Mecum Auctions is Walmart among the five Monterey car week auctions: There’s an ample selection, much of the inventory is relatively inexpensive, some of it is seriously out of the ordinary and there is enough premium product to keep buyers intrigued.
Mecum has gradually transitioned to offering more high end, expensive, cars including late model performance cars, while transitioning back in time to offer more cars from the classic era like this year’s cars from the Don Williams estate.
2023 was down substantially from 2022’s and 2021’s impressive totals but that may be largely ascribed to fewer Big Money cars that the two earlier post-COVID years.
| Year | Sold/Offered | Sale % | Total $ Sold |
| 2023 | 6/18 | 33% | $12,842,500 |
| 2022 | 11/20 | 55% | $21,972,500 |
| 2021 | 11/16 | 69% | $22,270,000 |
The almost $9 million that $ million cars were off this year almost exactly matches the overall Mecum Monterey sale total decline. There were some mega-misses, but in general the Mecum Monterey >$ million consignments follow the falloff among other Monterey auctions. The cause may be supply sucked up in earlier post-COVID years, an exhausted bidder base burnt out on paying millions for barely used recent supercars or simply uncertainty following years of reckless government fiscal stimulus.
No matter how you look at it, though, since the demise of Russo and Steele it is Mecum that is the Monterey entertainment spectacle.
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2023 | 322/582 | 55.3% | $134,848 | $66,000
[48.9%] |
$43,420,960 |
| 2022 | 293/454 | 64.5% | $179,448 | $58,300
[32.5%] |
$52,578,321 |
| 2021 | 401/521 | 77% | $141,625 | $77,000
[54.4%] |
$56,791,500 |
| 2020 | COVID, no live auction | ||||
| 2019 | 279/569 | 49% | $106,971 | $44,000
[41.1%] |
$29,844,925 |
On-site descriptions and photos are by Andrew Newton, Rick Carey and Greg Ingold. Lots are sorted by lot number.
Thursday cars
Lot # T30 1954 Nash Ambassador Custom 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N R738050; Green, Cream roof/Two-tone Green; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $13,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $14,850. – 253/130hp six, automatic, wire wheel covers, whitewalls, wing mirrors, pushbutton radio, dash clock, Continental kit. – Basic restoration done in the late 1990s. The paint and chrome are quite faded and the rear bumper shows pitting. Clean interior. A little dirty underneath. A driver, but it’s rare that you see a Nash sedan of any kind. – This is an example of why being a car collector doesn’t mean spending six figure money. A charming car in decent condition, this Nash Ambassador will be fun to drive, to show and just enjoy. It is a bit off-center, but that’s its appeal, particularly at this moderate price.
Lot # T89 2005 Morgan Roadster; S/N SA9RA260950A11076; Indigo Blue/Heron Grey leather; Blue Everlast top; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $52,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,200. – 3.0/225hp Ford Duratec V6, 5-speed with aluminum shifter, wire wheels, Pirelli tires, side curtains, woodrim steering wheel, wood dash, white face gauges. – Nice Morgan from 2005, that looks like it could just as easily be from 1965, although the chunky modern steering wheel and newer-looking gauges clue you in to its 21st century build date. Represented with only 3612 miles and showing few signs of use. The top and side curtains look brand new. The paint and interior look fantastic as well. – Most Morgans look and sound the same, so distinguishing them can be tricky. This car is from a run of 82 cars earmarked for the US market and simply called the “Roadster.” The Rover V8 from the old Plus 8 had gone out of production, so the “Roadster” got a Ford V6 that actually makes more hp than the early V8s, along with must-haves for the American market like airbags. They sold for about $75K when new and this one has barely aged a day. This price is similar to what clean classic Morgans sell for, and yet the 2005 car has modern conveniences and safety, modern reliability, and several times as much power while looking exactly the same. This was a great buy.
Lot # T239 2000 Ultima GTR Coupe; S/N ULTIMA255392; Red/Black; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $69,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $75,900. – 7.0/600hp LS7 engine (from the C6 Corvette Z06), dry sump, Porsche 6-speed manual, steel tube frame, air conditioning, rear view camera, roll cage, fire system, AP Racing brakes, OZ Racing wheels, carbon fiber rear wing. – Represented with 1,832 miles and as smog exempt in California. Shows some dings and chips on the nose as well as some British shed-built stuff like shabbily fitted windows and cheap-looking locks, but overall it’s a clean example. Looks terrifying but it is street legal and awesome. – At this price, it is also probably the quickest car per dollar at the 2023 Monterey auctions. Ultima GTRs were available both as a kit and as a complete car. It set several speed records when it came out, and yet this one cost less than a well-optioned Boxster.
Friday cars
Lot # F56 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk II Convertible; S/N B382100256LRXFE; Red, Red hardtop/Black; Black top; Estimate $170,000 – $180,000; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000. – 289/200hp with later 4-barrel carb, 4-speed, power steering, polished alloy wheels, Vintage Air, four-wheel disc brakes, Talbot Berlin mirror, woodrim steering wheel, two tops, manuals, parts book. – Restored, genuine Mk II Tiger. Just light general age and no major flaws. California car since new and a good example with tasteful upgrades. – Genuine Mk II Tigers are significantly more valuable than the earlier 260-powered cars, even though many Mk Is and IAs have swapped in a 289 by now. This is a better car than the reported high bid here, but it’s not better than the $150K reported high bid when it hammered not sold at this sale in 2022. The car should have been with a new owner for over a year now.
Lot # F63 1940 LaSalle Series 52 Convertible Coupe; S/N 4333040; Homer Gray/Red leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. – 322/130hp V8, column shift 3-speed, red steel wheels, hub caps and trim rings, Firestone wide whitewalls, boot cover, radio. – From the Don Williams estate. Good paint, chrome and interior. Lightly wrinkled leather. Imperfect panel fit. An older high quality restoration, AACA National First Prize winner, lightly enjoyed. – One of several cars from the estate of Don Williams, a man who was a backbone of classic cars for generations as a dealer, an agent, a restorer and concours participant. If Don ever owned an ugly car for more than a week it was only because somewhere in its history there was an earlier owner of distinction, or at least a curiosity. He passed away earlier this year and several of his cars were brought to Mecum’s auction by his son Rob Williams. This is a typically beautiful Don Williams car, impeccably restored and maintained and a very good value for the new owner who can take pride in owning an ex-Don Williams LaSalle.
Lot # F69 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 30837S118513; Saddle Tan/Saddle Tan leather; Estimate $180,000 – $200,000; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $181,500. – 327/340hp L76, 4-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, store brand tires, leather, Vintage Air, power windows, AM/FM radio, aluminum radiator, power disc brake upgrade, aluminum radiator. – Represented as a matching numbers engine California car. Good paint with a crack on the right front fender and two small chips on the right door. Some chips on the edge of the driver’s door as well. Lovely, mostly original interior with great leather that shows only mild wear on the outer driver’s seat bolster. Clean and honest with a few additions that are technically incorrect but do make the car more usable and enjoyable. – This would be an appropriate result for a Split Window Corvette restored to and maintained in NCRS standards and it reflects on the attitudes of the Mecum bidders, and on their intended purpose for this thoughtfully modified example that it brought this much. It’s not quite a Resto-Mod, but it is getting close and the Mecum bidders paid well for its utility and comfort.
