RM Sotheby’s, Monterey, August 24-25, 2018

RM Sotheby’s finally got its new Convention Center location in 2018 after two years in a makeshift fabric structure on Portola Plaza. The new layout was a mixed blessing but it was kicked off right by lot #247, the 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO s/n 3413, the superstar of a star-filled Monterey auction week.

RM Sotheby’s made good on the hype Saturday evening when the GTO, a two-time Targa Florio class winner rebodied by the factory for the ’64 season with Series II GTO/64-style coachwork that inspired love it or hate it opinions, sold for a hammer bid of $44 million, $48,405,000 with commission. It was a world record for a collector car at auction, almost $10 million more than the prior record, also for a 250 GTO s/n 3851 GT, at Bonhams Quail Lodge four years ago.

The GTO wasn’t the only high dollar car at RM. Its contemporary, 1963 Aston Martin DP215, recorded as the fastest front engined car ever clocked on the pre-chicane Mulsanne Straight, took the hammer at $19.5 million, $21,455,000 all-in. The 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II, s/n P/1016, that finished third in Ford’s 1963 sweep of the Le Mans podium also put up a big number, $8.9 million hammer, $9,795,000 with commission.

While the real deal on buyer’s commissions is never clear, particularly on headline cars, the reported commission on just these three lots adds up to $7,255,000, enough all by itself to build an extremely nice collection of cars, and a comfortable building to put them in.

The new facility is undoubtedly better equipped even than the old Convention Center but its multi-level layout required plenty of to-ing and fro-ing, up and down, to find the auction cars spread throughout the building. There were more cars outside on the Plaza.

Access to the auction itself as well as to the inside display areas was funneled through the headline cars display and another room where several cars featured in RM Sotheby’s recently formalized Private Treaty department were displayed. The headline car there was another Ferrari, 250LM s/n 0816, a two-time Le Mans winner (albeit entered on different chassis numbers.)

Ferrari 250/275LM s/n 0816, potentially yours for, oh, $60 million or so.

From the buildup a record sale was in prospect but in the end it fell $10.6 million short of RM’s 2015 Monterey auction, a 3-day sale featuring the $75.5 million “Pinnacle Portfolio”. Not even the 250 GTO could make up for that.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Sold < Low Est Sold > High Est Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2018 125/150 83.3% 66.4% 7.2% $1,263,456 $340,000

[26.9%]

$157,931,940
2017 103/116 88.8% 54% 15% $1,289,233 $451,000

[35%]

$132,790,950
2016 82/100 82% 72.8% 9.9% $1,438,110 $462,000

[32.1%]

$117,925,000
2015 129/150 86% 54% 9.7% $1,296,961 $407,000

[31.4%]

$167,308,000

The reports that follow detail 72 of the 150 lots at RM Sotheby’s with on-site observations by Rick Carey, Andrew Newton and Brian Rabold. They are sorted by Marque, Model and Year. The three missed photographs should have been taken by Rick.


Lot # 210 2000 Acura NSX-T 3.0L Coupe; S/N JH4NA2160YT800002; Formula Red/Black leather; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $128,800. – Alloy wheels. – Canadian market car showing 5,853 believable km. Really good paint. Shiny, blemish free wheels. Only negligible wear to the seats. Essentially a new NSX-T. – The 3.2-liter NSX-T cost about 88 grand when it was new less than 20 year ago, and NSXs have been relatively expensive modern collector cars for several years now that have led the charge in interest for modern Japanese performance cars. This was a very strong price but it bought a very strong example.

Lot # 253 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Super Sport Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N 915831; Metallic Grey, Pearl White roof/Grey leather; Estimate $550,000 – $750,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $440,000 – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, Michelin tires, turn signals, column shift. – Good recent clearcoat repaint, sound older upholstery only lightly stretched. The underbody and chassis have received superficial attention and some paint. A quick cosmetic redo on an important and fast car, but not as much as it deserves. – Sold by RM in Arizona in 2009 for $198,000, then by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2014 for $539,000 and passed at Gooding PB last year on a reported $560,000 high bid. There’s a saying about “Lipstick on a pig” that has relevance here where the repaint made it less appealing to bidders.

Lot # 269 1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Sprint Allegerita, Body by Bertone; S/N AR1493E04159; Engine # AR131530598; Light Blue/Blue, White vinyl; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $313,636 plus commission of 11.59%; Final Price $350,000 – Plexiglas sliding side windows, lightweight, body, 4-speed, headers, early Webers. – Early race history in Austria. Restored like new with very good cosmetics. The engine compartment is correct and orderly but not overdone, as is the chassis. This is a sweet Alfa. – Closed post-block at an all-in result. The early lightweight Alfas like this enhanced Giulietta’s already legendary driving characteristics and are avidly sought

Lot # 103 1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider, Body by Touring; S/N AR1020400512; Engine # AR0020400567; Black/Beige leather; Estimate $175,000 – $225,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $207,200. – Borrani wire wheels, Vredestein tires. – High quality repaint. Some discoloration on the front bumper and marks on the driver’s side exterior door handle. The trunk lid fit is uneven on the front passenger’s side. Cracked lens above the trunk lock. Tidy underbody. Clean and fresh interior. Single family owned until 2013 and represented as restored in 2016 with the matching numbers engine, it’s already showing plenty of signs of use and was never done to show car standards. – This Alfa is nice but its sale result is whole new world of 2000 Spider valuations. This is beyond perfect 2600 money.

Lot # 266 1960 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce Sprint Speciale, Body by Bertone; S/N AR1012000338; Engine # AR0012000790; Dark Blue/Light Grey leather, Red piping; Estimate $120,000 – $150,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $127,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $142,800. – Hub caps, dual Webers. – Good paint and brightwork. Very good panel fit. The emblems are a bit tarnished. The engine is clean but does have some tarnishing. The interior is very clean, although the original steering wheel is aged. An older restoration with a few imperfections. – Sold at RM Monterey last year in the same condition for a similar $137,500 with only 66 more miles on the odometer, and at this price it’s still a fair value to someone who wants a rare, drop dead gorgeous and fun to drive vintage Italian sports car for driving events. Sprint Speciales, the offspring of Disco Volantes and B.A.T.s seemed to take off a few years ago but today have stalled out and represent exceptional stylistic and performance values.

Lot # 156 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II Coupe; S/N AM3001114; Engine # VB6J656; Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $285,000 plus commission of 11.75%; Final Price $318,500. – Centerlock chrome wire wheels, Avon tires, Lucas fog lights, woodrim steering wheel. – Represented as the original engine. Bright and shiny paint is heavily cracked around the antenna, with some wear around the driver’s door trim. The taillight mounts and windshield seals are dry and cracking. The brightwork is marked throughout and flaking in places. The rear glass is scratched. The underbody is clean but oil leaks are evident. Plenty of small things to pick on, but it’s a rare and desirably equipped ’50s Aston that generally presents quite well. – More suited to the numerous driving events for which it is eligible for than the show field in its current condition, this DB2/4 sold for strong money, but Astons have been doing quite well at auction in general so far this year and this is a model that doesn’t come to market often. Bidders appreciated its sound and well-maintained older restored condition and bid generously even if not close to the pre-sale high estimate.

Lot # 141 1963 Aston Martin DP215 Competition Prototype Touring, Body by Aston Martin; S/N DP215; Engine # 4002151; Ogier Racing Green/Olive cloth; Estimate $18,000,000 – $22,000,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,500,000 plus commission of 10.03%; Final Price $21,455,000 10+. – RHD. Alloy rim wire wheels, Avon tires, covered headlights, sliding side windows, Cibie halogen headlights, Marchal driving lights, braced rollbar, huge fuel filler in the rear window, firestone system. – The fastest front-engined car ever clocked on the pre-chicane Mulsanne Straight, 198.6 mph. Driven by Phil Hill and Lucien Bianchi at Le Mans 1963 but was a dnf with a gearbox failure. In other words, great promise but no results. Built by Aston Martin based on experience with the DB4 GT Zagato. Restored by Nigel Dawes in the late 70’s with consultation from its original designer Ted Cutting. Restored again with a newly-constructed S532 gearbox (the missing link at Le Mans). Reunited with its original engine 400/215/1 with later dry sump oiling, Good paint and interior. Not fresh but carefully maintained and preserved. – A car to be reckoned with on any race circuit, tour or event. Described as tractable and easy to drive at 2,000 rpm in 5th, yet capable of challenging 200mph in the same gear and with as seductively subtle coachwork as a DB4 GT or Ferrari GTO, there is no doubt this meticulously restored Aston with its original engine is a hero car worth all the money it brought here at RM Sotheby’s Monterey.

