Russo and Steele, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Scottsdale, Arizona January 18-22, 2017

Russo and Steele in 2017 made a long-awaited move some five years in the making to the Salt River Fields adjacent to the Loop 101 highway.

It was vastly successful, with room for more cars, better access, excellent visibility and largely free of the scrub brush and prickly things that made the area surrounding the old Scottsdale Road location feel like the set for a spaghetti western. Salt River Fields even had grass.

And Russo and Steele laid on the facilities, taking full advantage of the larger site with better presentation of the cars during the preview and a larger, more user-friendly, lineup area.

So it’s no surprise that they had a few more cars, and sold a lot more than that, with a sale up 124 cars, 25.5%, from last year, with a healthy 78.8% sell-through. Average and median transaction values, however, have steadily declined over the past three years.

The new location seems to mark a page-turning for Russo and Steele. They are an important part of the Scottsdale auction scene for whom this exciting, friendly, accessible venue provides the basis for future growth and success.

Here are the numbers:

Year
Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2017 611/775 78.8% $36,397 $26,400

[72.5%]

$22,238,767
2016 487/724 62.3% $40,054 $27,500

[68.7%]

$19,508,245
2015 454/662 68.8% $43,551 $28,600

[65.7%]

$19,772,158
2014 490/748 65.5% $47,398 $32,670

[68.9%]

