Premier Auction Group, Punta Gorda, Florida

November 30-December 1, 2018

Kenny Garman, Brian Marshall and Julie Zimmerman are usually working auctions put on by others, all over the country. Premier Auction Group is their own auction, however, in the backyard of some of the principals at the Charlotte Harbor Event Center on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

This is a first time event for me, although I’ve known and worked with this cast of characters including Michael Steel, Phil Gee Sr. and Jr., Chris Neuhouser, Brent Troxell, Marty Hill and Jerry Daisey many times.

The Premier team’s expertise was apparent in how well they organized the event and by the smooth way it went off. The 390 lots offered are effectively the most this venue can hold with cars scattered around the property. They were efficiently displayed, brought across the block on time and returned to their slots, ably assisted by an enthusiastic young crew from Charlotte Technical College.

The cars were diverse and, in many cases, high quality.

What doesn’t appear in this report are “The Numbers.” Despite several requests, Premier hasn’t produced a complete results list. The results for the viewed lots were harvested from their website, but these days there are so many other auctions to report that doing that for all 390 lots makes no sense.

Based on watching the sale and some on-site note taking it would appear to have been about 50% sell-through, without giving the Premier crew any recognition for post-block sales.

If Premier comes through with a full results list this report will be updated.

The 56 transactions reported here are sorted by Marque, Year and Model.


Lot # 266 1960 AMC Rambler American 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N B121051; Seafoam Green, White/Seafoam Green, White vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $19,750 – 196/90hp, automatic, Pioneer CD stereo, roof rack, hubcaps and trim rings, mixed brand tires, seat belts. – Quick repaint over old paint, good chrome and interior. Dirty original chassis and underbody. The engine is clean but not restored. Cute, but superficial. – Station wagons are popular these days, but this Rambler is decidedly scruffy and it should have been off and away to a new owner well before the reported bid here.

[This blurry photo is appropriate to the fuzzy quality of the Armstrong Siddeley.]

Lot # 444 1947 Armstrong Siddeley Hurricane 3-pos. Drophead Coupe; S/N 852161440; Mint Green, Turquoise accent/Blue leather; Beige cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $17,750 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $18,993 – RHD. Turquoise wire wheels, wide whitewalls, Trafficators, preselector 4-speed, fog light, fender mirrors. – Exceptionally poor repaint over old paint. Decent upholstery and top. Marginal chrome. Ugly underbody and chassis. An unusual car that deserved better than it got. – Reported sold at Auburn Fall in 2015 for $26,950, then passed at Leake Tulsa in June 2017 on a reported bid of $29,000, it reached the end of consignors’ patience here. It’s an intriguing and unusual car, but sadly neglected and mistreated. This is project car money and it bought a project car which deserves to find a good home as one of only 229 built.

Lot # 412 1942 Buick Century Sedanet Fastback; S/N 14289363; Maroon, Grey/Grey cloth; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $27,820 – 3-speed, pushbutton radio, Red wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts. – Very good paint and interior. The chrome is variable but sound, Good dash and gauges, The underbody and chassis have been done to factory standards. A surprisingly attractive car except for the odd color combination. – One of just 1,229 Century Sedanets built before ’42 model year production ceased after Pearl Harbor and a sweet car with a promising older restoration bought for little money.

Lot # 413 1948 Buick Super Convertible; S/N 34944583; Red/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $27,820 – Hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, pushbutton radio, heater, skirts – Fair older paint with non-negligible chips and scratches. Bright chrome but the driver’s window sill molding was rechromed over deep pits. Clean, orderly engine compartment is nearly like new with only some age and a few miles. A handsome and well-presented old Buick. – This is a bargain, a quality and rare car from the early postwar years that has had a high quality restoration and been kept up well. It could have brought another $10,000 without being unreasonable.

Lot # 478 1967 Buick GS California 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 433077Z112895; Gold Mist, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $23,005 – 340/260hp, column-shift automatic, power steering, Firestone red line tires, bench seat, pushbutton radio, 8-track, chrome rim Magnum wheels, red line tires. – Sound but dull repaint, scratched side window trim, good interior and vinyl roof. Good bumper chrome. Orderly restored engine compartment showing little age or use. 2014 AACA National First Prize and Senior, Buick Club Senior. – Offered at Spring Auburn in 2015, apparently this is a limited production California market specific model combining GS trim with the more modest 340/260hp engine – although no one seems to know what to make of it. It was a no-sale back in 2015 at a reported bid of $25,500 and is nominally a good value at this result. It won’t win many stoplight drag races, but it’ll look good losing.

Lot # 487 1940 Cadillac Sixty Special 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 6320813; Light Green, Yellow-Green roof and hood sides/Beige broadcloth; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $24,075 – Dual enclosed sidemounts, heater, turn signals, no radio, wide hubcaps, wide whitewalls, grille guard – Seriously poor old repaint with some chips and small prep oversights. Sound upholstery, decent original dashboard and gauges. Faded, thin grille chrome flanked by newly chromed catwalk grilles plated over unfilled pits. Peeling, pitted door handles. An important car that has had a superficial cosmetic redo. – Really odd paint choices do nothing for this Sixty Special, as do the erratic cosmetic attention. That it brought this much in its present condition is a credit to the imagination of how it might look in a better livery with some competently replated trim and thorough attention to the engine and chassis.

