Bonhams Amelia Island Auction was much like a return to the before-times with some wonderful cars, some long-static projects and a broad selection of pre-WWII classics and even half a dozen pre-WWI antiques.
As the first of the surviving Amelia Island auctions it also was a chance to catch up with friends we haven’t seen for a while. The discussions that commenced in Kissimmee and Scottsdale about the state of the market also continued, and were met with both positive and negative results to keep on fueling the discussion.
Bonhams found a home for its headline car, the 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder s/n 550-0036, and moved on the many neglected projects, we hope to a new and better life where they will be nurtured and driven.
With an 88.1% sale rate – even though the $14,394,110 total sale was the smallest in several years – it was a successful indicator of what would happen Friday at Gooding & Company and Saturday at RM Sotheby’s.
Bonhams also had a bonanza of 54 motorcycles all offered without reserve that added another $678,682 to the sale total. It was a great place to scratch a motorcycle itch, including many at four-figure prices.
Here are the numbers (for the cars, not including motorcycles):
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2022 | 74/84 | 88.1% | 67.6% | 6.8% | $194,515 | $67,200
[34.6%] |
$14,394,110 |
| 2021 | 87/106 | 82.1% | 51.7% | 18.4% | $220,570 | $95,200
[43.2%] |
$19,189,610 |
| 2020 | 90/115
|
78.3% | 77.5% | 6.7% | $238,171 | $56,000
[23.5%] |
$21,435,420 |
39 of the 84 lots are described here with observations by Rick Carey and Andrew Newton. They are sorted by lot number.
Lot # 211 1964 Facel Vega Facel II Coupe; S/N HK2B136; Engine # TY8712265; Black/Gray leather; Estimate $150,000 – $205,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – 383/355hp Chrysler wedge V-8, single carb, TorqueFlite automatic, wire wheels, modern Michelin tires, woodrim steering wheel, aftermarket CD stereo. – Sold new in California. Represented as the 137th of 185 Facel IIs built. Tired, possibly original chrome. Faded 2005 repaint with some scuffs and scratches. Dull wheels. The chassis looks unrestored, showing oxidation and dirt. Reasonably tidy engine bay, but it hasn’t run in over a decade. The interior looks much better than the outside, with lightly worn upholstery and solid wood. A prime restoration candidate or a basic driver, at least after it’s brought back to running condition. – While not a household name, Forges et Ateliers de Construction d’Eure-et-Loir (FACEL) made some of the most luxurious and stylish cars on the road in the 1950s and early 1960s, characterized by clean understated styling, a large rectangular grille and a Rolls-Royce-level price tag but straightforward Chrysler running gear underneath. The Facel II was the last V-8 model before the company went bust and some, including the company boss, regarded it as Facel’s best. This example is a long way from being the best at anything, although getting it running at least will be more straightforward thanks to the 383 under the hood. It was realistically estimated by Bonhams, and realistically bought by the new owner.
Lot # 214 1967 Porsche 911 2.0 Soft Window Targa; S/N 500435; Light Ivory/Black with tartan cloth inserts; Estimate $105,000 – $130,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – 1,991/140hp, 5-speed, chrome wheels, Kumho tires, gold brightwork, Blaupunkt radio. – Sold new to an American major in Germany. Restored by its second owner, a man named Anthony Pizza, in the 1980s then restored again under different ownership in 2013. Received a replacement engine in the 1970s. Decent brightwork and older paint free of major flaws. Scratches on the roll hoop. Plastic rear window looks like a newer replacement and is solid. Good seats. The dash looks original with slightly faded gauges. Tidy underneath. Restored a while ago, probably before the air-cooled Porsche boom of the 2010s, and starting to show some age. – Even given the premium for the plastic rear window, this price is expensive given the car’s imperfections. Then again, Gooding sold a 912 soft window Targa (albeit in fresher condition) for $128,800 the next day, so early Targas were in high demand among the Porsche-centric buyers in Amelia this year.
Lot # 215 1957 Jaguar XK 140SE Fixed Head Coupe; S/N S815710BW; Engine # LA4731-9; Brick Red/Grey leather; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Cosmetic restoration 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $40,320. – 3,781/220hp, dual carburetors, automatic, Lucas fog lights, fender mirrors, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, 4-spoke woodrim steering wheel. – Later 3.8 litre engine. Protective repaint with visible surface preparation flaws, fisheyes and rust repairs around both headlights. Old interior with dried out varnish on much of the wood trim. Scroungy engine compartment. – Offered here in 2004 but unsold on a reported bid of $36,000. It showed up a week later at Barrett-Jackson in Palm Beach where it was reported sold for $35,100 all-in, but then was re-run later at the same venue and reported sold for $21,330, a strong indication that it was kicked by the first buyer and re-sold at the door-buster later price which was appropriate at the time for a car with a replacement engine and needs even then. That’s a comment that also frames today’s result with only 175 more miles on the odometer than it did eighteen years ago.
