With a 137-lot consignment and a slow-paced auction style Bonhams still has too many lots constrained within a modest area of Quail Lodge that hasn’t changed since they began to cram cars into the same constraints four years ago.
There are too many cars to be appreciated in the space (and auction block time) available and there is abundant space behind the current Bonhams enclosure to give some air and light between the cars.
Having said that, Bonhams proved its mettle with a solid auction, the second of the Monterey week, while Mecum was selling cars at the Del Monte golf course and RM was gearing up for the beginning of its “can’t miss” week downtown.
It’s not easy to pick the stars from Bonhams Quail Lodge auction: They were scattered all over the lot, with gems hidden among rows of “just cars”.
The premier lots displayed in the entry marquee were easy, but there were many more and not enough time in the similarly constrained five days available to preview lots and attend the ten auction sessions to appreciate the variety.
Readers will have to look through these and make up their own minds.
Here are the numbers:
Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
2022 | 120/137 | 87.6^ | 44.5% | 11.7% | $231,565 | $106,400
[46.0%] |
$27,787,790 |
2021 | 122/139 | 87.8% | 40.2% | 18.9% | $296,672 | $207,200
[69.8%] |
$36,194,040 |
2019 | 163/219 | 74.4% | 79.1% | 3.1% | $186,511 | $73,920
[39.6%] |
$30,401,280 |
46 of the 137 Bonhams auction lots were described by Rick Carey, Andrew Newton and Greg Ingold. They are sorted here in lot number order.
Lot # 5 1973 BMW 2002tii 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2762755; Engine # 2762755; Fjord Blue/Black vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 1,990/130hp, 5-speed, Panasport wheels, Yokohama tires, sunroof, Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel, modern Kenwood head unit stereo. – Represented as matching numbers. Mostly good paint but there are track scratches on the sunroof and another long scratch on the left side of the roof. Light scratches on the window frames but clean bumpers. Good interior, mostly restored but with original switchgear. Restored and tidy underneath. Not 100% factory correct, but a well-done 2002 with the desirable round taillights and injected tii engine. – The 2002 cemented BMW’s reputation for building quick little cars that were also both solid, practical, and handsome in that understated German car kind of way. They were also reasonably priced at the time and up until fairly recently a regular carbureted 2002 was a great “first classic” for someone who wanted to get into the classic car hobby for cheap and learn basic mechanical stuff along the way. They’re pricier these days, though, and any 2002 in “entry-level” territory is going to have some needs. And for the fuel injected cars, forget about it. Good tii’s have about doubled in value just over the last four or five years, and this is a typical price for one in 2022.
Lot # 6 1982 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000039927; Engine # 00072; Rosso/Black leather, Grey “Zegna” cloth inserts, black bars; Estimate $180,000 – $230,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $162,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $182,000. – 4,942/340hp, 5-speed, TRX tires, centerlock alloy wheels, Pioneer cassette stereo, power windows, Borletti air conditioning. – Dirty wheels, Chipped door edges and left headlight cover, sound upholstery. Damaged dashtop covering. Clean underbody. Mostly original and definitely used, with vague history and no service records. – There are too many uncertainties surrounding this BBi for it to have much appeal and it is a measure of the intrinsic appeal of the model that it brought this much. Any more than this conservative bid would have been expensive.
Lot # 9 1971 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 14871; Engine # 14871; Silver/Black leather, Red cloth inserts.; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $210,000. – 4,390cc/320hp, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows, air conditioning, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, Ansa exhaust, Marelli ignition modules. – Represented as 36,711 miles from new. Unevenly masked repaint with minor flaws and cracks, old undercoat but very clean underneath. Good interior, wiper scratched windshield. Good gauges and interior controls. Painted door window frames. Clean, orderly engine compartment. Driver’s door doesn’t close flush and the front of the hood fits unevenly. Silver shrinkwrap bubbling and peeling on the seatback hinges. A competent driver-quality C/4. – Sold here in 2015 for $324,500 when it showed 36,201 miles, just 510 less than it does today. It then was bid to $240,000 at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2019 and $210,000 in RM’s Monterey-Shift online auction in 2020. The consignor should get the hint and take any reasonable offer with money behind it rather than giving it more rides around the country looking for the right gullible buyer.
Lot # 10 1956 GMC Series 100 1/2 Ton Pickup; S/N 1018PY5203; Teal, White/Teal, white; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Enthusiast restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $47,040. – 316/180hp 2-barrel V-8, automatic, AM radio, whitewall tires. – Older repaint with noticeable dulling to the finish especially on the top of the bed sides, bumpers were refinished, door handles and mirrors are original and have significant dulling, the wooden bed floor has had a poor stain and refinish job, the frame has been repainted but all mechanicals have an older finish with an oily film. The interior has been reupholstered but some chrome interior accents have an old, worn appearance. An old cosmetic refresh, that appears to be amateur in nature. – Old pickups are ever-popular and in contrast with some over-restored examples this Jimmy is still suitable for weekend runs to the dump or the lumberyard. It is much more unusual than comparable Chevys or Fords and brought a reasonable, utilitarian price for its reasonable, utilitarian condition.
Lot # 15 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M Le Mans Roadster; S/N BN2L230648; Engine # 1B230648; Red/Black piped in Red; Black vinyl top; Estimate $140,000 – $170,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $142,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $159,600. – 2,660/110hp, overdrive 4-speed, wire wheels, Michelin XZX tires, Lucas driving lights, headlight stone guards, woodrim steering wheel, dash-mounted Heuer stopwatch. – Factory-built M, documented with Heritage and registry documents. Represented as matching numbers. Good but older paint and chrome. Older tires. Lightly worn leather and steering wheel. A straight older restoration of a genuine M, which is more valuable than the dealer-converted Ms. – With its cold air box, bigger carbs, high-lift cam and higher compression, the 100M has that little bit of extra oomph on the highway over a standard 100 that makes it better for long distance tours or rallies. That extra 20 horsepower, in a factory M car at least, can also translate to a $100K premium over a standard Healey 100. Bonhams sold this one at the Simeone Museum three years ago for $140,000, and the price here is right on the money for the specs, history and condition
Lot # 16 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 1210428501084; Light Green Metallic, Light Green Metallic hardtop/Green leather; Green cloth top; Estimate $180,000 – $200,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $218,400. – 1,897/105hp four, 4-speed, Solex carburetors, Becker Europa radio, hardtop, restored by Juergen Klockemann. – The striking shade of green is in excellent condition, the body and panel gaps all excellent. The engine and underbody are immaculate and the interior shows like new. A gorgeous recent restoration with several regional concours class wins to its credit. – With a sedan chassis to carry around and only 105hp from its 1.9 litre four to motivate it the 190SL is more boulevard cruiser than open road juggernaut. But it shares some styling cues from its big 300SL brother and comes in and out of popularity at prices that fluctuate around one-fifth of a 300SL. This is a gorgeous car in unusual colors and its marvelous restoration brought a marvelous, but not unreasonably expensive, price.
