Bonhams, Scottsdale, January 27, 2023

After three Covid-complicated years Bonhams returned to form on the Westin Kierland lawn in 2023 with a 125-lot sale on Friday the 27th. With an 84% sale rate and almost $30 million total changing hands there were some unusual cars like three different Ghia-bodied Fifties Chryslers, a rare OSCA, an even more rare 600 Intermeccanica series Griffith and one of two 1971 ZR2 Big Block Corvettes built.

Somewhat unusually for Bonhams there were only a dozen pre-WWII cars on the docket. That boiled down to a “quality not quantity” result, however as the oldest of them, the 1912 Simplex 50hp Torpedo Tonneau, took home Scottsdale honors, the most expensive car of the week at $4,845,000, easily topping its $2.5-$3.5 million pre-sale estimate with a successful hammer bid of $4.4 million.

The past few years have seen late model super- and hyper-cars, most with barely delivery mileage, regularly setting the auction pace. The next most expensive car at Bonhams was a 2006 Maserati MC12 Corse at $3,811,000. Over at RM Sotheby’s the top sale was a 2014 LaFerrari ($4,075,000) while at Barrett-Jackson the most expensive car was a 1989 Ferrari F40 ($2,750,000).

The Simplex, which had a remarkable history including being retained and driven by its first owner Eleonora Sears for over 25 years, and a succession of informed, caring owners throughout its life, is a significant event in serious car collecting. It shows that when quality, design, rarity, performance and preservation are consistently of the highest quality there is ample desire among deep-pocketed collectors who are willing to deplete their bank accounts to own them in fierce competition on the auction block.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Sold < Low Est Sold > High Est Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2023 105/125 84% 41.1% 8.9% $285,176 $89,600

[31.4%]

$29,943,480
2022 85/89 95.5% 29.2% 22.5% $134,122 $95,200

[71%]

$11,400,360
2021 29/37 78.4% 67.9% 7.1% $203,324 $89,600

[44.1%]

$5,896,400

On-site observations are by Andrew Newton and Greg Ingold. They were intimidated by the Simplex, so I wrote it up from the catalog description and photos. Lots are sorted by lot number.


Lot # 114 1954 Chrysler Ghia GS-1 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 7253351; Green/Beige leather piped in Green; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $725,000 plus commission of 10.69%; Final Price $802,500. – 331/200hp FirePower Hemi, column shift automatic, wire wheels, whitewalls, bench seat, power windows, pushbutton radio. – One of nine built and five known to exist. Three showings at Pebble Beach over the years, first in 1995. The chrome is starting to show its age and there are a couple of paint chips behind the grille. There is a small chip at the back edge of the driver’s door also, but otherwise this car is without issue or excuse. Just an older concours restoration. – American engineering underneath Italian style, it’s a combination that has produced some of the most memorable cars of the twentieth century. The fling between Chrysler in Detroit and Ghia in Turin in the 1950s was one of the most fruitful relationships of this type, and this was certainly evident in Scottsdale this year, where there were four of these Chrysler-Ghia collabs on offer between RM Sotheby’s and Bonhams. A couple of them were available at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction as well. While not as distinctive as the one-off Dart 400 displayed next to it under the Bonhams tent, this aquamarine GS-1 is both prettier and cleaner, and they both sold for similar amounts, both strong numbers. It wouldn’t take much, relatively speaking, to get this car back to Pebble Beach ready, and ultimately that’s what the likely future is, since cars like this are more about art and design than they are about driving. It was sold, with a much more fresh restoration, at the New York Auto Salon auction in 2002 for $242,000, consistent with general inflation and some restoration age over the 21 years in between.

Lot # 117 1957 Chrysler Ghia Super Dart 400 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 202; Yellow, Black vinyl roof/Black, White; Estimate $750,000 – $950,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $740,000 plus commission of 10.68%; Final Price $819,000. – 392/400hp Hemi, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, four bucket seats, power windows, pushbutton radio, Highway Hi-Fi record player, rear seat speaker. – One-off built for the Turin show in 1957, and a follow-up to the Dart shown there in 1956. Based on a 300C chassis. Sold to Dual Motors (who built the 1956-58 Dual Ghia) in the US and shown on the Dual stand at the 1958 New York Auto show, hence the Dual badges currently fitted. Reportedly sold to its first private owner after he handed Dual’s owner Gene Cassarol a blank check, resulting in a $15,000 sale price. He drove it regularly and put around 38,000 miles on it. The odometer currently reads a possibly accurate 49,730 miles, which is a wild figure for a high-finned one-off show car. Always maintained but never restored. Won a class award at Pebble Beach last year. Decent chrome but heavily cracking paint all over the body. Paint chipping off the wheels. Scratched, lightly pitted window frames. Worn, stretched leather front and back but otherwise sound interior. Unrestored and still a striking automobile as it sits. Should you restore it to the show car shine it used to have? Or leave it as-is and preserve some history? – At this point, with its preservation already awarded, it would be a shame to wipe it away in favor of a sparkling concours redo. It’s already been a gleaming show car. Let it be the undisturbed piece of design history that it is. Besides, at 819 grand it is already very expensive.

