Mecum Auctions has in the past deluged its Monterey auction with truckloads of consignments, both cars and motorcycles. In only the third year here in 2011 there were 743 lots offered. There were 735 in 2013 and from 2014 through 2018 there were over 600 each year.
That emphasis on volume seems to have tapered off in the past three years as seen in the table below. At the same time there has been an appreciable improvement in the auction’s sell-through rate from its nearly lowest-ever in 2019 to last year’s 77% and this year’s 64.5%, both of which are the highest Mecum has ever managed in Monterey.
While quality, as shown by the average sold transaction value, which this year was Mecum’s highest ever in Monterey, has been a factor, so too has been selectivity. Monterey is not Kissimmee or the Spring Classic in Indianapolis where sheer volume of cars is the core value.
Monterey bidders have a choice of five auctions. Their calendar is cluttered with ten auction sessions over just four days with an added two days earlier in the week for on-site previews. Mecum, even though it is “The Daytime Auction”, has to compete with heavyweight auction houses who bring their heavyweight consignments to Monterey.
There was back in 2012-15 a logic to offering hundreds and hundreds of $40,000 cars. They drew spectators to Mecum’s affordable auction previews and filled them with visions of entering the collector car world with modest expenditures. Now, Monterey has become so expensive and so crowded that spectators with $40,000 budgets can’t rationalize spending $2,000 for a few nights in a crowded three-star motel, if they can even find one within thirty miles.
Mecum seems to adjusted to the current reality, which Mecum Auctions is good at doing, and this may have become the new normal.
On the other hand, twenty lots were reported bid to $1 million or more with eleven of them selling for a total of $21,972,500. Nineteen of the sold lots were built within the last ten years. Two of them, a LaFerrari prototype and a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, sold on bids of $1 million or more.
A successful formula is never static and evolves with the times. Mecum Auctions’ formula in 2022 delivered $52.6 million in sales in just three days a concentrated attention.
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2022 | 293/454 | 64.5% | $179,448 | $58,300
[32.5%] |
$52,578,321 |
| 2021 | 401/521 | 77.0% | $141,625 | $77,000
[54.4%] |
$56,794,500 |
| 2019 | 279/569 | 49.0% | $106,971 | $44,000
[41.1%] |
$29,844,925 |
50 of the 454 lots were observed on-site by Rick Carey, Andrew Newton and Greg Ingold. They are sorted here in run day (Thursday, Friday, Saturday) and lot number order.
Lot # T69 1992 Infiniti M30 Convertible; S/N JNXHF16C8NT010296; Burgundy Berry/Gray; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,300. – 2,960/162hp V6, automatic, limited-slip differential, tinted windows, alloy wheels, power mirrors, power windows, cruise control, leather bucket seats, air conditioning, AM/FM cassette stereo, – There are scuffs and scrapes to the front bumper, the rest of the paint and body presents very well and the top fits tightly. The engine compartment shows very little age and the interior minimal wear to only the seats. An impressively maintained car that was rarely seen in great numbers when new. – A comfortable and luxurious convertible with, for an Infiniti, negligible miles. It would make a fine display car for a dealer or be an excellent daily driver at this price.
Lot # T84 1964 Studebaker Avanti Coupe; S/N R5262; Copper/Tan vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $17,000. – 289/240hp, automatic, wheel covers, store brand narrow whitewalls, factory air conditioning, power windows, 8-track, luggage rack. – Represented as owned by N.A. Lamberti, VP of Operations at Studebaker from 1961-64, and in his family for 50 years. Very old repaint with scattered cracks, scratches and chips but a sound finish overall. Dull chrome. Sloppy, crude rubber around the rear glass. Lightly worn and presentable original interior. A real-deal Studebaker-built Avanti in unremarkable condition, but history with a company exec and his family mostly makes up for the presentation. – The car alone is worth more than the reported bid here before even taking the family ownership and preservation into account. It would have been a sound buy at double this price.
Lot # T89 1976 Rolls-Royce Camargue Coupe; S/N JRE22193; White/Navy Blue leather; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $34,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $37,400. – 6,750/247hp, automatic, hub caps and trim rings, narrow whitewalls, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, tinted glass, later Blaupunkt head unit. – One of 530 Camargues built with design by Pininfarina. Neither Rolls-Royce’s nor Pininfarina’s best. Tired, cracking paint and dull brightwork, and the front bumper rubber is loose. Dull, tired wheels. Oxidized underneath. Erratic panel fit. Good upholstery, but the wood on the dash is shamefully bad. Much of the switchgear Is dull and faded. Represented with service history from Rolls-Royce of Beverly Hills but this car still obviously needs a lot of attention and dollars. Buying a rough Camargue at auction isn’t even a roll of the dice, really. It’s asking for trouble. – And the new owner paid handsomely for that trouble. If someone was ever eccentric enough to have their heart set on one of these cars, they could find a significantly nicer one for this price.
Lot # T91 1959 MG MGA Twin Cam Roadster; S/N YD3754; Orient Red/Black piped in Red; Black vinyl top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000. – 1,588/108hp, 4-speed, Dunlop centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XZX tires, dual wing mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, heater, books, tools. – Restored by Twin Cam specialist James Alcorn. Good older paint and brightwork. Slightly erratic panel fit, but maybe not any worse than it was when new. Clean, tight top. Clean underneath. Very good fully redone interior. Restored to the high standards that a rarer and more valuable Twin Cam MGA deserves, then lightly used. A lovely car. – $80k isn’t at all an unreasonable offer for this car, but it is a very good Twin Cam and it’s nearly as clean today as it was when it sold for $78,100 in Scottsdale seven years ago. The seller must have been doubly frustrated on Saturday, when another Twin Cam in not much better condition sold for a jaw-dropping $168k at Gooding.
Lot # T117 1948 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedan; S/N WVA57; Green, Beige/Brown leather; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $25,000. – RHD. 4,257/125hp, 4-speed, wheel covers, Firestone wide whitewalls, dual wing mirrors, single driving light, sunroof, luggage trunk. – No history represented, although there is an AACA National First Prize Senior badge. That was over 30 years ago, however, and the car hasn’t been pampered since. There are paint blemishes everywhere, from scrapes on the left front fender to chips on the doors and cracks on the roof. There isn’t any obvious rust underneath but it looks dirty and neglected. The door fit is terrible, and that really stands out on a car with doors as massive as these. Worn leather and wood, but nothing terrible. A usable Silver Wraith for very casual driving but almost nothing else. – This is a hard sell here, or anywhere. It is underpowered, the restoration is aging and it is a statement car for someone who wants to make idiosyncratic statements. It should have brought more than this, significantly more. The seller’s reluctance to accept a tiny offer is understandable, but so is the bidders’ reluctance to pay more than this for it.
