THE ULTIMATE MONTEREY AUCTION BUYERS GUIDE! 8 MARKET INSIDERS NAME THEIR TOP 24 PICKS
Updated: Aug 22, 2022
Welcome to our fourth annual roster of the top 24 auction vehicles slated for the coming Monterey car week. I've invited seven esteemed market insiders to join me by sharing their three "gotta have" rides, and I think their choices speak directly to the hearts and soul's of our writers and the market at large.
Each panelist has picked one lot from the three signature auctions at Monterey Car Week: Bonhams, Gooding and RM-Sotheby's. Selections are based on the individual's personal preferences, and not necessarily the most valuable or popular vehicle. Each contributor has also offered up their personal auction presale estimates in conjunction with house estimates. All prices are in U.S. Dollars.
This year we have two former panelists rejoining the fold plus a new contributor making for an exciting and eclectic mix of varied perspectives. Welcome: Nick Candee, Rich Doucette, Mark Lizewskie, Tim McGrane, Glenn Mounger, Verity Spencer, Bill Warner... and yours truly.
Our Top 24 Monterey Auction Insider Top Picks is sure to raise the temperature at this year's event! Thanks so much to all of you.
The results are in! Please post your comments below.
IMAGE COURTESY BONHAMS, GOODING, RM-SOTHEBY'S
BILL WARNER - Founder & Chairman Emeritus Amelia Island Concours
#1 1969 Lamborghini Miura S P400 - Bonhams
BILL'S ESTIMATE: $2.6M
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $1.7 - 2.2M
SOLD: $1.9M
Great looking car but a shame it is not an SV. Restored by the dean of Lamborghinis, Gary Bobileff. A La Jolla shop isolated engine from the gearbox by splitting the sump as per SV specs yet the difference in the S and SV goes beyond that. The chassis on the SV was more robust, hence more desirable, but any Miura is highly regarded among the cognoscenti. Originally sold in La Jolla, California it was used sparingly until later in its life; Lamborghini engineer and factory test driver in the Miura era, Claudio Zampolli, performed a full restoration. These cars could be thought of as being aerodynamically challenged at over 120 MPH as they are subject to nose lift. At the time—and even today—it is a groundbreaking design which over 50 years later still makes a design statement that is fresh and exciting. Arguably the best of builder Bertone and designer Gandini. The late General Motors manager of Design, Dave Holls, once commented to me that the magic of the Miura design was that if you did not know any better, you were really not sure just where the motor was located! With 385 HP on tap and a wonderful carbureted transverse V-12 just behind your ears, it offers an experience that few cars can meet. It is a car that would be welcome at any concours in the world and give the owner great pride in owning one of the most beautiful sports/GT cars ever built.
... if you did not know any better, you were really not sure just where the motor was located.
#2 1985 March 85GTP/Chevy - Gooding
BILL'S ESTIMATE: $325,000
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $250,000 - 350,000
SOLD: $257,600
You have to want one as if you are a serious racer and you’ll be in with the Porsche 962’s. Eleven March 85GTPs were made in 1985 with no particular exceptional history or wins. It is the Uncola of GTP cars once owned by airline pilot and race driver, William “Bill” Wonder who also owned an early Ford GT40 and a McLaren M8F. Nice car, but expensive to maintain even with a Chevy motor.
... the Uncola of GTP cars.
#3 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spyder - RM-Sotheby's
BILL'S ESTIMATE: $850,000
RM-SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATE: $1.2 - 1.6M
SOLD: $995,000
I used to own one of these and they are great drivers; in fact, wish I had kept it. Not a sports car per se, but a wonderful road car capable of covering long distances in great comfort. I found it to be easier to drive (power steering) than my Ferrari Daytona. The belt drive system for the air pump, AC, alternator, etc. is a real Rube Goldberg design and can be problematic. The water pump drive is equally a nightmare with two Heim joints on a short cable tying the two pulleys together. Break the cable then look for a hotel room. With only 125 Ghibli Spyders built (both 4.7 and 4.9) it is rare to see one today. It is outstandingly beautiful. Being a prototype carries some panache but being a prototype can be both a blessing and a curse. You choose! Other’s have sold in the $700-800K level. I sold mine, with cooling upgrade for $725K at Amelia several years ago. I’d love to see it break $ 1M and would be well worth it. Figure if a Daytona Spyder is north of $2M, then a Ghibli Spyder should be a bargain at $1M—providing any car at $1M can be considered a bargain!