Lot # F73 1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF Berlinetta, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0899GT; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000; Rebodied or re-created 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,700,000. – 2,953/260hp, 4-speed, painted Borrani wire wheels, Michelin tires, covered headlights, sticker SF shields, outside fuel filler. – First owned by Eduardo Lualdi-Gabardi and raced with success in 1958 including first at the Coppa Sant’ Ambroeus at Monza. Hillclimbed in 1959 by the next owner, Ferdinando Pagliarini, then in 1960 by the next owner, Paul Mounier in Algeria. Essentially parted out after a road accident with the bodyless chassis and some parts finally restored by Ferrari Classiche in 2012 using a newly cast engine and Red Book Certified, with qualifications. Very good cosmetics and an orderly engine compartment. – Denis Jenkinson would have called this Ferrari a “resurrection” meaning it’s been assembled from a dispersed assortment of its original pieces after being destroyed and parted out. It was reported sold here a year ago for $2.6 million hammer, $2,860,000 all-in (against a $4 million low estimate) and didn’t get the same love this year which is not surprising considering its history, origins and a generally weaker market than in 2022. It’s rather like a Ukrainian trying to shoot down a Shahed drone by aiming at where it is, not where it’s going to be when the projectile gets there.
Lot # F76 1959 Porsche 718 RSK Spyder; S/N 718028; Engine # 90220; Silver/Beige vinyl; Estimate $3,500,000 – $4,000,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $3,500,000. – 1,587cc/150+hp, braced rollbar, dual Raydyot outside pedestal mounted mirrors, Dunlop Racing tires, adaptable steering wheel for lefthand drive or center, now set up with center steering, comes with spares including front disc brakes, auxiliary fuel tank, flywheel, clutch, top, passenger seat, full-width windscreen and more. – Raced when new by Christian Goethals, winner at Leopoldville in the Congo, then in Europe and at the Buenos Aires GP in 1960. Later Porsche factory installed 1,587cc engine. Very good paint, good fabric pattern vinyl upholstery. The chassis and roll cage are used and scraped. Represented as the complete original drivetrain. A well-maintained and unusually adaptable race car. – In 1957-58 the FIA allowed full-envelope bodywork in Formula 2 allowing this RSK to be used in both sports car and formula racing and where it is competitive at both. It has a long historic racing history in the U.S. Midwest and a high level of professional preparation and maintenance. However, it has been offered at Bonhams Quail in 2019 and Mecum Kissimmee in 2023 where it was reported bid to $3.7 and $3.2 million respectively. Now more reasonably estimated, it was reportedly bid here to its low estimate but didn’t sell, a disappointing result for a potentially rewarding and versatile competition Porsche.
Lot # F81 1956 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible; S/N N5622136; Cloud White, Stardust Blue/Blue leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $200,000 – $220,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000. – 354/280hp Fire Power engine, pushbutton automatic, wire wheels, whitewalls, dual mirrors, Town and Country radio with foot control, power windows, seat, brakes and steering, Hi-Way Hi-Fi record player, dash clock and Chryslermatic clock in the steering wheel. – From the Dressler Collection. AACA Grand National Senior. Paint and chrome show very light age and the door fit is a little erratic, lightly worn leather. Clean underneath. An older restoration but still a rare, showable Chrysler. – Fabulously equipped and impressively restored and maintained, this is still a huge offer for a car that has little following and only narrow buyer appeal. A much lower estimate would have been appropriate and if there was someone waving a thick wallet in the Mecum Monterey marquee at the reported high bid it could and should have been sold without even twinges of regret.
Lot # F82 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500115; Strawberry Red/Creme leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $1,450,000 – $1,650,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,050,000. – 2,996/240hp, 4-speed, hub caps, Dunlop SP Sport tires, Talbot Berlin mirror, dash clock, luggage, owner’s manual, tools. – Body-off restored at Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in California. Represented as matching numbers and as the first car delivered in the now popular one-year-only Strawberry Red. Very good paint and chrome. Clean, tight top. Even gaps. Beautiful interior with very lightly wrinkled leather. Beautiful car with a desirable factory restoration. – Strawberry is the killer color when it comes to 300SLs and the combination of the color and factory restoration elevates it to a higher standard than indicated by the reported high bid here.
Lot # F84 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C Long Nose Alloy Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 08157; Engine # 08157; Giallo Fly/Black leather; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,410,000. – 3,286/280hp V-12, 6 Weber carburetors, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Carello halogen headlights, flared rear fenders. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection” of a prominent former TV personality. Very good paint, good chrome. Lightly creased upholstery. Clean but unrestored underbody and chassis. Burnished wheel rims. Owned by Pirelli and used for tire testing 1966-68. Represented as the original engine. Restored in the late 80’s, FCA National Concours First in Class in 1991. Mellowing since then but still impressive. – This is a choice Ferrari and even at a bit over its pre-sale low estimate it’s not expensive despite the lack of Classiche documentation or a comprehensive history. This is a case of “do your homework” because Mecum doesn’t and buyers are on their own. In this case they reached a favorable conclusion and paid a realistic price.
Lot # F85 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 4595; Engine # 4595; Deep Maroon/Tan leather; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,700,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000. – 2,953/240hp, 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Restored like new with better paint. Excellent chrome and interior with no visible use. Flush panel fits and precise gaps everywhere. A gorgeous, clean Lusso restored by people who knew what they were doing. – Bought right, even marginally a good deal, and one that shows the quality of its restoration and care. It should be more satisfying to own than the price indicates.
Lot # F86 1963 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series II Coupe Aerodinamico, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 4651; Engine # 4651; Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $2,850,000 – $3,100,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,100,000. – 3,967/340hp, overdrive 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, open headlights, grille-mounted fog lights, tools. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Restored better than new without going overboard. Wonderful paint, bright chrome, inviting and barely used upholstery. Bright, clear gauges. Clean, orderly fully restored engine compartment. Meticulous panel fits and gaps. – One of 22 Superamericas built by Pininfarina on the longer wheelbase chassis of 2,600mm, the aerodynamic coupe body is nicely balanced and visually distinctive. There is nothing to argue about with this car, not even the color, except of course the bid it brought which was almost insulting to the car’s condition, design, history and performance.
Lot # F87 1951 Ferrari 212 Inter 2+2 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 0185EL; Red/Tan piped in Brown; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $550,000. – RHD. 2,562/150hp, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Dunlop Road Speed tires, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges, Clayton heater, aluminum coachwork. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. One of four 2+2 Berlinas bodied by Ghia. Sister car was owned by King Farouk of Egypt. Delivered new to Switzerland. Since restored. Good paint and chrome other than several blisters on the drip rails. Lovely interior. Late 90’s restoration on an interesting if not exactly beautiful early Ferrari, with rare Ghia bodywork. Usable with back seats. – Ferrari really did build a family car with back seats roomy enough for short children. It didn’t exactly excite the world, however, and there were only four cars built in this style. It didn’t light any avaricious fires here at Mecum Monterey, either, but was something of a missed opportunity as it is very early and has excellent eligibility for many events including potentially taking a codriver and two grandchildren on the Mille Miglia.
