Bonhams, Audrain Museum, Newport, RI, October 3 2025

Fall in New England, indeed in the Northeast, is the best time. Colors are bright. The air is crisp and clear. The sun shines with an intensity, a felicity, unknown the rest of the year. Winter looms, but there are days before it arrives. Everything is lustrous with possibilities, even though we know that the days are getting shorter.

And that’s when we go to Newport, Rhode Island, along Narragansett Bay, insulted with history, for Bonhams auction at the Audrain Museum’s Motor Week.

There are few places better for  collector car events. Willie K. Vanderbilt passed by here. His contemporaries roamed these narrow lanes in their Packards and Rolls-Royces.

Bonhams assembled a diverse (and I mean diverse) consignment. There was a blockbuster 2022 Bugatti Chiron at the head which sold for $5,725,000 all-in but the median sale was at only $89,600 and the average was an unrepresentative $283,665 propelled inexorably upward by the Bugatti. It was notable that ten of the lots, all sold, were built from 2018.

In the end it was a telling cross-section of collector’s cars ranging from a gorgeous 1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Roi de Belges Tourer to the rare Bugatti Chiron. There were lessons to be learned across the board.

Here are the numbers:

Year	Cars Sold/ Offered	Sale %	Sold < Low Est	Sold > High Est	Average Sale	Median Sale	Total $
2025	44/39	88.6%	64.6%	2.3%	$283,665	$89,500 31.6%	$11,062,932
2024	24/29	78.4%	82.8%	3.5%	$126,517	$71,680 56.7%	$3,669,000
2023	51/53	96.2%	47.3%	16.4%	$142,240	$77,280 54.3%	$7,254,240

By a significant margin (pulled along by the Bugatti Chiron) this was Bonhams most successful auction at this location.

41 of the 44 car (and one immensely cool farm tractor) lots offered at this auction are described below:

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Lot # 104 1966 Chevrolet C10 Pickup; S/N C1446Z178094; Metallic Dark Green/Light Green vinyl, cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $25,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $28,560. – 250/155hp six, 3-speed, oversize blackwall tires, hubcaps and trim rings, radio, heater, oak bed floor, chrome bumpers. – Stained and cracked bed floor wood, Good paint with minor scuffs along the bed edge, Good upholstery, Bright, crisp gauges, The chassis is like new. Cracked steering wheel spokes. Dusty engine compartment, Freshly restored and done right with minor age and some surface rust on fasteners. – Frequently offered with modifications, kustomization or in condition better suited for a trip to Lowe’s than a concours lawn, this C10 was the exception. It was beautifully presented without excess and brought an all-in price that was less than the options cost on many 2025 model year full size pickups. It’s an impressive truck for a reasonable price.

Lot # 105 1956 Buick Special Estate Wagon; S/N 4C4031883; Tangerine, White/White leatherette; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $31,360. – 322/220hp, Dynaflow, chrome reversed wheels, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, heater. – Cosmetically redone with good paint and upholstery, The engine compartment and chassis are filthy, The steering wheel is cracked and wrapped with lace-on vinyl, The padded dash top is new but the rest of the dashboard is old, chipped and dirty, A disappointing beater. – The object of much good-natured derision pointing out its multiple faults and shortcomings. It’s a decent family car for weekend trips to get ice cream, beach runs or carry dogs to field trials. It brought a price appropriate to its condition and purposes, a good sign that bidders had their eyes open and their egos in check.

Lot # 106 1961 Chevrolet Impala 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 11837L149129; Engine # T0313XXG; Black/Red vinyl, Grey cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Modified restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $39,200. – 409/360hp, 4-barrel, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, column mounted Sun tach, wide Rally style wheels, Radial T/A tires, “Bubbletop” body. Engine suffix appears to be XXG, which some sources cite as a truck block. – Superficial old repaint, sound upholstery, fair chrome, Old, cracked rubber seals, Lowered, Dirty engine compartment and chassis with paint loss. A beater. – Like other cars from this collection, the condition of this 409/360hp Sport Coupe (not an SS) left much to be desired.

It might be taken on as a restoration project, but needs too much to be financially realistic. That leaves it as a weekend driver, an ongoing project and a fun one at that. The odd engine suffix damages its value and this is a realistic price for it.

