[This is the first of several reports on the January auctions. Happy 2021.]
RM Sotheby’s Arizona auction assumed a vastly different complexion at the start of 2021 yet delivered total dollar results that contrast favorably with prior years.
Held at the OTTO Car Club in Scottsdale with a background of racks of collectors’ cars, there were sparse on-site bidders but a more than usually active online and phone component. Maarten Ten Holder conducted the sale live and live-streamed with introductions by Alain Squindo. Auction cars surrounded the limited bidders’ seating and bidding was accompanied by streamed photos.
What it didn’t have was the usual two-day Arizona Biltmore party atmosphere and, as the numbers below demonstrate, a 40% smaller consignment.
RM made up for the more brief program with more valuable cars, including the D-Type (XKD 518) that brought $6 million and was January’s most expensive transaction [despite the fact that it brought a successful hammer bid over $3 million less than the last time it was offered, three years ago.]
Eight lots were bid to $1 million or more of which five were sold for a total of $17,922,000.
There were both winners and losers among the cars offered but for the most part comparable auction results were down, sometimes dramatically, from prior auction appearances. That’s in keeping with the times we are in, but also a strong performance in the face of continuing social, health and economic uncertainty.
| Year | Cars Sold/ Offered | Sale % | Sold < Low Est | Sold > High Est | Average Sale | Median Sale | Total $ |
| 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 |
| 2019 | 131/155 | 84.5% | 66.4% | 10.7% | $281,312 | $145,600
[51.8%] |
$36,851,890 |
| 2018 | 111/128 | 86.7% | 60.9% | 8.2% | $323,722 | $165,200
[51%] |
$35,933,140 |
All photos are © and courtesy of RM Sotheby’s; photographers are identified where credited.
Reports are based upon RM’s usually copious photo documentation, descriptions and in some cases prior observations of the same car. Lots are sorted in lot number order.
There is one new occasional feature. Chassis and engine numbers are usually presented without punctuation. It lends consistency and makes it easier to search. Where there are generally accepted punctuation (e.g., spaces, dots, slashes, hyphens) standards the punctuated chassis or vehicle number has been added in square brackets.
Lot # 108 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible; S/N VC56F046783; Engine # 0475560F56FB; Matador Red, Ivory White/Red, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Older restoration 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200. – 265/205hp 4-barrel, Powerglide, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power seat, WonderBar radio, skirts, dual remote spotlights, continental kit, chrome wire wheel covers, whitewalls, grille guard, stoplight viewer, heater. – Represented to be the original engine and transmission. Excellent paint and chrome. The engine compartment is like new. The upholstery is unblemished and the dash and gauges are flawless. An outstanding restoration in the late 90’s with AACA National First Prize awards in 1990 and 1993 and maintained in nearly pristine show-ready condition. – Sold at Barrett-Jackson in 2005 for $97,200 when Tri-Fives were hot commodities, three years later it sold for $66,000 at RM Monterey in 2008 and brought the same result at Gooding Amelia in 2010. The result here is a big step up. Is this the leading edge of a resurgence of Tri-Fives? At this point it’s an outlier and expensive.
Lot # 112 1963 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk II BJ7 Convertible; S/N HBJ7L21153 [HBJ7L/21153]; Engine # 29FRUH2068; Colorado Red, Black/Black piped in Red; Black cloth top; Estimate $70,000 – $80,000; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 2912/134hp, 4-speed with overdrive, painted wire wheels, BMIHT Certificate. – Represented as matching numbers. Restored from 2017-20. Looks fresh and gorgeous top to bottom but not over the top. – Many restored Big Healeys wear older restorations, so this car stands out for its freshness. At this price, though, it could have brought another 10 grand without being expensive.
Lot # 115 1932 Pierce-Arrow Model 52 Custom Club Berline; S/N 3075021; Engine # 350095; Black, Maroon sides, Rose coachlines, Black padded roof/Rose cloth; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 1 condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $151,786 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $170,000. – 429/160hp V-12, 3-speed, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, Majestic Model 66 radio with steering column controls, roll up division, footrests, HaDees heater, rear compartment vanity and smoker’s compartments, pull down rear window shade, body color wire wheels, double-side wide whitewall tires, period-style luggage, books, tools, jack, memorabilia. – First owned by RKO Radio Pictures, later went into decline until it was restored in 1991 and displayed at Pebble Beach. Carefully maintained in concours condition and showed until 2009. Recently comprehensively detailed and freshened. Excellent paint, chrome, upholstery and interior wood. Sparkling engine compartment except for some fuel residue on the carburetors. It is hard to fathom that this restoration is thirty years old, it’s that good. – In 2015 this Pierce was offered by Russo and Steele at Monterey. It didn’t ring the bell despite being reported bid to $240,000. Sold here in a post-block transaction where it was bid to $115,000 and largely overlooked, it is a spectacular car with an intriguing history. It’s a closed body Berline, but a marvelous one and an understated value at this result.