$23,225,087

On-site observations and photography by the editor, Andrew Newton, Tim Weadock and Greg Ingold, © 2017 as their separate interests apply; final editing and comments are the responsibility of the editor.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG6150_F438_Iso_1969_Lele_Coupe_500087__900.jpgLot # F438 1969 Iso Lele Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 500087; White/Dark Red leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $70,400. With Reserve. – 350/300hp Chevy, 5-speed, centerlock wheels, Pirelli P4000 tires, ZF 5-speed, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, Jaeger dash clock, Becker Europa stereo, power windows. – In Italy until 1984, then California until 2015. Two small touched up chips at the front of the hood. Used but maintained engine bay. Several touch ups on the right A-pillar. Tiny dent on the passenger’s side door. Uneven trunk gaps. Light curb rash on the left side wheels, but the wheels have been painted at some point. Interior is very good and original. In maintained original driver condition, not perfect, but perfectly usable as-is. – Just 285 of these were built, but under the hood there is no complicated Italian V-12, just a nice and reliable small-block V-8. A sure conversation starter wherever you take it, these offer a lot of exclusivity per dollar since the Iso name doesn’t have the same kind of pedigree of Lamborghini or Maserati. The result here, though, gives a lot to that exclusivity, especially for a driver quality example like this. Somebody really wanted an Iso Lele in Scottsdale, and didn’t know the next time he would come across one, but where else can this performance, reliability and style be bought for anything close to this price, Corvette money for a rare Bertone 2+2.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5924_F468_Ford_1962_Galaxie 500_Hardtop Sedan_2J63G150246__900.jpgLot # F468 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 2J63G150246; Oxford Blue/Blue vinyl with Black inserts; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $51,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $56,650. With Reserve. – 406/405hp three 2-barrel G-Code engine, 4-speed, steel wheels, Firestone tires, dual mirrors, floor shift, factory radio, heavy duty suspension, cast headers, heavy duty brakes, 4.11 gears. – Represented as a genuine G-code car. Fresh, spotless engine bay and underbody. Excellent paint and chrome. Fantastic fresh and fully restored interior. All the bits you’d want on one of these and in phenomenal condition. If it wasn’t in near-perfect shape, it would be a neat sleeper. – Reportedly 1 of 9 G-code Club Victoria hardtops in existence. This price might surprise some who look at the car simply as a ’62 Galaxie, but considering the quality of restoration and the fact that this is a bonafide NHRA Super Stock homologation special, there should be no argument. Square deal all around.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG6154_F485_Ferrari_1989_328 GTS_Targa_AFFXA20A8K0081527__900.jpgLot # F485 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS Targa, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFXA20A8K0081527; White, Black vinyl roof/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $56,100. With Reserve. – Yokohama tires, roof spoiler, tinted glass, power windows, air conditioning, later Alpine stereo. – Represented as recently serviced, but without details. Very good original paint other than two cracks at the bottom of the left A-pillar and two big scratches on the rear bumper. Interior wear corresponds with the 66,601 miles showing on the odometer. A used car, and relatively high mileage by Ferrari standards, but that’s not necessarily something to be concerned about. – Bidders weren’t particularly impressed by this white 66K miles 328 GTS, reasonably enough.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG6138_F495_Ford_1969_Torino Cobra_SportsRoof_9A46R230823__900.jpgLot # F495 1969 Ford Torino Cobra 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 9A46R230823; Black/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400. With Reserve. – 428/335hp, automatic, hub caps, Cooper Cobra tires, Cobra Jet, hood pins, bucket seats, floor shift, cassette stereo, power steering, power brakes, Deluxe Marti report. – From the Okoboji Museum collection. Represented as matching numbers. No representation of history or restoration. Light scratches on the grille trim but otherwise good chrome and brightwork. Very good older paint. Very clean and restored underneath. Trim around the right taillight is loose and rattles. Light track scratches on the original side glass. Dash top is a little wavy. The rest of the interior was restored. Done a while ago to standards corresponding to the car’s value. Quite attractive, but not perfect. – Sold here in 2011 for $70,400. This is a cool car, and looking very sinister in black over black with hood pins and a massive scoop. Even though the price paid was a tad high given the auto trans and paucity of documentation, the new owner isn’t likely to spend any time second guessing this purchase, provided the museum status doesn’t lead to a long sorting period as this Torino heads back to the street and the result here more than generously discounts the long static display.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5922_F511_Lotus_1985_Esprit Turbo_Coupe_SCCFC20A6FHF60591__900.jpgLot # F511 1985 Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo Coupe; S/N SCCFC20A6FHF60591; Dark Green/Tan leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,350. With Reserve. – BBS wheels, Radial T/A tires, rear window slats, Kenwood cassette stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Purchased new in California. Two-owner car. Rebuilt engine less than 500 miles ago. Showing 3,483 miles total. Some light wear and age to the wheels. Small touch up on the nose. Crack at the back of the nose. Small crack on the engine cover. Original paint is remarkable otherwise. Interior looks just about new. Seldom used but kept clean and maintained. Assuming all the convenience features work, this seems like a great car. This is the way to buy one of these earlier Esprits, many of which have long since started to fall apart. – While it could have brought a few grand more without being expensive, this was a satisfactory result and shows that in the world of 80s exotics, the Esprit Turbo is still one of the best buys out there if you can find a good one like this.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5920_F525_Packard_1955_Caribbean_Convertible_55881437__900.jpgLot # F525 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible; S/N 55881437; White, Light Blue, Black/White, Blue, Black leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000. With Reserve. – Wire wheels, whitewalls, fender skirts, dual antennas, white vinyl boot cover, pushbutton radio, dash clock, power top, power windows, power steering. – No word about history. Chrome is a bit dull and there are some light scratches in the front bumper. Two chips in the nose. Door gaps are uneven. Good, lightly worn interior other than numerous dings and scratches on the gold dash. Also worn switchgear. Trunk gaps are uneven and there are chips around the edge of it as well as a long crack on the top of it. Looks older restored underneath. Your standard older restored driver. These are expensive cars to restore, so it’s probably best to just enjoy as-is. – Sold at RM Monterey in 2007 for $66,000, then at Barrett-Jackson in 2009 for $82,500 and probably hasn’t received much attention since then, but the reported high bid here was short of what even a old driver quality Caribbean deserves. Holding out for another 10 or 15 grand is reasonable, but collectors’ appetite for Caribbeans isn’t growing.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_F544_Chevrolet_1968_Biscayne_Base_Sedan_154118J228447_Overall_900.jpgLot # F544 1968 Chevrolet Biscayne 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 154118J228447; Butternut Yellow/Black; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $47,500. With Reserve. – L72 427, the original engine was blown in 1969 and now retains a replacement block, originally ordered with a 4.88 Positraction axle, then later changed to a 4.56 ratio, body color wheels with hubcaps and red line tires, AM radio, aftermarket tachometer added, bench seat, comes with window sticker. – Raced originally under the name ‘Ennis’s Menace’ then later ‘Bisquick’. Smooth paint with a few repaired chips on the nose. The brightwork is in very good condition. The engine compartment is aged and the finish on the engine appears original. The underbody is clean and appears touched up. The interior is very clean and unused. An older restoration that was never done to today’s standards, but a sweet Biscayne. – Sold at Auburn Spring in May 2014 for $35,200, at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 for $88,000. No-saled at Leake Tulsa in June 2015 for $45,000 and Mecum Monterey in 2015 for $55,000, a car searching for a home. It didn’t find it here, either. This is a mixed-up car with a blinding drivetrain but no history and it wouldn’t be a great value at $35,000, but for a price like that it would be something wonderful at the DQ on Friday evenings.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5926_S631_Austin-Healey_1967_3000_Convertible_HBJ8L38186__900.jpgLot # S631 1966 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L38186; British Racing Green/Black; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $44,000. With Reserve. – Painted centerlock wire wheels, dual wing mirrors, banjo steering wheel, luggage rack, wood shift knob, BMC radio. – Purchased by second and current owner in 1968. Highly original. Represented with actual 25,308 mileage. Chrome is a little tired. Small dent in the top left of the front bumper. Looks like original paint. Chips at the front of the hood scoop and small dents in the hood scoop trim. Big scrape on the right front fender that took paint off almost down to bare metal. Numerous chips on the back right fender. Crazing on the trunk lid. Small dent in the top of the hood. Replacement top is quite good. Very good original interior with some cracks in the wood dash. Tidy and dry but original underneath. Kind of beat up, but it’s a well maintained car and a decent 20-footer. No reason not to enjoy it as a driver. – With some paint and body work this would be a significantly more valuable car, but as it sits it has numerous flaws that will put buyers off and it’s not likely to attract much more than the fair reported high bid here. In a world full of immaculately restored and gently used BJ8s this isn’t a car calculated to get bidders’ juices flowing.