Lot # 120 1962 Dual-Ghia L6.4 Coupe; S/N 0305; Metallic Blue/White leather; Estimate $450,000 – $650,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $520,000 plus commission of 10.96%; Final Price $577,000. – 383/335hp Hemi, automatic, fitted luggage, power windows. – 1962 New York Auto Show display car, from the Ramshead Collection. Paint has swirls that show in direct sunlight. The grille surround trim has hazing, wheel covers are pitted, and the engine compartment is aged and oily. The underside is dirty and has some oil residue. The seat upholstery is aged, cracked and separating at some seams and the interior trim has some hazing and aging. Represented as the most original of the 17 known to exist. – Sold for $352,000 at RM’s Monterey auction in 2013, this tired and aged Dual-Ghia has not gotten better with age and is rife with deterioration. While it has some appeal as a mostly original survivor it’s mostly just tired and unappealing, a car that no one will be proud to own, show or drive. This is an excessive price for a disappointing car.

Lot # 129 1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 Coupe; S/N 194371S113473; Classic White/Black vinyl; Estimate $200,000 – $400,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $197,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $221,200. – 454/425hp ZR2, M22 4-speed, Rally wheels, General tires, T-tops, original radio. – One of 12 ZR2s built. Ordered new by Toly Arutunoff for the 1971 Targa Florio but didn’t compete because it didn’t have a rollbar and failed inspection. Two owners since 1975, spent many years in the UK. Tired chrome with bubbling on the rear bumper. Light pitting on the door handles. Clean interior with lightly worn switchgear. Some mild paint issues but nothing serious. Light wear underneath. One of the ultimate vintage Corvettes, mostly well-kept and preserved, just cosmetically a bit scruffy. – It’s a shame that this car failed scrutineering at the Targa Florio due to lack of a roll bar, because it would have been quite the sight to see this thing ripping through Sicilian villages with all the Alfa Romeos and Porsches. Like all the best, most collectible classic Corvettes, the ZR2 package wasn’t actively promoted, hence its low production number. Combining the big-block LS6 V8, M22 Rock Crusher 4-speed, heavy-duty aluminum radiator, heavy-duty disc brakes, F41 suspension, and A/C and radio delete, the ZR2 was the fastest and most expensive Corvette you could buy in 1971 (if you knew about it), even more so than the small-block LT1-powered ZR1. Given that RM Sotheby’s sold their 1969 ZL1 for $3.14M and that Mecum sold another ZR2 for $962,500 in Indy last year, $221,200 for this one seems way modest. But that’s a bit apples and oranges. RM’s ZL1 is a one-of-two Holy Grail kind of car, and Mecum’s ZR2 was both a convertible (one of two, compared to 10 coupes) and a better preserved original with much lower miles. Even so, we can’t help but think this white car would have gotten more Corvette fans standing up on their New Balances and bidding at a venue like Mecum or Barrett-Jackson. While not a bargain here, it is a solid value in an extremely rare ZR2 with an intriguing history.

Lot # 130 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 07767; Engine # 07767; Blu Ferrari, Black hardtop/Tobacco leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,650,000 – $1,950,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,437,500 plus commission of 10.35%; Final Price $1,586,250. – 3,286/260hp now with six Webers, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, Abarth exhaust, woodrim steering wheel, leather boot cover, hardtop, books and tools. – Represented as matching numbers. The 137th of 200 built. Originally finished in Argento (silver) over black. Sold new in the US, reportedly with the hardtop (one of 20 made) included from new. Restored in 2017-18 by Motion Products. Original 3-carb setup included with the car. Good paint and chrome. Scratching on the windshield and window frames. Excellent interior. Very clean underneath. Well restored and lightly used. The color change isn’t ideal for collectability, but it’s hard not to think that the current combo doesn’t look better than the original silver over black. – One of the more notable Ferraris in Scottsdale this year and certainly the most significant one at Bonhams, this 275 GTS sold at a fair, rational number even if it fell short of the estimate. On the one hand, it isn’t quite as it left Maranello in 1965, but on the other hand that very rare original hardtop makes up for a lot and the colors are outstanding.