Lot # 116 1971 Land Rover Range Rover Suffix A Convertible, Body by Special Vehicle; S/N 35501347A; Lincoln Green/Palomino Tan leather; Tan Everflex top; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Truck restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $50,400. – RHD. 3,532/154hp V-8, 4-speed, wing mirrors, BMIHT documented – Converted by Special Vehicle Conversions (SVC) in the 1980s. Restored in the UK. Came to the States in 2019. Engine looks maintained and refreshed but not fully restored. Visible age on the steering wheel and gauges but good upholstery. Flabby soft top. A 2019 inspection report notes marks on the hood under the paint, dents in a fender and a door, chips on both bumpers, minor scratches on the glass, and paint damage on the left front fender. Dings and scratches aside, it’s very rare, especially in this country. – Back in 1983 the Range Rover Evoque Convertible was still decades away, but that didn’t stop James Bond from piloting a soft top Range Rover in Octopussy. SVC in Sussex, England saw an opportunity and began cutting the roofs off classic Range Rovers in the 1980s to fill demand. The conversion looks rudimentary at best, but it’s a rare sight and it will catch people’s attention wherever it goes. It certainly caught the bidders’ attention, who afforded it a large but not crazy premium over a standard ’71 Range Rover.
Lot # 120 1954 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster; S/N S674424; Engine # F12038S; Pastel Blue/Raspberry leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200. – 3,442/180hp, 4-speed, body color wire wheels, Firestone tires, fender mirrors. woodrim steering wheel, wood instrument panel, heater, Lucas tri-bar headlights, Lucas fog lights, full weather equipment, JDHT Certificate. – Represented as the matching numbers cylinder block, head and gearbox. Spotless and fully restored underneath. Excellent fresh-looking paint. Lightly scratched rear light bezels. Excellent interior. Well and fully restored to appropriately high standards showing no age at all on its older restoration. – Sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2009 for $2221,500, then by Mecum from the Academy of Art University Collection at Las Vegas in 2018 for $170,500. Today’s result isn’t irrational for an XK 120SE, but it’s hard to comprehend how it has declined by nearly 50 per cent since Mecum Las Vegas less than three years ago where we laid eyes upon it. It is a curious result but the new owner should be very pleased with its value.
Lot # 121 1991 Lamborghini Diablo Coupe; S/N ZA9DU07P7MLA12362; Nero/Tan leather; Estimate $140,000 – $160,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $145,600. – 5,707/485hp, 5-speed, OZ Racing wheels, Pirelli tires, aftermarket carbon fiber rear wing, climate control, Alpine stereo. – Single ownership until 2017. Represented with $20,000 worth of service since 2019. Showing 12,963 miles but the odometer drive gear was replaced recently. Described as a driver by RM with several scratches and chips in the paint throughout, dry rubber trim, wear on the driver’s seat piping, worn shift knob, some grime in the engine bay, a cracked fog light lens, old tires, and curb rash on one of the wheels. – Bidding on this car opened at $80,000, stalled at $115,000, and was quickly sold at $130,000 on the hammer. It may not have done much on the block, but this result is an adequate balance between the recent servicing and the numerous signs of wear and tear.
Lot # 122 1964 Sunbeam Tiger Mk I Convertible; S/N B9471139LRXFE; Balmoral Gray, Gray hardtop/Blue; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000. – 260/164hp, 4-speed, hardtop, Minilite wheels, Talbot Berlin mirror, woodrim steering wheel, pushbutton radio, jack and tool kit. – Restored by a Tiger specialist in 2007 and subsequently won two concours awards. Shown at The Quail in 2010. Very clean interior, engine bay and underbody. Small chip out of the chassis undercoat pictured, along with a loose seam on the driver’s seat. No longer super fresh, but still gorgeous. – Tigers stopped being the “poor man’s Cobra” a long time ago, but since peaking in 2016 they’ve gradually softened and are better just described as a less rich man’s Cobra. This one sold for $123,200 at the RM Sotheby’s Arizona sale in 2019, and even given the premium for the hardtop and very strong condition that was a high price. RM expected similar money this time around given the $120k low estimate, but the bidders had a different opinion. What it’s really worth in today’s market is much closer to this reported high bid.
Lot # 123 1933 Packard Eight Cabriolet, Body by Graber; S/N 719177 [719 177]; Engine # 376978; Blue, Light Blue sides/Beige leather; Blue cloth top; Estimate $160,000 – $180,000; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $120,000. – 319/120hp inline eight, 3-speed, dual enclosed sidemounts, light Blue wire wheels, Martin wide whitewalls, Trippe lights. – Old failing paint, rust blisters in the door bottoms, cracked fender paint, edges chipped everywhere. Decent chrome, sound old interior leather and wood. Sound but faded top. An older restoration with plenty of years and miles, despite some recent attention including a new cylinder head. The engine compartment has been cleaned up but still has old finishes. It still needs paint, a new top and some chrome but then will be a decent tour car. Owned for many years by Sergio Franchi. – Sold by Christie’s at Greenwich from the Franchi collection to John O’Quinn in 2006 for $111,625 and pretty much as it was then with the odometer showing only 63 more miles now than it did in 2006. This bid, even for a car with celebrity and car-centric history, should have been more than enough to see it move on to a new owner. It is tired and failing, now lost of the Sergio Franchi hype from 2006 and given no substantial attention in recent years.
