RM Auctions, Open Roads, February, February 26-28, 2021

RM once again demonstrated the efficiency, efficacy and flexibility of its Online Only platform by conducting a three-day auction in three different currencies, Euros, Dollars and Swiss Francs.

Looking at the success of Open Roads, February it is instructive to think back almost exactly a year to Amelia Island where the awful consequences of the Coronavirus were only just beginning to penetrate public consciousness. It was in a breakfast meeting there with RM’s management that the online format was broached as a potential – and as it turned out, actual – substitute for RM’s Palm Beach auction in a few weeks.

Figuratively speaking, we’ve all come a long way in that year, not that most of us have traveled much farther afield than the grocery store.

Open Roads, February poses a challenge in presentation. The cars are organized in segments with Europe first, followed by North America and the Swiss Porsche Collection. Each segment has its own currency conversion. All were with the same flat 10% Buyer’s Premium.

The table below displays the three-day sale in aggregate, then with individual lines for each of the three segments.

Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Sold < Low Est Sold > High Est Average Sale Median Sale Total $ Exchange Rate
Open Roads, February 26-28, 2021
78/106 73.6% 67.9% 3.8% $147,097 $63,800

[43.4%]

$11,473,535 various
European, February 26, 2021
34/43 79.1%     $117,334   $3,989,360 $1.2093
North America, February 27, 2021
38/56 67.9%     $92,191   $3,503,275 $1.00
Swiss Porsche Collection, February 28, 2021
6/7 85.7%     $663,483   $3,980,900 $1.1000

Observations are from RM’s online descriptions and photographs. Photos are © and courtesy RM Auctions with photography credits where cited. Observations are by Andrew Newton and Rick Carey.




Open Roads February, European, February 26, 2021, sale conducted in €.


Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 108 1998 BMW M Coupe Hatchback; S/N WBSCM91000LB55338; Evergreen/Evergreen, Black leather; Estimate $54,419 – $66,512; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,791. – 3.2/316hp S50 engine, 5-speed, cassette stereo, Continental tires. – Located in Italy. Five owners from new and showing 86,737 km (53,896 mi). Recent service. Repainted. Crack in the right taillight lens. Scratches on the wheels. Old tires. Minor discoloration on the rear window. Light wear on the driver’s seat commensurate with the age and mileage. Dirt and wear to the underbody but no major issues. – The BMW M Coupe is one of those classic cases of cars getting watered down on their journey across the Atlantic. Here in the States, the first 1999-00 cars got a 240-hp version of BMW’s S52 engine, while European models like this one got a much more potent 316-hp S50. Eventually, though, we got M Coupes powered by the S54 engine from the E46 M3. These “clown shoe” M Coupes are a hot item now but their sales were modest when new and many, like this one, were driven regularly. It isn’t neglected but it is used, and after 15 bids it settled at a reasonable number. With premium added it would have fallen within RM’s perfectly reasonable estimate range had it sold at the reported high bid.

Lot # 109 1962 Chevrolet Corvair 95 Rampside Pickup; S/N 2R124S106933; Orange, White/Brown vinyl, Beige cloth; Estimate $42,326 – $48,372; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $33,860. – 145/80hp, two one-barrel carburetors, Powerglide, Sony cassette stereo, wire wheel covers, heater, bed rails, dual outside mirrors, Continental blackwall tires, chrome bumpers, mud flaps, rooftop clearance lights and sunroof added. – Very good paint, interior and chrome. The engine compartment is attractive from the top but underneath shows some fluid leakage. The chassis is clean and dry with light undercoating. Wiring under the dash is messy but new. A usable vehicle rarely seen anywhere, much less in Switzerland where this one is located. – B-J sold a better-than-new Rampside at WestWorld in 2019 for $77,000 and RM sold a similar one in the May Online Summer sale for $88,000. This one isn’t as good as either of those, but is much better than the amount the bidders were willing to pay for it here and should have brought much closer to $40,000 hammer.

Photo by Diana Varga

Lot # 111 1958 De Sanctis Formula Jr.; S/N 005; Red/Black vinyl; Estimate $54,419 – $66,512; Competition restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,791. – 1,098/72hp, dual Weber carburetors, 4-speed, woodrim steering wheel, wraparound windscreen, driver’s head fairing, coil spring independent front suspension, transverse leaf spring swing axle rear suspension, Jaeger tach, alloy wheels. – Chipped, nicked and swirled old paint. Left windscreen mounting pulled out. Built by FIAT dealer Gino De Sanctis, raced successfully in Italian FJr championship by Antonio Maglione. Later used at a driving school, three owners from new. Restored a decade ago, displayed since and shows the age and neglect associated with long display. – Most early Italian Formula Juniors were front engined and De Sanctis was a leader in adopting a mid-engine layout which Maglione used successfully. This De Sanctis is going to need updating, inspection and service before it can be let loose on track but the bidders anticipated that expense in this sensible result. The consignor may not have been as sensible in declining it.