 

Lot # 488 1958 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible; S/N 58F027060; Dakota Red/Red, White leather; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000 – Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, Autronic Eye, WonderBar radio, power windows, power seat, steering and brakes. – Excellent paint only lightly polishing scuffed, bright chrome, inviting barely used interior. The underbody is like new. A fresh, sharp restoration to show car condition. – A stunning car, but not worth anywhere close to the reported bid here, which is nearly wannabe Eldorado money for a Series 62.

Lot # 424 1950 Chevrolet Styleline Convertible; S/N 9HKF40075; Red/Grey cloth; White vinyl top; Original, modified for competition or performance, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $27,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $29,425 – 350 V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, power top, chrome reversed wheels, radial whitewalls, halogen headlights, Grant woodrim steering wheel. – Good paint, chrome and interior. The top is tight but doesn’t fit over the frame sides. Most of the chrome is good except for the usual vent window latches. The underbody has been cleaned up but not restored. The grille surround is cracked by the left front hood corner. Chromed up engine compartment that is dirty and neglected at its lower extremities. It looks good from ten feet, but not under the hood where it counts. – A no-sale at Mecum Indy and Kansas City in 2016 on bids of $27,000 and $20,000 respectively, this is a responsibly modified old Chevy in fairly decent shape that should yield a sympathetic owner a decent weekend driver with reliable brakes and strong performance. It’s valued appropriately to those conditions in this result.

Lot # 513 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E54S002054; Engine # 0302657F54YG; Red/Red vinyl; Beige vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $58,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $62,595 – Powerglide, WonderBar radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, windshield washer. – Good older paint with some minor flaws and chips, Good chrome and interior. Coolant leak residue on the front crossmember but the rest of the engine compartment is nearly like new. Cracked windshield gasket. Painted assembled and has some cracks starting to show up around the engine compartment. – This Corvette, even with the thick old repaint and emerging flaws, is a reliable buy at this price.

Lot # 449 1956 Chevrolet 3100 Cameo Pickup; S/N V3A56L011935; Engine # 061500IF56F; White, Red accent/White, Red vinyl; Truck restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,000 – 265/170hp, Hydramatic, varnished wood bed floor with stainless bed strips, Red steel wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, whitewalls, aluminum valve covers, heater. – Very good fresh paint, chrome, bed floor and interior. The engine compartment and chassis have been restored but erratically. The engine block paint is old and scratched. It’s a beautiful, shiny truck but not has some odd oversights and shortcuts. – A handsome Cameo but with more issues than it needs to be valued at anything more than the reported result here.

Lot # 456 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe; S/N VC570148667; Black/Black vinyl, Red cloth; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $58,315 – 283/220hp, Powerglide, power steering, factory air conditioning, Red wheels, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, WonderBar radio, electric wipers. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. The engine compartment is like new without going too far. A ’57 Chevy expert pointed out some incorrect details like the ballast resistor that are easy to overlook in its overall quality. – This is a ’57 Bel Air hardtop that will be proudly owned, shown and driven and it was bought at a price that the new owner will be proud to savor for some time to come.

Lot # 474 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N VC57L195619; Engine # None; Red/Red vinyl, Black cloth; Older restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $69,550 – 283/220hp, Powerglide, power steering and brakes, aftermarket air conditioning, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. The engine is heavily repainted including the number boss. Clean orderly engine compartment and chassis. Generally like new or better. – This result reflects the present market in being a little off from recent results but still a realistic price for a quality Nomad. The better of the two ’57 Nomads here in Punta Gorda, it deserved to be preferred over its counterpart.

Lot # 486 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N VC57A168389; Red, White roof/Red vinyl, Black cloth; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 – 283/220hp, 3-speed, power steering and brakes, aftermarket air conditioning, spinner wheel covers, WonderBar radio. – Sound older paint but with a number of flaws and poor masking. Big cracks in the tailgate. The bright trim is generally good but with some overlooked pieces. The engine compartment and underbody have been restored but have significant miles since being completed. – While still a good older restored driver and standing out with its 3-speed stick, this was definitely the worse of the two Nomads here but it was bid to a strong value and should have been loose and selling well before hitting the reported high bid. It was reported sold at Auburn Fall in 2007 for $49,680, $46,000 hammer, a result that would have been entirely appropriate for it here, eleven years later.