Lot # T160 1971 Porsche 914/4 Targa; S/N 4712908012; Willow Green, Black roof panel/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $15,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $16,500. – Original 1.7L engine reportedly rebuilt to 1.8L spec, 5-speed, Cibie headlights, Bridgestone Potenza tires, new radio in dash but two original Blaupunkt head units included. Comes with window sticker, original sales receipt and service history from new. – Average paint with a scratch that has been touched up at the front of the nose, a large chip on the right front fender, and several sizable scratches on the left front fender. Spots of green overspray on the rear grille and some masking errors as well. Small ding in the right front wheel cover. The front marker lights are loose. Lovely restored interior and tidy underbody, but not fully redone. They’re respected (and priced) like proper Porsches now, but for a long time these were cheap sports cars and that may be when this one’s budget restoration was performed. Not a bad car by any means, just not a great one. – We’ve seen this 914 a few times before, and despite the rapid appreciation of these formerly cheap Porsches over the past several years, its results on the auction block have been mixed. It brought a then-generous $16,500 at a Porsche-heavy Bonhams Scottsdale in 2016, then brought $9,900 at Motostalgia’s small Amelia Island sale in 2016 two months later, and then sold for a strong $20,350 at Mecum Harrisburg 2019 and here for a fair $16,500 in 2022. The numbers aren’t really representative of the 914 market, but they do show how much of a difference venue and just who is in the room can make.
Lot # F7 1970 Chevrolet Caprice 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 166390J102694; Misty Turquoise, Black vinyl roof/Turquoise; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $27,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,700. – 400/265hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, wheel covers, bench seats, AM radio, window sticker documented. – 2,969 original miles. The original finish is excellent for the age with no major flaws. The engine looks old, oily and has had some paint flake off. The underbody has gained some light patina from sitting but the interior is immaculate. An astonishingly well-preserved example of an otherwise pedestrian car. – A rather astonishing survivor particularly from this early period. It is by any reasonable standard expensive but also largely impossible to find anything like it in this condition.
Lot # F40 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B306891; Blue Fire/Black; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. – 426/425hp Hemi with 727 automatic transmission, power brakes, 4.10 Sure-Grip, Argent shaker hood scoop, Rallye wheels with Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, AM radio, Rallye gauge pack, bucket seats, console with Slap Stik shifter, comes with Chrysler registry report. – Represented as the matching numbers engine. Very good paint and panel alignment, the bumpers are excellent, there are a couple dimples on the right drip rail trim, the engine compartment presents extremely well and shows little use, and the underbody is like new. The interior has little wear and shows well. It appears to be a recent restoration with little to house. – Spot on the money for a quality ‘Cuda Hemi restoration. All the equipment details are irrelevant in considering the price since pretty much all of the 368 ‘Cuda Hemi hardtop automatics in 1970 were similarly equipped and there’s nothing out of the ordinary in the equipment list or history.
Lot # F45 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Sport Coupe; S/N 124377N204380; Butternut Yellow, Black stripes/Black; Estimate $150,000 – $165,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $110,000. – 302/290hp, 4-speed, underhood cowl induction, power steering and brakes, 3.73 Positraction axle, Rally wheels, hubcaps, redline tires, center console, AM/FM radio. – Replacement engine. First used by Chevrolet for production evaluation accumulating 3,752 miles before its first public sale. Good paint and brightwork. The passenger door fitment has a slight sag. The engine compartment presents well however there is some oxidation on bolt heads for the bodywork. The underbody is clean and shows well and the interior is clean and shows minimal wear. A good looking car with a quality older restoration needing only minor details addressed. Reggie Jackson collection. – The first year for the Z/28 when it was launched to compete in SCCA’s Trans Am series. Well restored if not perfect and showing some age, the reported high bid for a replacement engine car is realistic.
Lot # F52 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition Roadster; S/N CSX3006; Blue/Black; Competition restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $4,800,000. – 427/550hp side oiler, 4-speed, competition car, Halibrand centerlock alloy wheels, black side exhaust, driver’s paperclip rollbar, quick jack pickups, cold air hood, outside fuel filler, Smiths gauges. – Winner of the Brands Hatch 500 in 1966 driven by David Piper and Bob Bondurant in converted righthand drive configuration. Represented as the original body and chassis, but not the original engine. Restored back to original specifications by Legendary Motorcars but without being represented as the original engine. The paintwork and body are very good, the engine compartment is like new condition, however there is some fuel residue on the intake from the carburetor. The underbody is excellent and appears freshly detailed and the interior shows only minor wear from use. A beautiful early 427 Competition Cobra with commendable history. – Passed at RM Monterey in 2002 on a reported bid of $530,000, then sold by RM at Boca Raton in 2003 for $593,600. Passed at RM London in 2009 on a bid of $867,625 (£525,000) and at RM Amelia 2019 on a $2,750,000 bid. Bid to an exalted level here for a 427 Competition Cobra that has only one meaningful race win under its belt, the result here is more than enough to see it move on to a new owner.
Lot # F54 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 SportsRoof; S/N 9F02Z159788; Black Jade/Black; Estimate $400,000 – $450,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. – Kar Kraft number 1347, 429/370hp, 4-speed, 3.91 Traction Lok axle, competition suspension, power steering and brakes, Magnum 500 wheels with Goodyear Polyglas GT tires, center console, Philco AM radio. – Product of a 7-year restoration, the paint, body and panel alignment are all excellent, the brightwork is like new. The engine and underbody are like new and in unused condition and the interior is excellent. Well restored and in gorgeous presentation but not represented as the original engine. – A seriously attractive Boss 429 in lovely colors but not represented as the original engine and that oversight alone makes this price beyond optimistic and, including the commission, something like $100,000 more than others like it would bring. Boss 429 prices go up and down frequently but this price resides among the high points in the oscillation.