Photo by Cristobal Arjona

Lot # 113 1988 Jaguar XJS V-12 Le Mans Special Edition Coupe; S/N SAJJNAEW4BA156512; Jaguar Racing Green, Gold pinstripe/Beige leather piped in Green; Estimate $30,233 – $36,279; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,558 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,614. – 5.3/295hp, automatic, gold BBS wheels, fog lights, factory cassette stereo, Pirelli tires, tools. – Located in Italy. Delivered new to France. Number 27 of 65 special editions commemorating Jaguar’s 1988 Le Mans win, which finally ended Porsche’s seven-year winning streak. Showing 111,425 km (69,236 mi). Recent service of the cooling system and new tires. Tidy engine bay. Clean interior with light wrinkling of the leather. No major paint or body issues visible. While it has been driven, this XJS was also treated better than most Jags of this era. It looks sharp with these wheels and in these colors. – Finnicky mechanicals and love-it-or-hate-it looks have kept XJSs cheap, even as other performance cars from the 1980s and 1990s continue to appreciate. This price is near the very top of the spectrum for a standard V-12 coupe, with much of the money owing to the fact that it’s such a limited-production special edition. It’s a solid value at this price.

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Lot # 114 1967 Lancia Flavia Convertible, Body by Vignale; S/N 815335002208; Engine # 8153007650; Silver-Grey, Silver-Grey hardtop/Dark Red vinyl; Estimate $36,279 – $42,326; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $32,651 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,916. – RHD. 1,816/92hp flat four, single carburetor, 4-speed, ivory wheels, hubcaps, quad headlights, factory hardtop. – Cosmetically restored in the late 90’s with decent paint and interior. The engine compartment and chassis evidence less attention. One of about forty Flavia convertibles with righthand drive. The catalog says “twin carburetors” but only one is visible in the small selection of photographs. – Lancia was never bothered by convention but even for Lancia the Flavia was a major departure with a horizontally-opposed four cylinder engine after years of building engines with narrow angle vee configurations. This is a rare and intriguing convertible despite a marked resemblance with its hardtop installed to a Nissan Figaro. Let’s hope it went to Japan where its righthand drive is appropriate and where it can stand in as a grown-up Figaro, one of which sold at Mecum’s Kissimmee auction in January for $33,000, almost as much as this much larger, faster and more comfortable Lancia.

Photo by Peter Seabrook

Lot # 117 2007 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 2 + 2, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFAY54B000149346; Tour de France Blue/Grey leather; Estimate $84,651 – $108,837; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,558 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,814. – 5,748/540hp, 6-speed automanual, HGTC handling package, silver calipers, modular alloy wheels, PZero Rosso tires, carbon fiber door sills, UAE delivered with inscrutable labels. – Located in the UK. 23,083 km. Displayed at the Paris Motor Show in 2006 before dispatch to the UAE. Sound original paint with some sand chips and other minor scuffs and scrapes. Very good upholstery. A reasonably clean used car that had a scad of detail photos that are so low resolution and grainy not to mention erratically focused that they are all but useless and there is no mention of service history. – It took only nine bids to get to €50,000, but another six to get to the final €60,000 hammer price. It looks good in TdF Blue over Grey leather, has barely any use in the last fourteen years and is a sound value at this price, even taking into account that it will need to go straight to a Ferrari shop for a full service and inspection.

