RM Auctions Auburn Fall, August 30-September 1, 2019

Auburn Fall is a tradition, a gathering place to decompress after the non-stop action both on the auction blocks and in the endless events of Monterey.

Along with the ACD Festival the same weekend, RM has turned Auburn Fall into an event itself with myriad activities for attendees and their families. Come, enjoy and even go home with a new hobby or a new collector car addition to a well-established pastime.

It’s also a place to find curiously intriguing cars and even a few bargains.

This year’s Auburn Fall was down significantly from prior years, primarily in the number of cars consigned. The 553 vehicle lots offered were down nearly a quarter from last year. The sale total declined a corresponding 28%, continuing the trend seen at the Monterey auctions in August.

The top sale, a 12-mile 2005 Ford GT, was $302,500 on a hammer bid of $275,000. There were seven lots bid to the same amount or more. Had they been sold they would have added some $3.25 million to the total.

It’s further witness to the situation at Monterey: a softening market with an ever-increasing number of auctions competing for pieces of the pool of available consignments.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2019 413/553 74.7% $37,628 $26,950

[71.6%]

$15,540,440
2018 527/721 73.1% $41,076 $27,500

[67.0%]

$21,646,790
2017 530/728 72.8% $35,833 $19,250

[53.7%]

$18,991,443
2016 579/842 68.8% $36,252 $23,350

[64.4%]

$20,989,685

On-site observations are by Jose Martinez and Megan Boyd. The final copy is ultimately my responsibility.

Reports are sorted by Marque, Model, Body Style and Year.


Lot # 1062 1932 Auburn 8-100 Custom Coupe; S/N 81008155; Green, Tan/Brown; Unrestored original, 4 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $28,000 – Artillery wheels, whitewalls, rear-mounted spare. – Original condition with worn paint and tattered interior. The bumpers appear to have been rechromed at one point but all other plating is factory original. A true time capsule example and of one of only 861 built in 1932. – A rare vehicle in passable, sound, condition but it’s a coupe and it needs everything. The reported high bid should have been sufficient to see it parted from its owner, who is embarking on a long journey to look for more than this.

Lot # 1078 1960 Auto Union 1000 SP Coupe; S/N 6815001787; Red, White roof/Tan piped in Red; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $21,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $23,650 – 896cc 3-cylinder two-stroke, 4-speed, dual mirrors, hub caps. – The 10-year-old repaint looks a lot fresher than it is, and all of the brightwork looks very clean. Clean, lightly used engine bay and a gorgeous interior. Fully restored in 2009 and lightly used since. Its looks alone are a sure conversation starter, while the two-stroke engine and front-wheel drive make it even more interesting. – A nifty little car that looks like a toy Ford Thunderbird, and although there are four interlocking rings on the trunk lid this is a far cry from today’s Audis. Like other tiny postwar European cars it doesn’t offer a lot of car for the money in the physical sense, but the charm per dollar and the cute factor peg the needle. It is, to quote the company, “Das Kleine Wunder”, not least that it has survived and it is one of the “kleine wunders” that reward coming to Auburn Fall.

Lot # 2130 1965 Buick Riviera GS Sport Coupe; S/N 4944H57924982; Gold/Tan; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200 – 425ci/360hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, bucket seats, power driver’s seat, power windows, AM/FM radio, console shifter. – There are microblisters on the nose, large blisters on the driver’s side quarter panel and a crack on the B-pillar. There are also chips in the paint below the grille and overspray on the drip rail guards. The front and rear chrome bumpers are good. Scratched and dinged window trim. The interior, on the other hand, is very good and clean. The engine bay is maintained but unrestored. An inconsistently presented and mediocre car. Ed Meurer Collection. – For years “Riviera” was Buick’s marketing term for a 2-Dr. Hardtop but in 1963 it was elevated to full Model status as a 4-seat personal luxury car. Its design under Bill Mitchell’s leadership was clean, crisp and unadorned with chrome flourishes. It looked great and, as this ’65 Gran Sport with its dual quad Super Wildcat 425/360hp powerplant shows, had performance to back up its sporting looks. Unfortunately the repaint is failing or, worse yet, flaws in the bodywork under the paint are projecting their ugly blisters. The Auburn Fall bidders recognized the telltale signs and kept the bidding low and the seller had no illusions making this a realistic result for both sides of the bargain on a rerun of Thursday’s Lot # 1056.