Lot # 125 1983 Audi Quattro Coupe; S/N WAUDC0850DA900421; Mars Red/Chestnut leather; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $61,600. – 2,144/160hp, 5-speed, all-wheel drive, sunroof, power windows, cruise control. Upgraded to euro specs with Ronal alloy wheels, bigger brakes, stiffer Koni shocks, hotter cam, and different headlights and bumpers. – Represented as a three-owner car sold new in Connecticut. Upgraded by its second owner, an Audi mechanic, to Euro specs in the early 1990s. Showing 57,109 miles but reportedly has done just 2,000 miles in the last 28 years. Road wear underneath that matches the age and mileage. Represented with original paint that shows a few nicks and light scratches but nothing serious. Very clean engine bay. – This isn’t one of the 214 ultra-desirable road-going homologation Sport Quattros, but the ‘Ur-Quattro’ has the box flares, the squared-off ’80s lines, a wailing waste-gate popping turbo five driving all four wheels, and plenty of rally pedigree in its own right. After working out early issues of the all-wheel drive (reliability, complexity, weight), the Quattro won the World Rally Championship in 1982 and changed the sport forever. US sales for the road cars didn’t start until 1983, and only a few hundred came here. This one sold for $55,000 at the Auctions America Santa Monica sale in 2015 and was a $47,250 no-sale on Bring a Trailer back in July 2020. It was presented as part of the “Homologation Collection” here in 2021 and it exceeded its high estimate to a number that is definitely on the expensive side for an Ur-Quattro with this condition and mileage.
Lot # 126 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC AMG 6.0 Coupe ‘Wide-Body’; S/N WDB1260451A436448; Engine # 11796812010573HV; Pearl Grey Metallic/Anthracite leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $201,600. – 6-litre/385hp V8, automatic, 17-inch modular wheels, Bridgestone Potenza tires, AMG widebody fenders and cladding, Bilstein shocks, stainless steel exhaust, Momo steering wheel, AMG gauges, sunroof, Becker Grand Prix cassette stereo, air conditioning, power windows, Ate/AMG 4-piston front brakes. – Lefthand drive Japan delivery car showing 90,393 km (56,167 miles) with good original paint. The front seat upholstery is creased and scratched but sound; the rear seats are barely used. The engine compartment is orderly but aged and the chassis is dry and road dirty. A rare and fast car that is in maintained condition appropriate to the odometer reading. – Sold by RM at Arizona in 2016 for $154,000. Exactly what the appeal of cars like this 560 SEC AMG 6.0 with 1989 385hp V8 is obscure. It had dramatic presentation and – for the day – dramatic performance but it has been surpassed nearly by orders of magnitude by modern coupes and even 4-door sedans. The appeal is obscure but it brought $154,000 at RM Arizona in 2016 and even more today. Go figure.
Lot # 127 1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution Coupe; S/N WBAAK07050AC79122; Gloss Black/Gray tricolor cloth; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $212,800. – 2.5/238hp, Getrag 5-speed, limited-slip, sunroof, power windows, cassette stereo, “M-Rain” pattern cloth seats, tool kit and spare. – Sport Evolution model built for DTM and FIA Group A homologation with thinner glass, larger wheels, lower ride height, wider track, upgraded suspension, adjustable rear wing, and larger engine with more power. Sold new in Germany. Came to the U.S. in 2015. Significant refurbishment work in the UK in 2014. Very clean engine bay. Interior nearly looks new. Looks much fresher and better preserved than the 128,670 km (79,952 miles) on the odometer would suggest. – Presented as part of the “Homologation Collection,” and another car from that group to soundly beat its presale estimate. Bidding opened at 50 grand quickly sailed past 100 before finally hammering at $190,000. While certainly an expectation-beating result, this isn’t a record for an E30-generation BMW. A standard 8,000-mile car sold for $255,000 on Bring a Trailer last summer, and another 1990 Sport Evo on Bring a Trailer with 23,000 miles sold (the same day as RM Arizona, coincidentally) for $261,556.
Lot # 133 1957 Cadillac Eldorado Brougham 4-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 5770072802; Engine # 5770072802; Dark Blue Metallic, Brushed Stainless roof/Blue leather, cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – 365/325hp, dual quads, batwing air cleaner, automatic, power everything, air conditioning, Autronic Eye, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. – Sound older paint and chrome. Good, barely used, upholstery and trunk. Orderly engine compartment. Recently serviced air suspension. A driver quality Eldo Brougham to be approached carefully. – Reported sold by RM at Auburn Fall four months ago and now offered without reserve here in Arizona with an “ownership interest” notification. Something appears to have gone sideways, but it turned out to be fortuitous, trouncing the high estimate and doubling the reported result at Auburn Fall. The result here is more than surprising, it is astounding.
Lot # 138 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980427500592 [198.042.7500592]; Engine # 1989807500488; Light Green Metallic/Dark Green leather; Dark Green cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 – $1,200,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $965,000 plus commission of 10.52%; Final Price $1,066,500. – 2,996/250hp, fuel injection, 4-speed, body color reproduction Rudge-style centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin Harmony tires, fitted luggage, tools, ivory steering wheel and shift knob, owner’s manual. – Represented as the original engine (located and reinstalled in its most recent restoration). Electronic assist power steering added. Excellent color change paint, upholstery, chrome and top. The chassis and engine compartment are restored like new without going too far. A beautiful 300SL meticulously restored in unusual and attractive colors in the last five years, looks like five months. – Reported sold by Gooding at Amelia in 2014 for $946,000 before the original engine was found and installed during the most recent round of restoration. There was much online bidding interest but the final result was modest considering the original engine, attractive color and pristine condition. It is a good value for the new owner.