Lot # 131 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0JB0938KS050258; Linen Grey Metallic/Linen leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $200,000. – 3,299/300hp, G50 5-speed, black Fuchs wheels, sunroof, Cibie Pallas driving lights, Porsche CD stereo. – Final year 930 in relatively rare colors, represented as 31,336 miles, and equipped with nifty driving lights. Oddly, dealer plastic is still on the floor and rear seats. There are a few small rock chips and touch ups on the nose. Light delaminating around the windshield glass. Spotless wheels. The leather on both seats and door cards shows a surprising amount of wear for the reported mileage, and the seat belt plastic is dull. Some dirt and wear underneath. A solid, good car but not the primo example it is represented as. – The final 1989 model year 930 finally got the G50 5-speed that some people feel the car always should have had, and it carries a premium. This car has good colors and good options, too, but the reported high bid was plenty of money and it should have sold at that number.

Lot # 132 1964 Facel Vega Facel II Coupe; S/N HK2B162; Copper Brown, Red vinyl roof/Red leather; Estimate $120,000 – $180,000; Older restoration 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – 383/355hp Chrysler Wedge V8, automatic, wire wheels, Avon tires, power windows, wood dash, woodrim steering wheel, Blaupunkt pushbutton radio. – Delivered new with unique transparent removable roof, although it isn’t configured that way now. Restored many years ago but has been badly neglected. Rough original chrome. Tired but not terrible paint with several light scratches, chips, and dings. Surface rust on the wheel spokes. Well-kept interior with what looks like newer leather but original everywhere else. Huge crack running all the way down the right side of the windshield. A little grubby underneath but not rotten. A rare, graceful car and at least any Chrysler bits will be straightforward to source, but this Facel Vega needs and deserves a restoration especially after ten years on static display – One of many rare and interesting but also rough, long-dormant and mostly undocumented automobiles offered by Bonhams in recent years, this Franco-American hybrid is one of only about 180 produced. The Facel II was the company’s last V8 model and regarded by many, including the company’s founder, as the best. This is a restorable example bought realistically, but it will be a long time before it’s back in action.

Lot # 133 1975 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA 1300 Junior Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N AR776050; White, Green graphics/Black vinyl; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $175,000. – 1,750/150hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires, woodrim steering wheel later Blaupunkt stereo, Talbot Yorck mirror, books, tools. Rebuilt original engine included. – Restored about 15 years ago. Dull but presentable chrome. Older paint. Two small chips in the windshield. Clean seats and mostly good interior, but there is a large crack in the glove box. Very clean underneath. Now powered by a twin-plug dual Weber 1750, it comes with its original 1,290cc GTA Jr engine and is not totally correct, but it’s a real GTA Stradale that should go like stink and be an absolute hoot to drive. The step-nose body is desirable, but odd for the described model year. – There are a number of issues with this GTA, starting with the 1750 engine of indeterminate origin and extending to the out of sequence step-nose body and that may (and should) have deterred bidders from the enthusiasm which its specification would usually engender. This was a prudent offer for a mixed-origin GTA Jr. and could have been taken seriously by the consignor who may yet put it on BaT and face antagonistic comments by Alfisti.

Lot # 135 1970 Datsun 240Z Coupe; S/N HLS3011377; Engine # L24015249; Mexican Orange/Black vinyl; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 2,393/151hp, 4-speed, aftermarket mag wheels, AM/FM radio with cassette player, rear window slats. – Represented as a two-owner car with matching-numbers engine and gearbox. Older repaint in the original color shows well with few notable blemishes, the brightwork is dulled, and the bumper chrome has pitting. The passenger’s side door does not close fully without significant effort and will need work. The engine has been redone and detailed, and presents like new. The interior appears to have been reupholstered but the dash components and shifter appear original and aged. Mechanically sorted and cosmetically restored but still needs some attention. – For many years the 240Z was an entry-level classic that brought style and speed but also reliability and practicality at an affordable price. Many 240Zs looked just like this, solid but far from perfect. Now that nearly all Japanese classics are collectible, though, it makes sense that the car that started it all has gotten expensive, too. This result takes the car’s pluses and minuses into account, and makes perfect sense in the context of other recent Z-car sales.

