number
built, and the variety
of options with which
they were available,
knowing what to buy
and how much to pay
is critically important.
Keith Martin has
augmented his topflight SCM staff with
a well-known group
of Corvette experts
to bring you over 100
information-packed
pages in every issue of
Corvette Market.
The incisive, takeno-prisoners approach
to auction reports
you expect from SCM
continues in Corvette
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than 100 Corvettes
examined first-hand in
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You’ll find out if C1s
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Motobilia Carl Bomstead
“Duesenberg” of Gas Signs Nets $57,750
Gas and oil sign prices boom, making yesterday’s records seem like today’s
good value
M
atthews Auctions conducts a semi-annual event in Peotone,
Illinois, to coincide with the Chicagoland Petroleum and
Advertising Show. The most recent auction was held
February 29, the day before the show. There were 435
lots offered, all at no reserve, and the vast majority were gas- and oilrelated. The signs ranged in price from less than $100 for some real
beaters to almost $60,000 for a spectacular Harbor Petroleum Products
porcelain diecut sign with striking graphics. The interest in quality gas
and oil signage continues unabated; it appears that yesterday’s record
price is today’s good value.
Here are a few of the more interesting offerings that caught my eye:
LOT 28. TIWOSER HIGH
TEST GASOLINE SINGLE
GAS PUMP LENS. SOLD AT:
$7,150. This was only one 15˝
glass lens, mounted in a metal
body. Great graphics, excellent
color, and outstanding condition
pushed this seldom-offered lens
to adult money. Expensive, but
not out of line for one of the most
desirable and elusive of all gas
pump globes.
LOT 29. TEXACO ETHYL
ONE-PIECE GAS PUMP
GLOBE. SOLD AT: $1,980.
The earliest globes were onepiece molded glass with graphics
etched or painted on the surface.
This appears to have been
repainted, but in the gas globe
world, that is not a major detriment. Price was, if anything, a
bit on the light side, so chalk this
up as well bought.
132
LOT 57. HARBOR
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
DIECUT PORCELAIN
SIGN. SOLD AT: $57,750. The
Duesenberg of the sign world.
This spectacular sign measured
39˝ x 56˝ and was almost flawless, with great color and gloss.
Any sign with airplanes attracts
attention, and this was no exception. Expensive, but in a world of
its own.
LOT 60. SPEED WING 700
GASOLINE PORCELAIN
PUMP PLATE. SOLD AT:
$5,500. This 6˝ x 9˝ gasoline
pump plate is rarely offered, and
this one appeared to have never
been used. I was surprised at the
final number, considering that
the graphics were not all that
exciting.
all sell, singly, when offered in
this condition for about what
was paid here, so this sale was
reasonable. Good luck completing
the set!
LOT 64. LIFE GASOLINE
PORCELAIN PUMP PLATE.
SOLD AT: $3,300. Life gasoline
was the brand name for the
Barnett Oil Co., and they used a
little elf as their logo. A stack of
these were found about 15 years
ago and were offered for $200
apiece. Based on the price paid,
I should have mortgaged the
farm and bought them all. 20-20
hindsight, I guess.
LOT 152. AEROSHELL
DIECUT DOUBLE-SIDED
PORCELAIN SIGN. SOLD
AT: $715. European Shell sign
that was chipped, slightly faded,
and had numerous touch-ups.
That was the good side, as the
other was fairly well trashed.
There are times when you are far
better off spending a bit more for
a better example, and that was
the case here.
LOT 90. TIME PREMIUM
GASOLINE PORCELAIN
PUMP PLATE. SOLD AT:
$1,540. This is one of five pump
plates for the various grades of
gasoline that Time offered. They
LOT 167. SUNRAY OILS
DIECUT PORCELAIN SIGN.
SOLD AT: $1,045. This colorful sign measured 27˝ x 27˝ and
would have sold for a lot more if
it were not for the loss of color
and gloss on the orange and
yellow. In addition, there were
some good sized chips around
the mounting holes. Another
example where you would be
better off spending more for one
in better condition.
LOT 282. INDIAN
GASOLINE PORCELAIN
PUMP PLATE. SOLD AT:
$880. The Indian Refining
Company was acquired by
Texaco in January 1931, primarily for their Havoline brand
of wax-free gasoline. In 1943,
Texaco discontinued the Indian
brand. This very deco pump
plate was dated 1940 and had
several chips around the mounting holes but retained good gloss
and luster. Twenty years ago, a
stack of these were found and
sold for $100 apiece, but that was
then and this is now. Price here
was a bit on the light side. ♦
Sports Car Market
Bike Buys Paul Duchene
Erik Buell’s Better Mousetrap
The highly original XB9 and XB12 work reliably, and apparently—like
Triumph this time out—that was Job One
E
rik Buell occupies a
unique position in the
motorcycle
industry.
He’s the most radical
skunkworks for the most conservative manufacturer in the
world—Harley-Davidson.
It’s an arrangement that works
well for both companies and has
since 1979, when Buell started
out in Milwaukee.
His XB series, which was
introduced in 2001, still offers
an ingenious mix of ideas not
combined anywhere else. For
example: fuel goes in the aluminum-beam frame; oil goes in the
rear swing-arm; ZTL inside-out front
disc brake (with the disc attached to the rim); upside down forks; and a cable-operated
exhaust valve on the XB12 that progressively opens the muffler as engine speed increases. That muffler is under the motor and also under the horizontal rear spring—by
the belt drive.
The engine is recognizably Harley-Davidson. The XB9 has a 984-cc, 92-hp V-twin,
the XB12 (from 2004) a 1,203-cc 103-hp unit. Both are rubber-mounted with Buell’s
Uniplanar system and fuel-injected. Buell’s latest 1125R twin was built by Rotax to his
design and is likely to find its way across the range in due course.
“Bike Buys” seldom concerns itself with anything as new as the XB9 and XB12,
but this highly original design works reliably, and apparently—like Triumph this time
out—that was Job One. The XB is also a fascinating machine to stand back and discuss, along with a beer and a few friends in your garage, and as Publisher Martin has
observed, that’s Job Two for any collectible vehicle.
Perfect XB9R owner:
Owns a black powder rifle
with a laser sight
Rating (HHHHH is best):
Fun to ride: HHHH
Ease of maintenance: HHH
Appreciation potential: HHH
Attention getter: HHH
Years produced: 2003–current
Number produced: 2003: 8,784;
2004: 8,250; 2005: 9,776;
2006: 10,858; 2007:10,106
(includes XB12 from 2004)
Original list price: $9,995
SCM Valuation: $4,000–$10,000
Tune-up cost: $400
Engines: 984 cc (XB9) 1,203 cc (XB12)
air-cooled V-twin
Transmission: 5-speed
Weight: 375–390 lb dry
Engine #: Left side above primary case
Frame #: On headstock
Colors: White or blue at first, then
red, silver, orange, blue, yellow.
Web site: www.buell.com
134
Early bare-bones streetfighters
A former racer himself (he rode a challenging Yamaha
TZ750 at Daytona), Buell first designed a water-cooled
square-4 two-stroke, the RW750, in 1983. Unfortunately,
the AMA went to production-based superbikes in 1985,
and only one RW750 was sold. Buell shifted gears and
came up with the RR1000, using up H-D XR1000 engines
to make 50 before the supply ran out in 1988.
The 1,203-cc engine led to RR and RS12 models,
which got a 5-speed and inverted forks in 1991. In 1990,
Thunderbolt and Lighting models debuted—the latter
being an early bare-bones “streetfighter.” Fuel injection,
bright colors, and increased Harley-Davidson involvement led to 8,000 bikes being sold in 1999, when Buell
opened a 42,000-square-foot test center next to its East
Troy, Wisconsin, factory. Today Buell employs 180
people.
Erik Buell says he’s always been driven by his interest in solving complicated technical problems—the XB’s
fuel-in-frame was designed to lower the bike’s center of
gravity and also open up enough room for a big airbox
above the engine to let it breathe.