Lot # 19 1973 Volvo 1800ES Station Wagon; S/N 183635E12; British Racing Green/Cognac Brown leather; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $47,040. – 1,986/130hp, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, Blaupunkt cassette, dash clock. – Originally delivered in Light Blue Metallic. Restoration finished last year and shown at the Quail. Good relatively recent paint and brightwork. New or restored wheels. Even gaps. Beautiful redone interior. Only the seat belt buckles show any age whatsoever. Clean, lightly run restored engine. Recently redone to high but not over the top standards. – It’s unclear how or why, but Bonhams consistently consigns super-clean Volvo 1800s for its major auctions and the cars typically sell for very big money. Here is another example, although here the price wasn’t over the top, just deservedly strong.
Lot # 22 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH235360; Slate Gray/Black, White; Estimate $75,000 – $125,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $106,400. – 312/225hp, automatic, wire wheels, whitewalls, fender skirts, porthole hardtop, Continental kit, heat and defrost, Town and Country radio, tach. – Bought new by Humphrey Bogart, documented with the original registration, bill of sale and service policy. Mostly original with faded paint that has a small dent and long scratch on the left front fender, the headlight bezels don’t fit straight. The chrome and brightwork are decent, but the weather stripping is all cracked. The hardtop shows serious orange peel in the paint. Good, lightly worn interior with some pitting on the steering wheel. This car doesn’t have the most glamorous story, but it’s a mostly unrestored classic with connections to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. – Of the numerous celebrity-owned cars on offer in Monterey this year, Humphrey Bogart’s T-Bird is the most tragic. Pained by illness, the Casablanca star traded in his beloved XK120 (which had a 4-speed that was too hard to shift) for a new Ford-O-Matic-shifted T-Bird, and had the Ford painted to match the departed Jag’s Slate Grey. Bogart passed away just a year later, and widow Lauren Bacall sold it to an employee of 20th Century Studios, who enjoyed it far more and for far longer than poor Bogie did. Sad story or not, celebrity ownership and impressive preservation were not lost on any of the Bonhams bidders. Even a better-than-perfect-condition ’56 Thunderbird isn’t worth anywhere near this much money and this is a huge premium for Hollywood celebrity history.
Lot # 26 1962 Facel Vega Facel II Coupe; S/N HK2A106; Engine # TY8212127; Metallic Green, Black roof/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $128,800. – 383/355hp, TorqueFlite automatic, wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – Represented as the seventh Facel II built. Delivered new in France. A project car with original chrome and an aging repaint. Serious pitting on the right headlight bezel. Cracked weather stripping. Dirty wheels and underbody. Worn, dry, cracked leather. Rough-looking wood dash. Per some painters tape on the speedo, the brakes don’t work. A rare and elegant Franco-American hybrid, but it needs a lot. – This result is, despite this Facel II’s neglected and aged condition, almost better than anyone could hope for it. The combination of Chrysler V-8, TorqueFlite and crisp French design is very desirable. The restoration it so desperately needs seems to be straightforward (if not cheap) and the finished project should be worth more than the price paid here and the expensive restoration. A sound value.
Lot # 31 1961 Chrysler 300G Convertible; S/N 8413158814; Red/Tan leather; Tan top; Estimate $150,000 – $180,000; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $151,200. – 413/375hp, crossram dual quads, TorqueFlite, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, Golden Tone AM radio, power windows, swivel bucket seats. – Good paint with no major flaws, chrome is tarnished on both exterior mirrors, chrome is worn on the right side mirror. The top has wrinkles and is dirty. The engine compartment is dusty and is aged and the interior has noticeable aging with the driver seat upholstery somewhat stretched, the rear view mirror pitted and the tachometer lens cloudy. An old cosmetic restoration that needs another go around. – In contrast to many cars that wander from auction to auction seeking an opportunistic bidder this 300G has been sold three times before getting to Bonhams Quail, without ever getting even a little attention. It was sold at RM Hershey in 2018 for $126,500, at Auburn Fall in 2020 for $135,500 and at Amelia a year ago in 2021 for $154,000. It’s probably too good to spend much restoring, but not much of a driver either, having added only 235 miles to the odometer since 2018 to arrive at the 6,077 showing today. Its auction history shows that this is what it’s worth, but it desperately needs to be loved.
Lot # 33 1995 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe; S/N SCFDAM2S8RBL70040; Red/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $160,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $100,800. – 5,340/550hp twin-supercharged V8, 6-speed, alloy wheels, Goodyear tires, power windows, air conditioning, wood interior trim. – One of 239 built, and showing 8,031 km (4,990 miles). Some minor chips and a small crack on the nose. Clean wheels but old tires. Serious delaminating on the left rear window and the rubber strip is loose around the right rear window. Very clean interior that matches the mileage. One of the coolest and fastest cars of the `90s even if this one isn’t perfect. Muscle car looks and muscle car performance with Aston luxury and sophistication, but also Aston shop bills. – The twin-supercharged Vantage belted out 550 horsepower and 550 lb-ft of torque when 911 Turbos, Vipers and Lambos were working with well under 500. Ferrari’s top dog at the time, the F50, made do with just 515. But the Aston weighs more than two tons and period road testers found unpredictable, even scary, to drive. It’s a rare sight on our shores because it was never sold here, but despite that notoriety it underwhelmed on the block and sold for way less than it cost new, just as many 1990s and ’00s Astons do. One of the cheapest ways to park next to the best stuff at Radwood.
