While not as impressive as 2022’s one-day 69-lot performance, RM Sotheby’s auction at the Arizona Biltmore RM turned in a curve-setting total in 2023.
$44.6 million in a single-day sale is exceptional. Its $558,079 average transaction is bettered only by 2022’s $665,394 million average transaction and 2015’s $578,232 million average. That kind of average is usually exceeded only by the headline auctions at Monterey in August where mega-dollar cars frequently see the average pushed (or pulled) over $1 million.
Eleven cars sold on hammer bids of $1 million or more and RM’s $4,075,000 LaFerrari seemed destined to be the Scottsdale week’s top sale … until it was ambushed the next day by Bonhams 1912 Simplex 50hp Torpedo Tourer, a notable contrast that highlights just how diverse car collectors’ tastes are.
RM also displayed an intriguing mix of periods in their million-dollar cars. Of the eleven, three were from the 2000s, one from the 90’s, one from the 80’s, one from the 70’s, three from the 60’s and two from the 50’s. [3+1+1+1+3+2=11, right?] That distribution is typical these days in seven-figure cars, which again makes Bonhams 1912 Simplex a major outlier.
You may infer that I am sympathetic toward many of the old cars that exhibit originality of thought and design. RM’s oldest was a 1930 Model A; only six were built before World War II. Thirty-one were built after the turn of the 21st century.
Age and value aside, RM’s Arizona auction was an affirmation of the diversity of collectible cars.
Now on to Paris where RM Sotheby’s, Bonhams and Artcurial go at it again in only a week. I won’t be in Paris, instead staying home (as I have since December) to take care of my wife who is having a complicated cancer chemotherapy.
Here are the numbers:
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 2023 | 80/89 | 89.9% | 70% | 6.3% | $558,079 | $201,600
[36.1%] |
$44,646,340 |
| 2022 | 65/69 | 94.2% | 24.6% | 30.8% | $665,394 | $302,000
[45.4%] |
$43,250,600 |
| 2021 | 73/84 | 86.9% | 50.7% | 20.6% | $478,596 | $151,200
[31.6%] |
$34,937,519 |
| 2020 | 128/143 | 89.5% | 76.6% | 6.3% | $237,080 | $106,400
[44.9%] |
$30,346,210 |
On-site observations and photos are by Andrew Newton and Greg Ingold. Observations are sorted in lot number order.
Lot # 110 1983 Excalibur Series IV Roadster; S/N 1XARF2316DM831427; Arctic White/White leather piped in Red; White vinyl top; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $53,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $59,360. – 305/155hp GM V8, floor shift automatic, wire wheels, dual enclosed sidemount spares, narrow whitewalls, dual spotlights, wood dash, Blaupunkt cassette, power windows, air conditioning, single Hella fog light. – Showing 2,880 miles. Lightly aged but good original paint and chrome. Yellowing in some seams on the roof vinyl. Minor road dirt underneath. Lightly wrinkled leather, mildly fading gauges and switchgear, but mostly good interior. Light pitting on the door handles. Minor issues. As stately as they are, many Excaliburs aren’t as clean as this one. – Neoclassics are an odd genre in the collector car sphere, as old cars made to look like even older cars. They have their adherents, though, and Excalibur, formed by famous designer Brooks Stevens, is probably the best known make and one that commands decent prices. The fiberglass-bodied throwback resembles a Mercedes SSK from the 1930s but with (relatively) modern amenities and reliability. RM Sotheby’s had a six-figure estimate on this admittedly very nice one, but was way off. This result is a lot closer to what other Excaliburs have sold for recently, and both parties can be satisfied with the price.
Lot # 112 1939 Talbot-Lago T23 Major 3-Position Cabriolet, Body by Chausson; S/N 93463; Engine # 23560; Light Blue, Blue/Brown; Beige top; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600. – RHD. 4,082/115hp six, Wilson pre-selector gearbox, hub caps, Michelin X tires, landau bars, suicide doors, dual wing mirrors, Marchal driving lights. – Restored in the 1970s, regularly enjoyed by multiple collectors, and has gotten regular attention over the years including new upholstery in 2013. Decent older paint, but there are chips around some panel edges, cracks on a few of the fenders and runs on top of the driver’s door, plus clear bra over the front fenders that looks like a long scratch at first glance. Scratched and pitted windshield frame. The interior, by contrast, looks very good, since it was so recently redone. The wood trim is solid and apart from some light smudges that would probably clean out, the leather looks fresh. Tidy underneath. Needs nothing for a casual drive, but new paint and chrome plus a general detailing would bring this Talbot to the next level. And though not unattractive, this is far from the most graceful coachwork ever draped over a Talbot-Lago. – Sold by RM at Amelia Island for $159,500 in 2013, when its odometer showed just 15 fewer km than it does today. It then brought $173,600 at the very successful RM Sotheby’s Elkhart Collection sale in late 2020. Looking at this car’s price history in isolation you might think that a bubble had burst. Really, though, Arizona 2023 saw plenty of fair, strong numbers and was more of a return to rational bidding. There also wasn’t the right buyer in the room on the lookout for a Talbot-Lago in uninspiring condition and with so-so coachwork. The $150k low estimate wasn’t unreasonable. Someone just swooped in on a neat prewar French car at no reserve for a good bargain.
