Mecum Auctions, Del Monte Golf Course, Monterey, August 16-19, 2017

Mecum Auctions has become an integral part of the Monterey Car Week and auction calendar since arriving on the peninsula in 2009.

Mecum puts together the most welcoming and inclusive auction of the week, with rows of affordable cars and a fast-paced, TV-driven presentation that invites participation with its openness and accessible consignment. It’s the auction that invites people who are interested enough in old cars to make the trek to, and endure the traffic in, Monterey to reflect on a car that appeals to them and say, ‘Hey, I could buy that, and wouldn’t it be fun to own.’

Thus are new collectors inducted into the hobby. At Mecum they can become part of the Monterey car scene for a median price of $46,200. Forty lots sold on hammer bids under $10,000, among them real collector vehicles like a 1950 Studebaker pickup, ’71 MGB, ’65 Mustang, ’66 Mustang, ’49 Willys Jeepster, ’64 TR4, ’57 Chevy Bel Air and ’63 Triumph Spitfire. None of them are likely to be well received at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but on a Saturday afternoon ice cream run few onlookers will be judgmental.

There were several big money, headline, cars at Mecum. Fourteen lots brought hammer bids of $1 million or more, but only three of them sold. That poor sell-through on high dollar consignments contributed to Mecum’s $33.5 million sale total, down 34.2% from 2016 and the lowest that Mecum has posted since 2013.

The presence of high dollar exotics draws spectators. Some of the no-sale results are irrational, like $4 million bid for a 209 mile Bianco Fuji (i.e.,  White) LaFerrari. It was one of four in the Monterey auctions and the only one that didn’t sell, even though its $4 million bid was the highest of all and $550,000 more than the most expensive sold LaFerrari (that one had 566 miles, though.)

The high bids on unsold cars totaled $53.5 million, 60% more than the sale’s sold total.

That was the poorest 2016-2017 comparison of all the Monterey auctions, but Mecum wasn’t alone in putting up a decline. Both Gooding (-29.5%) and Russo and Steele (-18.3%) also were down from last year.

Collectors’ fickle fancies and a battle for quality consignments in the most intense auction environment of the year has made consigning quality cars at realistic reserves a challenge. And at Mecum if the money isn’t there, or if it is far from the pre-sale reserve, they move on decisively with no fiddle-faddle coaxing of bidder or consignor allowed to slow the auction’s pace.

It’s part of what makes Mecum’s Monterey auction refreshing and engaging.

Andrew Newton, Tim Weadock, Greg Ingold and Matt Nelson contributed many of the on-site observations. The final text and comments are my responsibility.

 

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2017 321/629 51% $104,374 $46,200

[44.3%]

$33,504,075
2016 305/679 44.9% $166,951 $55,000

[32.9%]

$50,920,125
2015 387/670 57.8% $117,148 $44,000

[37.6%]

$45,336,404

Lot # T118 1969 American Motors AMX Fastback; S/N A9M397X317059; Black, Red/Black; Estimate $50,000 – $40,000; Enthusiast restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $27,500. – 390/315hp Go Package, 4-speed, Twin-Grip differential, woodrim steering wheel, Hurst T-handle shifter, American Racing wheels, Cooper Cobra tires, dash clock. – The exterior paint is very good. The brightwork is scratched and the window moldings are dry and cracked. The Charcoal interior seats and carpet are new. The dashboard clock has been rebuilt. The only worn item is the wood steering wheel. The seller added non-factory upgrades such as chrome-tipped exhaust, a heavy-duty cooling system, power front disc brakes and power steering. All are sensible, tasteful upgrades. Fully restored to standards high enough for what this car is. – AMXs are generally a good value, but the bid here should have been on the other side of 30 grand to be worth considering. Holding out for more was understandable.

Lot # S108 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan Coupe; S/N AMLVULCANXXXXXX11; Midnight Purple/Black; Estimate $2,300,000 – $2,700,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,800,000. – Number 11 of 24 built, sold and supported in England, Mokume carbon fiber accents, the only Midnight Purple Vulcan, 820hp, sequential 6-speed, carbon ceramic brakes, etc. – A track day car supported in England where it was originally sold but not in the U.S. – Offered here last year where it was reported bid to $2.2 million. At this rate someone can have the only one in their exclusive gated community, but not on the streets where it isn’t legal. Bragging rights are worth only so much. Apparently not this much.

Lot # T85 1965 Autobianchi Bianchina Cabriolet; S/N 6048; Metallic Blue/Light Blue, White vinyl; Black top; Estimate $60,000 – $50,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $18,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $19,800. – Hub caps. – The fresh paint is near flawless. Brilliant exterior brightwork. The buttons/snaps to secure the top are missing between the trim and door seam. Newly refurbished interior shows no signs of wear. Rebuilt 500cc engine, 4-speed transmission with new brakes and tires. All of the major work has been done. – Reported sold here in Thursday, then rerun on Friday as F150 selling for the same result. Twice in the same weekend for the same money seems, from a market-tracker’s point of view, to be almost too good to be true but there it is.