Lot # 107 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible; S/N 41467C116482; Black/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $48,160. – 327/300hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, buckets and console, 18″ Nitto tires on Boss 5-spoke chrome alloy wheels. – Generally disreputable, old, used and chipped. The 18″ wheels make it look like a duck. Its best and highest use is to add hydraulics to the suspension and flame throwers to the exhaust. – The generous price it brought here suggests at least two bidders had that vision and were willing to pay the price to realize it.

Lot # 108 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 673083; Engine # W6450-8; OE White/Dark Red leather; No top; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Cosmetic restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $50,400. – 3,442/160hp, 4-speed, body color wheels, hubcaps, skirts, blackwall tires, fog lights, fender mirrors, – No top or side curtains, Sound but superficial paint, Good interior and chrome, Not a reassuring car. – Offered on Bring a Trailer in July where it closed at $49,255 without reaching its reserve. There’s some discussion there about an overheating incident some time ago but anyone familiar with XK 120s knows that overheating is a common complaint. Bought here on a hammer bid less than the BaT high bid, it is a sound value.

Lot # 109 1932 Detroit Electric Model 97 Brougham; S/N 13688; Maroon, Black fenders/Grey cloth; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – Wire wheels, Firestone tires, lefthand tiller steering, windshield visor, bus vase. – Good older paint and interior, Minor cracks at wood joints, Clear glass, and plenty of it. Powered by eight 12-volt AGM (glass mat) batteries – Bid to $105,000 on the block and passed, closed later at this result, a far cry from the $7,245 it sold for at the World Classic auction in Monterey in 1993, but it has been restored since then. 1932 was pretty much the end of the early electric automobile in America, the year Henry Ford introduced his low price V-8. They have jumped in value in the last few years, propelled by the rise of new EVs and helped by more powerful, longer lasting AGM batteries. This is a reasonable result for it.

Lot # 110 1989 Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Emperor State Limousine, Body by Hooper; S/N SCAZS02A8KCX25393; Blue/Parchment leather, Blue cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $61,600. – 6,750/210hp, automatic, two Kenwood stereos, Vogue narrow whitewalls, self-leveling suspension. – Good original paint, scuffed window trim chrome, Worn driver’s seat, Cracked front door capping wood, Clean, orderly engine compartment. The odometer shows 45,431 believable miles. Cost $430,000 when new. – This isn’t even your regular Rolls-Royce, nor even a Phantom VI, but a very special, rare (one of 13 built) lavish Emperor State Limousine. Originally delivered to LA impresario Rafi Manoukian, it must have been a feature at openings, galas and events but its time has passed and now it’s just a very big vehicle subject to cripplingly expensive maintenance and repairs. It does make a statement, though, and that’s apparent in the price it brought here in Newport.

Lot # 111 1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible; S/N DRX20471; Magnolia/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $24,640. – 6,750/220hp, automatic, air conditioning, hubcaps, Michelin narrow whitewalls, Fujitsu cassette stereo, power windows, – Owned at one time by artist Karel Appel. Tired, cracked old upholstery that is beyond the cataloged “patina”. Quick old repaint with rust repairs below the windshield corners, Dirty and quickly sprayed engine compartment, A tired car that will be expensive to own. – Karel Appel just doesn’t have the ring to it of, say, Jeff Koons or Jackson Pollock and no discernable value is attached to Appel’s prior ownership. Even at this knock-down price the ownership experience will be expensive.

Lot # 112 1909 Rolls-Royce 40/50hp Silver Ghost Roi de Belges Tourer, Body after Barker; S/N 1175; Engine # 1175; Polished Aluminum hood, Grey/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $600,000 – $700,000; Concours restoration 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $560,000 plus commission of 10.89%; Final Price $621,000. – 7,428/50hp, 3-speed, parallel bonnet style, Elliott speedometer, bulb horn, Lucas electrified acetylene headlights, Autovox horn, Tiffany clock, single right side spare, electric starter and alternator. – Originally owned by Horace Trimmer, brewer, pub owner and horseman of Hampshire. Original body lost and rebodied in the Twenty-Teens by Robin Onsoien with mechanical restoration by Steve Littin. Show quality paint, upholstery, top and nickel brightwork, Quite spectacular and a regular show winner. – Sold by RM at Hershey in 2023 for $698,500 with some subsequent work and show trophies. Still capable of being shown with pride and confidence of bringing home more trophies, it needs nothing to head straight for a concours. This price recognizes its quality, history, condition and imposing presence.