“Big manufacturers tend to be incremental,” he says.
“They keep refining ideas so that they get better. Radical
change doesn’t fit their culture very well.
Sometimes, when you go outside the
box, projects fail.”
Purposefully under-stressed
That’s one of the elements that
makes the outside-the-box XBs
interesting, says Steve Breslow,
the Buell expert at Portland’s
Latus Harley-Davidson store.
“Buells made before the
XB9R had some reliability
problems. The word was that
if the new model wasn’t reliable, it would be the last Buell,
so it was purposefully understressed. It’s worked out perfectly.
I can only recall two problems with
the early bikes. One was the wheel bearings weren’t waterproof, but they’ve all been replaced now. The other
was the kickstand. If you left the bike idling for about
ten minutes, it would creep forward and fall over. A new
kickstand solved that.”
Oregon motorcycle road racer Josh Bryan ran a Buell
XB12R for a season five years ago. “We just bought a
wrecked bike, fitted a new front wheel, new forks and
triple clamp and ran it for a year, with the XB9 black box
so it would rev higher,” he says. “The chassis was great,
it was really easy on tires, the gearshift was stiff, and the
only mechanical failure we had all year was an external oil
line failed, and I think that might have been over-tightened
at the factory.” Bryan says the whole project cost about
$5,000, and the bike was sold as a streetbike at the end of
the year. “It’s still running around somewhere.”
Erik Buell says he keeps new ideas close until he can
produce them. “I’ve always stayed away from showing
concepts, in case people think ‘Well, he’s moving on,
better wait for the next one.’”
The death of iconoclastic New Zealand designer John
Britten hit Buell hard, as the two had talked at length by
phone about joint projects. “I was so looking forward to
working with him. He was into so many things. His next
dream was human-powered flight. He said, ‘Why don’t
you just take over the motorcycle business?’”
Buell and Breslow agree the main thing about buying an XB is to find one that’s been well-maintained.
Breslow reckons $4,000–$6,000 should give a fair
choice. Josh Bryan says once the revs come off idle, the
rubber engine mounts smooth out the vibrations significantly. The bike is easy to wheelie, though the narrow
power band means you have to shift gears a lot.
If you don’t like the color, fenders and “tank” cover
can be easily replaced with a color you do like. The
Firebolt (R) is the café racer, the Lighting (S) the streetfighter, the CX model is the commuter, and the Ulysses
is the dual sport. ♦
Sports Car Market
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Mystery Photo Answers
Dr. Porsche, Mr. Davidson. Mr. Davidson, Dr. Porsche.
The rest, as they say, is history.—Tim Wright, Glendale, AZ
Foreign consultant Helmut
Heinrich didn’t tell Volkswagen
that the “Hell’s Soccer-Mom
Angels” segment of the U.S.
Market is very slim.—Patrick
Fisher, Portland, OR
Convinced there is no such
thing as a bad car show trophy,
Butch proudly displays his
“Unsafe at any Speed” award,
presented by celebrity judge
Ralph Nader.—Joel Shooks,
Traverse City, MI
Within minutes he had a
signed contract for the Porsche
model in Pink.—Al Zim,
Colleywood, TX
RUNNER-UP: Just days after the
McLaren design team finalized
plans for the center-mounted
driver position in the new F1, a
photographer for a new Formula
1 tabloid witnessed a McLaren
employee, blueprints in hand,
enter Harley-Davidson head-
quarters.—Peter Zimmermann,
Bakersfield, CA
Finally, a way for hardcore
bikers to get some quality
backseat time with the ol’ lady
while riding their custom chopper.—Johan de Vicq, Arnold,
MD
Not all Transformers could
get work in the movies.—Scott
Eldredge, La Honda, CA
Hollywood wanted to remake
“Easy Rider” and “The Love
Bug,” so they saved money by
combining the two.—Joe Amft,
Evanston, IL
Just the ticket for the trek to
the premiere of the Berlin Hell’s
Angels Spring Collection.—
Terry Dreher, Victoria, British
Columbia, CAN
If a VW is traveling west at
60 mph and a Honda 750 is traveling east at 80 mph…—Lance
Lambert, Seattle, WA
For Sturgis, Bob develops a
great design so his mother-in-law
need not be left at home.—Greg
Welp, Galena, IL
Just because you can, doesn’t
mean you should.—Kick
Wheeler, New Milford, CT
Most judges agreed the
Yamahaha 250-cc hybrid miniluxo limo was the star of the
show, but one critic suggested
unfairly that mixing spokes with
hubcaps was just a bit tacky.—
Ronald Olson, Benicia, CA
Because some of history’s
greatest engineering feats
required little more than an
introduction, Tim Wright wins
an official soon-to-be-collectible
Sports Car Market cap. ♦
This Month’s
Mystery Photo
Response Deadline: May 25, 2008
Our Photo, Your Caption
Be the author of the most accurate, creative, or provocative response and receive a Sports Car Market cap. Ties will
be arbitrarily and capriciously decided.
Fax your response to 503.253.2234; email: mysteryph
oto@sportscarmarket.com; snail mail: Mystery, P.O. Box
4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797. Please include your name
and contact information.
Send us your mystery photo. If we use it, you’ll also get
an official SCM cap. Email photos at 300 dpi in JPEG
format.
136
Sports Car Market
Great Racers
Comments With
Your Renewal
Could live without it. But
why?—D. Mill, Canadaigua, NY
Great mag. Keep up the good
work.—J. Harlin, Phoenix, AZ
Love your mag, especially the
unusual and lesser known cars. Does
that include AMCs?—B. Escamilla,
Oak Lawn, IL
The magazine is great as is.
Thanks.—J. Brewster, West
Monroe, LA
Best vintage car magazine by
far. You’re lapping your competitors
while they’re stuck in the pits.—T.
Taylor, West Linn, OR
Great mag.—B. McDowell,
Friday Harbor, WA
I am an accredited auto appraiser
and use your auction results daily.
You guys are great, and I love
the humor.—F. Nelson, Calgary,
Alberta, CAN. It’s great to know
SCM is being put to practical use
and allowing you to better perform
your job.—KM
Less Ferrari and Porsche. More
Corvette and Jaguar.—R. Constable,
Santa Rosa Valley, CA
Thanks for another great year
of SCM, my tenth. Welcome to the
fold of Iso owners.—D. Frank,
Charlotte, NC
I love your magazine. MG TC
owner since 1974.—T. Arnold,
Olympia, WA
Best read in the automobile
magazine realm.—R. McInnis,
Junction City, OR
Please renew my subscription to
your great magazine.—B. Swanson,
La Canada, CA
Continues to be the most informative automobile magazine one can
read.—E. Abbott, Covina, CA
I only wish I were clever enough
to be included in the comment section.—D. Bustamante, Knoxville,
TN. Consider yourself clever.—KM
Ten-year subscriber and looking
forward to more great news, reports,
and “stuff” about our hobby.—L.
Moss, West Bloomfield, MI
Love the magazine. With the
population of resto-mods and customs built by professional shops, I’d
love to see more info on trends and
values.—J. Bovarnick, Medfield,
MA. Trends and values of restomods and other customs are trailing
off and have been for the last year or
so. Sellers still seem to be clinging to
big reserves, while thoughtful buyers
understand that things ain’t what
they used to be.—KM
I have started and then cancelled
lots of car magazine subscriptions.
Yours is the one I keep.—D.
