RM Sotheby’s, Online Only, London, October 31, 2020

RM has been doing its fall London sale since before it was RM Sotheby’s.

Held at Battersea since 2007 and at Olympia last year it’s bounced back and forth between late October and early September, but this was the first “Online Only” auction within RM’s London franchise.

I should probably have reported this October 31 sale before the November 20 Open Roads North America auction, but stuff backs up and the emphasis is always on the latest.

Had I been more sequential London’s 46.3% sell-through and modest total sale of $4,325,507 would have fed right into Open Roads’ 50% sale rate and $4,433,101 total, reinforcing the incipient trend for lackluster online only auctions.

Are buyers anticipating a return to live auctions?

They’re going to be disappointed.

Scottsdale is shaping up as a largely online and phone event with token presences from RM Sotheby’s (viewing only at the OTTO Car Club in Scottsdale), Bonhams (viewing only at the Westin Kierland) and Worldwide (viewing at Auburn, Indiana). Barrett-Jackson has a limited attendance event at WestWorld. Leake Auctions is still showing an on-site sale at Salt River Fields but we’ll see.

Scottsdale is  a shadow of the extravaganza we’ve come to expect. Bidders are mostly in the identified COVID demographic. Flying to Scottsdale is recognized as hazardous, let alone mingling in crowds.

We’re not going to see collector car auctions approach returning to their live auction trend until the second quarter of 2012 as vaccinations build up, and demonstrate both effectiveness and longevity of protection.

Still, RM Sotheby’s sold some good cars for good money and gave nothing away. Bidding on some cars was dull but on good cars with ample photos, sound documentation and histories it was good.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Sold < Low Est Sold > High Est Average Sale Median Sale Total $ Exchange Rate
2020 31/67 46.3% 71% $139,532 $81,090

[58.1%]

$4,325,507 $1.2933
2019 58/85 68.3% 65.5% 3.5% $205,285 $126,691

[61.7%]

$11,906,543 $1.2820
2018 50/94 53.2% 72% $242,257 $118,708

[49%]

$12,112,837 $1.2903

The 25 of 67 lots offered that are reported here are by Rick Carey and Andrew Newton based on RM Sotheby’s online descriptions, condition reports and photography. This report is sorted by lot number.


Photo by Peter Seabrook

Lot # 123 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti 2 + 2, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFAY54B000145089; Mirabeau Blue/Tan leather; Estimate $155,196 – $206,928; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,450 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $137,995. – 5,748/540hp, six-speed, climate control, 5-spoke modular alloy wheels, P-Zero Rosso tires, black calipers, SF shields. – 43,385 km from new, one of 43 6-speeds built for European delivery. Original with a few nicks and scuffs appropriate to the miles. Curbed wheel rims The interior is barely used at all aside from the usual driver’s outside seat bolster scuffing and the engine compartment (at least the top of it, which is all that’s pictured) is pristine. There are no chassis photos. A clean used car. – This is an appropriate result for a paddle shift 612 Scaglietti that has been driven this much, but not for one of the highly sought and rare 6-speeds which have been bringing as much as double the more common paddle shift cars. It’s an attractive color, too, and a solid value in this result even for a lefthand drive car in a British auction.

Lot # 124 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 SWB 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 10001212001557; Engine # 10098012001641; Bordeaux/Black leather; Estimate $96,998 – $142,263; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,358 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,894. – 6,329/300hp V-8, automatic, narrow whitewalls, air conditioning, tools, spare. – Originally a U.S. market car. Cosmetically restored in 1994. Went to Germany in 1997. Mechanically refurbished in 2015-16, and converted to the more attractive European headlights. Represented with Euros 100,000 in service documents. All the hydraulically operated power features reportedly work. Older but good paint and even panel fit. Engine bay is in used condition. Light general age but overall looks a lot fresher than 25 years old. Located in Italy. – Popular with actors, musicians, Cold War dictators and, more recently, Eastern European oligarchs, the 600 is a triumph of German (over)engineering. And it’s a car that buyers should approach with caution. The self-leveling air suspension is a common (and expensive) issue, and all the car’s power convenience features rely on a wildly complex hydraulic system that runs on special mineral oil. Buying a solid, consistently maintained and honestly represented car is therefore ideal, especially when we’re talking about bidding on a car sight unseen. This one, which Barrett-Jackson sold way back in 1996 for $41,250, looks like an honest car but the bidders nevertheless exercised some caution, and understandably so. If no big issues and specialized labor costs pop up, it’s a decent buy at this price.