Lot # 34 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe; S/N 57767; Engine # 62C; Black, Yellow sweep panel/Beige leather; Estimate $2,800,000 – $3,400,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Reported sold but not confirmed $2,500,000. – RHD. 3,257/160hp supercharged, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Michelin tires, Marchal headlights, cowl-mounted semaphore signals. – One of only 3 alloy bodied Atalantes with factory supercharged engines. Owned for six decades by Jean Piger. Acquired from him in 2014 and mechanically recommissioned but left as it was cosmetically during Piger’s ownership. Casual old cracked and chipped paint. Very good original upholstery, interior trim and woodwork. Dull chrome. The charm of this Bugatti is its preservation, originality, factory supercharged engine and original alloy body. – Bid to this result on the block and reported sold later at an undisclosed price, a marvelously preserved high performance supercharged alloy body Type 57C. This is a rare prize combining wonderful performance, Bugatti quality and exceptional preservation. It deserves to be preserved forever in its present condition and is a rare value at anything close to the bid reported at the auction. [Offered for sale 9/16/22 at Gullwing Motor Cars asking $2,950,000 and still a very special car and a solid value at that price.]
Lot # 37 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Cabriolet, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 915788; Engine # 928081; Black/Green leather; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $470,000 plus commission of 11.06%; Final Price $522,000. – 2,443/110hp, triple Webers, column shift 4-speed, wire wheels, Michelin tires, boot cover, original owner’s manual. – Represented as matching numbers. Delivered new to Switzerland. Single ownership for over 50 years. Good paint and brightwork. Some paint coming off the Alfa Romeo badge, and some glue visible behind it. Clean engine bay. Straight body. Beautiful, striking all-green interior but there is some cracking in the back of the steering wheel. And the whole car is striking, really. Maybe not concours-ready, but could be made to be without much hassle. – Sold for $484,000 at Gooding Pebble Beach 2017. It is the last vestige of Alfa’s history as a builder of high performance, exclusive automobiles (at least until the 8C decades later) and clothed with beautiful Pinin Farina cabriolet coachwork and a realistic value in this transaction.
Lot # 41 1926 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Piccadilly Roadster, Body by R-RCCW; S/N S178ML; Engine # 20785; Dark Green, Black fenders/Saddle leather; Heather cloth top; Estimate $450,000 – $600,000; Recent restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.42%; Final Price $1,325,000. – 7,428/70hp, 4-speed, body color wire wheels, Lester blackwall tires, dual sidemounts with mirrors, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights, rumble seat, luggage rack, nickel brightwork. – Very good paint with some tiny cracks at stress points like hinges. The seat upholstery is stretched but not worn. Excellent nickel brightwork. Banged up wheel nuts are disappointing. Much better than it was 16 years ago. – Represented as the original chassis, frame, engine and bodywork, now reunited after an epic chase and carefully restored in its original configuration. Sold by Bonhams at the disposition auction of Frank Cooke’s shop in 2006 for $161,000 and offered at Scottsdale in 2012 where it didn’t sell, all before the Piccadilly body got back on this, its original, chassis. It is a marvelous car and the bidders didn’t mind at all that it had been separated, paying strong money for its present condition and configuration. At this price the new owner really should replace the wheel nuts.
Lot # 46 1958 BMW Isetta 600 Sedan; S/N 132907; Engine # 120458; Orange, White/Beige; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 582/26hp, twin carbs, 4-speed, hub caps. – Lovely recent paint and chrome. The trim below the windshield looks older and doesn’t fit flush on the body. Fully restored interior other than a worn shift knob. A relatively rare big brother to the original Isetta, and restored to rather high standards for a microcar. – The “big” Isetta with its 582-cc bike engine and four seats, the Isetta 600 is somewhat rare with 35,000 built before BMW started building bigger, “normal” cars in volume. Despite being just as cute as the original Isetta as well as more usable (it can almost reach highway speed, whereas the Isetta 300 can only do 53), the 600 isn’t worth any more money. This one nevertheless brought a big but fair price on account of its fresh restoration and nice colors. The deep pockets at Quail Lodge didn’t hurt, either. It had been reported sold by Russo and Steele at Monterey in 2016 for $35,200.
Lot # 48 1931 Stutz DV-32 Convertible Victoria, Body by LeBaron; S/N DVPC1224; Engine # DV32999; Dark Grey/Grey leather; Grey cloth top; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,800,000; Recent restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.38%; Final Price $1,435,000. – 322/156hp, 2-barrel Stromberg carburetor, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, Firestone tires, luggage rack, dual sidemounts with mirrors, top hinged windshield, Ryan-Lite headlights, Trippe lights. – An arresting automobile with an extended hood and cowl, low raked windshield and matching lot top. First owned by famed boxer Luis Firpo who was the Stutz distributor in South America. This is possibly his personal car with updated body and fender details during the 30’s. Excellent paint, chrome, top and interior. Excellent engine compartment. One paint flaw under a hood latch, otherwise extraordinary with class awards at Pebble Beach in 2016, St. John’s in 2017, Hilton Head, The Quail and Amelia. – Fastidiously restored and equally fastidiously maintained over the past six years of its concours career, this is an epic Stutz that has no bad angles. It is beautiful from every vantage point and it brought a price appropriate to its style, design, performance and restoration.
Lot # 49 1952 Jaguar XK 120 Competition Roadster; S/N 672525; Silver/Red leather; no top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $190,400. – 3,781/320hp, 5-speed, three Weber 45DCOE carburetors, chrome spoke wire wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, disc brakes, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, Heuer rally timers, Plexiglas full width windscreen, bucket seats, Lucas tri-bar headlights, driving lights, outside fuel filler, fire system, original engine included. – Said to have had $150,000 in restoration and modification work in the early naughts. Sound paint and interior. Headlight reflectors are corroding. Sound chrome. Shows modest but still evident use consistent with the 4,538 miles showing which is probably since the restoration. Needs nothing, except a top and windshield. – Sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2007 for $231,000 and a very nice car for tours and events where performance is desirable and original configuration is less of a concern. It couldn’t be duplicated today for the price paid for it here even if the underlying car were free and represents a sound value for a new owner who appreciates the performance.