Lot # 216 1963 Daimler SP250 Roadster; S/N 104198; Engine # 7K4051; Green/Beige leatherette; Beige leatherette top; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Modified restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 2,548/142hp, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Michelin MX tires, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel. – RHD conversion and replacement engine. Good paint, chrome, interior and top. Touched up scrape on the right tail fin. Good looking engine compartment. – Sold at Auburn Fall six months ago for $46,200 and flipped here at a generous price and profit. As with the BMW 507 the SP250 illustrates how British and European manufacturers struggled with the V-8 concept and execution. Neither of these promising engines delivered anywhere near their potential but the 507 at least had gorgeous coachwork, the difference between being today a million dollar car and this generous result at $67,200.
Lot # 217 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002151; Medium Blue Metallic/Dark Blue; Dark Blue top; Estimate $305,000 – $350,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 11.72%; Final Price $324,000. – 3,499/230hp, automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, factory air conditioning, Becker Europa radio. – Represented as one of 802 US market 3.5 cabriolets. Slightly tired chrome and wheel covers, with a small ding in the right rear one. Good paint with a small chip at the back of the driver’s door and some touch ups. Clean top. Good interior with solid wood and upholstery, but a light scratch on the passenger’s seat. Imperfect gaps. Sound underneath. Unknown early history and looks like a lightly used older cosmetic restoration. – First offered to a $58,000 no-sale at RM Phoenix in 2004 then, showing just how far these hand-built 3.5 cabriolets appreciated, it sold for $280,000 at RM Monterey in 2018. They’ve gotten even more expensive since then, as confirmed by this yet higher sale of a car that hasn’t received any serious attention since it last crossed an auction block over three years ago.
Lot # 219 1950 Lea Francis 2 1/2 Liter Roadster; S/N 5146; Engine # S5145; Brown, Black fenders/Green, Brown leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $56,000. – RHD. 2,496/100hp four, 4-speed, body color wheels with trim rings and hubcaps, Michelin X tires, Lucas tri-bar headlights, Lucas fog lights, green leather wrapped steering wheel. – Good older paint with chips from use. The upholstery is sound and attractive but stretched and wrinkled. The engine compartment is orderly but driven and the chassis is oily and road grimy. –
One of only 85 believed built with this engine which uses dual camshafts high mounted just below the cylinder head, short pushrods and rocker arms, like the more familiar Riley engines. Well-restored but also well-used, this below low estimate result is reasonable but gives the new owner distinct bragging rights at British car gatherings.
Lot # 220 1956 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N E56S004079; Gypsy Red, Beige coves/Red vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $80,640. – 283/220hp, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, WonderBar radio. – Worn, poor quality old paint with orange peel, scratches and scuffs. Tired upholstery with a tear on the driver’s seat cushion. Erratic, scratched chrome. Clean but unrestored old chassis and underbody. The FG engine suffix is for a 1957 dual quad Powerglide 283/245hp and the title is for a ’57 with a different chassis number, E57S101876. A quick repaint on a tired old Corvette with mixed parentage. – While this is a reasonably attractive Corvette it is so mixed up that the price it brought defies comprehension. The local DMV is going to have a field day sorting out the chassis number and it is a mystery how it was sold at all with a dubious VIN on the title, not to mention bringing this much money.
Lot # 221 1957 Porsche 356A 1600 Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 83376; Engine # P65734; Red/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $280,000 – $340,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $270,000 plus commission of 11.85%; Final Price $302,000. – 1,582/60hp, 4-speed, hubcaps, Vredestein tires, Euro bumpers with overriders, turn signals, coupe seats (from new), original sales brochure, Kardex copy, tool kit. – Represented as the matching numbers drivetrain and correct date-coded wheels, U.S. delivery with coupe seats. The grey steering wheel rim is scratched and scuffed. A radio antenna hole in the left front fender is plugged. The paint, chrome and especially the interior are very good and fresh but the chassis and underbody are older. – Offered by Bonhams at Greenwich three years ago where it was reported bid to $230,000. The odometer has added a single mile since then (or maybe that’s a rounding error.) In any event, this is a realistic, usable, matching numbers car and an equally realistic price to pay for it, a fair result for both the buyer and the seller.
