In common with the other established auctions which usually have sales at Scottsdale in late January Gooding & Company’s was much smaller than usual. The 34 lots offered were less than 25% of 2020’s 138 lots; the total dollars changing hands was less than 20% of 2020’s total.
There is no doubt much logistical and marketing planning going on. Gooding has a memorable sale scheduled for February 5, on display in London. There are only nine lots in the “Sporting & Historic Collection” but the Low Estimate total is £7,725,000, about $10.5 million at current exchange rates. Their inclusion in a live Scottsdale auction would have done much to attract attention, encourage more consignments and contribute to a higher sale total.
The Geared Online function saves a fortune in logistics costs and helps Gooding hold the line on Buyer’s Premium to a moderate 10% in both the Scottsdale Edition and next week’s “Sporting & Historic Collection”.
2021 is not 2020 (and for that all are thankful). Online auction procedures are being refined as well as better understanding the presentation and number of lots being offered. Geared Online Scottsdale Edition is a good example of that with its comprehensible number of lots even with a generous offering of automobilia, parts and auto-related art. In an historical context it pretty much stands on its own.
Two lots were bid to $1 million or more of which one was sold.
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2021 | 25/34 | 73.5% | 60% | 8% | $287,100 | $95,600
[33.3%] |
$7,177,500 |
| 2020 | 124/138 | 89.9% | 71% | 11.3% | $291,446 | $131,600
[45.2%] |
$36,139,290 |
| 2019 | 106/124 | 85.5% | 78.3% | 1.9% | $456,853 | $162,400
[35.6%] |
$48,426,380 |
| 2018 | 110/129 | 85.3% | 76.4% | 7.3% | $438,413 | $137,500
[31.4%] |
$48,225,400 |
Thirteen of the thirty-eight lots offered are described here, based upon Gooding’s online descriptions and generous photography. Photos are courtesy and © Gooding & Company. Lots are sorted by lot number.
Lot # 18 1954 MG TF Roadster; S/N HDA4/62620; Yellow/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000. – 1,250/58hp, 4-speed, dual wing mirrors, chrome wire wheels, Michelin XZX tires, rear-mounted spare, leather-wrapped steering wheel, wood shift knob, side curtains, tonneau cover, tools. – Restored in the mid-2000s and got some basic mechanical servicing in 2017. The paint has a few scuffs, scratches and chips, and the grille and mirrors show some dullness. One of the MG badges has a sizable chip in it. Very clean engine bay. The chassis shows a little age and grime but nothing serious. A handsome, honest older restored MG. – After a no-sale at Russo and Steele Monterey in 2015 with a reported bid of $29,000 this TF was a $14,500 no-sale at RM’s Driving Into Summer Online 2020 sale in May, and any good TF deserves significantly more than that. A $25,000 offer, on the other hand, may not be generous but it is perfectly reasonable and should have seen the car sold.
Lot # 21 1926 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix; S/N 37227; Engine # 137; Blue/Black; Estimate $650,000 – $850,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000. – RHD. 1,496/60hp, sohc 4-cylinder, single carburetor, 4-speed, black wire wheels, single sidemount, single aeroscreen, 2-seat body, Marchal headlights. – Described as the original lower crankcase and believed correct frame, gearbox and differential. First owned by Rene Bacon who raced it at least once at Pau. Sold to Count Stanislaw Czaykowski but with a limited competition history in period. Sold to Ernst Friderich with other later owners eventually ending up with Tony Award-winning Broadway set designer Peter Larkin in the U.S. who paid $2,100 in 1960. Mechanically freshened in the late 90’s by Don Lefferts. Examined and verified by various experts. Fresh from service by Scott Sargent in 2020. Some updates including electric starting and a modern clutch. Sale from the Larkin family includes Bugatti-related automobilia. Scratched and chipped old paint, worn interior, dull brightwork but far too good and well-preserved to restore. A landmark of Bugatti history and preservation. – It was provenance, preservation and history that brought this result, and it deserved every bit of the respect that the auction company and the bidders showed. Bidding extended twice to reach this result, a car that should be lovingly preserved and enthusiastically driven and one which will attract plenty of favorable attention even surrounded by trailer queen Bugattis.