Being a prototype carries some panache but being a prototype can be both a blessing and a curse.
GLENN MOUNGER - Chairman Emeritus The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
#1 1937 Bugatti Type 57 SC Atalante - Gooding
GLENN'S ESTIMATE: $9-10M
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $10-12M
SOLD: $10.3M
While perusing the Gooding & Company catalog, several cars caught my eye. However, this Bugatti Type 57SC was just too special to pass up. It’s the kind of car that dreams are made of. These extraordinary cars capture the passion, imagination and sublime motoring adventure like no other car. Essentially the last of the great supercharged sporting coupes from this era. The encroaching war would put a halt to the flamboyance and artistry of the Art Deco period, and this is partly why I’ve selected this absolutely sublime example. The low chassis, curvaceous Jean Bugatti coachwork, the delicately bobbed roofline and impossibly low hood, create a car that seems to have stopped time; like all great moments of artistry, we stand in awe. This Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante has the additional distinction of being a rare, supercharged car, inclusive of historically important ownership, but most importantly, captivatingly beautiful in every respect. I anticipate a very strong result for this example.
... a car that seems to have stopped time.
#2 1929 Duesenberg Murphy Sport Sedan - RM-Sotheby's
GLENN'S ESTIMATE: $1.5 - 1.8M
RM-SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATE: $1.2 - 1.5M
SOLD: $1.7M
This choice was driven by the clean and pure look of this exemplary marque and therefore my top pick from a strong group of cars in this auction. Every automotive decade offers a pinnacle of performance, prestige, and elegance, but Duesenberg managed to hit all those qualities in their cars. It’s not a stretch to say that Duesenberg remains today the best American car ever built and quite possibly will continue to be for decades to come. Not only does this Sports Sedan deliver all the elegance and refinement of a Duesenberg, it goes several steps further: The stunning Murphy body design, the Fran Roxas restoration and a list of previous owners that reads like a Who’s Who of Classic Car Collecting. Add the understated black wall tires, dark body color and raked windscreen and you have a certain statement of American hand-crafted excellence that we may never see again.
It’s not a stretch to say that Duesenberg remains today the best American car ever built...
#3 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition - Bonham's
GLENN'S ESTIMATE: $6-7M
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $7.5 - 9.5M
NO SALE, HI BID: $6.3M
Of the three auctions we were asked to cover, there were a lot of Porsches, Ferraris, and other wonderful postwar sports cars, however this one stood out to me. The Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition sports car exemplifies the international excitement of the world of motorsports racing, especially in the halcyon days of 1960s racing. A gorgeous British car, backed by American Briggs Cunningham and raced at Le Mans makes for a diverse history united by performance excellence. But on top of that, this is one of just a handful built using a light alloy body coupled with Jaguar’s brilliant twin-cam engine in competition tune. If you’ve never owned an E-Type, the lightweight is the epitome of one of the most beautiful cars ever built—design perfection seamlessly framed into legendary competition history. With previous record sales in the millions of dollars it wouldn’t surprise me to see this one hit the estimate.
... design perfection seamlessly framed into legendary competition history.
MARK LIZEWSKIE - Executive Director of the Rolls-Royce Owners' Club and the Rolls-Royce Foundation
#1 1933 Rolls-Royce PII Tourer by Barker- Gooding
MARK'S ESTIMATE: $525,000
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $375,000 - 400,000
SOLD: $456,000
This particular offering from Gooding was not my first Rolls-Royce pick from their catalog, but for sentimental reasons I must go with this one. While it has a lot going for it, the top reason I want this Proper Motor Car in my garage was its most recent owner, the late Bill Davis. If you have been a RROC or CCCA member and attended any number of concours, then Bill needs no introduction. If you didn’t know him, look up any dictionary under “Gentleman” and his picture by all rights should be there. Out of 1,681 Phantom IIs produced, only 281 were the short wheelbase Continentals. 4PY took center stage at the 1933 Paris Salon, and was used by King George V for inspecting RAF planes. Both Bill and the previous owner meticulously maintained this car, upgrading with a roller cam and overdrive. Bill drove this Rolls in a numerous Motoring Classics to Pebble Beach, always adorned with the honorary #1 license plate. It is a fabulous car, well documented and sorted, which is reason enough to have it. Bill nicknamed her, “The Green Dragon” for obvious reasons, but the underbidders will be green with envy for missing out! Raise your hand a few extra times and pay a premium to honor him and own a Bill Davis Legacy car.