Lot # F89 1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast SII Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 7817; Engine # 7817; Silver/Red; Estimate $2,000,000 – $2,500,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,675,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,842,500. – 4,963/400hp, overdrive 4-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Ansa exhaust, Talbot Berlin mirror, Becker Europa radio, power windows, air conditioning, tool roll, owner’s manual. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. One of 36 built and represented as the first of 12 Series II cars. Bought new by Barbara Hutton. Paint, chrome, wheels and tires all look great. Clean underbody and engine. Slightly flat driver’s seat but otherwise beautiful interior. Restored years ago but has been maintained and carefully kept like the ultra-rare Enzo-era Ferrari it is. – This gorgeous, exclusive Ferrari was offered by RM at Monterey in 1998 in aged and deteriorated condition. It was a project that no one at the time cared to take on and it was bid to only $210,000. Subsequently restored to high standards, a restoration that is now mellowing but is still attractive and is a solid value at this below estimate price.
Lot # F90 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10761; Engine # 10761; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Estimate $600,000 – $700,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $500,000. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, power windows, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, owner’s manual, tool roll, parts catalog. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Good older repaint with small cracks and dirt inclusions. Very good original upholstery. Excellent dashtop and gauges. Original undercoat and clean but not fully restored engine compartment with some road grime where it is hard to reach. A quality driver-condition 330 GTC. – A sound and usable car that deserved more money that was reported here.
Lot # F91 1968 Ferrari 330 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11179; Engine # 11179; Pino Verde Metallic/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,800,000 – $2,200,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,760,000. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, air conditioning, Blaupunkt multiband radio, power windows, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Represented as the original engine. Stone chipped nose. Flush panel fits and even gaps. Worn and deeply cracked original upholstery. Good chrome. Repainted old undercoat in the wheelwells. Wheel rims need to be polished. – The unusual exterior color makes this GTS stand out, as well as its 4-litre engine and rare factory air conditioning. It is in driver-quality condition and doesn’t appear ever to have been restored, just maintained as needed while retaining the original Pino Verde exterior color and the original upholstery which is now reaching the end of its usable life. The price it brought here is a realistic compromise between its aged condition and the inherent value of the car and its condition.
Lot # F92 1974 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 08502; Engine # 08502; Rosso Corsa/Tan, Black; Estimate $650,000 – $800,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000. – 2,419/195hp, 5-speed, Campagnolo wheels, Michelin XWX tires, fender flares, body color roof, Daytona-style seats, power windows, Borletti air conditioning, Becker Mexico radio, books, tools. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. US spec car with “Chairs and Flares” and represented as the original engine. Light pitting on the rear bumperettes. Some scratching on the wheel caps. A little dirt and grime in the engine bay. Good older paint. Light delaminating on one windshield corner. Mildly stretched and wrinkled leather. Leather trim is coming up off the bottom of the right A-pillar. Some fading and a scuff on the dash top. Remarkable configuration, unremarkable condition. – Chairs and Flares can add significant digits to the price of a Dino even if they don’t make the car drive any better, but even more interesting than that is that this average-quality Dino sold for nearly as much as the similar-condition car displayed next to it, a Daytona with twice the cylinders and nearly twice the power. It seems odd and it is, but that’s the direction the markets for these two cars have been moving lately.
Lot # F93 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 14855; Rosso Corsa/Black; Estimate $650,000 – $750,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $660,000. – 4390/352hp, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, Becker Europa II radio, power windows, air conditioning, Marelli ignition modules, books and tools. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. US market car, represented to be the original engine although the cataloged engine number is not appropriate for a Daytona. Good older repaint. The front bumpers look newer than the rears. Original window frames. Lightly worn original leather and switchgear. Probably never fully restored top to bottom, but has been with the same owner for 30 years and gotten attention when needed. – Both when they were new and for many years in the collector car market, Ferrari Daytonas and Dinos wore very different price tags. Lately, though, they are a lot closer and this average-quality Daytona sold for only a few bids more than the chairs and flares Dino in similar condition sold out of this same collection.
Lot # F94 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000047871; Rosso Corsa/Tan; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $230,000. – 4,943/340hp, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin TRX tires, Momo leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning, Pioneer cassette, tools, owner’s manual. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Imported in 1983. Showing 10,304 miles and represented with some major service, but nothing within the last several years. The paint looks original and decent, but the plastic mirrors are scratched up. The seats show significant wear, while there is some dirt and dust elsewhere in the interior. A solid Berlinetta Boxer. – The most recent recorded belt service was 2008, a bit long ago and well past its “do over” date, not a history that is appealing to most buyers, particularly at auction. It is not a surprise that it didn’t sell here for the risk averse reported high bid.
Lot # F95 1988 Ferrari 328 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFXA20A0J0078457; Rosso Corsa, Rosso Corsa roof panel/Beige leather; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. – 3,185/270hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, air conditioning, power windows, Alpine stereo, – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. One owner from new and the 15,419 miles showing are consistent with its condition. Good original paint with small edge chips and nose chips. Original underbody and chassis. Sound original upholstery and dashtop. – Even at this above-estimate range price this carefully preserved and maintained one owner 328 GTS is a sound value. It should receive some mechanical attention just to be sure of its reliability but even that is financially realistic at this price.
Lot # F96 1956 Porsche 356A 1500 GS Carrera Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 82190; Engine # 90641; Ivory/Black piped in White; Black cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $935,000. – 1,498/128hp, 4-speed, Rudge centerlock wheels, Michelin XZX tires, gold brightwork, boot cover, tool roll, owner’s manual, Carrera supplement, Kardex copy documented. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Showing age on most of the brightwork. Good paint other than a spot with blisters behind the passenger’s door. Erratic fit on the engine cover. Very good interior other than. A few paint chips on the steering wheel and column. Among the most desirable 356s around, missing on a lot of details but still an exciting car. – Responsibly estimated for its condition but also for its rarity and performance, this choice Porsche 1500 GS Carrera is a 356 Porsche lover’s dream car. It is not so pristine that its dynamic performance can’t be experienced and is a way to show to 7-figure Porsche 911 owners that their cherished GT2s and Turbo Ss are only later expressions of Porsche performance and engineering. It is a solid value at this price.
Lot # F102 1970 Porsche 914/6 Targa, Body by Karmann; S/N 9140432402; Silver/Black vinyl; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. – 1,991/125hp, 5-speed, black center 16-inch Fuchs wheels, Pirelli P7 tires, added cassette, tools. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Collector owned since 1992. A few small chips on the nose, headlight doors and front fenders, and there is a small dent on the right front. Cracks in the roof gasket. Very clean interior with slightly faded gauges. Looks clean and older restored underneath. – A fairly modest result for what appears to be a genuine, solid and honest six-cylinder 914. A few bids closer to six figures wouldn’t have been surprising and the new owner should be rewarded by this acquisition, in Porsche terms a relative bargain.