Lot # 465 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E57S101334; Metallic Arctic Blue, Venetian Red coves/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000 – 283/245hp dual quads, Powerglide, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, electric wipers, windshield washer, 3.7 Positraction, power windows, two tops – Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Freshly restored to like new standards but it took three years to finish and the time is showing. Rusty brake fluid leak on and under the master cylinder, dull engine compartment, scuffed chrome on the air cleaners and radio interference suppression shield, rusty gas cap and speedometer bezel. Not big items, but they could have been addressed to make a better impression. – The color combination is unusual, to say the least. It’s not identified in the Corvette Black Book as being a combination applied at St. Louis in 1957 but it does make for opening a discussion. The reported high bid is appropriate for the Corvette’s equipment and condition.

Lot # 497 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194675S117792; Engine # V1110EP; White/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 – 327/350hp badged, 4-speed, AM-FM, alloy wheels, red line tires, woodgrain steering wheel. – Fair older paint with some masking oversights, good lightly stretched upholstery. Scruffy console and gauges. Neglected engine compartment and chassis. No obvious major flaws but neither is there anything particularly good. – Sold at Greensboro in March for $42,800, then at Leake Tulsa in June for $44,000. The badged 327/350hp engine option did not exist in 1965 Corvettes and the EP engine block suffix is a ’67-’68 Chevelle 327/325hp. Given the inconsistencies and the recent auction history, the reported high bid here should have been more than enough to see it hammer sold.

Lot # 223 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194676S111724; Engine # T0117IP 6111724; Red/Red vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $117,700 – 427/425hp, 4-speed, power disc brakes, alloy centerlock wheels, teakwood steering wheel, narrow whitewalls, AM-FM radio. – 2015 NCRS Top Flight but many miles since then. The paint, interior and chrome look good but the engine shows use and the chassis is road grimy. A sound and presentable Corvette that is no longer a show car but is eminently good enough to be driven proudly. – Appropriately valued for its condition and the good but aged restoration, a car that can be driven and enjoyed with confidence.

Lot # 459 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194676S110228; Engine # T1119IP 6110228; Nassau Blue/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 – 427/425hp, 4-speed, AM-FM, woodgrain steering wheel, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, side exhausts, power brakes and steering. – Honestly represented as a “date code correct re-stamped block”. Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. The engine compartment and chassis were restored like new and show only a little age and use. It’s easy to call this Corvette fully restored, but it’s never been fully apart. – Sold at Mecum’s Indianapolis auction in May for $75,900. There is no reason why it should be worth more than the reported bid here.

Lot # 473 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194379S718240; Cortez Silver/Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,250 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $32,368 – 350/350hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, AM-FM, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, tee-tops. – Pimply paint on the wiper cover but otherwise sound. Good interior and chrome. The engine has been out and redone with some new parts but put back into a superficially prepared compartment. The underbody and chassis have received a quick respray. A desirable equipment list but the presentation is not as good as the equipment. – The work that is evident on this 350/350 Corvette suggest it has had good and consistent care without ever needing to be taken apart and restored. The price it brought here is spot on for its condition and equipment.

Lot # 512 1970 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 RS Coupe; S/N 124870N519935; Mulsanne Blue, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 – 350/360hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, aftermarket stereo, power steering and brakes, mag-style wheel covers, Polyglas GT tires, 4.11 Positraction, F41 suspension. – Good clearcoat paint with one small crack behind both doors. Good upholstery, chrome and underbody. Orderly engine compartment is nearly like new except for a few instances of surface rust. Not the best in the world, but more than good enough. – And the reported high bid is almost good enough to have bought it but the consignor’s decision to like the Camaro better than the money is reasonable.

[Photo courtesy Premier Auction Group]

Lot # 498 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136370A125571; Red, White stripes/Red vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $54,035 – 454/360hp LS5, M22 4-speed, Hurst shifter, power steering and brakes, Rally II wheels, trim rings Radial T/A tires, 3.31 Positraction, sport steering wheel. – Very good paint, interior and chrome. The engine compartment is orderly but shows age and use. Scuffed windshield trim stainless. Good restored underbody and chassis. Done well but the edge has been driven off. – It would not have been unsettling to see this LS5 Chevelle bid to more than the price that bought it, but at this result the new owner has room to put in some detail work to spiff it up, or to enjoy it on the road with little effect upon its value.

Lot # 452 1955 Chrysler New Yorker Deluxe St Regis Hardtop; S/N N5531976; White, Red/White leather, Red cloth; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $27,820 – 331/250hp, automatic, power windows, brakes, steering and seat, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, cassette stereo. – Scruffy old repaint over old paint, cracked in panel seams and with a few fisheyes. Sound interior. Erratic chrome. Orderly underbody and chassis done a long time ago and dry and dusty. Presentable and unusual. Some elbow grease and attention will help this Chrysler a lot. – Offered at Branson Spring eight months ago where it was bid to only $18,500. The result here is a lot more, and also a lot more reasonable even with the low quality old repaint.

