RM Sotheby’s, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island, March 8-9, 2019

RM Sotheby’s went back to a 2-day format this year and was aided by benign North Florida weather, unlike last year when the Concours pulled forward a day to avoid a predicted Sunday deluge.

The sale featured several cars from the Youngtimer Collection of late model, low miles, original cars. This followed RM Sotheby’s success with some from the same collection in Arizona in January. The remainder of the Youngtimers will be offered at RM Auctions Ft. Lauderdale auction at the end of the month and at RM Sotheby’s inaugural auction at Essen in mid-April.

The Youngtimers supplied some real excitement including the Toyota Supra Mk IV Turbo that posted a record result of $173,600 and 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC AMG that brought an estimate range topping $179,200.

Expensive cars were a struggle to place, a common experience in recent auctions. Fifteen cars had pre-sale estimates of $1 million or more; 8 of them sold for a 53.3% sell-through, well under the overall auction’s 83% sale rate. Of the eight, seven sold under the pre-sale low estimate, again, typical of recent performance.

Here are the numbers:

Year Cars Sold/ Offered Sale % Sold < Low Est Sold > High Est Average Sale Median Sale Total $
2019 117/141 83% 61.5% 12.8% $325,219 $173,600

[53.2%]

$38,050,640
2018 87/102 85.3% 64% 10.5% $308,031 $173,600

56.4%]

$26,798,720
2017 135/150 90% 51.1% 11.9% $528,701 $286,000

[54.1%]

$71,374,600
2016 82/93 88.2% 50% 18.3% $472,269 $242,000

[51.2%]

$38,726,050

Andrew Newton, Greg Ingold, Jose Martinez and Rick Carey did the on-site observations; Rick Carey has edited and is responsible for the final content.

This report is in lot number order and the first ten lots are from the featured Youngtimer Collection.


Lot # 101 1993 Mazda RX-7 Coupe; S/N JM1FD3316P0209466; Red/Black leather; Estimate $40,000 – $45,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $50,400. – Air conditioning, sunroof, Bridgestone Potenza tires, Bose sound system. Only two owners from new. – Originally a US market car, then made its way to Switzerland in 2017. Completely stock, even down to the complex sequential twin-turbo system. Excellent paint with no stone chips or scratches to be found anywhere. The wheel wells are immaculate. The underbody is clean and shows minimal aging from sitting. The interior appears almost new, only the driver’s seat upholstery has minor creases. Immaculate inside and out, represented with just 13,600 miles, and one of the best FD RX-7s you’ll find anywhere in the world. Youngtimer Collection. – The first car out of the Youngtimer collection, the massive group of modern classics that RM is splitting up for four auctions this year on both sides of the Atlantic. This is a record price for this model, but the car deserved it. For somebody who wants a bone-stock, nearly like-new example of a car that so often got the Fast & Furious treatment, this was an almost singular opportunity. Mecum sold another all-stock and red car in Kissimmee back in January for $34,100. The two are nearly identical in terms of look and condition, but the Kissimmee car had over twice the miles and it didn’t have the immense buzz around it that the Amelia car did thanks to the other Youngtimer cars. Well-marketed and -received, this is a deserved record price.

Lot # 102 1996 Nissan 300ZX Turbo T-Roof; S/N JN1CZ24D2TX580541; Ultra Red/Black leather; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,200. – Goodyear Eagle tires, Bose sound system, two previous owners. From the Youngtimer collection. – Amazing paint and body with no real signs of wear. The underbody shows some aging from sitting, although minor. The interior appears unused. A time capsule 300ZX Twin Turbo that looks practically showroom fresh, as it should given the 2,800 miles represented. – A live auction record for a 300ZX and another home run from the Youngtimer collection for a car that deserved it. Like other higher-end Japanese performers of the 1990s, the 300ZX Turbo often led a hard, modified life, but good examples are still out there and this is a curve-setting price that should encourage them to come out of hiding and hit the market.

Lot # 103 1988 Porsche 928 S4 Coupe; S/N WP0JB0928JS861449; Guards Red/Champagne leather; Estimate $55,000 – $65,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $67,200. – 5-speed gearbox, limited-slip differential, heated driver’s seat, alarm, sunroof, manuals, window sticker. From the Youngtimer collection. – Good paint with a few small chips on the inner lip of the rear wheel arches. The underbody shows some age from sitting but no major deterioration. The interior is clean and the driver’s seat has light wear. An extremely clean 928 S4, but not quite as exquisite as some of the other cars out of this collection. – It may not be exquisite, but that’s not apparent from the price. This is a best-in-the-world result for a 928 S4, and this one was undoubtedly helped by its very low odometer reading.

Lot # 104 1986 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Roadster; S/N WDBBA48D9GA043548; Black/Beige leather; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,760. – Hardtop, Becker Grand Prix radio. From the Youngtimer collection. – US market car, imported to Switzerland within the past couple of years. The paint is very good and shows no major wear. The bumpers and trim shine brightly and have no fading or dings. The underbody is clean but does show a bit of wear. The interior is very good and has no noticeable age. An exceptional 560SL with 9,347 miles represented as actual. – 560SL prices have retreated a bit over the past couple of years, but this is an exceptional example of arguably the most desirable model out of the R107 series, and it deserved the massive price it brought.