Lot # 113 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Convertible Sedan, Body by Hibbard & Darrin; S/N S235KR; Engine # 20359; Grey, Dark Blue fenders and accent/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – 7,672/108hp, 3-speed, chrome spoke wire wheels, Trippe lights, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, rollup rear windshield, jump seats, vanities, luggage trunk. – CCCA Senior and RROC National winning restoration. Springfield-built and first owned by Jacquelyn de Rothschild. Later owned by U.S. Rolls-Royce historian John Webb de Campi. Winner of the most prestigious concours including Radnor and Pebble Beach. Excellent cosmetics but now ageing gracefully. Lightly creased upholstery, Corroded vanity accessories, Oily engine, Needs refreshing but not re-restoration. – An eminent Springfield Rolls-Royce, one of few bodied by non-R-R coachbuilders. It was offered before restoration at Barrett-Jackson in 1995 where it was bid to $72,000. Restored for de Campi in 1998, it was sold to Michael Kittredge of Yankee Candle at Bonhams sale at the RROC Newport Meet in August 2003 for $252,500, then to the consignor at Bonhams Greenwich in 2008, still in concours condition, for $364,500. It has had little attention and been ignored since then but at this reasonable price is an opportunity for the new owner to spend the winter attending to its needs and getting it thoroughly mechanically recommissioned. When it’s had the attention it deserves it will be a superb car for tours and good enough to be shown with pride.

Lot # 114 1934 Packard Twelve 1107 Coupe; S/N 73837; Dark Blue/Brown leather; Estimate $350,000 – $400,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 11.82%; Final Price $307,500. – 446/160hp V-12, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, rumble seat, Solar vee lens headlights. – AACA National First Prize winner in 2016. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2007 with a second in class result. Exceptional paint and bodywork with no notable flaws. The chassis is fully restored with some age and there is paint loss on the engine, The dash wood is exceptionally well-kept and the interior has no visible wear. A beautiful concours level V-12 Packard that is aging but barely used, – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2021 for $511,000, a recognition of both its restoration’s quality, its style and the rarity of this body style. It crossed the block at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction two months ago were it was bid to $300,000, then brought here where the owner accepted this $55,000 smaller hammer bid giving the new owner an outstanding and important car for a moderate price.

Lot # 115 1910 Stevens-Duryea Model XXX Runabout; S/N 18048; Red, Black accents/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 – RHD. 318/24 ALAM hp L-head four, 3-speed, mother-in-law seat, Gray and Davis acetylene headlights, Solar kerosene sidelights and taillight, dogleg windshield, Prest-o-Lite acetylene tank, Jones speedometer, Phinney Walker clock, electric starter. – Show quality paint, upholstery, top and bright crisp brass, Restored better than new and barely used at all. Engine stated to be freshly rebuilt. – A seriously sporting car restored from an original chassis and partial bodywork, this is a rare model from a nearly lost marque. It was restored in the 1980s and sold from the esteemed collection of Bill Lassiter by Christie’s in 1999 in essentially the condition it’s in today for $79,500. The Audrain Car Week bidders missed a real opportunity here. Even at its low estimate it would be an outstanding Brass & Gas tour car as well as livening up any show where it might appear.

Lot # 116 1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor Tractor; S/N 310506; Prairie Gold/Brown; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $100,800. – 283/46hp ohv four, 5-speed, radio, heater. – Excellent paint, interior, gauges and glass. Tidy engine compartment. Restored in the 1990s and far better than most restored tractors. It is also more distinctive. – Thoughtfully poised outside the entrance to Bonhams Audrain Motor Week auction and later driven off to grace one of the evening events, this is a traffic-stopper that looks like no other tractor. Only in recent years have farm tractors come to incorporate fully-enclosed cabs, heaters and entertainment; this is a real forerunner. It was also said by Bonham’s staff to be capable of 40mph on the road. Being exceptionally rare, it is worth whatever the bidders were willing to pay for it. There is nothing comparable.