Lot # 222 1968 Lamborghini 400 GT 2+2 Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 01270; Engine # 1463; Red/Black pigskin; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $285,000 plus commission of 11.75%; Final Price $318,500. – 3,929/320hp, 5-speed, power windows, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires. – Poor quality repaint with many prep and application flaws. Dried out rubber seals, worn original upholstery, dirty wheels, sun rotted rear seat back. The chrome is decent but the right headlight has no rubber gasket behind the bezel. The engine compartment is dry and hasn’t been run in a while. Generally neglected and will cost many dollars before it is ready to be driven with any confidence at all. – This is a good example of many cars in this year’s Bonhams Amelia Island auction: inherently desirable but aged and neglected. It is a gift to the new owner’s mechanic’s kids’ college fund, will cost a bundle before it can be driven but was bought for a realistic price that is fair to both the buyer and the seller.
Lot # 223 1961 Jaguar XKE SI flat floor Roadster; S/N 875463; Engine # R16159; Carmen Red/Camel leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $145,600. – 3,781/265hp, 4-speed, aluminum radiator, chrome wire wheels, Vredestein tires, Blaupunkt cassette stereo. – Represented as the original numbers-matching engine block. Sound paint but with preparation marks, sanding scratches and other visible issues. Cracks on top of the left front fender. Very good upholstery and top. Good chrome. Fair chassis and engine compartment. Poor headlight cover fits. Not as good as it should be. – Seriously discounted for the replacement cylinder head and scruffy restoration work, this is a realistic result. It is probably too good to re-restore, condemning it to life as a driver for the next several years until it has enough miles and road rash to justify another trip through a restoration shop which hopefully will do a better job the next time.
Lot # 224 1960 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002576; Engine # 18998010002627; Uranium Yellow, Black hardtop/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,300,000; Recent restoration 1 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,800,000. – 2,996/250hp, 4-speed, Euro headlights, Becker radio, hubcaps, Michelin X tires, two tops, fitted luggage. – Later aluminum engine block fitted in Iran after the first owner, the sister of the Shah, cooked the first one. Known history from new, 23,520km. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. The underbody is better than new. Panel fits and gaps are exact. Seriously impressive. – The Persian Princess history is a bonus for this 300SL Roadster and the aluminum block balances it being a replacement. At this bid the final price would have been close enough to $2 million with commission not to make a discernable difference. The seller chose to keep the car, but it would not have been unreasonable to take the money if there was any at the reported high bid.
Lot # 226 1954 Austin-Healey 100-4 “100S Prototype” Recreation Roadster; S/N BN1L151958; Apple Green/Dark Green leather, White piping; Dark Green tonneau cover top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Facsimile restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $200,000. – RHD. 2,660/132hp, Healey 3000 4-speed, overdrive, silver painted Minilite centerlock alloy wheels, Hoosier tires, woodrim steering wheel, fuel cell, quick fill fuel cap, Lucas driving lights. – An elaborate re-creation of one of the four “Special Test Cars” that introduced the 100-4 at shows and in competition, this emulating SPL 224B registered NOJ 391, first in class at Sebring 1954 and twice, ’53 and ’54, at the Mille Miglia. Constructed by Tom Kovacs of Fourintune Garage with aluminum fenders, a 100S engine, Quaife limited slip, 4-wheel Girling disc brakes. Fair older paint, stretched seats. Comes with a 160hp 100-4 engine with Weslake head. A reasonable driver on tours or on the track. – An exciting car to own and drive, but not what it wants to be, nor even with the updates like brakes and 15-inch Minilites not what it appears to be. It would be impossible to duplicate at the reported high bid, but that is largely irrelevant. The seller wasn’t unrealistic to keep it at the reported high bid amount but finding the right buyer for it is not going to be easy.
Lot # 229 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 15635; Engine # 15635; Black/Black leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $260,000. – 4,390/340hp, 5-speed, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, centerlock alloy wheels, Pirelli P6 tires, power windows, air conditioning, owner’s manual. – Sound older paint, newer upholstery. Sunburned dashtop, cracked steering wheel leather rim. Dirty console. Orderly engine compartment with carburetors that look recently serviced. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2013 for $225,500 with less than 1,000 miles added to the odometer reading since then, this is far from the best C/4 out there even though its black over black livery complements the rubber bumpers that clash with more colorful C/4s. Had it sold at its reported high bid it would have been a reasonable result on both the buy and sell sides of the transaction.