... used by King George V for inspecting RAF planes.
#2 1936 Lancia Astura Cabriolet Series III 'Tipo Bocca' by Pinin Farina - RM-Sotheby's
MARK'S ESTIMATE: $1.65M
RM-SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATE: $1.5 - 2M
SOLD: $1.38M
Once again, I am going with sentimental value with this pick. RM Sotheby’s sale of the late Oscar Davis’ collection is a great addition to their Monterey sale, and any of his cars could be a crown jewel in someone’s collection. Oscar was a great person and will be missed by all who knew him. This Lancia Astura was always one of my favorites in his collection—I was at the 2017 Orin Smith sale when Oscar acquired this car, and was fortunate enough to go over it briefly before delivering it to him. Lancias have always been known for being technologically advanced, so marrying the great narrow V8 engine and other chassis features to this gorgeous coachwork is the best of both worlds. This short wheelbase Astura was Pinin Farina’s show car at the 1936 Milan Motor Show, and lists Barney Pollard and the former President of the American Lancia Club in its provenance.
... any of his [Oscar Davis] cars could be a crown jewel in someone’s collection.
#3 1925 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model Tourer
MARK'S ESTIMATE: $415,000
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $350,000 - 450,000
Hi BID $275,000, REPORTED SOLD NO PRICE GIVEN
The 3 Litre was W.O.’s introduction to the company bearing his name, and everyone who owns a 3 Litre loves driving them. This Vintage Bentley is a nice alternative from the ‘typical’ Vanden Plas Tourers that usually people (including me) desire. Chassis 921 is one of only 130 highly-desirable Speed models built that year, so it features the short 9 x 9 ½ chassis and the high compression engine with the twin SU sloper carburetors. It wears its original Taylor body, which casts a striking silhouette. The better view would be from behind the wheel as the next owner motors down the road! You can spend a lot more on one of the bigger Vintage Bentleys offered during the Monterey week, but this is the one I would choose and happily drive everywhere.
... you can spend a lot more on one of the bigger Vintage Bentleys offered during the Monterey week, but this is the one I would choose and happily drive everywhere.
RICH DOUCETTE - Founding Chair The Boston Cup
As a Benzaholic since birth owning a 190SL, 230, 250, 280, 380, 450, 560 and many more. I love these roadsters having just purchased a 1978 450SL in Scottsdale at Gooding in January once owned by Hollywood movie star and teen recording idol James Darren. I spoke with 86 year old "Jimmy" Darren about the car which he loved but is culling the herd. He was and is a real car guy.
I have chosen three similar but different classic Mercedes two-seater roadsters. These are the Model #W113 designed by Paul Bracq and produced from 1963 until 1971. Many know them as the "Pagoda" series for its distinctive concave removable hardtop.
#1 1964 Mercedes-Benz 230 SL Pininfarina Coupe Speciale - Gooding
RICH'S ESTIMATE: $900,000
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $1M+
SOLD: $1.2M
After the 230 SL roadster’s introduction in 1963, Pininfarina approached Mercedes-Benz to produce a fixed-roof version of the car and the task was handed to a 29-year old American designer, Tom Tjaarda, who had come over from Ghia after working on the Ferrari 330 GT 2+2. Though difficult to comprehend today, early press reports did not embrace the SL's Pagoda styling and the Italian firm was eager to put their stamp on the design. Tjaarda applied subtle changes such as canting the front grille, flattening the side profile and reshaping the contours of the deck lid. While still an SL-based design—with its thin A- and C-pillars—the car took on a unique appearance though limited to coupe form. The new PF SL debuted and the 1964 Paris Auto Show to great acclaim and over 30 customer pre-orders but insufficient to justify production thus relegating the lovely coupe to a one-off. Today, the PF SL has been restored back to its original German racing Silver and upgraded seats like only the Italians can do. Personally, I prefer a manual gearbox in this model range to overcome their underpowered automatic counterparts. But who's complaining? A class win at Pebble beach adds to the value and certainly sets the stage for more concours wins to come!