Lot # 117 2018 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Hot Wheels Coupe; S/N 1G1FH1R77J0183724; Crush Orange, Satin Graphite stripes/Black cloth, Orange inserts; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $33,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $36,960. – 376/455hp, 8-speed automanual, 20″ alloy wheels, orange calipers, bells and whistles. – 8,734 miles and nearly like new. – The Crush Orange paint and Hot Wheels logos may now appeal but at this price some trim refinement and a repaint are not unreasonable. The result is a barely used high performance Camaro for well-used Camaro SS money and a good value.

Lot # 118 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 Coupe; S/N 2C3CDZL9XPH102531; Go Mango, Matte Black hood/Black leather, Alcantara inserts; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000. – 376/1,025hp (on alcohol-rich E85 fuel) Supercharged Hellcat, 8-speed automanual, Redeye Widebody, Brembo brakes, insulation-delete, line lock, street slicks, air conditioning. – 15 miles and like new, $122,346 MSRP. – The idea of driving a 1,025hp car on the street is, to put it mildly, daunting and that is probably why most of these thunderjugs have bupkus miles. Depreciation of ordinary performance cars would make the second owners smart consumers but this car has, to all intents and purposes, no depreciation from its original MSRP and since no human with normal reflexes can drive it to within 2/3 of its potential, why own it? This is expensive bragging rights.

Lot # 119 1970 Chevrolet El Camino Pickup; S/N 136800L128842; Engine # T1008CTX; Hugger Orange, Black stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Not evaluated; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $47,040. – 402 (396)/350hp, cowl induction, 4-speed, power steering and front disc brakes, SS wheels, alternator, later CTX suffix 1975 LT4 block. – Not Evaluated. – Reported sold for $69,300 at Mecum Kissimmee in 2016, $51,700 at Kissimmee 2022, $66,000 at Kissimmee 2023.

Lot # 120 1972 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu SS 454 Convertible; S/N 1D67W2B617111; Orange, White stripes/White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $61,600. – 454/270hp LS5, M22 4-speed, Rally wheels, Radial T/A tires, AM-FM, buckets and console, cowl induction, power front disc brakes and steering, – Build sheet documented. Very good cosmetics. – Detroit changed its power criteria for 1972, going from gross to net to placate the Feds and insurance companies. Little changed in performance, but the difference from driving a 454/365hp LS5 in 1971 and the same LS5 in 1972 rated 454/270hp was sort of… emasculating. Today’s buyers of ’72 LS5s can proclaim ’til the light go out that’s there’s no functional difference, but it turns up here in the prices they realize. And this is a whole lot of difference. This a good car and it was bought at a good price, arguably more fair to the buyer than the seller – which seems to be how it is going today.

Lot # 121 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N VC57B207824; Engine # T821FC; Matador Red/Red, Silver vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $67,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $75,040. – 283/220hp, Powerglide, pushbutton radio, skirts, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewalls, rear antenna, power steering, electric wipers, heater, T3 headlights. – AACA Grand National winner in 2000 and doesn’t look like it has seen much use since then. The chassis is nearly like new, as is the engine compartment. Excellent paint, lightly scuffed trim chrome but good major chrome. Tight fitting upholstery. Clean top boot and window pockets, – This is a better Bel Air than the price it brought, a bargain of no small measure for the new owner.

Lot # 122 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 3ZR ZTK Coupe; S/N 1G1Y52D98K5800827; Sebring Orange, Black carbon fiber/Black leather, Alcantara inserts; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $151,200. – 376/755hp supercharged V-8, 8-speed automanual, black alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, orange calipers, carbon fiber roof, side skirts, splitter and wing. – Lightly stretched upholstery, otherwise unblemished, three owners from new, 6,515 miles. Not like new, but close enough. – Last Chance. That’s what this 2019 C-7 Corvette is, loaded with options and blinding performance. The bidders smelled it out and put a magnanimous price on it.

Lot # 123 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 3LZ Coupe; S/N 1G1YF2D38P5600725; Black/Adrenaline Red leather, Black cloth inserts; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200. – 5,463/670hp 32-valve V-8, 8-speed automanual, front lift, carbon fiber interior trim, carbon ceramic brakes, – <600 miles, like new with lightly buffed driver’s seat upholstery. – If this transaction is any indication, the C-8 has run its course in bringing superior prices. The next move for Corvette it to create a C-8 ZR2 Enthusiast’s Edition with all this good stuff and a plain vanilla 7-speed three-pedal gearbox with a limited production run of a few hundred cars. Surrounded by paddle shift supercars they’d crush serious collectors’ hearts.