Lot # 129 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Vantage Drophead Coupe; S/N DB5C1924R; Engine # 400211V; Peony Red/Biscuit leather; Biscuit Everflex top; Estimate $1,900,000 – $2,500,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,675,000. – Triple Webers, 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, dual mirrors, woodrim steering wheel, Blaupunkt multi-band radio. – The chrome is on the tired side but the paint is excellent. The engine bay is essentially spotless but not overly detailed. Very light wear to the front seats but otherwise excellent interior. Converted to LHD in 2005 during restoration and won an award at the AMOC Lime Rock Classic that year with several subsequent awards. A very rare Vantage-spec convertible and that’s where most of the value is. Fully restored to appropriately high standards, just done a while ago. – Sold by RM at Amelia in 2012 in comparable condition, showing 1,914 more miles on its odometer today for $1,210,000. Lucky (or insightful) are you who buy advantageously, drive 1,914 miles and then make a profit upon resale six years later. Optimistic are you who turn down a $465,000 capital gain after enjoying the car for six years. The high bid here was realistic and could have been taken, with some satisfaction.

Lot # 243 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Volante; S/N SCFCV81C7HTL15556; Dover White/Tan leather; Tan leatherette top; Estimate $400,000 – $425,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $410,000 plus commission of 11.22%; Final Price $456,000. – Automatic, Euro-style blade bumpers, white mag wheels, BF Goodrich 255/50ZR16 tires, sheepskin carpets, air conditioning, Alpine cassette deck. – Two-owner LHD US-spec car, reportedly one of just 58 built. The paint presents very well, and the chrome bumpers are very shiny with only light marks. A few chips where the convertible top hits the windshield surround. Leather dashboard mashed into the windshield on the driver’s side. The driver’s seat bolsters are starting to crack and there are a few small marks to the rear seat and carpet. The interior is otherwise clean and tidy. Showing 27,053 believable miles and extensive recent service. Clearly pampered even if it isn’t quite perfect. – Strong but not excessive money for an attractive Volante that is in desirable configuration, finished in good colors and has no apparent needs. US-spec Astons only crossed the pond a handful at a time in this era, so solid cars like this are very valuable.

Lot # 274 1956 Austin-Healey 100-4 BN2 Roadster; S/N BN2L233015; Engine # 1B233015M; Black/Green leather, Black piping; Estimate $90,000 – $120,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $100,800. – Painted centerlock wire wheels, Vredestein tires, Lucas fog lights, banjo spoke steering wheel, overdrive, three Breitling rally timers, BMIHT documented. – Represented as the original engine, originally finished in red over red. High quality paint but there are some flaws at the top of both doors. The grille chrome is discolored and the fog lights are pitted. The taillight gaskets don’t fit very well. Exceptionally clean and correct engine bay. Very good interior other than light discoloring to the carpet. A few small details let down an otherwise attractive and recently restored 100-4. Showing only 31 test miles since restoration, but an auction car restored to look good on the block. – This is strong money given the car’s shortcomings and an especially healthy result for the second-to-last car of the auction. It pays to hang around, but it didn’t in this case which brought a substantial premium for good paint and chrome.

Lot # 213 1929 Bentley 4 1/2 Liter Supercharged Recreation Tourer, Body by Graham Moss; S/N RC2209; Dark Green/Green leather; Dark Green cloth top; Estimate $550,000 – $750,000; Facsimile restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $500,000. – RHD. Folding windshield, dual aeroscreens, dual sidemounts, cycle fenders, body color wire wheels, Blockley tires, halogen Lucas headlights and Bosch driving light. – Good paint with some chips and fuel damage on the tank. Sound upholstery scuffed through on the bolster moldings. Clean but used chassis and suspension. Good body fabric and paint. In essence there is little W.O. Bentley about this car aside from the front axle, steering arms, rear axle casing, instruments, brakes, and starter but it’s all done to period specifications and to high standards, about as “real” as a CSX 4000 Cobra. – An immense amount of money was spent on this “Bentley”, and it is convincing in its appearance and performance but it’s only a “Bentley”, not a Bentley. On the other hand, it’s a delightful hot rod that has the Bentley experience nailed down and will be a delightful driver. The RM Sotheby’s bidders were reticent, as they should have been.

Lot # 128 1958 Bentley S1 Continental Fastback Coupe, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N BC4LDJ; Engine # BC4D; Black/Tan leather; Estimate $800,000 – $1,000,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $825,000 plus commission of 10.61%; Final Price $912,500. – Hub caps and trim rings, narrow whitewalls, power steering, column shift, air conditioning, fitted luggage, pushbutton radio, enclosed rear spare tire, altimeter, driving lights, eight-day clock, four ashtrays, window curtains and more. – Very good paint other than some light rub marks on the door edges, and excellent chrome. Clean underbody and engine bay. The door fit is a little uneven. The passenger’s seat is a bit dirty on the top edge but the rest is in excellent shape. Walnut dash with inlay is outstanding with no fading or flashing lacquer. Clear gauges. An inherently gorgeous car, and a rare left-hand drive model. Bought new with special-order features by an heiress to a Cuban sugar magnate in Connecticut, Josefina Tarafa. Fully documented ownership history since then and was restored in the early naughts at Vantage Motorworks. – This Continental awash in history and stories. S1 Continental Fastbacks often have them, but this is a paragon of the type. Who was Josefina Tarafa? Well, if you Google her you’ll find she produced albums of pre-Castro Cuban music, an extraordinary person with sensitivity and individuality embodied in her idiosyncratic S1 Continental. The result here is a major premium for history and personality, but entirely deserved and motivation for more research on Josefina Tarafa.

Lot # 233 1959 Bentley S1 Continental Flying Spur, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N BC24FM; Engine # BC23F; Richmond Blue/Beige leather; Estimate $275,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $265,000 plus commission of 11.89%; Final Price $296,500. – Wheel covers, Michelin narrow whitewalls, Lucas driving lights, Flying B hood ornament, pushbutton radio converted to FM, design #7443 with larger rear quarter windows. – Fantastic high quality paint and chrome. Spotless underneath. Tiny touch up on the right front door. Very light wrinkling to the seats but mostly exquisite interior. Big, imposing and gorgeous. Not done yesterday (restoration finished in 2010) and showing a tiny bit of age but the work was top notch, as it should have been. – Luxurious and exclusive hardly begins to describe this S1 Continental Flying Spur and its presentation is coincident with its inherent quality. The new owner paid no more that it took; the seller took what it took to buy it. Both should be satisfied with the result.

Lot # 215 1959 Bentley S2 Continental Drophead Coupe, Body by Park Ward; S/N BC54LAR; Engine # P4055; Midnight Blue/White leather, Dark Blue piping; Dark Blue Everflex top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $173,600. – Wheel covers, gold line tires, power windows, air conditioning, power steering, reinforced frame, AM-FM, power antenna, Lucas fog lights. – Represented with recent cosmetic and mechanical freshening. Not particularly good paint up close with some orange peel and a handful of scratches. Light smudges, wrinkling and discoloration to the seats. Good wood. Unrestored but tidy underneath. Commissioned new by J. Robert Neal, an heir to the Maxwell House fortune. Could use a more thorough restoration but is at least an attention-grabbing cruiser as-is. – Hammered not sold at a $145,000 high bid at Russo and Steele Monterey in 2013, then reported sold at Russo and Steele’s Scottsdale auction in 2014 for $148,400, it was let go here for a modest but reasonable price. It’s a little too valuable to just cruise around town on the weekends, but it’s not good enough to be a show car.

Lot # 224 2003 BMW Z8 Alpina Roadster; S/N WBAEJ13413AH62209; Black/Bright Red, Black; Black top; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $360,000 plus commission of 11.39%; Final Price $401,000. – Alpina wheels, steering wheel and gauges, hardtop, automatic, power top, power brakes, power seats, climate control, xenon headlights, CD changer stereo, nav system, stability control, tool roll, owner’s manuals, spare keys, battery charger, first aid kit, tonneau cover, factory hardtop. – Some fade to the paint and some light scratches around rear badge. Clear glass and lenses. No road wear to the nose. Clean underbody. Creased driver’s seat bolster and small scuffs on driver’s door sill plate. The interior is otherwise marvelous. The signs of age are minor, but it really should be better since it’s represented with 736 miles from new. – This isn’t a record price for a Z8 or Alpina, but it’s pretty close and way over the car’s original $137,000 price. The low mileage got the bidders’ attention, and there was more than enough money in the room to justify an extra few bids. Can it just be noted that this down-spec Z8 Alpina is a BMW T-bird bought for Gen-Z money?