Though difficult to comprehend today, early press reports did not embrace the SL's Pagoda styling...
#2 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL - Bonhams
RICH'S ESTIMATE: $250,000
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $200,000 - 230,000
SOLD: $179,200
This mostly original 1970 280SL is equipped with the rare ZF 5-Speed manual transmission and therefore rare and highly desirable. Comes with original window sticker, service book, owner's manual, tool kit, jack and spare tire.
#3 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL - RM-Sotheby's
RICH'S ESTIMATE: $200,000
RM-SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATE: $200,000 - 250,000
SOLD: $324,000
This 1971 280SL comes from the last year of production. By then Mercedes pretty much had perfected the car before they retired it in favor of the R107. This example was restored by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center that has access to the best parts in the world. Has all the bells and whistles including Frigiking AC, Becker radio and tools. Original MB-Tex upholstery which wears like iron and boosts value.
VERITY SPENCER - Auction Coordinator at Shiftgate Auctions and Curator at Cars With Personality
#1 1971 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 - Bonhams
VERITY'S ESTIMATE: $220,000 - 280,000
BONHAMS'S ESTIMATE: $275,000 - 325,000
NO SALE, HI BID: $210,000
Confession—I was recently banned from the 365gtc4.com forum. Apparently, I violated a minor membership rule by not owning one. The 365 GTC/4 is a wedgy Ferrari that debuted just seconds (In car years) before the three major 1970s car design influencers, much more annoying than today’s version, US emissions controls, the energy crisis, and the oh-so-clunky Five-MPH impact bumpers. The 365 GTC/4 just made it. Nonetheless, over the past several years it was still just a “newer” Ferrari in my typically early car-loving periphery. I’d notice it, but then I would move on. However, after spending an afternoon with S/N 15255, a later production car to this one, I am now a great admirer. The DOHC powerplant roared, pulling up hills with an exhaust note that only a V12 can produce. The engine refreshingly recognizable; one can quickly spot any of the six Weber carburetors. It was surprisingly easy to drive, steering made possible by the factory addition of power steering (looking at you Daytona). The GTC is outfitted with just "enough" modern car comforts: A/C, leather seats with fabric inserts, power windows and wait for it… disc brakes. The fact that this car still sports its California Blue plate reading "72 GTC" suggests it has been under discerning care since new. With just over 500 cars produced, if you buy this grigio darling and manage to get into the forum, please tell us what we are missing.
The DOHC powerplant roared, pulling up hills with an exhaust note that only a V12 can produce.
#2 1955 Lancia Aurelia B24S Spider America - Gooding
VERITY'S ESTIMATE: $1.2 - 1.5M
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $1.4 - 1.8M
NO SALE, HI BID: $1M
I suddenly have the urge to color-match everything in my life to go with this Lancia. The color is, for me, quintessential 1950s. A car developed under the precise engineering care of Vittorio Jano following his success and departure from Alfa Romeo. With this B24S Spider you are getting the complete package. Stylish coachwork penned by Pinin Farina, and a car engineered during one of the most exciting eras of Motorsport competition. Lancia was never a typical automotive manufacturer. If a car could have a 50/50 balance of romance and advanced engineering, that is Lancia. A company known for staying decades ahead of technology trends, they have been using independent suspension and monocoque chassis construction since 1921. Truth be told, I have never seen one of these with a hardtop, and now, I’m never going back; I proclaim every spider must from here on out have a removable hardtop. The best part of Lancia ownership? You will be safe from keyboard warriors commenting that those aren’t the correct screw heads or seat piping. With only 240 cars built, you’ll be safe here from all the “experts”.
If a car could have a 50/50 balance of romance and advanced engineering, that is Lancia.