Lot # 124 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Coupe; S/N 1F6P8SJ5M5502561; Twister Orange, Black stripes/Black, Grey Alcantara; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $100,800. – 315/760hp supercharged and intercooled V-8, 7-speed automatic, red Brembo calipers, 20″ carbon fiber wheels, paddle shift, wing, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2 tires, Carbon Fiber Track Pack. – 451 miles and like new, $35,000 in options. $106,485 MSRP with options. – A real showpiece, both in appearance and in performance and a worthy buy at this price.

Lot # 125 2023 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2C3CDXL90PH541001; Go Mango/Black leather, Alcantara; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600. – 376/807hp Hellcat supercharged and intercooled V-8, 8-speed paddle shift automatic, sunroof, 20″ alloy wheels, PZero tires, King Daytona edition. – Like new with 24 miles showing. The pink shipping tape protecting the splitter is still installed. Original MSRP was >$100K. – A family hauler with devastating performance, the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody King Daytona Edition’s name is even longer than the car. It’s also almost too much car to be driven on normal highways, an ET crusher rolling down the road at barely legal speed while turning 1,500 rpm in 8th gear. With special edition Challengers bringing even bigger prices, however, and being one of only 300 built, it is has bragging rights for performance, presence and value in this transaction.

Lot # 126 1973 Volkswagen Type 2 21-window Microbus Conversion; S/N BH287533; Engine # BJ670967; Tangerine, Cream/Cream vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Modified restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $44,800. – 1,584/39hp, 4-speed, Safari windshield, double roof racks, ladder, sink, electric stove, refrigerator, orange wheels, hubcaps, whitewalls, running board, radio, roof mounted third headlight, fog lights. – Sound but not carefully finished paint, Poorly fit aluminum side moldings, Good glass and upholstery, Doors fit well. Nifty but not special 21-window conversion from a 15-window Type 2 built in Brazil. – Certified “cute” and potentially fun to drive and use, from a collector’s point of view its conversion origin drives a stake through its value heart. The result here is purely about style and utility, and it has plenty of both resulting in this reasonable price.

Lot # 127 1960 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 00867S107276; Engine # 107276 F0411CQ; White, Silver coves, White hardtop/Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Modified restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – 283/230hp, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, wide whitewalls, upgraded AM-FM WonderBar radio, two tops, electric air conditioning and power steering, alternator. – Formerly owned by Bernard Fornas, CEO of Cartier. Very good paint and upholstery, Some road grime on the chassis and in the bottom of the engine compartment, Updated, restored and then used gently, – Not quite a resto-mod, this is a thoughtfully configured and built ’60 Corvette with modern accoutrements, a car that reflects its owner’s refined taste and style. It won’t score much at an NCRS judging, but on the road the combination of two tops, air conditioning and power steering is the recipe for a delightful ownership experience. It’s expensive, but it deserves to be.

Lot # 128 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N F7FH363673; Black, Black hardtop/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $230,000 – $260,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 – 312/300hp supercharged, automatic, porthole hardtop, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, skirts, Town and Country radio, power steering and brakes, heater. – Formerly owned by Bernard Fornas, CEO of Cartier. A Minter restoration, now a few years old but still above reproach aside from some makeshift wood battery shims. – Offered by the Minters at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2021 where it was a $250,000 no-sale. The reported high bid here is modest but not ridiculous. Bernard Fornas’s expectations may have been set by what he paid, which if the 2021 Mecum result is any indication was closer to $200K than this. Had the auctioneer declared it “loose and selling” to great fanfare it could well have brought several more bids and brought the somewhat higher price that it deserved.

Lot # 129 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 30837S120298; Engine # 3220298F0518RF; Silver Blue/Black leather; Estimate $230,000 – $260,000; Modified restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $158,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $176,960. – 327/340hp, 4-speed, Edelbrock intake manifold, air conditioning, power steering, brakes and windows, AM-FM, centerlock alloy wheels, narrow whitewalls, – Owned by Bernard Fornas, Chairman of Cartier. Excellent paint, chrome and interior, Clean, orderly engine compartment with chrome accessories, Not a restomod, but not accurately restored, either, The engine number is for a 327/360 Fuelie but the 4-barrel is easier to tune and drive. – NCRS nit-pickers will quickly dismiss this Split-Window for its modifications and upgrades but astute Corvette buyers who appreciate the value of these cars for weekend tours and events will seize on the discrete upgrades and in this transaction have valued them for their practicality. This is a righteous Corvette for the right money.