Lot # 139 1993 Cizeta V16T Coupe; S/N ZA9V16T00MMD38101; Blue/Blue leather; Estimate $600,000 – $750,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.83%; Final Price $665,000. – RHD. 6.0/547 V-16, ZF 5-speed, Pioneer stereo. – Displayed at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show. One of three Cizetas ordered for the royal family of Brunei’s infamous car collection, the world’s largest. Never delivered to Brunei, though. It stayed at the distributor in Singapore, sitting until last year (the other two Brunei Cizetas were subsequently modified). The current owner bought it from Singapore and got the car back to running and driving condition, surely at great expense. Aside from some wear and age to upholstery and plastic pieces, the car presents very well. It has already been invited to the Amelia Island concours this year, which will include ’80s and ’90s supercars as a featured class. And it doesn’t get much more ’90s supercar than a V-16 wedge with four pop-up headlights. – The Cizeta (pronounced “chiz-etta”) story starts with ex-Lamborghini test driver and development engineer Claudio Zampolli, who had carved out a good niche for himself servicing the temperamental exotic cars of the rich and famous in Southern California. Dreaming of a V-16 wedge-shaped supercar, he struck up a partnership with music producer Giorgio Moroder, and Zampolli designed a 6.0-liter V-16 that was similar to two Lamborghini Urraco V-8s stuck together, along with a tubular spaceframe chassis. Marcello Gandini designed the aluminum body, and Lamborghini’s interior guy Bruno Paratelli designed the leather-swathed cockpit. There was certainly buzz around the Cizeta, even after Moroder pulled out of the business, but as so often happens with upstart exotic carmakers, Cizeta ran out of money after a handful of cars had been completed. After this one’s recommissioning, it was featured at Miami-based dealer Curated. When it was listed on their site they were asking $725,000, so this result is surely less than the seller was hoping for but still a realistic amount for such a spectacular but also obscure and hard to service supercar.
Lot # 141 1955 Jaguar D-Type Sports Racer; S/N XKD518; Engine # E2028-9; Red/Dark Red vinyl; Estimate $5,750,000 – $7,500,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $5,450,000 plus commission of 10.09%; Final Price $6,000,000. – RHD. 3,442/245hp, three dual-choke Weber carburetors, polished Dunlop centerlock wheels, driver’s head fairing and fin, Lucas LeMans headlights, wraparound Plexiglas windscreen, white side exhaust. – Represented as the original numbers-matching engine block and cylinder head. First owned by Bernie Ecclestone, then in his early guise as a used car dealer. Raced in the U.K. by Peter Blond and Jonathan Sieff. Engine number matches the chassis plate and build record. Thick repaint over old paint, sound fully upholstered but stretched upholstery. Clean, orderly engine compartment and chassis. Unevenly worn tires. A fine privateer D-Type with established history from new. – Back in 1998 RM sold this D-Type at Monterey for $1,018,961. Gooding offered it at Scottsdale three years ago in 2018 where it was reported bid to $8,850,000. It was announced for sale and in the market here at $5.4 million with only one more bid forthcoming, $3 million evaporating in the process if the 2018 bid (which was nothing if not generous) is to be believed. This result is appropriate for this D-Type’s history and condition.
Lot # 143 1956 Ferrari 250 GT Alloy Coupe, Body by Boano; S/N 0613GT; Engine # 0613GT; Ruby Red, Black roof/Beige leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,225,000 plus commission of 10.41%; Final Price $1,352,500. – 2,953/240hp V12, 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, Marchal fog lights and headlights, dual outside mirrors, 4-point belts, leather covered rollbar, headrests, IPRA heater, auxiliary power points, matching spare wheel and tire, tool roll, jack, owner’s manual, Ferrari Classiche Red Book certified – One of just 14 alloy-bodied Boanos, first owned by George Arents, later raced by Bob Grossman at Nassau in 1958 and Lime Rock in 1959. Even gaps. The clearcoat paint is bright but has a fair inventory of light scratches and edge chips. The chrome is very good. Some light pitting and scratches on the original steering wheel. Otherwise the interior is fantastic. Crack in the right taillight lens. Taillight gaskets are dry and cracking. The engine compartment and chassis are is very good but lightly used and aged and the hose clamps are modern screw-type. At first glance it looks like a concours car, but up close it shows its fair share of wear and use, although none of it is in the paint and chrome. The modern equipment is an odd choice for such a rare alloy-bodied car, and may not be to many collectors’ tastes. First restored in the 1980s, then restored again in the 2000s and displayed at The Quail and ran the Colorado Grand and California Mille. – Sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2016 for $1,485,000 when its odometer showed 66,457 miles, just 177 miles less than the 66,634 miles it does today. Outfitted for touring and road events, this is a realistic result for an alloy-bodied Boano.
Lot # 144 1959 Lotus Elite Coupe; S/N 1159; Silver/Black; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $77,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $86,800. – RHD. 1216-cc Coventry Climax engine, dual Webers, ZF 4-speed, painted wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob. – Raced in period in the UK and Germany. In storage from the 1960s until the 1990s, then restored for vintage racing. While set up for racing, it isn’t beat up or battle-scarred, and retains a full period correct interior. The paint, interior and underbody look very presentable. The gaps are uneven but they are probably better than they came from the factory. No photos of the underbody. A handsome, honest and tasteful vintage racer. – This car sold for £85,500 ($112,954 at the time) at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale in 2017, and the difference between that result and this is one is likely more due to the racing-focused crowd at Goodwood than any major change in Elite prices or any major difference in US vs. UK markets for these cars. Then again, the car’s desirable ZF gearbox may have been offset by it being a right-hand drive example. Those tend to come at a discount on this side of the pond. Regardless, this is still a strong result for a strong historic racer that will be lovely to drive and to look at.