Lot # 232 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Convertible, Body by Gangloff; S/N 57748; Engine # C51; Dark Blue/Dark Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,700,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,225,000. – RHD. 3,257/170hp supercharged inline eight, 4-speed Cotal pre-selector, chrome wire wheels, blackwall Michelin tires, adjustable shocks, trafficators. – Known history from new, original body and originally supercharged but with an unstamped cylinder block. A quality older restoration with very good paint, chrome and interior. There are some minor edge chips and nose stone chips and the carpets are dirty. The engine is sharp and clean but has a replacement cylinder block; the underbody shows use and age. – Sold by Bonhams at Greenwich in 2015 for $1,595,000 ($1,450,000 hammer) in essentially the same condition as it is today but with 22 fewer km on the odometer than it displays today. Particularly attractive coachwork and colors, it would have been a very good value had it changed hands at the reported high bid.
Lot # 234 1966 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E14186; Engine # 7E11161-9; Carmen Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $190,000 – $230,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $173,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $193,760. – 4,235/265hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Blaupunkt multiband radio. – Very good paint, chrome, interior and top. Orderly engine compartment. Restored to good standards without going overboard and only lightly enjoyed since then. Scored 99+ points in JCNA judging in 2016-2017. – Worth every penny.
Lot # 235 1967 Maserati Mexico 4.2 Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N AM112112; Red/Red leather; Estimate $50,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $46,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $52,080. – 4,136/286hp, automatic, air conditioning, power windows, Blaupunkt cassette stereo, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Falken tires. – Decent repaint and original interior. Weak trim chrome. Doors close well but don’t line up. Door seals are torn and loose. Dry engine compartment. Old tires. Static displayed for years. – Definitely a project car, and not one that appeals to most owners, but this Mexico with its “little” V-8 has potential. The bidders recognized both the potential and the effort and expense that will be needed to realize it with this price.
Lot # 236 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Limousine, Body by Hooper; S/N LWVH87; Engine # W86H; Maroon, Black/Beige leather; Estimate $70,000 – $105,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $49,280. – 4,566/125hp six, 4-speed manual, wheel covers, Lester wide whitewalls, Lucas driving lights, fender skirts, division window, rear cabinets and tables. – Sold new to Eli Lily heir Josh Lily and then to Yves Saint-Laurent’s partner Pierre Bergé. Reportedly used for fashion shows and photo shoots in period. In France until the late 2000s and the last major mechanical work was performed in the mid-2000s, although there are no records of it. Tired chrome. Tired but presentable old paint. The left front fender got crunched at some point, severely cracking the paint and bending the bodywork awkwardly. This reportedly happened in transit and will be fixed at the expense of the shipper. Decent older interior with mostly solid wood and upholstery, but there are a few scuffs in the seats and a few cracks in the wood around the division window. Inherently desirable as a coachbuilt Rolls limo, but no prize, especially if you look at it from the left. It has also been sitting for years, like so many cars in this sale, had to be towed across the block and will need expensive attention. – This car sold at Bonhams’ Retromobile in 2009 for $177,663 (Euros 138,000). It hasn’t gotten any better with time, its “celebrity” ownership carries less weight outside of France, and obviously it’s a little harder to sell a car that won’t start. Hooper also isn’t the most sought after coachbuilder on a postwar Rolls, and Bonhams Amelia had a veritable buffet of scruffy RRs and Bentleys on offer this year. Given all that, this price is entirely fair.
Lot # 237 1954 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N S67329; Engine # V3156-8; OE White/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $140,000; Modified restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,589 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $92,500. – 3,442/160hp, 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, Michelin X tires, fender mirrors, aluminum radiator. – Updated with a 5-speed and XK 150 3.4 litre engine. Very good cosmetics. Restored like new, clean and sharp. – The modifications detract from collector value but enhance the car’s enjoyment on the road and are reflected in the price it brought which is less than a pure XK 120 Roadster would have warranted. For a buyer who appreciates what this XK 120 is, not what it might be, this is a rare value.
Lot # 239 1916 Packard 1-35 Twin Six 7-passenger Touring; S/N 87058; Engine # 87058; Black/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000. – 424/88hp V-12, 3-speed, wood spoke wheels, Warner speedometer, Waltham clock, jump seats, Sparton horn, jump seats. – Single family owned until the early 90’s, with the present owners since then. With the exception of the front fenders and headlight buckets this is a marvelous all-original Packard. The paint is peeling, the engine is dirty and grungy, the upholstery is torn and tattered. No one should care or ever touch it except for routine maintenance. The oily, grungy nuts holding the cylinder blocks to the crankcase appear never to have been off.