Lot # S633 1950 Jaguar Mk V 2.5 Drophead Coupe; S/N AZ148499; White/Red leather piped in Black; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $46,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $50,600. With Reserve. – 2663/102hp, 4-speed, hub caps, dual wing mirrors, spats, wood dash and window trim, suicide doors. – Represented as a body-off restoration, but that must’ve happened years and years ago. Tired old paint with huge cracks above the front bumper and there is surface rust poking through. Chrome is decent. Chips around most of the panel edges. Older top looks quite good from the outside but there is a large patch sewn in on the left inside portion. Good, lightly worn interior. Sound and restored underneath. Not terrible, just worn out. New paint would do wonders. – It would help if this Jag were a CCCA Full Classic ™ but that distinction is limited to its predecessor, the Mk IV and that makes this rather tired example also rather expensive.

Lot # S647 1966 Sunbeam Tiger Mk I Convertible; S/N JAL560565; Blue, Blue hardtop/Tan; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. With Reserve. – 260/164hp, hardtop, wire wheels, aluminum radiator, four-barrel carburetor, aluminum radiator, headers. – Well applied paint with rich shine and luster. Bumpers have all been re-chromed. Trim and stainless are all highly polished and restored. Interior is fully restored with new seat upholstery and carpet. Dash is fully restored, and a matching glove box door has been added. Engine bay is well detailed with alternator upgrade, aftermarket air cleaner and coil. Represented with 1,000 miles on a 2004 restoration and still looks great. – This is definitely on the cheap side for such a good Mk I Tiger which may have lost some attraction due to the minimal upgrades. The way the thirteen year-old restoration is holding up imparts some confidence in the quality of materials and workmanship, as well as the attention it has received. The new owner did well, as did the seller.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5936_S674_Imperial_1958_Crown_Convertible_LY16947__900.jpgLot # S674 1958 Imperial Crown Convertible; S/N LY16947; Black/Red leather; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $60,000. With Reserve. – 392/345hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, power seats, power windows, remote mirror, pushbutton radio, pushbutton automatic. – Very good paint. Light pitting on the body trim but the older rechromed bumpers are good and shiny. Lightly worn but very good original seats. Very good newer top. Restored underneath but there’s plenty of road wear. Mostly fully restored a while ago and lightly enjoyed and maintained since. – Sold for $35,175 at the World Classic auction in Danville, California in 1993 when the restoration was fairly fresh, then at Russo and Steele in Monterey in 2011 for $86,900. Although the car is no longer worth what it was six years ago, the seller deserves to be disappointed by the bid here.