Lot # F18 1988 BMW M3 Coupe; S/N WBSAK0300J2196532; Alpine White/Cardinal Red leather; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. – BBS wheels, Dunlop Direzza tires, sunroof, power windows, air conditioning, factory cassette stereo. – A few chips on the nose and air dam but nothing severe. The original paint is very good otherwise. A few light scratches on the wheels. Very well kept interior. Not driven hard and clearly cared for since new. An ideal collector example other than the 78,450 miles showing. – The first generation E30 M3s exploded in value a couple of years ago but have plateaued as enthusiasts priced out of the E30 M3s have moved on to the second generation E36. Prices remain high and this is actually a fairly light result for one in this condition, largely thanks to the relatively high mileage. These cars cost about 35 grand when new.

Lot # S100 1987 BMW M6 Coupe; S/N WBAEE1409H2560605; Cinnabar Red/Tan leather; Estimate $85,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000. – BBS wheels, Michelin TRX tires, sunroof, tinted glass, heated seats, power seats, power windows, air conditioning, factory cassette stereo. – Maintained but not overly detailed engine bay. Good original paint and rubber. Very good, very lightly worn original interior. 45,704 claimed original miles. Not in like-new condition, but looks like a two-year old car and these older M cars are only gaining more appreciation. – Even just three or four years ago, the reported high bid here would have been jaw-dropping money, but early BMW M cars have caught the attention of collectors and seen one of the market’s bigger bumps in value. The consignor’s expectations are a bit ahead of the curve, however. The reported high bid could have seen the car off to a new home.

Lot # S130 2003 BMW Z8 Alpina Roadster; S/N WBAEJ13473AH62263; Titanium Silver Metallic/Black; Silver hardtop top; Estimate $230,000 – $260,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $205,000. – Automatic, Alpina wheels, power windows, air conditioning. – The paint is great other than one crack around BMW logo on front. The engine bay looks factory new. The interior is fantastic. The seats look unused. A few scratches on the driver’s door handle. 9,605 miles and essentially a new car. One of 555 built for 2003. – These cars cost under $140,000 when they were new and are currently getting offers well over 200 grand, so they’ve moved past used exotic and into collector car territory. The reported high bid here was light compared to other recent transactions for similar examples, but was still a number worth considering.

Lot # F47 1948 Buick Roadmaster Convertible; S/N 24936085; Aztec Green/Black leather; Estimate $80,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. – Wheel covers, Firestone whitewalls, fender skirts, fog lamps, heater, AM/FM radio. – The exterior paint shows spots of wear around the door seam and trim. The chrome is lightly pitted around the windows, and the Roadmaster badges are slightly yellowing. The seats are intact and there are no tears, but the leather is severely cracked. The dash, instrumentation and carpet show no significant wear. The underside of the convertible top is frayed along the frame, while on the outside the top looks brand new. Restored in 1982 and ready for another round of refurbishment. – Offered here a year ago with a reported bid of $45,000, today’s result is more appropriate to this Roadmaster’s condition and appeal. The estimate range is a flight of fancy.

Lot # S104 930 Cadillac 452 V-16 Coupe, Body by Fleetwood; S/N 702089; Engine # 702089; Maroon, Red sweep panel, Maroon leather roof/Dark Red leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. – Red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, metal luggage trunk, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, rumble seat, body color landau bars, Pilot-Rays, Madame X vee windshield. – Very good older concours restoration with a few flaws and chips but otherwise hardly used. – Sold by Dan Kruse at Dick Burdick’s auction in 2012 for $418,000 in essentially the same condition in which it was offered here, its reception at Mecum Monterey might be understated as a disappointment. It’s a gorgeous older restored classic Cadillac V16 and this is a bargain price for it.

Lot # F87 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N646884; Engine # T0425MN; Fathom Green/Dark Green vinyl; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $130,000. – 427/425hp, 4-speed, power brakes, hubcaps, F70-14 Polyglas tires, cowl induction, 4.10 Positraction, radio delete, buckets, no console, COPO 9561. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Dash and instruments are older and more detailed than restored. Underbody and engine compartment are nearly like new. Not fresh, but very good. – Bid to $115,000 at Russo and Steele in Scottsdale seven months ago and while this bid is better the consignor reasonably felt it wasn’t as good as the COPO Camaro.

Lot # F60 1969 Chevrolet Camaro RS/SS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N647304; Engine # T0724JH; Orange, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Estimate $85,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. – 396/375hp, 4-speed, power steering, power brakes, Rally 2 wheels with trim rings, Wide Oval tires, pushbutton radio, buckets and console, 3.73 Positraction, rosewood trim, rear window defroster, Protect-o-Plate documented. – Represented as matching numbers front to back, restored like new with better paint. Impossible to fault. Performance Plus magazine cover car in 2015. – A gorgeous Camaro with highly desirable equipment and with its matching numbers drivetrain, it is a sound value even at this mid-estimate range price.

Lot # T39.1 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Convertible; S/N 513567056066; Crocus Yellow/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $33,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $36,300. – 327/300hp engine, 4-speed, SS wheel covers, power top, power steering, power brakes, bucket seats, floor shift, factory radio. – Body-off restored. Good older paint, chrome and top. Panel fit is erratic on all ends. Very good fully restored interior, including the top frame. Light road wear but fully restored underneath. – Let down by some fake SS logos and wheel covers, but it was bid to this exact amount at Mecum Los Angeles back in February, and it’s a fair number.