Lot # 105 1989 Mercedes-Benz 560SEC AMG Coupe; S/N WDB1260451A527048; Black/Black; Estimate $120,000 – $140,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $179,200. – Widebody, Bridgestone Potenza tires, black center modular wheels, aftermarket radio head unit, exported to Japan then imported to Switzerland. From the Youngtimer collection. – Excellent paint with no significant blemishes to be found. The underbody is clean, although the exhaust has notable corrosion. The interior is generally clean, and the driver’s seat has minor wear. Not much known about the car’s early history, but it’s a solid example of an ’80s autobahn monster from the period when AMG was still an independent tuner rather than the in-house Mercedes speed shop it is today. – Depending upon the point of view this sinister black liveried 560SEC AMG might be called “nasty” or “serious” but in any event it is a threatening presence on any highway and it brought a serious price that might prove nasty in later transactions where the bidders aren’t so focused on presence.

Photo by Tim Scott © 2018 courtesy RM Auctions

Lot # 106 1994 Toyota Supra Mk IV Turbo Coupe; S/N JT2JA82J3R0022442; Black/Beige; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $173,600. – 6-speed gearbox, air conditioning, Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires. From the Youngtimer collection. – US market car. Immaculate exterior with no wear or age to be found. The underbody shows light aging from sitting. The interior looks virtually unused. Aside from the 11,200 miles represented, this car is close to new. – The Mk IV Supra is the poster child for 1990s Japanese performance, and immaculate twin-turbo models are rare, so this was one of the most highly anticipated cars of the week. Everybody knew it was going to be expensive, just not how expensive. Most were still shocked, however, at this result. It’s a record price for the model even though it bought one of the best Supras in the country. If there is one of the more desirable fixed roof coupes somewhere out there in this condition and with these miles, though, that car could conceivably be worth even more than this. Until then, this is the curve-setter.

Lot # 107 1995 Porsche 928 GTS Coupe; S/N WP0AA292XSS820093; Black/Gray leather; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600. – Automatic, air conditioning, sunroof. From the Youngtimer collection. – Sold new in Florida. Very good paint and body showing no signs of use. The underbody shows a little age. The driver’s seat has some light wear, but otherwise the interior is very good. Just over 12,000 miles on a final-year 928 that has been well-kept from new. – The GTS is the best and most valuable of the 928 series, and this mostly immaculate car has the further distinction of being from the last batch of front-engined transaxle cars that stretched back all the way to the 1970s. The big money goes after the 5-speed cars, though, and the auto can carry a 20 percent discount. All things considered, this was a fair price.

Lot # 108 1994 BMW 850CSi Coupe; S/N WBSEG9327RCD00029; Bright Red/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $200,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – 6-speed, air conditioning, sunroof, car phone, from the Youngtimer collection. – Sold new in Florida, then went to Switzerland in 2016. The paint has only a few shallow chips on the nose, while the underbody is extremely clean and shows almost no use. The interior looks almost unused. Gorgeous and essentially new with 11,000 miles represented. – Prices for good 8-Series cars have been on a tear for the past couple of years, and 850s are no longer the cheap-ish entry into V-12 ownership that they used to be. With more power, better handling and a more aggressive look, the rare 850 CSi is by far the most valuable member of the 8-Series family. This is nevertheless a staggering result, a world record for the model and far more than the car would have cost new.

Lot # 109 2005 Acura NSX 3.0L Coupe; S/N JH4NA21605S000060; New Formula Red/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $120,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $128,800. – Air conditioning, Bose sound system. From the Youngtimer collection. – The original paint has no visible scratches or wear. The underbody shows no use and the interior appears unused. Just 9,200 miles represented, and just about as close to new as it gets. – This is a final-year NSX and it is unusual to see any of these cars with such low miles. Superb driving cars with a fabulous V6 engine. The price wasn’t as jaw-dropping as the Supra a few lots before, but it is still a gigantic sum.

Lot # 110 2004 Ferrari 575M Maranello Coupe; S/N ZFFBV55A240134699; Engine # 78962; Argento Nürburgring/Black leather; Estimate $250,000 – $300,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $235,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $263,200. – P Zero tires, Fiorano handling package, Scuderia shields, carbon-fiber sport seats, 6-speed manual. – From the Youngtimer collection, one of the few Ferraris of the group. Excellent paint and body with no noticeable signs of use. The interior is immaculate. A like new car with 7,800 miles. Can belt serviced in September 2016. – On certain late-model Ferraris, that open-gate shifter between the seats can carry a six-figure premium, and the 575 is one of those cars. This is an appropriate result for this one, the bidders rightfully recognizing the rarity of the transmission. For reference, even the very best paddle-shifted 575s trade for well under 200 grand.