#3 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C "Tulipwood" Torpedo by Nieuport-Astra - RM-Sotheby's
VERITY'S ESTIMATE: $4 - 6M
RM-SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATE: $8 - 12M
SOLD: $9.2M
Spoiler alert: The ‘Spruce Goose’ is not made of Spruce and this ‘Tulipwood Torpedo’ is not made of Tulipwood, however both wood-bodied oddities are truly one of one, built by wealthy creatives of their time (Name that Wood in the comments section below!). This torpedo shaped racecar was built for Aperitif heir, André Dubonnet. Since new this "Hisso" has evolved to represent to me the Golden Era of car collecting. A car that was iconic to the post-war world of Collector Cars. Fawned over and written about by the likes of Floyd Clymer, Strother MacMinn and Peter Helck. A car that can sit amongst the wildest of prewar designs, i.e., the “Twenty Grand” Duesenberg or “Jonckheere Coupe” and hold its own. I have never actually seen this car in real life or as the kids say “IRL”, but it feels like I have with countless ephemeral representations viewed over the years. A car that has been made into posters, models, stamps, collectors’ plates and more. For most of its life, it has been tucked away in private collections around the world. Perhaps the new caretaker might embark on undoing the chrome and verifying what the original brightwork might have been? What a fulfilling challenge to return this car to a more era-appropriate wood furniture varnish to make this what was once a 160-lb racecar body racy again. Personally, I’d love to see the configuration that finished 6th overall at the 1924 Targa Florio with André Dubonnet behind the wheel. How about a reunion with the Dubonnet Xenia parked side by side? This car in my mind is a symbol of a bygone era of car collecting, and I hope to meet you one day soon to reminisce.
... this ‘Tulipwood Torpedo’ is not made of Tulipwood...
NICK CANDEE - AMOC Historian and Co-author ASTON MARTIN DB4GT
#1 1935 Aston Martin Ulster, Works Demonstrator - Bonhams
NICK'S ESTIMATE: $1.1M
BONHAMS'S ESTIMATE: $800,000 - 1M
NO SALE, HI BID: $720,000
I’ve known and loved this pre-war Aston for nearly four decades. My late friend David Llewellyn Van Schaick /DLVS and his son, DLVS Jr., campaigned it in events across the country. Documented in over eight pages in the fabulous book by the Archers, father and sons, from Palawan Press in 2011, Aston Martin Ulster, it is clear this Aston has been in the spotlight all of its life. DLVS won his first race in it at the Aston Martin Owner's Club (AMOC) Lime Rock in 1983, his first year of ownership. I particularly love that the Ulster still sports its red and green scrutineering sticker on the front registration plate from the Chicago Historic Races at Road America 1987! While not a team car like some stablemates, it was subject of a very positive road test. This comes with a spare two-seater body; in either form, desirable. I call this a destination classic car. Choose and budget where you’d like to go: Mille Miglia retrospective, Monterey Historics, Le Mans Classics—any vintage event in the world. You will be a hit at almost any party! (Of note: 31 Ulsters were built, ten of which were Works Team Cars.)
I call this a destination classic car ... any vintage event in the world.
#2 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing - Gooding
NICK'S ESTIMATE: $2.2M
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $2 -2.5M
SOLD: $2.0M
As a teen in the early 1960s I was besotted by the 300SL in all its variants. In the 1970s I passed on buying a 300SL Roadster with Rudge wheels and European headlights because my gurus said $5,800 was too much money (it had a hard top but no soft top, and was retrimmed in vinyl). In 1988 I spent two days in Scottsdale interviewing John Wyer (he won championships for Aston Martin, Ford, Porsche, Mirage) and quizzed him about the creation of the DB4 in the late 1950s. I asked if any cars were the benchmark for Aston’s design team, and he said, "the 300SL." David Brown loaned them his 300SL Gullwing and the Aston Martin DB4 made history as a beautiful handling GT car, among the best of Les Grandes Routieres. I like this 300 SL for the Rudge knock-off wheels, and more subtle specs: Motor mit Sonderteilen für sportliches Fahren (motor with special parts for sporty driving), commonly referred to as the NSL series engine. Even if this 300SL does not appear to have a racing history, it offers period performance enhancements for grand touring!
In the 1970s I passed on buying a 300SL Roadster ... because my gurus said $5,800 was too much money.