Lot # T114 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 30837S118221; Riverside Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. – 327/340hp, 4-speed, spinner wheel covers, red line tires, Hurst shifter. – Represented as a ‘correct 327/340hp’ engine, which isn’t the same thing as ‘original’. Several chips on the driver’s door. Scuffed rocker trim and faded wheel covers. Light scrapes on the rear bumper. Dried seals. Good carpet. Faded, worn dash and center console. Not represented as matching numbers and not represented with any history other than having been in a collection for many years, but does appear to have gotten restoration work at some point. A driver Split Window. – Most serious Corvette collectors would likely pass this car over, but it still brought fair bids and the seller realistically let the car go at a healthy number.

Lot # F24 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Coupe; S/N 194379S728758; Fathom Green/Green vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $55,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $48,400. – 427/435hp L71 engine, M21 4-speed, Rally wheels, red line tires, side exhaust, power steering, power brakes. – Good fresh paint other than a handful of one-inch cracks at the corner of each headlight and two golf ball size spider web cracks on the front passenger quarter panel. The passenger’s door does not fit flush to the rocker. The interior brightwork is lightly worn. The carpet and seats are freshly replaced. New brakes, power steering components and recently restored alternator, carburetor, flywheel and clutch. A few cosmetic projects remain, but the car is mechanically very good represented as the matching numbers engine. – The matching numbers 427/435 engine and close ratio 4-speed are both big plusses, the recent work is encouraging but other than that this is a fairly tired chrome bumper Stingray and it was aggressively discounted by the bidders both for its appearance and for the uncertainty about what else might need doing. It’s a mediocre car and it brought an appropriately mediocre price.

Lot # W66 1965 Devin D Roadster; S/N 115335902; Engine # 1285741; silver/Red vinyl; Competition restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $35,000. – Porsche 912 power, Bugformance 5-speed, Devin gauges, woodrim steering wheel, braced paperclip rollbar. – Very good paint and upholstery. Clean and like new underneath. Looks freshly built but claims early race history on a Devin tube frame. – At anything close to the reported high bid here this is a superb value in performance and racing potential, a missed opportunity for the Mecum Monterey bidders.

Lot # T94 1970 Dodge Coronet R/T Hardtop Coupe; S/N WS23U0E115189; Burnt Orange Metallic, White/Orange vinyl; Estimate $80,000 – $60,000; Recent restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000. – 440/375hp Magnum, automatic, new BF Goodrich tires mounted on factory Rallye wheels, White bumblebee stripe, front end ornament package, factory air conditioning, column shift tinted glass. – The metallic paint shows brilliantly other than a few soft scratches on the side scoop and near the hood. The interior is spotless and shows no signs of wear. Under the hood, the engine compartment is in good condition with dirt and oil visible. An eye catching fully restored Coronet R/T with more desirable options than flaws. – Rerun Saturday with the same reported bid, half the pre-sale estimate which pretty conclusively shows what the bidders thought it was worth.

Lot # S78 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 06943; Red/Black leather; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,200,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,600,000. – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – Good paint and major chrome, flawed side window trim chrome. Dirty underbody with old undercoat. Good upholstery, interior trim and gauges. Originally a short nose, converted to long in 1981 with a Scaglietti part. Competently but not excessively restored, then driven. – There were seven 275 GTBs of various configurations in the Monterey auctions. This was the least appealing in its presentation, and in its history, and it brought the lowest bid. Even for this car the bid was appropriately declined.

Lot # S154.1 1975 Ferrari 308 GT4 Dino 2+2 Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 10668; Green/Red; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600. – Michelin XWX tires, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, carbon fiber trim over the transmission tunnel, power windows, air conditioning. – Represented with new paint and interior, but neither look correct or particularly good. Dull bumper plastic. Dirty wheels with dull caps. Cleaned up but old looking engine bay. Scratched up window frames. Not a particularly good or tastefully changed car, even by the relatively low standards for GT4s. And in these colors Christmas better be your favorite holiday. – Offered Friday as F11, no sale at $40,000, rerun Saturday with this result, a transaction that represents just about the cheapest entry into Ferrari ownership there is these days, but it was still no less than this example really deserved.

Lot # S134 1966 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 SII Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 8551; Verde Pino Metallizzato/Rosso Leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000. – Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, dual Talbot Yorck mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, wood dash, power windows, Becker Grand Prix radio, tool roll, manuals. – German example originally. Good older paint and chrome other than a chip in front of the passenger’s door. A fair amount of road wear underneath. The filler cap is a bit loose. The interior is still very good. 1990s restoration in unusual but gorgeous colors. A solid but not particularly thorough cosmetic restoration done before these cars were worth all that much and now lightly mellowed. – Sold at Gooding & Company Scottsdale 2014 for $297,000. Changed hands here for slightly less, consistent with other 330 GT 2+2s and three years more age.

Lot # S136 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 15757; Rosso Chiaro/Tan leather, black bars; Estimate $850,000 – $1,050,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $700,000. – Chrome spoke, Borrani wheels, Michelin XWX tires, painted nose panel, popup lights, power windows, air conditioning, Becker Europa II radio – Very good fresh clearcoat paint. Excellent original upholstery. Bright chrome. Door and deck lid fits are a little uneven. Good interior trim, dash and gauges. Underbody has old undercoat and has evidence of road miles. – Offered here two years ago with a reported high bid of $900,000. Daytonas may not be bringing what they did a while ago, but it is impossible to argue with the consignor’s opinion that this Daytona is worth more than $700K.