Lot # 2141 1960 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 60E091185; Carrara Green/Green leather; Black top; Older restoration, 4 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – 390ci/345hp, Tri-Power, automatic, power windows, Autronic eye, cruise control, AM radio, parade boot, power brakes, power steering, air conditioning. – Decent older paint with scratches on the trunk, hood, and passenger’s side tail fin. Clean bumper chrome, but light pitting on some of the brightwork. The padded dashboard has peeling paint and the chrome trim on the instrument panel has pitting, but the upholstery is very good. The engine compartment is not detailed but appears in reasonably tidy condition. An older body-off restoration that hasn’t been maintained and there is a note about the brakes not functioning. – If the brakes aren’t fully sorted on this car, one can’t help but wonder what else the seller hasn’t addressed. That’s for the new owner to find out, but unfortunately this is a very expensive price for a car with expensive needs. It’s true for any car that it’s smart to buy the best you can afford, but it’s especially true for big chrome-laden ’50s American cars. This is far from “the best” at this price.

Lot # 4048 1936 Cadillac V-12 Convertible Coupe, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 4110238; Maroon/Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $86,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $94,600 – Hub caps, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, fog lights, rumble seat, clock, radio. – Minor scratching and some pitting on the chrome. Otherwise very attractive, just far from fresh. The engine compartment is clean and crisp albeit with some age. The upholstery is lightly creased but the gauges are crisp and clear. A former concours car that still presents very well, a magnificent tour car that will show proudly in the paddock at the end of a day’s run. William B. Ruger, Jr. Collection. – This is a gorgeous, distinctive, 12-cylinder car in excellent condition. Seductively smooth in operation, it begs to be driven on tours and is a great value at this price. If it were a V-16 it would be a lot more money, but not much more performance or style.

[Thank you, Jon Riley, for catching my original mistake and calling it to my attention. I must have had my head where the sun doesn’t shine when I wrote the original comment.]

Lot # 2093 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Convertible; S/N F58A125035; Clay Coral/Pink; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,750 – 348ci/280hp Tri-power, digital vintage style AM/FM cassette stereo, power windows, dual antennas, fender skirts, power seats, Vintage air conditioning, tissue box, spinner wheel covers with whitewall tires, Continental kit. – Very good paint, but the chrome trim on the hood is lightly scratched as well as around the spare wheel cover. Clean restored engine bay and good, lightly worn restored interior. Restored a while ago and lightly used since, it is holding up very well. – A fair result that takes the car’s age into account but also its quality, equipment and attractive colors. It previously sold for $62,700 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2008. Values haven’t changed much since then and the seller should be content with the moderate increase in value over the last decade.

Lot # 3060 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala Convertible; S/N F58T251657; Turquoise/Turquoise; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $71,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $78,100 – 348, Tri-Power, automatic, fender skirts, power top, power seat, power steering, power brakes, dual spotlight mirrors, dual antennas, Continental kit. – Good but older paint. The interior appears tired but wholly intact. Good, lightly faded brightwork. Eye-catching colors on an older restored first-year Impala. – Not sold at a $50,500 high bid at Fall Auburn in 2001 which is largely irrelevant in 2019, but it was in better condition then. This is a reasonable full retail bid today.

Lot # 2085 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad Station Wagon; S/N VC56L053082; Matador Red, Dune Beige/Red vinyl, Tan cloth; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $59,950 – 265/205hp, automatic, factory air conditioning, wheel covers, grille guard, whitewalls, power steering, clock, AM radio. – Very good paint and interior, but the chrome and brightwork look older. The engine bay is a little dirty but it is complete and looks maintained. Not much history represented, but it’s an attractive driver in good colors. – Highly sought after no matter what the condition is, this Nomad is easy to look at, to maintain and bought at a reasonable price that should satisfy both the seller and the buyer.

Lot # 3092 1957 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E57S104321; Venetian Red, Venetian Red hardtop/White; Beige vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $300,000 – 283/283hp Fuelie, 4-speed, radio delete, big brakes, cold airbox, two tops, hubcaps, blackwall tires. – Fair old paint with numerous chips and scratches visible. Good older interior other than some cracking, peeling paint on the steering column. The chrome and brightwork are a little dull, and the hubcaps are pitted. Desirable equipment, but an older restored driver as it sits. Jim Mangione Collection. – This is the configuration that defines the top of Corvette performance in 1957 with the solid lifter FI engine, cold air box (43 delivered) for a few more horses than the standard 283 and Big Brakes (51 delivered) to whoa it up. A pair of tops helps the value, too. All that more than offsets the restoration’s age and is sufficient reason why even this bid was deemed insufficient.