#3 Arnolt-Bristol Bolide Works Racer - RM-Sotheby's
NICK'S ESTIMATE: $450,000
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $400,000 - 475,000
SOLD: $329,500
The 2019 Greenwich Concours featured “The Cars of Stanley Harold “Wacky” Arnolt," vehicles bodied by Bertone with British chassis and engines such as the likes of Aston Martin, Bristol and MG. I was delighted to meet Wacky’s son Michael Arnolt, with whom I’d been corresponding on the Aston variants for some time. This is a beautiful race car, enhanced by the provenance of its 4th place at Le Mans piloted by the great Rene Dreyfus. Mr. Dreyfus was a hero even before Neil Bascomb’s excellent 2020 book Faster: How a Jewish Driver, an American Heiress, and a Legendary Car Beat Hitler’s Best. The Arnolt-Bristol is collectible as a rare coach built car in a category I call “English Etceterini” for British motors with sleek European bodies—and as the Brits say, this Arnolt "ticks all the boxes" of beauty, provenance and distinctiveness. I hope to see it again and again. Curiously, Lemmings just ran an article speculating on why these cars don’t bring more money! Of note: 142 Arnolt Bristols were built and perhaps 85 are extant including one of four Works racers; one of two fitted with front disc brakes and remote shifter
Driven by René Dreyfus to 4th in class at the 1955 Sebring 12-Hour race. This fabulous bolide is eligible for premier vintage racing events worldwide and carries the wreaths of participating in the 2010 Mille Miglia.
This is a beautiful race car, enhanced by the provenance of its 4th place at Le Mans piloted by the great Rene Dreyfus.
TIM MCGRANE - Chief Executive Officer M1 Concourse
#1 - 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo - Gooding
TIM'S ESTIMATE: $5-7M
GODDING'S ESTIMATE: $6-8M
SOLD: $5.6M
In 2008 Porsche returned to the victory podium at the Sebring 12 Hours taking the overall victory with the RS Spyder sports prototype and ending Audi's eight-year overall winning streak. It had been twenty years after the last overall win for Porsche in 1988 at the long-distance classic in Florida so the win was another milestone in the Porsche Race record history. The Penske RS Spyder would go on to win both the LMP2 Team and drivers' championship and Porsche won the manufacturers' championship by one point that year. That winning car is still in the collection of Team Penske. The 2007 Porsche RS Spyder Evo can lay claim to being part of that Porsche history DNA. With the increase in interest in the number of showcase Festival style speed events as well as historic race series such as the Master Historic Racing Endurance series, both in the US and in Europe, there are a number of opportunities for a new owner to enjoy this ALMS era LMP2 for what it was built for. One hopes that the car will be acquired by an enthusiastic collector/racer that gets it on the track… and an automatic invitation to Rennesport 2023!
... there are a number of opportunities for a new owner to enjoy this ALMS era LMP2 for what it was built for.
#2 1910 Pope-Hartford Model W 50-HP "Racer" - Bonhams
TIM'S ESTIMATE: $275,000 - 375,000
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $400,000 - 500,000
SOLD: $445,000
Coming from the legendary Lindley Bothwell collection, this car represents one of the high points of brass era motoring. A very successful Southern California citrus farmer, at one time Bothwell had one of the largest private antique automobile collections, some of which he raced in the 40s and 50s resulting in Lindley ‘creating’ vintage car racing in the US. The much-anticipated 2017 auction in Woodland Hills saw the cars in this collection become available for the first time in decades. With its ownership provenance, an ideal car for participating in the increasing number of Brass Era club rallies and, with its high-horsepower four-cylinder engine, sufficient performance to more than hold its own on any of the major tours if you’re up for that exhilarating ‘raceabout’ motoring experience. As much as a lot of the identity of the car is in its current guise, it would be great to see this car with better ‘presentation’.
... an ideal car for participating in the increasing number of Brass Era club rallies...
#3 1958 Ferrari 250 GT PF Cabriolet Series 1 - RM-Sotheby's
TIM'S ESTIMATE: $6.5 - 7.5M
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $6 - 7M
SOLD: $6.8M
Probably one of the most stylish Ferrari road cars with its covered headlamps, chrome fender vents and bumperettes being emphasized by the black paintwork. I had the privilege of being the Executive Director of the Blackhawk Automotive Museum for a number of years and this was one of the exceptional Ferrari road cars that were on display. Its ownership history that benefitted by inclusion of long-time west coast Ferrari racer David Love (David raced his 250TR at the Monterey Historics from 1974 thru 2009) that resulted in the original engine being repatriated with the car. The Ferrari Classiche Red Book certification is being completed will be provided upon purchase which will document the provenance of the car. There are a number of very significant Ferraris being offered at the Monterey auctions so it will be interesting to see how they all do, and I believe that this distinctive example will do well.