Lot # 137 1964 OSCA 1600 GT Coupe, Body by Fissore; S/N 0105; Red, Black roof and hood/Red, Black; Estimate $250,000 – $325,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $168,000. – 1,568/105hp, GT2 package with dual Webers, 4-speed, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Pirelli tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, original pushbutton radio, 4-wheel independent suspension, disc brakes. – One of 21 built with this Fissore coachwork. First registered to Italian retailer Salvatore Ferragamo. Newly rebuilt drivetrain and suspension. Light pitting on the left of the front. Good older paint. Light scrapes and scratches on the windshield and window frames. Light track scratches in the side glass. A few dings on the wheels. Aged steering wheel, lightly faded gauges and lightly worn switchgear, but decent interior. Clean, restored, lightly driven underneath. A neat oddball. – This is a rare, distinctive, and intriguing little car built at the company founded by the Maserati brothers and powered by OSCA’s own twin-cam four. But it’s also used and doesn’t have as wide of an appeal as something from a more famous carmaker or coachbuilder. Someone thought much too highly of it in Amelia Island last year when it hammered not sold at a reported high bid of $250,000 at the Gooding auction. Expectations have been readjusted way down since then, with Bonhams giving it a realistic estimate, the bidders putting up a realistic price, and the seller setting reserve at a realistic number. All fair.

Photo courtesy Bonhams

Lot # 140 1912 Simplex 50hp Torpedo Tonneau, Body by J.M. Quinby; S/N 834; Engine # 247151; Dark Green/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,500,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,400,000 plus commission of 10.11%; Final Price $4,845,000. – RHD. 597/50 ALAM hp T-head four, 4-speed, double chain drive, electric starter, electric headlights and sidelights, dual rear-mounted spares, cape style top. – An epic automobile with low, streamlined coachwork originally bought by Harold Vanderbilt as a gift for sportswoman Eleonora Sears who owned it for 25 years. Later owned by GM chief engineer Charles Chayne who had it re-engineered by GM engineers including a balanced and blueprinted engine, developed suspension and steering and electric starter. After a period at the Larz Anderson Museum and the Collings Foundation it was owned and restored for Charles LeMaitre in the mid-naughts followed by Craig McCaw in 2013. Meticulously maintained by a succession of informed collectors and an outstanding car for tours and events. The older restoration is aging gracefully. – With an absolutely clear and well-defined history, quality GM engineering for Charles Chayne and consistent care of the highest quality, this is a magnificent Brass Era automobile that continues to give excellent service and satisfaction. At a time when many claim Brass Era buyers are getting thin in the market this Simplex was the most expensive car sold across the major Scottsdale auctions and blew up its pre-sale high estimate. A vehicle and transaction to celebrate.

Lot # 144 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk I Bugeye Roadster; S/N AN5L16797; Red/Black; Estimate $35,000 – $50,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $21,280. – 1,275/65hp, single Weber, 4-speed, Minator wheels, Dunlop tires, tonneau cover. – Good paint and chrome, but there is some cracking along the creases running down the nose. Clean wheels and tires. Tidy and restored underneath. Solid Bugeye with a forgivable (and common) swap to larger 1275 power. – Held in October 2020 by order of US Bankruptcy Court, the RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection auction realized more than a few exorbitant prices at a high point in the pandemic collector car boom. Some of the cars sold there have since changed hands again at a notable loss, and this Sprite is one of them. In 2020, it sold for $33,600. In a little over two years, its odometer has added just 315 miles and it is in the same solid, lightly used condition. Bugeyes haven’t shed a third of their value in that time, it’s just that bidders are being more restrained now than they were when there was more money flowing. This car could have brought another few grand without being expensive but it wasn’t a steal, just a good bargain on a peppy little roadster.

Lot # 147 1954 Porsche 356 1500 Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 51678; Engine # P32657; Radium Green/Green leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $264,000 plus commission of 11.89%; Final Price $295,400. – 1,488/70hp, 4-speed, one-piece bent windshield, hub caps, Excelsior tires, Telefunken radio, Solex carburetors. – Matching numbers, given period correct 1500 Super tune. US market car, originally painted Pascha Red over tan leatherette with corduroy trim. Original body. Gorgeous paint, brightwork, and interior. Clearly tons of money spent ($275,000, according to the listing) on a show-quality restoration fairly recently. The rubber on the front bumper, however, is hanging loose and that really sticks out (literally and figuratively) on such a beautiful car. Fix that and it’s pretty much perfect. – Pre-A (1948-55) 356s are hard enough to find, built when Porsche was still a small-scale manufacturer, growing an improving incrementally as the postwar years wore on. But a Pre-A with its original drivetrain and body intact is even rarer, as these weren’t always the coveted collector pieces among Porschephiles that they are today. The bidders recognized this car as a standout even among the eight other 356s on offer at Bonhams Scottsdale this year.