Lot # F60 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda Convertible; S/N BS27V1B361945; Bright Red/Black; Black vinyl top; Estimate $950,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000. – Original 440/385hp six barrel engine, 727 automatic transmission, Super Track Pak, 4.1 Sure Grip, power steering and brakes, Magnum 500 wheels with Goodyear Polyglas tires, AM/FM radio, Rallye gauge pack, bucket seats, column shift, broadcast sheet and fender tags documented. – A recent restoration for Steven Juliano with reported use of NOS parts and the original drivetrain. Very good paint and panel alignment. The convertible top fits well and tightly. Engine and mechanicals are excellent and show little use and the underbody is like new. The interior is freshly done and shows well. A well done car with nothing to pick on. – Sold by Mecum at Indy in 2019 from the Juliano collection for $1,155,000 and with only 18 more miles showing on the odometer than it did then. Mecum peddled this excellent ‘Cuda at Kissimmee in 2021 where it was reported sold for $962,500 and in 2022 (bid to $900,000 but not sold). It is no aberration that it attracted this much at Monterey in 2022 and moved on to a new owner.
Lot # F63 1965 Shelby Cobra 289 Dragonsnake Roadster; S/N CSX2427; Yellow, White nose band/Black; Black vinyl top; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,700,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,400,000. – 289 with four Webers, 4-speed, factory Stage III Dragonsnake, American Racing magnesium wheels with Racemaster drag slicks, Stewart Warner gauges, driver’s paperclip roll bar. – An older restoration reportedly using numerous NOS parts for Steven Juliano. The paint presents well overall with only one crack noted by the lower driver door jamb. The engine compartment presents very well and the underbody is very well restored and clean. The interior presents well with some light wear noted on the driver seat. Featured in the 2012 Monterey Motorsports Reunion, well known history from new, 2009 SAAC Division 1 Premiere award. Owners include Peter Klutt, Chris Cox, Richard Scaife, Harry Yeaggy and Rich Mason. An old restoration by Steven Juliano that has held up extremely well. – Sold by RM at Arizona in 2001 for $209,000 (to Harry Yeaggy), offered from the Juliano collection after further restoration at Mecum Indy in 2019 where it was bid to $1.4 million, then reported sold at Mecum Kissimmee this year for $1,250,000 hammer, $1,375,000 all-in. It would appear there wasn’t enough profit in this high bid to cover the ownership, entry fee and seller’s commission and so it goes on looking for someone who wants a Stage III Dragonsnake restored to concours quality standards but starting to age.
Lot # F70 1967 Pontiac GTO Convertible; S/N 242677B118596; Engine #…WS; Regimental Red/Ivory vinyl; Ivory vinyl top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500. – 400/360hp HO, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, 3.55 Safe-T-Track axle, power steering, Rally wheels with red line tires, bucket seats, center console, AM radio, Rally gauges, sport steering wheel, PHS documents. – Represented as the matching numbers WS-code engine. A noticeable scratch and rub mark is on the driver side fender, there is a gouge in the paint where the hood meets the nose, the door gap is inconsistent, grille trim has some pitting, the carburetor line has been replaced with rubber and there is evidence of a lower radiator tank leak. The underbody has old finish and areas of chipped paint and oxidation. The interior has been reupholstered but trim pieces are aged. A cosmetic restoration with some major mechanical oversights should have gotten attention for a car this uncommon. – This is a desirably optioned GTO convertible that has had a competent cosmetic restoration even having overlooked some details. At this price the detail shortcomings can be corrected by the new owner at reasonable cost and it is a sound value in this transaction.
Lot # F74.1 1972 DeTomaso Pantera Coupe; S/N THPNMB02369; Black/Black leather; Estimate $140,000 – $155,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. – 351/330hp Ford Cleveland V8, long tube headers, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Falken tires in front, Avon tires in back, power windows, factory tinted glass, factory air conditioning, upgraded suspension, aftermarket radio, Deluxe Marti Report. – Lovely paint and chrome other than some masking issues around the windshield. Like-new wheels and tires but mismatched rubber. Like-new interior as well. Not a ton of history represented, but above average condition for a Pantera, and even though you often see these in loud `70s shades of orange or yellow, it also looks properly sinister in black. It’s a solid pre-L model Pantera that isn’t 100% stock, but also avoided being cut up and slapped with wings and flares like so many others. – They’re less affordable these days, but Panteras still make a whole lot of sense for people who love wedgy Italian supercars but would rather not pay Ferrari/Maserati/Lamborghini shop bills. This one sold for $110,000 at Mecum Indy this year. Getting $121,000 in Monterey sounds like decent appreciation for just three months, but factoring in fees the whole thing is pretty much a wash. And it’s not like anyone actually enjoyed this car in the meantime. Since we last saw it in May its odometer shows just 1 more mile, likely on and off transport trucks.
Lot # F97 1954 Jaguar XK 120 Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 681179; Engine # W84228; Suede Green/Green leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $72,000. – 3,442/160hp, 4-speed, steel wheels, Columbia tires, fender skirts, jack and spare. – Represented as matching numbers but little other history. Decent paint in a lovely color with a handful of flaws like a small scrape on the right A-pillar and another big one on the right rear fender. Pitting and surface rust on the wheels and the back of the bumpers. Old tires. Good seats but old carpets and headliner, which has a rip near the right window. Older restored chassis and engine. A serviceable event car or driver. – The reported high bid is a little light for this imperfect but handsome 120 coupe. It was worth considering, but a little light. As long as the seller doesn’t go chasing a six-figure sum at Mecum auction after Mecum auction, they may be able to find a more satisfactory number somewhere else soon.
Lot # F108 1968 BMW-Glas 3000 V8 Coupe, Body by Frua; S/N 602001745; Red/Black leather, Beige cloth; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,200. – 2,982/160hp V8, single three-barrel carb, 4-speed, wheel covers, Michelin XVS tires, deDion rear axle, inboard rear disc brakes, single Talbot Berlin wing mirror, woodrim steering wheel, Becker Grand Prix radio, fog lights, 4-wheel disc brakes, – One of 389 believed built and spent many years at the Berlin Auto Museum. Proprietary V-8 engine based on the Glas 4-cylinder with toothed belt cam drive. Since restored. Chrome is original and dull but the paint is decent. Dry window rubber that is cracking in places. Good restored interior. Clean underneath. Presentable, attention-grabbing example of a very rare bird, often called the “Glaserati” thanks to its Frua bodywork. – Little Bavarian carmaker Glas built microcars (adorably named Goggomobils) and handsome little coupes like the 1700 GT and 2600 V8. But its pioneering use of timing belts on overhead-cam engines caught the beachball-shaped eye of BMW, and the larger carmaker absorbed Glas in 1966 both for the cam drive technology and for production space at the Glas factory in Dingolfing. Then, there was a short period when some Glases got BMW badges before the brand was phased out altogether. This car is one of them, and it was a $73,000 no-sale on PCarMarket last January, a $63,000 no-sale on Bring a Trailer a month later, and a $60,000 no-sale at this auction last year. Putting a price tag on an oddball car like this can be difficult, but it looks like the seller stuck to their guns and that patience actually paid off with this transaction.