 

Lot # 411 1957 Chrysler 300C Hardtop; S/N 3N571071; White/Beige leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $31,000 – 392/375hp, pushbutton automatic, Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, power steering, windows, seat and brakes. – Quick old repaint over old paint and some masking misses, pitted chrome trim, good newer wire wheels. Sound upholstery is lightly stretched. Doors rattle and don’t close flush at the bottom. No better than it was five years ago and showing the same 42,799 miles. – An old acquaintance, bid to $34,000 at Branson Fall 2012 then sold for $39,960 ($37,000 +8%) at Branson Spring 2013, no-saled twice at Mecum KC in 2013 on $45,000 and $44,000 bids. The result here is appropriate for this car in the present environment.

Lot # 460 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton; S/N 1827H; Cigarette Cream/Red leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000 – Heater, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, radio. – Sound old repaint with some touched up chips, some weak chrome trim, good interior. Engine compartment and chassis are oil misted and road grimy. A touring quality older restoration. – Reported sold by Worldwide at Auburn fifteen months ago for $96,250 with 13 more miles on its odometer today than it had then. This bid is totally realistic for the car in a collector car market that’s gone slightly downhill since September 2017. The consignor may not want to admit it, but this is more than enough to buy this Cord Phaeton in December 2018.

Lot # 472 1972 De Tomaso Pantera Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N THPNMD04080; Sunburst Orange/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $71,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $75,970 – 351/310hp, 5-speed, power brakes, no radio, De Tomaso alloy wheels, Radial T/A tires. – Gaudy clearcoat repaint, sound upholstery and interior trim, thin, scuffed chrome trim. Windshield washer pump and reservoir is flopping around loose in the front luggage compartment. The rear luggage tray is missing and the engine and transaxle are showing more than minimal oxidation. Looks like a body shop cosmetic restoration. – This bid would not have been enough even a few months ago to take this Pantera home, but the consignor realized that this isn’t a few months ago and astutely took the money on offer.

Lot # 496 1954 Dodge Royal Powerflite Convertible; S/N 38534013; Spanish Coral/Coral, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000 – 241/150hp, PowerFlite automatic, 2-barrel, oil filter, turn signals, pushbutton radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls. – Good older paint and interior. Good major chrome but for one seriously pustulant backup light bezel. The engine compartment and underbody have been restored like new and now show some age and a little use. Doors close hard and hang out at the bottom. The steering wheel rim is cracked and the horn ring is pitted. A desirable and rare car in decent, usable condition. – Offered at Auburn Fall three months ago where it attracted exactly the same unsuccessful bid. Either of them were more than generous and should have bought the car. A money bid of $20,000 should have been enough to see it loose and selling.

 

Lot # 443 2008 Dodge Viper ACR Coupe; S/N 1B3JZ69Z28V201137; Black, Red stripe/Black vinyl; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $45,000 – 513/600hp, 6-speed, CD stereo, Black alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, carbon fiber wing, air dam, front aero flips and interior trim, Red calipers. – Stone and sand chipped nose, dirty underbody and wheels, good interior. A clean used car with 43,367 miles. – The ACR edition (American Club Racer) warrants a premium over more mundane Vipers (if there is any such thing as a “mundane Viper”) but this bid appropriately recognizes that premium and balances it against the condition and miles.

Lot # 470 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 15341; Black/Tan leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000 – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, air conditioning, power windows – Poorly masked old repaint, sound original upholstery, thin chrome. Stone chipped windshield. Dirty, discolored dashtop covering and console. Original underbody. Mostly original except for the repaint – An honest, but honestly not very attractive C/4. Its originality is pleasing, but not sufficient to offset its aged condition. Honestly, the consignor wasn’t wrong to take it home at this bid, but that implies it is set to remain in the barn for a while, because it won’t be worth much if any more than this for a while.

Lot # 471 1986 Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet, Body by Bertone; S/N ZFFWC26B000060835; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $29,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $31,030 – Sony CD stereo, air conditioning, power windows, 18-inch wheels, Bridgestone tires, SF shields. – The left door and windshield post have been badly repainted. Door edges are chipped and touched up. The door seals are falling apart. The original upholstery is worn and surface cracked. This Mondial has not led a good life. – This is a 2+ price for a tired and not very well treated 3- Mondial 3.2 Cab. It was described as having “service records” but based on its presentation it is doubtful any of them are either recent or comprehensive.

Lot # 454 2001 Ferrari 360 Modena Coupe; S/N ZFFYU51A910122855; Metallic Blue (Celeste?)/Charcoal leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $57,780 – Factory stereo, 18-inch Michelin tires, F1 gearbox, fitted luggage, books and records. – 33,000 miles and in appropriate condition for that mileage. – Sold for $82,680 at Mecum Indy in 2011, seven years ago. It’s been a costly experience somewhere along the way, but this result is appropriately conservative for what it is today.

Lot # 472.1 2004 Ferrari 360 Modena F1 Spider; S/N ZFFYT53A840139750; Black/Beige leather, Black bars; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $65,000 – F1 gearbox, Daytona style seats, SF shields, Challenge front and rear grilles, Red calipers, Tubi exhaust, Alpine CD changer stereo. – 23,134 miles. Some waterstains on the paint, generally polishing scuffed, stone chipped nose, discolored headlight covers. The driver’s seat is stretched and the outside bolster piping is worn through. Used and not particularly well looked after. – There are a few expensive options on this 360 Modena (what Ferrari options aren’t expensive) and the bidders here in Punta Gorda missed them, seeking to take it home at a slightly below wholesale price.