Lot # 22 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 670590; Engine # G4257-8; Ruby Red/Red leather; Estimate $120,000 – $160,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $98,000. – 3,442cc competition prepared engine with three Weber 40mm carburetors, tube headers, Tremec 5-speed, oil cooler, alternator, fire system, steel wheels, fog lights, spats, Plexiglas windscreen, driver’s head fairing, dual exhaust, leather hood strap, tunnel mounted stopwatches, metal passenger’s seat tonneau cover, bucket-style seats, woodrim steering wheel, traction bars, ATL fuel cell, Koni shocks, Dunlop front disc brakes – It would be impossible to fault the level of preparation and equipment on this XK 120 even on a purpose-built race car, and everything looks to have been done to high standards of fit, fabrication, finish and functioning. The paint and interior are very good. There are some nicks and chips but for a car that begs to be driven hard they are minimal and only give a new owner some latitude to explore the limits of its performance. – Extensive modifications, even as well and intelligently done as in this case, are a minefield for owners, limiting the appeal to serious marque collectors and tailored to the owner’s style, which may not be reflected in the audience of even the best-attended and -promoted auction. However, even at the low estimate this Jag’s level of preparation, performance improvement and presentation could not be achieved if the XK 120 were free and in good shape to start. The consignor’s decision to like it better than the modest offer made for it here is understandable, but may have missed a fleeting opportunity. Bidding stopped with plenty of time remaining on the bid clock so the bidders were firm in their perception of value.
Lot # 23 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 111.027.12.001412; Silver-Grey Metallic/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $220,000. – 3,499/200hp, floor shift automatic, Becker Europa radio, air conditioning, clock, tach, wheel covers, power brakes and steering, center console, fog lights, bucket seats and floor shift, manuals, copy factory data card, Becker manual, car cover. – The paint is good other than some small chips and scratches. Good brightwork but the windshield frame has some light scratching. Wheel covers look new and the panel gaps are excellent. The glass has some very slight hazing. The bumpers are excellent. The interior has some wear, but is well cared for. Restored underneath, but the engine is not original to the car. – Offered at Auburn Fall in 2016 when it was reported bid to $300,000, then sold by Bonhams at Scottsdale in 2017 for $297,000 and Gooding at Scottsdale in 2019 for $235,200. The odometer shows 393 more miles today than it did here two years ago. The reported high bid here after imposition of the 10% BP would have been $242,000, a little above what it was purchased for two years ago and is an offer that should have received serious consideration.
Lot # 24 1974 Porsche 914 2.0 Targa; S/N 4742906575; Engine # GA011752; Ice Green Metallic/Tan vinyl, cloth; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $38,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,800. – 1971/91hp, 5-speed, radio, alloy wheels, Vredestein tires, Becker AM-FM radio – Represented as the only known 914 finished in special order Ice Green Metallic. Recent restoration work including paint, upholstery, and rebuilt suspension and brakes, but not fully redone because it wasn’t necessary. Gorgeous underbody. Two cracks in the left rear taillight lens. A few paint chips on some panel edges. Light wear on the steering wheel. Little to nitpick. – We are long past the days when the Porsche crowd didn’t take four-cylinder 914s seriously, and both Gooding and RM have sold top notch examples for over 90 grand before. This same car, in fact, was the last lot of the day at RM’s Monterey auction in 2018, and it sold for $61,600. Its odometer shows just 378 more miles since then, it’s in essentially the same condition, and if anything demand for 914s is even stronger today. This, then, was a bargain for such a strong example with special order paint. It was an expensive couple of years for the seller.
Lot # 25 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11205; Engine # 11205; Dark Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $500,000 – $650,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $470,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $517,000. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels (alloy spare), Michelin XWX tires, power windows, air conditioning. Titled as a 1967, which avoids some onerous pollution controls. – Represented as the numbers-matching engine. Stretched driver’s seat, stone chipped front valence, undertray and nose. Weak chrome, chipped edges, mediocre paint. Orderly engine compartment. The chassis appears to have been restored at some time but has seen much use since. A well-used but also preserved and maintained as needed 330 GTC. – Bid to this amount as the clock ran out, there was little enthusiasm for this 330 GTC but it is a sound and usable car, just as sound as the price it brought.