Garschagen, Orinda, CA
It gets harder and harder to find
a negative in SCM.—R. Boos, Troy,
NY
And thanks to all of you for
your thoughtful comments and your
renewals.—Keith Martin ♦
June 2008
Across
1. The Flying Mantuan
6. Only driver to win the Triple Crown of
motorsport (with 8 down)
10. Top driver
11. Where many Grand Prix drivers begin
12. This, in Paris
13. You and me
14. West Coast city article
16. Wrath
19. New York island
20. Prost’s rival
21. Scottish Clark who raced with Lotus
23. __ Forster, novelist
26. Three-time Daytona 24-Hour winner, Derek
28. Argentine Formula One great, Fangio
29. Swerved
31. Courageous man
32. Youngest Formula One champion, Fernando
35. Boxer’s demise, briefly
36. Only driver to posthumously win the Formula
One championship
39. Finnish Formula One champion, Mika
40. A kind of scale
42. “All Things Considered” airer
44. On fire
46. Only driver to hold CART and Formula One
titles simultaneously
49. Seven-time Formula One champion,
Schumacher
51. __, the people…
52. An Unser
53. Hollywood’s home
54. British Formula One phenom, Hamilton
55. English oui
56. Six-time Le Mans winner, Jacky
Down
1. Austrian Formula One champion, Lauda
2. Edge of the track
3. Failing to win
4. Driving competition
5. Treacherous road hazard
7. German Auto Union driver of the 1930s
8. See 6 across
9. The greatest driver never to win the Formula
One championship
15. Engine need
17. Dorm monitor
18. Mr. Foyt
20. Observe
22. Australian racer and constructor (with 26
down)
24. The first Andretti
25. Correct text
26. See 22 down
27. Spy novelist, Deighton
28. Jenny from the block, briefly
30. Was first to get the checkered flag
33. Hardwood
34. Ferrari’s open cars
37. Undulation
38. Austin, Jensen, and Nash follower
40. First American to win the Formula One
championship, Hill
41. Ad for the purpose of?
43. Take a rest
45. Type of cuisine
47. Spectator emotion
48. Most recent
49. Belonging to mom, for short
50. Deer’s cousin
For solution, go to:
www.sportscarmarket.com/crossword
137
SCM Showcase Gallery
Sell Your Car Here! Includes SCM website listing.
Showcase Gallery Full-Color Photo Ad Just $44/month ($66 non-subscribers)
Text-Only Classified Ad Just $15/month ($25 non-subscribers)
4 ways to submit your ad:
Web: Visit sportscarmarket.com/classifieds-post.php to upload your photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text
only. Secure online Visa/MC payments.
E-mail: Send photo (300 dpi jpg) and text, or text only, to scmadvert@sportscarmarket.com.
We will call for your VISA/MC.
Fax: Attention Showcase, to 503.253.2234 with VISA/MC.
Opalescent Silver Gray / Tan, Total DVD Documented Restoration by Classic Showcase, 5-speed,
Aluminum Radiator plus Other Upgrades, Superb
Example, Ready for Shows and Driving. Inquire for
price. Classic Showcase, 760.758.6100, managemen
t@classicshowcase.com (CA)
1966 Sunbeam Tiger
Snailmail: Showcase, PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208-4797, with VISA/MC or check.
A.C. Power steering, Power brakes. New chrome,
tires and brakes. Very good condition. Pleasure to
drive. Sable, black interior. $26,000. 450.451.6518.
25 words max, subject to editing. Deadline: 1st of each month, one month prior to publication.
Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their advertisements. The publisher of Sports Car Market
Magazine is not responsible for any omissions, erroneous, false and/or misleading statements of its advertisers.
English
1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BJ7
1952 MG TD roadster
1969 Jaguar XKE convertible
Restored California car. Nice driving example, tight
and responsive. Fresh engine, wooden steering
wheel and alloys. $67,500. Fantasy Junction, manag
ement@fantasyjunction.com; www.fantasyjunction
.com. 510.653.7555. (CA)
1967 Jaguar XKE convertible
4 Cyl, 4 Speed Manual, Gray/Black, Maroon. Nice
Little TD with extensive older restoration that
shows very well. Excellent running and driving
condition, good tires, very nice interior, see more
at www.dormangarage.com. $19,900. Ron Ragains,
rragains@dormangarage.com, 219.363.8101
Black Leather, Convertible, 6 Cyl, 4-Speed w/
Overdrive. Total body-off restoration. Probably the
finest BJ7 available anywhere. Numbers matching;
full documentation; BL Heritage certificate; Go to
www.memory-motors.com for more photos and information. $59,500. Robert Tenges, 414.852.8622,
rtenges@wi.rr.com. (WI)
1956 Austin-Healey Factory 100M
1966 Jaguar convertible
2 owner, photo documented total restoration, 85k in
receipts, Heritage Sheet, great driving, eligible all
events. Jerry Bensinger, 330.759.5224 days. (OH)
1962 Bentley Silver Cloud II
A true concours show car, this is a serious investment
grade car that has gone through a full nut and bolt
rotisserie restoration. Prior owner had this car for 30
years. This car won first place in the 1980’s prior to
its restoration. Exterior is British Racing Green with
a Biscuit interior and a black top. Engine is a 4.2
liter with a 4 speed transmission. Miles are 20 miles
since restoration. Car is documented and comes with
toolkit, all tools, new Dayton wire wheels, original
radio, manuals, books, and restoration history.
$125,000.00 obo. 704.996.3735, www.classicladymotors.com. (SC)
Can Am Group 7 Extensively rebuilt and race
prepped. Ready for the Lola 50th Anniversary
reunions this year. More at www.lolat160.com.
$165,000. Nick, 619.955.7206, ngsmith101@yahoo
.com, www.lolat160.com.
1969 MG B roadster
Ex factory Sebring mule car (Hopkirk etc.) raced
entire life, mechanically great–cosmetically a warrior. Last outing Lime Rock Oct. 06. $20,000 Keith,
914.962.6900. (NY)
Dry sump engine. Essex colors. 20,000 miles. Featured in September 2007 Hemmings Sports & Exotic
Car magazine. $26,000. Bill Bonta. 410.666.3842,
jwbont@comcast.net.
1985 Lotus Turbo Esprit
BRG/Gold int. BBS wheels. CS, A/C. 48,900 miles.
Maintained and used on regular basis. “Corners like
it’s on rails.” 509.447.3344. (WA)
1966 Jaguar XKE Series I FHC
138
Restored in California in early 90’s. Driven summers
only and meticulously cared for by two fussy owners
since. Teal green, saddle leather. A really lovely
car, ready to drive and enjoy. $18,500. Matthew L.
deGarmo Ltd., 203.852.1670, www.deGarmoLtd
.com. (CT)
1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit
Carmine red/Biscuit. Just had complete restoration
by Solid Gold Classics. Perfect #1 condition, pleanty
of pictures during restoration. Matching numbers,
Heritage cert. 150 miles since restoration. Original
hard top. $110,000. Ronald Bosi, 847.602.8602,
ronbosi@ronbosi.com.
Midnight Blue, Gray/Blue Leather. Left hand drive
with air conditioning including rear air, power steering, power windows, rear seat trays, V8 engine. Has
been properly cared for while owned for the past 30
plus years by a prominent San Diego collector. Mark
Leonard, 858.459.3500, info@grandprixclassics.
com, www.grandprixclassics.com. (CA)
Fully documented 9000 mile car. Restored to
concours winning condition. Guardsman blue, black
leather; original top, tonneau. 100% correct. None
better. Matthew L. deGarmo Ltd., 203.852.1670,
www.deGarmoLtd.com. (CT)
SWB, V12, custom built 5.7 liter, 6 speed richmond
gear box, tastefully modified to high standards.
5 years of restoration to every nut and bolt and
washer. For more pictures or info contact Henry
Moukoian, 801.870.7316 dobbyus@yahoo.com
1974 Triumph TR6
1968 Lola T160
1966 MGB GT
1963 AC Cobra roadster
1969 Jaguar XKE coupe
1993 Jaguar XJ220
Stored 1984 - 2004. All orig. except wheels, tires,
ignition. $4200 recent professional mech. work. VIN
GHN4U164557G. Engine 18GH-WE-H-4723. Solid
body, runs strong. 3rd owner, 90,291 miles. Pix &
info available by email. $6,200. jcline@bctonline
.com. (OR)
Sold new to Holland, then, imported into
California and brought into compliance with 50
Sports Car Market
SCM Showcase Gallery
state federalization EPA/DOT. Has proper California Bar sticker Mark Leonard, 858.459.3500,
info@grandprixclassics.com, www.grandprixclassics
.com. (CA)
2006 Lotus Exige
Chrome Orange/Black. This is your chance to own an
instant classic and an exotic car. Approximately 300
Lotus Exiges were brought into the U.S. in 2006. A
pure drivers masterpiece. Will handle as good as
the best exotics and looks better than most of them.