– In absolute terms this magnificent Packard is a “4” condition car but its preservation and nearly complete originality make it something more. This is the V-12 engine that mule skinner Enzo Ferrari is reputed to have seen during WWI that inspired him to make the first Ferrari a V-12, and it is still in both its concept and its condition an inspiration. The estimate range is reasonable and keeping it even $5,000 under the low estimate is realistic. It deserves more and to find a good home where its preservation will be continued.
Lot # 240 1967 Jaguar XKE Series I 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E15293; Engine # 7E9420-9; Primrose/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $92,411 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $103,500. – 4,235/265hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, red line tires, LeCarra woodrim steering wheel, air conditioning, grille guard. – Sound paint, chrome and interior. Loose fitting top. Crisp gauges. Clean, orderly but not fresh engine compartment. Missing a screw on the left headlight cover. These are all little niggling objections to an otherwise highly presentable Series I 4.2 E-type. – Sold by Worldwide at Hilton Head in 2008 for $69,300. Offered by RM at Ft. Lauderdale in 2009 where the high bid was $60,900, then sold by Worldwide at Houston in 2011 for $85,250 and by Russo and Steele at Monterey in 2012 for $61,600. Times have changed in the last ten years and the post-block result here is a good value.
Lot # 241 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Fixed Head Coupe, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 675360; Engine # F2735-8S; Grey, Silver roof/Cognac leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,300,000; Concours restoration 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.59%; Final Price $940,000. – 3,442/180hp, 4-speed, body color wire wheels, Avon Turbospeed tires, Lucas tri-bar headlights. – The only XK 120 bodied by Pinin Farina, bodied for a private client (probably Jaguar U.S. distributor Max Hoffmann) and displayed at the Geneva Motor Show in 1956. Acquired by the present owner, Peter Neumark, in 2015 and restored in its original colors. Second in class at Pebble Beach in 2017. Excellent paint, brilliant chrome, beautiful interior with almost no evidence of use. The chassis is restored like new without being overdone. Exceptional coachwork design with a distinctive wide grille, chrome headlight nacelles and mustache front bumpers. – Observers’ comments on the lines of this bespoke Jag varied. The chrome headlight nacelles and widened grille with thick chrome border are peculiar but also distinctive. The condition is above reproach and the opportunity to acquire a car that is truly unique is important, as the price it brought indicates.
Lot # 246 1974 Lamborghini Espada Series III Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 9548; Engine # 41381; Metallic Burgundy/Cream leather; Estimate $50,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $42,560. – 3,929/350hp, automatic, power windows, sunroof, Kenwood cassette stereo, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – Dirty, neglected engine compartment that hasn’t run in a while. Cracked original upholstery, dirty moth eaten carpets. Rotten door seals. Loose window switches. The sound old repaint may be the best part. A money pit. – Sixteen years ago Kruse sold this car at Houston for $26,460 only slightly less than today’s hammer bid after taking inflation into account. Even this below low estimate result may not adequately reflect the condition and automatic transmission of this Espada.
Lot # 247 1952 Allard J2X Roadster; S/N J2X3059; Grey/Brown leather; Estimate $400,000 – $450,000; Modified restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $350,000. – 406/400hp Holman Moody built Ford, three 2-barrel carburetors, 4-speed, twine wrapped Bluemel’s steering wheel, dual Plexiglas aeroscreens, single sidemount, body color wire wheels, Blockley tires, cycle fenders, Lucas headlights with wire stoneguards, Marchal driving lights. – Actively raced by third owner Bill Bauder who replaced the engine with this one in 1962. Banged up grille frame. Very good recent paint and upholstery. Clean, like new chassis. Driven but not abused. – This is a seriously cool car that benefits from an intriguing history, an axle twisting powertrain and a gorgeous restoration. $350,000 may not have busted it loose, but a deal is somewhere in this vicinity and even at this price it will be a sound value for the money.
Lot # 248 1974 Porsche 914 2.0 Targa; S/N 4742920491; Engine # 14593; Saturn Yellow, Black roof panel/Beige leatherette; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $44,800. – 1,970/99hp, 5-speed, aftermarket alloy wheels, Michelin tires, Clarion AM-FM, Porsche CofA documented. – Represented as 24,093 miles from new. Painted assembled on one side with minor masking oversights where they’re hard to spot, small touched up chips and polishing swirl elsewhere. Good original upholstery and gauges. Neatly maintained engine compartment. The chassis is like new. – Not quite completely original but impressively maintained both cosmetically and mechanically, this 2-liter 914 blurs the boundary between original and restored yet it brought no originality premium at all and sold at a price that represents very good value for the new owner.