Lot # 265 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 (big tank) Coupe; S/N 30837S115727; Tuxedo Black/Black vinyl; Estimate $160,000 – $200,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $167,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $187,600. – 327/360hp fuel injection, 4-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, radio delete, 36-gallon fuel tank. – Some stress cracks on the hood around the vent panels. Good older paint with only small swirls and rubbed hood edges to criticize otherwise. The rocker panels are scratched, and there are some small marks to the rear glass. Dull windshield trim and discolored seals. Clean underbody. Neat and presentable but older interior. Wrecked in 1970, then fitted with a replacement engine, chassis and firewall in the 1980s. A genuine Big Tank Z06, but has a checkered history and its restoration was done many years ago. – This is not a lot for a ’63 Z06, but there’s not a lot of the original Z06 left, either. It was offered at Auburn Fall two years ago where it no-saled at a reported $150,000. Clearly described in the catalog, it’s somewhat surprising it brought this much.

Lot # 270 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194376S108199; Engine # T1129IP6108199; Milano Maroon/Saddle; Estimate $130,000 – $175,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $107,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $120,400. – Centerlock alloy wheels, narrow whitewalls, teakwood steering wheel, L72 engine, 427/425hp, 4-speed. – Formerly owned by Chip Miller, founder of Corvettes at Carlisle. Mechanically restored in 1999 by Kevin Mackay, but the body and interior were wisely left alone. Shows 15,796 believable miles. Original paint is worn through in some spots and bubbling up in others, but the flaws are quite minimal for its age. Honest, clean engine bay has some paint flaking off in spots. The interior is in terrific shape for one so original, with very little wear present on the seats, door panels or dashboard. – Sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2009 for $143,000 then again at Amelia Island in 2014 for $137,500. Prices for most mid-year Corvettes have more or less risen back to their pre-Recession levels, but this car just keeps getting cheaper for some reason.

Lot # 245 1955 Chrysler New Yorker DeLuxe ST Special Newport Hardtop, Body by Ghia; S/N N558768; Copper, Ivory roof/Gold, White leather; Estimate $600,000 – $800,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 11.05%; Final Price $527,500. – 331/250hp, automatic, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, dash-shift automatic, Town and Country radio. – The 1955 Turin Motor Show car and one of four built. Acquired by the seller in 2014 as a project and recently finished. Gorgeous high quality, gleaming paint and chrome. The door fit is ever so slightly uneven. Excellent fully restored interior. Spotless underneath. Just shy of absolutely perfect, but a gorgeous and significant car nevertheless, and certainly ready for a show field. – This is a close to unique car and its value is truly in the eye of the beholder in which case it’s best just to say, “This is what it’s worth”. Someone has spoken with a generous bank account, and its appearance on concours fields is looked forward to with anticipation.

Lot # 166 1961 Cooper-Climax T54 Kimberly Cooper Spl. Indy Car; S/N 61IS01; Engine # ET8921204; Dark Blue, White stripe/Green cloth; Estimate $500,000 – $600,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $280,000 – Offset chassis, 2.7 liter Coventry Climax, centerlock alloy wheels, “Dan Gurney for President” stickers. – The first mid-engined car in the Indianapolis 500, built for paper heir Jim Kimberly and driven by Jack Brabham to finish 9th in 1961. Aston Martin powered for Kjell Qvale in 1963 and driven by Pedro Rodriguez, bumped from the grid in qualifying. Eventually morphed into a Chevy-powered sprint car accompanied by many of its original parts. Restored in 1991 with its original Indy engine which had powered Roger Penske’s famous Zerex Special. Highly original, complete, worn and chipped paint, dull suspension finishes but really important. – Condition let this historic car down at the auction and resulted in it going to a new home at a modest price. It is complete and is an Indy milestone however its offset suspension limits its use in historic racing. It is a sound value at this price.

Lot # 151 1953 Ferrari 250 MM Berlinetta, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0344MM; Engine # 0344MM; Dark Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $7,500,000 – $9,000,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $7,400,000 – RHD. Silver painted wire wheels, Avon tires, sliding side windows, Plexiglas hood air deflector, heater, Marchal headlights, painted SF shields. – Raced when new by Mas-Olle Persson in Sweden, later by Gosta Forsberg and Charles Lohmander. Acquired by Pierre Bardinon in 1972, later part of the infamous Consolidator Collection of Hans Thulin. Very good recent paint, chrome and interior. The underbody has been repainted assembled, and not recently. – Eligible for just about anything a new owner could want, including the Mille Miglia, with ovoid Pinin Farina coachwork, eggcrate grille and air vents that give no doubt at all about its competition purpose. Even at that the reported high bid, just $100K under the low estimate (1.3%), seems reasonable for its presentation and history.

Lot # 163 1954 Ferrari 375 America Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 0327AL; Burgundy, Metallic Grey roof/Beige leather; Estimate $3,500,000 – $5,000,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $3,250,000. – 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. Good older repaint, worn and cracked original interior. Loose windshield trim, erratic trim chrome. Good major chrome. The underbody and chassis have been superficially redone some time ago and shortcuts are starting to become apparent. – Sold by RM in Monterey in 2011 in comparable but less aged condition for $1,980,000, it is optimistic to think that this now aging 375 America should bring any more than the reported high bid here. It realistically could have been moved on to a new caretaker at the reported high bid.

Lot # 228 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Ellena Coupe, Body by Ellena; S/N 0807GT; Burgundy/Beige leather; Estimate $750,000 – $900,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $850,000 plus commission of 10.59%; Final Price $940,000 – Chrome spoke Borranis, Englebert tires. Engine internal number 0116C. – Badly chipped back edge of the hood, otherwise the older paint is very good. Good older upholstery and carpets, very good chrome. Clean and orderly engine compartment and chassis. Long term owned by Cy Yedor and restored for him in 1996. Coppa Bella Machina at the FCA Concours in 1996 after driving 2,900 miles from California, along with many other awards. Not showable any more, but much better than a driver. – Offered by Christie’s at Monterey in 2004 with a high bid of $220,000 showing 73,222 miles (74,013 today), then sold by RM here in 2013 for $687,500. It is an outstanding Ellena with an important provenance that brought a generous but not irrational price from bidders who appreciated its history and design.

Lot # 220 1960 Ferrari 250 GT Cabriolet SII, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 2007GT; Red/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.42%; Final Price $1,325,000. – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, GE sealed beam headlights, Marchal fog lights behind the grille, Blaupunkt AM-FM, overdrive, disc brakes. – Very good paint, chrome, top and lightly stretched upholstery. Clean, orderly underbody. Even panel gaps and flush fits except for a slightly proud trunk lid. Restored in 1996 but looks like it was done a year ago and is in exceptional condition. Represented as the original engine. – The last of four SII Cabs to cross Monterey auction blocks, and the best value of the group even with the mundane Red/Tan livery but still fully priced at this result.

Lot # 251 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta alloy, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 2163GT; Engine # 1615 GT; Red/Black leather; Estimate $9,500,000 – $12,500,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $8,450,000. – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Avon tires, Marchal headlights and fog lights, no bumpers, braced rollbar with headrests, Sabelt racing belts, outside fuel filler, Ferrari Classiche certified. – Replacement engine years ago with 250 GT Comp LWB California engine. Good paint with some orange peel on the left front fender and passenger’s door. The chassis has been painted chassis black indiscriminately including the exhaust system. Very good wrinkle painted dash, crisp gauges. Doesn’t appear to have been driven in some time. – The replacement engine is neatly offset by the alloy body and the otherwise complete originality and long appreciation by a succession of well-known and performance oriented owners who have consistently given it professional care and attention. Modestly estimated by RM, the bidders’ reluctance to offer a better price is hard to understand.