Lot # 113 1969 Plymouth GTX Hemi Convertible; S/N RS27J9G277476; Black/Black Vinyl; White top; Estimate $190,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $190,400. – 426/425hp Hemi, 4-speed, power brakes and steering, Dana 60 with Sure Grip, air grabber hood, body color wheels with hub caps, bucket seats, console, AM radio. – Represented as one of just five 4-speed Hemi convertibles built in 1969. Not matching numbers. Restored in 2006. Excellent paint and body. The brightwork is like new. The engine compartment is incredibly clean and correctly displayed, and the underbody is clean and shows little sign of use. The interior is freshly restored. A very good restoration with minimal use. – Reported sold at Mecum Kissimmee in 2016 for $165,000 while showing only one fewer mile on the odometer than it does today. Today’s result is $170,000 hammer from which a seller’s commission will be deducted meaning that the consignor got less that what was paid seven years ago, not an encouraging ROI. An intriguing car with a replacement engine, this is a responsible result that both the buyer and the seller can be content with.
Lot # 120 2012 Lexus LFA Coupe; S/N JTHHX8BH5C1000072; Engine # 1LR0001576; Absolutely Red/Red leather; Estimate $700,000 – $800,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; Post-block sale at $609,091 plus commission of 10.82%; Final Price $675,000. – 4,805/553hp, red calipers, Bridgestone Potenza tires. – Serial LFA075. Represented with 7,400 miles and looks like a new car on top, but there are some scrapes to the underside. Unusual color combo on an LFA, and you sure better like red. – Although LFAs have gotten more expensive as modern collectibles, the market for high six-figure Japanese hypercars is thinner than it is for European ones, and even thinner when the colors are just so, well, red. This car fell well short of expectations in a transaction closed post-block at a negotiated price. In terms of price guide values, in terms of RM’s presale estimate, and surely in terms of what the seller was expecting, especially since the same car sold on Bring a Trailer only last August for $730,000.
Lot # 121 2017 Ferrari F12tdf Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF81BFA3H0224694; Rosso Scuderia, Blue and White stripes/Red and Black leather; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,125,000 plus commission of 10.44%; Final Price $1,242,500. – 6,262/769hp, 7-speed AutoManual, bronze calipers, full leather interior in place of the standard Alcantara, luggage, AFS lighting, carbon fiber trim. – Represented with 708 miles and like new. One of 799 built and one of 299 US-delivered cars. $170,000 in options. – This result is about double the original MSRP, maybe a little less taking the extensive and expensive options into account. The question is why is it worth so much more? That is left up to the judgment of the marketplace and the imperative for collectors who couldn’t get on Ferrari’s preferred buyer list in 2017 to break into the chain. And that’s not to demean the price it brought here, which is appropriate in today’s secondary market, only to question why it is appropriate.
Lot # 124 1995 Ferrari F512 M Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFVG40AXS0100483; Engine # 37826; Canna di Fucile (gunmetal) Metallizzato/Beige leather; Estimate $625,000 – $700,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $615,000 plus commission of 10.81%; Final Price $681,500. – 4,943/440hp, 5-speed, Speedline modular wheels, Continental tires. – From the second to last year for the Testarossa series. Showing 14,173 miles. Well cared for including a recent engine-out belt service. Rare colors. Looks nearly new. Represented as the 16th of 75 US-market cars, and this color combination is reportedly only found on one other F512M. – The F512M is also the quickest, the rarest, the most developed, and naturally the most expensive of the Testarossa series. These cars spiked in value along with so many other classic Ferraris during the mid-2010s, then plateaued and stayed steady until growing again during 2020-22. This car’s growth from its $599,500 sale price at Pebble Beach 2015 to $681,500 at Arizona 2023 is indicative of that. In those eight years its odometer has added only 39 miles, a lost driving opportunity.
Lot # 126 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe; S/N WP0AC2999VS375793; Ocean Blue Metallic/Cashmere Beige leather; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $495,000 plus commission of 11.01%; Final Price $549,500. – 3,601/424hp, 6-speed, yellow calipers, all-wheel drive, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, sunroof, tinted glass, white face gauges, carbon fiber trim on the steering wheel and dash, CD changer. – Represented with 22,017 miles. Very minor chips on the nose, one on the left mirror, and one on the far left of the windshield. Wrinkling leather on the driver’s seat. Good, lightly driven example. The Turbo S was the nicest and most highly developed 993 you could buy. – Sold at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction in 2016 for $484,000, anything less than the price it brought here seven years later would be an insult.