Lot # S111 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe Competition, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 14049; Silver/Black leather, Blue cloth inserts; Modified restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $950,000. – Gold alloy wheels with Avon slicks, fixed side windows, Plexi nose panel, wheel well flares, factory instruments. – Described as race prepared at Pozzi for Philippe Cornet-Epinat to race in the March 1972 Le Mans 4-hour event. Street driven thereafter, then race prepared again by Mike Sheehan. Current cosmetics by Motion Products, 455hp engine by Carobu Engineering. Very good clearcoat paint, good interior. Underbody has old undercoat and road/track miles. A highly presentable car for track days or high speed tourism. – The reported high bid is expensive for a Daytona, but not for this hot rod.

Lot # S88 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000047801; Silver/Black leather, Grey cloth inserts; Estimate $450,000 – $550,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $330,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $363,000. – TRX tires, Pioneer cassette stereo, power windows, Zegna cloth seat inserts. – 9,071km from new. Freshly restored with very good fresh clearcoat repaint, sharp fresh interior. Engine compartment and underbody are like new. – Half the Boxers in the Monterey auctions were not red, a refreshing change from the usual Red/Tan lineup. This is simply a wonderful, fresh car ready to show anywhere and it brought a superior price that was fully deserved.

Lot # S71 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta Convertible, Body by Scaglietti; S/N ZFF72RHA8B0182822; Rosso Dino, Silver/Iroko leather (Brown); Black cloth top; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,550,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,050,000. – Yellow calipers, SF shields, F1 transmission, climate control, carbon fiber interior trim. – New car with 281 miles. – There’s a difference of opinion between the consignor and the audience. The consignor declined a handsome offer that may be regretted.

Lot # F100 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S15Y401647; Midnight Blue/Ebony leather; Estimate $350,000 – $400,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $310,000. – Stripe delete. – 2,100 miles and like new. – A pretty car, but not as pretty as the reported high bid even with the Midnight Blue stripe delete paint. It should have been on its way to a new owner before reaching the high bid.

Lot # S77 2006 Ford GT Heritage Edition Coupe; S/N FAFP90286Y401761; Gulf Blue, Orange stripe/Black leather; Estimate $475,000 – $500,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $420,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $462,000. – CD stereo. – 1,800 miles and like new. – There were only something like 20 Heritage Edition Ford GTs built, all of them today with barely more than delivery miles. Are they worth 50% more than other Ford GTs? Apparently so, although the premium seems to be disproportionate to the value of a Gulf Blue and Orange paint job.

Lot # T13 1965 Ford Mustang GT 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5F07K730164; Black/Blue vinyl; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $28,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $30,800. – 289/271hp K-code, 4-speed, Radial T/A tires, bench seat, factory radio, Rally Pac gauges. – Represented as the original engine and gearbox with new brakes, suspension, wheels and tires, clutch and interior. Very good paint and chrome. Tiny chip at the back of the trunk. Even gaps. Very good restored interior other than clear original gauges. Tidy and lightly used underneath with fresh undercoating. Not done to exquisite standards but it doesn’t need to be. – Bought for a price that is fair to both parties although slightly favorable to the buyer, this is a very attractive and honest weekend cruiser with desirable equipment. It sold at Auburn Fall in 2014 for $33,000 and a whopping value at this price. Anyone new to collecting cars and looking for a best value should look no further than something like this.

Lot # S157 1950 Jaguar XK 120 Alloy Roadster; S/N 670110; Engine # P7804-9/LA2767-8; Polished aluminum/Black vinyl; No top; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000. – Bucket seats, single aeroscreen, fire system, fuel cell, sand cast two inch SU carbs, paperclip rollbar, steel wheels, Dunlop Racing 6.00×16 tires, aluminum skirts with brake ducts, tribar headlights. – Sound, orderly, well maintained. – An alloy XK 120 is a $400K+ car in concours condition. This one isn’t, and probably never will be but there’s a good argument that preparing an alloy XK 120 for historic racing is the best and highest use of its lightweight bodywork. Balancing condition, preparation and modifications a value somewhere between this bid and the low pre-sale estimate is a sound value.

Lot # S121 1964 Jaguar XKE SI Roadster; S/N 880948; Gunmetal Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $220,000. – Wire wheels, store brand tires, woodrim steering wheel, Blaupunkt radio, JDHT certificate. – Very good paint, chrome and top. Spotless chrome wheels. Excellent restored interior, although the aluminum bits over the transmission tunnel could use cleaning. Very clean underneath. Restored by Classic Showcase less than 100 miles ago. It’s a fresh car done to like new but not excessive standards. It would be at home on a show field. – While fresh and very good, this car isn’t quite concours jewelry and anything over 200 grand is a fair offer for it. If there was money close to it, the reported high bid could have seen this car off to a new home.

Lot # F63 1970 Jaguar XKE SII Roadster; S/N 1R12968; Light Blue/Biscuit; Estimate $75,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $78,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,800. – Centerlock wire wheels, Vredestein tires, beige cloth boot cover, dual mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, aftermarket stereo, factory air conditioning. – Fully documented ownership history. JDHT Certificate. Represented as a JCNA concours North American champion. Very good paint and chrome, but the headlight gaskets are a little wavy. Small touch up at the back of the passenger’s door. Some light wear to the original switchgear and cracking to the steering wheel cap but mostly good restored interior. Lightly run but recently cleaned up engine bay. Not without fault, but for the most part this is a Series II given the kind of treatment usually reserved for more valuable Series I cars. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2001 for $26,460, then sold at Worldwide Houston in 2011 for $66,000, for $57,500 at Mecum Monterey in 2012 and for $42,120 at Mecum Chicago in 2014. These results are kind of all over the place and not indicative of the greater SII E-Type market, which grew in a big way during 2014 and has since flattened. This result was strong but not excessive and it is a Jag to be proud to own.