Its hard to find more fun on four wheels!Car is in
mint condition. This car is always garaged, never
been driven in the rain, and was purely a weekend
fun car. Arqray Single Tip Exhaust, Driving Lights,
Lotus Factory Harness Bar and driver side Schroth
Harness, Factory installed Starshield Paint Protecting film, K&N airfilter, black powder coated fuel
filler door, Lo-Jack. $46,000. Jason, 310.245.7855,
szzj@earthlink.net. (CA)
Blue and Light Gray, Sunroof, luggage rack, bumper
overriders, rear package tray. Beautifully restored
to the highest level. Mark Leonard, 858.459.3500,
info@grandprixclassics.com, www.grandprixclassics
.com. (CA)
1964 Porsche 356C coupe
Black/Dark Red Leather. A three owner car which
has been restored correct to its build certificate.
Original engine, transmission, and options. Professionally restored to a very high level. Engine
rebuild to include new crankshaft, rods, pistons
etc. to SC spec. Mark Leonard, 858.459.3500,
info@grandprixclassics.com, www.grandprixclassics
.com. (CA)
2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6
One owner, have all records from new. Maintenance
done by the book by VW dealership. 180,000 low
miles. No modifications. Runs and drives, but no
heat. $1,500 or any offer. Scott, 616.706.2008,
scottsjeep@gmail.com. (MI)
2006 Porsche Carrera S convertible
Great opportunity to acquire a European specification “California Coupe” with 4-speed manual and
PS. Solid condition. New brakes, shocks. Records
and books. $29,500.Fantasy Junction, management
@fantasyjunction.com; www.fantasyjunction.com
. 510.653.7555. (CA)
1974 Porsche Carrera 2.7 coupe
16k miles. Lapis Blue met. Grey int. No track/accidents. orig. owner. Dealer service at 15k mi. new
set of tires. $73,900 OBO. 503.851.4841.
Irish
1983 Delorean DMC-12 coupe
1965 Mercedes-Benz 300SE coupe
A pristine example of a 74 Carrera with 33 years of
documentation from new. This 1974 Porsche Carrera
2.7 as only 47K original miles from new with several
Concours wins. $125,000 USD. More complete info
at amartinez44@aol.com
German
1955 Porsche “Silver Bullet” Outlaw
This is a very nice, restored MB 300 SE. It is a
European model imported to US. It underwent a
complete body and interior restoration in recent
years and it looks very presentable! It runs very
well and it will be an outstanding driver. More
pictures available with the link attached. $30,000.
Bob Moses, 781.858.2535, juanram@rcn.com,
www.mackaysgarage.com/Mercedes. (MA)
Stunning one-off built by Jeff Dutton. Continental
Coupe body, 914/6 chassis and 3-liter RS spec
engine make for both a visual and performance
knock-out. $175,000. Fantasy Junction, manageme
nt@fantasyjunction.com; www.fantasyjunction.com.
510.653.7555. (CA)
1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL convertible
1966 Mercedes-230SL convertible
1979 Porsche 924 Sebring coupe
Original owner, garaged, 33,700 miles, 5 speed.
Disc brakes, sunroof, A/C. Concours winner. $9,900.
Bob Barton, 828.759.0785. (NC)
A rare car, only 8583 DeLoreans were produced
between the 1981 and 1983 model years and approximately 6500 are still on the road or in storage
today. The DeLorean’s main claim to fame came in
1985 when it starred in the Hollywood movie ‘Back
to the Future.” This Delorean has 34,292 miles and
the stainless steel body is in excellent condition.
Gull wing doors operate with no problems. Engine
is a 6 cylinder with the standard 5-speed manual
transmission. Light gray leather interior is excellent.
This car starts and runs with no problems. It is in a
private collection. $26,000. 704.996.3735, www
.classicladymotors.com. (SC)
Italian
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce
1986 Porsche Euro 930 coupe
1957 Mercedes 180D sedan
Black/Red leather, 35,900 mi. Never Titled,
original MSO, window stickers, best original in
world, most options, documentation. One owner for
49 years. Must see, drive. $27,950. 516.521.2309,
jacy1948@yahoo.com. (NY)
Restored from the ground up by Bob Platz at a cost
of $160k, with full documentation. Ultra rare ZF
5-speed transmission. Looks, runs, drives as new.
Two tops, books, tools. Absolutely flawless throughout. Green, cognac leather. $85,000. Matthew L.
deGarmo Ltd., 203.852.1670, www.deGarmoLtd
.com. (CT)
1967 Mercedes-Benz 230SL convertible
Original owner. Car is stock with 5100 pampered miles. EPA/DOT original documentation included. Includes Euro parts removed for US
conversion. $72,000. John Glatz, 928.468.6212,
redaz31@hotmail.com. (AZ)
1994 Mercedes-Benz E320 convertible
The quintessential Italian sports coupe. Satisfying
and fun to drive. Well preserved and maintained.
Highly original with great interior. Ideal event
car. $51,500. Fantasy Junction, management@
fantasyjunction.com; www.fantasyjunction.com.
510.653.7555. (CA)
1971 Ferrari Daytona GTB-4A Spyder
1958 BMW Isetta 300 Export
Grey-White/ Blue Leather. Numbers matching
restored car. 2-Tops. New blue leather interior.
Properly maintained and driven regularily. No rust
issues. Go to www.memory-motors.com for more info
and photos. $34,500. Robert Tenges, 414.852.8622,
rtenges@wi.rr.com, 414-852-8622. (WI)
140
Excellent example of limited production convertible;
completely sorted; choose from 2. Future Classic. Go
to www.memory-motors.com for more photos and
information. $15,500. Robert Tenges, 414.852.8622,
rtenges@wi.rr.com, 414-852-8622. (WI)
Serious calls only. Owned by John Mechum Jr. who
had one the finest Ferrari collections in the World.
Sold to the one and only Jerry J. Moore, who up
to a few years back had the number one ranked
Sports Car Market
Car Collection in the world. One owner since 1988.
Mint condition. Fully documented. Raced at Laguna
Seca with racing history. I of 25 European Daytona
Spyders. I believe that this Daytona is one the finest
Ferrari cars in existence. Produced between the
two factory-built competition Daytonas. This car is
#14487. #14485 was owned by Luigi Chinetti and
this car was owned by Maranello Concessionaries.
This car has not been to auction and is currently in a
time capsule. Oh yeah, I forgot, I believe this is the
only car with a factory Ram Air Duct System running
from the front grill to an air box over the carburetors, factory installed. Quite rare, making it faster
than any other Daytona. I thought this might be of
particular interest. Also note the provenance, reads
like the who’s who. Thanks for your time, email
me back if you have a buyer in mind. Time is of
the essence as this car is for sale locally in Houston,
TX. Paul Tallas, 832.715.7154, paul_tallas@yahoo
.com.
1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4
anywhere, anytime. Finished in dark blue, brown
leather, beige top; all weather equipment. Mint
condition, 100% correct. Matthew L. deGarmo Ltd.
203.852.1670, www.deGarmoLtd.com
and Wine Country wins - Many recent improvements.
$119,000. Tony Garmey, 206.612.1782.
1964 Buick Wildcat hardtop
1942 Ford Super Deluxe Woodie Wagon
Rare model with superb original wood. Mint condition throughout. Great history. All options including
Columbia rear end, original radio, heater. Show
quality but fully sorted for real driving. Call for
details. Matthew L. deGarmo Ltd., 203.852.1670,
www.deGarmoLtd.com. (CT)
100% correct and authentic. Original black with
gold stripes, correct original automatic transmission.