Photo by Stephane Dufrene

Lot # 119 1966 Austin Mini Cooper 1275S 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N CA2S7L892254; Engine # 9FSAY42017; Island Blue, White roof/Light Blue, White vinyl; Estimate $42,326 – $54,419; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $39,907. – LHD. 1,275/76hp, 4-speed, steel wheels with hub caps. – Located in Italy. Older restoration in its original colors with more recent mechanical servicing done in 2019. Represented as matching numbers engine. Some of the green paint is chipping off the engine but everything under the hood looks restored or replaced and the space is quite clean. No paint or body issues evident, but a lack of inspection report from RM makes assessing that difficult. Clean interior. No major flaws, just a clean and correct Cooper S, for which a matching numbers engine is a big deal. – This Cooper attracted just 10 bids despite its charm, performance, and mostly impressive condition. A deal was probably close at the reported high bid, but the consignor can’t be judged too harshly for expecting more.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 123 1974 Alfa Romeo Alfasud Ti Bimotore 4×4 Wainer Coupe; S/N AS5336460901C; Red, White/Black vinyl, Beige cloth; Estimate $96,744 – $145,116; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $82,232. – Two 1,186/79hp Alfasud Ti flat four engines, 5-speed transmissions, steel wheels, hubcaps, 4-point belts. – Prototype developed by Gianfranco “Wainer” Mantovani. Mediocre quality repaint with recent vinyl graphics, otherwise very much original and aged, if only lightly used. The dual engine concept is not original, Citroen having famously employed it in the 2CV Sahara. Neither is the “Bimotore” name, a famously unsuccessful pre-WWII Alfa Romeo grand prix car. – 2CV Saharas, when they appear, regularly bring high five figures and recently have crossed into six figure territory. The difference between a Sahara and this Bimotore is that the Sahara is well-known and established while this prototype is obscure and unproven, factors that suggest it should have found a new owner at the reported high bid.

Photo by Alexander Babic

Lot # 126 1994 Lancia Hyena Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N ZLA831AB000579320; Verde Zagato/Black leather; Estimate $193,488 – $241,860; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $163,256 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $179,581. – 1,995/250hp, fuel injected and turbocharged Delta HF Integrale Evo chassis, 5-speed, Sony CD stereo, Series # Z 015, alloy wheels, PZero tires, – Good probably original paint and upholstery with light scuffing on the driver’s outside seat bolster. Oily, road grimy chassis. Delaminating windshield corners. Sagging headliner. Clean engine compartment. 8,927km from new, carefully preserved but would benefit from even superficial cleaning of the chassis. – #15 of only 24 built. Reported sold by Bonhams at Paris in 2017 for $171,594, €161,000 at the time. Reported bid to €145,000 on the block and as sold in RM’s official results at this amount. RM got €187,000 (€170,000 plus commission) for one in its European Online Only auction in June, but it was the personal car of Paul Koot, Netherlands Lancia importer and initiator of the Hyena project, and had been tuned to over 300hp. There was probably a bit of commission trading going on after the sale resulting in this realistic conclusion.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 128 2003 Alfa Romeo 147 GTA Hatchback; S/N ZAR93700003135290; Black Metallic/Black leather, Grey inserts and trim; Estimate $24,186 – $36,279; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $29,628 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $32,591. – 3,179/247hp V6, front wheel drive, 6-speed, alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle F1 tires, red calipers, CD stereo, climate control, power windows, books and manuals. – Very clean underneath with light scrapes on the engine undertray and some surface rust and oxidation on suspension components. Clean, dry, orderly engine compartment in near showroom condition. “Fully” serviced this month, whatever that means. It may be 18 years old and have 32,781 km but it looks like much less. There are a few small exterior defects but they are essentially meaningless. An outstanding pocket rocket in excellent condition. – Not yet eligible for import into the U.S., but an intriguing opportunity for an American looking for an unusual car to station strategically in Europe for frequent trips and potentially less expensive and more enjoyable than a rental car if used often enough. The result accurately reflects the potential driving enjoyment and impressive condition and preservation and isn’t expensive even at well over the pre-sale low estimate.

Lot # 131 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11395; Engine # 11395; Red/Black leather; Estimate $411,162 – $459,534; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $417,209 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $458,929. – 3,967/300hp, triple Weber carburetors, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows, – Represented as the original engine with a replacement gearbox. Good older repaint, lightly worn upholstery, good interior trim. Crisp engine compartment, chassis and underbody. All in all, a clean and consistently maintained example. – Sold by Bonhams at Gstaad in 2006 for $136,447, CHF 166,561 at the time. It’s probably not much better today, fifteen years later, but is worth a lot more. Many 330 GTCs are extensively restored and coddled. This one begs to be driven and can be at this price.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 134 1950 Cisitalia 202 SC Cabriolet, Body by (see text); S/N 118SC; Engine # 102238; Blue Metallic/Blue leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $483,720 – $544,185; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $386,976. – RHD. 1,090/60hp, dual Solex carburetors, Nardi intake manifold, 4-speed, brown leather rim steering wheel, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, K&N air filters, – Stablimenti Farina badged but possibly by Vignale. Originally delivered in Uruguay. Mediocre repaint and sound upholstery and interior trim. Aged chrome. Orderly engine compartment and chassis. A sound and attractive open Cisitalia that needs nothing more than a caring new owner. – It also needed, and deserved, more money although in consideration of its condition perhaps not as much as is indicated by the pre-sale low estimate. Not many cars have this kind of event eligibility and style for this kind of money.