Lot # 33 1968 Meyers Manx Dune Buggy; S/N 2499630; Dark Green/Black vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $60,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $92,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,200. – Weiand valve covers, dual Weber carbs, steel wheels with Porsche hub caps, Dunlop tires, Dietz headlights, roll bar with mounted lights, VDO gauges, Secura woodrim steering wheel with Porsche crest, wood shift knob with Porsche crest, compass, fire bottle, cassette stereo. Also comes with period shovel, tool kit, tow rope, steel tow bar, and spares. Titled as a 1959 Volkswagen. – Bought new directly from Bruce Meyers in 1968, and an early example retaining its original engine. The owner photo-documented his original build and it remains in unrestored original condition with period accessories. It looks phenomenal for a 53-year-old dune buggy. The underbody only shows mild use. The engine bay has been cleaned up and maintained with newer hoses, wires, and a newer exhaust. Excellent original interior. Still wears its original gel coat paint. Ready for an adventure. – But also so well-preserved and (at this price) so expensive that it will probably never go on one. Beetle-based dune buggies (of which the Meyers Manx is the first and best-known) were popular because they were a cheap and simple way to have lots of fun, both on and off the road. For this one to be still so clean after over half a century and with so many original accessories is incredible, and it has to be one of the best preserved dune buggies of any kind out there. The high bid for it sat at $41,000 at the 2-minute mark, then got extended in 2 to 5 grand increments all the way up until the $92,000 winner. A few exceptional examples have sold for over 60 grand at auction before, and Mecum sold a restored one in Kissimmee a week before this for $40,700, so a good genuine Manx is no longer cheap thrills. But, with the buyer’s premium added on this is the first Manx to break six figures at auction aside from the one used in The Thomas Crown affair. That Manx brought $456,000 last year, but most of that was down to Steve McQueen’s time in the seat and the many features, both cosmetic and mechanical, that he specified for it. This result is a benchmark Meyers Manx transaction.
Lot # 36 1966 Austin Mini Moke Convertible; S/N A-AB1L-827174; Red/Red, White; Beige top; Estimate $20,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $22,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $24,200. – 848/34hp, 4-speed, steel wheels with hub caps, rear-mounted spare wheel with cover, BMC pushbutton radio, auxiliary horns, Paddy Hopkirk throttle pedal, owner’s manual. A vintage Flying Dutchman bicycle is included with the sale. – Early UK-built Moke given to actor Ken Berry from Andy Griffith. Single family ownership since 1968. Unrestored and represented with 16,003 miles. Faded original paint and tired brightwork. The top looks a bit tattered and shows significant discoloration. Dull interior with paint chipping off the dash, worn switchgear, and pitting on the gauge bezel. Dirty but maintained and complete engine bay. Not necessarily neglected but not pampered, either. It’s a totally unrestored Moke in appropriately loud colors and has some Hollywood history. – The Mini Moke may have been conceived as military vehicle, but lots of examples led lives as beach town cruisers, often done up in these kinds of bright colors. This charming but tired Moke had some last-minute high bid extensions, perhaps attracting the underbidders from the very expensive Meyers Manx that closed three lots earlier, but there was no frenzy for it and this is a realistic result given all the wear and tear. If you remember “The Prisoner”, Number Six would be delighted to take this Moke on an escape attempt.
Lot # 37 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Long Nose Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 08863; Engine # 08863; Red/Red leather, Beige cloth inserts; Estimate $2,000,000 – $2,400,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,760,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,936,000. – 3,286/240hp, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, books, long nose, torque tube. Engine internal # 1278/64. – One family owned from new until 2020 with 43,237 miles. Sound but flawed and chipped old repaint. Old undercoat in the wheelwells, chassis festooned with spider webs. Good replaced upholstery and probably original interior trim. Admirable engine compartment and aged chassis. A desirable example with a benign history. – A remarkable find and blissfully left alone to age gracefully, there is little if any premium in this result for this long nose, torque tube 2-cam 275 GTB. It’s not going to make much of an impression at preservation events, but its condition is ideal for driving after spending a ton to go through its mechanics for preservation, performance and reliability. The result here is fair and respectable for both parties.
Lot # 39 1929 Ruxton Model A 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1005; Engine # 18S1043; Blue, Lavender, White/Blue; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Concours restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $235,000. – 269/100hp Continental inline eight, 3-speed, wheel discs, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, Woodlite headlights, – Sound old paint with shrinkage and cracks, edge chips and scrapes. Weak, scuffed chrome. A Ruxton auto show car with distinctive Joseph Urban horizontal stripe paint design, the third production Ruxton built (if “production” really applies.) Replacement engine. Restored to Pebble Beach class winning condition decades ago but now aged, coming apart and oxidizing. – Offered by Bonhams at Scottsdale in 2016 where it was reported bid to $410,000. The livery is Jazz Age, look-at-me flamboyant. The restoration, while aged and flawed cosmetically, needs only paint, body work and meticulous detailing to be a concours star. The Gooding bidders missed its significance but the consignor missed its restoration’s age and deterioration.