Photo by Paolo Carlini

Lot # 126 1969 Alfa Romeo 1750 GT 2 + 2, Body by Bertone; S/N AR1365115; Engine # AR00548B4514; Verde Pino metallic/Tobacco vinyl; Estimate $71,132 – $84,065; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $67,252. – 1,779/132hp, Weber carburetors, 5-speed, fog lights, silver steel wheels, hubcaps. – Excellent recent paint with only a small defect on the passenger’s door. Good chrome except for an area of poor plating on the front bumper. Excellent interior, dash, carpets, steering wheel and gauges. Clean, crisp engine compartment. A fresh restoration. – A seriously attractive car and freshly restored throughout, this would have been a sound buy even several bidding increments over the reported high bid here.

Lot # 127 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Coupe; S/N 11102622001559; Red Metallic/Black leather; Estimate $77,598 – $96,998; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $73,718 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $81,090. – 3,499/230hp V-8, automatic, wheel covers, fog lights, floor shift, power windows, Becker Grand Prix radio, VDO dash clock, air conditioning, all books and manuals. – Original right-hand drive UK-market car, and represented with two owners from new. First owner was the 3rd Baron Inverforth, then consistently maintained by the second owner who has had it since 1981. Even gaps. Good paint with few flaws. Good chrome. Good recently treated leather. The rest of the interior looks good as well. Tidy and maintained but unrestored engine bay showing its age. Light stone chips on the front but they are minor. One photo shows a small crack in the glass on what looks like the windshield, although it isn’t noted in RM’s inspection report. Interior wood shows some age but quite good for being original. Underbody shows road dirt and grime but nothing serious. A little tired, but well kept. Located in the UK. – Highly prized for their style, build quality and comfort as well as their smooth and easy V-8 performance, the 280 SE 3.5 is among the more valuable Benzes of its era. It was an expensive connoisseur’s car right from the beginning, with Car and Driver noting that “if you feel obligated to ask about the price you not only will never understand the car, you have branded yourself incapable of ever appreciating its virtues even if someone gave you one.” On the collector market, the cabriolet version gets a disproportionate amount of attention, with the best examples commanding over 300 or even 400 grand. That’s nearly triple the typical price of a coupe, which offers the same style and experience, minus the wind in your hair. This one was appropriately discounted for its age and since its right-hand drive limits it to UK buyers.

Photo by Cymon Taylor

Lot # 130 1996 Ferrari 456 GT Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFSP44B000101991; English Green/Beige leather; Estimate $71,132 – $84,065; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $75,011 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,513. – 5,474/436hp, 6-speed, alloy wheels, climate control, 10-disc CD changer stereo, power seats and windows. Assembly No. 19184. – Sound original paint with stone and other chips appropriate to the 69,458 km showing. Lightly sticky switches. Orderly engine compartment and chassis. A sound and presentable used car in an unusual color with a documented maintenance history. – Enthusiastic bidding with multiple extensions after the scheduled online closing time resulted in 23 bids and a hefty result for a used car. This is full retail.

Photo by Dirk de Jager

Lot # 131 1928 Chrysler Model 72 Roadster; S/N CC362P; Engine # J215942; Dark Green, Black fenders/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $64,665 – $90,531; Visually maintained, largely original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $46,559 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,215. – 249/85hp L-head inline six, 3-speed, modern tach, turn signals, beige wood spoke wheels, rumble seat, alternator, rear-mounted spare, Halda TripMaster, fire extinguisher. – Scruffy, cracked old repaint over even older paint, peeling filler, rusty chrome, worn and stretched upholstery, good top. The TripMaster is photographed lying on the floor. An event car with FIVA card and Registro Mille Miglia eligibility document but it has many obvious needs and is in questionable mechanical condition. – The bidders backed off early on this Chrysler, with only one bid to this result in the final 12 hours of scheduled online bidding. Their reluctance to get more involved is understandable even with the event eligibility and even at this price would be considered expensive in the States despite being well under the GBP 50,000 ($65,000) low estimate.