Lot # S12 2005 Ferrari Superamerica Convertible, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFGT61AX50143109; Rosso Corsa/Beige leather with Black inserts; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Original, with major mechanical repairs 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. – 5,748/540hp, 6-speed AutoManual, red calipers, Bridgestone Potenza tires, Daytona-style seats, Scuderia shields, GTC handling package. – One of 559 built, represented with $40,000 in options and recent service at F40 Motorsports. A nice-looking car showing 303 miles, but the “`Total Loss Vehicle due to right front fender and wheel replacement” raises an immediate red flag. – Sold at Mecum Kissimmee in January for $275,000 hammer, $302,500 all-in with an attestation by the seller of the circumstances of its write-off, namely repairable damage but written off at the request of the original owner. Pretty much the whole point of buying this car with its low-production and three-digit odometer reading is collectability. Indeed, these 575-based Superamericas can be worth about twice as much as a normal 575M. But the salvage title will follow the Ferrari forever, and that seriously limits the appeal. All things considered, the reported high bid was a perfectly realistic balance and it should have sold if there was real money close to it. The seller hoped to score a modest profit, but came up short, and it won’t get any better with future tries.
Lot # S28 1989 Lamborghini Countach Silver Anniversary Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N ZA9CA05A1KLA12504; Bianco White/Blue leather piped in White; Estimate $900,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $800,000. – 5,167/455hp, 5-speed, OZ wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, Alpine stereo. – Represented with 157 km (98 miles). There are a few sizable chips on the front bumper, but otherwise this car looks perfect and new. – Even though “Anniversary” implies some sort of limited edition, these late Countaches were actually the most prolific sellers. The styling on them, revised by Horacio Pagani, is also not everyone’s favorite, although this one arguably looks better with its Euro bumpers and lack of a rear wing. Two other Anniversary Countaches were on offer in Monterey this year, with the black one at RM Sotheby’s bringing $510,000 and the red one at Broad Arrow bringing $555,000. This car is nicer, but it isn’t twice as nice. It should have sold at the reported high bid if there was real money close to it even with the minimal miles.
Lot # S29 1929 Duesenberg Model J Blind Quarter Brougham Sedan, Body by La Grande; S/N 2210; Engine # J-189; Maroon cloth, Burgundy hood and Accent, Black padded roof/Burgundy cloth; Estimate $1,500,000 – $1,700,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,100,000. – 420/265hp, 3-speed, wire wheels, Bedford blackwall tires, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, cowl lights, dual chrome horns, Pilot Ray lights, suicide doors, luggage trunk, engine-turned dash, opera mirrors, polished hood side vents. – Represented as the original drivetrain, chassis and firewall, A-C-D Category 1 certified. Originally bodied as a Weymann sedan but rebodied at Duesenberg in 1936 (or in 1933) with this coachwork. Known ownership history. Good older paint and chrome with a blemish near the right rear window and a touch up on the tail. Some discoloration and water stains on the top. Lovely interior other than a handful of flaws in the wood. Tidy underneath. Not a show car, but a solid Duesenberg with a known history and rare, attractive body style with a quality 1994 restoration that has been carefully preserved. – A remarkably handsome and distinguished automobile with lovely but still practical and luxurious coachwork. The nearly 3 decades old restoration still presents well and has had marvelous care. But for all that, this is an ample bid for a closed Duesenberg.
Lot # S31 1990 RUF BTR III Cabriolet; S/N W09TA2342MPR06012; Iris Blue/Dark Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Estimate $600,000 – $650,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $470,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $517,000. – 3,367/408hp, 6-speed, cross-drilled rotors, staggered 17-inch RUF wheels, Bridgestone Potenza tires, limited-slip, Recaro seats, power windows, air conditioning, HKS turbo timer, tools, tonneau cover. Comes with RUF delivery confirmation paperwork. – From the Reggie Jackson collection. Delivered new to Japan. Showing 45,417 km (28,221 miles). Serviced in April 2022. The paint and exterior trim are all very good. The top is tight and clean but has a few wrinkles and discolored spots. Lightly wrinkled leather but clean interior. A handsome, lightly used, very fast tuner Porsche. – Bid to $450K on the block but Mecum put together a post-block deal at the reported amount. RUF prices can vary wildly but this amount seems fair, even though it was bid to only a $345,000 no-sale on the Porsche-heavy Bring a Trailer back in May.
Lot # S35 2011 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype M4 Berlinetta; S/N ZFF67NHB000184231; Matte Black/Black leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $715,000. – 6,262/963hp hybrid V12, 7-speed AutoManual, yellow calipers, carbon discs, 5-spoke alloy wheels, 20-inch 5-spoke alloy wheels, PZero tires, SF shields. Sold on a bill of sale. – Based on a 458 Italia platform. Covered in disguise panels. Good interior but the battery is on the passenger’s floor leaving no room for a passenger with legs. – Historically interesting among the four Ferrari prototypes offered here at Mecum Monterey and the one offered by RM at Monaco in May, but of little practical value. An informative piece of Ferrari development history based on a V-8 production chassis with many prototype and engineering evaluation features. The price is what it brought and is impossible to dispute.
Lot # S37 1936 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Berline, Body by Rollston; S/N 2611; Engine # J-586; Black/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,800,000 – $3,200,000; Older restoration 2 condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,695,000. – 420/265hp, 3-speed, hub caps, Denman blackwalls, dual chrome horns, suicide front doors, division window, dash clock in rear, robe rail, luggage trunk. – Represented as the last complete car sold by Duesenberg. Featured at the 1936 New York Auto Show. Purchased new by Coca-Cola president Conkey Whitehead. Later purchased by jazz musician Charles Kyner, who kept it 46 years. Restoration completed in 1990. A-C-D Category 1 certified. Not restored yesterday but still gorgeous. Wrinkling to the leather in front is the only serious sign of age. All the pieced fit together well although the luggage trunk hung off the rear of the tapered rear deck is an excrescence that deserves to go away. – $2.8M no-sale at Mecum Indy in 2021 and back again here in Monterey where it sold at a reasonable price considering its condition and rather pedestrian coachwork. It’s a car that is more important for its place on Duesenberg’s timeline than for its design.