Lot # 50 1955 Ferrari 250 Europa GT Berlinetta, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0427GT; Engine # 0427GT; White, Black roof/Orange leather, Light Grey cloth inserts; Estimate $2,250,000 – $2,750,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,900,000 plus commission of 10.26%; Final Price $2,095,000. – 2,953/220hp, triple Weber carbs, 4-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Cinturato tires, Marchal headlamps and driving lights, wood-rimmed steering wheel, Clayton heater, coil spring independent front suspension. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Even gaps. Incredibly clean engine bay and undercarriage. The last 250 GT Europa produced, the 1956 Brussels Motor Show car and a competitor in the 1957 Grand Prix de Spa. Restored to a very high standard in 2010 and showing no discernable flaws, only a little age. Believed to be the original colors. Ferrari Classiche certified. – Sold at Gooding’s 2014 Pebble Beach auction for $2,310,000, it has added some 12,000 km to the odometer since then but also been carefully and consistently maintained and is still in, if anything, better and cleaner than new condition with a 2010 restoration that is holding up exceptionally well. Its period competition history confers eligibility for many desirable events and it is a sound value in this transaction.
Lot # 54 1958 Chrysler 300D Convertible; S/N LC41717; Air Force Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $92,400. – 392/380hp, dual quads, automatic, Power brakes and steering, air conditioning, AM radio, power windows. Reported numerous best in class and show wins. – Aside from a scrape on the hood, the paint is very good. The mirrors have some light pitting however the remaining brightwork is very good. The windshield seal is dry and cracked. The engine compartment is extremely clean however there is oxidation to the carburetor bases and linkage. The underbody is excellent and aside from some wrinkling to the driver position on the bench seat, the interior shows little meaningful use. An excellent old restoration that still holds up well. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2010 for $82,500, then in Gooding’s May 2021 online auction for $64,900 the eye-appeal of this impressively restored and maintained 300D is evident in the healthy price it brought at this live auction. Selling cars online is efficient but a beautiful car will sell better in person than on a screen
Lot # 56 1949 Ferrari 166 Inter Cabriolet, Body by Stabilimenti Farina; S/N 033S; Engine # 033S; Avorio Antico/Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,800,000 – $2,200,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $1,104,261 plus commission of 10.45%; Final Price $1,219,687. – RHD. 1,992/110hp V-12, 5-speed, metallic blue wheels with polished alloy rims, Excelsior tires, Jaeger gauges and timer, Marchal headlights, fog light and driving light, woodrim steering wheel, cowl-mounted semaphore signals. – Great paint, interior and chrome. The color combination is unexpected but works, and it is to all intents and purposes better than new. Represented as the original engine, Ferrari Classiche certified. – A significant early Ferrari road car but burdened with heavy-looking Stab. Farina coachwork that is a long way from the swoopy designs that would evolve on Ferraris in just a few years. Its excellent restoration goes a long way to supporting its value but in the end it’s looks that count and on that front this Stab. Farina cabriolet leaves a lot to be desired. It was bid on the block to a reported $1.5 million but is now carried as sold on Bonhams website for $1,219,687 all-in.
Lot # 59 1953 Porsche 356 “Pre-A” Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 50279; Engine # 66263; Ivory/Bordeaux leather; Estimate $180,000 – $220,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $164,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $183,680. – 1,582/60hp 356A engine, 4-speed, hub caps, Radial T/A tires, Marchal driving lights, Telefunken radio. – In current ownership for over 50 years. Originally Azure Blue. Body-off restoration finished in 2017. One small but deep chip on either side of the nose. Otherwise lovely paint. Very good interior and underneath. Not quite as it left Stuttgart, but still an attractive Pre-A that will always command attention. – Satisfyingly restored to high standards and handsome in its early Pre-A details. The later engine is an issue, but it’s also an advantage at least as far as performance goes. The pros and cons were taken into consideration in the price it brought today.
Lot # 60 1963 Jaguar XKE Lightweight Hardtop; S/N S850664; Engine # RA1349-9S; White, Blue stripes, White hardtop/Black vinyl; Estimate $7,000,000 – $8,000,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $6,300,000. – RHD. 3,781/293hp, Lucas fuel injection, ZF 5-speed, hardtop, number roundel lights, Dunlop centerlock alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, braced rollbar, outside bonnet latches, welded louvers, bonnet straps, lift up windows, quick release fuel filler. – Briggs Cunningham team car, 1963 Le Mans driven by Augie Pabst and Walt Hansgen (dnf), raced at Elkhart Lake (Hansgen/Paul Richards, 11th overall) and Bridgehampton (Richards, 4th overall), then retired. Restored by Richard Freshman in the 1980’s, vintage raced thereafter. Original bodywork and aluminum block engine, thoroughly documented. Chipped old paint, lightly worn upholstery. An honest old racecar. – Sold here five years ago in 2017 for $8,000,000 in a post-block transaction and apparently unused since then. A famed, but unsuccessful, example of Jaguar competition history, probably more valuable as a member of the Cunningham team than for its race track performances. Is it worth more than this, which would be almost $7 million with commission? It’s a stretch, even for a collector with a strong attachment to the Cunningham legend and who was in any case among the missing here at Quail Lodge.