Photo by Drivinglandscape

Lot # 135 1953 Minerva Land Rover Series I Utility; S/N 36633393; Engine # 36136506; Green/Burgundy; Green top; Estimate $24,186 – $36,279; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $12,698 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $13,967. – 2.0-liter four, 4-speed manual, side exhaust, wing mirrors, rear-mounted spare. – Located in Italy. Relatively rare Series I Land Rover assembled by Minerva for the Belgian Army from knock-down kits supplied by Rover. About 2,500 were built. Mostly original but not necessarily abused and recently had a full fluid flush. That said, every surface top to bottom is dull and aged, and it looks like it spent much of its life outside. – During the prewar years Belgium’s Minerva built some of the world’s finest, largest, and most expensive motorcars. By the 1950s, however, it had been reduced to building Land Rovers under contract for the Belgian army and by 1956 was defunct. With just a few built for hard military use, Minerva Land Rovers are much harder than to find than their British-built counterparts. And given that the Belgians mostly used steel bodies instead of the aluminum used on British Land Rovers, the Minervas didn’t last as long, either. None of this means that the Minervas are particularly prized, however. In car collecting, home-grown vehicles are almost always worth more than versions built under contract in foreign countries, and this is no exception. Even with a protracted back and forth that totaled 48 bids and several 2-minute extensions, this Rover sold for a few grand less than a British Series I in identical condition would have.

Photo by Gerrit Glockner of BILDERMEISTER

Lot # 136 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘Vetroresina’ Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 19135; Red/Black leather; Estimate $145,116 – $169,302; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $145,116 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,628. – 2,927/255hp, four Weber carburetors, 5-speed, Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, McIntosh CD stereo, Borletti air conditioning, power windows. – Swiss domiciled and two owners from new with 52,510 km. Original except for a quality repaint recent enough that it appears to be free of nicks and chips. The engine compartment and chassis are neat but aged. The upholstery is sound, lightly worn and surface creased with some dye loss on the seatback bolsters. A quality car that has enjoyed an easy and caring life. – One of 712 fiberglass bodied early 308 GTBs that weigh some 330 pounds less than the later steel-bodied 308 GTBs, these early examples have always been sought by collectors who recognize their importance and the performance that less mass powered by a four-Weber carbureted 255hp engine provides. This is a representative result for one and should be satisfying to its new owner who will be able to dust off later V8 Ferraris through the 328 QV and make a 348 struggle to keep up.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 140 1984 Alfa Romeo GTV6 2.5 Autodelta Coupe; S/N AR116360036206; Red/Red, Black cloth; Estimate $84,651 – $108,837; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,558 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,814. – 2,492/154hp (stock, probably more in this Autodelta rally car), fuel injection, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, Pirelli Corsa tires, ATL fuel cell, bolt-in roll cage, single seat, VDO gauges (tach and engine only), Sparco seat, Sabelt 4-point belts. – Rally prepared by Autodelta from new, successfully Group A rallied in Italy by Maurizio Iacoangeli. Documented by a copy of the original Autodelta invoice and CSAI technical passport. Good quality repaint that got to most of the details but left some difficult to reach places with original paint. The engine and chassis are clean aside from some old road grime here and there. The interior surfaces have been repainted, the seat is old, a little dirty and faded. An intriguing car with reasonable potential. – This result is over three times what a standard GTV 6 in comparable condition could be expected to bring in the U.S. but its Autodelta rally preparation and performance potential more than support the premium.