Lot # 41 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Drophead Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N LML/506; Engine # VB6E50337; Metallic Blue-Grey/Parchment leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,400,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $880,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $968,000. – 2,580/125hp dohc inline six, dual SU carburetors, chrome wire wheels, Michelin Pilote 6.00×16 tires, tool kit, copy build sheet, BMIHT certificate. – One of two believed in this style and a total of eight Bertone-bodied DB2/4s built for ‘Wacky’ Arnolt. First owned by Mrs. Edith C. Field in San Francisco and displayed by her at Pebble Beach in 1955 where they won third place in class. Later acquired by GP driver Innes Ireland, then by David Clark in 1988. Restored a decade ago but still show quality with a beautiful engine compartment, strong details and excellent paint with a few small flaws and nicks but barely anything for the restoration’s age. – Sold by Bonhams at Goodwood in July 2011 for $974,646 (GBP 606,500 at the time), then by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2017 for $1,430,000. This result, should anyone wish to compare it with 2011, is GBP 707,300 which demonstrates the infuriating effect of exchange rates in comparing auction results. It’s not one of Bertone’s best designs (the interpretation of the Aston Martin grille is nothing if not awkward) but it is distinctive and rare. Today the odometer at 373 miles is only 231 more than it showed in 2017 and the restoration is starting to show its age. Bidding was at $870K with 1 3/4 hours to go and advanced only one more increment to timed closing. The consignor and the bidders seemingly reached an intelligent compromise in the final minutes.
Lot # 47 1972 Citroen SM Bonneville Combination; S/N SB5805 (00SD0414); Copper, /; Estimate $100,000 – $200,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500. – This lot consists of three distinct entities: Land Speed Racer Citroen SM s/n SB5805, 5th wheel modified SM tow vehicle s/n 00SD0414 and 2-axle trailer with Citroen air suspension trailer s/n CA895735. They all have Moon discs and are painted the same color. – Known as “The Rig” this assemblage is epic. It was built by Citroen SM specialists Jerry and Sylvia Hathaway to compete at Bonneville. The LSR SM has a twin turbocharged 3-litre V6 with 48 IDA Weber carbs and set two Bonneville records at over 200 mph. The SM tow (truck) and trailer with Citroen hydropneumatic suspension were built later. Often shown, it comes with impedimenta including a coffee table built upon the record-setting V6. It’s hardly flawless, but who cares? – This fantastic rig belongs in the Petersen Museum, outside-the-box ingenuity at its most egregious, but also creative, imaginative and, in the case of the 200+mph SM, effective. I’m gratified it brought this much in a No Reserve auction where value was left completely up to the bidders’ enthusiasm.
Lot # 50 1969 Porsche 911E 2.0 Targa; S/N 9110210226; Engine # 6200605; Light Ivory/Red leatherette; Estimate $85,000 – $95,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $48,000. – 1991/158hp, 5-speed, Fuchs wheels, tinted glass, Becker Mexico radio, books, tool kit. – Bought new by the consignor’s father and delivered to Mexico City. Moved to California in 2005 and received a repaint and interior refurbishment. The 15,951 miles showing are represented as actual. Small crack in one of the signal lights and a crack at the bottom of one of the rear bumperettes. The engine bay, chassis and suspension show oxidation and dirt but no cause for alarm, although the exhaust looks ancient. Wear and scratches around the roll hoop, and some of the gold plating on the “Targa” badge is chipping off. A few paint chips around panel edges but nothing serious. Very clean interior. This is an impressively but not immaculately preserved 911 with known history and remarkably low mileage. It’s perfectly good as it is and it would be a shame to restore it. – The second to last lot of the auction, this car got one bid extension at the 1:40 mark but otherwise there was no excitement here. It’s a better car than the final high bid. It was also a no-sale at $80,000 through RM’s Online Only Driving Into Summer sale last year, and that number really should have bought the car, especially given this lowball offer. It is a much better car than the offer it attracted here.