Lot # 3075 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 00867S105619; Engine # F0317CQ; Ermine White, Silver coves, White hardtop/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500 – 283/230hp, 4-speed, includes hardtop, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, cassette stereo. – Represented as the original engine and with NCRS Top Flight in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The paint is very good. The chrome is too, except for surface scratches at the top of the windshield and the mounting points for the top. There is excess sealant visible around the bottom of the windshield. The air cleaner is highly scratched, but the engine compartment is highly detailed. The upholstery is in good condition. The chrome trim on the hardtop has a few small areas where it is dull and pitted, but it does shine well otherwise. Pitting on the trim around the shifter. Body-off restored in 2008 and has awards to show for the quality of the work, but older. – This car hammered not sold in Indy this year at a $75,000 high bid, not an unreasonable offer for a car with a restoration as old as this. This result is expensive by comparison, and one of those rare instances when holding out for more from one auction to the other really pays off in a big way. This is huge money for a base 230hp ’60 Corvette with a decade-old restoration, even with its many awards.

Lot # 3095 1961 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 10867S106316; Roman Red, White coves/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000 – 283hp/270hp, dual quads, 4-speed, hub caps, clock, aftermarket radio with cassette. – Represented as a Big Brake car. The paint is good other than light surfaces on the trunk and a small chip on the passenger’s side taillight housing. Good but older chrome. The trim on the cove vents is pitted and the corner of the front bumper on the driver’s side is wavy with small indentations. Good newer top. There is some dirt and grime in the wheel wells and underbody. Very good interior. Restored a while ago and lightly driven. – This is a reasonable offer for this Corvette, consistent with the age of its restoration and its dubious claim of being an original Big Brake car. It’s an interesting hybrid, but not a particularly significant Corvette.

Lot # 3156 1967 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Coupe; S/N 194377S118085; Engine # T0404JE 71108085; Silver Pearl, Black stinger/Red; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $77,500 – 427/435 with L88 aluminum heads, 4-speed, aftermarket air conditioning, clock, radio, red line tires, side exhaust, power steering, power brakes, power windows, AM-FM, tank sticker documented. – The paint shines well and is free of any chips, but there is a crack on the driver’s side A-pillar, and another one on the passenger’s side fender line. There are also light surface scratches on the hood scoop and small imperfections in the clear coat on the nose. Good chrome. The wheels have light pitting on the center caps. The interior upholstery and carpet are in good condition but the driver’s seat has some light wrinkles from use. Given the clear coat and the aftermarket air conditioning, it wasn’t restored with 100 percent authenticity in mind. Restored in 1992 and holding up well, but not perfect. – Offered without any documentation of the cylinder heads’ source, and erratically presented. It’s not so imperfect that it doesn’t deserve more than this reported high bid, especially since it sold for $121,000 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2015, but the bidders can be forgiven for being skeptical.

Lot # 3122 1967 Chevrolet Corvette COPO Convertible; S/N 194677S117714; Ermine White, Red stinger and tail stripe/Red vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $450,000 – 427/400hp, heavy duty Powerglide, 3.08 Positraction, power steering, power brakes, air conditioning, power windows, clock, radio, red painted turbine wheels, narrow whitewalls. – Original COPO car ordered by designer Bill Mitchell for his wife, Marian, who reportedly used the car for two years. Distinguished by the red stripe on the tail and the extra convenience equipment. It has since been restored and got the Bloomington Gold Historic Award in 2001. Today, the paint has light indentations from stone chips on the nose and hood. There is also a small chip on the passenger’s side of the boot. The top also has peeled paint on the driver’s side near the windshield trim. The rest of the paint is in very good condition. The chrome and body trim have some light surface scratching from general age. Very good interior. Cracking in the wheel well paint. A reasonably significant car that could use another round of light restoration work before it hits the show circuit again. Jim Mangione Collection. – The reported high bid is about three times what a freshly restored ’67 L68 Convertible would ordinarily expect to bring. Yes, it’s a significant car, but it’s not like it was Duntov’s personal ride or some special developmental car. The number offered is fair. It hammered not sold at a serious exaggerated $675,000 at Mecum’s Bloomington Gold sale in January 2009, then a more realistic $300,000 at Mecum Monterey two months later. The Mitchell family connection is desirable, but little more significant than a regular Brass Hat’s loaded Corvette.

Lot # 3086 1962 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N 20867S112582; Roman Red, Roman Red hardtop/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $54,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $59,950 – 327/360hp Fuelie, 4-speed, both tops, spinner wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, clock, WonderBar radio. – Represented as the original drivetrain. The paint is good other than microblisters on the cowl. The bumpers are pitted, and the window trim is heavily scratched. The hardtop has old, dry weather stripping. The seats are aged and wavy but presentable. This car’s imperfections aren’t too distracting and it is represented as matching numbers, but there are many visible flaws and there isn’t much in the way of documentation or history. – The bidders didn’t seem to buy the “original drivetrain” representation and heavily discounted this two-top Corvette with a sketchy wholesale price. On the other hand, the seller didn’t object and took the money, a transaction that promises to be a win for both.