Lot # 142 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Volante; S/N DBVC3633R; Engine # 4003140; Red/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $453,488 – $513,953; Unrestored original 4 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $417,209 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $458,929. – 3995/282hp, automatic, wire wheels, aftermarket Blaupunkt cassette stereo. – Located in Dubai. In project condition with dull, severely cracked old repaint and dull brightwork. Decent interior. No severe rust or rot visible underneath. Slightly dirty, lifeless engine bay but everything appears complete. Yes it’s a project and yes it’s an automatic, but it deserves to be saved. – One of several cars offered here from the UAE in similar neglected condition. RM sold this car at the Phoenix sale in 2007 for $220,000. Other than 12 fewer km on the odometer it’s in identical condition and still waiting for the attention it deserves. All classic Astons are worth more than they were 14 years ago, even projects, but for an automatic and a right-hand driver outside of the UK, this is a very generous result.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 144 1963 Foglietti Formula 3 Junior; S/N 030; Red, Green nose band/Black vinyl; Estimate $48,372 – $60,465; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $41,116. – 998/90hp Ford, single dual choke 40DCOE2 Weber using only one throat, fire system, leather rim steering wheel, braced roll bar, Jaeger gauges, rocker arm inboard coil spring front suspension, coil spring rear, alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, documented with a FIVA identity card, CSAI technical passport and expired FIA HTP. – One of two built, the only known survivor. FIVA document shows it being driven in 1963-64 by Alberto Ascari’s son Tonino. Restored to very good competition car condition in 2010. There is some paint loss inside the cockpit, some fluid residue on the engine and a cracked old seat insert but otherwise it is essentially like new and reassuring. – The lack of a definitive early competition history is compounded by the obscurity of Foglietti as a recognized constructor. It’s no surprise that the car, as attractive and well prepared as it is, attracted only six bids on the way to this inconclusive result.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 145 1988 Alfa Romeo 33 1.5 4×4 Sport Wagon; S/N ZAR905A2005416802; Silver/Grey cloth; Estimate $12,093 – $14,512; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $10,279 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,307. – 1,490/93hp boxer four, Weber carburetor, 5-speed, 4-wheel drive, power windows, Panasonic cassette stereo, alloy wheels, Michelin tires. – Water stained headliner above the rear doors and the hatch. Serviceable recent repaint, good original cloth upholstery and interior trim. Used, road grimy engine compartment and chassis. 45,537 km from new and looks like it has been carefully used and maintained. An intriguing and practical Alfa. – My son, Allen, and I discussed making a run at this unusual Alfa 4×4 Sport Wagon as relief from his case of Prius-ennui, the consequence of having an old Toyota Prius as his family’s only car. In the end good sense and practicality prevailed and we stayed on the sidelines, but this is an interesting car with practical uses for a young family that likes to hike, camp and ski while arriving in something that is going to be singular in the parking lot, even an Alfa Owners Club meet parking lot. It’s a solid value at this result.


Open Roads February, North America, February 27, 2021, sale conducted in US$.

Lot # 206 1971 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow LWB 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N LRX9877; Black, Black vinyl roof/Tan leather; Estimate $25,000 – $30,000; Unrestored original 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $7,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,975. – 6,750/220hp V-8, automatic, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, woodrim steering wheel, tools and books. Comes with a pair of rear footrests. – Located in California. Coolant leak noted, along with weak brakes. Dusty, grimy engine bay otherwise. Same goes for the underbody. Severe blistering and some rot under the bumpers. Average quality paint with a handful of scratches and chips. Good panel fit and brightwork. Widespread but light wrinkling to the leather. Crack in the wood on the steering wheel. A stately ride in need of a lot, and that’s just judging by the pictures. There are surely even more needs and shop bills ahead. – This car may have had a head-scratchingly high $25,000 estimate, but the bidders weren’t fooled on this one, recognizing the car’s shortcomings and not putting much stock into the fact that it’s a rare LWB model. This price is about as much as the car deserves. Remember, though, that there’s no such thing as a cheap Rolls-Royce. One line on the next shop invoice could easily exceed the purchase price.

Lot # 211 1964 Amphicar Model 770 Convertible; S/N 101261; Engine # GK1352HF; White/Red, White vinyl; Black top; Estimate $75,000 – $95,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $73,000. – 1147/43hp Triumph engine, 4-speed, red steel wheels with hub caps, whitewalls, – Located in Ohio. Restoration finished last year with $64,000 in receipts, represented with just 3 miles since completion, and reportedly hasn’t yet seen the water. A handful of scuffs on the body side trim, on one of the headlight bezels and the A-pillar. Otherwise it’s fresh and gorgeous. – A mediocre automobile and a worse boat, the Amphicar is one of those automotive gimmicks that can easily charm you, and its dual purpose capabilities are almost unique in the classic car market. That’s why good examples are expensive. Other, better Amphicars have sold for more than this reported high bid, but the bidders here went through a few 2-minute extensions and settled on a reasonable number. This model 770 could have gone to a new home at the reported high bid.

Lot # 217 2003 Ferrari 575M Maranello Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFBV55AX30133721; Dark Blue/Natural leather; Estimate $110,000 – $140,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500. – 5,748/515hp fuel injection, 6 speed automanual, SF shields, yellow calipers, Daytona-style seats, Becker Silverstone CD changer stereo, climate control, modular alloy wheels, PZero tires, power seats and windows, books, tools, car cover. – Good original paint other than a repainted right rear quarter following a scrape. The upholstery is clean and tight although the glove box door covering is lumpy. The engine compartment is remarkably clean, as is the chassis. It is not a car that’s seen much if any inclement weather. Represented as 12,373 miles from new and looks like it. – This is a particularly attractive car with great colors, lavish equipment and the 6-speed. The price it brought here is paddle shift money, perhaps due to an abundance of caution after the Carfax minor accident damage report. The Carfax’s confusing wording, “involved in an accident, but that the vehicle was not damaged. Following this incident, the passenger-side rear quarter was repainted”, may be a factor. What was it? A loose shopping cart collision in a parking lot? In any event, this is a good value, even one bid over the low estimate.