Lot # 478.1 2012 Fisker Karma EcoChic 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N YH4K16AAXCA000785; Deep Ocean Blue Metallic/Light Grey, Black Alcantara; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000 – Rooftop solar panels, performance brakes – Represented as 7,902 miles and looks like it. – No one at Punta Gorda had a clue what this orphan hybrid-electric sedan was worth, and neither do I.

Lot # 484 1932 Ford Model B 5-Window Coupe; S/N Engine No. 5078832; Engine # 5078832; Dark Green, Black fenders/Olive cloth; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $42,500 – Lime Green wire wheels, Excelsior tires, dual sidemounts, rumble seat, no heater. – Excellent paint (despite some shrinkage), chrome and interior. Spotless like new engine compartment and chassis. An outstanding, rare car. – Sold in six weeks ago at the RM Hershey auction for $37,400 from the Richard Burdick estate. Some dealers play for the obscure variation where another auction brings out a buyer who falls in love with a reasonably bought car and pays large money for it. After commission this $42,500 bid would have netted just under $40K and put a small, but cherished, profit in the consignor’s pocket. It wasn’t enough for the consignor and the search goes on.

Lot # 283 1935 Ford Model 48 Coupe 5-window; S/N 1512628; Black/Olive cloth; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $27,000 – Emerald Green wire wheels, wide whitewalls, banjo spoke steering wheel, rear-mounted spare, rumble seat. – Good older paint with a thin scratch on the left front fender and small edge chips on the driver’s door. Good chrome and interior. Sharp gauges. Not as good as it gets but more than good enough to tour and show with pride. – Old Fords (and Chevys and Plymouths) are subject to significant differences of opinion. The Punta Gorda bidders were skeptical, and this is a skeptical value. Others might think it’s a cool thing and pay $10,000 more for it. The consignor elected to wait for the others.

Lot # 493 1957 Ford Custom 300 Ranchero; S/N C7KF174433; Red, White/Red, White vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $55,000 – 292/212hp with added later Holley 4-barrel, automatic, power windows, brakes, steering, Town & Country radio, (cold) factory air conditioning, chrome wire wheels, radial whitewalls, tailored rubber sheet bedliner, dual outside mirrors, vee bar grille guard, hockey stick sill moldings. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. The engine compartment, frame, chassis and underbody are all nearly like new with some chassis black added subsequent to the restoration The glass is unblemished; dash and instruments are high quality. The engine compartment is like new. All the plumbing lines have been replaced and are like new. The driver’s door has some areas of over 2mm filler near the lower rear corner. There is filler elsewhere but only enough for getting flat, smooth panels. The air conditioning blows cold. The power steering is reasonably tight. The best ’57 Ranchero in years, and better than I expected it to be. – I bought this Ranchero for a friend at Bonhams Quail four months ago for $70,000 and I know what it needs to bring. It’s not $55K, although it’s not $70K, either. The Premier crew did a first class job of presenting it and there was money at this bid, just not enough money. Jimmy, for whom I bought it, drove it 166 miles since getting it. He said, “The brakes are awful”, to which I replied, “Like a ’57 Ford.” The next time it shows up it may have front disc brakes with the drum setup in a carton. Anyone looking for a seriously exceptional ’57 Custom 300 Ranchero should call me.

Lot # 458 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N D7FH142060; Willow Green, Ivory hardtop/Two-tone Green vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $36,380 – 322/245hp, automatic, both tops, power brakes ,and steering, Town & Country radio. – Peeling painted whitewalls. Fair repaint over visible repairs on the nose and casual prep in places. Rusty hardtop latches, peeling steering wheel. Dry, surface rusted underbody. Sloppy engine compartment. Barely decent. – There were four ’57 T-birds in Punta Gorda. They ranged from barely decent to very good. This was one of the barely decent ones and it brought a price appropriate to its condition.

Lot # 462 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N E7FH348628; Starmist Blue, White hardtop/Two-tone Blue vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $58,000 – 312/270hp E-Code dual quads, overdrive 3-speed, power steering, wheel covers, whitewalls, both tops, skirts, Town & Country radio, ‘Dialamatic’ power seat. – Good older paint and chrome Sound upholstery with a few pulling seams in the driver’s seat cushion. Weak interior and some exterior trim chrome. Dirty old underbody. An old warhorse that’s showing its age and the 1,000 or so miles it’s covered since last seen in 2004. – Sold for $27,000 at Barrett-Jackson in LA in 2004, in unchanged condition except for a thousand miles on the odometer since then. It was offered at Mecum’s LA auction in February of this year where it was reported bid to $52,500, then reported sold at Auburn Fall three months ago for $46,200. Needless to say, if there had been money anywhere even remotely close to the high bid reported here the car should have been on its way to a new home. This result means nothing.