Lot # 128 1992 Aston Martin Virage Coupe; S/N SCFCAM2SXNBL50295; Cannock Black/Magnolia leather piped in Black; Estimate $135,000 – $165,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $100,800. – 5,341/330hp, 5-speed, alloy wheels, Avon Turbospeed tires, power windows, power seats, original Blaupunkt stereo, manuals, window sticker and build sheet documented. – Represented with 6,847 miles. Good original paint showing a little age but no flaws. The interior looks nearly new. – Sold at Mecum Kissimmee in 2020 for $82,500, and barely more valuable today despite the low miles, limited ownership history and desirable 5-speed (one of only 13 believed delivered to North America). It is a lot of luxury performance coupe for the money especially with its originality and preservation.
Lot # 129 1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 14207; Engine # B824; Rosso Chiaro/Black; Estimate $550,000 – $600,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.83%; Final Price $665,000. – 4,390/352hp, 5-speed, Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power windows, air conditioning, Voxson radio, lap belts, fire bottle, books, tool roll, silver painted nose panel, popup lights. – With the first owner for 46 years. Matching numbers. Good but older paint and chrome. Lightly scratched windshield frame. The cloth around the side windows is fraying a bit. A few minor blemishes on the wheels. Lightly worn seats and steering wheel. A good driver Daytona, never restored but consistently maintained. – Daytona values have been fairly volatile by Ferrari standards over the years, slipping significantly during the ’08 recession, then spiking during the Ferrari boom of the mid-2010s, then falling significantly again during the sleepier years of the late 2010s. Prices still aren’t quite what they were a few years ago but they have gained back quite a bit of ground, and this is a rational price for a solid unrestored car in traditional colors today.
Lot # 130 1987 Porsche 959 Komfort Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ95ZHS900057; Grand Prix White/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $1,600,000 – $2,000,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,525,000 plus commission of 10.33%; Final Price $1,682,500. – 2,849/450hp, white wheels, Bridgestone tires, tinted glass. – Sold new in Germany, then in the UK by the early 1990s when it had the speedometer replaced with a unit measuring in miles after covering 2,811 km. It now shows 15,080 miles. Represented as the numbers-matching engine. There is a minor crack in the left front marker lens, plus two small chips on the bottom front. A scrape on the left rear wheel has been touched up, a bit crudely. The interior looks fantastic, and there don’t appear to be any issues other than cosmetic ones. – Reported sold by RM at London in November 2021 for $1,562,427, only a smidgen different from what it brought today and today showing only 166 more miles than it did fourteen months ago, the definition of a static market for an important automobile.
Lot # 132 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 10325; Engine # 10325; Silver/Black; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,050,000 plus commission of 10.16%; Final Price $3,360,000. – 3,286/320hp, 5-speed, Borrani wheels, Motorola radio, power windows. Documented by Marcel Massini. – Represented as the 203rd of 330 built. American market car with four owners from new, including 45 years with one family. $44,855 engine rebuild in 2017. Decent overall with only one noticeable chip on the nose which has been filled. The chrome presents very well. The engine compartment is very clean, while the underbody is clean and shows light use. The seats have some creases to the upholstery, however the interior is absent of major wear. Never fully restored. – Sold by Bonhams at Amelia seven years ago in 2016 for $2,750,000 but the odometer, now showing 69,509, has added only 17 miles since then. This result includes a healthy premium for preservation and the now six year old engine rebuild.
Lot # 134 1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan, Body by LeBaron; S/N 2350; Engine # J-338; Red, Burgundy fenders and coachline/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Older restoration 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.53%; Final Price $1,050,000. – 420/265hp, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, Firestone blackwall tires, dual sidemount spares with covers, luggage trunk, dual spotlights, landau bars, suicide front doors, dual chrome horns, engine-turned dash. – Formerly in the Petersen Automotive Museum. Other well-known owners include Judge John North, Homer Fitterling (for whom it was restored with this coachwork originally from J-127/2152), Ed Weaver, the Johnson family collection and Aaron Weiss. ACD Certified Category 1. Shown at Pebble Beach in 2018. Restored decades ago then restored again in the mid-2010s. Beautiful paint, chrome, and underbody. Very lightly worn seats and the panel gaps are a little imperfect. Show-ready. – Sold by Gooding at Amelia in 2013 for $462,000 before the most recent restoration. A handsome and unusual body (originally intended for a Packard) on Duesenberg’s short wheelbase chassis. Original drivetrain but the firewall from 2152. Bought reasonably here, a different looking Duesenberg with a clear history that will stand out on any show field.
