Research Services

Research Services

My database includes auction results going back to the 1970’s with nearly a quarter-million transactions. Over 50,000 of those records are cars that have been viewed on site and described in detail.

This data is quickly searchable in a number of ways, from specific chassis numbers to Marque/Model/Body Style, and can be customized to present all appearances of a specific request or limited to more recent auctions to get the most timely information.

Output from a search request can be as simple as a transaction list, expanded to a Word document with the full auction report fields including equipment, notes and comments, or presented as an Excel spreadsheet with auction company, location and sale date.

Knowing the contents of the database, how it is structured and the conventions I follow in nomenclature, I can usually help with defining the search criteria to adapt the findings to the client’s specific need, and will usually do so in order to maximize the value of the result, minimize noise in the findings and do so cost-effectively for the client.

Cost is billed according to the effort required to search, refine and report in the desired detail and format and is typically in the range of $100-$250.

Use the “Contact Us” form to request further information, noting “Research Request” in the subject line. I can usually turn a report around in 24-48 hours if I’m not encumbered by travel.

Here is an excerpt from a typical detailed report on Alfa Romeo 6C 1750s:

1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS Testa Fissa Touring; S/N 8513089; Engine # 8513089; Estimate $1,208,325 – $1,449,990. Hammered Sold at $1,127,770 plus commission of 12.00% = final price of $1,263,102 – Lot # 167 RM London 10/31/2012

1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport Zagato Spider; S/N 10814400; Dark Red with Brown leather; Estimate $1,500,000 – $2,200,000. Older restoration, 2- condition. Hammered Sold at $1,250,000 plus commission of 10.00% = final price of $1,375,000 – Black wire wheels, folding windshield, dual rear spares. Late body design with many 8C design elements including a fully disappearing top. – Restored in the early 80’s by Fran Roxas, third in class at Pebble Beach in 1985, Best in Class at Amelia Island in 1996. Re-restored in 2003 with new paint and upholstery. Engine rebuilt by Jim Stokes and dynoed at 100hp with an SU carburetor (original Memini carb comes with the car.) Completed the Mille Miglia in 2009 and 2010. A superb example set up and prepared for driving in long open road events. Cosmetics are showing age, but also a real Alfa Romeo patina the way it should be. – An old friend offered by RM in Arizona in 2002 where it was bid to $290,000, then sold by Gooding in Scottsdale in 2008 for $1,540,000 and reported sold again by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2011 for the same price, a history that does not jibe with this catalog’s ownership history. It showed 1,338 km on its odometer when it sold in 2008 and has 7,052 today, an enjoyable 3,550 miles as well as receiving some much-needed attention and detailing. With its original engine and late-1750 Zagato body as well as the quality workmanship that has gone into it over the past decade or so it is a very good value at this price. Lot # 032 Gooding & Company Scottsdale 1/19/2013

1931 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Gran Sport Zagato Spider; S/N 10814356; Engine # 10814356; Black with Green leather; Estimate $2,400,000 – $2,700,000. Recent restoration, 2- condition. Hammered Sold at $2,800,000 plus commission of 10.00% = final price of $3,080,000 – RHD. Black wire wheels, blackwall Michelin tires, Bosch headlights, radiator stoneguard, dual rear spares. – Thoroughly but not excessively restored to like new condition. Shows a little use but is still nearly like new with paint, chrome and soft trim better than left the factory. Original engine, driveline, chassis and body first owned by Baron Philippe de Gunzbourg. – Sold for $946,000 by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2007 in aged and partially restored but complete condition. Now completed in handsome colors that accent the Zagato coachwork and just back from last year’s Mille Miglia after being shown at Pebble Beach, Amelia Island and Villa d’Este. A little over Bonhams’ high estimate, but a wonderful automobile in great colors and perfect condition for touring. Lot # 130 Bonhams & Butterfields Auctioneers Corporation Scottsdale 1/16/2014

1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS 3rd Series Spider; S/N 0312901; Engine # 0312901; Black with Cognac leather; Estimate $1,905,960 – $2,450,520. Recent restoration, 2+ condition. Post-block sale at $1,085,834 plus commission of 15.01% = final price of $1,248,808 – RHD. Black wire wheels, dual aeroscreens, some later aircraft-style gauges and clock. – Freshly restored in the U.S. and presented in excellent condition with quality paint, chrome and upholstery. The matching numbers engine evidences some repairs but the car has a long history of road and competition use, mostly in South Africa since 1936. Steel body believed to have been built by an unknown British coachbuilder in the Thirties with some 8C 2900A design elements. – Beautifully presented and matching numbers original engine, but handicapped by the later, oddly styled and heavy coachwork. The Rétromobile bidders declined to rise to the alluring bait of Artcurial’s estimate and instead reached this realistic post-block compromise between chassis and coachwork. Lot # 365 Artcurial-Briest-Poulain-F.Tajan Paris 2/8/2014