Lot # 3116 1969 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible; S/N 194679S704899; Engine # T0923LO; Tuxedo Black/Saddle leather; Tan top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $290,000 – 427ci/430hp L88, M22 4-speed, side exhaust, Rally wheels, red line tires, radio delete – Fair paint with a 10 inch crack on the driver’s side fender. There is a crack on the hood scoop as well as the front corners of the hood. There are several cracks on the rear of the car. The front bumper has a 3-inch dull spot. The top of the windshield is pitted. The upholstery, dashboard and instrument panel are in good condition. A largely original, L88 and one of just 116 examples built for 1969, but not much in the way of history or documentation represented. Jim Mangione Collection. – While it has appropriate L88 numbers stamped in the block there is no representation made that this is the original engine. There isn’t even any representation that it was originally an L88, the description only making the veiled statement that it is “well-known in the Corvette community”, for whatever that’s worth. The bidders apparently didn’t think it was worth much and cursed it with a parts car price that will be hard to overcome without more serious representations of its history and configuration.

Lot # 4051 1962 Chrysler 300 Convertible; S/N 8223138980; White/Red; Tan top; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 – 383/305hp, automatic, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, radio. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Restored relatively recently with no serious issues and represented as a two-owner car. – This not a “Letter Car” nor is it very well restored and the consignor got 300H money for it.

Lot # 3099 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual Windshield Phaeton, Body by LeBaron; S/N 7803613; Red/Black leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500 – Chrome wire wheels, dual sidemount spares. – First owned by Lou Fageol, later by actor Turhan Bey, Jack Passey and Laurence Dorcy, who owned it three different times. Known history from new. Fageol had a Cadillac V-16 installed early in its history, recently replaced by a CH Imperial engine. Excellent paint, interior and top, but the brightwork is showing light age. Otherwise it’s a strong, carefully kept older restoration. – It would be so much more impressive if it still had its Lou Fageol-Cadillac retaining the direct link to its speed obsessed original owner. Now it’s just another CL Imperial with a correct type but non original inline eight. It was sold by RM in Arizona in 2017 for $258,500 and no-saled nine months later at Hershey at a reported bid of $235,000. “Colorful” hardly begins to describe its history and it brought a realistic price here, one which left the consignor $100,000 out of pocket after commissions.

Lot # 1086 1956 Continental Mark II 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N C5601466; Briar Bronze/Beige, White leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,545 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,500 – 368/285hp, automatic, tinted glass, Town and Country radio, power windows, power seat, owner’s manual, build sheet documented. – Good older repaint. The interior is original and rough. Rough but complete engine bay. Nothing in the way of history represented. A project car. – Reported bid to $20,000 on the block but closed later with this appropriate result. Hand built cars, Mark II Continentals are notoriously expensive to restore, and this one needs pretty much everything.

Lot # 3097 1923 Duesenberg Model A Sport Touring, Body by Rubay; S/N 891; Engine # 1257; Vermillion/Dark Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000 – Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, trunk, rear folding windshield, wind wings, wood steering wheel, engine-turned dash. – Good older paint with only minor flaws. Good but older brightwork and similarly good but lightly worn interior. No major issues, but the freshness of the restoration is long gone. In the Blackhawk Collection until 2003 and ACD Category 1 certified. – Often forgotten in the shadows cast by the bright, shimmering Duesenberg Model J, the Model A is, in fact, a fine example of the Duesenberg brothers’ skill and vision with entirely adequate performance for its period and stylish coachwork such as this Sport Touring by Rubay. This result is a moderate but reasonable price considering its stature and the age of the restoration.

Lot # 3125 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 14769; Red/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $430,000 – Centerlock Borrani wire wheels, tool roll and manuals, Becker Mexico radio, factory air conditioning. – Originally finished in white and sold new to Washington. Repainted for the second time in the 1990s and currently shows some light scratches. Original brightwork with some dents, scratches and pitting. Original interior with light wear and fading to the seats and dash top. Original other than a repaint and used, as it is showing 78,450 kilometers. – Daytona prices have been soft this year, with many imperfect cars like this one struggling to meet reserve or in this case even coming close to what they sold for in recent memory. It brought $715,000 at RM Phoenix in 2015 and hammered sold at $837,000 in Indy later that year before selling for $649,000 at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction in April 2016. It’s a tough reality, but the reported high bid here is realistic for what has been happening in 2019. If the consignor here was the buyer in Ft. Lauderdale this is painful reality.