Lot # 141 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari Coupe; S/N ZFF76ZFA2E0207435; Blu Elettrico, Black roof/Crema, Black leather; Estimate $4,000,000 – $4,500,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,700,000 plus commission of 10.14%; Final Price $4,075,000. – 6,262/949hp, paddle shift 7-speed, Pirelli P Zero tires, magnesium gray wheels, black calipers, embroidered headrests. Ferrari Classiche Yellow Book issued. – Ordered new by collector Greg Whitten in Seattle. Represented with 3,186 miles. Unusual but attractive colors and this is reportedly the only LaFerrari finished in these colors. Looks practically new. – Despite the mileage being on the somewhat high side for one of these hybrid hypercars, the unique colors and good specs brought it to top dollar. It was likely to be the top seller in Scottsdale until Bonhams’ 1912 Simplex swooped in and surprised everyone at $4.845M.
Lot # 142 1971 Iso Grifo Series II Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N GL130348; Dark Blue Metallic/Cognac leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Modified restoration 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $480,000 plus commission of 11.04%; Final Price $533,000. – 350/350hp Chevrolet V8, 5-speed, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Personal woodrim steering wheel, air conditioning, power windows, electric power steering. – Sold new in Germany with an automatic (included with the sale), then restored in the 2010s by Cambra Motorsports and given the current 5-speed. Nearly spotless engine bay. Gorgeous interior. Clean wheels and tires. The paint and chrome don’t look as fresh as the inside, but they have no big issues. Rare Italo-American hybrid restored to appropriately high standards. – Back in the previous century (1998 to be more exact) this Grifo sold at Brooks Nürburgring auction for $31,006 (DM 55,200), but that was then and this is now, a result that is still a sound value for the quality of the restoration and the thoughtful upgrades in the transmission and steering.
Lot # 143 1994 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo S Flachbau Coupe; S/N WP0AC2969RS480426; Engine # 61R00957; Yellow/Black leather; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.67%; Final Price $830,000. – 3,600/385hp “X88” engine, 5-speed, Speedline wheels, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, red calipers, sunroof, Porsche CD stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Rare X85 flat nose Turbo S in an appropriately loud color, showing 28,809 miles and represented as the original drivetrain. One of the last 964 air-cooled Porsches built. The paint shows no issue, and the interior looks barely sat in. Gorgeous, and the mileage isn’t so low that you’d feel guilty taking it out every now and then. – Sold by RM at Amelia Island in 2018 for $654,000 and now with only 25 more miles on the odometer but a good bit more on the invoice following this sale. The seller didn’t get much enjoyment out of it in five years’ ownership except for enjoying its canary yellow accent among a collection. It deserves to be driven.
Lot # 144 1969 Chevrolet Corvette ZL-1 Convertible; S/N 194679S710209; Monaco Orange/Black Vinyl; Black top; Estimate $2,600,000 – $3,000,000; Unrestored original 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $2,850,000 plus commission of 10.18%; Final Price $3,140,000. – 427/560hp ZL-1 (the original engine was blown and replaced under warranty by Chevrolet in 1969), TH400 automatic transmission, 4.11 axle ratio, power brakes, radio delete. Extensively documented and verified as a real ZL1, restoration completed by Kevin MacKay, Bloomington Gold. – Used in drag racing and hillclimb events in Pennsylvania in period but never wrecked. Bought by the current owner from the original owner in 2007, and then restored by Kevin Mackay in 2014. Excellent paint and panel fit. The brightwork is excellent. Convertible top fits tightly. The underbody and engine are excellent and show no use as well. The interior is like new. As well-kept and presented as it deserves to be, this incredibly rare ZL1 is the star Corvette in an auction week that is absolutely jam-packed with America’s sports car. – This ZL1 is one of two built. It doesn’t get much rarer than that. Like the L88 that came before it the ZL1 was never advertised and prohibitively expensive but even more so as it added more than $4,700 to the price tag with zero other options selected. That was double the base price of a Corvette, but it got you a 560-hp version of the all-aluminum Can-Am racing engine. In the weeks leading up to Scottsdale, car media speculated that this could be the most expensive Corvette ever sold at auction. Indeed, we didn’t really have any comparable sales to go on. The other ZL1 built last sold at auction more than 30 years ago, for $300,000 reportedly after being seized by the DEA. In the end it didn’t quite break the all-time Vette record. That still belongs to a $3.85M 1967 L88 Coupe. But it is the most expensive C3 (1968-82) Corvette sold at auction and the third most expensive Corvette ever, as it deserves to be.
Lot # 146 1952 Pegaso Z-102 Berlinetta, Body by ENASA; S/N 01021530113; Engine # 01021530113; Blue/Red Leather; Estimate $550,000 – $650,000; Older restoration 1- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $425,000. – 2,574/165hp V-8, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel. – One of 83 Z-102 chassis built and 11 with the ENASA Berlinetta body. Multiple concours appearances including a best in class award at 1994 Pebble Beach. Shown at Amelia Island and The Quail. Represented as the original engine. Excellent paint and body, although the windshield has some scratches, and the interior is in superb condition. A beautiful older concours restoration, and Pegaso is a featured marque at Pebble Beach this year, so it should be hitting the show field again soon. – ENASA was the Spanish truck manufacturer were Pegasos were built and the panel beaters must have been thrilled to turn their attention from making truck bodies to the Pegaso. It is a graceful and even understated car, far different from the flamboyant and lavishly embellished creations of Touring and Saoutchik on Pegasos. All that is preamble, however, to noting that this is more Pegaso then pesetas and the consignor made the prudent decision to take it home.