Lot # F107 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I BN7 Roadster; S/N HBN7L11437; Engine # 29ERUH736; Healey Ice Blue/Dark Blue piped in White; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. – 2,912/136hp, 4-speed with overdrive, chrome wire wheels, Michelin XZX tires, jack and spare. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Upgraded with triple carb engine. Good paint and brightwork, but the exterior rubber and windshield frame is aged. The 3000 badge on the grille is broken. Faded gauges and worn leather, rubbed through on the driver’s outer bolster. Tidy engine and underbody. Straightforward older restoration an early Healey 3000. – And sold at a straightforward, appropriate price. Big Healey prices can vary oddly depending on who did the restoration, build year and equipment, but this is rational number both parties can be happy with.
Lot # F109 1959 MG MGA Twin Cam Roadster; S/N YD31910; Engine # 16BGU1588; Orient Red/Black vinyl; Black vinyl piped in Red top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. – 1,588/108hp, 4-speed, Dunlop alloy wheels, BFG tires, heater, lap belts, Jaeger gauges, tonneau cover, side curtains, jack. – From the “Veloce, Schnell & Fast Collection”. Tidy, correct engine. Good paint with a small touch up on the right front. Erratic panel fit on the doors, and the driver’s side has a sizable chip on the back edge. Clean interior with a flat driver’s seat and slightly wrinkled leather. A solid Twin Cam A, restored a while ago but still clean and with new clutch, flywheel and slave cylinder done two years ago. – Solid deal on a clean and sorted MGA Twin Cam. There are pushrod MGAs that have sold for more than this.
Lot # F115 1965 Ferrari 275 GTS Spider, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 06809; Bianco/Nero leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,800,000 – $2,000,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000. – 3,286/260hp, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Ansa exhaust, woodrim steering wheel, books and tools. – Represented as matching-numbers engine and gearbox. Paint on the driver’s door doesn’t match the rest of the body, but the finish everywhere is clean. There is overspray in the wheelwells. Good chrome and highly polished wire wheels. Very good interior. Mechanically restored last year. – Offered at RM Amelia in 2022 where it was reported bid to $1,550,000 wearing red paint. Now given a repaint in the original Bianco, it brought no more money here in Monterey but moved on, having reached its sell-by date.
Lot # F116 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429 SportsRoof; S/N 0F02Z121703; Grabber Blue/White; Estimate $325,000 – $350,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $240,000. – 429/375hp, 4-speed with Hurst T-handle shifter, Magnum 500 wheels, Firestone Wide Oval tires, front spoiler, power steering, Philco radio, Deluxe Marti Report, KK #2224. – Correct replacement engine. Restoration claimed to have been completed in 2022. Good paint, but thick finish and cracks in the drip rails. Old-looking tires. Imperfect panel fit. Lightly worn interior. Restored to high standards, but more aged than the cataloged restoration date would suggest and driven a bit since. – Boss 429s are special, but not exactly rare at auctions. With potential buyers offered many choices the caliber and age of restoration and originality are carefully scrutinized for shortcomings that infer the quality of workmanship and materials. On that basis this Boss Nine came up short. It looks like a long-ignored partial restoration that was hurriedly completed last year, a conclusion that would support the reported high bid here but not come close to the pre-sale estimate.
Lot # F117 1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan, Body by Dietrich; S/N 902670; Engine # 901752; Brown/Brown; Beige top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $700,000. – 446/160hp, 3-speed, wire wheels, whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemount spares, Goddess of Speed mascot, dual chrome horns, suicide front doors, robe rail, boot cover, division window, Waltham dash clock. – Represented as one of 12 known to exist. Best in Class and CCCA Trophy at Pebble Beach in 2010. Gorgeous top to bottom, but some of the paint is starting to come up on top of the doors and there is a smudge on the boot cover. There is some discoloration on the mascot as well. – Sold by RM from the Andrews Collection in 2015 for $1,045,000, then offered here in 2022 and at Kissimmee in January where it was reported bid to $875,000 and $1 million respectively. In search of a new home and not finding much in the way of enthusiastic bidders, it is a rare, high quality Packard Twelve with gorgeous and adaptable Dietrich coachwork that deserves at least the bid it brought here.
Lot # F118 1962 Ford Thunderbird Sport Roadster; S/N 2Y89M162464; Chestnut Metallic/Chestnut; White vinyl top; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. – 390/340hp M-Code, Kelsey Hayes wire wheels, tinted glass, pushbutton radio, power windows, steering, brakes and driver’s seat. – Represented as the only M-Code Sports Roadster in this color for 1962. Concours awarded restoration using many NOS parts. Beautiful paint, chrome, and interior. All fresh and gorgeous on his top spec Bullet Bird. – And at this price it better be. A “unique” combination of colors and options on otherwise mass-produced American cars doesn’t always make a difference, but when the options are desirable enough and the color rare enough a seller can strike gold at auction. That happened here, and it’s beyond top dollar for a 1962 T-Bird and even Mecum’s optimistic presale estimate.
Lot # F119 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta SVZ Sprint, Body by Zagato; S/N AR149304458; White, Red/Red; Estimate $150,000 – $250,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500. – 1,290/115hp, 4-speed, hub caps, Toyo tires, woodrim steering wheel. – The 5th of 18 built, the only SZ-1 (SVZ) built with a double bubble roof. Sold new in Italy. Restored in the 1990s. Mille Miglia eligible. Certified by Mille Miglia as the original body and engine. Good paint. Erratic panel fit. Scratches and dings in the window frames. Dirt behind the headlight covers. Very good interior. Rare, charming little car. – Offered by Bonhams at its Quail Online auction in 2020 where it was reported bid to $120,000. Since then its odometer has added just 82 km although it isn’t getting any better with age. Mecum’s catalog claims its Mille Miglia eligibility is permanent after its 2020 acceptance for registration and it will be a delightful participant in this exclusive event. It is arguably worth more than the reported high bid here, but its condition doesn’t support the $150,000 low estimate.
Lot # F120 1994 Ferrari 512 TR Speciale Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFLA40JPN0098023; Rosso Rubino Metalizzato/Tan leather; Estimate $750,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $350,000. – 4,942/428hp, 5-speed, Bridgestone Potenza tires, special three-piece alloy wheels, red calipers, air conditioning, Scuderia shields, luggage, books and tools. – Represented as the 10th of 15 examples built for Cornes & Co., a Ferrari importer in Japan. Showing 24,430 km. Recently serviced. Clean original paint with a scratch on the right front fender and a large chip under the driver’s door. Lightly stretched leather on the driver’s seat. Testarossas aren’t exactly rare by Ferrari standards but this version is, and here is a solid, lightly driven example with only a few flaws. – Where the pre-sale estimate range came from is anyone’s guess, but assuming it is a typographical error is the most charitable. The reported high bid here is generous for a 512 TR even with some special badging and could have seen the car sold without regret.