Lot # 224 2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF60FCA2B0179731; Black/Natural leather; Estimate $150,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $145,000. – 5,999/620hp, 7-speed automanual, SF shields, yellow calipers, 20-inch Challenge wheels, yellow tach face, Daytona-style seats, interior carbon fiber trim, manuals, car cover, battery tender, tool kit. – Canadian delivery car with 28,611 km from new. Thirty photos of digital paint gauge readings, but not a single photo of the engine compartment. On the available photographic evidence it is a carefully driven and consistently maintained original car. – The 599 GTB Fiorano is an epic Ferrari, combining lightweight construction, a highly developed dry sump engine, advanced electronics, sumptuous luxury and state-of-the-art brakes into a front-engined GT with nearly Ferrari Enzo-level performance. It took fourteen bids to get to this result and should have been let go.

Lot # 226 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N VE55S001106; Engine # F55FG; Polo White/Red vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $90,000. – 265/195hp, Powerglide, WonderBar radio, wheel covers, whitewalls, heater. – Restored by Kevin MacKay’s Corvette Repair in 2012, followed by a 2012 NCRS Top Flight award. Displayed since and still better than new. – Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson WestWorld in 2018 for $99,000. With commission this would have been the same result and the reported bid warranted serious consideration.

Lot # 227 1967 Porsche 911 Race Car Coupe; S/N 306478; Engine # 909757; Cranberry, Silver stripes and lower body/Black; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Modified for competition during restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $97,000. 1,991/208hp, dual Solex carburetors, 5-speed, fuel cell, fire system, roll bar, Fuchs wheels, Toyo Proxes tires, Sparco driver’s seat, Porsche passenger’s seat, leather rim steering wheel, 4-point belts, original bill of sale, engine dyno sheets, manuals and logbooks documented – Engine and gearbox numbers match the Porsche CoA. Early short wheelbase 911, modified for low stress racing in the early ’00s by Steve Kupperman. Sound old paint and interior. Orderly engine compartment. Street registered and not race prepared for some time, inspection and updating are in order. – Ancient half-hearted race prep and no recent history of maintenance or service are not attributes that commend this Porsche. It’s neither a street car nor a race car at this point and the reported high bid fully, even generously, values its mediocrity.

Lot # 235 1917 Packard 2-25 Twin Six Runabout; S/N Engine No. 127642; Engine # 127642; Cream, Red chassis/Tan leather; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500. – 424/88hp V12, single carburetor, 3-speed, Hispano-Suiza front axle, 4-wheel mechanical drum brakes, dual sidemounts, chrome spoke Buffalo 20-inch wire wheels, folding windshield, no fenders or doors, woodrim steering wheel, Liberty Lens headlights. – Converted to this runabout style on a shortened chassis in Argentina but with no known competition history. Restored in the U.S. in the early 00’s, displayed at Pebble Beach in 2005 and at the National Packard Museum in 2005. The paint, upholstery and brightwork are still sound and bright although there are some chips from being used. Intriguing and with some documentation of a colorful history. – An intriguing hot rod that should be an exciting drive, ideal for vintage racing events for pre-20’s cars and not excessively priced. Enzo Ferrari is said to have admired the Twin Six Packards used by U.S. generals in the Great War and he might smile down on this cutdown racer.

Photo by Karissa Hosek

Lot # 241 1958 Scarab Reproduction Sports Racer; S/N 195808015C; Blue, White scallops/Black; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Facsimile restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. – 364 cid Chevrolet LS2 block, LS3 heads, Schwartz cam, 5-speed Tremec TK0600, Winters quick change, Wilwood 4-piston disc brakes, coilover suspension, aluminum body, 5-point belts, wraparound Lexan windscreen, 4-spoke steering wheel, Halibrand-style kidney bean centerlock alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, driver’s head fairing, independent rear suspension with inboard brakes – 2010 reproduction built by Scarab Motorsports showing only 2,513 miles. Excellent paint, interior, engine compartment and chassis. Built to high standards and barely used. Lance Reventlow and Chuch Daigh would have loved having power and handling like this. – A Scarab Reproduction with an LS2/3 and no exotic carburetion is not a reproduction. It is at best an ‘evocation’ no matter how well the body contours are reproduced. It’s like a Lancia Stratos kit car with an Alfa GTV6 drivetrain: fun to drive but in the end not what it wants or purports to be. It is impossible to say what it’s “worth” so the conclusion of the bidders and of the seller that this is its “price” should be conclusive.