Photo by Stephan Bauer

Lot # 132 2006 Ford GT Roush 600 RE Heritage Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S86Y401839; Gulf Blue, Orange/Black leather; Estimate $323,325 – $387,990; Original, modified for competition or performance 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $284,526. – 330/600hp, 6-speed, Tubi exhaust, upgraded transmission oil cooler. – Originally a standard red GT, then became one of 10 cars converted to 600RE specs by Roush Europe and tuner Avro Motor Cars. Work included a smaller pulley for the blower, Tubi exhaust, and upgraded transmission oil cooler. Later repainted in Heritage Edition colors. Represented with 12,000 miles. Some chips visible on the nose as well as a small scrape on the edge of the passenger’s side mirror. The rest of the car looks very clean and unused. This car has mods, a repaint, high miles (for a Ford GT), and both the base wheels and the base radio. Located in Germany. – In the world of 2005-06 Ford GTs, a three- or four-digit odometer reading and showroom fresh condition is the norm. The European market is a little different, though. Only about 100 were imported there (out of over 4,000 built in total), so they are more of a hot commodity over there, and a vacuum-sealed presentation isn’t necessary for the car to bring serious money. A similarly used 2006 GT sold at Artcurial’s Paris sale this February for Euros 365,400 ($400,114) at the time, although it did have some celebrity ownership history, hadn’t been repainted and wasn’t heavily modified. This car attracted just 12 bids, and it could have sold at the highest one.

Lot # 133 1969 Lancia Fulvia Rallye 1.6 HF Fanalone Coupe; S/N 818540001109; Engine # 818540001104; Silver-Grey/Black vinyl; Estimate $90,531 – $103,464; Competition restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $72,425. – 1,584/130hp, two dual choke Solex carburetors, high compression head, uprated cam, leather rim Fusina steering wheel. – Rallied successfully by Alessandro Nannini as a teenager before he became an F1 pilot and has continued to be rallied and toured since. Good older repaint, even panel gaps and chrome. Sound upholstery except for a big tear on the driver’s seat cushion and some nicks. The engine compartment is orderly and clean and appears to be road-ready. – The F1 driver history didn’t have any discernable effect on the price of this Fulvia. The reported high bid is appropriate for a rally prepared Fulvia 1.6 HF.

Photo by Daniel Reinhard

Lot # 135 1990 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFGJ34B000084643; Engine # 21646; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $1,163,970 – $1,422,630; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,086,372. – 2,936/478hp twin turbocharged intercooled V8, 5-speed, Speedline modular wheels, P-Zero tires, fire extinguisher, non-adjustable suspension, no cats. – Offered by Gerhard Berger. Ferrari Classiche certified with an aftermarket exhaust. Belt serviced in 2017. Odometer shows 29,808 km. Good repaint with minor stone chips retaining the carbon fiber body panel weave. Good recovered seats and interior trim. Clean, orderly like new engine compartment. Comprehensively serviced including belts in 2017. A celebrity car with celebrity history. – With so many low miles, infrequently driven F40s out there it takes a bit of daring to purchase one with almost 30,000 km, even with a fairly recent comprehensive service and that reticence resulted in bids that even with three extensions didn’t meet Mr. Berger’s expectations. His ownership spans only a little over a year and doesn’t attach much significance or impart much enthusiasm.