Lot # 148 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi Hardtop Coupe; S/N BS23R1B388308; Double Red, Black billboard stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $375,000 – $475,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $375,000 plus commission of 11.33%; Final Price $417,500. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, shaker hood scoop, power brakes, Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, bucket seats, pistol grip shifter, rally gauge pack In Kilometers. – Original European delivery car. Original owner, the consignor’s father, was official Plymouth importer for Denmark. Raced on both road circuits and in a straight line. Good paint and body. Panel gaps are consistent. Raced in period and since restored by Lloyd Lind. Chrome and brightwork are all very good. The engine compartment is clean and properly displayed. The underbody is clean and still appears freshly restored. The interior is partly original, presents well and is not overdone. A well-presented, unusual European delivery Hemi ‘Cuda. Nothing overdone, just well done. – This ‘Cuda might have brought more based on its quality restoration but the race modifications now rectified during restoration inject an element of uncertainty in its history which both Bonhams in setting the estimate range and the bidders appropriately reflected. It is a quality car even without a representation of the drivetrain’s originality and brought a reasonable price for both the buyer and the seller.

Lot # 152 1953 Siata 208S Spider, Body by Motto; S/N BS518; Engine # BS078; White/Brown piped in Beige; Tan cloth top; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,800,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,425,000 plus commission of 10.35%; Final Price $1,572,500. – 1,996/125hp V-8, dual Weber DCF/3 carburetors, 4-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges. – Originally sold in California with the Fiat tipo 103 Otto vu engine, but the first owner swapped in a Chevrolet V8. Refurbished in the 1980s then fully restored in the 1990s with a correct Fiat 8V engine. Restored again in 2012, with class awards at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, and Villa d’Este. One of 33 Motto-bodied cars (two prototypes were designed by Bertone). Beautiful car with or without those awards. Wear on the wood steering wheel is the only real flaw. – Built by Società Italiana Auto Trasformazione Accessori (SIATA), the 208S looks like an AC Cobra or Ferrari Barchetta that shrank in the wash, but this aluminum-bodied Michelotti-designed roadster was the company’s best model and its four-wheel independent suspension was advanced when even most sports cars had a live rear. It also combined a torquey V8 in a small roadster package years before Shelby did so with the Cobra, albeit in a much smaller package. Steve McQueen had a 208S, and others had much success in small displacement sports car racing, so the Siata is much more highly regarded in the classic car world than its size or production numbers might suggest. This one sold for $1,655,000 at Quail Lodge in 2018 but is in no worse shape today. As such a rare, attractive and universally respected little car that’s eligible for just about any event the new owner would wish to take it to, it could have brought a little more without being too expensive.

Lot # 153 1987 Buick GNX Coupe; S/N 1G4GJ117XHP447642; Black/Gray, Black cloth; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – 231/276hp, automatic. – Represented with just 21 miles, but the paint has visible swirls. The bumper filler is chalky and cracked. The engine compartment is aged and dirty, and the hood struts are shot. However, the interior is immaculate. Low miles but not stored properly. – Based upon condition this is an expensive GNX by tens of thousands of dollars, but cherished only on account of the negligible miles. It will be an involving task to manage the delicate process of fixing the stuff that has been neglected without ruining the underlying originality which was so dearly bought.

Lot # 155 1952 Allard J2X Roadster; S/N J3065; Bali Blue/Burgundy leather; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $360,000. – 331/400hp Hemi, modern Tremec 5-speed, painted wire wheels, Vredestein tires, single sidemount spare, side exhaust, Brooklands banjo steering wheel, Brooklands aero screens, wood shift knob, engine-turned dash, Smiths gauges. Comes with spare 3-speed. – One of 83 J2Xs built and represented as Masten Gregory’s first race car, bought with inheritance money from his late father and campaigned first with Mercury flathead power in 1952 and then Hemi power starting in 1953 including at Sebring, although that original drivetrain doesn’t appear to be with the car. In UK and Japanese collections before coming back to the US. Good but older paint. Neither the grille trim nor the hood fit flush to the body. Some light wear on the steering wheel. Excellent leather. A lot of racers got an early start in an Allard, but this one is still significant, and it needs nothing to enjoy all the various events for which an Allard is eligible. – Aside from the replacement engine and Tremec 5-speed this Allard has some significant period race history with Masten Gregory and is generally in sound and attractive condition. It will be a blast to drive, and look good in the process as well as having excellent event eligibility. The reported high bid is appropriate to the Allard’s condition but has no premium for its significant first owner or race history in his hands.