Lot # 149 1939 Atalanta 4.3-Litre Drophead Coupe, Body by Abbott; S/N L1020; Black, Scarlet accent/Scarlet leather; Black top; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Older restoration 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 11.67%; Final Price $335,000. – RHD. 267/110hp Lincoln-Zephyr V12 with triple Stromberg 94 carburetors, finned aluminum cylinder heads, silver painted wire wheels, Dunlop tires, dual wing mirrors, suicide doors, 4-wheel independent suspension. – Older paint with some minor blemishes on the passenger’s side. Mild cracking near the middle hinge for the hood. Light wrinkling on the driver’s side leather. Very rare car, proven on events. One of only about 20 Atalantas built in total between 1937 and 1939, six of which got the V12 engine. – How to consider this Atalanta? Technically, the chassis is brilliant and the coachwork is exceptionally attractive. But the drivetrain is cast iron Henry Ford (or maybe the correct credit is to Edsel Ford). Seen as a precursor to Allards, Jensens and Cobras with North American power and British ingenuity it is an important carving on a totem pole. The Arizona bidders looked at the Henry V-12 and got their noses out of joint. They missed a marvelous opportunity, except for the person who took it home on a hammer bid of $300,000, $335,000 all-in, and has a rare, attractive, reasonably powerful car that has intriguing stories to tell about it. This is a missed opportunity for all but the successful bidder.
Lot # 150 1958 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980428500102; Engine # 1989807500427; Medium Blue Metallic/Dark Red leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $1,700,000 – $1,900,000; Older restoration 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,650,000 plus commission of 10.30%; Final Price $1,820,000. – 2,996/250, 4-speed, Avon tires, books, tools, uprated with disc brakes (original drum brakes included), manuals, tools. – Matching numbers drivetrain and body. Restored in 2011. Originally finished in White Grey. Very good paint and chrome. Even gaps. Beautiful interior, although the shifter boot has come loose at the bottom. This is a gorgeous car. – Sold by RM at Amelia in 2021 for $923,500 before the most recent cosmetic redo and color change (it was Red over Cognac leather in ’21). It had an Earl Scheib paintjob in ’21 and much of the nearly doubled value in ’23 comes from the new paint, plus the more attractive livery with lipstick red leather upholstery. This is a generous but realistic result for a well-presented 300SL Roadster.
Lot # 152 1953 Fiat 8V Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 106000042; Engine # BS099; Silver/Burgundy; Estimate $1,100,000 – $1,300,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.50%; Final Price $1,105,000. – 1,996/115hp, 4-speed, Borrani wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, driving lights. – Completed by Ghia, the only car not done with the Supersonic bodywork but instead with one-off shape designed by Virgil Exner and Felice Mario Boano. Ownership history dating back to 1957. Restored in the 1990s and early 2000s. Exhibited at the Quail, Villa d’Este and Pebble Beach twice. Excellent body panel fit, but the paint has a number of chips on the front and one above the left rear wheel well. The interior has some wear, especially on the driver’s seat, but not excessive. A good, old restoration with plenty of forgivable use. – Harmonious three-box coachwork that is represented as unique on this chassis. Sold for $563,543 at RM London in 2009 (£341,000 at the time) then $946,000 at RM Arizona in 2014 where the odometer showed the same 42,991 km that it does today, nine years later. It’s not a Zagato, but it is a pleasing Ghia design and is in very good older restored condition making the price it brought realistic.
Lot # 154 1993 Porsche 911 Turbo S Leichtbau Coupe; S/N WP0ZZZ96ZPS479014; Yellow/Black; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,300,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $870,000 plus commission of 10.57%; Final Price $962,000. – 3,299/381hp, 5-speed, Speedline wheels, cross-drilled brakes with red calipers, Yokohama tires, roll cage, Recaro seats, Sabelt harnesses, air conditioning, power windows, CoA. – Delivered new in Japan. Showing 36,380 km (22,605 miles). There is a very small paint chip on the nose and a few more tiny chips in the windshield. The paint and wheels are otherwise clean, however. Good interior other than slightly loose upholstery. It has racked up surprising mileage, but those km don’t appear to have been all spanking on the track, despite the car being made just for that. – An example of one of the rarest and quickest 964 variants, this Porsche has covered just 229 km since it failed to sell at an $860k high bid at RM Amelia Island 2018. It also sold for $975,000 on Bring a Trailer a year ago, so it wasn’t unrealistic for RM Sotheby’s or the seller to expect a seven-figure final price on inflation alone. It sounds strange to call $962k for a 30-year-old 911 low but the magic combination of less weight, more power and a rare color translates to big money in the Porsche world.