Lot # 3056 1996 Ferrari F355 Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFXR4A89T0104887; Giallo Modena/Nero leather; Black top; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $62,700 – 6-speed, Pilot Sport tires, aftermarket radio tools, luggage, represented with service records. – Showing 17,471 claimed original miles. The interior shows light wear but this is a mostly well-kept carefully driven car. Then again, it’s not clear when the last major service was or what it included. – The 355 was the first Ferrari available with the now ubiquitous paddle shifters, but everybody wants the good-old-fashioned 6-speed version and the 6-speed shifter can add a $30,000 premium. This is therefore a modest result for a low-mile car with a stick, but 355s are notoriously expensive to maintain and if this car needs any major servicing (typically an engine-out job), it won’t seem like such a sweet deal anymore.

Lot # 1064 1979 Fiat 2000 Spider; S/N 124CS20155885; Metallic Blue/Tan; Tan vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $8,800 – Updated AM/FM with cassette player and luggage rack. – Represented as original paint, which is a believable claim. Fair, worn interior. Showing 47,197 believable miles. Visible wear underneath and in the engine bay, but all appears complete and mostly solid. – A neat little driver bought for cheap enough that the new owner has some money left over when something inevitably breaks.

Lot # 1097 1974 Ford Courier Pickup; S/N 1SGTAPG74526; Yellow/Black; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $9,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,175 – SOHC 1.8 liter 74hp 4-cylinder, automatic, heater, AM radio, hub caps, narrow whitewalls. – Relatively fresh paint in the original color. The interior looks original but it is presentable. Orderly and well-maintained original engine compartment. A nifty little pickup well-kept for what it is. Ford’s first foray into the small pickup market, the Courier is actually a Mazda B-Series underneath. – Rated 1,400 pounds capacity, which is impressive except when stepping on the gas pedal to summon all 74 horsepower. It’s a cute truck and bound to attract attention whether on a show field or in the Home Depot parking lot, attributes that, along with its surprisingly good condition, make its price here a sound buy in a small pickup.

Lot # 2100 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe; S/N 185874149; Navy Blue/Brown; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,050 – Flathead, AM radio, heater, fog lights, fender skirts, whitewalls, hubcaps and trim rings, oil filter. – Decent older paint. The body seals are very dry and cracking in most places. Very good interior, but the chrome and brightwork are aged with fogging and pitting. Chipped and aged paint in the engine compartment with surface oxidation and fuel stained carburetor. An early Ford V8 example that has escaped being hot rodded, but in mostly unremarkable condition. – It’s a solid and decently presentable driver with lots of potential for it to be made progressively better by a new owner while still enjoying it on weekends and decent financial headroom to give it the attention it deserves.

Lot # 1046 1951 Ford F-1 Pickup; S/N F1H1RH21503; Meadow Green/Brown; Truck restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000 – 226 cid six, 4-speed, factory AM radio and Magic Air heater, hub caps. – Older restoration with presentable paint. Chrome and seals show signs of age. Used but tidy engine bay. Good interior. An older driver quality truck restoration with plenty of life left in it for casual cruising. – Yes, vintage trucks and even old ’50s sixes have gotten quite a bit more valuable over the past couple of years, but the consignor’s expectations are well ahead of the curve. The reported high bid was spot-on and should have seen this Ford off to a new home.

Lot # 2149A 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90SX5Y400352; Red, White stripes/Black; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $302,500 – BBS wheels, hood and side stripes, red painted brake calipers, McIntosh stereo (all four options). – Just 12 miles and like new. – Of the two like-new Ford GTs in Auburn Fall this year, this one had more options and lower miles, which explains the 10 grand premium, although it conceivably could have sold for more without being expensive.

Lot # 3073 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S75Y400471; Quick Silver/Black; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $265,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $291,500 – BBS wheels, McIntosh stereo (two of the four available options). – 313 miles and like new. – 313 miles isn’t as remarkable as it sounds since nobody ever actually drove their 2005-06 GT, but this is still a like-new car. Then again, there is never a shortage of ones just like it on the market or coming to auction and this price, while modest, isn’t surprising.

Lot # 3140 2017 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 2FAGP9CW8HH200040; Riviera Blue/Black; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $875,000 – Brembo brakes, delivered without rear NVH panel exposing carbon fiber tub. – Just 2,834 miles and like new. – So far we’ve seen six different 2017 Ford GTs cross auction blocks, two of them twice. Most have delivery miles which puts this 2,834 mile example in the “high mileage” class. Disregarding the first transaction, 200023’s charity sale at B-J in January of last year for $2.5 million, prices have steadily declined from 200048’s $1.65 million at Mecum Indy 2018 through 200077’s $1.32 million at Mecum Dallas in October 2018, RM Monterey’s $1,242,500 for 200063 and Bonhams Quail Lodge’s Heritage Edition 200047 for $1,050,000, none of which had more than 600 miles. With five or more times the miles of any of those this is an outlier but an indicator of what works with these cars: bupkus miles and still in the wrapper, neither of which applied here even though this bid is far more than the original half-million dollar price.