Lot # 136 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK DTM AMG Coupe; S/N WDB2093422F147274; Obsidian Black/Black leather and Alcantara; Estimate $245,727 – $271,593; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $245,727 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $270,300. – 5.4/582hp supercharged V-8, 5g-Tronic automatic, fire bottle, maintenance book and manuals. – One-owner car, one of 40 built in right-hand drive, and showing 6,228 believable miles. A few tiny chips on the front and the mirrors but nothing that can’t be ignored. Very good interior with light wear on the steering wheel. Nearly like new. Located in the UK. – After the racing version of the CLK won the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) championship, Mercedes built this special AMG version for the road. With a deeper front apron, fender flares and a rear wing it certainly looks racy, and with a 200-mph top speed it’s very fast even 15 years later. Mercedes sold just 180 examples (100 coupes and 80 cabriolets), and several of them went to F1 drivers such as Jenson Button and Juan Pablo Montoya. The price here isn’t far off what this car cost new, but the CLK DTMs are among the rarest and most exciting Benzes we’ve seen in recent years. Factoring in the genuine racing bona fides and the fact that earlier AMG cars have gotten more collectible, we’re convinced that these have a bright future in the market, something recognized by this result.

Photo by Tom Hains

Lot # 137 2018 Ferrari 488 GTB 70th Anniversary Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFF79AMC000233369; Engine # 404424; Argento Nürburgring/Ivory leather; Estimate $271,593 – $310,392; Unrestored original 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $226,328. – RHD. 3,902/670hp, turbocharged, sequential 7-speed, SF shields, Silver calipers, adaptive front lights, parking sensors, front suspension lifter, power and heated seats, yellow tach face. – One owner, 250 miles from new and like new aside from some offloading scrapes under the nose. 70th Anniversary # 57, “The Wedding Car”, commemorating the 360 Barchetta that Ferrari gave to Luca di Montezemolo at his wedding. – The 70th Anniversary liveries are a clever marketing gimmick by Ferrari to generate attention and differentiation for cars remarked only by their colors and some trim. 2023 will bring Ferrari’s 75th anniversary, the Diamond Jubilee, and it will be interesting to see what diamond-studded abominations they perpetrate while treading in the crass footsteps of the Cartier Continental Mark Vs. Such hype should be beneath Ferrari’s stature but they’re trying to push out truckloads of cars to justify the stock market’s valuation of the franchise and extract maximum revenue from each unit. “The Wedding Car” is… pointless, especially since di Montezemolo has been pushed out of Ferrari management.

Photo by Diana Varga

Lot # 139 1993 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II 4-Dr. Hatchback; S/N ZLA831AB000582006; Blu Lancia/Tan cloth; Estimate $90,531 – $103,464; Visually maintained, largely original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $99,584 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $109,543. – 1,995/215hp turbo four, 5-speed manual, alloy wheels, Momo steering wheel, air conditioning. – Shown at the 1994 London Motor Show. Then bought directly from Lancia by an Italian banker as a gift for his daughter, and repainted from Rosso Monza to Blu Lancia prior to delivery. Mechanically overhauled within the past few years. Showing 15,501 km (9,632 miles) which are represented as from new. Lancia Classiche certified. Light curb rash on the wheels. Very good exterior otherwise. Mild wear on the outer seat bolsters. Otherwise the interior looks very good. Clean underbody. Recently serviced. Located in Italy. – European buyers have had access to Delta Integrales for many years, whereas American fans of Lancia’s final World Rally weapon have only been able to import and get their hands on one in recent years. Prices are therefore a little bit stronger over here typically, but these are desirable cars no matter where in the world you are. The price here is strong for a car that has been repainted, but given the history and desirable specs it isn’t outrageous.

Photo by Tom Gidden

Lot # 142 1996 Mercedes-Benz SL70 AMG Convertible; S/N WDB1290761F134374; Azurite Blue Metallic/Two-tone gray leather; Estimate $155,196 – $181,062; Unrestored original 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $135,797 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $149,376. – 7.1/510hp AMG-tuned V-8, automatic, sports exhaust, AMG wheels, extra wood interior trim, CD/cassette stereo. Comes with books, tools, original Mercedes spare, service documents. – Delivered new to Japan as a standard SL 600 and converted by AMG Japan the same year. Recently serviced. Showing 61,323 km (38,104 miles). No inspection report from RM, but showing road wear underneath commensurate with the miles and a tidy engine bay. Mild wear to the seats and carpets. A very cool, very rare car. Located in the UK. – Several AMG versions of the R129 SL were available. Most common are the SL 60 AMGs, which use a 6.0-liter V-8. Meanwhile, the SL 70, SL 72 and SL 73 models use an M120 V-12 (the engine Pagani later used for the Zonda) of either 7.1 or 7.3 liters. The conversion was extremely expensive so it’s no surprise that few were sold, but a few SL 70s have popped up at auction before, including this one that was reported sold by Coys five years ago for Euros 86,900 (about $98,300 at the time). More recently another one, with about half the mileage of this one, sold in Essen last year for Euros 161,000 (about $209,900 at the time), so the online result for this one makes sense.