Probably one of the most stylish Ferrari road cars with its covered headlamps, chrome fender vents and bumperettes being emphasized by the black paintwork.
ERIC KILLORIN - Owner Olympian Cars
#1 - 1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Coupe Royale by Touring - RM-Sotheby's
ERIC'S ESTIMATE: $850,000
RM-SOTHEBY'S ESTIMATE: $900 - 1.2M
SOLD: $720,000
This lot has special meaning to me. It is one of the four known remaining 1931-32 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GTC Coupe Royales produced by Touring and near identical to the example owned by my family in the late 1940s. The RM vehicle is a 1980s restoration and wears a distinctive running board transition between front and rear fenders and an emphasized fender arch over the front tires; indeed, each iteration was unique in some respects out of the estimated ten originally constructed. I love the pale yellow/black paint scheme and the understated painted wire wheels versus chrome that seem to frequent so many restored cars of this era. The auction listing remarks of a replacement engine and a reconstructed trunk concealing the twin rear spares. Examining photos from our family's Alfa, however, confirms the trunk lacks the svelte lines of the original. On a field full of Spyders and all manner of open Alfa 1750s—original and otherwise—it is refreshing to see what can only be described as Touring really delivering a unique and elegant closed design. Bullish as I am, I see a final sale price slightly below the house estimate. Oh, the joy to own my Dad's 1750 all over again, but that's another story!
... refreshing to see what can only be described as Touring really delivering a unique and elegant closed design.
#2 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Club Sport - Gooding
ERIC'S ESTIMATE: $375,000
GOODING'S ESTIMATE: $400,000 - 500,000
SOLD: $467,000
I am all over this fabulous 1989 Porsche Carrera 3.2 Club Sport in a paint-to-sample Linden Green and rare "Celebration" black and patterned cloth interior. The Club Sport weighed in about 150 lbs under a fully optioned 911 thanks to a long list of accessory deletes ranging from A/C to electric windows and rear wiper. Performance improved just slightly but here's where rarity and colors can really make a difference in valuation. You won't see yourself in the rear view mirror and even the controversial whale tail looks just right. Full disclosure: I'm no Porsche expert but being true to this article's theme to vote with your heart, my blood pressure is pegging the Lust Meter! Porsche values have sky rocketed in recent years, effectively becoming out of reach for everyday enthusiasts and perhaps Gooding' valuation for this example is extrapolating on that phenom?
... rarity and colors can really make a difference in valuation.
#3 1930 Packard Deluxe Eight Dual-Cowl Phaeton - Bonhams
ERIC'S ESTIMATE: $250,000
BONHAM'S ESTIMATE: $275,000 - 325,000
NO SALE, HI BID: $210,000
The model year 1930 marked Packard's seventh series and just one year away from the end of the "Flat Radiator" cars. The coach lines are relatively basic and very much grounded in the twenties yet lithe and sporting thanks to designer Ray Dietrich's deft hand. This original example is powered by the larger 385 cubic inch straight eight engine. And speaking of original, this Packard is purported to have just 15,628 miles from new and wears most of its original paint. The interior, top, side curtains and engine compartment are described as all original. A recent mechanical refurbishment gave the car new legs while retaining as much of its original fit and finish as possible. Multiple Preservation Class wins including Pebble Beach attest to this Packard's time-warp status. Yet therein lies a conundrum for the new owner: What's next? Also, at Gooding's 2021 Pebble Beach sale, an original 1928 Model 443 phaeton made just $78,400, albeit without comparable provenance. At this year's RM-Sotheby's auction, a restored 1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Phaeton is estimated at just $140,000 - 180,000. This Bonhams lot is a special car indeed and the eventual results will assertively speak to what a buyer will pay for originality.
... this Packard is purported to have just 15,628 miles from new...
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