 

Lot # 2124 1934 Ford Model 40 Victoria Sedan; S/N 181227388; Dark Green/Brown cloth; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700 – Flathead V8, clock, hub caps, whitewalls, rear-mounted spare. – Good older paint. Fantastic interior with no signs of wear. The chrome and brightwork could benefit from a thorough cleaning. A solid early Ford V8 restored to appropriate standards. – Eminently usable and the Victoria Sedan body is exceptionally rare, with just over 20,000 built and surpassed in scarcity only by Phaetons, Cabriolets and Station Wagons. Most collector interest is directed toward open cars and wagons but even in a field full of Ford V8s from the 30’s this Victoria will stand proudly and probably without peer, a solid value at this price for its condition and rarity.

Lot # 4024 1993 Ford Mustang 5.0 SVT Cobra Hatchback; S/N 1FACP42D3PF154652; Red/Gray leather; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $21,000 – 302 with a Paxton supercharger, 5-speed, power windows, locks and brakes, Fluidyne radiator CarFax accident report. – Very good paint that looks too fresh to be original given the age and the 30,851 miles showing. Lightly wrinkled seats. A neat, well-kept and attractive final-year Fox-body Mustang Cobra with a surprise under the hood. – Fox-body Cobras are quite a bit more expensive than they used to be. Although this one’s supercharger doesn’t make it worth more, the reported high bid was on the modest side considering what other clean Cobras are selling for these days.

Lot # 3108 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 670499; Black/Biscuit leather; Black top; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $125,000 – Hub caps, fender skirts. – The odometer displays 10 miles but the trip odometer displays 45 miles. The paint is very good. The chrome brightwork is very good. The headlamps have great clarity. The interior brightwork and upholstery are in very good condition. A 2016 AACA National Senior first prize winner and a JNCA Championship Division 100 point example. Restored to high standards and has the awards to show for it. While not finished yesterday, it still has no needs. – While the reported high bid isn’t exactly a generous offer, XK 120s have been having trouble selling in recent months and it was a number worth considering even though it was wholesale. The car has a great, menacing look in black and its JCNA credentials are reassuring.

Lot # 4064 1971 Jaguar XKE SII Roadster; S/N P2R14189; Silver/Dark Blue; Black vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,550 – 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, luggage rack, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio. – Decent, partially original paint. Rough original chrome and brightwork. The seats look newer, but the rest of the interior is original and quite good. Tidy, maintained original engine bay. A late SII E-Type that was never restored because it never needed to be, but it’s not totally original, either. – A driver quality E-Type bought for driver quality money.

Lot # 2075 1950 Nash Statesmen Super Airflyte 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N Engine No. K365025; Engine # K365025; Light Green, Green roof/Tan, Green cloth; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,350 – 184/85hp six, 3-speed, windshield sun visor, AM radio, hub caps, whitewalls, grille guard, curb feelers. – Ed Meurer Collection. Good seemingly recent paint and interior, but the chrome and brightwork show pitting and scratches. Some delamination on the glass. Tidy, lightly used engine bay. A cute bathtub Nash with loads of charm and restored to high enough standards for what it is. – Not a very scintillating performer but in 1950 people were still just glad to have a new car, especially one that stood out like the freshly re-designed (for 1949) Nash Airflyte. Few have survived, even fewer in this well-maintained condition, its cute factor is very high and its price is modest.

Lot # 1088 1975 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Station Wagon; S/N 3045T5X121659; Maroon/Maroon vinyl; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $6,700 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,370 – AM/FM radio, electric window and gate, clock and third row forward facing seating, wheel covers, skirts. – Slightly tired, possibly original paint. Very good original interior. Reasonably tidy underneath. Remarkably well-preserved since most late ’70s big American station wagons got driven and road tripped to death long ago. – Big wagons like this Olds are enjoying a surge in popularity not reflected in the modest price this well-preserved example brought on Thursday at Auburn Fall. If it’s a thing for the new owner it is a thing bought reasonably and a good value.