Lot # S43 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Spider; S/N AR390794; Black/Red; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. – 1,570/129hp, dual Webers, 5-speed, wheel covers. – Represented as original engine. Good older paint. Beautiful interior. Restored, lightly run engine bay. A cute, quick late Veloce in nice colors. – Avidly sought for their delightful, almost telepathic, handling and responsive little engine. With moderate signs of use and age this is an also moderately generous price that should make the seller satisfied. The buyer will be happy with the car, if a little dismayed tomorrow morning at the generous price.
Lot # S44 1990 Ferrari F40 Coupe; S/N ZFFMN34A8L0087031; Rosso Corsa/Rosso; Estimate $2,350,000 – $2,650,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,310,000. – 2,936/478hp, twin turbocharged, 5-speed, polished rim modular alloy wheels, air conditioning, Michelin tires, SF shields, Assembly number 03992. – Very good recent paint, very good upholstery and interior. Spotless engine compartment. Restored in 2017, FCA Platinum in 2018. – Reported sold by RM at Boca Raton in 2004 for $310,300 when the odometer read 11,708 miles. It has added 3,836 miles since then, and been restored along the way. It was hammered sold on the block for $2.1 million ($2,310,000 all-in) but more recently has disappeared from Mecum’s online results listing which implies the buyer had a change of heart.
Lot # S46 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO Coupe; S/N 124379N650469; Garnet Red/Black; Estimate $180,000 – $205,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. – Date correct 427/425 hp engine, 4-speed, power brakes, body color wheels with hub caps and Goodyear Polyglas tires. – The paint has thin spots along the drip rail and the body seam below the rear window, the door alignment is askew. The engine compartment shows little meaningful wear or use as is the same with the underbody. The spartan interior shows well but was clearly redone some time ago. An older restoration that presents well from a distance but needs some corrective work. Reggie Jackson collection. – An frequent auction car, no-saled at Auburn Spring in 2007 on a bid of $175,000, then at Auburn Fall four months later at $110,000. RK Motors offered it at Charlotte in 2013 where it was reported bid to $107,500, then finally sold at B-J Las Vegas in 2014 for $157,000 hammer, $172,700 all-in. The odometer showed 9,181 then, just 21 fewer than it does today, apparently no evening trips to the Dairy Queen for Reggie in recent times. All things considered, this is appropriate money for a replacement engine COPO 9561.
Lot # S49 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002448; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,700,000 – $2,000,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,350,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,485,000. – 2,996/250hp, 4-speed, chrome center polished alloy rim wheels, Vredestein tires, halogen headlights. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. The underbody and chassis are restored like new. The engine compartment is beautiful and not overdone. Represented as the matching numbers engine. – A pretty car presented in colors that complement its design and the tasteful chromium trim. It was offered by Gooding at Scottsdale in 2015 where it was bid to $1,250,000 and sold here for barely more than that, a quality car bought for an appropriate price.
Lot # S51 2020 McLaren Speedtail Coupe; S/N SBM23GDG3LW403091; Heritage Graphite, Galvanic Grey trim/McLaren Orange, Black leather; Estimate $2,700,000 – $3,000,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,400,000. – 3,994/1,035hp hybrid V8, 7-speed automanual. – 91 of 106 built, 729 miles, factory serviced in February of this year. DOT Show and Display imported, limited to 2,500 miles per year road use. – This might as well be an NFT (non-fungible token) it is of so little use as a vehicle. The list of design and accessory details is nearly endless, defining an art object more than a car: “carbon fiber trim, bespoke stitching including the headrests, bespoke painted edges, a titanium vehicle-dedication plate, McLaren sill plate decals and enameled aluminum badging. Fine details include the McLaren Orange-finished brake calipers, Stealth titanium-finish exhaust tips, MSO [McLaren Special Operations] finish lightweight wheels, carbon fiber front wheel covers and Pirelli P-Zero extreme-performance tires.” It’s amazing that it has 729 miles.
Lot # S54.1 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 16465; Giallo Dino/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,250,000. – 4,390/352hp, 5-speed, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, Veglia air conditioning, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows, painted nose panel, popup headlights, Marelli ignition modules. – Good mostly original engine compartment with fuel stained carburetors, some paint loss and general age. Quality repaint while assembled with tiny masking oversights. Original underbody and chassis. Attractively worn original upholstery. An honest Daytona that’s had a good life. – Inherently desirable as a factory-built example of the Daytona Spider but let down by its age and inattention. The repaint effectively removes it from preservation class consideration and it is arguably too good to restore so what remains is a car that deserves to be driven and enjoyed. The reported high bid here is sufficient to have seen it sold on to a new owner who will take advantage of it on the highway.
Lot # S57 1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta alloy, Body by Pinin Farina-Scaglietti; S/N 0899GT; Engine # GP12; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Estimate $4,000,000 – $4,500,000; Rebodied or re-created 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,860,000. – 2,953/260hp new Ferrari Classiche stamped engine, cold air box, painted Borrani wire wheels, Michelin tires, covered headlights, single sail panel louver, Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified. – Raced by Eduardo Lualdi-Gabardi when new in Italy. Damaged in a road accident in 1961 and broken up but the chassis, gearbox, suspension, brakes, steering box, rear axle and fuel tank remained together and were restored in the late 80’s by Bacchelli & Villa with new bodywork and a restamped 250 GT Boano engine s/n 0817GT. Restored again in 2012 by Ferrari Classiche. Good older paint, bright trim and lightly stretched upholstery. Good gauges and steering wheel. The bottom of the engine is lightly oil misted. – Offered by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2017 where it was reported bid to $3.4 million. The estimate here is exalted but the bidders looked behind the curtain and recognized an essentially newly-built TdF with important old parts of 0899GT and many new parts including the bodywork and engine. This result is reasonable but with the identity clearly defined 0899GT is eligible for many events at a huge discount from a TdF that hasn’t been rebuilt and assembled.
Lot # S58 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 Coupe; S/N 9113600901; Engine # 6630887; Light Yellow, Black “Carrera”/Black leather, White and Black houndstooth; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,250,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $975,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,072,500. – 2,687/210hp, 5-speed, Touring package, Sport seats, black and white pepita seat inserts, VDO gauges, Fuchs wheels, Avon tires. Formerly part of the AE Collection, co-owned by Paul Walker, Roger Rodas and Erik Davis. – Good paint with a few minor chips on the lower front bumper, the engine compartment is sorted and presents very well, the interior is very good but the driver seat has some upholstery stretching. An excellent, older restoration that presents very well. – Sold to the Walker group at Russo and Steele Monterey in 2011 for $286,000. The Carrera RS 2.7 is one of the most popular and expensive 911s built and while Touring models like this aren’t the track terrors of the Lightweights they’re still exhilarating to drive. This one has some road use and age issues, but that is more than overcome by the connection to Paul Walker, even though he didn’t actually personally own it and it blew the top of Carrera RS 2.7 Touring values with this result, a nearly 50% premium over a similar car on the best of days. The Walker connection resonates today but the allure will decline as time dims his memory. The premium is fleeting.