Lot # 157 1958 BMW 507 Roadster; S/N 70110; Silbergrau, Dark Grey hardtop/Red leather; Estimate $2,100,000 – $2,400,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,875,000 plus commission of 10.27%; Final Price $2,067,500. – 3,168/150hp, 4-speed, front disc brakes, Rudge centerlock alloy wheels, whitewalls, Becker Europa radio, hardtop, tool kit, owner’s manual. – Desirable Series II model with good options. Delivered new in Venezuela, spent most of its life in Europe, then restored in the mid-2010s. Has factory replacement engine and gearbox. Very good chrome. Paint finish is good but has minor issues like a tiny blister on the right front and blemishes on the back edges of the door. A few smudges on the tires. Lightly wrinkled leather and a large crack in the steering wheel. The driver’s door sticks out slightly at the bottom as well. Beautiful car in any condition, and this one is only let down by minor details. – Although it was a commercial failure when new and a relatively undervalued classic until fairly recently, the 507 has been a seven-figure collector car for about a decade. Good examples have been moving in the $2M range lately, and this one got a $2M high bid but remained unsold at the 2021 Gooding Pebble Beach auction. It was a fair offer given the non-matching drivetrain, and the market spoke again with a similar number in Scottsdale. It was wisely taken this time.

Lot # 158 1973 BMW 2002tii 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 2764034; Polaris Silver/Blue vinyl, cloth; Estimate $45,000 – $55,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $52,640. – 1,991/130hp, 4-speed, BBS alloy wheels, Falken tires, fog lights. – Matching numbers California car, showing 84,236 miles. Sound original bumpers and brightwork, although there are big scratches on the window frames and drip rails. Good older repaint but there are masking issues around the rear window and chips behind the driver’s door. Clean original interior. A well-preserved round taillight tii (the fuel injected model) with a single repaint. – If we’re talking brands, few have seen their best classics appreciate to the same degree over the past decade as BMW. As recently as the mid-2010s, this tii would have sold for about half as much as it did here in Scottsdale. This is what it’s worth now.

Lot # 159 1974 Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N AR3023718; Silver Blue/Black cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $47,040. – 1962/129hp, SPICA fuel injection, 5-speed, Rota wheels, cross-drilled brakes, Yokohama tires, woodrim steering wheel, later Sony cassette. – Represented as a one-owner matching numbers car. Aged original brightwork but repainted to a high standard. The doors stick out slightly. Faded, yellowed veins in the rear glass. Lovely original interior with only light age to the steering wheel and switchgear. Not 100 percent correct, but a really neat car well cared for since 1974. – The spread between good GTVs like this and the very best GTVs is on the order of 50%, a huge spread. This one benefits from having its correct fuel injection system (troublesome when new but now progressively refined to give good performance and reliability) and original engine and gearbox. It is a bargain at this price and could have brought 20% more without regret.

Lot # 166 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe; S/N 09711; Engine # 09711; Cream/Tan leather; Estimate $600,000 – $700,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $550,000. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wheels, Michelin XWX tires, added Blaupunkt Radio and speakers, documented by Marcel Massini, includes owner’s manual. – Represented as the original engine. Older repaint from the original Verde Scuro with cracks on the nose and headlights. Significant, deep cracks on the driver’s door. There is a chip on the door jamb by the driver’s door handle. The brightwork presents well. The interior is worn with visible wear to the seats and steering wheel. The finishes appear to be mostly original and shows noticeable aging overall. – Although it may be disappointing to the consignor this result is appropriate to this GTC’s condition and general age of its 1988 restoration before its two decade storage in Canada. With the flawed color change repaint and worn upholstery the consignor could have happily accepted this bid if there was money behind it.