Lot # 156 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition Roadster; S/N CSX3011; Guardsman Blue, White stripes/Black; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,600,000; Rebodied or re-created 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,200,000. – 427/550hp, 4-speed, Halibrand wheels, side exhaust, Smiths gauges. – Cobra Caravan car, hero car from the Elvis Presley movie “Spinout” and has period competition history in Mexico and the US. Restored in the 1980s and again in the 2000s. Excellent paint and new body after being crashed in Mexico. Immaculate underbody and engine. The interior is unused. A beautifully restored car with enviable provenance. – A real 427 Cobra, not a 428, with some competition history with Moises Solana Arciniega and Juan Carlos Bolanos in Mexico with dry sump engine from new. The triple threat history (competition, movie and the Cobra Caravan) is emphasized in RM’s description, but is less than convincing. The reported high bid reflects the diminishing appeal of its distinctions and it a realistic offer for a real 427 Competition Cobra.
Lot # 158 1992 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta; S/N ZFFGJ34B000094277; Rosso Corsa/Red cloth; Estimate $2,200,000 – $2,800,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,050,000 plus commission of 10.24%; Final Price $2,260,000. – 2,936/478hp, catalytic converter, 5-speed, gold center Halibrand centerlock wheels, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, catalytic converter, tools and books. – European market car showing 19,722 km (12,255 miles). There is a tiny scratch on the black bottom front lip, as well as two tiny chips on the windshield. The rear quarter windows also show light scratching. Otherwise it’s flawless, at least cosmetically, and it has reportedly been consistently maintained from new with regular maintenance and a 2018 belt service. – Over the past six months eleven F40’s have crossed major auction blocks and is it a challenge to identify why the prices range from $1,591,749 at RM London to $3,964,000 at Gooding Pebble Beach. This result falls nicely in the middle, however and in an age of uncertainty the middle is fairly safe, if not advantageous.
Lot # 159 1953 Chrysler Special Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N C53845706; Candy Apple Red/Tan leather; Estimate $500,000 – $800,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 11.11%; Final Price $500,000. – 331/180hp, column shift automatic, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, pushbutton radio. – One of 19 built. Restored in the 1990s. The paint is gorgeous, but they didn’t have this kind of metallic finish in 1953 and it looks a little off on this car. There is a light scratch behind the passenger’s door. There is a small ding on the right rear as well. Tidy underneath. Lightly worn leather. The pillar-mounted signal lenses are dull and loose-fitting. Rare and inherently pretty, but it has some issues. And, oddly, Chrysler Ghia shoppers are spoiled for choice in Scottsdale this week. – There were three Ghia-bodied Chryslers in the Scottsdale auctions and another one at Mecum Kissimmee a week ago, an embarrassment of choices among rarely-seen specials. Better known as the “Thomas Special” 19 examples of this series were built whereas other Chrysler Ghias were unique show cars or in single digit quantities. Few were as attractive as this, however, and the price reflects its appeal and rarity. It sold for $121,000 at The Auction in Las Vegas in 1998, $145,500 at Christie’s Pebble Beach five months later and 198,000 at RM Arizona in 2003, all good prices, but nothing like what it brought here.
Lot # 160 1966 Ferrari 500 Superfast Series II Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 8565SF; Engine # 8565; Dark Blue/Brown leather; Estimate $2,200,000 – $2,800,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,000,000 plus commission of 10.25%; Final Price $2,205,000. – 4,963/400hp, 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, woodrim steering wheel, air conditioning, Becker Grand Prix radio, power windows, power steering. – The 34th of 36 total built and one of 12 second-series examples. Originally owned by John Von Neumann, and originally finished in Blu Sera over gray. Owned by numerous collectors, refurbished at Paul Russell in 2006. Functional older paint and chrome. The seat bottoms are both flat and there is some warping on the dash. Small things take little away from this rare, fast, beautiful Ferrari. – RM sold this car at Monterey in 2010 for $1,127,500 and the fact that it has nominally doubled in value in the intervening thirteen years is no surprise. What is a surprise is that such a beautiful, beguiling, powerful and luxurious car has added only 106 miles to its odometer in that period, 8.2 miles per year. The result here makes sense, but sitting in a car barn being dusted off and polished does not.