$225,000. Matthew L. deGarmo Ltd. 203.852.1670,
www.deGarmoLtd.com
1971 Hemi ’Cuda convertible
2 Door Hardtop, Correctly detailed 401 Nailhead
“Wildcat 445” engine, Vin# and Engine Stamp
# Match, Automatic Transmission, Factory Air
Conditioning, Correct “Tawny Mist” Exterior Color,
Original Fawn Interior, Carpet, and Headliner is in
Excellent Condition. The Original Buick “Sonomatic”
AM Radio Works Great. Original California Black
Plates. Runs and Drives Excellent. Please call for
additional pictures and information 208.755.3334.
1965 Shelby 350GT
1951 Ford Prefect saloon
Two plus year professional rotisserie restoration
by Classic Ventures. Hi-Impact Lemon Twist with a
white top, white billboards & white leather interior.
Original “G” convertible restored with an Engine
Design 426 Hemi, “Shaker Hood”, Dana, Pistol
Grip Hurst shifter Four Speed, Rallye gauges, Rim
Blow & Elastomeric front bumper. Appraised at
$200,000. Contact for more info and photos. Gary
817.821.6895 or Bill 815.597.1028, blturner1@aol
.com.
2004 Ford F150
V12, 4-speed, air, PS, 63,600 miles. Same owner/
collector the past 30+ years. Very nice original car.
Always maintained. A joy to drive. $115,000. Len
Rusiewicz, 610.282.0109, tigrlift@ptd.net. (PA)
1975 Ferrari 308 GT4
Owned by Ferrari specialist for the last 19 years.
Power windows, air conditioning. USA version.
32,246 miles. Mark Leonard, 858.459.3500,
info@grandprixclassics.com, www.grandprixclassics
.com. (CA)
Blue, Blue and gray with wood trim. A two owner
old blackplate California car. Purchased in 1960 by
Rug Cunningham of Cunningham BMW of El Cajon,
CA as his first car. Kept in his collection for 48 years
and beautifully restored. $15,000. Mark Leonard,
858.459.3500, info@grandprixclassics.com, www
.grandprixclassics.com. (CA)
Wimbledon White with Blue racing stripe/ Black
Leather. A very rare early two digit serial number.
This stunning GT350 has just come out of a bare
metal, rotisserie restoration, both body paint and
mechanical, with full photo documentation. Mark
Leonard, 858.459.3500, info@grandprixclassics
.com, www.grandprixclassics.com. (CA)
1965 Corvair 500
Other
1956 Chevrolet Nomad
30,000 miles, 2 owner. Incredibly pristine condition.
Low cost entry to the show field. Drive it home for
$4,950. Ray, 410.532.2026. (MD)
Swiss
1966 Shelby GT350 H
1949 Zimmerli Vauxhall
Frame-off restoration, 283-ci, manual, Nassau
blue/white, Disc brakes, Vintage air, Alternator.
Runs and drives perfectly. tedehem@aol.com, c:
305.582.1611/h: 305.762.5655. (FL)
1957 Ford Thunderbird D-code
One-off roadster hand made in Switzerland.
Aluminum body over unique tubular chassis with
Vauxhall ‘light six’ drivetrain. Repaint in 2000
otherwise nicely preserved original with under 2400
km. Well documented history and older FIA documents. Will assist with shipping. Think Villa d’Este!
$69,800. 248.723.9592, jwd4cdl@comcast.net. (MI)
American
1936 Ford Phaeton
79K miles. Dealer Serviced literally EVERY 3000
miles, ALL records, New Tires, Leather, towing,
6-CD, loaded. $16,600. call 404.432.1450. (GA)
The real deal and the best one on the planet.
National concours level, and fully sorted for driving.
“The Cobra-Ferrari Wars 1963-1965.”
2nd Ed. *SIGNED*. The true story of Carroll Shelby’s
war against Enzo Ferrari, and the cars and the men
who made racing history. 372 pages and 85,000
words, based on interviews with 53 of the original
participants, conducted over 18 years. Acclaimed
by Ferrari and Cobra enthusiasts alike, this is the
epic story of the struggle that changed sports car
racing forever. $100 including domestic first-class
priority shipping. Cobra Ferrari Wars, 480.483.3537,
mikelshoen@yahoo.com, www.thecobraferrariwars.com. (AZ)
Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini
Cash buyer for Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini cars
and related items. Please call 860.350.1140, fax
860.350.1140, or email forzamot@aol.com ♦
390 miles since frame-off nut and bolt restoration
to concours standards. Red porthole and white soft
tops. Auto, PS, A/C, Town and Country,Radial tires.
Asking $79,900. markmand@pol.net
1957 Corvette Vintage race car
Spectacular California car. Restored to the highest
standard and fully sorted for spirited V8 driving
June 2008
Injected 283 CI Original Big Brake Car - 1960’s Drag
Car Fast, Proven Winner: 2007 Monterey Historics
141
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
Advertise in the SCM Resource Directory. Call 877.219.2605 x211 for information, e-mail: scmadvert@sportscarmarket.com.
Auction Companies
Artcurial-Briest-Poulain-Le Fur.
33.1.4299202, 33.1.42292021. Maison
de vente aux enchères, 7, Rond-Point
des Champs Elysées, 75008 Paris.
artcurial@auction.fr; www.artcurial
.com. (FR)
Barrett-Jackson Auction.
480.421.6694, 480.421.6697. N.
Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.
info@barrett-jackson.com.
www.barrett-jackson.com. (AZ)
Bonhams. +44.207.228.8000,
+44.207.585.0830. Montpelier St.,
Knightsbridge, London, SW7 1HH.
www.bonhams.com. (UK)
Bonhams & Butterfields.
415.391.4000, 415.391.4040. 220 San
Bruno Avenue, San Francisco, CA
94103 www.butterfields.com. (CA)
Branson Collector Car Auction.
800.335.3063, 417.336.5616. 1316
W. Hwy. 76, Suite 199, Branson, MO
65616. www.bransonauction.com. (MO)
Carlisle Collector Car Auctions.
717.243.7855, 1000 Bryn Mawr Road,
Carlisle, PA 17013. Spring and Fall
Auctions. High-line cars cross the
block. Hundreds of muscle cars, a
ntique, collector, and special-interest
cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Real
Cars. Real Prices. www.carlisleauctions.com. (PA)
Christie’s. 310.385.2600,
310.385.0246. 360 N. Camden Dr.,
Beverly Hills, CA 90210.
www.christies.com. (CA)
eBay Motors. List your car for sale
for only $40 and pay $40 more when
it sells. Visit the “Services” section on
www.ebaymotors.com for more details.
www.ebaymotors.com.
Gooding & Company.
310.899.1960, 310.899.0930. Gooding
& Company offers the rarest examples
of collector vehicles at the most prestigious auction venues to its international
clientele. Our team of well qualified experts will advise you on current market
values. Gooding & Company presents
the official auction of the famed Pebble
Beach Concours d’Elegance in August
and record-setting Scottsdale Auction
in January. www.goodingco.com. (CA)
H&H Classic Auctions.
+44.01925.730630, +44.01925.730830.
Whitegate Farm, Hatton, Cheshire
WA4 4BZ England. www.classicauctions.com. (UK)
142
Mecum Collector Car Auctioneers. 815.568.8888, 815.568.6615.
950 Greenlee St., Marengo, IL 60015.
Auctions: Orlando, Kansas City, Rockford, Bloomington Gold, St. Paul, Des
Moines, Carlisle, and Chicago. Nobody
Sells More Muscle Than Mecum. Nobody. www.mecumauction.com. (IL)
Palm Springs Auctions Inc.