Lot # S686 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136379B359613; Daytona Yellow/Black; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $69,000. With Reserve. – L89 396/375hp, 4-speed, power brakes and steering, 4.10 Positraction, SS wheels with Firestone Wide Oval tires, bucket seats with center console, tachometer, radio delete. From the Richard Hubbard Collection. – Excellent paint and a straight body. The brightwork has been either redone or replaced. The engine compartment and underbody have been fully redone to better than factory standards and the interior is fresh. A gorgeous restoration of a rare L89 Chevelle. The key concerns are the lack of offered documentation and an unreadable engine suffix code. – In the absence of documentation and particularly with an illegible engine number the bidders were more than justified in taking a conservative view of this SS 396’s history and limiting their bidding to what could be supported even if it started life as something else. It’s still a gorgeous car.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_S708_Plymouth_1970_Cuda_Base_Hardtop Coupe_BS23V0B207703_Overall_900.jpgLot # S708 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23V0B207703; Plum Crazy, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $54,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $59,400. With Reserve. – 440/390hp Six Barrel with shaker hood scoop, 4-speed, Track Pack, power steering and brakes, Rallye wheels with BFG Radial T/A tires, pistol grip shifter, aftermarket Pioneer radio head. – No representation of matching numbers. Excellent paint and brightwork. The roof vinyl fits tightly. The back window has some scratches. The engine has been fully redone. The underbody has new exhaust and has been mostly redone although the shocks are old and oxidized. Great outward appearance with a few corners cut in non-critical areas. – A desirable car properly coded for the Six Barrel engine and somewhat unusual with the 4-speed to make it even more fun to own and drive. It has a quality cosmetic restoration and looks great. The buyer should also consider that what it cost is great, too, a good value in a quality ‘Cuda.

RICK6199_S723_Echidna_1959_ _ Sports Racer_2_900.jpgLot # S723 1959 Echidna Sports Racer; S/N 2; Metallic Blue/Dark Blue cloth; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000. – FI Chevy small block, 4-speed, braced rollbar, Halibrand kidney bean centerlock wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, fire system, Hurst shifter, side exhausts, full width Plexiglas windscreen. – Good older paint with various edge chips, divots and small cracks. Good interior and professionally presented with 2016 Laguna Seca Pre-Reunion tech sticker. – Sold here in 2015 for $162,800, so it’s no surprise it didn’t find a new owner at this bid. Chassis #1, raced to an SCCA National Championship by John Staver in 1959, was sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2005 for $199,440 at least partially on the strength of American Specials being the Monterey Historics feature that year and the Echidna being a shoo-in for an invitation.

Lot # S730 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124279N570256; Cortez Silver, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $165,000. With Reserve. – 302/290hp, 4-speed, power steering and brakes, 3.73 Positraction, headers with performance exhaust, Mallory ignition system, Cragar mag wheels with BFG Radial T/A tires, radio delete. Ordered and upgraded by Yenko Chevrolet and used as a drag racer. Has all the order documents, invoices for upgrades and Protect-O-Plate. – Excellent paint. Rear bumper is lightly scuffed. The engine compartment is very clean and well sorted. Underbody is very clean and interior has little use. Owner stated paint is original with only minor touch ups known and the paint was clear coated to protect it. Only the carpet was replaced because of mildew. A very handsomely kept car with only wear items appearing to have been done. – The history and originality of this Z/28 are exceptional, which explains why this otherwise generous offer for it was declined.