Lot # 130 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH295468; Fiesta Red, Red hardtop/Red, White vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $71,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $79,520. – 312/225hp, automatic, power steering, brakes and windows, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, aftermarket radio, two tops, heater, electronic ignition. – Owned by Bernard Fornas, Chairman of Cartier. Excellent older paint, chrome and interior by Minter Restorations. Excellent engine compartment and chassis. Better than new. – The cataloger had his head up his nether orifice when he claimed this ’56 T-Bird had a 312/245hp engine, an engine that didn’t exist in 1956 and having been the cataloger I herewith apologize. The price it brought here, even for the sublime quality of its Minter restoration, is bold. The estimate, however, is breathtakingly optimistic.

Lot # 131 1965 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Coupe; S/N 1E31723; Metallic Blue-Green/Ochre leather; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Customized restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $255,000 plus commission of 11.96%; Final Price $285,500. – 4,235/300hp, fuel injection, Tremec 5-speed, vented disc aluminum caliper disc brakes, Ohlins suspension, electric power steering, Amberg fitted luggage, wide chrome wire wheels, Avon tires, nickel brightwork. –

Looks like Webers, but looks deceive.

A staggering example of excess and refined design in service of perfecting to modern standards one of the milestones of automobile design of the past 3/4 century. Every detail is meticulously executed, designed and finished. The powered “soft-close” doors were demonstrated (by me and others) dozens of times to the delight of onlookers. Everything is superbly realized. – The doors were to die for, really, and the rest of the car was simply wretched excess in service of a higher standard than most ever conceive of acquiring. This E-Type was said to have cost nearly $600,000… for the project, the underlying E-Type being a minor consideration. Some asked, “Why not a roadster?” The response is simple: when introduced it was the E-Type (in England and Europe, it the U.S. it was always “XKE”) coupe that brought onlookers to their knees. Not for everyone, but for the ones it fits this is a superb value.

Lot # 132 2022 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ Coupe; S/N VF9SW3V37NM795006; Black carbon fiber, Orange stripes/Black leather; Estimate $4,900,000 – $5,400,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $5,200,000 plus commission of 10.10%; Final Price $5,725,000. – 7,933 cc W-16, 1,578hp, quad turbos, 7-speed automanual, gloss Black alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires – 840 miles and like new. One of eight U.S.-delivered. One owner from new and annually serviced. – Designed to be capable of 300 mph with aggressive aerodynamics and a nearly unmanageable 1,578 brake hp, Bugatti built only 30 of these reality-bending machines. Their specs are so gargantuan that driving on the road is an exercise in frustration about not being able to come within a nano-meter of their performance capability, which is probably why this one has only 840km. Most of them were probably added by factory technicians during delivery testing and regular service making it a more a piece of art than an automobile. It’s worth what the bidders here in Newport thought it was, which is by any standard a lot of money for an automobile.

Lot # 133 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N WDB2010361F741313; Engine # 10299210000446; Metallic Blue-Black (Blauschwarz)/Black leather; Estimate $725,000 – $925,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $645,455 plus commission of 10.77%; Final Price $715,000. – 2,498/235hp DOHC four, 5-speed, sliding power sunroof, air conditioning, power windows and front seats, Dunlop tires. – 180km and like new except for discolored plastic outside mirror bases. Unblemished spoiler and splitter. One of 502 built to qualify for the DTM (Deutches Tourenwagen Meisterschaft), put away when new. Original engine and transmission. – Bid to $650K on the block and closed later at this all-in price. Renowned for their speed and handling, the 190E in 2.3, 2.5 and 2.6 litre form ruled the DTM for years and still offer remarkable performance. That performance in this case has never been enjoyed having spent its life in Dutch, German and U.S. collections from new. At this price it will never see the road again, either, only a few kilometers more onto and off of show fields where its preservation will amaze. So, too, will its price always be amazing.