Lot # 247 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO SI Berlinetta, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 3413; Red/Blue cloth; Estimate $45,000,000 – $60,000,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $44,000,000 plus commission of 10.01%; Final Price $48,405,000 10+. – Borrani wire wheels, Dunlop tires, Marchal headlights, spun aluminum Talbot mirrors, sliding side windows, rollbar, Willans belts, fire system. – The third GTO built, raced when new by Edoardo Lualdi-Gabardi, 1962 Italian GT champion, class winner in the 1963 and 1964 Targa Florio. Test car driven by Phil Hill for the 1962 Targa Florio. Rebodied by Scaglietti for second owner Corrado Ferlaino with this Series II GTO/64 body in which form it won its class at the Targo Florio (Ferlaino/Taramazzo), a win crucial to Ferrari’s GT Manufacturers championship. Subsequent owners include historic racers Dan Margulies, Neil Corner, Lord Anthony Bamford, Nigel Moores, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones and the present owner, Dr. Greg Whitten. Campaigned frequently since then in historic races, tours and events. Original engine, gearbox and rear axle (the engine is not installed but goes with it.) Good older paint, interior and glass. Lightly scuffed paint. A quality, well-used and maintained race car. – The star of the Monterey show, RM’s vast new auction site in the rebuilt Convention Center ballroom was packed as the time for its appearance drew close. The car’s quality and RM Sotheby’s hype brought the highest auction price for an automobile in history, only a little disappointing that it didn’t rise to the level of the low estimate. Its history is known, as are the originality of its important components. It’s never been crashed to any significant degree and its ownership provenance is impeccable. Its only drawback is the Series II GTO/64 body with the extended roofline, low hood and extended oval grille, all added in period and part of its most important victory at the 1964 Targa Florio. But, it isn’t the classic GTO, an image permanently fired in the synapses of car lovers. That may be the only factor that keeps it from being $50 million plus. It still represents the opportunity to cruise with the GTO owners every five years and appear at any event or historic race where the new owner wants to take it. As such it is a good value and for some (like me) the GTO/64 body is a plus. Greg Whitten observed, “I have displayed it in my collection next to a 250LM and the pair is just breathtaking.” 3413 is breathtaking on its own.

Lot # 157 1963 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 4393; Silver-Grey/Caramel leather; Estimate $1,750,000 – $2,000,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,550,000 plus commission of 10.32%; Final Price $1,710,000 – Marchal headlights and fog lights, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XVS tires, Ferrari Classiche certified. – Correct type replacement gearbox. Very good clearcoat paint, only slightly worn upholstery. Clear, crisp gauges. Chip and odd distortion along the front of the passenger’s door. Orderly underbody but showing some road use. A fine Lusso. – The best of the three Lussos in Monterey and by a modest margin the most expensive but still bought at a price that is realistic.

Lot # 218 1968 Ferrari 206 GT Dino Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 00160; Engine # 0004376; Rosso Dino/Black vinyl; Estimate $550,000 – $750,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $520,000 plus commission of 10.96%; Final Price $577,000 – Centerlock Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires. – Looks nearly like new. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and glass. Excellent door fits. Known history from new and apparently never restored, just given such attention as it needed when required including engine and transmission overhaul in 1987 (at 70,000 km compared with 82,155 on the odometer today) and fresh cosmetics and mechanical freshening in 2008. The engine compartment is lightly oiled, as it should be. A very attractive, sympathetically owned and rare Dino. – Sold by Gooding & Company at Scottsdale in 2010 for $220,000 in perhaps slightly better condition than it is today but with no further restoration or refurbishment since then. The odometer shows 1,313 more km now than in 2010. The pre-sale estimate range is unusually broad and it would not have been a surprise to see this exceptionally well-maintained Dino 206 GT bring another $100K on the hammer making this a very good buy for the new owner.

Lot # 208 1969 Ferrari 365 GT Coupe 2+2, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 12521; Engine # 12521; Rosso Nearco/Crema leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $205,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $229,600. – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows and vent windows, Blaupunkt AM-FM-Multiband radio, halogen headlights, power steering. – Road grimy chassis and underbody. Grimy engine compartment with disabled smog pump. Surface cracked, redyed original upholstery. Some shadowed chrome trim. A tired old Queen Mother with a decent repaint. – Appropriately estimated by RM and appropriately bought by the Monterey bidders, this Queen Mother evidences a life of consistent care with only three owners from new and should be a satisfying purchase for its innate quality, 2+2 practicality, originality, pampered life and modest cost. With 250 GT Pinin Farina coupes bringing 3/4 of a million, a good sound Queen Mother like this is a sound value.

Lot # 232 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Competizione Spider, Body by Michelotti; S/N 15965; White, Rosso Dino accent/Sky Blue leather; Estimate $2,300,000 – $3,500,000; Competition restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,700,000. – Gold centerlock Cromodora alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, popup headlights, removable roof panel, power windows, full two-seat interior with Daytona seats, 4-point Willans belts, dual rear deck fuel fillers. – Sound garish paint, very good upholstery with a full road car interior. The underbody is aged and covered with old undercoat. One-off body by Michelotti on an A/C-equipped Euro Daytona in ’74, entered for Malcher/Langlois at Le Mans ’75 by NART but withdrawn before the start along with entire NART entry in a dispute between Chinetti and the ACO. Also entered/withdrawn by Otto Zipper at Daytona ’78 when protested for its non-standard coachwork by Peter Gregg. Restored to street trim by John Mecom, later owned by Pat Ryan, then several European owners and competed in historic events. 470hp race-prepared engine believed to be from 15685 (internal number B1608.) – One of two similarly bodied Michelotti Daytona Spiders at Monterey, this is the one with checkered competition history. Both look like C3 Corvettes. Christie’s sold this car at Pebble Beach in 2001 for $259,000, then offered by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2012 where it was reported bid to $1.5 million. The bid here is chintzy, but the market for Ferraris that look like Corvettes is thin, and this bid is enough for a pair of L88-powered C3 Corvettes.

Lot # 239 1984 Ferrari 288 GTO Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFPA16B000055237; Red/Black leather, Red cloth inserts; Estimate $2,750,000 – $3,250,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,550,000. – Alpine cassette, power windows, Toyo tires, SF shields 5-spoke modular alloy wheels, Ansa exhaust. – 13,579 km and nearly like new. – Sold for $2,750,000 by RM at Arizona in 2015 and $2,585,000 at Amelia in 2016. The reported hammer bid would have been $2.8 million all-in, an entirely reasonable number.

Lot # 153 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000052559; Engine # 01004; Grigio Scuro, Black sills/Bordeaux leather; Estimate $375,000 – $475,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $320,000 plus commission of 11.56%; Final Price $357,000 – Michelin TRX tires, Pioneer cassette stereo, Borletti air conditioning. – Good clearcoat repaint over unfilled chips. Good lightly stretched original interior. Orderly but aged original engine compartment. Road grimy chassis. 6,204 miles and one owner since 1988. – There were two 512 BBis in Monterey, both with single ownership since 1988. This one has fewer miles and appears to have been kept “in commission” throughout its history despite having 20,000 fewer claimed miles. It brought $156,000 more than the other with a strong premium for low miles and attractive colors that suit its design. It isn’t expensive per se, but it is a generous price for low miles and a high level or originality.

Lot # 226 1990 Ferrari F40 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFMN34A0L0087041; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,600,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,550,000 plus commission of 10.32%; Final Price $1,710,000. – U.S. spec, Ferrari Classiche certified, tools, books, accessories, luggage, Ferrari Classiche certified. – 1,690 miles and like new. – An F40 will do 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds, but to achieve it the driver needs to know how to shift its manual 5-speed, not rely upon the artificial (but very effective) intelligence of a series of solenoids, computers and hydraulic cylinders to bang between gears. This example was sold by RM here in 2008 for $735,500 and by Gooding & Company at Amelia in 2017 for $1,485,000. Essentially flawless, it is also expensive, but it has only 1,699 miles, all original and like new.

Lot # 209 1995 Ferrari F512 M Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFVG40A6S0100254; Black/Beige leather; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $360,000 plus commission of 11.39%; Final Price $401,000 – Modular alloy 18-inch wheels, PZero Nero tires, built in K40 radar detector, air conditioning. – Excellent original paint and lightly stretched interior. – They liked the F512 M in Rosso Corsa at Bonhams, they liked it a lot more at RM Sotheby’s in black with a third the miles. Even liking this menacing Black F512 M a lot, this a lot of money.

Lot # 214 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF70RCA0B0175960; Black Metallic, Grigio Silverstone stripe/Black leather, Alcantara inserts; Estimate $575,000 – $650,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 11.00%; Final Price $555,000. – Chrome/carbon SF shields, carbon fiber interior trim, outside mirrors, splitter, engine cover and side skirts, Ferrari sound system and climate control, red calipers, carbon brake discs, power sport seats, rear parking sensors, Bose stereo, 20-inch wheels. – Like new in all important respects with 6,400 miles. – For those who can’t afford $48 or $70 million for a 250 GTO this is a sweet consolation with mind-bending performance and a grim, menacing all-black visage. It was bought right in this transaction.