Lot # F175 2007 Panoz Esperante GTLM Coupe; S/N 1P9PB89317B213001; Chile Pepper Red/Beige; Estimate $150,000 – $165,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $40,000. – 4.6/500hp supercharged Ford SVT Modular V8, Magnaflow exhaust, automatic, Hankook tires, Brembo cross-drilled brakes, rear wing, carbon fiber interior trim. – One of four GTLM coupes built. Represented as the only car that Panoz built in 2007. Represented with 27,434 miles and clean, but the fit and finish on these hand-built sports cars isn’t the best. There is lots of condensation behind the headlights and the gaps are aren’t even. The driver’s seat shows some wear on the bolsters but the interior mostly looks great. Light dirt underneath but mostly clean. A rare, lightweight semi-exotic sports car but with the heart of a Mustang it doesn’t have semi-exotic running costs. – This odd but hand-built, fast and cool American sports car is a much better automobile than the reported high bid. Maybe not as good as Mecum’s $150K low estimate, but certainly a lot better than $40K.
Saturday cars
Lot # S4 1968 Triumph TR250 Roadster; S/N CD878L; Triumph Racing Green, Silver nose stripe/Black; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $84,700. – 2,498/167hp, triple Strombergs, 4-speed with overdrive, wire wheels, red line tires, surrey hardtop, Moto-Lita leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual mirrors, Wilwood disc brakes. – Restored to super high standards and engine rebuilt to significantly higher performance than stock with engine dyno sheet to prove it. Beautiful paint and brightwork. The side and rear glass all show scratching but nothing too serious. The interior, engine and underbody look nearly new. – Rarely does a Triumph have this kind of attention and money spent on it, which is true for both the restoration costs and the purchase price here at auction. The TR250 combines the good looks of the TR4 with the six-cylinder power of the TR6. They’re rare and valuable but this price is beyond top dollar for one. Then again, it wouldn’t be possible to replicate this car for less given the attention to detail and the upgrades.
Lot # S9 1990 Ferrari Testarossa Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSG17A0L0085243; Black/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. – 4,942/380hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, air conditioning. – Original, used and neglected. Torn, peeling dashtop. Original underneath. – A neglected car that was neglected, appropriately, when it came across the block early on Saturday. It is hard to argue with this transaction, however, although the expense of keeping it up may lead to continued deferred maintenance and declining value.
Lot # S22 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Coupe, Body by Reutter; S/N 52257; Engine # 32749; Derby Red/Rosanil Red leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $235,000. – 1,488/55hp, 4-speed, hub caps, whitewalls, sunroof, Telefunken radio. – Very good paint and brightwork, although the rear bumperettes are dull and there are two small chips at the back edge of the driver’s door. Beautiful interior. Clean underneath. An attractive early Porsche 356. – Sold at Bonhams Scottsdale auction in 2022 for $257,600 and still highly impressive. It is not claimed to be the original engine but 32749 is within the ’54 Porsche 1500 range.
Lot # S43 1971 Porsche 911 T Targa; S/N 9111112830; Black, Black roof panel/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $170,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $85,000. – 2,195/142hp, Sportomatic gearbox, Fuchs wheels, Vredestein tires, cassette stereo, air conditioning, Porsche CofA documented. – Engine rebuild by Alan Johnson Racing. The paint looks a bit tired, as do the wheels and top. Tidy engine. Lightly wrinkled leather on both sides, and lightly faded gauges. An honest driver-quality T Targa, and although the Sportomatic isn’t ideal, it’s a quirk of Porsche history that people have come to appreciate in recent years. – Porsche’s optional Sportomatic was a semi-automatic gearbox with a torque converter and automatic clutch combined with a conventional manual shifter. It was never a popular choice, but these days Porsche people go crazy for rare options. This car got a perfectly reasonable high bid that credited its originality and equipment, and it could have gone to a new home at this price.
Lot # S45 2005 Ferrari Superamerica Convertible, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFGT61A650145102; Red/Black leather; Estimate $390,000 – $425,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $310,000. – 5,748/540hp, paddle shifters, red calipers, Scuderia shields, Bridgestone Potenza tires, factory radio. – One of 559 built, showing 12,592 miles. Mostly clean, low-mile, somewhat limited production Ferrari but there are some light scratches on the right mirror and some blemishes on the wheels. No obvious problems with the Revocromico roof panel. – Reported sold here in Monterey at Mecum’s 2016 auction for $374,000 and offered two years later at Russo and Steele Monterey with a reported high bid of $300,000. It’s not getting any better with age, something the consignor would do well to recognize and let it go if there were money at this bid or something close to it.
Lot # S64 1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Limousine, Body by James Young; S/N DLW125; Mason’s Black/Beige leather, wool rear; Estimate $110,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $82,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,200. – RHD. 4,566/178hp, Automatic, wheel covers, Michelin tires, dual wing mirrors, Lucas driving lights, power division window, opera mirrors, Waterford crystal cocktail accessories, dual band radio, tools. – From the Don Williams estate collection. Restored in the 1990s. Good, lightly aged paint with some blisters on the right A-pillar and a few scratches near the right drip rail. Light scratch on the left front glass. Light but visible wear on the leather in front, clean cloth in back. Some age and cracks showing in the rear wood trim. A spectacular-looking car that needs nothing major and has lots of great details, but aged well past show-readiness. – Sold for $110,000 at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2016 and offered here in 2019 where it was reported bid to $100,000. If it was in fact bid to that amount it was a lost opportunity, at least as much as this result is a potential opportunity for the new owner to enjoy a stately, elegant, comfortable, luxurious R-R limousine as comfortable going to the opera as it is satisfying on a long road trip.
Lot # S70 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupe; S/N WDDRJ7HA6CA009123; Silver/Red, Black; Estimate $250,000 – $275,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $231,000. – 6,208/563hp, 7-speed AutoManual, red painted brake calipers, window sticker. – Represented with 8,114 miles. The front bumper has a few small paint chips, but the rest of the car presents very well with little indicated use. A nearly like new SLS. – Bought for a generous but reasonable price. It is still a fast and prestigious car, as impressive today as it was thirteen years ago when it was new.
Lot # S74 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZTS390417; Polar Silver/Black leatherette, Grey inserts; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $302,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $332,750. – 3,746/296hp, 6-speed, Speedline wheels, red calipers, Pirelli P Zero tires, factory radio, aluminum shift knob, power windows, Clubsport Aero package, Recaro Sport seats, Porsche CofA documented. – Represented as one of 274 built in 1995. Showing 50,613 km. The paint mostly looks clean, but there are scratches behind the door handles and the rear fender stone guards are pretty beat up with dirt in their edges. Lightly worn seats but clean interior. A nice, lightly used homologation special 911. – The historic value of Porsche’s homologation specials is remarkable, an example of “if you build them, they will come”. Its 3.8 litre engine at 296 horsepower is nothing special even in the mid-Nineties and in pursuit of lower mass it has been relieved of pretty much everything that would make it comfortable or quiet. It will be exciting to drive, but hard to tolerate for very many miles on any given day. Nevertheless it brought a healthy price for its rarity and bare-bones performance character perhaps validating that there are among Porsche enthusiasts a well-heeled subset of masochists.