RICK6202_S731_Ferrari_1991_Testarossa_Coupe_ZFFSM17A8M0090006_900.jpgLot # S731 1991 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSM17A8M0090006; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $97,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $106,700. With Reserve. – Goodyear Eagle tires, power windows, air conditioning, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel. – All original. Sizable chip in the right side of the nose. Otherwise really good original paint. Interior wear corresponds with 18,078 km. Your standard used, almost like-new Testarossa. Other than a clean CarFax, though, there is no history represented. – Snapped up at a modest price but one that reflects the casual presentation and minimal documentation that accompanied it. The buyer accepted some risk in return for a sensible price.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5932_S736_Ferrari_1969_365 GT 2+2_Coupe_365GT12573__900.jpgLot # S736 1969 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 12573; Blu Chiaro/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000. With Reserve. – Borrani wire wheels, Blaupunkt AM/FM radio, power windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel. – Five owner car. Partial engine rebuild in 2006. Refinished in the original color. Several small chips in the nose and a big one in the right front fender. Another even bigger one on the right rear fender. Doors don’t quite fit flush. Original wheels are pretty tired. The original interior is very well kept and has wisely been left alone. The engine bay is clean and well maintained. A bit tired, but not a bad car. – An ordinary car bought for ordinary money, but not an optimistic result for front-engined Enzo-era GT owners.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_S737_Oldsmobile_1970_4-4-2_W-30_Holiday Coupe_344870M271171_Overall_900.jpgLot # S737 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 2-Dr. Hardtop Holiday; S/N 344870M271171; Black, White stripes/White, Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. With Reserve. – 455/370hp, 4-speed, power steering, 3.91 Anti-Spin axle, T3 headlamps, SS I wheels with Uniroyal Tiger Paw tires, bucket seats, AM radio. – Very shiny, smooth black paint with excellent body lines. The brightwork has been completely replaced. The engine compartment has been fully restored and has all the right stickers. The underbody is just as well restored as the exterior and the interior is unused. A gorgeously restored W30 with no faults worth noting. – W-30 prices are all over the map. $165,000 is all the money for a hardtop, but this one was dressed right, had the desirable 4-speed, and was (most importantly) fully documented. Clearly peace of mind was more important to this buyer than finding a bargain, which isn’t a bad strategy when it comes to expensive muscle.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5912_S738_Ferrari_1973_Dino 246 GTS_Targa_06380__900.jpgLot # S738 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 06380; Black/Black leather with Red inserts; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $345,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $379,500. With Reserve. – Ansa exhaust, Campagnolo wheels, BFG Traction T/A tires, Becker Europa stereo. – Euro model. Originally yellow. Documented history in the US. Repainted in 1989. Represented with 25,162 actual miles. Restored in 2014. Has chairs and flares, but only the chairs are mentioned on the car card. The paint is very good. Tidy but lightly used restored engine bay. Front bumper rub strips are loose. Wheels look perfect. Excellent restored interior. Not ready to win a concours trophy, but still gorgeous. – A premium car that brought a deserved premium price.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_S744_Chevrolet_1968_Corvette_Base_Coupe_194378S417431_Overall_900.jpgLot # S744 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe; S/N 194378S417431; Silver/Black; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $430,000. With Reserve. – L88 427/430hp, 4-speed, power brakes, 4.56 axle, off road exhaust, Goodyear Speedway tires, telescoping steering column, radio delete, F41 suspension, teakwood steering wheel. – NCRS Top Flight and Bloomington Gold certified, part of the 1988 Bloomington Gold Earthquake 88 Special Collection. Tank sticker documented, and Protect-O-Plate included. Smooth paint with a couple of small cracks near the hood and some bubbling near the passenger’s side headlight. The bumpers and brightwork are excellent. The engine compartment is mildly aged and the underbody shows little use. The interior is practically unused. Restored in 1987 and has seen little use since. – Not sold at Mecum Kissimmee 2016 at a reported high bid of $550,000. One of 80 built, it’s the real deal but doesn’t have much history or anything else going for it other than rarity and performance. The offer last year was a fair one that deserved consideration, but the high bid here was too low for a real L88, even a lightly worn one like this.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5916_Jaguar_1967_E-Type_Roadster_1E15010__900.jpgLot # S755 1967 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E15010; Engine # 7E124729; Red/Tan leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. With Reserve. – Centerlock chrome wire wheels, Vredestein tires, black cloth boot cover, woodrim steering wheel. – Always an Arizona or Southern California car. Represented as matching numbers. Restored a while ago. Represented with JDHT certificate. Originally Silver Grey over Black. Headlight bezels don’t quite fit straight on the bodywork. Doors don’t quite fit flush with the body. Almost spotless restored underbody. Very good paint and chrome. Very clean, lightly used engine bay. Very good interior. Still a beautiful car. – Not sold at this sale last year at a high bid of $121,000, then reported sold by Russo and Steele later in the year at Monterey for $176,000. Why it didn’t bring comparable bids here in Scottsdale is a mystery and the final reported high bid is meaningless.