Lot # 134 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo I 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N WDB2010361F598552; Metallic Blue-Black/Black leather; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $224,000. – 2,463/197hp DOHC four, Getrag 5-speed, CD stereo, sliding sunroof, power windows, alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tires. – Unblemished paint and barely used upholstery, Spotless original chassis and underbody. Thoroughly documented from its original Japanese ownership to the present. 21,410 documented kilometers. – A respite from the prior 180km Evo II that brought $715,000 and showing what a few kilometers and slightly lower specifications can have. This is a realistic price for an Evo I with enough miles that it can actually be driven without suffering debilitating damage to its value.

Lot # 135 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712001186; Light Beige/Beige leather; Brown cloth top; Estimate $325,000 – $400,000; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $285,000 plus commission of 11.75%; Final Price $318,500. – 3,499/200hp V-8, column shift automatic, Behr air conditioning, power windows, steering and brakes, Becker Europa AM-FM, wheel covers, fog lights, – 144,048 miles, cosmetically restored a decade or so ago. An Euro market car originally but has lost the Euro headlights. Represented as matching numbers. Sound clearcoat paint with overspray on the window seals, Good major chrome but some erratic chrome trim, Old seat belts, Repainted wheelwells. A twenty footer. – The bidders must have stayed at least 20 feet away because this is #2 condition money for a #3 condition car and not surprisingly sold to an absentee bidder.

Lot # 136 1986 Ferrari Testarossa Berlinetta; S/N ZFFTA17B00006177; Rossa Corsa/Cream leather; Estimate $195,000 – $235,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – 4,942/380hp flat twelve, 5-speed, air conditioning, power windows and seats, alloy wheels, TRX tires, Euro marker lights, flying outside mirror. – Very good original paint and lightly stretched upholstery. 36,516 km and freshly serviced – A better than average well-preserved Testarossa in the usual colors further distinguished by the “monospecchio” flying mirror of the earliest examples in the series. The bidders rated it highly, paying a deserved small premium price for its benign history, specifications and preservation.

Lot # 137 1964 Porsche 356C Coupe, Body by Karmann; S/N 219443; Engine # 714954; Sky Blue/Black leatherette, herring cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $84,000. – 1,582/75hp, 4-speed, Grundig cassette stereo, chrome wheels, Pirelli P2000 tires, Weber carburetors, aftermarket air filters. – Road grimy engine compartment with peeling finishes. New carburetors are Webers, not the cataloged Solexes. Good paint and older upholstery, Small edge chip behind the driver’s door and under the engine cover, Good chrome, Older restored chassis and underbody, – An erratic old cosmetic restoration that obscures generally good condition and adequate care, attributes that were recognized by the Newport bidders even though they didn’t measure up to the rather exalted estimate or the catalog’s use of the term “Older restoration.” This Porsche has never been fully restored. It is a realistic value in this transaction.

Lot # 138 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Coupe; S/N 9113601403; Engine # 6631129; Tangerine, Black “Carrera”/Black cloth; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000 – 2,687/210hp, fuel injection, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, Pirelli P6 tires, Prototipo leather rim steering wheel. – Excellent paint and interior, No nose chips, Restored chassis with some road use. Period replacement engine. Converted from M472 Touring trim to semi-Lightweight specs (M471). – Sold here two years ago from the James Messenger collection for $428,500 all-in and the odometer today shows just 107 more miles (68,080) than it did then. The reported high bid here would have been a little more than the prior transaction after paying the BP and, as noted in 2023, would not have bought a Touring M472 Carrera RS 2.7. The M471 Lightweight conversion and hard to find factory bits were thrown in for free but it could have been sold without regret with its replacement engine and non-original configuration.

Lot # 139 1992 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ96ZNS490213; Black/Black leather, Grey, Pink inserts; Estimate $280,000 – $350,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $240,000 – 3,600/260hp, 5-speed, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, – Excellent repaint in the original color and lightly used upholstery, 38,826 miles and nearly all original. – In this carefully used, cared for and preserved condition this should be a nearly $300,000 Porsche so it is no surprise it didn’t ring the bell at this bid. It would have been a sound value with a hammer bid at the low estimate,

Lot # 140 1996 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZTS390451; Engine # G5031; Grand Prix White/Black leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $350,000 plus commission of 11.43%; Final Price $390,000. – 3,746/296hp, 6-speed, cassette stereo, modular alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, red calipers. – Although the odometer reads 48,439 miles the car looks like much less and shows only slight creases on the seats with no obvious blemishes on the exterior. – Originally delivered to Japan, later returned to Germany and bought from there, this is a nearly pristine example of a coveted high performance 911 and a good value in this transaction although why it should be worth double the price of the monospecchio Testarossa sitting nearby during the preview is something of a challenge.