Lot # S59 1927 Bugatti Type 37 Sports; S/N 37212; Engine # 117; Blue/Red leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Rebodied or re-created 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $800,000. – RHD. 1,496/60hp single carburetor, 4-speed Brescia type gearbox (T37 gearbox included), cycle fenders, wire wheels, Dunlop tires, single sidemount, Marchal headlights, single aeroscreen. – 4-wheel cable brakes, chrome plated suspension. Protective quality paint. Cracked upholstery. Rusty wheels, old tires. Rebodied at least twice during a long life in Portugal, but no early history is known. – Two Type 37s have been sold at auction recently, both with similar histories of being modified over the years, but both had attributions of early racing history. 37212 has no early history and its condition leaves much to be desired. The reported high bid, even 1/3 under the low estimate, accurately reflects its condition, lack of early history, rebuild, rebodies and performance and is consistent with the two other recent Type 37 transactions, $850,000 hammer at Gooding’s online Scottsdale auction in 2021 and $780,750 hammer at Bonhams Monaco sale three months ago.
Lot # S63 2020 McLaren Sabre Coupe; S/N SBMBC3CA5LW000011; Liquid Argentum, Liquid Papaya pinstripes, carbon fiber/Volcano Orange, Black; Estimate $4,500,000 – $5,000,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $3,500,000. – 3,994/824hp twin-turbo V8, 7-speed automanual transmission, Stealth Inconel exhaust, Gorilla Glass engine cover, orange calipers. – Number 11 of 15 built, all for the US market. The most powerful non-hybrid McLaren to date. Just 100 miles and like new. Extraordinary and over the top loaded with features, in the words of Neil Underwood, McLaren Special Operations sales manager, “Sabre was designed with a brief to be a show car for the road… I think we delivered.” – It isn’t clear exactly how much this limited-edition hypercar cost its original owner, but one popped up for sale last year asking $5M, so Mecum’s estimate doesn’t seem overly optimistic. Mecum Monterey was not the place to be selling modern McLarens, with all three on offer staying unsold. Perhaps this one will do better at another venue or on the private market. It is an object, not a car.
Lot # S64 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Coupe, Body by LeBaron; S/N 16144722; Black, Red coachline/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Concours restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,075,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,182,500. – 491/200hp, 3-speed, wire wheels, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, dash clock, golf bag door. – Believed to be one of five remaining. Driven by a Century Electric engineer until the 1950s. Then in storage until the 1980s and restored to CCCA 100-point scores. More recent restoration completed earlier this year. Excellent fresh paint, chrome, interior and underneath. Greg Dawson collection. – Four beautiful cars and 64 cylinders made up the Greg Dawson Marmon Sixteen Collection at Mecum this year, all with good histories and beautiful presentation. It was a buying opportunity not likely to be repeated any time soon. Three of them sold, and this one with its desirable body style brought the most money. While not the most dynamic segment of the collector car market, demand for these large, coachbuilt, multi-cylinder prewar cars is alive and well. Collectors will want the best cars no matter how old they are, and Howard Marmon’s masterpiece certainly qualifies. So lest you think that prewar cars are being left behind, remember that this one sold for $517,000 at RM Hershey in 2009, was a $450,000 no-sale at RM Arizona in 2012 (it was painted gray at the time), and is a million-dollar car today.
Lot # S65 1931 Marmon Sixteen Convertible Sedan, Body by LeBaron; S/N 16145666; Black, Gray coachline/Gray leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $725,000 – $850,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000. – 491/200hp V-16, 3-speed with Gear Vendors overdrive added, wire wheels, Firestone blackwall tires, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, dash clock, robe rail, suicide rear doors. – Represented as one of 10 remaining. Concours restored in the late 90’s. CCCA Senior #2174, class winner at Meadow Brook and Eyes on Design. Handsome, if somewhat Teutonic, coachwork. Very good paint, chrome and interior. The door gaps are not totally even, and that’s the only real nitpick. Greg Dawson collection. – For a Marmon Sixteen this is a fairly common body style with 49 built even though only ten are known to remain. The restoration has been carefully preserved and is a surprisingly good value in this transaction.
Lot # S66 1932 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe, Body by LeBaron; S/N 16143767; Light Gray, Gray vinyl roof, Gray fenders and coach line/Gray; Estimate $650,000 – $750,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $450,000. – 491/200hp V-16, 3-speed with added overdrive, wire wheels, Michelin tires, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, Depress Beam headlamps, rear window curtains. – Believed to be one of only five Victoria Coupes remaining. AACA President’s Cup, First Senior and First Junior awards. Cosmetic freshening in 2015. Reproduction cylinder heads. Lester tires on the spare wheels don’t match the Michelins on the car, and the left one has some odd discoloration on the sidewall. Tidy underneath and mostly good paint and chrome, but the doors are a little uneven and there are some imperfections in the pinstriping along with a paint crack near the left rear window. The exhaust tips are dirty as well. The interior is very clean. Critiques of this Marmon are mostly minor. It’s a gorgeous car with serious presence, just not a show winner as it sits. Greg Dawson collection. – Sold at RM’s John E. Morgan auction in 2003 for $206,800, then at Meadow Brook in 2004 for $184,250 and again at Meadow Brook in 2007 after its most recent restoration for $302,500. A distinctive and rare car (any Marmon Sixteen is rare, it’s this body style that is even more rare) but based on the prices of the other cars in the Greg Dawson collection the reported high bid deserved serious consideration.
Lot # S67 1931 Marmon Sixteen Limousine, Body by LeBaron; S/N 16147602; Black/Black leather in front, Grey striped cloth in back; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $410,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $451,000. – 491/200hp, 3-speed, wheel covers, Firestone blackwall tires, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, dual chrome horns, dual spotlights, suicide rear doors, luggage trunk, glass division window, jump seats, curtains for the back three windows, dash clock. – Believed to be the only surviving Marmon Sixteen limousine with a glass division. Formerly in the Marvin Tamaroff and John O’Quinn collections. Older concours restoration, then a cosmetic freshening done in the 2010s. The paint and chrome are still lovely. The interior and underbody look practically new. The only real flaw is that the door gaps are uneven. Greg Dawson collection. – Sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2007 for $374,000, then also at Meadow Brook in 2010 for $346,500. It brought superior money here at Mecum Monterey and is a sound value and way to get the Marmon Sixteen experience without investing a premium for more favored coachwork.