Lot # 146 1961 Jaguar XKE SI Fixed Head Coupe; S/N 860010; Engine # R18479; Opalescent Dark Green/Green leather; Estimate $510,854 – $640,184; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $407,390. – 3,781/265hp, 4-speed, wire wheels, woodrim steering wheel. Deviations from standard cars include lowered floor on the driver’s side (but “flat-floor” layout on the passenger’s side), revised ventilation, recessed rear bulkhead, seats modified for tall passengers, repositioned pedals, and modified door and boot locks, new piston rings, aluminum oil pan, modified rear crankshaft bearing seal, 3.07 gears (compared to 3.31 in the standard car). – This car, registered 6162 RW, was used by Jaguar for high-speed and suspension testing and received several mechanical and interior changes (outlined above) in the process. Also tested by Italy’s Quattroroute, Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport and Britain’s Motoring News. During his test for the European magazines Paul Frère hit 256 kph (159 mph) on the Autostrada and the testers for Motoring News hit 160. Then served as a press car for the 1962 Tour de France and was in private hands by 1963. Fully restored by JD Classics in the 2010s. RM’s inspection report calls it one of best restored E-Types they’ve ever seen, and that the only notable faults were light scratches and tiny chips near the door shuts where they had touched and a weep from one of the core plugs. Restored to probably better than new and, more importantly, it’s an early development car that wasn’t retained by the factory. Located in the UK. – The E-Type had a famous debut at the Geneva Motor Show, when a freshly finished gunmetal grey coupe was driven at high speed to Switzerland and arrived just in time for the event to start. Demand for test drives were so high that a green roadster was rushed to the show as well. The automotive press then waxed lyrical about the new car, and this E-Type was an important part of that initial media frenzy. Consigned a little bit early for the E-Type’s 60th birthday in 2021, it was one of the highlights of this online auction in the weeks leading up to the sale, but not much happened when it came to the actual bidding. It attracted just 10 bids total and the timer was extended only a couple of times. While a fair bit off from RM’s £395,000 ($510,000) low estimate, the reported high bid is still over twice the value of a standard car in this condition and should have at least been considered.

Lot # 147 1955 Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 GS Speedster, Body by Reutter; S/N 81062; Engine # P90523; Speedster Red/Tan leather; Tan top; Estimate $1,422,630 – $1,681,290; Older restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,099,305. – 1,488/100hp Carrera, two dual-choke downdraft Solex carburetors, 4-speed, fog lights, alloy wheels, five original type steel wheels with turbine trim rings and tires included, full weather equipment. – Represented as the seventh of 15 production Pre-A 1500 GS Carrera Speedsters built in 1955. Fully restored in 2010. Retains its original Typ 547 4-cam engine. Comes with Kardex and Porsche CoA. Excellent exterior, and just minor soiling on the soft top. All relevant panels stamped with last 3 digits of chassis number. Very clean interior. A very rare Pre-A Carrera Speedster with nothing to nitpick. Located in Germany. – Freshly restored with its original engine and body panels? This should be well over $1 million and even at RM’s pre-sale low estimate of $1.4 million it would be a reasonable buy in a seriously rare and significant Porsche. It’s no surprise it didn’t change hands here.