Lot # 146 1939 BMW 328 Roadster; S/N 85351; Engine # 361954; Silver/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $475,000 – $550,000; Modified restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $450,000 plus commission of 11.11%; Final Price $500,000. – 1,971 pushrod ohv hemi-head BMW 320 industrial engine inline six, upgraded with three Solex downdraft carburetors to 80hp specs, side exhaust, centerlock wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, leather hood straps, Brooklands aero screen included, rear-mounted spare wheel, Simpson racing belts, Volvo gearbox (period-correct gearbox included), alternator, skirts, black tonneau cover and uninstalled top and frame. – Several chips on the nose. Paint flaking off around the hole for the hand crank. Several cracks around the rivets in the hood. Long scratch on the right side of the hood and another in front of the passenger’s side door. Very good interior with clear original gauges. Few small scratches on the wheels. Very tidy underneath. Unknown early history, but has been a vintage racer and event car since the 1980s and received restoration work in the 1990s. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2016 for $550,000, then no-saled in the Monterey/Shift auction last year at a reported bid of $450,000, the same bid that successfully bought it here. The seller could have been buying Tesla stock for the past five months with the money.
Lot # 149 1952 Bentley Mark VI Drophead Coupe, Body by Park Ward; S/N B465NY; Engine # B482N; Maroon/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – RHD. 4,566/160hp, dual SU carburetors, 4-speed, wheel covers, fog light, Lucas headlights and driving lights, fender mirrors, skirts, blackwall tires, spare, jack. – Sound older repaint and chrome. Lightly stretched upholstery, good dashboard and interior wood trim. Lightly soiled top. Orderly engine compartment with some oily residue on the undertrays. Restored years ago but never allowed to fall into neglect or disrepair and still presentable and drivable today, complemented by the taper tail Park Ward coachwork. – Sold by World Classic at Newport Beach in 1993 with the restoration it still wears proudly today for $78,750. It has survived remarkably well and with its distinctive (love it or hate it) coachwork and 4 1/2 Liter engine it is a sound buy in this transaction.
Lot # 150 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer, Body by Corsica; S/N 57512; Engine # 19S; Black/Red leather; Estimate $4,750,000 – $6,500,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,300,000 plus commission of 10.12%; Final Price $4,735,000. – RHD. 3,257/230hp, chrome wire wheels, 18-inch Dunlop Racing tires, eight tiny exhaust pipes, single right side spare, Marchal headlights, Winfield updraft carburetor. – Represented as the original chassis, engine, gearbox, differential and body. Sound older paint, chrome and interior. One of only 16 Type 57S with open coachwork. First owner Maurice Lubbock was induced to sell upon being elected president of Rolls-Royce. Supercharger added in the 30’s. At one point rebodied with a 2-seat sports body but later (much later) reunited with its original Corsica tourer. Restored by the Blackhawk Collection and displayed at Pebble Beach in 2003. The engine compartment and chassis are aged, dull and driven. A beautiful, intriguing Bugatti in wonderful condition for tours and events but not for show except at the end of a glorious day of top down touring. – Offered by RM Sotheby’s at Amelia in 2019 where it was reported bid to $5.7 million while showing exactly the same 376 miles on its odometer as it does today. A handsome, remarkably complete and as-built example that saw only $1.4 million blown away in not quite two years. Bad timing but a realistic price for it in 2021.
Lot # 153 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N D7FH186785; Torch Red, Torch Red hardtop/Red vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $44,800. – 312/245hp, automatic, aftermarket AM-FM, heater, power steering, manual brakes, chrome wire wheels, whitewall tires, skirts, engine dressup. – Represented as a “period-correct… engine”, hardtop only. Good cosmetics throughout, orderly engine compartment and sound upholstery and interior trim. A handsome T-Bird driver that won’t be shy about opening the hood and trunk at a Cars’n’Coffee. – The mostly-virtual bidders paid a non-virtual, spot-on, price for this T-Bird driver.
Lot # 155 1938 SS Jaguar 100 3 1/2 Litre Roadster; S/N 39032; Engine # M499E; Gunmetal/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $372,727 plus commission of 11.34%; Final Price $415,000. – RHD. 3,485/104hp, dual SU carburetors, 4-speed, body color wire wheels, folding windshield, dual aeroscreens, Lucas headlights with stoneguards, rear-mounted spare. – Excellent paint but some of the chrome is weak. The engine compartment is neat, tidy and with only minor drips and dribbles. The upholstery is tight and shows barely visible use on the driver’s seat. Carpets and interior trim are very good. Gauges are bright and crisp but the steering wheel has small cracks at the rim/spoke boundary. The engine was replaced generations ago. Owned from 1969 to 2009 by antiques dealer Ron Keno and later by his sons, Leigh and Leslie of Antiques Road Show fame. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2009 for $341,000 from the Keno brothers collection in aged and used older restored condition, then again at London in 2011 in pretty much the same condition for $418,620. Then restored to its present appearance and sold by RM at Monterey in 2014 for $852,500 where it showed seven miles on the odometer where it has 357 when cataloged for this sale. Bid to $360,000 on the block, closed later at this negotiated price, almost exactly what it brought before restoration in 2011 and less than half of what it brought fresh from restoration seven years ago. It is a great value to the new owner
Lot # 157 1966 Jaguar XKE SI 4.2 Roadster; S/N 1E13415; Engine # 7E99909; Opalescent Maroon/Biscuit leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – 4,235/265hp, triple SU carburetors, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, tools, manuals. – Very good (color changed from Opalescent Dark Green) paint with a few small scrapes, nicks and chips. Very good chrome and inviting but worn and aged upholstery. Sharp, crisp gauges. Thin windshield header chrome. Show polished engine compartment. Rusted bonnet latches, soiled top boot cover, delaminating lower windshield corners, loose driver’s door bottom seal. Restored in 2005 and upgraded with electronic ignition, electric fans and stainless steel exhaust. JDHT Certificate documented original engine and head. Not pristine and showing its age but an attractive car for tours. – Offered by Bonhams at Amelia in 2015 where it was reported bid to $150,000 and showed 38,772 miles. It shows 39,106 miles today, 334 more than six years ago, and isn’t getting better with age. Neither is the price.