Lot # 250 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder, Body by Wendler; S/N 5500036; Engine # 90034; Silver/Red; No top; Estimate $4,500,000 – $5,500,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,800,000 plus commission of 10.13%; Final Price $4,185,000. – 1,498/135hp, 4-speed, Dunlop tires, turn signals, Solex carburetors, metal passenger’s tonneau cover, single driver’s windscreen, halogen headlights. – Raced when new by Theo Helfrich and Peter Nocker, then by Ludwig Fisher from 1957. Current owner from 1975. Replacement correct Type 547 twin cam engine one ID number different from the original, 90-035. Shown at the 2003 Rennsport Reunion, stored since then. Very good paint, bodywork and upholstery. Orderly engine compartment with some age and use. The inside of the engine cover shows the original panel forming. Very attractive and well-maintained. – An interesting European racing history substantiates the value of this 550 Spyder and helps alleviate the effect of the engine change. It brought serious money, but it is a serious car and this is what it takes.
Lot # 253 1912 Packard Model 30 UE Toy Tonneau, Body by after Holbrook; S/N 21171; Yellow, Maroon accent/Green leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Rebodied or re-created 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $257,600. – RHD. 432/30 ALAM hp, 3-speed, electrified lights, Warner speedometer and clock, bulb horn, electric starter. – Originally delivered to the Detroit Fire Department, later rescued by Barney Pollard. Acquired by Howard Schaevitz in the mid 90’s without coachwork and rebodied in this style. Believed to be the last Model 30 built. Old paint with edge chips. Dull discolored brass. Sound upholstery, top and varnished wood. Well-restored then carefully driven and toured. – This should be a good performer with the lightweight Toy Tonneau coachwork and this is a reasonable price that recognizes the history as well as the replica coachwork.
Lot # 255 1929 Duesenberg Model J Victoria Convertible, Body by Rollston; S/N 2474; Engine # J-394; Ecru, Brown fenders and accent/Yellow leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $965,000 plus commission of 10.52%; Final Price $1,066,500. – 420/265hp, 3-speed, dual sidemounts with chrome covers and mirrors, chrome wire wheels, Lester wide whitewalls, Pilot-Rays, metal luggage trunk, outside exhaust head pipes. – Firewall number 2408, unnumbered ending with bell housing J-394. Original body for this chassis. Very good older paint and upholstery in dated colors from a late 70’s restoration for Seymour Siegel. The chrome is uniformly good. Small cracks at the base of the windshield posts. The chassis is nearly like new with scant evidence of road use. The engine compartment is similarly well done but aged. A well-preserved old restoration with little use with an unnumbered CCCA National First Prize medallion and ACD Category 1 certificate. – Offered at Auburn Fall in 2004 where it was reported bid to $545,000 and sold post-block. The restoration is remarkably well-preserved and Rollston’s blind quarter coachwork is carried well on the short chassis. Adjusted for inflation the 2004 high bid would be $811,000 today making the successful high bid of $965,000 only a modest return on investment. Too good to restore, even with the dated colors, and appropriately valued in this transaction.
Lot # 258 1952 Jaguar XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 679817; Engine # W5343-8S; Dark Green/Green leather; Estimate $95,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $84,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $94,080. – 3,442/160hp, 4-speed, front disc brakes (original drum brakes included), Lucas tri-bar headlights, Lucas driving lights, woodrim steering wheel, chrome wire wheels, Yokohama tires. – Excellent paint except for a developing blister on the driver’s door. Excellent chrome, upholstery and interior wood. The chassis and underbody are restored but not to the standards of the visible bits. – The best of several XK Jags at Bonhams today, and it brought a price reflecting its quality as well as its usability. The addition of front disc brakes will save this car from rear-ending modern cars driven by texting drivers and are well worth the variation from stock configuration.
Lot # 260 1991 Ferrari Testarossa Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSA17S00008508; Engine # 26068; Black metallic/Red leather; Estimate $60,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200. – 4,942/380hp, 5-speed, air conditioning, 5-spoke alloy wheels, Falken tires. Assembly number 05732. – Filthy engine compartment with insulation falling off the engine cover. Worn original upholstery and a leather steering wheel rim that looks like it was ground with sandpaper. Way too much glitter in the paint. This Testarossa looks like it has suffered a significant indignity, only superficially repaired and has been sitting for almost a decade with material recommissioning costs in its immediate future. – Seriously nasty and neglected but the bidders were not apparently aware of its many problems and bought it for a price that should have bought a much better Testarossa. The successful hammer bid is $15,000 (25%) over Bonhams’ realistic low estimate.