Lot # 480.1 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N D7FH390133; Gunmetal Gray, Gunmetal Gray hardtop/Red vinyl; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $42,000 – 312/245hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, two tops, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, Town & Country radio – Sound paint but with a chipped front corner on the hood, sag on the hardtop by the right porthole. Good chrome except for thin wind wing frames. Very good upholstery, dash and gauges. The underbody has been quickly painted assembled. Beautiful color combination. – This old girl’s been around a while, selling for $69,550 at Mecum Dallas back in 2013, then cycling through a series of auctions in 2018 with unsuccessful bids of $45,000, $52,000 and $45,000 again. This $42,000 offer is the lowest ever, but isn’t unrealistic, just part of the progression of a declining market and consignors trying to adjust their expectations to catch up with it.

This was an auction lineup flashback to the Beach Boys “Fun, Fun, Fun”:

“And she’ll have fun fun fun, ’til her daddy takes the T-bird away”

Lot # 481 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N C7FH260577; Dusk Rose, White hardtop/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $39,055 – 292/206hp, 3-speed, both tops, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, Town & Country radio, power steering, ‘Dialamatic’ power seat. – Sound older paint, chrome and interior. Scuff on the front of the hood. Weak center front bumper chrome. An orderly and presentable older restoration with the desirable 3-speed manual transmission. – Attractive colors, both tops, 3-speed stick and power steering combine to make this an attractive ’57 T-bird, maybe the most attractive of the four in Premier’s Punta Gorda auction. It was reported bid to $35,000 at Mecum’s Spring Classic at Indianapolis seven months ago and brought a little bit more here in a transaction that is fair to both the buyer and the seller.

Lot # 528 1970 Ford Mustang Convertible; S/N 0F03F114330; Blue/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $27,285 – 302/210hp 2-barrel, power steering, manual brakes, air conditioning, Magnum wheels, Cooper tires, non-functional hood scoop, air dam, wing, Pioneer CD stereo. – Fair repaint over old paint and superficial prep. Uneven door and hood fits. Surprisingly good chrome. Orderly but aged and not restored engine compartment. Tired original undercoat in the wheelwells. Dirt and insect corpses under the bottom of the wiper scratched windshield. Pretty nasty. – But a handsome price for a challenged Mustang of little significance. This is a $15,000 car that brought a $10,000 premium for … nothing, let alone a discount for the modifications.

Lot # 438 1970 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback; S/N 0T05H167280; Red, Matte Black stripes/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $30,495 – 351/250hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, Magnum wheels, Cooper tires, Traction-Lok, pushbutton radio, heater, Ram Air hood. – Decent repaint, sound interior, old undercoat in the wheel wells. Messy, disorganized engine compartment. Discolored bumper chrome, pitted hood latches. Sound and usable but an auction car. – A desirable Mustang with good equipment, but sadly lacking in cosmetic and mechanical attention, this is the most the consignor could have hoped for, and therefore jumped on the bid in a heartbeat.

Lot # 408 1956 Lincoln Premiere 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 56WA43860L; White, Turquoise roof/White, Turquoise vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $19,795 – 368/285hp, automatic, power seat, air conditioning, Town & Country radio, skirts, wheel covers, wide whitewalls – Doors rattle. Broken hood ornament. Repainted and reupholstered but that’s all. The dash, switches and gauges are grungy. Sound but seriously unappealing. – What will the new owner do with this rattle-trap? It’s not going to be satisfying to drive and the $20K between this price and the value of a restored ’56 Premier Hardtop will disappear in a heartbeat in a restoration shop. This result is more than it’s worth and anything spent on it is money down the drain.

Lot # 238 1962 Lotus Super Seven SII Roadster; S/N SB1587; BRGreen, Yellow stripe/Black vinyl; No top; Competition car, original as-raced, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $22,000 – 1,498cc Cosworth, dual Webers, 4-speed, paperclip rollbar, fire system, Accusump-type oil reservoir, single aeroscreen, 8-spoke alloy wheels, street tires. – Scratched, scruffy old paint with pimples on the nose cone, dirty chassis repainted assembled. Does not appear to have been driven or raced recently. – While this is a reasonable bid for a Series II overhead cam Cosworth-powered Super Seven, the seller may place more value than the bidders on its race prep, a position that is difficult to support given its age and apparent lack of recent freshening or use. Race cars are hard to value being subject to their owners’ memories of racing endorphin-releases, but this is not an unreasonable offer for this car.

Lot # 455 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE Cabriolet; S/N A12803010003765; Black/Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 – 2,195/115hp FI, column shift 4-speed, Becker Grand Prix multiband radio, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, fog lights. – Scuffed old repaint. Very good upholstery but superficially varnished interior wood trim. Doors close hard but fit flush. Weak chrome. Cracked old windshield grommet. A flashy but largely unrestored and used driver. – The reported high bid is an appropriate offer for this mediocre old 220SE, an inherently desirable M-B, but a full restoration away from being a M-B marque show car.