Lot # 159 1987 Ferrari Testarossa Spider, Body by Straman; S/N ZFFSG17AXH0070983; Engine # 00653; Nero/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $168,000. – 4,943/390hp, 5-speed, centerlock wheels, Pirelli P7000 tires, tools spare. – Reportedly one of just 12 Testarossas converted to Spider configuration by Straman in California, and one of just two black ones. Represented with partial service records but little other history. Excellent new interior and top, but there are a few light scratches on the center console. Clean engine bay with some dirt and grime in spots. Some heavy swirl marks in the paint and a few touch ups throughout. Wheels could stand a detailing. Lightly used and showing 51,772 miles. – Ferrari built one Testarossa Spider for Gianni Agnelli, but then left it to the aftermarket to fill any demand for soft-top TRs. The best known conversions are probably those from Richard Straman. Even though it’s aftermarket, Straman conversions are well regarded for their quality, and he has cut the roofs off of everything from Ferraris to Honda CRXs. There was definitely a soft-top premium here, as this Straman Testarossa despite its imperfect condition brought the kind of money typically reserved for the very cleanest Testarossa coupes.
Lot # 160 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300Sc Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 1880155500005 [188.015.5500005]; Dark Red/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $750,000 – $850,000; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.71%; Final Price $775,000. – 2,996/175hp, fuel injection, floor shift 4-speed, Becker Le Mans radio, chrome wheels, body accent hubcaps, whitewalls, translucent sun visors, Bosch fog lights, new fitted luggage has been ordered and will be included. – Body number 00001, possibly the first 300Sc Roadster. Replacement engine represented to be the correct type. Nearly pristine but the top has folding wrinkles, clear rear window. Excellent paint and chrome. Impressive engine compartment with some paint loss. The upholstery is barely stretched, the interior trim and wood are even better. Clear, sharp gauges. An exceptional example. – Let down by its replacement engine, this 300Sc Roadster was offered by RM Sotheby’s at Monterey in 2019 where it was reported bid to $625,000, a bottom-feeder offer at the time The result here is more appropriate and both the buyer and the seller should be satisfied.
Lot # 162 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 0327AL; Engine # 0327AL; Amaranto, Metallic Grey roof/Beige leather, Amaranto piping; Estimate $2,400,000 – $3,400,000; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,320,000 plus commission of 10.22%; Final Price $2,557,000. – 4,522/300hp, three Weber 40DCZ3 carburetors, 4-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, 215/70VR15 Pirelli P5 blackwall tires, Clayton heater. – 1954 New York and Geneva Motor Show display car, first owned by Bob Wilke of Leader Cards. Scratched and chipped older repaint, worn and cracked original upholstery and dash top; aged carpets. Loose windshield trim, erratic trim chrome. Fair major chrome. Cracked and deteriorated body seals. The underbody and chassis have been superficially redone some time ago and the shortcuts and now manifest. Cracked, crazed marker light lenses. Mixed gauges with old, dull Veglias and more recent VDO replacements. How to say this nicely? This Ferrari has an engaging history with Bob Wilke and is a rare Ferrari but it has been neglected, to the point of shear negligence and now begs for comprehensive attention. The coachwork is not Vignale’s finest, with fussy details like the rocker panel gills behind the front wheels and on the roof’s C-pillar. The body’s bloated sides are for some reason accented with a pointless chrome spear – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2011 in much fresher condition for $1,980,000, its condition had deteriorated noticeably by the time RM offered it at Monterey in 2018 where it was reported bid to $3,250,000. It has traveled, according to the odometer, only five miles since 2018 but its condition is much worse. This is a sad state for a milestone Ferrari and it is a 3- condition only in deference to its specifications, coachwork and history. Described as for sale at a bid of $2,285,000, subsequent bidding went slowly with $5,000 increments to this result that along with RM’s modest estimate range recognized the amount of work it’s going to need before it can be driven with confidence, and even more before it’s driven with pride.