Keith McCormick. 760.320.3290,
760.323.7031. 244 N. Indian Canyon
Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262.
www.classic-carauction.com. (CA)
RM Auctions, Inc.. 800.211.4371,
519.351.1337. Our team of highly qualified professionals with over 25 years
of experience will perform complete
classic car collection appraisals. Your
collection will be assessed by superior
appraisers who are exceptionally detailed and want you to get the most value
from your collection. RM is the world’s
largest vintage automobile house specializing in vintage automobile restoration, auctions and appraisals.
www.rmauctions.com. (CAN)
Russo and Steele Collector Automobiles. 602.252.2697, 602.252.6260.
5230 South 39th Street, Phoenix AZ
85040. info@russoandsteele.com;
www.russoandsteele.com. (AZ)
Santiago Collector Car Auctions.
405.475.5079, 501 E. Britton Rd.,
Oklahoma City, OK 73114. Rocky:
rockydb5@sbcglobal.net. (OK)
Silver Auctions. 800.255.4485,
2020 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205.
silver@silverauctions.com.
www.silverauctions.com. (WA)
The Worldwide Group.
866.273.6394, Established by John
Kruse and Rod C. Egan, The Worldwide Group— Auctioneers, Appraisers
and Brokers —is one of the world’s
premier auction houses, specializing in
the procurement and sale of the world’s
fi nest automobiles and vintage watercraft. www.wwgauctions.com. (TX)
Tom Mack Classics. 888.TOM.
MACK, PO Box 1766, Indian Trail, NC
28079. Three annual auctions in Charlotte, NC: April, September, and January. Selling Southern muscle, collector,
and antique cars with experience and
integrity for 24 years. North Carolina
auction license 4017. www.tommackclassics.com. (NC)
Alfa Romeo
Jon Norman’s Alfa Parts.
510.524.3636, 1221 Fourth Street,
Berkley, CA 94710. Large selection of
parts from 1900 series to Milano. Efficient, personal service. 510.525.9435.
(CA)
American
Legendary Motorcar Company.
905.875.4700, North America’s premier muscle car center, specialize in
restoring and trading the fi nest and
rarest American muscle cars. We are
the home of Speed TV’s “Dream Car
Garage.: We are a professional, discreet, and fair buyer for your quality
American Muscle. www.legendarymotorcar.com. (ON)
Shelby American Automotobile
Club. 860.364.0449, 860.364.0769. PO
Box 788, Sharon, CT 06069. Over 5,000
members, 50 regions throughout the
world. Dedicated to the care and preservation of the cars that Carroll Shelby
produced. Two national conventions a
year, semi-annual magazine, bi-monthly newsletter as well as a registry. (CT)
Antiques
Solvang Antique Center.
805.688.6222, California’s Premier
Antique Collective features 65 extraordinary dealers. Quality 18th and 19th
century furniture, decorative accessories, fi ne art and estate jewelry. One of
the fi nest selections of antique clocks,
watches and music boxes in the world.
www.solvangantiques.com. (CA)
California Dream Cars Appraisals.
888.314.3366, Over 30 years experience
in Southern California appraising classic, antique, special interest, muscle and
custom to current-year models. Specializing in pre-purchase inspections, stated
value insurance appraisals, insurance
disputes, and expert witness testimony.
For more info, visit our web site.
www.caldreamcars.net.. (CA)
Gooding & Company.
310.899.1960, Gooding & Company’s
experts are well qualified to appraise
automotive and collectible estates.
Whether it is the creation of a foundation, living trust, or arrangement of a
charitable donation, we are able to help
you. www.goodingco.com. (CA)
RM Auctions, Inc.. 800.211.4371,
519.351.1337. Our team of highly qualified professionals with over 25 years
of experience will perform complete
classic car collection appraisals. Your
collection will be assessed by superior appraisers who are exceptionally
detailed and want you to get the most
value from your collection. RM is the
world’s largest vintage automobile
house specializing in vintage automobile restoration, auctions and appraisals. www.rmauctions.com. (CAN)
USAppraisal. 703.759.9100, Over
25 years experience with collector automobiles, available nationwide. David
H. Kinney, ASA (Accredited Senior
Appraiser, American Society of Appraisers). dhkinney@usappraisal.com.
www.usappraisal.com. (VA)
Automobilia
Appraisals
Auto Appraisal Group.
800.848.2886, Offices located nationwide. Pre-purchase inspection service,
insurance matters, charitable donations,
resale vales, estates, expert witness
testimony. On-site inspection. Certified, confidential, prompt, professional.
“Not just one man’s opinion of value.”
See web site for locations and service
descriptions. www.autoappraisal.com.
GMP. 800.536.1637, GMP offers
the best value possible in accurately
detailed diecast models through exhaustive research and development
followed by uncompromising quality
control standards in design, modeling,
and manufacturing. We are the diecast
leaders. Your collection starts here.
www.gmpdiecast.com. (GA)
Steve Austin’s Automobilia &
Great Vacations. 800.452.8434,
European Car Collector tours including Monaco & Goodwood Historics,
private collections, and car manufacturers. Automobile Art importer of
Sports Car Market
legendary artists Alfredo de la Maria
and Nicholas Watts. www.steveaustinsgreatvacations.com.
Buy/Sell/General
Classic Showcase. 760.758.6199,
760.758.0600. sales 760.758.6100.Fullservice restorations. Creating show
winners in a world-classic restoration
facility. Specializing in European
classics. Superb fit; attention to detail;
great craftsmanship. “Where great cars
achieve perfection.” Located in San
Diego County. sales@classicshowcase
.com; www.classicshowcase.com. (CA)
Family Classics. 949.496.3000, Our
showroom houses some of the world’s
most prized classic cars, hot rods,
muscle cars, and modern exotics. If we
don’t have what you want, check backor tel us what you want. We’re equipped
to fi nd numbers matching 100-point
restorations, low-mileage survivors or
just beautiful, reliable drivers.
www.familyclassiccars.com.
Legendary Motorcar Company.
905.875.4700, North America’s premier muscle car center, specialized
in restoring and trading the fi nest and
rarest American muscle. Our 55,000
sq. ft facility and 100 car showroom is
the ultimate car heaven and the home
of Speed TV’s “Dream Car Garage.”
www.legendarymotorcar.com. (ON)
Park Place LTD. 425.562.1000, Park
Place LTD is the West Coast’s largest
luxury, sports and special interest auto
dealership. We’re an authorized dealer
for Aston Martin, Lotus, Spyker, Shelby,
Superformance, and Speedster Recreations and carry collector and special
interest vehicles of all kinds. 20 years
in the business and family-owned; Park
Place LTD is driven to excellence. www
.ParkPlaceLTD.com.
Paul Russell and Company.
978.768.6092, 978.768.3525. Since 1978,
offering restoration and sales of classic
European sports and touring models
from pre-war through 1960s. Successfully brokering Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari,
Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, Alfa Romeo.
Guidance given with emphasis on building long-term relationships. Sales Manager Alex Finigan: Alex@paulrussell
.com www.paulrussell.com. (MA)
The Carcierge. 561.241.6696,
561.241.6613. At The Carcierge, our
facility has been designed to provide
secure storage at appropriate temperature and humidity levels. We also offer
our CarCare program, designed to
protect your automobile from the damage that can occur when it is idle.
www.thecarcierge.com. (FL)
Hagerty Collector Car Insurance.
800.922.4050, Collector cars aren’t like
their late-model counterparts. These
classics actually appreciate in value so
standard market policies that cost significantly more won’t do the job. We’ll agree
on a fair value and cover you for the full
amount. No prorated claims, no hassles,
no games. www.hagerty.com. (MI)
Classic Car Transport
Intercity Lines, Inc.. 800.221.3936,
413.436.9422. Rapid, hassle-free, coastto-coast service. Insured enclosed
transport for your valuable car at affordable prices. State-of-the-art satellite
transport tracking. Complete service
for vintage races, auctions, relocations.
www.intercity.lines.com. (MA)
Motor Auto Express, Inc..
360.661.1734, Enclosed Transport.