Lot # S151 1989 Lamborghini Countach Silver Anniversary Coupe; S/N ZA9CA05A3KLA12651; Rosso Siviglia/Ivory leather piped in Red; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $286,000. – Pirelli tires, OZ modular wheels. – Paint looks good with no swirl marks but some light cracking near body panel edges. The rubber trim looks good. The engine bay is a bit dusty. The leather is lightly worn and the seat foam looks flat. Discoloration and scuffing on carpet and leather as well. Represented with extensive service three years ago, and a new clutch in 2009. Described as US spec but has speedometer in km. Not an objectively bad car, but most of the other Silver Anniversary Countaches that come to market are better than this one. – Sold at Mecum Kissimmee in 2015 for $378,000, a no-sale at Monterey in August for $310,000, at Kissimmee in 2016 for $325,000 and again in 2017 for $275,000 high bid. It hammered not sold once more at Mecum Indy this year at a hammer bid of $290,000. These cars had a big run up in value during 2015 and 2016, and then retreated after more and more examples started coming to auction. This example’s transaction history is a good representation of that retreat. The seller got the hint and let it go at a number that is realistic in today’s market, even if it’s tough to accept when looking at the prices it got just two years ago. The seller got bruised up, but jumped off the train before it crashed.

Lot # T96 1988 Lamborghini Jalpa P350 GTS Coupe; S/N ZA9JB00A8JLA12381; Black/Tan leather; Estimate $125,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $82,500. – OZ wheels, power windows, later Sony CD stereo, air conditioning. – The exterior paint shows brightly with a few small chips under the driver’s side door sills. The interior is clean and well maintained, carpet is faded and worn from age and use. Seats and door panels show black marks. The rubber trim around the windows is dry and warped. An unrestored, reasonably well maintained driver quality Lamborghini. – Auctions America sold this car in Fort Lauderdale in 2015 for $88,000, then it didn’t sell at the same sale this year at an $85,000 high bid. It should have sold in Florida, and this result indicates that the bids won’t likely be getting any higher at another venue.

Lot # F75 1958 Lister Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ Sports Racer; S/N BHL102; White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Competition restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,600,000. – RHD. Wraparound windscreen, Dunlop centerlock alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, mounts for a full width braced rollbar. – An ex-Briggs Cunningham Knobbly Lister-Jag. Very good paint, interior and gauges. Underbody is older but clean and well maintained. A real race car, ready to race. Colin Comer Collection. – There was little, if any, realistic expectation of selling this very good Lister-Jag here and the reported result signifies only what the consignor would like to (and reasonably should) get for it.

Lot # S135 1967 Lola T70 Mark IIIB Spyder; S/N SL75/122; Dark Blue/Black vinyl; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $350,000. – RHD. Gurney Weslake Ford, four downdraft Webers, 5-speed, chrome rollbar, Avon slicks. – Raced in 1967 by Dan Gurney, in 1968 by Swede Savage, later coupe bodied by Jerry Weichers. Restored in 2010 with a new tub, vintage raced and shown since. Good paint with some scratches and touched up edge chips. Orderly and functional engine and chassis. A sound vintage race car. – Offered here two years ago and reported bid to $475,000, the estimate range was adjusted accordingly, but the bidders adjusted even further. It’s a marvelous, historic, professionally prepared USRRC car that would be a great buy at the reported bid or even somewhat over it.

Lot # F35 1959 Lotus Elite Coupe; S/N 1222; Red/Black; Estimate $80,000 – $95,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $44,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $48,400. – 1216/75hp, painted centerlock wire wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, Plexiglas passenger’s side and rear windows, driver’s side window removed, fire system, roll cage, Momo steering wheel, AutoMeter gauges. – Fully prepped for vintage racing, but you wouldn’t exactly call it period correct with all this equipment. Represented as being raced originally in Britain then restored. Good paint with the usual chips and scratches from time on the track. Driver’s door fits poorly and paint is rubbed through at the front of it. The passenger’s window is hanging a bit loose. Lightly worn underneath. Looks ready to race and have a lot of fun with, but not much else. – If you’re shopping for a race-prepped Lotus Elite, you can’t really be picky. Barely 1,000 were built in the first place, the survival rate has been pretty low, and many of those that remain are collector quality examples that won’t ever get driven hard. Provided the fiberglass monocoque underneath is sound, this was a pretty good deal in terms of exclusivity and fun factor. Mecum offered it at Elkhart Lake in 1999 where it was in better condition and reported bid to $43,000. There are much more expensive ways to go racing.

Lot # S85 2007 Maserati MC12 Corsa Coupe; S/N ZAMDF44B000029630; Victory Blue/Dark Blue Alcantara; Estimate $2,300,000 – $2,500,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,700,000. – — Clean used racecar, one of 12 Corsa track day versions built based on the MC12 GT1. – The MC12 may be an efficient aerodynamic device but it is supremely unattractive by any other standard. Prices have been all over the lot. It’s slower than its Enzo cousin, sells at a deserved discount and has not a hope of ever being anything other than a track day car for which this bid is an appropriate benchmark.