Photo by Tom Gidden

Lot # 151 1975 Maserati Khamsin Coupe; S/N AM120US1082; Engine # AM11510491082; Argento/Beige leather; Estimate $155,196 – $181,062; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $129,330. – 4,930/320hp, quadruple Webers, 5-speed, Campagnolo alloy wheels, Blaupunkt radio. – One of just 430 Khamsins built. Originally a U.S. delivery car, and originally had a black interior. Restored in the UK in 2012 with £110,068.29 worth of documented work. Fitted with more attractive euro bumpers. Matching numbers. Very good exterior mostly, just some small imperfections and cracks on the bumper. Leather is very good. Very clean engine bay with fresh hoses and clips, and the underbody only shows light use. A straightforward, lightly aged and used restoration. Located in the UK. – Named for a hot, dry wind that blows through the Egyptian desert, the Marcello Gandini-penned Maserati Khamsin was the first Bertone-bodied production Maserati and replaced the Ghibli. Neither as handsome nor as successful as its predecessor, the Khamsin is yet another classic Maserati that offers Italian thoroughbred pedigree along with 1970s exotic looks and performance for a huge discount compared to the equivalent Ferraris. But the reported high bid, while not far off from a fair price and RM’s reasonable low estimate, was too light.

Photo by Peter Seabrook

Lot # 156 1903 Stevens-Duryea Model L Stanhope; S/N 703; Engine # 708; Red, Black mudguards, green chassis/Black leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $64,665 – $77,598; Older restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $64,665 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,132. – 159.5 cid/7 ALAM hp opposed twin, 3-speed sliding gear transmission, lefthand tiller steering, bulb horn, kerosene sidelights and taillight, green wood spoke wheels, single chain drive, old California registration disc No. 26, rear disc brakes added. – Deaccessioned by Harrah’s in 1970, later restored by Warwick Eastwood. Cracked wood panel finishes, lightly oiled engine and chassis. Dulling brass and stained and loose-fitting top but all-in-all attractive and usable. No way is it concours, but passing by on the LBVCR no one will notice and its 3-speed transmission is a definite advantage over the 2-speed epicyclics of the day. – Based on LBVCR eligibility alone this is a sound buy. It needs attention pretty much everywhere but that only gives the new owner an approachable project that can be attacked in stages, each one contributing to increased value and pride of accomplishment.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 160 1968 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 11385; Engine # 11385; Azzuro/Caramel leather; Estimate $517,320 – $581,985; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; No Result or VIN, Probably no-show $452,655. – 3,967/300hp 3×2 Weber carburetors, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels and spare, Becker Mexico multiband radio, tool roll, retrofitted air conditioning, a set of Borrani wire wheels is included. Ferrari Classiche Red Book documented. – Engine compartment repainted with tags attached and negligently masked. Sound repaint with some defects on erratic panels. Good lightly worn and stretched upholstery. Neat and orderly engine compartment and chassis. Not an exceptional 330 GTC but a handsome driver in an attractive color. – Reported sold by Bonhams at Gstaad in 2005 for $133,600 and then at Goodwood in 2012 for an undisclosed amount. The high bid of $452,655 (£350,000) is a generous offer after 18 bids and two extensions for this tired 330 GTC which was reported sold later for an undisclosed amount. It is carried here at the final auction bid.

Photo by Stephan Bauer

Lot # 165 1979 Maserati Merak SS Coupe; S/N AM122AUS2432; Smokey Quartz Metallic/Black leather; Estimate $58,199 – $96,998; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $62,078 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $68,286. – 2,996cc/220hp V-6, triple Webers, 5-speed, Campagnolo alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel. – U.S. delivered when new, finished in Rosso Fuoco. Came to Europe in the 1990s. Restored from 2000-09. Comprehensive service in 2018. Good gaps. Good paint. Original seats and dash both look sound, as does the rest of the mostly original interior. Clean and maintained engine bay. Clean underbody with small amount of oil-film. RM calls it a “well-maintained driver with nice patina,” and we see no reason to dispute. Located in Germany. – The Merak came about because Maserati wanted to sell a lower-priced alternative to the V-8 Bora. Indeed, the Merak shares much of its structure with the Bora, including the Giugiaro-penned body. The main differences were the 3.0-liter V-6 (also used in the Citroën SM) instead of the Bora’s 4.9-liter V-8, which also allowed the Merak to have two tiny rear seats. The natural comparison, both then and now, is to the Dino 308 GT4 and the Lamborghini Urraco. All these baby `70s exotics carry similar values, and this result was perfectly appropriate for this Merak’s age and condition. A Bora would be worth over twice as much.