Lot # 61 1980 Porsche 911 SC 3.0 Targa; S/N 91A0132539; Engine # 6302356; Petroleum Blue/Brown vinyl, Brown Pasha cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $84,000. – 2,994/180hp, 5-speed, black Fuchs wheels, Pirelli P6000 tires, Becker Traffic Pro radio. – Delivered new in Switzerland. Rare color and wild Pasha interior, both of which are original. Showing 108,271 km and well-kept. The paint looks excellent, although the exterior plastic and wheels are a little dull. The interior looks great other than age on the steering wheel and ventilation switchgear. The weather stripping around the roof is heavily worn and has ancient-looking black tape stuck on in a couple of places. Tidy but used engine, reportedly serviced recently. It’s just an SC and it’s definitely used, but in terms of color combination this is probably the wildest-looking Porsche here, and there are a ton of Porsches here. – Thirteen classic 911s, actually, plus a few more modern Porsches and a few older 356s. That was plenty to bring out the Porsche contingent to Quail Lodge, and although this car was ambitiously estimated it brought a big price despite the wear and tear. The trippy Pasha interior – offered on the 924, 928 and 911 for a few brief years – counts for a lot, but the seller should still be thrilled.
Lot # 62 1955 Jaguar XK 140 MC Roadster; S/N S810477; Engine # G15958S; Carmen Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $65,000 – $95,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $72,800. – 3,442/210hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Dunlop Road Speed tires, dual wing mirrors, Lucas driving lights. – Represented as a genuine MC from new but not with the original engine. Good older paint with some scratches and light cracks behind the seats. Aged wheels with dull spokes and hammer marks on the lobes. The gaskets for the headlight bezels and windshield are dry and cracking. Sound but worn leather and top. Some dirt and grime under the hood but looks maintained. A solid 140 driver with extra punch from that C-Type cylinder head. – The free-flowing C-Type cylinder head breathes life into the XK Jag engine and transforms the experience of driving it. This result is a heavy discount on account of the replacement engine and represents a great value for a new owner who just wants a competently maintained Jag XK roadster to drive and enjoy.
Lot # 63 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 0145E; Engine # 0145E; Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $1,350,000 – $1,650,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,100,000 plus commission of 10.45%; Final Price $1,215,000. – RHD. 2,562/170hp, triple Webers, 5-speed, chrome Borrani wire wheels, Avon tires, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges. – One of six such examples built. Shown at the 1952 Torino Motor Show. Since restored twice and exhibited at Pebble Beach, Cavallino Classic, and Amelia Island. Ferrari Classiche certified and Massini documented, having recovered its original engine, and having a period-correct gearbox and Ferrari Classiche-built rear axle. Still gorgeous with beautiful paint other than an unfortunate bubble on the left front fender. Lovely chrome. Even gaps. Excellent interior. Rare, beautiful early Ferrari with elegant aluminum Ghia coachwork, and it’s still showable. – Much easier to look at than the 1949 166 Inter with Stab. Farina cabriolet coachwork offered a few lots earlier and the bidders showed their appreciation for the style, execution and performance with this result. The new owner should be very satisfied both with the Ferrari and with the moderate price paid for it.
Lot # 68 1982 Aston Martin V8 Volante; S/N SCFCV81C8CTL15266; Engine # V5805266LFA; White/Tan leather piped in Brown; Tan top; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000. – 5,340/300hp, automatic, alloy wheels, Kumho tires, power windows, air conditioning, Clarion CD stereo, original books and tools. – Two-owner California car. Dull exterior plastic. Bubbling in the paint on the right A-pillar. Light wear and dirt on the top. Good seats and carpets but dull switchgear. Dull wheels but newer-looking tires. A desirable US market Volante, but a bit tired in appearance and with 96,169 miles showing, it has covered a lot of ground for one of these cars. – Reasonably well-maintained if showing use and age appropriate to its vintage and the indicated mileage, this is a realistic price and one that’s only slightly less than the $117,835 shown on its original window sticker.
Lot # 69 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe; S/N 1980406500146; Engine # 1989806500149; Orange/Tan leather; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,700,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,575,000 plus commission of 10.32%; Final Price $1,737,500. – 2,996/240hp, 4-speed, originally silver with blue interior, belly pans, Rudge centerlock wheels, Becker Mexico radio, best in show at Meadowbrook Concours, single family ownership, includes books and tools. – Excellent paint and chrome, the underbody, engine compartment and underbody are all excellent condition and interior very good. Restored in the 90’s then stored before being recommissioned in 2022. Appears like a new car and has always been owned by a single family or a business partner. – The history of this Gullwing alone makes it significant and its well-preserved old restoration only further commends it to new ownership. It is fully valued in this transaction, a fair shake both for the selling family and the new owner.
Lot # 71 1934 Pierce-Arrow Model 840A Coupe; S/N 2080431; Engine # 34965; Pierce Beige/Brown leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $173,600. – 385/140hp, 3-speed, hub caps and trim rings, Firestone wide whitewalls, dual chrome horns with lights, archer mascot, golf bag door, rumble seat, enclosed rear-mounted spare, dash clock. – Reportedly 1,800 miles since restoration in the 2000s. Very good paint, chrome, and interior. Very clean underneath. Slightly imperfect gaps. Art Nouveau coupe styling. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2017 and still beautiful. – Sold by RM at Hershey in 2015 for $154,000, by Bonhams here in 2016 for $132,000 and by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2021 for $184,800, the consistent results over the past seven years substantiate its value in this transaction.
Lot # 73 1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport ‘Testa Fissa’ Roadster; S/N 8513025; Engine # 8513025; White, Grey chassis/Dark Red leather; Estimate $1,600,000 – $1,800,000; Rebodied or re-created 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,175,000. – RHD. 1,752/140hp dohc six, supercharger, single throat Memini carburetor, 4-speed, black wire wheels, Blockley tires, aeroscreens, cycle fenders, outside exhaust, Bosch headlights and spotlight. – Well documented from new when it was delivered to Ronald Stewart with Testa Fissa (fixed head) cylinder block. Bodied in the U.K. by A.E. Leadbetter with a cowled radiator and lightweight 2-seat coachwork. Driven by Steward and Captain George Eyston to a series of records at Brooklands in 1930. Later rebodied as a 4-seater and fitted with a standard removable head cylinder block and head. Eventually acquired by Ian Gunn who brought it to the States and sold it the consignor in 2008. Restored by specialists in the U.K. with coachwork by Gary Pitney using the original firewall, hood and radiator to recreate the original proportions. Engine rebuilt with a Testa Fissa block and the supercharger boost increased for ca. 140hp output. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Sharp gauges. The restoration shows some age and use but the car is gorgeous. – This is a seriously special Alfa, one of only a few built with fixed head cylinders and block. Its performance at Brooklands in the UK driven by some of the most accomplished racers of the day is significant and serve to qualify it for desirable events like the Mille Miglia. Its appearance, while true to its history, is unconventional, however, and may have inhibited the enthusiasm of bidders who didn’t do their homework or at least thoroughly peruse the catalog description. It is worth more than the reported high bid here.