Lot # 207 2017 Ferrari California T Convertible, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF77XJA4H0227523; Rosso Corsa Metallizato, Blue, White stripes/Tan Peccary leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 11.61%; Final Price $346,000. – Painted SF shields, Black calipers, carbon brake discs, Handling Package, 70th Anniversary livery #20 “The Redhead”. – Good original paint and interior. Barely used, with delivery miles only. – There are 12 California Ts in the most recent issue of FML. The most expensive asking price is $249,995. None of them however is a 70th Anniversary and this seems a reasonable enough premium for the unique livery and negligible miles.

Lot # 124 1966 Ford GT40 Mk II Coupe; S/N P1016; Engine # HA1697; Kandy Gold, Pink accent/Black cloth; Estimate $9,000,000 – $12,000,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $8,900,000 plus commission of 10.06%; Final Price $9,795,000 10+. – RHD. 427/492hp, Green center centerlock Halibrand alloy wheels, Goodyear Blue Streak tires. – Prepared by Holman & Moody. Raced at Daytona (Ronnie Bucknum/Richie Ginther dnf), Sebring (Bucknum/A.J. Foyt 12th). Then to Le Mans where it was one of seven GT40 Mk IIs. Driven by Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson it finished third in Ford’s history 1-2-3 finish. Later used by Ford for promotions, then by H-M as development car for the Mk IIB. Entered at Daytona in 1967 driven by Mark Donohue and Peter Revson but didn’t finish. Ran at Le Mans driven by Donohue during the April test session, then retired. Donated to the Harrah Collection in 1970, privately owned since 1983 during which time it was identified as P1015, the 1966 Le Mans 2nd place car. Correctly identified by Ken Quintenz in the 90’s and restored as seen here including Mk IIB upgrades like the roll cage, instrument panel and fire suppression system. Displayed and historic raced since, 2003 People’s Choice winner at Pebble Beach. Good used historic racing car condition. – Considering that this car finished third at Le Mans and that RM sold a GT40/Mirage here several years ago for $11 million this result is a solid value for the new owner.

Lot # 150 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S85Y400754; Red, White stripes/Black; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 11.72%; Final Price $324,000. – All four options. – Reportedly less than 900 miles. The paint has some polish marks, but it presents like a new car. – Sold for $297,000 at Bonhams Quail Lodge in 2014, when it had 794 miles on the odometer. The price was slightly above market at the time, and this higher result is about right on. When you take into consideration the auction fees and other associated costs, though, the seller pretty paid a pretty penny for about 100 miles of driving.

Lot # 236 1961 Jaguar XKE SI flat floor Coupe; S/N 885010; Engine # R13149; OE White/Blue leather; Estimate $500,000 – $700,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $650,000 plus commission of 10.77%; Final Price $720,000 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, welded louvers, outside latches. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior and glass. Show polished and painted engine compartment. Better than new and gorgeous in white with whitewall tires. Represented as the original body panels, chassis, engine block and gearbox. One of just 11 known surviving LHD flat floor, external bonnet latch, welded louver coupes. – This is a hugely impressive restoration of a significant early E-type. The whitewall tires are a nice touch, typical of early E-types. Its price is even more astounding than the restoration.

Lot # 260 1939 Lagonda V12 Drop Head Coupe; S/N 14062; Engine # V12109; Silver, Blue/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $325,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 11.82%; Final Price $307,500. – Wire wheels, blackwall tires, single driving light, dual chrome horns, dual enclosed sidemount spares with mirrors, landau bars. – Clean, lightly used underbody. Small blister on the nose and some more around the spare wheel covers. Good but older and not show quality paint otherwise. Very good top. Lightly worn seats. Very good interior wood. Restoration finished in 2008. An inherently striking car, but not the show-ready automobile you might take it for at first glance. – Sold by RM at Villa Erba in 2015 for $308,924 (Euros 280,000 at the time; this result is Euros 264,500 including commission.) Its 4.5 liter 175hp W.O. Bentley designed V12 gives it ample power for the tours and events for which it is ideally suited. It is a satisfying acquisition at this price.

Lot # 134 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Coupe; S/N 4920; Engine # 30655; Rosso Corsa/Tan leather; Estimate $2,200,000 – $2,400,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,975,000 plus commission of 10.25%; Final Price $2,177,500. – Power windows, air conditioning. – Chrome bumpers, bonnet slats and external fuel filler thought to be added later. The paint has some orange peel. There is a small dimple on the roof by the driver’s side vent. The wheels are weathered. Clean underbody. The driver’s seat is starting to crack. Formerly owned by Claudio Zampolli, Lamborghini engineer who founded Cizeta. Restored twice, once at the Cizeta factory in the ’80s and once more in the mid-2000s. Showing age and it doesn’t present as well as expected from a rare Miura SV. – An SV with factory air conditioning is a very rare car even by early Lamborghini standards. While this seems expensive for an example in such imperfect condition, it also sold at Gooding Pebble Beach two years ago for a very similar $2,255,000, and it’s hard to argue with that kind of consistency.

Lot # 252 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N ZA9CA05A2JLA12218; Giallo Fly/White leather; Estimate $300,000 – $375,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $260,000. – Alloy wheels, power windows, air conditioning, wing, rear view camera. – The repaint has some chips and cracks around the windshield and door edges, but it still pops loudly. The engine bay has been detailed, but not recently. The driver’s seat is dry and cracking. White interior showing lots of rub marks and use. Showing 13,891 km but has been neglected and should be in better shape. – Offered by Auctions America at Ft. Lauderdale in April 2017 where it was reported bid to $270K, then at B-J Northeast two months later where the unsuccessful bid was $275,000. The consignor doesn’t seem to have taken those experiences to heart.

Lot # 217 1988 Lamborghini LM002A Utility; S/N ZA9LU45A9JLA12120; Acapulco Blue/Gray leather; Estimate $350,000 – $450,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $300,000. – OZ Racing wheels, rear-mounted spare, Weber carbs, owner’s manual, bed cover, factory tool box, original Pirelli Skorpion tires come with it. – The paint has slight chipping throughout from use and several runs. The roof is wavy. The driver’s door has chips and the front passenger’s door fit is uneven. The engine bay is clean but not detailed, with lots of chips and stains. The seats are in good shape, but the shift boot is dirty. A 20-footer that disappoints the more one looks. – In its current condition, it should have sold easily at the generous reported high bid, especially when you consider that this same LM002A sold at Gooding Scottsdale in 2015 for $176,000. Prices for LM002s were pretty consistently around $200K until RM blew the lid off, selling one in New York last December (2017) for $467,000. Now every LM002 owner thinks theirs is worth that much. The Monterey bidders didn’t agree.

Lot # 238 1974 Lancia Stratos HF Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 829AR0001527; Engine # 829AR000001064; Rosso Arancio/Tan cloth; Estimate $600,000 – $675,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $585,000. – Alloy wheels, Michelin X tires, fire extinguisher. – Chipped and swirled paint with stress cracks around the hood and fuel filler car. Rotting windshield surround. Road grime on the chassis. Typical erratic panel fit. Faded dashboard and fraying, lightly stained carpet. Good seats. The seats and tires have been replaced but the originals come with the car. All original, showing 6,458 km and fresh out of long-term storage, but nowhere near in like new condition. – If money is made on a car when it’s bought this Stratos started out with a serious handicap when it was sold here in 2014 for $660,000 with a huge originality premium on top of its $450K low estimate. It has added 1,982km to the odometer since then. If this was indeed a like-new Stratos or if it was owned by somebody famous then holding out at the reported high bid might make sense, but for a car with this many imperfections the money offered was perfectly reasonable. It will take the promise of rally driving lessons by Kimi Raikkonen to make it worth what the seller obviously expects.

Lot # 211 2012 Lexus LFA Coupe; S/N JTHHX8BH7C1000476; Whitest White/Black; Estimate $375,000 – $450,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $390,000 plus commission of 11.28%; Final Price $434,000. – Carbon fiber interior trim. – 120 miles and pretty much a new car. – The LFA was a technical tour de force when it came out and the company made just 500 of them from 2010-12, but Lexus nevertheless had a pretty hard time selling a car with a 400-grand price tag. The LFA’s limited production and high performance make it pretty much a sure thing for collectability in the future, but here it sold for not much more than MSRP.