Lot # 165 2019 Koenigsegg Regera Coupe; S/N YT9NN1U14KA007175; Crystal White, Clear Carbon/Brown leather; Estimate $2,600,000 – $2,900,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,450,000. – 5.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with Koenigsegg Direct Drive hybrid system, optional clear carbon finishes, optional graphics package with 24-karat gold leaf detail, “Aircore” carbon wheels. – One of 80 built. The first to appear at public auction. Sold new in Chicago, reportedly with $376,825 in optional equipment. – This is obviously a very fast (0-250-0 mph in 31.49 seconds), very exotic, and very expensive car. It will always be desirable, but the reported high bid here seems perfectly fair. The window sticker reads $2,518,114, and adding in buyer’s premium at the reported high bid would have put the final price at well over that amount. Over at Gooding’s online “Scottsdale” sale on the same day, another Regera went unsold at a notably similar $2.56 million high bid. These two results are a good indication of what people are willing to pay to own one of these Swedish hypercars.
Lot # 167 1952 Tojeiro-MG Barchetta; S/N RMS1; Engine # 29166; Silver/Caramel leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000. – RHD. 1,467/63hp MG TF engine, drum brakes with wide-5 wheels, leather hood and trunk tie downs, woodrim steering wheel, engine turned dash, flip up fuel filler, coil spring independent front suspension. – Sound older paint, good, barely used upholstery. Clean and orderly underhood. Chassis sprayed all over with chassis black. Believed to be the sibling to a similar Tojeiro which was re-engined by AC Cars and displayed at Earls Court in 1953, the predecessor to the AC Ace, Aceca and Shelby Cobra. – Sold by RM at Arizona in 2011 for $143,000, at Monterey in 2012 for $154,000, and at Russo and Steele Newport Beach in 2013 for $159,500. It has changed little over the years. There’s some history here although apparently not enough to cause Cobra collectors to swoon over it and is something of a missed opportunity even at the reported high bid which might well have been reasonably taken by the seller.
Lot # 168 1933 Packard Twelve Individual Custom Convertible Sedan, Body by Dietrich; S/N 100628 [1006-28]; Engine # 901320; Black, Red chassis and coachlines/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $800,000 – $900,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $740,000 plus commission of 10.68%; Final Price $819,000. – 446/160hp, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, luggage rack, Pilot-Rays, ride control, heater, rollup division, vee windshield, Packard radio with steering column controls. – Represented as the original chassis, engine, firewall, Dietrich body tags and coachwork. A high quality restoration completed in the early 80’s and carefully maintained since. Some paint cracks at stress points and lifts in fender lip creases; good interior, chrome and interior wood. One of two known to survive, with a long provenance of informed classic Packard owners. A great car but its show days are in the past although its present condition is a testament to how well it was done by Steve Gunder over forty years ago. – This Packard was sold by Christie’s at Pebble Beach in 1991 for $418,000, then by RM at Meadow Brook in 2003 for $506,000 and two years later at Amelia for $638,000. The odometer showed 7,027 in 2005. Today it is 7,374, just 347 more and while the restoration is definitely aging it is doing so slowly and with unusual style. It turns out to be more valuable today than it has been in years, a good example of how style, rarity and quality never go out of style.
Lot # 170 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C Continuation Roadster; S/N CSX3067; White, Black stripe, Orange border/Black leather; Estimate $375,000 – $425,000; Facsimile restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $325,000. – 429/550hp, 4-barrel, 4-speed, Lucas headlights, Halibrand-style centerlock alloy wheels, Goodyear Eagle tires, woodrim steering wheel, wind wings, tinted sun visors, Smiths gauges, black painted driver’s paperclip roll bar, cold air box, oil cooler, quick jack pickups, black side outlet exhaust. – One of the second series (“Sanction II”?) coil spring big block Cobras built in a few years ago using allocated but unused original 427 S/C chassis numbers. Five miles from new and as-built. A piece of Shelby Cobra history with a story. – Offered by RM in its Online North America auction in July of 2020 where it was reported bid to $330,000 against a $400,000-$500,000 pre-sale estimate. The estimate has been lowered modestly, but so has the bidders’ willingness to step up to own it. The next time it crosses an auction block it won’t be a surprise to see it be even less attractive.
Lot # 171 1954 Buick Skylark Convertible; S/N 7A1104302; Arctic White/Matador Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Older restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200. – 322/200hp, 4-barrel, Dynaflow, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, power steering, power brakes, pushbutton radio, matching spare wheel and tire, power windows, power antenna, power seat, heater. – A beautiful car, immaculate in every way and an AACA National First Prize winner. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2006 for $132,000. It has added 854 miles to the odometer since then but doesn’t appear to have suffered at all in terms of condition. It did suffer in value, however, and while it wouldn’t have been a stretch to bring a couple more bids, this result is realistic.
Lot # 172 1958 Lister-Jaguar ‘Knobbly’ Sports Racer; S/N BHL119; Engine # E6001-10; Black, Gold stripe and nose/Black; Estimate $900,000 – $1,200,000; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $725,000 plus commission of 10.69%; Final Price $802,500. – RHD. 3.8 liter D-type engine with wide angle head and triple Weber 45DCO3 carburetors, Halibrand kidney bean-style alloy centerlock wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, wraparound windscreen, driver’s head fairing, various spares. – Described as raced by Walt Hansgen at the Silverstone Grand Prix in July 1958 and at Snetterton where he won in two separate races (perhaps a test run for Briggs Cunningham, who bought two?) Then raced by Ivor Bueb to wins at Brands Hatch and Snetterton. Discovered in America in 1970, restored and vintage raced with success by John Harper, later by Dr. Phillipe Renault, Dietrich von Boetticher and Frank Sytner. Subsequently vintage raced in the U.S. Registered for street use. Its history is substantiated by various authorities. Presented to high standards, both cosmetic and mechanical, but with evidence of use and some age. – Sold by Brooks at Quail Lodge in a post-block transaction in 2001 for $365,500 when it was British Racing Green. Now done up in an attractive and menacing new livery that complements its vintage racing performance, it is a solid value in D-Type beating performance.