Lot # 3143 1929 Packard Eight Roadster; S/N 245877; Orange, Brown fenders/Brown leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 – Trunk, dual sidemounts, disc wheels, wind wings, Lloyd Young overdrive, rumble seat, golf bag door, Jaeger clock. – The paint appears to be somewhat recent but displays some light surface scratching. Good brightwork with a mix of fresh and older pieces that show some pitting. Excellent interior. The tires on the spare wheels look ancient and are dry rotted on tread. A sympathetic older restoration in an interesting, attention-grabbing color combination. AACA National first prize winner circa 2013. – This Packard is very orange, even with the muddy brown fenders, and is a dramatic statement in an otherwise ordinary car. The restoration’s quality shows, but so also does its age. A quality 90hp Packard with overdrive for cruising at close to today’s speeds, it’s a prize possession bought for a responsible price.

Lot # 2122 1934 Packard Super Eight Coupe; S/N 7581001; Engine # 753669; Cream, Black fenders and accent/Brown cloth; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – Dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, chrome wire wheels, Pilot-Rays, radio, rumble seat, trunk, golf bag door, heater. – Fair older paint with no major flaws, but it looks old. Very good interior. Good, clear gauges. Dull brightwork with light pitting in spots. A much older restoration that isn’t anything to write home about for the most part, but the colors suit it well and it is a relatively rare Canadian-built Packard. Ed Meurer Collection. – Sound, comfortable, usable and a CCCA Full Classic ™, this promises to be a rewarding way to experience what Packard experts say is the best year of all the classic Packards and it sold for a realistic price that reflects the closed coachwork and age of its restoration.

Lot # 3074 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B178859; Alpine White, Black vinyl roof, Black hockey stripes/Black; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $135,000 – 426/425hp, dual quads, Hemi, automatic, hub caps, Argent shaker hood, pushbutton radio, woodgrain steering wheel, Rallye instruments. – The paint is good but there is a small chip on the driver’s side bumper and a few small scratches on the driver’s side near the vinyl roof cover. The driver’s side has a small patch of deep scratches. The vinyl roof cover is good and clean. The stainless steel trim around the top of the windshield and the bottom of the roof cover is slightly misaligned. A genuine Hemi car but not represented as matching numbers and in driver condition. – The relatively muted colors and the lack of documentation or history led to little excitement over this car in Auburn, which shows in the lackluster reported high bid. It is too high a bar to expect auction buyers to take a ‘Cuda Hemi at face value without any documentation or history at all. This car deserved to fail.

Lot # 3087 1958 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N C558H2775; Patina Ivory, Redwood Copper/White, Copper leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $105,000 – 370/300hp Tri-Power, automatic, power windows, power steering, power brakes, WonderBar radio. – Good but older paint and brightwork. Slightly dirty interior and one of the door panels has a small tear. An older restoration that could use another round of major attention, especially to the interior. Jim Mangione Collection. – Even with the age of this Bonneville’s restoration the bid here is manifestly insufficient for its configuration.

Lot # 3161 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 237375P354025; Tiger Gold, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000 – 389/360hp, Tri-Power, Hurst wheels, red line tires, bucket seats, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, Safe-T-Track, woodrim steering wheel, radio, center console, PHS documented, special order color. – Good older paint with some chips on the edges of the panels and a few flaws in the clear coat. The clear coat on the A-pillars is also dry, and the rear bumper has a blister on the passenger’s side. The brightwork on the rear cove is pitted. but most of the brightwork is good. The interior upholstery, dashboard and instrument panel are very good other than pitting on the center console. The brake master cylinder and exhaust manifold have surface oxidation. Originally used as part of the Tiger advertisement campaign headed by Jim Wangers, and was previously owned by Reggie Jackson. – Reported sold by Russo and Steele at Arizona in 2006 for $57,200, a no-sale at Bonhams Quail in 2009 from Reggie Jackson’s collection with a high bid of $65,000 but sold at Auburn Spring 2011 for $67,100. Take a breath. Not sold again at a $62,500 high bid at Auburn Spring in 2015, then sold at Auburn Fall 2015 for $74,250. The odometer reads just 2 more miles since 2009. This is a significant GTO-Tiger Goat with Tri-Power, 4-speed and PHS documentation, attributes lost on the Auburn Fall 2019 bidders who paid more attention to its admittedly deteriorating condition than to its configuration and history.

Lot # 3037 1965 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 237375P175548; Red/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $44,545 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,000 – 389ci/360hp Tri-Power, 4-speed with Hurst shifter, bucket seats, dual chrome exhaust tips, Safe-T-Track, transistor ignition, original window sticker, Protect-O-Plate, original window sticker, PHS documents, two sets of wheels with tires. – The paint is good but there is a chip on the edge of the driver’s door. The rear window trim has some slight alignment issues. The engine compartment was detailed recently. A well-maintained, older restored second-year GTO with desirable equipment and documentation. – Unsold at $40,000 on the block but later sold for this all-in result which is realistic for both the buyer and the seller. Why first-generation LeMans GTOs don’t bring more money given their stature as the progenitors of the Muscle Car era is a mystery, but they are consistently good values in style and performance.