Lot # S77 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Prototype Berlinetta; S/N ZFF76ZHB000197860; Rosso Corsa, Matte Black/Red; Estimate $2,750,000 – $3,250,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,900,000. – 6,262/949hp hybrid V-12, 7-speed AutoManual. – Pre-production “Illustrator” prototype designated PS1. Has miles on it but refurbished and detailed to pretty much like new other than scratches and chips on the front. More appealing as a collector item than an actual car since It can’t be driven on the road, but owners even have a hard time putting use on their road legal LaFerraris, either. – Reported sold here last year for $2,640,000, this is an unusual chance to look at Ferrari’s development process, but only a limited chance to drive it since it isn’t street legal. Under the circumstances it is easy to see why it didn’t sell at the reported high bid.
Lot # S82 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z 432 Coupe; S/N PS3000105; Orange/Black; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $270,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $297,000. – RHD. 1,989/160hp, 5-speed, wing mirrors, rear spoiler, 8-spoke Watanabe alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, limited slip – One of just 420 produced, restored once in Japan and once in London. Represented as the original engine. Good paint. The rear bumper has some chrome damage on the right side and the stainless trim has a couple of small dents behind the driver’s door. The engine, underbody and interior are all restored, however the seat upholstery is slightly ill-fitting. A good restoration with some details to address. – To the casual observer it may look like just a tuner’s 240Z with the steering wheel on the right side, but the 432 (4-valves per cylinder, 3 carburetors, two camshafts) is one of the ultimate factory versions of the original Z-car with a special Prince-prepared engine and racing pedigree. That explains the high price for this one, and others have sold for even more, appropriate for a car with technical specs, power and rarity comparable with Toyota 2000 GTs selling for three times this price. It just looks like all the other 240Zs.
Lot # S88 1977 Datsun 280Z ZZZAP Edition 2+2 Coupe; S/N HLS30389287; Sunburst Yellow, ZZZAP Graphics/Black vinyl; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Enthusiast restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. –,2753/149hp, 5-speed, Anson Sprint wheels, rear window slats, upgraded air conditioning, original radio. – One of 1000 ZZZap Editions built, which was a “Special Décor Package”. Clean engine bay. Repainted and mostly restored underneath. Clean mostly original interior. – There isn’t anything that rare or unusual about a 280Z, but the ZZZAP Edition is a rare, interesting marketing gimmick. Nissan/Datsun promoted the car with an arcade racing video game called “280 ZZZAP,” in which the player drives a Z-car through a tricky road course at night. This was in 1977, 20 years before the first Gran Turismo game. The cars themselves are seriously rare, but we saw Mecum sell this one two years ago in Orlando for $42,900 and the odometer has barely budged since then, now showing just 7 more miles. That was more than enough of a premium on top of a normal 280, but this price is excessive for a package that at the end of the day is still just a ’70s sticker special.
Lot # S92 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 09565; Nero/Pella Orange; Estimate $3,500,000 – $3,800,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $3,400,000. – 3,286/320hp, 5-speed, Ansa exhaust, centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Talbot Berlin mirror, woodrim steering wheel, tools. – Represented as the first of six GTB/4s painted black. Raced at Italian hill climb events in period by the first owner, Dr. Luigi Ravizza. Represented as restored in the 1980s but the paint and chrome look much fresher than that. The wheels are clean and the interior is gorgeous, especially the leather. The engine compartment is clean and organized but not overdone. – This rare Ferrari was reported sold by Mecum at Kissimmee seven months ago for a perfectly reasonable $2,970,000. Why it is back again so shortly thereafter is not clear, nor is the reason for the exaggerated pre-sale estimate or why it didn’t sell, assuming there was money in the Mecum marquee at this bid. This is a generous offer even for a car that is this well-presented and the fact it is one of six black painted 275 GTB/4s is irrelevant.
Lot # S93 2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Alonso Final Edition Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF60FCA7B0186884; Rosso Scuderia, White/Black; Estimate $500,000 – $550,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. – 5,999/612hp, paddle shift 6-speed, black calipers, painted Scuderia shields, “Super Fabric” interior, Scuderia shields stitched into the headrests, carbon fiber seats, carbon ceramic brakes, 20-inch forged wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, window sticker. – One of about 40 built to commemorate 60 years of Ferrari’s wins in Formula One. Represented with 2,060 miles and indeed it does look like a barely-driven late model Ferrari. – Low mileage counts, as does the “Alonso Final Edition” graphic presentation, but not close to as much as is suggested by the vaunted pre-sale estimate. The reported high bid is much more realistic.
Lot # S96 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFMN34A7L0086498; Rosso Corsa/Rosso; Estimate $2,500,000 – $3,000,000; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,530,000. – 2,936/478hp, 5-speed, Speedline modular alloy wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, SF shields, luggage. Assembly number 03334. – One of 213 U.S. delivery F40s. Wrinkled seat upholstery worn through around the belt pockets. Flawed original paint. Looks like more miles than the 3,419 on the odometer. Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified. – A “used” F40 is still an F40 as this result shows and the quickly growing value of F40s is endorsed in this transaction.
Lot # S97 1971 Chevrolet Corvette ZR2 Convertible; S/N 194671S114630; Brands Hatch Green, Brands Hatch Green hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $975,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $785,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $863,500. – 454/425hp LS6, M22 4-speed, J56 brakes, F41 suspension, hardtop, tank sticker, Protect-O-Plate, leather seats. – NCRS Top Flight. Bloomington Gold Benchmark, Certified, and Survivor in 2015. MCACN Triple Diamond. Great Hall Inductee, one of a dozen ZR2-powered cars and just two convertibles. Represented as 8,795 miles. Unrestored and the exterior certainly shows age but no abuse nor neglect, and the interior looks fantastic. The vast majority of this car’s value lies in what’s under the hood, and being a many times awarded Survivor, it will probably never get a real restoration which is just fine. – This ultra-rare Corvette sold here in 2010 for $466,400, and again in Indy last year for $962,500, a huge price but somewhat understandable given the engine and the unrepeatable originality. The car shows 93 more miles in Monterey than it did in Indy so someone did get a little enjoyment out of it before selling it on, but they were expensive miles.
Lot # S99 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sindelfingen Special Roadster, Body by Mayfair; S/N 154080; Red/Beige leather; Estimate $3,500,000 – $4,500,000; Concours restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,600,000. – RHD. 5401/115-180hp supercharged eight, 4-speed, Bosch headlights and central driving light, suicide doors, dash clock, aero screens, Mother of Pearl instrument panel, folding windshield, outside exhaust headpipes, skirts, enclosed rear-mounted spare, chrome wire wheels. – From the Don Williams Estate collection. Striking one-off coachwork by Mayfair in London. Formerly in the Imperial Palace Auto Collection and the General William Lyon Collection. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2011 and still gorgeous. The leather is lightly wrinkled and discolored and there is a small dimple in the right door handle, but I’m hard-pressed to find anything else less than outstanding about this Mercedes. – Mercedes-Benz’s Sindelfingen coachworks were masters at building sleek, swoopy, intricately detailed coachwork but Mayfair out-swooped Sindelfingen with this masterpiece, a design exercise accentuated with brightly-finished louvers on the hood, frame covers and rear wheel spats, aerodynamic fenders and gorgeous proportions. It sold for $2,530,000 at RM’s Monterey auction in 2007, then $3,277,500 at Bonhams Quail in 2018. It is still a marvelous expression of Thirties style and dominance even as it has gently aged in Don Williams’ collection and it deserves more than the reported high bid here.