Lot # 244 1958 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N M8ZD520984; White, Blue/Blue vinyl, cloth; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $44,000 – Wheel covers, whitewalls, Super Marauder 430/400hp with Tri-Power, pushbutton automatic, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, Continental kit, Breezeway rear window, fender skirts, bench seat, pushbutton radio, dash clock, power seat. – Very tidy maintained but unrestored engine bay and underbody. Big dent in the rear bumper from a collision that has cracked a lot of the chrome. The panel gaps are erratic. Good older repaint with a crack at the top of the left rear fender. Good interior with original dash and some cracks in the steering wheel rim. An older superficial cosmetic redo on a car that was fundamentally solid. The damage on the bumper is a real shame. A rare, fast and neat car, but not a very good one. – A no-sale at Mecum Anaheim in 2015 with an $80,000 bid this Turnpike Cruiser quickly regressed to being sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2017 for $50,600. It was bid to $35,000 at Mecum Kissimmee in January of this year and hasn’t been getting better with age. It makes a 348/335hp Impala pale, but no one cares and this is a realistic bid for it.

Lot # 569 1954 MG TF Roadster; S/N HDA464089; White/Dark Red vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $23,500 – Silver wire wheels, Nexen tires, Dual CD/Satellite stereo, fender mirrors, Black cloth tonneau cover, luggage rack with period Samsonite luggage. – Reproduction ID tag. Good paint, interior and chrome. Peeling paint under the left front fender. Orderly engine compartment and chassis. A sound and presentable driver-quality TF 1250. – While this was a realistic offer for a TF 1250, it was only marginally appropriate and understandable that it wasn’t enough to satisfy the consignor. Over $25K should have been sufficient, but sometimes it’s important to take a stand and not get carried away by the prospect of all that money.

Lot # 407 1956 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight 2-Dr. Hardtop Holiday; S/N 569T3419; White/Dark Red vinyl; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 – 324/240hp, automatic, power steering, brakes, windows and bench seat, WonderBar radio, skirts, spinner wheel covers, Autronic Eye, air conditioning. – Oily, dirty engine compartment. Sound paint, chrome and interior. Thin instrument bezel chrome, chipped and cracked steering wheel rim. At one time it was restored but time and miles have used it up. – This crusty Olds was a no-sale at the Auctions America Ft. Lauderdale auction in April 2017 with a reported high bid of $35,000. Twenty months later it made an even less appealing impression on the Punta Gorda bidders who were, based on its neglected condition, unusually generous. If there was money anywhere close to the reported high bid the consignor should have accepted it with gratitude.

Lot # 557 1968 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3448781134385; Black/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $20,865 – 455, Edelbrock intake manifold, power steering and brakes, tilt steering column, tube headers, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires, Alpine CD stereo, Autogage underdash gauges. – Ugly old repaint, sound interior, grimy engine compartment and chassis, erratic chrome. A car best avoided. – Or at least bought really conservatively, like this. 1968 was the year the 4-4-2 went from being a Cutlass option to being its own model line.

Lot # 500 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass 4-4-2 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 3G87U2M136238; Viking Blue, White stripes/Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,250 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $33,438 – 455/250hp, automatic, Hurst shifter, Kenwood CD stereo, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, remote outside mirror, sport steering wheel, Rally wheels with trim rings, Cooper tires, 3.08 Anti-Spin axle. – Sound but unattractive paint, good interior and major chrome. Orderly old engine compartment shows age and miles. A well-equipped driver. – The rather comprehensive list of options and accessories adds value to this 4-4-2 but not enough to support this result which is excessive for the age of its restoration and the miles that have been covered since the restoration was finished.

Lot # 524 1968 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N RM21J8A217494; Matador Red/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $61,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $65,805 – 426/425hp dual quads, automatic, pushbutton radio, heater, hubcaps, red line tires. – Good paint with some masking misses. Scratched rear window but good side glass and windshield. Sanding scratched windshield trim. Pitted vent window trim. Sound upholstery. Grime under the windshield bottom edge. Soiled and worn switchgear. The engine compartment shows more age than use but is definitely aged. Cosmetically restored to high but not the highest standards. – Offered by Mecum at Kissimmee in 2016, 2017 and 2018 with reported high bids of $70,000, $75,000 and most recently $50,000. That trend was broken here in Punta Gorda and the seller greeted the offer with prudent acceptance.

Lot # 482 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO Convertible; S/N 237675P270788; Engine # 330531WS; Iris Mist/Parchment vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $57,500 – 389/360hp Tri-Power, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, power brakes, buckets and console, pushbutton radio, woodgrain steering wheel, Rally wheels with trim rings, red line tires. – Very good older repaint and interior. Sharp major chrome but plenty of thin, soiled trim inside and out. Cracked original undercoat. The passenger’s window has a sandblasted smudge. The engine compartment is dirty, has some fluid leak residue and non-negligible oxidation. A good GTO but its restoration is not standing up very well and no PHS or other documentation was offered. – Early GTOs continue to be overlooked, but not overlooked enough to be worth this little by any rational collector. It’s highly optioned, including Tri-Power and the 4-speed, is an unusual and intriguing color and the top goes down. It should have brought at least $25,000 more.