Lot # 264 1977 Lotus Esprit S1 Coupe; S/N 77020134H; Engine # AC7770113427; Orange/Oatmeal cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $106,400. – Wolfrace alloy wheels, Dunlop tires, woodrim steering wheel, power windows, factory radio. – The gasket around the bumper is pretty uneven, but it may very well have from the factory that way. Well preserved bodywork. Clean and tidy underneath. Like new interior. Showing 4,188 miles from new and absolutely a collector grade S1 Esprit, possibly the best unrestored one in existence. – This is one of the very early Esprits that had the color mixed into the gelcoat rather than painted on top. Less than 500 Series I cars made it to the U.S., and build quality was so typically Lotus that there can’t be many left in anything close to good condition, so this car is very special. Like the later twin-turbo model displayed next to it at the preview, this car was an absolute home run, bringing over twice what other good S1 Esprits tend to command, a healthy but not unreasonable premium for originality and early build.

Lot # 204 2000 Lotus Esprit V8 SE Coupe; S/N SCCDC0821YHA10128; Silver Frost/Black leather; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Unrestored original, 2+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000. – 3,506/350hp twin turbo Lotus V8, 6-spoke alloy wheels, cross-drilled rotors, Alpine CD stereo, air conditioning. – Canadian market car represented with 80km from new. Presents like new, as you’d expect but probably needs a whole lot of re-commissioning after sitting for 18 years. – When it was new, this car would have cost less than 90 grand. As it sits, it’s still new and collectors’ hunger for low-mile like-new performance cars showed in the price here. This is a trend-setting sale for a late-model exotic that has generally lagged in value and interest behind the equivalent Ferraris and Porsches. It’s probably not going to see the road any time soon since the odometer will turn over its third digit in 20 miles.

Lot # 234 1956 Maserati A6G/2000 Berlinetta, Body by Zagato; S/N 2124; Light Grey/Blue leather, White piping; Estimate $4,250,000 – $5,250,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,100,000 plus commission of 10.12%; Final Price $4,515,000 – 1,985/160hp twin cam triple carb six, silver painted alloy rim Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires, extensively documented by Adolfo Orsi, Jr. – Raced in the 1956 Mille Miglia by Luigi Taramazzo but didn’t finish. Then sold to Antoine Cicoira who won his class and 2nd overall at the Coupe de Cote Turckheim-Trois Epis hillclimb and won the Coupe d’Automne at Montlhéry. Crashed at the Dakar Route de Quakam in Senegal. Restored in the U.S. in 2014 yielding 2nd in class and the Vitesse Elegance Trophy at Pebble Beach, Best in Class at Amelia in 2015 and a class win at Villa d’Este. Original engine and gearbox, body restored to its original factory configuration and grille. Excellent paint, chrome, upholstery and aluminum bright trim. Polished aluminum bumpers are shiny, not brilliant. The underbody and chassis are like new. – The restoration of this Maserati is so thorough that traces of its several competition incidents are surely erased and it does have a useful in period competition history that will aid its entry in desirable events where its svelte Zagato coachwork will be an additional attraction. Its combination of attributes are such that a nearly $5 million price is realistic.

Lot # 227 1962 Maserati 5000GT Coupe, Body by Allemano; S/N AM103040; Blue Sera/Red leather; Estimate $900,000 – $1,250,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $800,000 plus commission of 10.63%; Final Price $885,000 – Lucas mechanical fuel injection, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires, Blaupunkt multiband radio, Black plastic steering wheel rim, bright green cylinder heads and cam covers. – Sound older paint, chrome and interior. The engine compartment is orderly but showing age. Scuffed windshield molding chrome, but holding up well for a restoration done in 1997 (and which won the Custom Coachwork-Postwar class.) – Sold by RM in Arizona two years ago for $1,540,000 which makes the result here painful if not unexpected in view of the pre-sale low estimate and an intrinsic value when compared with similarly powerful, luxurious and rare Ferraris of the period.

Lot # 255 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115492462; Azzuro Artico (Light Metallic Blue)/White leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $245,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $274,400 – Centerlock alloy wheels, Pirelli P5 tires, Becker Europa II AM-FM, power windows, F.I.V. woodrim steering wheel, owner’s and service manuals, build sheet documented. – Good paint, chrome and interior on this now 10-year old restoration. Panels fit well. Needs some detailing and will be better for it, becoming a Ghibli SS that can be driven rapidly to and from local shows. – The caliber of the restoration is apparent in its survival in such good condition but it has been somewhat neglected in recent years with the result that it brought this modest but still realistic price.

Lot # 237 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500800; Engine # 1989805500816; Dark Blue/Red leather; Estimate $1,450,000 – $1,650,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.38%; Final Price $1,435,000. – Rudge-style centerlock alloy wheels (added during restoration), Dunlop tires, hinged steering wheel, ivory steering wheel and shift knob, General Electric sealed beam headlights, fitted luggage, tool roll. – Stored nearly 40 years until 2006 then resuscitated and driven for three years. Partially restored about 2010 by M-B Classic Center. Good but older paint and chrome. Very good interior. Clean underneath. Not done yesterday but in essentially like new condition, desirably equipped and finished in great colors. – Bought for a price appropriate to its history, originality and appearance, a car that took a four decade nap and since then has been well cared for.

Lot # 130 1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210002623; Engine # 19898010002681; Black/Tan leather; Tan top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,500,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,175,000 plus commission of 10.43%; Final Price $1,297,500. – Rudge-style wheels, hardtop, Becker Mexico stereo, reproduction luggage, Euro headlights, owner’s manual, tool roll. – Represented as the matching numbers engine. Very good paint and chrome. Very good interior. Pretty much spotless underneath. Fully restored relatively recently to like new condition without overdoing it. – Sold here four years ago for $1,375,000 and now with just 23 more miles showing on its odometer, an impressive car bought for a reasonable price that the new owner should appreciate (the car and the price paid.)

Lot # 242 1963 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 19804210003116; Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,650,000 – $2,000,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,750,000 plus commission of 10.29%; Final Price $1,930,000. – Alloy block, disc brakes, Becker Mexico AM-FM, chrome wheels, hubcaps, Michelin Harmony blackwall tires, white steering wheel and shift knob, fitted luggage, tool roll. – Unstamped replacement engine with the original engine plate. Exquisite paint, brilliant chrome, inviting interior. The engine compartment is impeccable and like new. A hugely impressive car. – All it’s missing are a set of Rudge-Style wheels, but that didn’t deter the Monterey bidders who paid top dollar for a top quality 300SL Roadster.

Lot # 268 1968 Mercedes-Benz 250SL Convertible; S/N 11304310004496; Graphite Grey, Beige hardtop/Beige; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $112,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $126,000. – Pagoda hardtop, wheel covers, whitewalls, 4-speed, Becker Europa radio, power steering. – Superb paint, straight bodywork and excellent chrome. Spotless engine bay. Good gaps, but has a creaky driver’s door. Grubby tires. Cracked steering wheel, but lovely seats and fresh carpet. Restoration completed in 2014 and driven since then, but driven lightly. – This car has all the options you’d want other than air conditioning, and both its condition and colors are very good. Even taking that into account, though, the price here was definitely favorable to the seller, and prices for Pagoda SLs have been dropping anyway since a big run up in 2015 exemplified by this car’s sale by Gooding & Company at Amelia in 2016 for $143,000.

Lot # 206 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet; S/N 11102712002151; Engine # 11698012001878; Medium Blue Metallic/Dark Blue; Dark Blue top; Estimate $275,000 – $350,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $280,000. – 3,499/200hp V8, automatic, air conditioning, Becker Europa radio, power windows. – Older paint is still sound but now has touch ups throughout and rubbed door edges. The panel fit is not quite right, especially on the trunk lid. The underbody and wheel wells have been recently detailed. The interior shows use with some small carpet stains and fraying seatbelts. The upholstery was replaced 10 years ago and now has some wear. An honest car with some cosmetic needs. – Offered by RM at Phoenix in 2004 where it was in comparable condition with 2,653 fewer miles on its odometer and brought a reported high bid of $58,000. How times have changed in fourteen years and today this is what even an aging, cosmetically restored 3.5 cabriolet is worth.

Lot # 241 1998 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Coupe; S/N WDB2973971Y000020; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $4,250,000 – $5,250,000; Competition car, original as-raced, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,100,000 plus commission of 10.12%; Final Price $4,515,000 – SPS tool chest, owner’s manual, service booklet, spare keys, first aid kit, air compressor, torque wrench – Nearly like new but starting to show the passage of time. Federalized and in the U.S. on a show and display exemption. All original, #9 of 25. Under 1,500 km. – As exotic as a McLaren F1 GT or Porsche 911 GT1, and as fast or faster. This is the price of playing in that rarified atmosphere.