Lot # 78 1974 Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 TT12 Sports Racer; S/N 11512007; Engine # AR11512007; Red, Yellow splitter and wing/Black cloth; Estimate $1,700,000 – $2,200,000; Competition car, original as-raced 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,350,000. – RHD. 2,995/500hp flat twelve, fuel injection, 5-speed transaxle, centerlock alloy wheels, Avon tires, Carello halogen headlights. – Raced for Alfa by Autodelta in 1974, 2nd at the 1000km of Monza (Jacky Ickx/Rolf Stommelen), likewise at the 750km race at the Nürburgring (Stommelen and Carlos Reutemann) and at Imola (Stommelen and Reutemann and given to Ickx at the end of the 1975 season. Later sold to Jacques Setton and acquired from him through Gregor Fisken in 2005 by the present owner. Occasionally historic race used since. Cracking and chipped body. Good seat but the rest of the chassis is race-used and old. Mechanically maintained and largely race prepared, a car to be driven, not shown. – Bonhams sold 010 here a year ago for $1,677,000 in comparable condition, but it was a multiple race winner for Willi Kauhsen’s WKRT championship-winning team in 1975. This is a multiple second place car, the all-in result would have been $1,485,000 had the hammer fallen, and there is a difference between first and second.
Lot # 79 1966 Lotus Elan Type 45 BRM Tribute Convertible; S/N 456406; Engine # LP7119A; Green, Safety Cone Orange bumpers/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Modified restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,760. – 1578/140hp, dual Webers, 4-speed, alloy wheels, Yokohama tires, modern brakes with cross-drilled rotors, roll bar, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, Willans harnesses, original pushbutton radio. Includes two sets of bumpers, Lotus steel wheels. – BRM clone built by a former Smiths Instruments engineer (save your British electrics jokes) to the tune of about $75,000. There is some waviness in the paint plus some scratches, and a small scuff on the left headlight door. Some hammer marks are visible on the wheel lobes, and some dirt and light stains are visible on the top. Good restored interior. Tidy underneath. A neat usable Elan in eye-catching colors that is super cool despite its cosmetic shortcomings. – The brainchild of BRM racer and Lotus dealer Mike Spence, the BRM-tuned Elan essentially took Colin Chapman’s featherweight and gave it a little extra punch. Since those were the days when Lotus would still sell you a car in kit form, Spence would take unpainted Elan kits and send the Twin Cam engines to BRM for either a 130 or 140 hp tune. BRM conversions were expensive and the Elan was already so very good that few of those conversions were completed before Spence died at Indianapolis. Actual production numbers aren’t clear for genuine BRM Elans but they’re extremely rare no matter what the number is, and in this country they’re practically unknown. This is a very cool tribute and clearly a labor of love. The price it brought reflects all the tasteful upgrades and is a rather high price for an Elan, but it’s entirely deserved and fun-per-dollar still one of the best values of the auction, far cheaper than any of the horde of vintage 911s also offered at Bonhams.
Lot # 81 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500570; Engine # 1989807500603; Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $940,000 plus commission of 10.53%; Final Price $1,039,000. – 2,996/250hp, 4-speed, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, chrome wheels, hubcaps, jack, owner’s manual. – Previously owned by racer, Bob Akin, now from single family ownership for 36 years. The paint has cracks on the left fender behind the headlight and cracks and a filled chip on the left fender, there are also cracks on the trunk lid and on the right quarter panel by the top of the trunk. The front bumper has some pits and scrapes. The engine compartment is detailed but is aged and has patina. The driver seat shows noticeable wear and the driver kick panel scuffed up. Clean, orderly engine compartment. A fair car showing considerable age. – A little tired but well-preserved and maintained for which this is a fair and equitable price for all concerned.
Lot # 84 1989 Ferrari 328 GTB Coupe; S/N ZFFXA19JAP0079368; Engine # 15409; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $130,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $117,600. – 3,185/260hp, 5-speed, Bridgestone Potenza tires, Sony cassette, ABS. – Rare Berlinetta in seldom seen silver. Delivered new to Japan. Minor front end damage reported and since repaired. Showing 27,390 km (17,019 miles). Good paint. Oxidized windshield wipers and some paint has rubbed off the window frames. A few small scratches on the wheels. Some visible water stains on the cloth upholstery behind the seats near the rear quarter windows, and that’s a bit concerning, but the rest of the interior looks well kept. – Although the original 308 only came as a hardtop Berlinetta, by the time the 328 was ending production almost nobody bought a GTB. The vast majority of buyers opted for the wind-in-the-perm motoring offered by the targa-topped GTS. But these days GTBs are coveted on account of their rarity. This one was appropriately discounted for its history and condition.
Lot # 85 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale Coupe; S/N AR613886; Engine # AR0053613496; Red/Black cloth; Estimate $280,000 – $340,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $280,000. – 1570/180hp, dual Webers, dual ignition, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Avon tires, side exhaust, OMP racing seat, roll cage, fire system, Halda Twinmaster rally instruments. – US delivered, raced in period at Road Atlanta, Mid Ohio, Elkhart Lake, and Summit Point. Converted to GTAM specs and run as part of the Alfa Romeo USA effort in Trans Am in 1971 driven by Horst Kwech. Since restored and further prepared, driven in the Pirelli Classic Marathon in 1990 and 1991. Sound paint but some waviness in the body at the bottom front. Large chip in the windshield. Scratched window frames. Taped on wheel weights. Tidy underneath. Restored for vintage rallying, not for show, but it’s still a pretty car. – The Giulia GTA (Gran Turismo Allegerita, or lightweight) was a Giulia put on a diet/steroids by the folks at AutoDelta, Alfa Romeo’s racing arm. The Bertone-penned shape was now made of 1.2-mm thick panels out of an aluminum/magnesium alloy called Peraluman 25, while Autodelta stripped the inside and added plastic side windows. Closer gearing, upgraded suspension and a new twin-ignition cylinder head rounded out the package. This one is unusual in that it was supplied new to the USA, and its race history here makes it an attractive prospect for vintage competition. Christie’s sold it in Monterey way back in 2005 for $88,125, but that was oh so long ago. There are cheaper ways to go racing, but this is still a lot of car and history for the money and probably none that are more fun and responsive.