Photo by Mo Satarzadeh

Lot # 242 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 Convertible; S/N 578C11659; Jade Mist/Jade Mist, White leather; White vinyl top; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. – 371/277hp, automatic, wheel covers, whitewalls, boot cover, power windows, WonderBar radio. – Located in California. Restored in the 1990s and mostly displayed or shown since. Very good paint, chrome, and interior. Good panel fit. Rear window on the top has shrunken and the top material is creased from constantly being down. Excellent engine bay and underbody. Not done yesterday, but the quality of the work is apparent, and this car can still be shown with confidence. – Bid to $69,000 on the block and later shown by RM at $71,500 all-in. 1950s American cars, particularly ones from orphan brands like Oldsmobile, aren’t getting any more valuable and this car is unlikely to find a much higher bid elsewhere even though it was reported sold by Gooding at Amelia in 2011 for $126,500.

Photo by Greg Keysar

Lot # 247 1962 Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2 Series II ‘Hot Rod’ 2 + 2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 3723; Black/Beige leather; Estimate $400,000 – $725,000; Modified restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $620,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $682,000. – 2,953/320hp replacement engine, three Weber 40DC26 carburetors, AP clutch, lightened flywheel, oil cooler, high-torque starter, upgraded brakes, alternator, larger radiator, power windows, Marchal headlights and fog lights, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Blaupunkt radio. – The original engine #3723 (internal number 388/62E) is included. Once owned by Jay Kay of Jamiroquai, Ferrari Classiche certified, although that is irrelevant after the nearly $300,000 in modifications. Stone chipped nose and hood, chipped and peeled old undercoat with some superficial repainting, chipped door sills, door and hood edges. Good upholstery. Beautiful engine compartment. An expensive exercise in Ferrari one-upsmanship. – The subject of a serious bidding battle, this hot rod 250 GTE was at $425,000 with 23 bids at the start of the final run. Bidding was extended six times before finally succumbing to the successful bidder’s $20,000 bump to the successful bid. The result is an endorsement of the decision to undertake the many modifications and upgrades coming in at a price differential over a good standard 250 GTE close to the huge bundle invested in improving it. The bidders recognized the appeal and paid the price.

Photo by Maxx Shostak

Lot # 248 1957 Buick Century Caballero Estate Wagon, Body by Ionia; S/N 6D2034615; Teal metallic, White/White, Teal piping; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Customized restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000. – 401 Nailhead V8, triple 2-barrel Rochester carburetors, Offenhauser intake manifold, 700R4 automatic, power front disc brakes, power steering, air conditioning with a modern rotary compressor, pushbutton radio, power antenna, power windows, chrome reversed wheels, hubcaps, Radial whitewalls. – Lowered, shaved doors, nosed and decked. Excellent paint, chrome, interior, engine compartment and chassis which looks barely used. One of the odometer wheels is unreadable but the rest show about 1,100 miles. – Sold by Gooding at Amelia in 2014 for $132,000 ($120,000 hammer.) The 4-door hardtop Caballero was the only station wagon available in the Century line in 1957 and Buick sold 10,186 of them. It is still a slick, handsome wagon, aided in this example by the modest customizing and the upgraded performance which, weighing over two tons empty, it needs. Under the circumstances it’s not surprising it didn’t sell, but it should have been close.

Lot # 254 2001 Ferrari 456M GT Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFWL44A810122992; Grigio Titanio/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000. – 5,474/442hp, 6-speed, alloy wheels, PZero tires, Assembly No. 40300, books and tools. – Unblemished original paint. The driver’s seat is lightly burnished appropriate to the 29,218 km the car has covered since new. A number of photos of the underside show it to be totally free of front and rear scrapes, a rare thing even for a pampered Ferrari. Described as last serviced in early 2017. – It’s not surprising that this 456M GT didn’t change hands at this bid but good to keep in mind that the 6-speed was, at least for next few years after it was built, the standard gearbox and the automatic in the 456M GTA was a slushbox auto, not a hydraulically-shifted “F1” gearbox.