Lot # 271 1972 Nissan Fairlady 240ZG Coupe; S/N HS30100011; Grand Prix Maroon/Black vinyl; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,200. – Fender flares, covered headlights, dual wing mirrors, wood shift knob, factory radio, leather-wrapped steering wheel, aftermarket Watanabe alloy wheels, rear strut tower brace. – Rough older paint with some small dents, a few cracks and some blisters. Orange peel on the nose. Uneven gaps. Mostly tidy but used underneath. The interior is much better. Showing 75,574 believable km. A little disappointing up close when you look at the paint, but an inherently cool JDM Z-Car with good specs and solid looks. – A very rare car, especially in this country, but serious collectors with deep pockets are willing to hold out and pay extra for a better one than this. This is a fair result for a rare car with needs.

Lot # 131 1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Convertible Victoria, Body by Dietrich; S/N 902327; Engine # 902232; Grey-Green Metallic/Putty leather; Grey-Green cloth top; Estimate $4,500,000 – $6,000,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $3,400,000 plus commission of 10.15%; Final Price $3,745,000 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, skirts, dual rear enclosed spares, vee windshield, Solar headlights, radio, smoker’s kits, LeBaron-style teardrop fenders. – 2013 Pebble Beach Best in Show and still concours-ready. – Top up or down, this is an extraordinary classic car. The catalog makes a big deal of the teardrop fenders, but they are a big deal and a sensuous departure, along with the dual enclosed rear spares, from conventional American design at the time. Even at this price this is a lot of classic Packard for the money.

Lot # 230 1957 Porsche 550A Spyder, Body by Wendler; S/N 550A0116; Engine # 90556; Silver/Beige cloth; Estimate $4,600,000 – $5,000,000; Competition restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $4,450,000 plus commission of 10.11%; Final Price $4,900,000 – Alloy wheels, Excelsior 5.00R16 mud & snow tires, covered passenger compartment, single driver’s Plexiglas windscreen, driver’s head fairing, mechanic’s seat. Sold on a Bill of Sale. – Raced when new by Jack McAfee for John Edgar and later for Stanley Sugarman. Restored in the 90’s by Manfred Friesinger for Hui Takahara with a different engine. Both front fenders have tire interference distortion, otherwise the clearcoat paint is very good, as is the upholstery, dash and instruments. Interior panels are wavy and dirty around rivet heads. The engine compartment is orderly, in a vintage race car sense. Head fairing is bent, cracked and doesn’t fit flush. An auction car that was a class winner at Amelia in 2014 and must not have had much competition. – This is a legendary “giant killer” Porsche with a good West Coast racing history when new, but its condition leaves a lot to be desired, not least the mud & snow tires that are probably on there to minimize interference with the damaged fender arches. The price is all about the history and the 550A Spyder’s reputation.

Lot # 240 1958 Porsche 356A 1600 Super Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 83930; Engine # 81280; Ruby Red/Black; Black top; Estimate $350,000 – $400,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $330,000 plus commission of 11.52%; Final Price $368,000. – Hub caps, Michelin XZX tires, bumper overriders, silver painted wheels, jack, partial tool roll, driver’s manual, side curtains, factory shop manuals but no Porsche CoA. – Reportedly with the current owner for more than 50 years and represented to have its numbers-matching drivetrain. Orange peely paint with some chips and bubbling spots, most noticeably by the right edge of the windshield. The seals are faded, the rearview mirrors are lightly pitted, and the brightwork is otherwise sound. The passenger’s door sticks out a little at the bottom edge. The shifter is showing lots of bare metal, and the rubber flooring is lightly discolored, but the seats, carpets, and dash all look great. A fairly old restoration, likely done before these cars were worth all that much, and it shows. – This result is a little expensive for this Speedster’s condition, but not by enough to be more than a modest expression of enthusiasm, particularly considering its matching-numbers drivetrain.

Lot # 139 1968 Porsche 908 Works Short-Tail Coupe; S/N 908010; Engine # 908034; White, Yellow nose/Red velour; Estimate $2,300,000 – $2,800,000; Competition restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,000,000. – RHD. Black 5-spoke alloy wheels, Avon tires chipguarded nose. – Factory team raced at the Spa 1000km in 1968 driven by Vic Elford and Jochen Neerpasch where Neerpasch crashed in a downpour ending 010’s racing career. The chassis and body, still race-damaged, were eventually sold and restored by John Corson with a 908 engine acquired from the Vasek Polak estate and a 908 5-speed transaxle. Displayed and vintage raced since. Good paint and gaudy interior. Said to have a fresh Porsche-built 908 engine but it was hiding under the bodywork, no peeking allowed. – It is a tribute to the reputation and value of the 908 that this car survived at all, let alone in good historic race-ready condition. Its rather a bitsa, though, remade from a car hit hard enough for Porsche to give up on it, and the $2 million bid for it is reasonable.

Lot # 275 1974 Porsche 914 2.0 Targa; S/N 4742906575; Engine # GA011752; Ice Green Metallic/Tan vinyl, cloth; Estimate $45,000 – $65,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $61,600. – Special order paint, alloy wheels, Eagle GT tires, original owner’s manual. – Paint to sample Ice Green Metallic from the 911, cosmetically restored in its original colors in 2013. Represented as its original engine. Very good paint and plastic. Nearly spotless and detailed underneath. Light rip in the driver’s seat. New carpet and otherwise great interior. A fresh and gone through if not fully restored 914, it is also reportedly the only one in this color. – The last car of the auction and neither totally original nor fully restored, this car nevertheless didn’t bring as much as it conceivably could have given the special paint and since RM and Gooding have both sold four-cylinder 914s for over 90 grand over the past year. Even so, this would have seemed like bonkers money even just a couple of years ago.

Lot # 249 1979 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe; S/N 9309700477; Engine # 6790499; Grand Prix White/Black leatherette with Black and White checkered cloth inserts; Estimate $100,000 – $125,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $151,200. – Black painted Fuchs wheels, sunroof, power windows, air conditioning. – The paint shows well with no obvious flaws. Clean underbody. Stained rear seat with a small tear. Sagging door panels and droopy headliner. Neat optional Turbo script on the side and wild checkered seats, but this car’s condition leaves plenty to be desired, especially by 930 standards. – Sold for $145,750 at Gooding Scottsdale last year, so although this car has attention-grabbing features, the bidders once again used their discretion and bid to a price that reasonable takes the multiple flaws into account.

Lot # 101 1987 Porsche 944S Coupe; S/N WP0AA0944HN452281; Zermatt Silver Metallic/Black leather; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $22,400. – Pirelli P215/60R15 four-season tires, phone dial wheels, rear wiper, removable sunroof, ABS, alarm system, cruise control, Blaupunkt stereo, owner’s manual, tool roll, air compressor – Lightly faded paint with some chips on the front bumper. The rear spoiler is a bit faded. Some delamination on the windshield but the glass is otherwise sound. A little dirty underneath. Nearly like new interior. Showing 15,049 miles but not quite like new. – This car sold for $26,400 at Bonhams Scottsdale last year. It presented here a bit scruffier than it did last time even though it’s only done 113 miles since then, and buyer exuberance for lower-tier Porsche models has settled down a bit as well, so the lower price here wasn’t too surprising even though it was still strong money for an imperfect car.

Lot # 202 1995 Porsche 928 GTS Coupe; S/N WP0AA2920SS820099; Black/Gray leather; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000. – Cassette stereo, power windows, air conditioning, full tool roll. – Two-owner car with maintenance receipts, including recent $10,000 service with new Michelin Pilot Sport tires. Showing 4,231 believable miles. Light scratches around the door handles and a nick on the door but otherwise very good original paint. The door seals don’t quite fit and there is some fading to windshield seals. Clean underbody. Very good interior. A collector-grade 928. – The final-year 928 is a far cry from the earlier cars in both performance and value. The GTS is fairly rare and has well over 100 horsepower more than the earliest 928s, so it can be worth well over twice as much money. This is nevertheless a huge result, with most of the premium paid for the lack of digits on the odometer.

Lot # 225 1998 Porsche 911 RUF Coupe; S/N W09BD0360WPR06036; Irish Green/Black leather, Alcantara; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $825,000 plus commission of 10.61%; Final Price $912,500. – RUF wheels and body kit, 620-horsepower twin turbo intercooled 993 engine, 6-speed, all-wheel drive, carbon fiber bodywork and interior trim, roll cage, air conditioning, entertainment system, 19-inch Michelin tires. – Carbon fiber body. One of seven built. Represented as having just 240 miles and looks as expected for that mileage. An awesome piece of air-cooled tuner Porsche. – RUF made just seven of these Turbo R Limiteds and they sold out immediately. The attention to detail is fantastic, the performance is savage, and it’s a heck of a lot rarer than even the most special of the factory 993 variants. Those are all qualities that Porsche people continue to prove their willingness to pay for and this one got the Monterey bidders’ juices flowing with a near high estimate hammer price.