Lot # 162 2008 Spyker C8 Spyder; S/N XL9AA11G68Z363209; Yellow/Black leather with Yellow stitching; Black cloth top; Estimate $425,000 – $450,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000. – 4,173/395hp Audi V8, 6-speed, AP Racing bakes, Michelin Pilot Sport tires, periscope rearview mirror, air conditioning, Spyker accessory steering wheel (original included). – Represented with 807 miles. The driver’s seat shows the slightest of wear, but this otherwise looks like a new car. It’s not super fast by modern standards, but the C8 was one of the wildest cars of the 2000s at any price point, and the interior is a work of art. – Spyker built just 121 Spyders, all of them marvels of eye-candy from the airplane propellor wheels to the polished gearshift linkage running down the console. A Spyker is an exercise in unnecessary complexity and embellishment as if its designers decided to dress up every interior and exterior detail with polished chrome. That it functions as a car seems to be an afterthought, but it does function reasonably well even though in fifteen years this Spyder has accumulated only some 800 miles while its eye-searing yellow paint and many details intricate were enjoyed in static display. The reported high bid here is high enough to wonder why it didn’t sell if there was money behind it. RM is good at putting deals this close to reserve together post-block.
Lot # 164 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 4926; Blu Notte/Gray leather; Estimate $3,000,000 – $3,500,000; Older restoration 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,250,000 plus commission of 10.15%; Final Price $3,580,000. – 3,929/385hp, 5-speed, split sump lubrication, factory air conditioning – One of 150 built. Originally finished in Giallo Sole over Nero. Matching numbers chassis, engine, body. Restored in the 2000s by Bobileff Motorcar Company and engine rebuilt by Bob Wallace. Very good paint, body, and brightwork. The underbody is very clean and presents well, and the interior shows little wear. An excellent restoration of a desirably equipped top-spec Miura with the desirable split sump and A/C. – The SV, which arrived in 1971, ushered in major improvements for Lamborghini’s seminal supercar with revised rear suspension and a slight lowering of the nose to alleviate pesky front-end lift at speed. Flared fenders allowed for 15-inch low-profile tires, and the exposed headlights lost their signature “eyelashes.” Once upon a time, in the late 1990s, Miura prices were similar to Ferrari Daytona prices, which seems sensible enough since the cars competed with each other when new and offer similar performance. But Lamborghini as a brand has matured in collectors’’ eyes and the Miura is the company’s most desirable model, so values have consistently climbed for years. Today, the going rate for an SV is typically nearly twice the price of a “regular” P400 but they’re all seven-figure cars and this one demonstrates how far Miuras have come. Twelve years ago, it sold at Gooding’s Scottsdale auction for $990,000.
Lot # 170 1963 Apollo 3500GT Coupe; S/N 1004; Engine # JN484; Burgundy/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – 215/200hp Buick engine, 4-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Michelin X tires, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges. – Represented as the second example built. A little dirt and grime under the hood, but mostly tidy and maintained. Good older paint and chrome. Light age to the wheel. The driver’s door sticks out slightly at the bottom. Lightly worn driver’s seat but mostly clean interior. Lightly aged restoration on this rare Italian-American sports car. – Built in Oakland, California but with European swagger thanks to bodywork revised by Franco Scaglione and built by Intermeccanica in Turin, the Apollo was an ambitious but short-lived sports car that’s far rarer, but also far more obscure than the Ferraris, Jaguars, and Astons it was meant to compete against. Co-founder Milt Brown designed a steel ladder frame with Buick front subframe and suspension, along with four-link trailing arm rear suspension, and power came from Buick’s new lightweight aluminum 3.5-liter V8, usually mated to a Borg-Warner T-10 4-speed. Priced at $7,000, it wasn’t astronomically expensive but still cost more than an E-Type. It was well-received, but lack of capital and cash flow meant building the Apollos, especially shipping bodies from Italy to California, was too much and only a few dozen were built. For a car that looks like a Ferrari and goes like one, too, it’s a good value. Most that have ever sold at auction in recent years brought under 200 grand, except for one $242,000 coupe and $506,000 for an ultra-rare convertible at a 2019 auction. RM also sold this red coupe here four years ago for $134,400, so these cars are still clearly a lot of speed, style, and exclusivity per dollar.
Lot # 171 1994 Bugatti EB110 GT Coupe; S/N ZA9AB01E0RCD39068; Engine # 063; Bugatti Blue/Gray Leather; Estimate $1,600,000 – $2,000,000; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,450,000. – 3,498/560hp quad-turbo V12, 6-speed, Nakamichi cassette. – Represented as the 51st of 85 production GT models built. Replacement engine (original was 090). Good paint overall with only a few minor chips on the nose. The left headlight has some condensation on the inside of the cover. The engine compartment is clean and presents well and while the driver’s seat has some stretching, the special order two-tone interior shows little significant wear. A clean example with low mileage at 32,085 km (19,937 miles). 2.5% U.S. import duty owed by a U.S. buyer. – Sold at RM’s auction of the Duemila Route collection in late 2016 for $652,652 (Euros 616,000 at the time, this result is Euros 1,334,400). That sale produced some remarkable results, including for this EB110 GT, considering that most of the collection was neglected and haphazardly stored. Seventeen years later the price is handily doubled even though the reported high bid failed to move the consignor to let it go, a reasonable decision. Even at the low estimate of $1,600,000 this EB110 GT would not be expensive.