Lot # 167 1967 Griffith 600 Intermeccanica GT Coupe; S/N 6006009; Red/Black, Red inserts; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $80,640. – 273/304hp Plymouth Commando engine, TorqueFlite automatic, side exhaust, Wilwood brakes, Torq Thrust wheels, Uniroyal tires, newer radio. – One of six Griffith 600s built, and just two of them got an automatic. Spent most of its life in California and restored in 2021. Decent respray and rechromed bumpers. Light scratches in the windshield, side windows, and rear glass. Very clean restored interior. Rare and obscure, and it was restored on a budget, but still a very interesting and attractive car. – The later Intermeccanica Italia is already an obscure Italo-American hybrid sports car, but the Griffith 600 that preceded it is even more rare. Built by Long Island car dealer Jack Griffith, fresh from building the better known TVR-based Griffith 200 and 400, he approached Intermeccanica in Turin for some Italian styling flair. Truly an international affair, the Griffith 600 has a chassis designed by an Englishman, bodywork by a Hungarian-born Canadian living in Italy (Frank Reisner), and an American engine. The car only became an Intermeccanica (badged the Omega, Torino and Italia) after Griffith ran into money troubles. This car is an oddball, but its looks are undoubtedly appealing, and so is the straightforward American-born bent eight under the hood. The automatic really didn’t help its case, though, and the seller couldn’t have really hoped for a much higher price than this. But, when it appears on a show field or cars & coffee it will draw a crowd eager to learn its obscure story.

Lot # 176 1978 Porsche 930 RUF BTR Coupe; S/N 9308800074; Red Metallic/Black leather; Estimate $190,000 – $240,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000. – 3,367/374hp turbo, G50 5-speed, black center Fuchs wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires, Ruf steering wheel, power sunroof, newer Pioneer stereo, fog lights, Porsche Certificate of Authenticity, manuals. – Paint to sample, California car from new, showing 47,359 believable miles. A few chips and light scratches on the nose and hood. Small scrape next to the rear glass as well. Slight dullness to the exterior plastic and older weather stripping. Good interior. – The ’78 Porsche 930 Turbo made 260hp, which wasn’t enough for some Porsche owners and this is where RUF stepped in, amping up the 3,299cc Porsche flat six to 3,367cc and adding some 100 horsepower with a Cummins diesel-size KKK turbo. Performance was electrifying, making the BTR (“Gruppe B Turbo RUF”) a poster child for the inherent strength and performance potential of air-cooled Porsches. It was offered at Mecum’s Monterey auction five months ago where the bid was reported as $175,000 and brought slightly less here at Bonhams Scottsdale, still not enough to satisfy the consignor who now may begin to get a clue how this BTR is perceived in the Porsche market.

Lot # 182 1959 Aston Martin DB Mk III Coupe, Body by Tickford; S/N AM30031721; Engine # DBA1336; Burgundy/Tan leather; Estimate $150,000 – $180,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000. – LHD. 2,922/178hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Michelin X tires, dual Talbot Berlin mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, Smiths dash clock. – Delivered new to California with lefthand drive from the factory. Represented as matching numbers. Tired paint with chips around the filler cap and all panel edges. Hole drilled for a radio antenna. A little dirt and grime underneath. The chrome is much better. Clean interior. Desirable configuration and mostly solid for driving events and casual cruising but not used much if any in the past decade and in need of recommissioning. A competent paint job would make a huge difference, though. – While this DB Mk III might be worth the $150,000 low estimate that is only if the recommissioning work it desperately needs had been completed. The uncertainty created by sitting for over a decade restrained thinking bidders from getting enthusiastic and this result is realistic.

Lot # 183 2006 Maserati MC12 Corse Coupe; S/N ZAMDF44B000029626; Blue Victory/Blue; Estimate on request; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,460,000 plus commission of 10.14%; Final Price $3,811,000. – 5.998/755hp V12, paddle-shift 6-speed. – Just 123 miles. Inspected earlier this year by Ferrari Ontario. The third of 12 customer Corse models built, and three of those were reportedly converted for road use. There are stone chips on the rear wheel lip and on the leading edge of the body behind the front wheel air exit. The interior shows little use. Small flaws aside, it’s an essentially new example of Maserati’s Enzo-based ultimate track day toy. Sold on a bill of sale. – The MC12 Corse was intended for track use only, although few people used it as intended. The owner of this one reportedly never even drove it at all. Developed from the title-winning FIA GT race cars, they cost about $1.5M when new. The handful of the 62 MC12s of all types ever built that have crossed an auction block over the past few years have brought anywhere from $1.575M to over $3M, but this one is the most expensive. Surprising, since it’s not a car you can drive on the street, but then again we haven’t seen an MC12 at auction since the pandemic boom in collector car values, and it is by far the most desirable modern Maserati model. Will the new owner actually take it to the track? At this price, doubtful and it’s hard not to regard it as a badge-engineered Enzo as under Ferrari ownership as Maserati endeavored to create its own image.