Lot # S102 1931 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8A Castagna Imperial Landaulet, Body by Castagna; S/N 1628; Engine # 1628; Black, Gray/Black in front, Gray in back; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. – RHD. 7,370/120hp eight, 3-speed, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, dual sidemount spares with a mirror on the driver’s side, radiator mascot, landau bars, black vinyl roof, luggage trunk, sliding division window, rear dash clock. – From the Don Williams Estate Collection. A show car in the early 1990s, including at Pebble Beach. Known ownership history from new including D. Cameron Peck. Good older paint for the most part, with some imperfections on the red pin striping. Solid chrome and the woodwork is phenomenal, in condition but especially in its craftsmanship. Upholstery looks great. This is a spectacular automobile. – Despite being restored in 1991 this Isotta-Fraschini is still in outstanding condition and has been carefully preserved and consistently honored throughout its life. The details on this Castagna/Isotta creation are endless and fascinating. It was reported sold at RM’s Monterey auction in 2022 for $368,000, but then why is it still in this collection in 2023? A superbly engineered, eloquently designed automobile that emanates quality and sophistication far beyond this price.
Lot # S108 1929 Duesenberg Model J Blind Quarter Brougham, Body by LaGrande; S/N 2210; Engine # J-189; Maroon, Burgundy, Black cloth roof/Maroon cloth; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $800,000. – 420/265hp, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, cowl lights, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, Bedford blackwall tires, Pilot-Ray lights, dual chrome horns, suicide doors, opera mirrors, courtesy light, engine-turned dash, clock. – ACD Category 1 Certified original drivetrain, chassis, and firewall. Originally delivered as a Weymann Sedan but upgraded with this body in 1933. The chassis shows age and use. The paint is aging and shows cracks in places, including several around the hood vent louvers, the cloth roof is seriously faded. The interior is mostly gorgeous, but there are cracks in the wood trim on the right side. The wood running boards look tired, also. It’s a Duesenberg so it’s automatically special, and it looks stunning from a short distance, but there are plenty of issues to note. – This is a remarkably handsome and purposeful Model J with a hood and cowl that is longer than the Brougham body on Duesenberg’s short wheelbase chassis, a proportion that accentuates the incipient power under the hood. This Duesenberg was offered here a year ago and at Kissimmee in January where it was reported bid to $1.1 million and $900,000 respectively. The reported high bid reached the pre-sale estimate here, but didn’t sell. It should have, but having been viewed at all three auctions by the same person it went from a “2” condition last year to a “2-” condition at Kissimmee to a “3+” condition here. Having added only 3 miles to its odometer since Monterey 2022 it might be inferred that familiarity breeds contempt, or that the writer’s standards have been raised. And why it didn’t sell at a reported bid equal to the low estimate? No one but the auctioneer can answer that.
Lot # S109 2021 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT Black Series Coupe; S/N W1KYJ8BA2MA041661; Magnabeam/Black, Orange; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $390,000. – 3,982/720hp, automatic, AMG Speedshift DCT 7-speed, ceramic composite brakes, AMG electronic limited-slip, – 224 original miles, a like new car inside and out. – Another like-new high-performance late-model AMG bid to close enough to what it sold for new. For those who can’t get on the M-B or Ferrari or McLaren initial purchaser lists the secondary market is the place to go, even to get place-holders like this GT Black Series coupe. Look like a mover and shaker without being one.
Lot # S110 2022 Mercedes-Benz SL 55 AMG Convertible; S/N W1KVK8BB5NF008800; Alpine Gray/Black; Black top; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $160,000. – 3,982/469hp, 9-speed automatic, aerodynamic package, carbon fiber trim, yellow calipers, AMG active ride control suspension, AMG electronic limited-slip, AMG Night Package II. – 194 miles from new, a like new car inside and out. – And the reported high bid wasn’t far off what this car would have cost new at the dealer, so the consignor can’t have hoped for a much different high bid than this one. Pursuit of profit is why auction companies exist and if there’s some demand for barely used substantially new cars they will pursue it. Ten percent each way at this price is $32,000 which defrays the cost of some staffer’s travel and weekend salary. It’s a game of numbers even if the cars are barely cooled off from the assembly line.
Lot # S114 1959 BMW 507 Roadster; S/N 70242; Engine # 40266; Red, Red hardtop/Tan; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,200,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,700,000. – 3,168/150hp, 4-speed, red wheels, hub caps, Avon tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, tools, luggage, hardtop, disc brakes. – Restoration work done through the late 1990s to early 2000s. Presentable paint with a few blemishes. Old undercoat in the wheelwells. Clean but not pristine engine compartment. Lightly worn seats and steering wheel, slightly dirty wheels. It has been used and enjoyed a lot since it was restored, but it has also been very well cared for and still looks very good. – A driver quality BMW 507 is, to say the least, highly unusual, but that’s what this is. It was reported sold at Kissimmee seven months ago and turned up here looking for a bump which it didn’t get having paid top dollar at Kissimmee. These are beautiful automobiles. They also are slow for their 3.2 litre V-8s, ready to be embarrassed by XK 150s and XKEs (which also are beautiful even if much more prolific.)
Lot # S117 1933 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Delivery Van, Body by Vincent of Reading; S/N GDX15; Black, Beige caning/Saddle; Estimate $425,000 – $475,000; Concours restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. – RHD. 4-speed, Marchal headlights, central driving lights, dual chrome horns, dual mirrors, single sidemount spare, wheel covers, Engelbert tires. – Represented as one of two cars fitted with this bodywork for the distillery Justerini & Brooks. Concours restored oddball and has some show awards to its credit. A classy way to get your booze delivered. A picture is worth a thousand words. – Justerini & Brooks, the fine wine and spirits merchant founded in the eighteenth century, has supplied spirits to every British monarch since George III. And it would take a royal budget to afford this strange but very cool delivery van, since the seller is holding out for more even at this hefty reported high bid.
Lot # S119 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000047867; Rosso Corsa/Beige leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. – 4,942/340hp, 5-speed, Borletti air conditioning, power windows, Pioneer cassette stereo, centerlock alloy wheels, TRX tires. – Reported to have been bought by actress Kirstie Alley as a gift for her husband Parker Stevenson. Now showing 10,132 miles on an odometer replaced after the original failed at 16,384 miles making the actual mileage about 26,500. Lightly stretched original upholstery, otherwise very clean and original. Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified. – Reported sold by Gooding & Company at Amelia Island in 2016 for $297,000 when the replacement odometer read 9,057 miles. It would not have been unnerving to see it bring a similar price today and is definitely a good value in this transaction for such a well-presented example.