Lot # S68 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002716; Engine # 1989801002779; Fire Engine Red/Cream leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,150,000 – $1,500,000; Unrestored original 4 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $875,000. – 2,996/250hp six, 4-speed, chrome center, alloy rim wheels, hubcaps, Michelin tires, Becker Mexico radio. – Dirty barn find. Torn rodent hotel upholstery. Filthy engine and chassis. Peeling old repaint. One family owned from new, represented as the numbers-matching engine. Needs everything. – Unrestored is one thing, but dirty and neglected is another and while the car’s story described it as “benefitting from single-family ownership and care from new” it hasn’t had much care in recent decades. It is not known if it runs and drives and there is no recent recommissioning history. The reported high bid is realistic, and even on the generous side of realistic, considering what it needs.
Lot # S68.1 2001 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II Coupe; S/N BNR34401250; Bayside Blue/Gray; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Original, modified for competition or performance 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $525,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $577,500. – RHD. 2,568/276hp six, 6-speed, NISMO carbon intake pipes, Trust exhaust, Garage Defend cooling panel, GReddy radiator and intake manifold, electronically adjustable Tein coil overs, Volk TE37 wheels, Momo steering wheel. Imported by MotoRex and loaned to Paul Walker for an extended test drive, during that time it was upgraded by GReddy Performance and shown at SEMA as well as appearing in a BF Goodrich marketing campaign. Offered for sale by its 2nd owner. – The Bayside Blue paint shows very well and has only one crack in the finish on the front bumper where it meets the left fender. Under the hood is very clean and shows no wear, deterioration or oxidation of plastic or metal parts. The underbody is well kept only needing a detail to remove dirt from use. The interior presents very well and has no meaningful use. An exceptionally well kept R34 with noteworthy provenance. – Simply put, this car was a fish out of water amongst the sea of muscle cars and muscle car enthusiasts a Mecum auction brings. It is a big deal to JDM fans when an R34 GT-R comes up for sale, but many Mecum auctiongoers paid little serious attention. The Paul Walker, SEMA and BF Goodrich ad connection should have been a slam dunk for the seller, instead the car sold off the block for $172,500 under low estimate. This sale should be taken with a grain of salt. Given the white hot Skyline market, the seller would have been justified in taking the car back home with them. Lessons that can be taken away from this sale is even cars that sell themselves benefit from consigning at the right venue and allowing for proper marketing.
Lot # S68.2 1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R Coupe; S/N BNR32303811; White/Black; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Original, modified for competition or performance 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000. – RHD. Full build by Top Secret in Japan, N1 engine stroked to 2.8L and fully upgraded with too many supporting mods to list, OZ wheels, HKS suspension, AP Racing brakes, ABS deleted, fiberglass hood, roll cage, Top Secret steering wheel and shifter. – The left door has a paint chip near the edge of the fender, the hood has small chips on the leading edge and the alignment sits high at the back there are also chips on the lower front bumper. The engine compartment shows some light use but is clean, the underside shows no meaningful wear or deterioration and the interior shows little use. An important piece of Japanese tuner culture built by one of the major shops. – Top Secret being one of the best known tuning shops in Japan, but like with the R34 GT-R that sold one lot prior, Mecum’s reputation as a Muscle car auction company worked against this car. Offering a JDM tuner amongst high end Muscle cars likely meant that the right audience for this car was not on the grounds. Considering that a car of this caliber should have brought money in the neighborhood of the $275,000 low estimate, the seller was right to hang on to the car.
Lot # S70 2022 McLaren Elva Speedster; S/N SBM26ACA6MW815122; Pacific Stream/Black; Estimate $2,600,000 – $2,750,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,100,000. – 3,994/804hp twin-turbo V8, 7-speed automanual, purple calipers, Pirelli P Zero tires. – 85 miles, like new and awesome. A little over the top, but awesome. The way the paint shifts from blue to purple is spectacular and hard to appreciate in photos. – Named for the company that built early McLaren sports cars under contract, the Elva was introduced for 2020 with production limited to 149 units and a starting price of $1.69M. Designed to incorporate features including active air management that rules bar from Formula One. Remarkably, six Elvas have already shown up at auctions around the world, and even more remarkably none of them met reserve. We’ll have to keep waiting to get a better idea of what one of these impractical roadsters is worth, but a $2.1M offer for this one certainly seems fair.
Lot # S81 1959 Chevrolet El Camino Pickup; S/N G59S206338; Cameo Coral, Satin Beige roof/Grey vinyl; Estimate $130,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000. – 348/250hp, transmission upgraded to a TH350, power steering and brakes, body color wheels with hub caps, AM radio, grille guard, bench seat. – Excellent paint. The tailgate needs minor adjustment for alignment. The engine and underbody are immaculate and the interior presents like new. A fresh restoration needing only fine details addressed. – This would have been a six-figure ’59 Impala had it sold, a heady price hardly ever seen before for a ’59 El Camino and then mostly for customs and resto-mods. A top quality restoration and desirable drivetrain (although a representation this is the original engine is missing) but it should have been loose and for sale at this price.
Lot # S83 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe; S/N 9955; Engine # 9955; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $575,000 – $650,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $525,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $577,500. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Ansa exhaust, Becker Europa radio, power windows, air conditioning, tool roll. – Very good older paint and chrome. Light use underneath. Light wear on some of the switchgear. Looks like a straightforward older cosmetic restoration. – Featured at twelve Mecum auctions since 2016 until finally selling at Indy last year for $500,000 hammer, $550,000 all-in. Back again at Monterey, it again sold with this result, a modest increase in the all-in price. It’s a usable and presentable GTC where so many of its counterparts have gotten the concours restoration treatment. As the two transactions in fifteen months indicate, this is a realistic price for it.