Lot # 89 1969 Lamborghini Miura P400 S Berlinetta, Body by Bertone; S/N 4170; Engine # 30411; Bright Green, Silver sills/Black vinyl; Estimate $1,750,000 – $2,250,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,775,000 plus commission of 10.28%; Final Price $1,957,500. – 3,929/350hp, 5-speed, Borletti air conditioning, power windows, centerlock Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin tires, headlight eyebrows. – Known U.S. history from new. Painstakingly restored by Bobileff completed in 2010 with excellent paint and interior. Bright chrome. Very good upholstery, interior trim and gauges. Superbly preserved restoration in like new condition with more recent mechanical rebuild. – This Miura P400 S may have been overlooked here at Bonhams Quail, but it wasn’t in 2012 and 2013 when it was shown at The Quail. This is a sensible result for a carefully and accurately restored Miura with a known history from new.
Lot # 97 1915 Ford Model T Speedster; S/N 907686; Blue, Black/Black; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $11,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $12,320. – 177/30hp four upgraded with a Rajo overhead valve cylinder head, electric headlights, cylinder bolster fuel tank, tool box, brass radiator, dogleg windshield, retrofitted to a speedster body – Very good paint with one chip on the passenger side fender found the brass is somewhat tarnished, wood floorboards appears all new, engine is very well restored and seat upholstery appears new. A handsome car with interesting period upgrades. Austin Automobile Collection. – As a curiosity alone this Rajo head Model T is collectible and the price is but a trifle among the six- and seven-figure cars here at Bonhams let alone among the five Monterey auctions. Its condition is reassuring and it is nothing if not a good value for the money.
Lot # 99 1995 Porsche 911 GT2 Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZTS392111; Engine # 61T01861; Polar Silver/Black, Gray leather; Estimate $850,000 – $1,200,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,400,000 plus commission of 10.36%; Final Price $1,545,000. – 3,600/430hp, 6-speed, modular wheels, red calipers, power windows, factory cassette stereo, air conditioning, books and tools. – One of 57 road legal 993 GT2s, delivered new to Japan, and offered by its original owner. Like so many exotic cars delivered to Japan in the 1990s it hasn’t been driven much in anger or at all, and shows just 4,767 km (2,962 miles). A like-new collector-grade GT2 that at this point will likely never be driven like the track car it was designed to be. – Being extremely rare, the first GT2, the ultimate spec 993 (1994-98) and really the ultimate air-cooled 911, the 993 GT2 has long been a seven-figure car on the rare occasion that one comes to market. While not a record, this is one of the most expensive GT2s ever sold, and on account of its low odometer reading and time-warp presentation, that isn’t all that surprising.
Lot # 100 1958 Facel Vega Excellence 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N EX8A; Engine # TY739251; White, Black roof/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000. – 383/360hp, Pont-a-Mousson 4-speed manual, centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin X tires, Marchal Equilux headlights, pushbutton radio, power windows. – Delivered new to Pont-a-Mousson president Jean Cavallier and upgraded in period with several bespoke details. The paint is holding up quite well other than a small chip near the driver’s door, but the chrome is starting to look tired. The wheels and underbody are clean. The interior looks lovely other than some age on the steering wheel and radio. A sound older restoration of a special Excellence originally owned by a Facel Vega VIP. – This is a rare and unusually configured car with the PAM 4-speed and many updates from later Facel Vegas but its condition is mediocre. Its performance, however, will be electrifying and it should have brought more interest than shown by the bidders at Bonhams.
Lot # 102 1976 Jensen Interceptor III Convertible; S/N 23111947; Engine # 5T44000244; Blue/Beige leather; Tan top; Estimate $50,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $44,800. – 440/330hp Chrysler V8, TorqueFlite automatic, alloy wheels, dash clock, original Becker Europa cassette, power windows. – Late Interceptor. US delivery. Older metallic paint with severe rust bubbling at the very front of the hood. Three of the wheels look new but the left front looks like a spare one that was left outside for several years, and it has an equally ancient-looking narrow whitewall tire on it. The top is mostly clean but slightly tattered at the edges. Dirty engine bay with dry-looking wires and hoses plus plenty of dirt. No serious rust visible underneath, but if there’s rust that isn’t visible it wouldn’t be a huge surprise. Decent but aged interior. A bit of a mess, but it’s pretty much all there. – The Interceptor with its British chassis, Mopar engine and handsome Vignale lines is something of a mutt, which partly explains why their prices are so low compared to other classics with similar looks and performance. Build quality also partly explains the prices, and it’s not uncommon to see a scruffy example like this. This is a lot of money for one with so many needs and it won’t be cheap to set it straight. At least you can find bits for the drivetrain down at NAPA.
Lot # 105 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194375S109774; Engine # 5109774F020HG; Nassau Blue/White; Estimate $90,000 – $130,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600. – 327/375hp Fuel Injected engine, 4-speed, Positraction, center lock alloy wheels, AM/FM radio, power windows, woodgrain steering wheel, known history from new. – Represented as the original numbers-matching engine, which it appears to be. Kept up over its history, with paintwork as needed. The paint is good with some minor cracking of the paint in the top of the passenger side there is some hazing and paint bubbles on the hood. The bumpers have some micro scratches but no pitting. The engine compartment is mildly aged and has light grime from use. The interior is gracefully worn but no serious flaws exist. A Corvette purist’s Corvette. – What’s disappointing here is the fact this Corvette has never been to NCRS or Bloomington Gold, in other words it’s never been subjected to expert scrutiny. Had it been inspected by those “in the know” it could, and even should, have brought well into the pre-sale estimate range but the result here shows that even informed bidders who reasonably could have liked this Corvette, its equipment and well-preserved condition were keeping their options open with a moderate bid.