Lot # S756 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N646884; Fathom Green/Green vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000. With Reserve. – L72 427/425hp, 4-speed, power brakes, 4.10 Positraction axle, body color wheels with hubcaps and Goodyear Polyglas tires, radio delete, MacNeish certified. – Very good paint and brightwork. The engine compartment has been fully restored and has some deterioration from use. The underbody has been restored as well and has little wear. The sparse interior is like new. A restored and sparingly used COPO. – COPO Camaro prices have slipped by more than 10% over the past year and the amount offered was condition correct for now. The seller is probably still focused on what was condition correct 12 months ago.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG5930_S758_Porsche_1959_356A_Coupe_106237__900.jpgLot # S758 1959 Porsche 356A Coupe; S/N 106237; Blue/Red leather; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. With Reserve. – Hub caps, sunroof, gold brightwork, VDO dash clock, bench seat. – Porsche CoA. Less than 100 miles on full restoration. Represented as matching numbers. Very clean, lightly run engine bay. Very good paint. Even gaps. Excellent interior with relatively rare optional bench seat. Very clean underbody. Nothing to pick on. The car is fresh and gorgeous with a sunroof as a bonus. – The bench seat is an unusual choice in a sports car, but it was a curious feature that drew attention, along with the sunroof and the immaculate presentation of this car that stood head and shoulders above most of the other offerings at this sale. The result here is appropriate to the condition and added premium for the desirable sunroof. The bench seat cost nothing and will be great for snuggling on long drives or at the submarine races.

Lot # S759 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Nickey 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N643440; Black/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $112,500. With Reserve. – L72 427/425hp, 4-speed, headers, Winters aluminum heads, power brakes, 3.55 Positraction, traction bars, stinger hood, American Racing mag wheels with Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, radio delete, delivered to Nickey Chevrolet with NCRS shipping data report to confirm, certified by Jerry MacNeish. – Excellent paint and body lines. All the brightwork has been restored or replaced. The engine and underbody are completely restored and the interior is immaculate. A gorgeous restoration of a desirable tuner shop Camaro. – For a Nickey Chevrolet COPO car this is a disappointing bid, not surprisingly not acceptable to the seller.

Lot # S771 1969 Porsche 911E Targa; S/N 911210741; Green, Black roof/Black leatherette with Houndstooth cloth inserts; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000. With Reserve. – 1991/130hp, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, Pirelli tires, gold brightwork, digital stereo, VDO dash clock. – Represented with new wheel bearings, brakes, shocks, axles, motor mounts, and rebuilt carbs, although the 911E came with fuel injection. Seats refinished. New steering wheel. Quite wavy roof vinyl. Tidy recently detailed engine bay but it’s not fully restored under there. Old tires. Good paint and brightwork. Interior looks great. Very clean underneath. Never fully done over, but has had extensive cosmetic and mechanical work. – This car appears to be a genuine 911E fitted with carbs in place of the original Bosch mechanical fuel injection rather than a base model 911T with E badges on it, but either way this was a reasonable if not generous offer for a car in this condition and could have gone to a new home at the reported high bid.