Lot # 173 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 4290089; Engine # 4290089; Chamonix White, M graphics/Black vinyl; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $168,000. – 1,990/170hp, 5-speed, fender flares, Alpina wheels, Toyo tires, sunroof. – BMW Classic certified. Matching numbers. Restored in Canada in the mid-2010s to a high standard, and no major issues are apparent. – BMW’s first turbocharged road car and the first turbocharged car anywhere after the demise of the Corvair, the 2002 packs 40 more horsepower than a 2002tii but does so with notorious turbo lag and a tii is arguably more fun to drive. Even so, the Turbos are quite rare and they are the fastest of the series. The best examples started commanding six-figure prices in the mid- to late-2010s. This example definitely qualifies as being among the best examples, and it is also the most expensive 2002 Turbo we’ve seen sell at auction. It was announced as “for sale” at $90,000 and was pursued through seven more bids to this over-estimate result.
Lot # 175 2020 McLaren Speedtail Coupe; S/N SBM23GDG6LW403036; Engine # 40BJAD230032; Heritage Atlantic Blue, Silver pinstripes/Tan leather; Estimate $3,500,000 – $4,500,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $2,975,000 plus commission of 10.17%; Final Price $3,277,500. – 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with parallel hybrid system and 1,035 system horsepower, alloy wheels with carbon fiber covers up front, fitted suitcase, gold-colored titanium tool set. – Delivered new to McLaren of Philadelphia last fall. One of 106 built (just like the McLaren F1), and this is serial number 36. Just 30 miles and like new. In the US under “show and display” exception and subject to NHTSA transfer approval and 2,500 mile annual driving limitation with intrusive Federal inspection requirements. – This is the first Speedtail at public auction (original buyers were pre-selected by McLaren). Everything about this car is excessive. It has $170,000 worth of options. The pinstripes cost over 50 grand. Just the starting price for one of these invite-only hypercars was in the low-$2M range, but as sometimes happens with exclusive automobiles like this, it got a lot more expensive once it hit the wider public market. Both parties should be happy with this result. It remains to be seen if the Speedtail takes off as it gets older as the McLaren F1 did but this is a good place to start.
Lot # 177 1961 Jaguar XKE SI flat floor Roadster; S/N 875657; Engine # R19689; Opalescent Bronze/Pumpkin leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Modified restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $224,000. – 3,781/265hp, 5-speed (original gearbox included), flat floor, welded louver, inside bonnet latches, upgraded front brakes, negative ground, electronic ignition, chrome wire wheels, Continental tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, chrome wire spare with a Firestone tire. – Restored in 2013 in its present, unusual and attractive color. Thoughtfully upgraded electrical system, brakes and transmission. Very good chrome and paint with minor flaws and chips. Tight fitting top, clear rear window, good gauges with crisp legends. Fully restored chassis with no evident use or age. – Reported sold by Gooding at Scottsdale in 2016 for $260,000 and bought here still in exceptional condition at a realistic price.
Lot # 179 2011 Tesla Roadster Sport Evolution Roadster; S/N 5YJRE1A33B1001393; Glacier Blue/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Unrestored original 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000. – Upgraded R80 3.0 battery, new Xenon headlights, forged wheels, Yokohama tires, carbon fiber trim, three tops (cloth top, carbon fiber hardtop, and transparent hardtop), car cover. Rides on an aluminum chassis borrowed from the Lotus Elise. – R80 3.0 battery upgrade increased range to 340 miles and reportedly cost $29,000. Represented with 17,492 actual miles and consistently serviced with no issues to speak of. – Regardless of what happens in the automotive landscape in the next few decades, Tesla is going to stick in people’s minds as the company that took EVs mainstream and finally made electric cars cool. And as Tesla’s first production model, the original Roadster is a likely future classic. It’s worth watching what prices do in the longer term. For now the seller, who has had the car since 2019, should be happy with this six-figure result. Sure, a few shares of TSLA would have been a way, way better investment, but you can’t drive your stock portfolio. The bidding pattern was unusual, opening at $45K, then 50K, 62.5K, 67.5K and then jumped to this $100K successful bid from someone who had made up his/her mind what it was worth to him/her and pre-empted any further bidding.
Lot # 183 1957 Chrysler New Yorker Town and Country Station Wagon; S/N N5721533; Desert Beige, Copper Brown roof and accent/Desert Beige vinyl, Grey cloth inserts; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 392/325hp Hemi, 4-barrel, TorqueFlite automatic, power steering and brakes, power windows, power front seat, Music-Master radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, air conditioning, 2-row seating. – Older respray with a few chips and touch ups, water spots on the roof and a few masking errors around the glass. Lightly scratched bumpers and rear glass. Lightly pitted door handles. Good older interior with some waviness on the dash top. Thoroughly restored engine compartment. An older restoration, never done to show standards but more than good enough to make for memorable family vacations and weekend trips. – Offered at Mecum Dallas three months ago where it was reported bid to $65,000 and sold here in the same range at a price that is better than the presentation of the car.