Lot # 261 1937 Riley 12/4 Sprite 2-Seater Sports; S/N S27S6031; Engine # SS6031; Dark Blue/Dark Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $475,000 – $625,000; Recent restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $442,500 plus commission of 11.13%; Final Price $491,750. – RHD. 1,496cc, dual carburetors, 4-speed, folding windshield, dual aeroscreens, wire wheels, Blockley tires, twine wrapped steering wheel rim, Lucas headlights and driving lights with wire stoneguards, bench seat (original buckets included). – Long competition career starting with the 1937 Monte Carlo Rally with William Innes, a Riley apprentice. Further campaigned in 1937-1939 trials by Roger F. Peacock, another Riley apprentice. Very good cosmetics, chassis and engine compartment. Restored better than new and carefully used and maintained including on the 2020 and 2021 Mille Miglia. 2021 Audrain Concours class winner. Entered but not confirmed for the 2022 Mille Miglia. – Bonhams has enjoyed some recent success with Rileys starting with the magnificent $967,500 MPH at Quail Lodge last year and continuing through Scottsdale 2022’s $76,160 supercharged MPH replica. The racing history qualifies this Riley Sprite for pretty much any event for which it is eligible, a valuable entrant and a beautifully restored car.
Lot # 265 1911 Winton 17b 5-Passenger Touring; S/N 10918; Engine # 10918; Dark Green/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $215,000 – $275,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $224,000. – RHD. 457/48 ALAM hp, 4-speed, Gray & Davis acetylene headlights and kerosene sidelights, single right side spare with round Ajax trunk inside, Stewart speedometer, varnished wood spoke wheels, bulb horn, electric starter and brake booster added. – Largely original and impressively complete right down to the engine drip pans. Old, old repaint but the original upholstery with small repairs to the front seat bolsters. The interior then but now has a new patina all its own and way too good to restore. A wonderful driver, but unfortunately without any history noted beyond coming from the Swigart collection. Runs superbly. – Bonhams drove this Winton around frequently where it never missed a beat and merged effortlessly into modern traffic on the Amelia Island Parkway. It has always been a valuable car, selling for $209,000 at RM Hershey in 2007 and $220,000 at Bonhams Greenwich in 2013. It extended that value continuum here today and should be a delight for the new owner.
Lot # 267 1933 Bentley 3 1/2 Liter Sports Tourer, Body by Vanden Plas; S/N B1AE; Engine # 2ZBA; Black/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $400,000 – $600,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $385,000 plus commission of 11.30%; Final Price $428,500. – RHD. 3,669/115hp, 4-speed, light Blue wire wheels, Lucas headlights, Marchal fog light, folding windshield, electric horn, fender mirrors, single rear-mounted spare. – The first Derby-built Bentley, used in company trials to demonstrate its competence and reliability. One family owned in the U.S. since 1962, stored since the mid-90’s. Aged old paint, cracked and chipping. Original upholstery with surface cracks and pulled seams that needs attention but is easily repaired. Oily chassis and engine. Dull old chrome. Needs little to be driven but everything to be shown in any class except preservation, for which it is ideal. – While the importance of this Bentley, signifying as it does the transition between Crewe and Derby, is best appreciated by students of the marque, its preservation is dynamic and it exudes character and the sporting style that marks the Bentley marque as something special. It is a real life Dinky Toy sports tourer in the best British tradition and was bought here at a sound price.
Lot # 268 1907 deDion Bouton Type AU 8hp 2-seater; S/N 122; Engine # 20656; Orange/Brown leather; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Older restoration 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $18,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $20,720. – 942/8 RAC hp single, 3-speed. – Aged, cracked, chipped and peeling paint. Sound older upholstery. Road grimy and oily engine. Five decades in the present family ownership after being found in France. Runs and drives. – Not much to look at, but a significant milestone in the automobile’s development with a benign history of preservation. Little known and easily overlooked, this is a cute little car that should be preserved much as it is today.