Lot # S125 1963 Shelby Cobra 289 W&S Roadster; S/N CSC2100; Black/Black leather; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $700,000. – 289/271hp, 4-speed, Harrison aluminum radiator, painted wire wheels, Goodyear narrow whitewalls, Talbot Berlin mirror, woodrim steering wheel, Smiths gauges, Rotunda tach. – Believed to be the 100th production car. Original leather from Cobra CSX 2113, nevertheless dry and worn but usable. Old 1980s repaint that definitely looks 40 years old. Not stated but probably a replacement engine. Aged original door panels and dash. Dirty wheel spokes and brakes. Faded badges. A real deal Cobra, but not a great one. – “Not a real deal”? Maybe “nasty” is better and the reported bid here is all (and more) the money for it.
Lot # S126 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10889; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $390,000. – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Panasonic AM-FM, power windows. – Represented as the original engine. Dull, dirty wheels. Good upholstery but dirty dash, console and gauges. Dirty chassis and underbody. A neglected GTC. – This neglected 330 GTC came to auction with a pre-sale estimate range that reflects its condition and the lack of offered service history leaving it up to the bidders to decide whether or not to take on the many uncertainties that its presentation embodies. It’s also almost certain that there was no money in the marquee at the reported high bid for this tired car. If there had been it should have been hammered sold in a minute.
Lot # S128 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N XX29J9B386551; Hemi Orange, Black tail stripe/Black; Estimate $800,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $800,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $880,000. – 426/425hp Hemi, automatic, hub caps, hood pins, A36 Performance Axle, bucket seats, console, Solid State radio, power steering. – One of 70 Hemi Daytonas built. Represented with original drivetrain and bodywork. Good paint, but part of the rubber between the nose and body is ripped and sticking out. Adhesive between the A-pillar and windshield is sloppy. Very good brightwork. Factory panel gaps. Beautiful interior. An awesome car but with troubling flaws. – Rarer and more valuable than the later and more prolific Plymouth Superbird, this Charger Daytona sold for $825,000 at Mecum Kissimmee seven months ago. This result is a high but not outrageous price given its equipment and condition. The constrained price isn’t unusual and the consignor got out nearly whole.
Lot # S130 1965 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Sedanca De Ville, Body by James Young; S/N 5VE21; Ivory White, Royal Blue, caning/White piped in Blue in front, Blue in back; Estimate $185,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. – RHD. 6,320/200hp, automatic, wide whitewalls, wheel covers, dual wing mirrors, Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, Lucas driving lights, air conditioning, division window, rear dash clock and cabinets, rear radio and ventilation controls, suicide rear doors. – From the Don Williams Estate collection. Represented as the only one built to this exact spec. Shown at Earls Court in 1965. Presentable older paint and chrome. Slightly imperfect panel gaps. Mild wrinkling and discoloration on the front leather. The rear leather looks original and shows mild drying and cracking. Looks tidy underneath. This is a stunning car even as it sits, but a basic cosmetic restoration would make it a showstopper. – The only Phantom V built to James Young’s PV15 Sedanca de Ville design featuring unique coachwork elements and 7-passenger seating. Unique and wonderful, but a relic of bygone standards and choices and this is a modest price for a car reported sold last year at RM Sotheby’s Monterey for $134,400.
Lot # S131 1956 Austin-Healey 100/M Le Mans Roadster; S/N BN2L231156; Healey Blue, Old English White/Blue piped in Gray; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000. – 2,660/110hp, 4-speed with overdrive, chrome wire wheels, Avon tires. – Factory-built M and listed in the registry. Lovely paint and brightwork with no real flaws. Imperfect panel fit. The seats look barely sat in. Restored a while ago by a Healey specialist, not overdone, and lightly driven since. – 100 M prices haven’t done much over the past several years but a genuine factory-built car is certainly worth more than the reported high bid here. This one has been advertised privately elsewhere for $195K which, while optimistic, is closer to what the car deserves.
Lot # S149 1966 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Coupe; S/N 194376S112243; Yellow/Black; Estimate $750,000 – $800,000; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $500,000. – L88 427, M22 4-speed, side exhaust, Goodyear Blue Streak tires, roll bar, 36-gallon fuel tank. – Campaigned by Alan Green Chevrolet and Gary Gove in period with early L88 power for reliability testing. Good paint and clean decals. Tidy engine, lightly run. Slightly erratic door fit. A little bit of surface rust on the brakes. An important car with a replacement engine, still ready to race. – How many Corvettes did Alan Green Chevrolet sponsor? They seem to turn up more frequently than is reasonable and how much of this Gary Gove/Alan Green Chevy Corvette is original hasn’t been documented. It isn’t surprising it didn’t sell even at this optimistic bid.
Lot # S150 1965 Bizzarrini P538 Spider, Body by SD; S/N P538B04; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $600,000 – $625,000; Factory rebody 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $275,000. – 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. – This is a mind-bending car (for many reasons). It’s Giotto Bizzarrini’s vision of a world-beating Chevy-powered cost effective prototype, except it was built years after the concept flopped. It has been offered at auction at least six times over the last decade without ever having sold. The offered bids have never been as low as this, ranging around a half-million bucks until now. Overexposure is a disease and this Bizzarrini is overexposed but if it can be bought at money like it attracted at Mecum Monterey it will be a deal.
Lot # S163 1958 Ferrari 250 GT TdF replica Berlinetta, Body by Allegretti; S/N 0885GT; Engine # 0695GT; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Rebodied or re-created 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $650,000. – 2,953/240hp, 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, 14-louvre body, Marchal headlights and driving lights, sliding Plexiglas side windows, lift off hood. – Originally Ellena-bodied, eventually restored with this Allegretti replica 14-louver TdF body and the engine and gearbox from 0695GT. Good paint, better upholstery and gauges. Clean chassis and underbody. Spotless engine compartment. Looks the part. – Sold at Worldwide’s Auburn auction last year for $875,750 so it is easy to see why it didn’t sell at the reported high bid here. A real TdF is highly sought and worth nearly an order of magnitude more that this bid offering some comfort to this car’s owner, even at the price it brought a year ago, however it will never be what it wants to be and will have to live with its elaborate back story.
Lot # S176 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Coupe; S/N WP0AC2A82GK191544; Carrara White Metallic/Black; Estimate $115,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. – 3,800/385hp, 6-speed manual, black wheels. Slotted rotors, red calipers, Bridgestone Potenza tires, CDR Plus audio, fire bottle. – 9,428 miles, and a few may have been on the track. There are some scuffs and dings in those nose, but the PPF appears to have protected against any paint damage. Otherwise blemish-free paint. The interior looks essentially new. – A super desirable track day toy from the day it was launched, Cayman GT4s sold well and haven’t really depreciated despite newer and quicker versions of the Cayman being introduced. This one has been used rather than tucked away, but it still has a ton of life and fun miles left in it. It sold for a fair price.