Photo by Bianca Delmar

Lot # 259 1954 Kaiser-Darrin 161 Roadster; S/N 161001390; Yellow Satin, Black hardtop/White leather; White cloth top; Estimate $170,000 – $180,000; Cosmetic restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,500. – 161 cid Willys F-head six, McCulloch centrifugal supercharger, single one-barrel carburetor, 3-speed, wire wheel covers, whitewalls, Motorola radio, turn signals, heater, wind wings, dual rear antennas, side curtains, this car has overdrive but the handle has been tape secured to keep it from being engaged. – Paint is chipped around the driver’s door handle. Large touch up at the bottom right of the windshield. Very pretty, shiny paint otherwise. Very good, lightly worn restored interior. Good top and hardtop. Very good chrome. Cosmetically restored relatively recently, leaving the chassis and underbody with old undercoat and dull chassis black paint. The rare period options the car is advertised with, namely the supercharger and the hard top, were not fitted to the car originally but added later. A neat car in striking colors and sound condition for weekend drives and display at local events. The Dutch Darrin-designed hardtop is very attractive. – Reported sold by RM at Arizona in 2016 for $176,000 where the odometer showed exactly the same 39,197 miles as it does here. The later supercharger detracts from originality while adding to performance, although it’s still not very fast. The hardtop is a distinctive, rare and attractive addition and at nearly $40,000 less than it brought five years ago this is a very good value.


Open Roads February , Swiss Porsche Collection, February 28, 2021, sale conducted in Swiss Francs.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 304 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder; S/N WP0ZZZ91ZFS800389; Liquid Chrome Blue Metallic/Mocha Brown leather; Estimate $1,072,500 – $1,210,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,001,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,101,100. – 4593/887hp. – Located in Switzerland. Showing just 5,481 km (3,406 mi) and showing no wear to speak of. – Values for these hybrid hypercars were at their peak in 2017-18, when they were old enough to hit the wider second-hand market but still new enough to be some of the quickest and most advanced things on four wheels. Prices have softened since but this result was nevertheless well ahead of the (downward) curve. There isn’t anything noteworthy wrong with the car, and yet it’s the both the lowest-priced 918 we’ve seen at auction and the first one we’ve seen sell for $1 million even.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 305 1995 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet; S/N WP0ZZZ99ZSS338509; Black/Black; Maroon top; Estimate $852,500 – $962,500; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $704,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $774,400. – 3,601/400hp M64 engine, RUF gearbox with no clutch pedal, car phone, carbon fiber steering wheel, dash, shifter, handbrake, and door cards. – Located in Switzerland. Represented as one of just 14 993 Turbo Cabriolets built and represented as special ordered by Willi Weber, Michael Schumacher’s manager. Special features include ample carbon fiber trim and the RUF-sourced gearbox sans clutch pedal. No major flaws in the paint, but it does show some age. Scuff on the outer driver’s seat bolster and light wear on some interior surfaces, but nothing out of the ordinary for a 26-year-old car showing 33,475 km (20,800 mi). – This is a massive price for any 993, but Porsche collectors prove time and time again that special order features can add up to serious coin, and this car’s rare body style is an added draw. RM Sotheby’s sold it at Paris in 2018 for €680,000 ($835,108 at the time, this result is €640,400 all-in), which backs up this result in 2021.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 307 2005 Porsche Carrera GT; S/N WP0CA29835L001096; Fayence Yellow/Dark Grey leather; Estimate $852,500 – $907,500; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $781,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $859,100. – 5,733/605hp V10, 6-speed manual, Pilot Super Sport tires. – Located in Switzerland. U.S.-delivered originally. Came to Europe in the late 2000s and represented with three services in Switzerland. Showing 10,171 miles and presents very well as just about any Carrera GT does, but this car isn’t quite like new. There are scuffs on the driver’s side sill. There is also a fine paint crack ahead of the right front wheel and some paint is chipping off the black exhaust tips. There are also a few more chips photographed, but the shots are so close that determining their location is difficult. – A spot-on result for the condition and mileage, although given the rare color it could have brought a few more bids without being expensive, although it took twenty bids just to get this far and advanced only two bids and CHF 50,000 from its high bid the evening before.

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Comments

    • KD fan
    • March 4, 2021
    Reply

    Thanks as always for your valuable write-ups. Re the Kaiser-Darrin about which you write: “The hardtop is a distinctive, rare and attractive addition and at nearly $40,000 less than it brought five years ago this is a very good value.”

    Perhaps, although my sense is that Kaiser-Darrin values are down a good bit since five years ago. The difference in value may just reflect the changing KD market since 2016.

      • rickcarey1
      • March 12, 2021
      Reply

      Yeah, maybe I was a bit obtuse (do enough of these and sometime context gets mixed up).
      What should be said is that, all things considered, this is a solid value in a remarkable K-D with the hardtop.
      Rick

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