Lot # 141 1935 Riley 9hp Imp Roadster; S/N 6027683; Engine # 47252; Red/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $110,000 – RHD. 1,134/55hp four, preselector 4-speed, folding windshield, dual aeroscreens, red wire wheels, Blockley tires, inset rear-mounted spare, Rotax headlights, radiator stoneguard. – Surface cracked redyed upholstery, Good older paint and chrome, Clean repainted chassis, Clean, orderly engine compartment. Engine replaced in the 1950’s. A sound and usable well-maintained pretty car with a known history from new. – Sold by Bonhams at Greenwich in 2016 for $140,800. Impressively attractive with raked radiator, sweeping fenders and purposeful Brooklands aeroscreens, this was one of the most admired cars at the preview, as it should have been, but it failed to catch on today. It should be worth a good bit more than the reported bid for it here, a missed opportunity to acquire a rare car with ample power for its weight and a very high “cute” factor.

Lot # 142 2024 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Collectors Coupe; S/N 1G1FJ1R67R0106892; Matte Black, Carbon Fiber hood/Black leather, cloth inserts; Estimate $90,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600. – 376/650hp LT4, 6-speed, splitter, wing, red calipers, Eagle F1 tires, grey alloy wheels, all mod cons. – 86 miles. Original MSRP $94,025. #97 of 350 “Black Panther” editions built and as menacing as its name implies. – Being a slight discount from the MSRP and a potentially life-changing driving experience it’s impossible to argue with the result and even a bit surprising it’s not more.

Lot # 143 1967 Pontiac Catalina 2+2 Convertible; S/N 252677X153815; Engine # 245985WJ; Black/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $52,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $58,240. – 428/376hp, 4-speed, buckets and console, remote spotlights, Super Stock wheels with trim rings, double redline tires, pushbutton radio, hood tach, power steering, T3 headlights, tacky aftermarket steering wheel. – Quick, grab the original steering wheel in the trunk and throw away the abomination attached to the steering column. Decent but ripply paint, good chrome and interior, Orderly chassis and engine compartment. Build sheet documented. A fun driver, except for that chromed piece of bodywork over the grille that needs to go away immediately after the cheezy steering wheel. – The misplaced spotlights midway up the windshield posts add to the cheezy effect but that didn’t keep onlookers from lingering over this 2+2 convertible with wisps of nostalgia around their heads. It is a very cool thing and it made a good buy at this price with money left over to make most of the cheese disappear. The chrome panel over the grille defies comprehension; maybe the owner had a credit at the chrome shop he needed to use.

Lot # 144 2023 Dodge Challenger Black Ghost Coupe; S/N 2C3CDZL93PH545491; Black/Black leather, Alcantara inserts; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000. – 376/807hp supercharged V-8, 8-speed automatic, power steering and brakes, Black Ghost and Hellcat Redeye Widebody packages. – Like new and partially in the delivery wrappers. One of 300 built, original MSRP >$100K. – Bragging rights and put away from new, the declined opportunity cost over the past two years eats up anything the seller might have made from preservation, and it’s still an expensive indulgence with more tire-ripping power than any sane drive can put to use.

Lot # 145 2022 Dodge Durango R/T Mopar SUV; S/N 1C4SDJCT4NC230218; White Knuckle, Blue stripe/Black leather, Alcantara inserts; Estimate $45,000 – $65,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $43,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $48,160. – 345/360hp, 8-speed paddle shift automatic, matte Black alloy wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires, Blue anodized calipers, tow package. – 113 miles and like new. #43 of 250 built. – Arrive at the drag strip with a Black Ghost Challenger on an open trailer behind this showpiece and arrive in style. Actually, at this price it is fairly sensible, a statement ride for delivering the kids to school or football practice.