Photo by Riiko-Andre Nuud

Lot # 170 1960 Maserati 3500 GT Coupe, Body by Touring; S/N AM1011154; Engine # AM1011154; Black/Natural leather; Estimate $155,196 – $206,928; Cosmetic restoration 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $155,196 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,716. – 3,485/230hp, triple Weber 42DCOE8 carburetors, 4-speed, silver wheels with hubcaps, Pirelli tires, Maserati Classiche certified. – Represented as the original engine which is orderly engine but the engine compartment was redone to indifferent standards with casual paint over old peeling paint. Road grimy chassis has not been restored. The underhood fresh air hose is bashed and collapsed. Good upholstery, steering wheel and crisp gauge faces but weak chrome bezels and scrofulous glove box handle. Some of the interior trim is old, faded and discolored, probably original and the dash top is separating from the passenger’s grab rail. Panels fit flush with even gaps but the exterior trim chrome is weak. Sound polishing swirled paint. A usable but not comforting car. – This is a deserved result that was avidly pursued in the online bidding with eleven extensions from a bid of £92,000 ($119,000) at the end of scheduled bidding. It leaves a lot to be desired, particularly in the neglect evident in the preparation and presentation of the chassis, but the price it brought reflects that.

Photo by Ian Wells

Lot # 175 1970 Lancia Fulvia HF Competizione Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N 818540002279; Engine # 342; Yellow, Black hood scoop and sills/Brown leather, Beige cloth inserts; Estimate $181,062 – $232,794; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $142,263. – 1,584/130hp, two dual choke Solex carburetors, 5-speed, electric radiator fan, wood and leather rim steering wheel, Plexiglas side windows with small sliding panels, retracting adjustable rear wing, outside fuel filler, 4-spoke alloy wheels, hideaway headlights, rollbar, 4-wheel independent suspension with coilovers – A one-off prototype designed by Tom Tjaarda for Alejandro De Tomaso at Ghia intended to demonstrate the dual purpose road/race capability of the Fulvia. Sound paint. The engine compartment and chassis are restored but given a coat of thick chassis black that is peeling in a few small places. Sparse interior, crudely stitched seat bolster seams. Leaky transmission or rear main bearing seal with oily coating below. A competent restoration with visible shortcuts but a dramatic wedge-shaped creation that has presence. – An intriguing confection that has appeal both as a design exercise and for use on the road or track, there is a disconnect between bidders’ perception of it and that of its consignor. It’s difficult to handicap which of the parties is closer to correct but for the moment it is moot because it didn’t sell.

Photo by Loic Kernen

Lot # 176 1981 Audi Quattro Group 4 Rally; S/N WAUZZZ85ZBA900837; White, Red, Grey, Black accents/Red cloth; Estimate $168,129 – $181,062; Modified for competition during restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $142,263. – 2,144/197hp turbo inline 5-cylinder modified for competition, 5-speed, Recaro seats, Oreca 6-point belts, fire system, white alloy wheels, Toyo R888 tires, six Hella auxiliary lights, comprehensive rally equipment including a Terratrip 2 odometer, roll cage, Alcantara rim steering wheel, Stack gauges, Plexiglas windows with sliding panels, (oil?) cooler under the rear wing, various spares including two sets of wheels. – A B2 production Ur-Quattro extensively modified during restoration for Group 4 rally, FIA HTP valid through 2026. Done to very high standards of fit, finish, preparation and equipment. Shows some use but also careful maintenance and no evidence of damage. There are some stone chips to be expected from its application. – It is impossible to see this evocative Ur-Quattro without hearing the squeak of the waste gate as it navigates narrow lanes and whoops. The standard of preparation, equipment and spares couldn’t be duplicated for even close to the reported high bid. It was bid to only £87,000 at the end of scheduled bidding and went on through seven more bids and extensions including the final bid which bumped it from £96,000 to the final £100,000 without prying it loose from its consignor.