Lot # SN838 1951 Bentley Mk VI 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 8121JN; White, Burgundy/Burgundy leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $23,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $25,850. No Reserve. – Wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, single driving light, dual wing mirrors, Flying B, sunroof, wood dash and window trim, fold out tables in the back, opera mirrors. – From the Missoula Auto Museum collection. Rub through in the paint at the front of the roof. Small scrape on the right front fender. Tons of cracks in the paint on the rockers. Several more cracks around the body creases on the rear fenders. Tidy original engine bay and underbody. Redone seats and wood, but the rest of the original interior is sound and tidy. Crack in the right taillight. Not a great car, but a clean candidate for a fairly straightforward restoration. – Bought reasonably for its specifications and equipment but not a restoration project that should be undertaken without careful consideration of the financial effects.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG6146_SN909_Che cker_1982_Marathon_Limousine_1CMME4222CK000244__900.jpgLot # SN909 1982 Checker Marathon (A12) Limousine; S/N 1CMME4222CK000244; Green, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl with cloth inserts; Enthusiast restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $7,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,700. No Reserve. – Wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, opera windows, bench seat, column shift, air conditioning, Pioneer CD stereo, rear jump seats, tinted glass, tilt steering column, rear speaker. – Reportedly one of 13 of these limousines. Represented with a 2013 repaint and new vinyl roof, radiator, exhaust, front brakes, rockers, quarter panels and hood. The repaint was not very good, with small cracks all over the place. Uneven gaps. Roof vinyl is a little wavy. Pitted door handles. Surprisingly sound underbody. Dull but sound and complete original interior. Very much a work in progress. Has potential to be a neat, if supremely weird and eccentric, little restored limo. – It’s not attractive and it’s not particularly cool, but it’s very quirky and unusual. A neat car to take to a cruise night or cars and coffee that will elicit tons of questions. Bought here for about what a regular Marathon sedan in this condition would bring.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG6144_SN960_Plymouth_1966_Barracuda_Fastback_BP2962505943__900.jpgLot # SN960 1966 Plymouth Barracuda Fastback; S/N BP2962505943; Dark Blue/Dark Blue vinyl; Facsimile restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000. No Reserve. – 273/235hp, 4-speed, Cragar wheels, bucket seats, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, chrome air cleaner, Formula S clone equipment. – Blister in the chrome on the right side of the front bumper. Scratch on the left front fender. Paint run below the left A-pillar. Condensation around the inner edges of the rear window, courtesy of this week’s rain. Three small chips at the back of the driver’s side door. Interior is recently restored other than a tired and cracking original steering wheel as well as a somewhat dull but sound original dash. Oxidation on the front brake drums. Not fully restored underneath but maintained. Dull taillight lenses with condensation in them. Formula S clone done on a budget. A hobby car. Good enough but nothing to take too seriously. – This car, despite its notable shortcomings, could have brought another three or four grand without being expensive. Sold at no reserve, it leaves the new owner with quite a bit of room to improve this budget Formula S clone.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_TH188_Chevrolet_1970_Chevelle_SS 396_Sport Coupe_136370L143105_Overall_900.jpgLot # TH188 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136370L143105; Gray, Patina/Black; Unrestored original, 5+ condition; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700. With Reserve. – L78 396/375hp, 4-speed, power brakes, power steering (although disconnected), SS wheels, bucket seats with console. – Parked since 1983. The paint is nearly nonexistent and has light surface rust throughout. The body and floor pans are very solid. The engine compartment is surface rusted and the car appears not to be running. The interior needs a full restoration. Presented in as found condition and drew a crowd of interested parties. A solid platform for a complete restoration or a prop in a post-apocalyptic action movie. – While this SS 396 needs everything, at this price it can get it and not break the owner’s bank balance.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_TH219_Chevrolet_1975_Vega_Cosworth_Coupe_1V77E5U215244_Overall_900.jpgLot # TH219 1975 Chevrolet Vega Cosworth Coupe; S/N 1V77E5U215244; Black, Gold/White vinyl; Unrestored original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000. With Reserve. – Alloy wheels, bucket seats, console, AM/FM radio. – Old, original paint with some buffing marks, especially on the nose. The bumpers are dull. The engine compartment is aged but kept clean. The underbody is aged and dirty, and the interior is just dull but doesn’t show significant wear. Completely preserved. No represented history. – Sold at Mecum Indy in 2011 for $8,750. These have seen a slight surge in appreciation and value since that last auction outing, but the seller here should still be happy to get this much for it because it’s not quite a five-figure car.

RussoandSteeleScottsdale2017_IMG6140_TH257_Cirtroen_1972_SM_Coupe_00SB9339__900.jpgLot # TH257 1972 Citroen SM Coupe; S/N 00SB9339; Brown Metallic/Brown leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $33,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $36,300. With Reserve. – Wheel covers, Dunlop tires, fender skirts, power windows, air conditioning, aftermarket CD stereo. – Paint blisters at the front of the nose. Chip on the right front fender. Chips at the front of the driver’s door. Big scrape on the left fender skirt. Some light scratches on the rear bumper and a long crack in the rear bumperette. Weather stripping is pretty dull and tired. Interior is very good and a lot better than the outside, although the cover for the interior courtesy light is missing. Original and worn but tidy underneath. Not a terrible example, but definitely used and looks like it may have sat for a long time. – This result is about right for an SM in this condition, although if the car’s general condition and lack of represented maintenance history are any indication, it’s likely due for some expensive servicing which only a few specialists in the U.S. have the knowledge or parts access to supply. The new owner better be very brave.

Text and images © 2017 by various authors as their interests appear.

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