Lot # 499 1966 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242176Z107468; Engine # 185400 XE; Matador Red/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $56,000 – 389/335hp 4-barrel, automatic, power steering, antenna and brakes, air conditioning, Rally wheels with trim rings, tilt steering column, Radial T/A tires, PHS documented along with original purchase paper – Excellent paint, interior and chrome. The engine compartment is like new as is the underbody. Represented as the original engine and impossible to fault in any meaningful way. – This bid is well below retail, probably better understood as a dealer’s unwillingness to stretch in a soft market. The car is wonderful, even with the automatic, and is deliciously optioned.

Lot # 531 1967 Pontiac GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 242177P265285; Engine # 0761498 YZ; Mariner Turquoise, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $40,660 – 400/360hp with ’68 YZ block, automatic, power steering, brakes, driver’s seat, antenna and windows, factory AM-FM and 8-track, console, Rally II wheels with trim rings, red line tires. – Mediocre old clearcoat repaint with a scuffed front edge on the passenger’s door. Decent chrome and repolished but still scratched aluminum trim. Dirty old undercoat; orderly but aged engine compartment. Steering woodgraining is almost completely worn off. A usable driver. – The later block, even though it is the accurate original configuration for the 400/360hp, is a material impediment to this GTO’s value, along with the automatic transmission. The bidders here took note, but ended up paying a realistic price for it.

Lot # 495 2001 Porsche 911/996 Ruf R-Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0AB29951S687817; Seal Grey Metallic/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $69,000 – 520hp twin turbo, 6-speed, sunroof, red calipers, RUF air dam, adjustable rear spoiler, 20-inch wheels and gauges, original books and window sticker documented. – Represented as 23,462 miles and looks like it. Lightly stretched seats, flawless paint. – Back in ancient days (say, 2001) a Porsche with 520 horsepower was earth-shattering and had to be bought from Alois Ruf. Fast forward to 2018 and all that power, and more, comes from Stuttgart with a factory warranty. So, while this Ruf R-Turbo cost $153,000 at the turn of the 21st century, today it’s overshadowed and the offer for it here is not unreasonable, only a big shock to the owner. At this price, though, or anything close to it, it would release speed-sensitive endorphins at reasonable pocketbook shock.

Lot # 457 1924 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Pall Mall Tourer; S/N 341LF; Maroon/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $230,000 – RHD. Black wire wheels, dual sidemounts, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights, Beige cloth covered luggage trunk, Waltham clock. – Seriously cracking and alligatored old repaint. Good newer upholstery and top. Dull old gauges and brightwork. Dirty original chassis. Orderly engine compartment. Usable and recently toured, if not particularly presentable. – This Rolls-Royce was a bit out of character here in Punta Gorda and the reported high bid is more reflective of the consignor’s expectations than the bidders’ enthusiasm. This is a realistic, if conservative, offer for this Ghost.

Lot # 502 1961 Sunbeam Alpine Convertible; S/N B9004568LRX; White/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $10,250 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $10,968 – 1,494cc/84hp, Silver wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, BFG tires, aftermarket fat rim steering wheel – Scuffed and flat passenger’s seat cushion, newer driver’s seat upholstery. Mirror mounting holes in the left front fender. Clean old engine compartment, original underbody. Edge chipped repaint with masking misses and old body seals. Good bumpers but thin, peeling trim. A tired old car with abundant needs. – This result is a gift to the seller for a car that never should have gotten within shouting distance of $10,000 on the block.

Lot # 534 1973 Volkswagen Type 181 Thing Utility; S/N 1832755289; Orange/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $14,500 plus commission of 7.00%; Final Price $15,515 – Bolt-in roll cage, swing out spare wheel carrier, Sapphire pushbutton radio, folding rear seats, hubcaps, Goodyear tires, gas heater, Neolite driving lights. – Represented as 65,634 miles and looks it. Repainted nose, otherwise sound original paint. Sound interior. A sound and usable largely original driver but one that’s showing its age. – Although this Thing is largely original its originality is really more like tired and adds no value to it, a fact reflected in this highly appropriate price that is fair to both the buyer and the seller.

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Comments

  1. Reply

    Great pics! I would love to use photos like these in this blog (https://disaffectedmusings.com), but see they bear the copyright mark. Any way a couple of these could be used from time to time?

    Thanks.

      • rickcarey1
      • December 17, 2018
      Reply

      While the exposure might do my site traffic some good I can’t grant such permission.
      I use some photos sourced from and copyright by others with permission and often augment our on-site photography with photos from the auction companies, with their specific permission which I don’t have the rights to extend to others.
      Rick

  2. Reply

    Hi Rick, I met you at Mecum was just a few minutes with you gave me your card I like your stuff I’m glad I met you take care

    Breeze

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