Lot # F109 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412022877; Ivory, Ivory hardtop/Cognac; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $85,250. – Automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, Becker Europa stereo, VDO dash clock, power brakes. – California car. Very good restored engine bay. Very good paint and chrome. Very good restored interior other than slightly cloudy original gauges. Crudely sprayed wheel wells. Not a show car, but a lot of eyeball and good enough for most weekend tours and events. – Sold for $67,100 at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale back in January. Prices have generally been trending downward for once-hot Mercedes SLs, particularly these Pagodas and 190SLs, so for this car to bring a substantially higher price several months later is surprising. Of the ten 280SLs in the Monterey auctions this is the third highest price.

Lot # S18 1954 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster; S/N P3069; White/Black; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000. – Triumph TR2 engine, centerlock wire wheels, dual rear-mounted spares, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, wood dash, black cloth boot cover. – Rough top frame with paint chipping off. Paint crack around the left front marker lens, but otherwise good quality paint. Fuel has leaked out around the filler cap gasket. Small ding in the left headlight bezel. Very good interior and dash wood with restored gauges. Restored underneath. An older restoration in better than average driver condition for the restoration’s age. – This is a relatively rare transitional model, made in the year that Morgan made the change from flat radiators to the cowled shape that the company has used ever since. It sold for $49,100 at Mecum Denver back in July, which was a fair number that was matched by the bidders in Monterey. The California dealership that consigned it is hoping for a successful flip, however, and have it advertised for 65 grand on their site. Lots of luck with that.

Lot # F20 1962 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster; S/N 4959; Gold, Copper fenders/Brown vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000. – 2-Liter Triumph power, hub caps, dual wing mirrors, Lucas driving lights, woodrim banjo steering wheel, rear-mounted spare, VDO water temp gauge, Stewart Warner oil temp gauge, Gannon intake with Weber carbs, headers, roll bar. – New tires. Powder coated wheels. The wood dash is in good shape but not all the gauges are correct. Good seats and carpets. Good but not great quality metallic paint that isn’t correct. Very good new top. Light wear but restored underneath. The original leather hood strap is a bit tattered. Fully restored, but has some mild modifications and not done to exacting standards. It’s a neat little car, but Morgan purists might not approve. – In the world of Morgans, the reported high bid here wasn’t much more than project car money, so holding out for more was a reasonable decision. It might wind up being a hard car to sell in these unconventional and not all that flattering colors, but it’s worth more.

Lot # F69 1970 Plymouth Barracuda 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BH23G0B128525; Tor-Red/White vinyl; Estimate $80,000 – $60,000; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $67,100. – 340 engine with six-barrel setup, automatic Radial T/A tires, shaker hood, hood pins, bucket seats, console, Sure Grip, broadcast sheet documented. – Freshly restored 25 miles ago and it shows. The paint is flawless and the gaps are even. The interior is just as good as the exterior. The dash, seats and carpet all appear brand new. Now equipped with a 340ci Hi-Po engine and wearing 340 badges in place of the original 318. – The car wasn’t always as it appears today but today it appears to be exceptional and the seller can be forgiven for giving it a lot more oomph than the original 2-barrel 318. The buyer became fascinated by what it appears to be and paid far too much for a modified car.

Lot # F90 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R1B227275; Red, Black billboards and vinyl roof/Black leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $305,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $335,500. – 427/425hp, 4-speed, power steering, no power brakes, Black shaker hood, Rally wheels trim rings, F60-15 Polyglas tires, Music Master radio, underdash Mopar cassette with microphone, rear window slats. – Very good paint and interior, sound chrome, lightly scuffed stainless. Very good dash and gauges. A quality older restoration. – Crossed the block at Russo and Steele in Scottsdale in 2016 where it was reported bid to $400,000, then here at Mecum Monterey in August last year with a $350,000 bid. The seller (the car card said it had been owned for 29 years) looked back and realized that maybe the peak of the Hemi ‘Cuda market had been missed and the estimate range was out of date. Taking the money was a good idea.

Lot # T75 1964 Pontiac LeMans GTO 2-Door Hardtop; S/N 824M16204; Gulfstream Aqua/Gulfstream Aqua; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $30,000. – Tri-Power, centerlock wheels, bucket seats, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, PHS documents. – CA black plate. Represented as matching numbers and unrestored, but given a repaint and new exhaust. Scratches and faded lettering show in the brightwork. The carpet and seats are undamaged and clean. The dash is lightly faded, as is the paint in the knobs and instrumentation. The steering wheel center cap is significantly scratched and the steering wheel shows wear from years of use. Clean and correct engine compartment. The underbody shows moderate wear commensurate with 53 years of driving. – A first year GTO in almost any condition is worth more than the reported high bid here, let alone such a solid and well kept California example with the right stuff.