Lot # 271 1931 Auburn 8-98A Boattail Speedster; S/N GU37368; Engine # GU37368; Black, Silver accent, Red chassis/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $242,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $271,600. – 268/98hp Lycoming inline eight, 3-speed, red wire wheels, Lester tires, dual sidemounts, Depress Beam headlights, golf bag door. – Tired old repaint with signs of older red paint underneath, buffed through on top of the driver’s door and scratched and chipped throughout. Dirty old chassis. Sound but dull old chrome. Orderly engine compartment with signs of recent servicing. Worn old upholstery and interior trim. Done to the standards of an earlier era and subsequently used. – A bit of a challenge is that there is no ACD certification of this Speedster, but that is reflected in the price it brought. It has abundant character and style and is a sound value for the money.
Lot # 278 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Avon Touring Sedan, Body by Brewster & Co.; S/N S320LR; Engine # 21209; Pink, Cream fenders and accent/Beige leather; Estimate $25,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $26,880. – 7672/108hp six, 3-speed, painted wire wheels, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, wide whitewalls, Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, suicide doors, division window, luggage trunk. – Rare Avon with division window. Reportedly used in the 1978 film “The Betsy”. Thick, ancient paint with too many chips, scratches and touch ups to count. The tires look nearly as ancient and aren’t safe to drive on very far. The wood on the running boards is dry and the gaps are uneven. The windshield wipers have been removed, and one of them is on the floor. Oxidation and surface rust show underneath. It has been sitting still for about a decade, so it needs mechanical sorting. An interesting car in a nice body style, but its condition is deteriorated and although it had some screen time, it was in a movie few people have ever heard of, one that Gene Siskel called “trash.” – The Betsy is about a family-owned carmaker that is hard on its luck and fading fast. This Rolls, too, is hard on its luck. It was in essentially the same condition when Bonhams sold it in Greenwich way back in 2009 for $42,120, and the bidders thought even less of it nearly 13 years later. It’s a project car bought for project car money, and at this price the new owner at least isn’t in very deep on a Rolls with interesting bodywork that will look great on a show field when it is (hopefully soon) restored.
Lot # 281 1908 Ford Model T Touring; S/N Serial no. 2; Red, Black accents/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $180,000 – $260,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $220,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $246,400. – 177/22hp, Ford badged Edmunds & Jones acetylene headlights, E&J kerosene sidelights, bulb horn, Jones speedometer, white rubber tires. – Very good older paint and upholstery. Bright brass everywhere. Clean, organized engine compartment. Discolored headlight reflectors. Scratched cylinder block at the head joint. Little if any evidence of use, just age. 2001 AACA National First Prize W14540. – Represented as Model T serial number 2, a risky but settled characterization that reflects the many early Model T features it displays, right down to the several variants of “Ford” identification.
In actual fact its history will never be conclusively proven, but it in many respects stands by itself. That, by itself, substantiates the generous result if brought, augmented by its exceptional restoration and preservation.
Lot # 282 1917 Packard Twin-Six 2-25 7-Passenger Touring; S/N 126726; Engine # 126726; Black/Black leather; Cobra leatherette top; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000. – 424/88hp, 3-speed, Sparton horn, Waltham clock and speedometer, wood spoke wheels, whitewall tires. – Preservation quality paint on exterior surfaces, otherwise aged, dirty and original. The seating surfaces have been reupholstered but the side bolsters are still original. A sweet ride, part of the Gail and Howard Schaevitz collection since 1976. – The bidder missed a rare opportunity by not rising to the occasion for this magnificent old Twin Six, a car that needs nothing at all and should be celebrated for its survival.
Lot # 283 1958 Aston Martin DB4 Series I Coupe Project; S/N DB4150R; Engine # 370364; Aluminum/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $160,000 – $180,000; Incomplete restoration 5+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $173,600. – RHD. 3,670/240hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Avon Turbospeed tires. – Stripped body. Replacement engine. Rotted, missing left body sill. Rotten original upholstery and tires. Grubby original engine compartment. “Needs everything” is optimistic. – Restored, this DB4 even with its replacement engine could be worth $750,000, but it will take every dollar of the difference between today’s price and its potential value to put it into concours condition.
Lot # 284 1969 Jaguar XKE SII Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 1R26682; Engine # 7R64669; Primrose/Black leather; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Unrestored original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $39,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $43,680. – 4,235/265hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, narrow whitewalls, cassette stereo. – Dull, scratched, chipped original paint, torn original upholstery. Thin chrome. Curdled windshield rubber. Scroungy, dirty engine compartment and runs terribly. A long neglected project car. – Cars like this beg to be bought, preserved, restored and made better, like adopted pound puppies. It is never a good idea and at least pound puppies respond with affection. This is a money pit even at this price.