Photo by Remi Dargegen

Lot # 183 1980 Fiat 131 Abarth Supermirafiori 2-Dr. Rally Sedan; S/N 0388232; White/Black cloth; Estimate $323,325 – $387,990; Competition restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $349,191 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $384,110. – 1,995/240hp 16-valve twin cam Abarth engine, Kugelfischer mechanical fuel injection, 5-speed, wide rim alloy wheels, Pirelli P7 tires, roll cage, Bertone-lightened body with fender flares, 4-wheel independent suspension, leather rim 2-spoke steering wheel, no rally odometer, Sparco seats and belts, Carello lights, mud flaps, roof top airfoil, rear deck and front spoilers, Abarth Classiche Certificazione Componenti Meccanici certified, spares including a set of wheels. – A works rally car, winner of the 1980 San Remo rally with Walter Rohrl driving part of Fiat’s and Rohrl’s 1980 championship season. Restored to historic rally condition in its San Remo livery. Good cosmetics with stone chips from historic rallying. Orderly but used interior, engine compartment and chassis. High quality preparation and a real handful to drive to its potential. – Only a year later the Audi Quattro would turn the rally world upside down energizing the rapid technological evolution that would culminate in the famed “Killer Bs”. In 1980, though, this Fiat Supermirafiori (Mirafiori was the Turin neighborhood where the Fiat 131 was built) was state-of-the-art with 100 more horsepower than the most potent 131. Fiat 131s were built across the globe from Spain (SEAT) to Zambia. Part of the model’s success lies on its rally history, demonstrating both performance and reliability, which is some part is attributable to the history of this car and its Fiat Abarth siblings. This is a whopping big bundle of Pounds, Euros or Dollars but try to find another one with its history or good preparation.

Photo by Simon Laufer

Lot # 184 1986 Ferrari 412 2-Dr. Sedan, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFYD24B000063533; Engine # 10151; Light Blue/Cream leather; Estimate $64,665 – $90,531; Unrestored original 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $49,145 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $54,060. – 4,942/340hp V12, fuel injection, automatic, air conditioning, 5-spoke alloy wheels, cassette stereo, books, tools, jack. – Represented as the original engine. There aren’t enough detailed photos to reach much of a conclusion about condition except that the upholstery is good, slightly creased and appears original. The engine compartment is well-maintained and orderly. There is a good documented service history until 2013 but not beyond. Euros 7,000 recently spent on service. – Reported sold by RM here a year ago for $81,023 (£63,250) with Euros 7,000 spent on it since, this is a crushing blow in value. There are 41 photos but few of them impart much information (ten are of books, ID tags and tools.) It’s reasonable to conclude that the bidders knew what they were looking at, as did the seller who took more than a haircut in this transaction.

Lot # 185 1972 Maserati Mexico 4.7 Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N AM11211036; Engine # AM11211036; Dark Blue/Mustard leather; Estimate $84,065 – $109,931; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,185 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,203. – 4,709/290hp, four dual choke Weber carburetors, 5-speed, power steering, air conditioning, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Avon tires, full size wire wheel spare, woodrim steering wheel, Pioneer cassette stereo. – Represented as the matching numbers engine, one of 175 with the 4.7 litre V8. Orange peely paint with touched up door edge chips, generally good chrome and lightly stretched upholstery. Clear gauges with crisp legends. Flat panels and even door gaps. Better than most European restored cars with attention to many details and decent chrome. Its odometer shows 64,365 km and the car’s condition bears that out. – The big greenhouse on the Mexico betrays its purpose, a comfortable, roomy grand tourer. But the more you look at Vignale’s integration of the compact V8 with the overall lines the better the car appears. This one (aside from the orange peel on the lower side body panels) has colors that complement its design. Its 290hp V8 may not blow off modern middle market sedans but its style is more than enough to make it an Autostrada attraction, then shift down to fourth, bury the throttle and let those Webers sing their induction aria. This is more car than the money paid for it.

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