Lot # F40 1969 Pontiac Trans Am 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 223379N109411; Engine # WH; Cameo White, Tyrol Blue stripes/Blue vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $135,000; Modified restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. – 400/345hp, 4-speed, tube headers, power steering, power brakes, Rally II wheels with trim rings, Ram Air intake, 3.55 Safe-T-Track, pushbutton radio, burl console trim. Engine upgraded to Ram Air IV specs. – Very good paint and most chrome with lightly scuffed rear window surround. Good interior, dash and gauges. Underbody was done like new, now shows some age. Light orange peel and a small crack on the C-pillar. Paint is poorly finished under the lower edge of the rear window. A rare car in very good condition. – While any 4-speed ’69 Trans Am is rare the collector value isn’t enhanced by the modifications, even as much as the Ram Air IV horsepower adds to the driving experience. This car has a long auction history starting at B-J Scottsdale in 2005 where it was sold for $63,720. Two years later RM sold it in Ft. Lauderdale for $59,400, then Mecum got a whole lot of money for it, $81,620, at Indy in 2010. It was reported bid to $95,000 at Indy last year and today shows exactly the same 22,677 miles as it did then. The seller should be complimented for accepting the judgment of the marketplace and taking the money here, which is what it’s worth.

Lot # F112 1965 Porsche 356C Coupe; S/N 219141; Silver/Black vinyl; Estimate $65,000 – $85,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,200. – Chrome wheels, Michelin XZX tires, Golde sunroof, luggage rack, Blaupunkt AM/FM radio, Hella fog lights. – Represented as the matching numbers engine. Fairly rough but complete and presumably running. The engine bay has its fair share of dirt and a few twigs inside. Rough very old repaint with lots of chips and scratches plus the hood and sunroof don’t match the rest of the body. Lightly pitted brightwork. Sound upholstery. Unrestored and rust free California car underneath. Stored long term and in somewhat neglected condition but it doesn’t have total originality as an excuse. Nevertheless, a neat car to tool around California in as is or a solid restoration candidate. – This is a strong price for such a rough car and a ‘C’ not an ‘SC’ at that, leaving the buyer with no cushion for addressing this car’s inevitably pricey needs. The ‘barn-find’ allure snared another optimist.

Lot # T108 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet; S/N WP0EB0918HS172398; Venetian Blue/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $70,000 – $80,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $49,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $53,900. – Black Fuchs wheels, snorkely brake light, power windows, air conditioning, later Pioneer CD stereo, cruise control, documented since new, Porsche CofA, original keys, manuals, air compressor. – Represented with full documentation. The seats are a little worn and flat on the bottom but otherwise the original interior is quite good. Comes with original radio. Very good original paint and soft top. Very tidy underneath. Looks like a car with far fewer than the 43,615 miles showing. A typical babied California Porsche. – A strong price that bought a sound and very well kept example, but the buyer has no money left over in the face of the next service bill although the thoroughly documented history suggests it has never missed a service appointment and gives great confidence in its continuous maintenance. Some may make fun of anal-retentive Porsche owners but in cases like this such obsessiveness is an unalloyed good thing.

Lot # F32 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet; S/N WP0EB091XJS171162; Black/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $50,000 – $40,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100. – Black Fuchs wheels, snorkely brake light, power windows, air conditioning. – 88,623 miles from new, repainted once. The black masks the faint scratches on the driver’s side rear quarter panel. Looking along the bottom on the doors, several scratches and divots are visible. The trim appears original to the car, as is the interior. The seats, dash and carpet show little wear, one rip in the carpet on the passenger side, near the center console. No representation of service history, but it is a largely original driver with no immediate needs apparent. – Straightforward, fair money for a driver quality example like this. Classic 911s are no longer cheap, but there are still cars like this that still aren’t outrageously expensive, either.

Lot # S26 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Lightweight Coupe; S/N 9113601014; Engine # 6630966; Tangerine, Black Carrera/Black cloth; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $950,000. – Black center Fuchs wheels, Recaro seats, Momo belts, heater, Pirelli P6000 tires, tool roll, Porsche CofA documented. – Very good paint, interior and stainless. Engine compartment has been done to driver standards. The underbody is very well done. Not a show car but an extremely attractive driver and tour car. – This was quite the car in the early 1970’s but today its 210hp pales beside a Honda Civic R. The reported bid reflects the respect these Porsche Lightweights have but should have been far more than enough to buy this car.

Lot # F105 1973 Porsche 911T Targa; S/N 9113111552; Yellow, Black vinyl roof/Black; Estimate $90,000 – $100,000; Enthusiast restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,200. – Fuchs wheels, Michelin Defender tires, Blaupunkt pushbutton radio. – Represented as matching numbers. Restored last year. Very good paint and body other than some flaws on the rocker strips. Very good roof. Good restored interior with some scratches on the dash top. Mostly restored but not detailed engine bay with some recent mechanical freshening. Done to almost like new but not quite. – The 911T was the base model 911 of the period and today remains one of the more affordable ways to get into classic 911 ownership. The recent work (chain tensioner upgrade, fuel lines, belts, brakes, etc.) suggest it’s been sitting a while. The buyer here paid full retail for this good but flawed example with some doubts about its maintenance.

Lot # T79 1987 Porsche 924 S Coupe; S/N WP0AA0922HN452147; Zermatt Silver Metallic/Black vinyl with cloth inserts; Estimate $25,000 – $35,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $20,900. – Phone dial wheels, store brand tires, power windows, air conditioning, Blaupunkt stereo, dash clock. – Relatively rare later S model with the detuned 944 engine. A fair number of scuffs and chips on the hood and nose. Otherwise very good paint and interior. Clean maintained engine bay. Showing 41,341 claimed original miles and used, but lightly so and in much better condition than most. – Sold for the surprisingly high sum of $19,800 at RM Sotheby’s Amelia Island this year before hammering not sold shortly thereafter at a high bid of $21,000 at Mecum Houston and $19,000 at Mecum Indy six weeks later. Houston was therefore a missed opportunity, but this is still a very strong price that the seller should be satisfied with.