Lot # 167 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Sedanca Coupe, Body by James Young; S/N LSFE99; Engine # SE49; Reuter Red, Burgundy/Beige leather; Estimate $350,000 – $500,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $280,000. – Wheel covers, whitewalls, dual wing mirrors, landau bars, newer Blaupunkt stereo, free-standing Marchal headlights. – 6,555 miles from new. Some restoration work underneath. Lightly cracked weather stripping. Some rub through on the hood and a little light cracking on the roof. Good older interior. One of two with this James Young body. Ordered new by Dr. Sam Scher, one of the pioneers in what we know today as concours-quality restoration. He had the car further modified at FLM-Panelcraft with the landau bars in place of the side windows and the rear window reduced in size. Not a show car, but a very special and striking body style that’s more than presentable enough as it sits. – Any automobile connected with Dr. Sam Scher is important if only from the association. He showed himself in the early 50’s to be a man of good taste and discernment (if not entirely forthright with the IRS.) The survival of this car is exceptional, as is its elegance and style. It will be respected by Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts and its price reflects its history, low miles and condition.

Lot # 155 1961 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II LWB Touring Limousine, Body by James Young; S/N LLCC2; Engine # LC2C; Masons Black, Sable/Beige leather; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000. – Hub caps and trim rings, Lucas P100 headlamps, dual mirrors, luggage rack, rear seat tables, factory air conditioning. – Baby Phantom body style. One of three LHD examples. Sound older paint and chrome. Lightly worn original upholstery, but charmingly so. Really good interior wood. Good, but not fully restored underneath. Special ordered new by a Rolls-Royce enthusiast (and Price Waterhouse partner) who took in on a six-month continental tour in Europe before shipping it home to the States. An interesting and almost unique car that you know is special as soon as you look at it. – Nearly the end of the era for coachbuilt, bespoke, Rolls-Royce automobiles and as luxurious and distinctive as a car could be in 1961, but the reported high bid is enough for it, or at least close enough that RM should have found a way to make the deal work.

Lot # 162 1965 Shelby Mustang GT350R Fastback; S/N SFM5R096; White, Blue stripes/Black vinyl; Estimate $700,000 – $800,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $650,000 plus commission of 10.77%; Final Price $720,000 – Dual bucket racing seats, woodrim steering wheel, fire system, 5-spoke alloy wheels, Avon tires, braced rollbar. – Delivered new to Comstock Racing in Canada and driven by Eppie Wietzes and Craig Fisher to win the Mosport 500 miler in 1965. Sold by Comstock the next year and acquired and raced by Stan Ward. Restored in the mid-90’s, then used in vintage races and events in Europe. Good paint, orderly but used engine compartment and chassis. A serious race car, not a show car. – It had a quartet of Webers when Comstock raced it, so it could again and still be “authentic”. There is no mention of components’ originality, but it’s a race car so that’s pretty much a given. A competitive vintage racer last used seriously a year ago, it should be pretty much track ready and is worth what it brought here.

Lot # 121 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; S/N CSX3102; Engine # C3A33059A; Red/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $900,000 plus commission of 10.56%; Final Price $995,000. – Repro Halibrand wheels (originals included), Radial T/A tires, dual quads, woodrim steering wheel, Smiths gauges, 36-gallon fuel tank, original top and tonneau cove, bumpers, grille and trunk guards – Well-known Jones Brothers Cobra, wearing body from CSX3005 that was fitted in period following an accident. A correct 427 engine was installed following 2005 damage to the original. Long term owned by Bill and Bud Jones, nearly 40 years. Featured in ads for their company, Mr. Formal Wear. Some swirls in the paint. Spotting on the windshield brightwork. Chipped windshield. The original seats are in good condition, as is the rest of the interior. Sympathetic restoration in 2015 brought this a Cobra back to street specs, losing the added hood scoop, rear fender scoops and side pipes. – Sold by Mecum in Monterey in 2010 for $689,000 and then sold by RM in Arizona three years ago for $990,000. The car’s checkered history certainly detracts from its value even though it is a genuine big-block Cobra 427. Cobra prices also haven’t done much since its last trip to auction, so the price here is as appropriate as it was three years ago.

Lot # 250 1938 SS Jaguar 100 3 1/2 Liter Roadster; S/N 39048; Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $575,000 – $775,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $675,000 plus commission of 10.74%; Final Price $747,500 – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, Dunlop Racing blackwall tires, dual rear-mounted spares, driving lights, stoneguards, folding windshield with dual aeroscreens. – CCCA National First Prize. Restored in 2010-11 and kept up since including more recent paint. Some paint scuffs and upholstery that is acquiring a handsome patina. The chassis is lightly oiled but still nearly like new. – Sold by Gooding & Company at Pebble Beach in 2010 before the most recent restoration for $368,500, then post-restoration by RM here in Monterey in 2011 for $687,500. Its odometer has added just 22 miles since 2011 but the car shows a bit more age and miles than that. A 3 1/2 Liter SS100 is one of the legends of British sports car history, a legend than the new owner paid full retail to acquire.

Lot # 148 1948 Tucker 48 Sedan; S/N 1046; Engine # 33555; Maroon/Beige; Estimate $1,800,000 – $2,100,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,650,000 plus commission of 10.30%; Final Price $1,820,000. – Wheel covers, whitewalls. – A long history of modifications including being fitted with a front-mounted Oldsmobile V-8 engine at some point in its life and a 1964 Mercury chassis. Now carrying a correct (but not original to this car) Tucker mill and underside scanned and replicated from Tucker 1047. Excellent paint, perfect chrome, lovely engine bay. Some scratches to the rear glass. The interior is well done if not up to the same impressive standard as the exterior. An excellent restoration that still presents well. – This was the Tucker year at the Pebble Beach Concours and the seller of this car wisely had its RM Restorations reconstructed car featured at the RM Sotheby’s auction to take advantage of it. The final product of the restoration is amazingly detailed and complete even if many of the parts were made from scratch to fit under 1046’s body. Is it worth what it brought? It must be.

Lot # 272 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Samba Microbus, 21-Window; S/N 246040754; Lotus White/Beige vinyl, cloth; Estimate $90,000 – $130,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $179,200. – Correct period 1.6 liter engine with Freeway Flyer transmission, factory folding sunroof, roof rack, updated factory-appearance radio, hub caps, whitewalls, bumper overriders, whitewalls. – Fresh photo-documented body-off restoration. Some rubbing on the front chrome trim and pitting to the front badge. Light overspray on the front window seals. Uneven paint application visible around the body seams. Scratch by the right rear wheel well and two sizable scratches on the rear doors. Marks on the right rear window. Extraordinarily clean underbody. Excellent interior. Freshly restored and mostly gorgeous, but a few disappointing flaws on the exterior. – Sold at Mecum Denver a month ago for $79,750, which seems a lot more realistic to the vehicle’s actual value. This price just seems outrageous, especially for a 21-Window with notable flaws, but bidders have proven time and time and again over the past few years their willingness to spend well into six figures for these things. That has presented opportunities for so-called restorers to build attractive microbuses that look good under the auction lights but that may not stand up to a closer inspection. The front seat occupants’ legs are the crush zone.

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Comments

    • Philip R Trenholme
    • September 10, 2018
    Reply

    Your excellent reports are an important part
    of enjoying my final years. Can’t thank you enough.

      • rickcarey1
      • September 10, 2018
      Reply

      Don’t push that “final years” thing too hard, you’ll have me thinking old.
      I’m glad you enjoy them and welcome any comments or suggestions.

    • Peter McCormick
    • September 10, 2018
    Reply

    Your insightful and witty reports are an important part of the many decades I hope lie ahead, and as soon as I win the Mass. lottery I will contact you for advice in forthcoming car purchases.

      • rickcarey1
      • September 10, 2018
      Reply

      If you’re like me, before you win the Mass Lottery you have to buy a ticket.

  1. Reply

    Great reporting! Definitely covered the subject. That green Ruf Porsche sure got our attention, as did the black Z8. Couldn’t take my eyes off the Benz CLK GTR. We attended most of the Monterey Week events. Most mind blowing, heart attack moment? For us, had to be Mika Hakkinen hot lapping the very Maclaren F1 that won Le Mans a while back. He did eight laps, 4 of them WFO. Anyone know his lap time? That car is the heart and soul of Maclaren. Shockingly cool.

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