Lot # 172 1963 Maserati Sebring 3500 GTi Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N AM10101841; Red/Black leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $156,800. – 3,485/235hp, Lucas fuel injection, ZF 5-speed, Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, Personal steering wheel, power windows, wood shift knob, Jaeger gauges. – Delivered new in Italy, originally finished in silver. $80,000 in restoration work from 2015-18. Some grime and dirt under the hood, including some oil on top of the cam cover, oddly. A few hammer marks on the wheels. Good older paint that’s almost orange. Good interior with original-looking steering wheel and gauges that are slightly aged. Light scratches on the rear glass. Slightly dull chrome. Solid but unremarkable. – Sold at Bonhams Greenwich auction in 2018 for $210,560 and now has 199 more miles than it did then. It could have brought closer to the $200,000 low estimate without being unduly expensive and represents a sound value in this transaction.
Lot # 180 1977 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.0 Targa; S/N 9117610110; Pastel Yellow, Black 911 scripts and stripes/Black vinyl, cloth; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000. – 2,994/200hp, 5-speed, Turbo look M451 early car. Safety stripes, pin stripe seats, light tint on rear window, all uppercase Porsche rocker panel script, Euro instrumentation, H4 headlights, Fuchs wheels with modern Continental tires. – Two European event stickers from 2013, 2014. Some window trim flaws and flaws in window tint. Crack on rear deck lid above reflector. Some wear around weatherstripping at top connectors. A used car. – Reported sold by RM at Paris in 2017 for $167,901 (Euros 156,800 at the time, this result is Euros 138,000 today). The seller didn’t find the appreciation expected here in Arizona and elected to take the car home, ignoring the obvious evidence of use and age.
Lot # 182 1952 Allard K2 Roadster; S/N 91K3019; Burgundy/Black leather; Estimate $175,000 – $215,000; Competition restoration 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $117,600. – RHD. Bored out 396/500hp Chrysler Hemi with dual quads, black painted Halibrand wheels, Solus tires, Buick drum brakes, side exhaust, roll bar, woodrim steering wheel, Smiths gauges. – One of 119 built, and shown at the 1952 New York Auto Show. Originally fitted with a Cadillac engine but received a 392 Hemi in 1957. In Australia from the 1960s until the late 1980s, then restored in the UK in the 1990s. Regularly raced in historic events from then on. Older paint, a little tired. Small dent in the right front fender. Wheel weights taped on. Paint coming off the exhaust tips. The aluminum guards over the rear fenders are also beat up. Worn seats. Lots of old event stickers. A race car through and through. – This isn’t a cheap price for a K-Series Allard, but for a sorted and proven vintage racer that is fun, usable and competitive, it doesn’t seem like a bad price at all. The new owner can enter it into any number of events and mix it up with cars costing 10 times as much or more than the fat-fendered Allard. There are far less sensible ways to spend 100 grand.
Lot # 187 1936 MG NB Magnette Roadster; S/N NA0858; Engine # 1152164; Two-Tone Blue/Blue leather; Blue top; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Recent restoration 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $78,400. – RHD. 1,271-cc six with supercharger, 4-speed, Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels, Excelsior tires, rear-mounted spare, boot cover, headlight stone guards, Lucas driving light, folding windshield, dual aeroscreens. – Formerly in the Gene Ponder collection. Mechanically sorted in 2021. Repainted in 2019. Some dullness to the paint. Decent brightwork. Very good interior. Clean underneath. Charming little prewar MG. More interesting than a T-Series, but also way more expensive and a little bit slower. – This little roadster flew under the radar a bit at Monterey last year when it sold for just $56,000, a modest amount for such a rare and well sorted prewar MG. This result is more reasonable, and looks like a solid flip for the seller in Arizona.
Lot # 189 1970 Toyota FJ40V Land Cruiser Hardtop 4×4; S/N FJ4092465; Green, Light Grey roof/Dark Grey; Estimate $50,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $58,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $64,960. – 3,955/155hp inline six, 3-speed, air conditioning, winch, BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A tires. – The paint is quite bad, there are scuffs, scrapes and scratches throughout, the wheels and tires are new, the engine compartment is aged but not overly filthy and the chassis shows heavy oxidation. The interior is worn in but not worn out. An FJ40 with a lot of character. It has seen heavy use and has a patina that has taken many years and miles to earn. – Ready to go prospecting offroad or haul farm goods in its present condition but also amenable to an affordable restoration to near showroom condition, a more appealing project than taking some clapped out Central American diesel FJ and dressing it up. In Arizona, where every block seems to have a utilitarian FJ in someone’s back yard, the bidders bought generously on the prospect of making a silk purse out of this sow’s ear, leaving little head room even for paint much less all the other stuff it needs.