Lot # S86 1965 Bizzarrini P538 Sports Racer; S/N P538B04; Engine # V0313WT; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Competition car, original as-raced 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $450,000. – 327 Chevy, four 45 DCOE Spanish Webers on a custom cross-ram manifold, 5-speed transaxle, centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, four-point belts, full width windshield, woodrim steering wheel, covered headlights. – Fair older cosmetics, old paint on wheels and aged interior panels, a few edge chips and body stress cracks. Clean, orderly engine compartment with engine said to have been rebuilt in 2013 with 180 degree exhaust and the Webers. Eminently usable as is, but not built until 1978 for a French enthusiast, Jacques Lavost, with some changes and updates. The “WT” block stamping (observed at RM Paris in 2021) indicates it came from a 1969 C20 Chevy truck and was a 350 when it left Flint. – The expression, “keeps turning up, like a bad penny” comes to mind when this car shows up. It has never sold at auction and its reported high bids have fluctuated but been consistent: $500,000 at Mecum Monterey 2014, $575,000 Barrett-Jackson 2015, $450,000 at Mecum Monterey 2016, $485,040 at RM Paris 2021. This result is another data point on a consistent value continuum. Jacques Lavost may have been head over heels in love with the P538 and willing to commission the car’s re-creation but others are consistently unconvinced. It needs to go away to someone who will race it in historic events and begin to develop a vintage racing history to match its design and origin.
Lot # S88 1952 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500S Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 15051; Engine # 40058; Strawberry Red/Sand Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $200,000. – 1,488/70hp, 4-speed, wheel covers, Telefunken radio, CoA documented. – Decent but older paint, wheels and tires, all of which are starting to show their age. The front bumper doesn’t fit flush and the doors don’t fit right, either. There is also an odd wrinkling in the paint at the bottom right corner of the driver’s door, and another similar spot on the right side of the tail. Lightly worn, partially restored interior with replaced upholstery but original-looking dash, steering wheel, and switchgear. Thick old undercoating on the chassis. The engine number quoted is appropriate for a ’53 1500S. A rare, desirable pre-A bent windshield 356, but in not much better than driver condition. – At the beginning of the 1950s, Americans could only get a Porsche through Max Hoffman’s dealership in New York, and few people did. That’s why “Pre-A” (pre-1955) 356s are so rarely seen on the market. This one last sold at Christie’s Lyndhurst auction in 1998 for $35,650 in similar condition, but that was so long ago and the market has done so much since then that the price is barely worth mentioning. A $200,000 high bid for it in 2022 is modest but fair, and could have been taken.
Lot # S89 1975 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe; S/N 9305700255; Guards Red/Black leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000. – 2,994/260hp, 4-speed, black Fuchs wheels, Hankook tires, power sunroof, power windows, Sony cassette stereo, tinted glass. – Very rare first-year 930, the 255th of 284 built that year (930s didn’t come to the US until ’76). Represented as matching numbers but not much history, and showing 179,404 km so it has covered some ground. Good older paint with some light detail scratching and swirling. Clean wheels and tires. The right headlight washer nozzle is loose. Some paint coming off the window frames. Good interior with wear that matches the age and mileage but nothing to be concerned about. A solid 930. Although the only truly remarkable thing about it is its early build date, that should be enough. – Or maybe not. A 1975 model 930 typically carries a significant premium over later cars, but this is a modest high bid that was reasonable to refuse.
Lot # S97.1 2022 Ferrari 812 GTS Berlinetta, Body by Scaglietti; S/N ZFF97CMA0N0279353; Black/Red diamond quilted leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; Reserve; Hammered Sold at $725,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $797,500. – 6,496/785hp, 7-speed dual clutch AutoManual, SF shields, suspension lift, parking sensors, LED headlights, chipguard covering. – 68 miles and a new car. – With many options and features this was probably a $550-600,000 Ferrari off the showroom floor. The result here is over $100,000 more, with that going to reward the first owner for having the influence to get a place in line that the buyer here was willing to pay dearly for.
Lot # S102 1968 McLaren M6B Roadster; S/N 5017; Red, White “auto world”/Black vinyl; Estimate $300,000 – $400,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500. – RHD. 383/720hp, Kinsler fuel injection, ZIG magneto, gold center BBS modular alloy wheels, Avon tires, fire system, two log books, FIA papers and race notebooks. – Raced by Oscar Koveleski in the 1969 Can Am, tub replaced after an accident (and now used in a different M6B with the same chassis number). Cliff Apel raced it to little effect in Can Am in 1970-71, then reacquired by Koveleski and raced in USRRC. Checkered later history but lately successful driven by Jim Pace. Good paint, otherwise a clean, sharp well-maintained race car with professional maintenance. – Like many of my contemporaries I did my part to patronize Oscar Koveleski’s “auto world” and support Polish Racing Drivers with my orders for car models. This is a real Can Am car with the best (at the time) powertrain and brought a modest price that puts the Bizzarrini P538 offered a few lots earlier in perspective as egregiously expensive for a re-created race car with no history. This is a solid value.
Lot # S119 1978 Porsche 911 RUF BTR Coupe; S/N 9308800074; Red/Black leather; Estimate $250,000 – $275,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $175,000. – 3.4/374hp, RUF 5-speed, boost control, black Fuchs wheels, cross-drilled rotors, Pirelli Cinturato tires, fog lights, sunroof, rear window wiper, RUF steering wheel, Pioneer CD stereo. Original Blaupunkt radio included. – Rare early RUF Porsche. Showing 46,874 miles and represented as unrestored. Has Porsche CoA but no RUF factory paperwork. The exterior plastic is a little dull, and the seemingly original paint to sample red finish is solid with just a handful of blemishes. Very good interior. Paint is coming off the lug nuts and there are some light scratches on the wheels themselves. Dirty but maintained engine bay. A used RUF, but a very early and quite well-preserved one. – The reported high bid is a perfectly healthy price for a standard 930, but this isn’t a standard 930. It’s a rare example of RUF’s first complete car, and RUFs can command such massive premiums over their standard Porsche cousins that comparisons between the two aren’t all that instructive. Something closer to Mecum’s $200K high bid would have been more fair here
Lot # S126 1949 Mercury Series 9CM Custom Convertible; S/N 9CM256273; Black/Black; Estimate $600,000 – $750,000; Original, with non-original appearance items 4+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. – 255 CI flathead V-8 engine, 2-barrel carburetor, column-shifted 3-speed manual transmission with Touch-O-Matic overdrive, 1950 Mercury grille, “Scorpions” stickers applied to both doors, Razor hubcaps, Firestone Wide Oval tires. – “Grease” movie car. Dashboard autographed by Olivia Newton-John, who played Sandy in the film as well as the film’s director, Randal Kleiser. Originally built and customized by Eddie Paul of Customs by Eddie Paul. Accompanied with notarized letter signed by Eddie Paul identifying this car as the “Hell’s Chariot” built for Paramount Studios and used in ”Grease”. Factory Hardtop Coupe converted into a Convertible. – Think back to the Carrera RS 2.7, once owned by a consortium including Paul Walker, and the generous premium it brought. Now look at this relic of a landmark movie, but from 1978, four decades ago, and note how its appeal has declined.