Lot # 106 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz Convertible; S/N 59E044496; White/White leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $140,000 – $180,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $268,800. – 390/345hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, bench front seat, fender skirts, pushbutton radio, power windows, air conditioning. – Good older paint and chrome. Other than a chip in the left fender skirt and old-looking tires, there are no serious flaws, just general age. An older restored triple white Biarritz in straightforward, lightly used condition. The A/C was installed during restoration. – This is a moderately better price than condition but still a handsome, impressive and large vehicle with all the bells and whistles.
Lot # 109 1933 Packard Super Eight Convertible Victoria; S/N 750055; Engine # 750056; Black/Maroon; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $320,000. – 327/150hp inline eight, 3-speed, side mounted spares with mirrors, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, Trippe lights. – Excellent paint with an inch long scrape on the left fender, all chrome and brightwork has an excellent finish, the engine compartment is immaculately restored. The seats have creases and wrinkles from use, but the burl wood dash is stunning. A beautiful old restoration from the 90’s. 2000 Pebble Beach 2nd in class. 2003 AACA National Premier Award winner that has clearly been cherished and cared for. – Sold by RM at Amelia in 2008 for $412,500, then at Arizona in 2013 for $385,000. The reported high bid here is close both to the low estimate and to prior sales. It was a gap that could have been bridged if, of course, there was money here.
Lot # 118 1990 Land Rover Defender 90 (Truck) Wagon 4×4; S/N SALLDVAB8FA383362; White/Charcoal; Estimate $50,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $41,440. – 2,495/107hp turbocharged diesel, 5-speed, aftermarket CD player, mudflaps, hardtop, white wheels, Michelin tires. – Paint is generally good however there is some rust staining on the seams of the windscreen support and thick spots near the door mirrors. All weatherstripping looks old and dried out. The engine is quite oily on the underside and the underside of the truck has noticeable oxidation starting. The interior isn’t overly worn, but the dash has some fading. A Defender that looks fine from a distance, but is no better than used car condition. – A Euro spec model with a quick truck-like pass through cosmetics and (the new owner hopes) mechanical freshening. It’s a working Defender and no soccer mom is going to be flattered with the noisy diesel engine, the 5-speed or the utilitarian cosmetics. This result makes sense, but it has serious utility on the ranch or farm at this price.
Lot # 121 1999 Acura NSX 3.2L Zanardi Edition Coupe; S/N JH4NA2127XT000129; New Formula Red/Black Alcantara; Estimate $240,000 – $280,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $240,800. – 3,179/290hp V6, 6-speed, Zanardi edition package with fixed roof, BBS wheels, radio delete, Comptech exhaust, books, spare keys, clean Carfax, chipguarded. – 17,390 miles from new. Original paint has been maintained in excellent condition. The engine compartment has some dust and grime but little deterioration of condition. The interior is very good overall with some wear to the driver seat bolster from entry and exit of the vehicle. A very low mile example in terms of an NSX and one that has been maintained to a very high standard. – Low mileage, commendable condition and reassuring preservation brought a superior price (regardless of the optimistic pre-sale estimate) for this energized, lightweight Zanardi NSX.
Lot # 122 1974 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ40V Hardtop 4×4; S/N FJ40168892; Red, White roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $57,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $63,840. – 3,878/125hp, 4-speed, winch, cream steel wheels, BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A tires, Old Man Emu suspension, Bilstein shocks, rear heater, aftermarket radio and speakers added, tools, owner’s manual. – The paint is old and the shine has dulled noticeably. There are rust bubbles on the body over the driver side taillight as well as a bubble on the quarter panel behind the passenger door. There is heavy use of low grade hardware on the hinges. The underside has seen a low grade repaint and the interior is a mix of refinished areas and original components. A low grade, old truck restoration that would suffice for regular use. – A barely average FJ40 with a mix of aftermarket parts and original stuff. It could be argued that its cosmetics are too good to be used off-road, but it’s not good enough to make an impression at a cars’n’coffee. A show’n’shine is out of the question for the old paint and this is a generous price for it.
Lot # 138 1917 Detroit Electric Model 64 A 5-Passenger Brougham; S/N 9341; Motor # 16315; Light Gray, Dark Gray fenders/Gray cloth; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000. – 48-volt DC electric motor with an estimated 3bhp, 16-volt batteries, tiller steering, painted wire wheels, Lincoln wide whitewalls, tiller steering, wood window trim. – Published in the catalogue as a 1914 Model 47 A but later found to be a 1917 model year 64 A. Restored in the 1980s. Numerous chips and cracks in old paint. Aged brightwork. Paint coming off the wheels. Old tires. Lightly worn seats. An interesting early electric from Detroit Electric, one of the better known early electric carmakers that built about 13,000 units before going bust in 1939 (which is, in electric car history, a long, long life.) – As EVs become a bigger and bigger part of the automotive ecosystem, it only makes sense that early electrics, which roamed our roads in greater numbers than most people realize 100 years ago, are more relevant to collectors than ever. But nobody expected this eye-popping number, including Bonhams whose high estimate is less than a third of the car’s final price. While some in the car space were talking about the significance of two first-gen Tesla Roadsters coming to Monterey and the collectability of modern EVs, this 105-year-old relic with tiller steering comes along and sells for more than either of the Teslas. A silent driving phone booth that will be a show-stopper at any E-car gathering. Think of the possibilities with a modern electric motor and a bunch of high-capacity lithium batteries where the 16-volt wet cells now live.
Thanks for your fine coverage for we that can’t attend. Always appreciated and looked forward to.
Thank you Rick for the fine reporting.
Your detailed analysis and commentary is the best!