MAX cares for what you care for. We
offer Personal, Private, Professional
services with liftgate loading for your
vehicles. Please contact Randy McKinley, Owner. maxiet@gmail.com. (WA)
Collector Car Financing
J.J. BEST BANC & CO. 800.
USA.1965, Call Now or Apply Online.
The nation’s oldest and largest classic
car fi nancing specialist. Low national
fi xed rates starting at 6.99%. Five-minute approvals. Terms up to 12 years.
Simple interest. Pre-qualify for auctions. Financing for Antique, Classic,
Exotic, Hot Rod, Kit, Muscle, Luxury
& Sports cars. Dealer inquiries welcome. www.jjbest.com. (MA)
Collector Car Insurance
Heacock Classic. 800.678.5173, We
understand the passion and needs of the
classic car owner; agreed value, one liability charge, 24-hour claim service and
paying by credit card. We provide classic
car insurance at rates people can afford!
Instant quotes at www.heacockclassic.
com. www.heacockclassic.com. (FL)
JC Taylor. 800.345.8290, Antique,
classic, muscle or modified-J.C. Taylor
Insurance will provide dependable,
dynamic, affordable protection for
your collector vehicle. Agreed Value
Coverage in the continental U.S., even
Alaska. Drive Through Time With
Peace of Mind with J.C. Taylor Insurance. Get a FREE instant quote online.
www.JCTaylor.com. (PA)
Motor Sport Personal Accident
Coverage. 441.297.9439, 441.296.2543.
Email, mcooke@evolution.bm. Limits
up to $1,000,000 including accident
medical and helicopter evacuation.
Comp Capital Ltd. can obtain coverage
at competive rates including drivers
over the age of 65. Either 12 month
policy covering a whole season and or
for specific events. Please contact Mark
Cooke and or Kevin Way.
English
Grundy Worldwide. 800.338.4005,
With 60 years of experience in servic-
June 2008
ing and preserving the collector vehicle
hobby, Grundy provides “The Gold
Standard” of insurance, offering the
most options to you: Agreed Value,
No Model Year Limitation, Unlimited
Mileage, and coverage options for
Spare Parts, Trip Interruption, Towing
and Labor Costs, Inflation Guard, and
Auto Show Medical Reimbursement.
Fast, immediate quotes. www.grundy
.com. (PA)
AC Owner’s Club Limited.
503.643.3225, 503.646.4009. US Registrar: Jim Feldman, 11955 SW Faircrest
St., Portland, OR 97225-4615. The
world’s largest organization of AC owners and enthusiasts. AC ownership not
required. Monthly magazine. (OR)
Aston Martin of New England.
781.547.5959, 85 Linden Street,
Waltham, MA 02452. Proudly appointed Aston Martin Heritage Dealer
for the USA. New and pre-owned Aston
Martins are our specialty. Please contact us when buying, selling or restoring. www.astonmartin-lotus.com. (MA)
Doc’s Jags. 480.951.0777,
480.951.3339. Restoration Center
623.869.8777. 23047 N. 15 Lane, Phoenix, AZ. 85027. The world’s BIGGEST
and BEST Jaguar Web site. #1 in Jaguars
WORLDWIDE. Largest inventory
of all models. Ask for “DOC.” Email
doc@docsjags.com www.docsjags.com.
(AZ)
JWF Restorations, Inc..
503.643.3225, 503.646.4009. Jim Feldman, 11955 SW Faircrest St., Portland,
OR 97225-4615. AC restoration specialist. 35 years experience. Partial to full
restorations done to street or concours
standards. (OR)
Kevin Kay Restorations.
530.241.8337, 1530 Charles Drive,
Redding, CA 96003. Aston Martin
parts, service, repair, and restoration.
From an oil change to a concours-winning restoration, we do it all. Modern
upgrades for power steering, window
motors, fuel systems, and more.
Feltham Fast performance parts in
stock. We also cater to all British and
European cars and motorcycles.
www.kevinkayrestorations.net. (CA)
Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini
Randy Simon. 310.274.7440,
(f)310.274.9809. I constantly collect
and sell all Ferraris, Maseratis, and
Lamborghinis. If I don’t have what you
seek, I can usually fi nd it for you (at low
prices). Please call anytime for straight
advice on the market. Finder’s fee
gladly paid. simonrandy@aol.com (CA)
T. Rutlands. 800.638.1444, The
largest independent Ferrari parts source
in the business. Our vast inventory
includes new, used and rebuilt parts
for vintage and contemporary Ferraris.
Buy your parts where the Ferrari shops
143
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
do. Now, shop 24/7 at www.TRutlands
.com www.TRutlands.com. (GA)
GARAGE/TOOLS
Baldhead Cabinet Company.
877.966.2253, Offering a fi ne selection
of quality metal garage cabinets suitable for shop and residential garage applications. SS and custom colors available. Many modules to choose from.
Call for a custom quote and drawing.
See ad in this issue.
www.baldheadcabinets.com. (CA)
winners in a world-classic restoration
facility. Specializing in European
classics. Superb fit; attention to detail;
great craftsmanship. “Where great cars
achieve perfection.” Located in San
Diego County. sales@classicshowcase
.com; www.classicshowcase.com. (CA)
taillights, headlights, grilles, windshields. Visit our website for complete
listing. www.reoriginals.com. (TX)
Re-Originals. 713.849.2400,
713.849.2401. The U.S. source for original, complete seats and covers, bulk
upholstery materials, original rubber
mats and gaskets, original European
taillights, headlights, grilles, windshields. Visit our website for complete
listing. www.reoriginals.com. (TX)
Doc’s Jags. 480.951.0777,
480.951.3339. Restoration Center
623.869.8777. 23047 N. 15 Lane, Phoenix, AZ. 85027. The world’s BIGGEST
and BEST Jaguar Web site. #1 in Jaguars
WORLDWIDE. Largest inventory
of all models. Ask for “DOC.” Email
doc@docsjags.com. www.docsjags.com.
(AZ)
Restoration - General
Inspections
Deltran Battery Tender.
386.736.7900, Our chargers are the
most technologically advanced in the
world. Microprocessor-controlled fully
automatic “smart chip” charging applies the correct logic to extend battery
life significantly! Safe, dependable and
will not over-charge your car battery!
www.batterytender.com. (FL)
Automobile Inspections LLC..
860.456.4048, “When you need the
job done right.” The nation’s premier
provider of pre-purchase inspections on
classic, exotic and specialty cars of any
year, anywhere in the USA or Canada.
Fast 72-hour turnaround! Hartford, CT.
www.automobileinspections.com. (CT)
Legendary Motorcar Company.
905.875.4700, You may have seen our
award winning, show quality restoration. Our 55,000 sq ft facility is specialized in extreme high-end restorations of
rare American muscle cars. www
.legendary-motorcar.com. (ON)
Parts and Accessories
Racehouse Design. 541.330.8766,
GARAGE DESIGN PLANS FOR
SALE. Racehouse Design has four
portfolios of garage designs: “SPEEDCLUB GARAGES”, “COACH QUARTERS”, “CLASSIC GARAGES”,
and “CAR COTTAGES”. Each plan
is professionally designed by Lawren
Duncan, Designer and Race Enthusiast.
www.racehousedesign.com. (OR)
Covercraft Industries. 800.4.COVERS (426.8377), World’s largest
manufacturer of custom vehicle covers.
Over 58,000 patterns in our library and
we can custom make a cover to your
dimensions. Thirteen (13) fabrics for
indoor/outdoor protection of your classic or daily driver. Made in USA.
www.covercraft.com. (OK)
Performance Restoration.
440.968.3655, High-quality paint, body,
mechanical service. Discreet installation
of a/c, cruise control, superchargers.
Stock restorations done to exacting standards. Clean, well-equipped shop. Near
I-90 since ’96. We finish your projects.
supercharged@alltel.net. (OH)
national specialist historic car consultancy and brokerage company based
on both the East/West Coasts of the US
and the UK offering specialist brokerage services of important historic cars
to buyers and sellers throughout the
world. www.morrisandwelford.com.