Lot # 185 1958 AC Aceca Bristol Coupe; S/N BE662; Engine # 100D2813; Damask Red/Gray leather; Estimate $120,000 – $160,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000. – RHD. 1,971/134hp 100D2 Bristol engine, 4-speed, painted wire wheels, Avon tires, woodrim steering wheel. – Represented as the first Aceca fitted with a Bristol engine, as matching numbers and as a three-owner car since new. Reportedly partially disassembled in 1967 and then remained so until a restoration was finished in 2014. The paint looks old and a bit dull, but the brightwork looks even older with significant pitting on the left front bumperette, the door handles, the filler cap, and the trunk handle. General age and a few blemishes on the wheels. Tidy underneath. Very good interior. Uneven panel fit. A presentable Aceca but a little rough around the edges even though it can boast four AC Club Aceca class wins in 2014 and 2016-2018. – Just 151 Acecas, 169 Aceca-Bristols and eight Ford-powered Acecas were built, by hand, by AC in Thames Ditton from 1954-63. They look and sound great, are fast enough for many premier driving and touring events, and come at a significant discount over their roadster cousin the Ace. This one’s right-hand drive was a knock, but it still brought a fairly modest price, and if it is indeed the first Aceca-Bristol as represented, this was a decent value.

Lot # 206 2000 Ferrari 360 Modena Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFYU51A6Y0122435; Blu Tour De France/Cuoio leather, Blue piping; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000. – 3,586/400hp, 6-speed manual, red calipers, Michelin all season tires, books, tools. – Represented with about 25,300 miles but looks more used than that. Good paint with no significant blemishes, but some swirling. The headlights are hazy. The engine compartment is clean and appears well-kept. The driver’s seat shows little use. A good looking car with the desirable manual gearbox, however the headlight lens issue seriously detracts from the overall presentation. – Sold for $126,500 at Mecum’s Monterey auction five months ago, the consignor here was looking for a quick flip that was declined by the audience in Scottsdale. It may be a 6-speed, but it’s a used 6-speed and definitely not a $150,000 hammer 360.

Lot # 215 2002 BMW Z8 Roadster; S/N WBAEJ13452AH61739; Stealth Jet Black, Stealth Black hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $205,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $229,600. – 4,941/394hp, 6-speed manual, hardtop. Includes manuals and full service history. – Represented with just 8,591 miles and one owner from new. Good paint with some swirling that appears in the sunlight. The interior appears close to new condition. Very good car showing limited use. – A BMW 507 today is a $2 million car but its design successor, the Z8, is faster, with more conveniences and can be yours for a tenth the price. That may not be exactly comparable, but as collectors age the convenience and comfort of a modern V8 BMW convertible is steadily more attractive and this is an appropriate price for one with this one owner history and low miles.

Lot # 217 1970 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM1151554; Claret Red/Black leather; Estimate $90,000 – $130,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $134,400. – 4,719/330hp, ZF 5-speed, painted wire wheels, Pirelli P5 tires, power windows, air conditioning, original pushbutton radio, woodrim steering wheel. – US market example. Older paint with some small blisters on the left front fender and cracks below each rear window. Paint chip on the Maserati badge as well. Light pitting on the door handles. Wheels and tires look older. Heavy scratching on the glass, particularly the back and passenger’s side. Dash top is seriously faded, and the vents are yellowed. Sound original leather. A driver-quality Ghibli, which has mostly sat since 2008 and needs sorting and costly attention. – Largely bereft of any ownership or restoration history and long neglected, the list of things needing attention is likely to be long and expensive, a deterrent to bidding that is reflected in the estimate but to a lesser extent in the bidding; it is a beguiling, pretty car but given its obscure history and long neglect brought a generous price in this transaction. It will look good in the car barn, but poses a challenge for a 500 mile overnight weekend tour.

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Comments

    • Alex Cauthen
    • February 22, 2023
    Reply

    I always appreciate your analysis of the value of the final pricing. Such professional judgement is rare and valuable.

      • rickcarey1
      • February 22, 2023
      Reply

      I put in a fair amount of effort filling in that field in the record and appreciate your comments.

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