Lot # S150.1 2005 Porsche Carrera GT Targa; S/N WP0CA29845L001107; Silver/Dark Grey leather; Estimate $700,000 – $800,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $575,000. – Yellow calipers – Very clean and lightly used with slightly creased driver’s seat cushion. 4,900 miles from new, one of 604 U.S. spec Carrera GTs. – Offered at Bonhams Amelia in 2016 and reported bid to $680,000, then reported sold here last August for $682,000 all-in. The Carrera GT market since then is exemplified by the reported high bid here, $45,000 less than the selling bid a year ago. The Carrera GT’s time is past and it is time to take any reasonable money offer for one of the many available. If there was money at this bid, or even at the next lower bid, this was a missed opportunity, especially with 2,400 more miles on it than there were at Amelia last year.

Lot # S110 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupe, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N SX361; Black/White leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $610,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $671,000. – Wheel covers, whitewalls, dual mirrors, Lucas driving lights, wood dash and window trim, power windows, tables in the back, Blaupunkt pushbutton radio, Smiths dash clock. – Restored with many NOS parts. Converted to LHD during restoration. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Very good top. Very light wrinkling to the front seats. Some age underneath, particularly on the exhaust, but not bad. Body-off restored to show standards a while ago and still gorgeous if not a stunner. – The handful of HJ Mulliner-bodied Drophead Coupe versions of the Cloud III make the otherwise pretty posh Standard Steel cars look almost ordinary, which is why they can command something like 10 times the money. This was fair money, and the new owner would only have to do some light cosmetic refreshing to get this car back to show-winning standards.

Lot # W48.1 2005 Shaw Silsbee Supermodified; S/N; Light Blue/Black; Competition car, original as-raced, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. – 900hp 410 cubic inch V8 on alcohol, 1,600 pounds, 70% left side weight offset, huge wing, adjustable suspension. – Offered from the collection of AMA Motorcycle champion Dave Bostrom who drove it once and said, ‘It is an unbelievable thrill to drive, but too much for me.’ Imaginatively and creatively conceived and built, professionally prepared and irrational. – This is probably the best performance value for money in Monterey this week, a totally ludicrous left-turning monster that even at part throttle is an endorphin pump. Searching for performance value for money, this is the end of the rainbow.

Lot # S138 2007 Shelby Series II Convertible; S/N CSX5505; Black, Gray stripes/Gray; Estimate $450,000 – $500,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000. – 4 liter/550hp supercharged engine, 6-speed, Shelby modular wheels, Eagle F1 tires, racing filler cap, carbon fiber interior trim, power windows, air conditioning. – One of three of these Series II prototypes built before more restrictive emissions standards effectively killed the project. Showing 22 test miles. In like-new condition. – The modern Shelbys were never very good cars and even today with their assembly flaws corrected bring give or take $100K. Why a Series II should be worth four times that money is a question that can only be answered by someone with a major Jones for Shelbys. The reported high bid is rather exceptional and deserved serious consideration.

Lot # S112 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II Convertible; S/N B382100268; British Racing Green, Green hardtop/Black vinyl; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $160,000. – 4-barrel, centerlock wheels, Sumitumo tires, hardtop, woodrim steering wheel, wood dash, Smiths dash clock, dual mirrors. – Genuine Mk II car, not a 260 converted to 289. Represented as matching numbers. With the same owner for 28 years. Fully restored with many NOS parts. Restored original sand cast wheels. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Nearly spotless engine bay. Fully loaded and beautiful with no stories, probably one of the best of its kind around. – The reported high bid is a heck of a lot of money for a Tiger, but this is a heck of a lot of car, with just about all the equipment you’d hope to find on one and presented in impeccable condition. The money offered was worth considering, but refusing it also wasn’t completely unfounded. A benchmark Tiger in both quality and value.

Lot # T119 1977 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Hardtop 4×4; S/N FJ40256931; Red, White/Black; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Truck restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600. – 4230/125hp, 4-speed, hub caps, Pirelli tires, rear-mounted spare, heater, cassette stereo. – Rare US market FJ represented with 66,815 miles from new and body-off restored. The body sides aren’t exactly laser straight but they’re good enough. No better than average quality paint but the finish is even and there are no blemishes. There is some grease and grime on the underbody but nothing bad. Very good interior. Not fresh out of restoration but close enough and a fully redone, desirable model. – The days of the 100-grand FJ40 are no more, but this very good restored example could have conceivably brought a few grand more without being expensive.

Lot # F86 1959 Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus, 23-Window; S/N 481764; Red, Beige/Gray; Estimate $165,000 – $180,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. – 23-Window model with hub caps, whitewalls, VDO dash clock, three row seating, Safari windshield. – Fully restored 200 miles ago. Gorgeous paint and brightwork. Excellent interior. Like new underneath. Volkswagens leak oil, though, and some has dripped out onto the left rear wheel and likely is the source of the stained whitewall tire. That takes little away from this phenomenally restored genuine 23-window. Restored from an example found in the woods in Oregon, it is spectacular. – There was a time when these were so cheap that someone would do such a thing as just leave one in the woods. Six figures for an old microbus that someone abandoned to Mother Nature certainly seems a bit crazy, but in the world of top-notch restored 23-Windows, it’s pretty much the going rate.

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