(CA/CT/United Kingdom)
RM Auctions, Inc.. 800.211.4371,
519.351.1337. Our team of highly qualified professionals with over 25 years
of experience will perform complete
classic car collection appraisals. Your
collection will be assessed by superior appraisers who are exceptionally
detailed and want you to get the most
value from your collection. RM is the
world’s largest vintage automobile
house specializing in vintage automobile restoration, auctions and appraisals. www.rmauctions.com. (CAN)
Tires
Only Oldies Garage. 480.966.9887,
The Southwests Only Coker Tire Distributor! Contact us for Best Pricing on
all Classic Tires. Only Oldies Specializes in all Classic Service from Pre-war
- 60’s Muscle. We Don’t Restore ’em…
We Keep ‘em Running Right. www
.onlyoldiesgarage.com. (AZ)
Vintage Events
German
Alex Dearborn. 978.887.6644,
978.887.3889. Topsfield, MA> Buying,
selling and trading vintage Mercedes.
Specializign in 300SLs. Large database
of older M-Bs. www.dearbornauto.com.
(MA)
Classic Showcase. 760.758.6199,
760.758.0600. sales 760.758.6100.Fullservice restorations. Creating show
144
Griot’s Garage. 800.345.5789, The
ultimate online store for automotive
accessories and car care products.
www.griotsgarage.com. (WA)
Re-Originals. 713.849.2400,
713.849.2401. The U.S. source for original, complete seats and covers, bulk
upholstery materials, original rubber
mats and gaskets, original European
The Healey Werks. 800.251.2113,
712.944.4940. Premier automobile restoration company specializing in exotic,
European and classic cars. Complete
structural and body reconstruction, upholstery, world-class paint/refinishing,
engineering, prototyping and mechanical
services. Transport and logistical services
available. www.healeywerks.com. (IA)
Sports and Competition
Muscle Car 1000. 949.838.7076,
October 7–12, 2007. This six-day luxury tour of Southern California includes
exceptional muscle cars, exclusive
activities, exquisite dinners, premium
hotels, great friends, and fi ne wine.
We’re covering Orange County, San
Diego, Palm Desert, Lake Arrowhead,
Beverly Hills, and a great deal in between. Reserved for 1964-73 American
muscle cars, 1962–68 Cobras, 1955–73
Corvettes. Apply early, as space is limited. www.musclecar1000.com. (CA) ♦
Morris and Welford. 714.434.856
2/203.222.3862, We operate an inter-
Sports Car Market
June 2008
145
Carl Bomstead
eWatch
Packard Neon Brings a Dazzling Price
Packard ephemera, Shell watch, Hot Wheels collectible, and low # Oregon
plate reward collectors
A spectacular collection of early automotive radiator badges was recently offered on eBay.
Carl’s
Thought The seller stated they were from his father-in-law’s estate and that he had been well known in
collecting circles. In all, 15 badges were offered, and they sold in the $250- to $450-range. They included
a colorful diecut badge for a 1912 Beggs, as well as badges for the 1917 Yale 8, Delling Steam Car, Walker
Electric, and the Niagra Motor Car. The mounting studs had been ground off, but other than that they
were all in excellent condition. The seller cashed in to the tune of about $5,000—but he gave up some
exceptional pieces of automotive history. This is just another example of the passion of one generation not
transferring down to the next, and it’s part of the reason we’re going to see so many collections, of so many
types, coming on the market in the next decade.
These are some of the other goodies that crossed my screen this month.
EBAY #230227576421—14-FOOT
PACKARD DOUBLE-SIDED
PORCELAIN NEON SIGN. Number
of Bids: 23. SOLD AT: $17,977.88.
Date Sold: 3/09/2008. This tall sign
would have hung on the exterior wall of
a Packard dealership. This example was in excellent condition and all
the wiring and neon had been replaced or restored to original condition. These show up from time to time, but they are seldom offered in
this condition, so price—while expensive—was not out of line. Next
issue will be getting it home and hung on the wall without breaking
the neon tubes.
EBAY #280205734014—GOLDEN SHELL
POCKET WATCH WITH FOB. Number of Bids: 12.
SOLD AT: $426. Date Sold: 3/08/2008. As part of a
1940 Shell advertising campaign, the company wanted
to prove that their motor oil could lubricate a fine
watch. Shell commissioned Girard-Perregaux to produce 30,000 see-through “skeletonized” watches that
were sold at Shell stations for only $5. Two different
Shell fobs were used during the advertising campaign. This was offered
with the 1940 full-color magazine ad for the watches. These show up
every now and then and usually sell for between $400 and $500, so this
one was a good buy, especially since it included the ad.
EBAY #320217391889—PACKARD
TWELVE CATALOG PRINTED IN 1933.
Number of Bids: 18. SOLD AT: $1,885. Date
Sold: 2/15/2008. This exceptional catalog was for
the 1934 Packard Twelve, which was introduced on
August 22, 1933. The parchment cover of the catalog was very fragile, but this one was in absolutely
perfect condition. The striking colors used on
some of the cars in the catalog give credence to the bolder restorations
we see today at major concours. This Packard catalog had the original
mailing envelope, and a salesman’s card was clipped to the first page.
I’ve never seen this catalog in such exceptional condition, and think it
was an absolute bargain.
EBAY #380004220791—
HELMS DAIRY NAME
BADGE WITH DIVCO
TRUCK. Number of Bids: 12.
SOLD AT: $536.50. Date Sold:
3/14/2008. This badge was actually for the Helms Bakery, which
was founded in Los Angeles in
1931. They had a fleet of 300
Divco trucks with special trays
and shelves for bakery products
that served the L.A. basin. They
were also the official bakery for
the 1932 Olympics held in Los
Angeles. Transportation costs and
the advent of the supermarket led
to the company’s demise in 1969.
There are a few Divco trucks that
have been restored to their original Helms livery, and this badge
would complete the uniform for
the driver. Interesting and fun
piece of L.A. history.
EBAY #270215575219—
REDLINE HOT WHEELS
1967 CAMARO WITH
COLLECTOR BADGE.
Number of Bids: 17. SOLD AT:
$611.99. Date Sold: 3/5/2008.
The badge and Camaro were
give-aways included in a box of
Post cereal some time in the late
’60s or early ’70s. They were still
in their original bags. The car was
in good condition, with the hood
opening to show the engine bay.
Hard to believe someone held
onto a trinket from a cereal box
all these years, but he pocketed
$600 for his trouble.
EBAY #370018118291—VINTAGE DIECUT
FISK TIRE CARDBOARD ADVERTISING.
Number of Bids: 8. SOLD AT: $190.26. Date
Sold: 2/07/2008. Very early 3˝ x 3˝ cardboard Fisk
Tires stand-up advertising piece with child and
famous “Time to Retire” logo. The small boy has a
candle in his hand and is ready for bed. This piece
was in exceptional condition and well worth the
money. Cool piece that would look great in a collection of automotive
advertising.
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
Sports Car Market (ISSN #1527859X) is published monthly by Automotive Investor Media Group, 401 NE 19th Street, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97232. Periodicals postage
paid at Portland, OR, and at additional mailing offices.
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Make checks to: Sports Car Market. Visa/MC accepted. For instant subscription, call 24-hours 800.289.2819, 503.261.0555; fax 503.253.2234; www.sportscarmarket.com.
146
EBAY #120229581480—
1939 OREGON LICENSE
PLATE #17. Number of Bids:
18. SOLD AT: $337.50. Date
Sold: 3/11/2008. The seller stated
that low number plates in Oregon
were raffled off in the 1930s.
Whether true or not, low-number
plates are always desirable and
usually much more expensive
than what was paid here. Good
thing SCM world headquarters
in Portland does not have a 1939
model in the staff car fleet.
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
Sports Car Market
PO Box 4797, Portland, OR 97208
CPC IPM Sales Agreement No. 1296205
Sports Car Market