Lot # 1082 1979 Porsche 928 Coupe; S/N 9289201740; Tobacco/Dark Brown; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,900 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,290 – 5-speed, original tools and owner’s manual, phone dial wheels, aftermarket stereo. – The paint, interior and underbody all show the age and wear of a high-mileage car, although the odometer reads 544 miles. It’s not much of a distinction, but this is represented as one of approximately 80 Porsche 928s offered in 1979 without a sunroof and it is represented as a paint to sample car, which is better. Desirably equipped with the rare 5-speed, but this is a worn out example. – While they’ve gained an appreciation in recent years, the Porsche 928 and even the 5-speed-equipped cars were cheap for a long enough time that high mileage and deferred maintenance is common. Barely 4 grand for a V8 Porsche seems like the steal of the century on the surface, but a Porsche with this kind of wear and question marks about what needs fixing mean that this will likely turn into an expensive car very quickly.

Lot # 3139 1969 Shelby Mustang GT350 SportsRoof; S/N 9F02M480702; Gulfstream Aqua, White side stripes/White vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000 – 351ci/290hp, automatic, power steering, front disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/FM radio, clock, Radial T/A tires, Elite Marti Report documented. – The paint shines brightly and is free of any chips or significant scratches, but the hood does have small imperfections in the clear coat as well as a few small fish eyes. Good but older chrome and brightwork. The original upholstery is in good condition but the driver’s seat is wavy from age. Lightly scratched rear glass. Very clean engine bay. Other than paint defects that are isolated to the hood, this is a very attractive and clean car. – For a car with this kind of age and some notable flaws, this is a very strong price but not an outrageous one. It was reported sold for $71,500 at the Motostalgia Brickyard auction back in 2015. For reference, however, an S-Code ’69 Mustang Mach 1 with 320hp would be 2/3 this price and the M-Code 290hp even less which makes this a strong premium for special features and the Shelby name.

Lot # 4032 1938 SS Jaguar 1 1/2 Liter Saloon; S/N 51238; Navy Blue, Gray sides/Blue leather; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $26,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $28,600 – RHD. Tool tray with tools, chrome wire wheels, wood dash and window trim, dual wing mirrors, suicide front doors. – AACA national first prize winner in 2003, but that was a while ago and the paint is showing its 20 years of age. Good interior for the most part but the wood looks tired and is cracking in a few spots. Dullness and light pitting on the chrome and brightwork. Nothing major, but its show days are behind it. – Coupes and roadsters may have made the reputation of William Lyons’ coachwork and the assembled cars that underlay them but it was his gifted designs for 4-Dr. Saloons that created the reputation of the Swallow Sidecar, SS, SS Jaguar mystique. This is an upright saloon with room for hats. It is erected on a modest chassis of SS design with Standard 6 cylinder engines, but still as pleasing as a Gurney Nutting. The buyer here recognized something exceptional and took home a solid car with bragging rights at a moderate price for its quality and condition.

Lot # 3117 1994 Toyota Supra Mk IV Turbo Sport Roof; S/N JT2JA82J7R0018717; Black/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000 – 2,997/320hp twin turbo six, 6-speed, rear wing, power windows, CD stereo. – Two owners from new. Original paint that matches the age and the 28,878 miles on its odometer, as does the light creasing in the driver’s seat. All glass in good condition. The engine compartment is spotless and virtually like new. Relatively low mileage and, just as importantly, no visible mods. – The demand for good, stock Mk IV Supra Turbos is still strong as ever and shows no signs of abating. For reference, this is nearly twice the MSRP of a brand-new Supra, but maybe this one has more soul than a new one.

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Comments

    • JK of Davie
    • October 2, 2019
    Reply

    Fine reporting Rick…again!

      • rickcarey1
      • October 2, 2019
      Reply

      Thanks, John, I appreciate the encouragement.

        • Jon Riley
        • November 14, 2019
        Reply

        The 1936 Cadillac was a v12, not a v16. I agree it would have been cheep for a v16 convertible on the 154 inch wheelbase. But this was a series 80 on a 131 inch wheel base and restored probably in the 1990s.

          • rickcarey1
          • November 14, 2019
          Reply

          Oops. I must have had my head where the sun doesn’t shine when I wrote that one. Thank you for noticing and bringing it to my attention.
          I have corrected the comment.

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