Lot # 111 1988 Porsche 924 S Coupe; S/N WP0AA0923JN451174; India Red/Black with Porsche script cloth inserts; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $19,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $21,280. – 2479/147hp, 4-speed, air conditioning, Blaupunkt radio. – There are a few paint chips on the front bumper, and there is some light swirling in the clear coat. The underbody shows some age and there is an oily residue on the passenger’s side floor bracing near the lower control arm. The interior appears almost unused despite the 18,979 miles showing. A quite well preserved car cosmetically, but it wouldn’t be surprising to learn that it needs some work underneath. – After VW stopped producing the Audi four that had gone into the 924, Porsche installed a detuned version of the in-house 944 engine in the narrow-body 924, creating the 924S. These cars are the best of the 924 series and are generally better cared for than their earlier counterparts. This is nevertheless a mostly very good low-mile example, and its price here was expensive but not excessive for the low miles it has reportedly covered.

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Lot # 112 1990 BMW M3 Coupe; S/N WBSAK0318LAE34003; Diamond Black/Black leather; Estimate $100,000 – $150,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $87,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $98,000. – Overdrive 5-speed, air conditioning, sunroof, cassette player, original keys, books, manuals and tools. – Very good paint with no signs of wear. The underbody is clean and shows little deterioration or age. The driver’s seat has almost no wear indicated and the rest of the interior is like new. A well-kept E30 M3 that was sparingly used over the course of the 27,998 miles showing believably on its odometer. – Lower miles than the $95,200 red M3 over at Gooding but in essentially the same condition. Even lower mile examples can, remarkably, command over six figures.

Lot # 122 1972 Ferrari 246 GT Dino Coupe; S/N 03162; Rosso Chiaro/Black leather; Estimate $280,000 – $350,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. – Cromodora wheels, Michelin XZX tires, Ansa exhaust, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Motorola radio, power windows, air conditioning, headlight covers. – Long scratch on the right headlight lens. Light scratches on the front bumperettes. Presentable but slightly tired older repaint. Original interior with worn but well-kept and still soft leather. The dash and switchgear are pretty dull but the gauges are clear. Pretty clean underneath. Light restoration work with an original interior. A driver quality Dino. – A perfectly fair result for a good but flawed 246 GT that should have been taken. Way back in 2000 at Brooks auction at Quail Lodge, this car sold in essentially the same condition for $61,900.

Lot # 123 1956 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Roadster; S/N 1210426502290; Medium Blue/Aero Grey leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800. – Blaupunkt multiband radio, body color wheels with hubcaps and trim rings, Silvertown whitewalls, ivory steering wheel and shift knob, rear seat, fitted luggage, copy data card documented. – Freshly restored and gorgeous paint, chrome, upholstery and top. The engine compartment is like new and not overdone. The way a 190 SL should be, except it didn’t start after it came off the block. – A snapshot of the rise and decline of 190SLs, this car in essentially the same condition was sold by RM in Arizona in 2015 for $302,500, the second-highest price ever recorded at auction for a 190SL. It is no longer a gorgeous freshly restored example but its attractive colors and the underlying quality of the restoration brought a superior price in the current 190SL market, $117,700 less than it brought at the pinnacle of 190SL excitement four years ago.

Lot # 124 1966 Porsche 911 Coupe; S/N 303482; Engine # 903609; Polo Red/Black leatherette; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Recent restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $145,000. – Woodrim steering wheel, Blaupunkt pushbutton radio, gold brightwork, tinted windshield and rear window. – In storage from 1989 until a few years ago, then body-off but sympathetically restored. The paint is in very good condition other than one small blister on the passenger’s side rear quarter panel. The brightwork is very good, and the interior was wisely left alone because it is incredibly well preserved. A rare, very early 911 in fantastic condition. – A freshly restored 911 bid to a fresh restoration price. The reported high bid wasn’t generous, but it was fair and it could have been taken with minimal regret.

Lot # 125 1972 Maserati Ghibli SS 4.9 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115492008; Red/Beige leather; Estimate $220,000 – $260,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $201,600. – 4930/355hp, 5-speed, Alpine cassette stereo, centerlock alloy wheels, power windows, power steering, air conditioning. – Good paint but with a few small blisters on the hood and a bend by the left hood vent. Rust blister at the left rear corner of the deck lid. Not repainted around the engine compartment ledge and ugly. Very good chrome and interior. Clean, orderly engine compartment. Loose switch dangling under the dash. Old undercoat in the wheel wells. An auction car. – Sold by RM at Arizona in 2017 for $286,000 and not getting better with age or neglect this Ghibli SS could have brought more but the buyers’ reluctance to pay retail for a visibly flawed and neglected Ghibli is both understandable and reasonable. This is a respectable result for a flawed Ghibli.

Lot # 127 2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Coupe; S/N ZFFAA54A250142862; Nuovo Grigio Ingrid/Crema leather; Estimate $250,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $260,000 plus commission of 11.92%; Final Price $291,000. – 6-speed, climate control, Ferrari stereo, modular wheels, PZero tires, silver calipers, SF shields, Yellow tach face. – 3,000 miles and like new. – The 6-speed effect is apparent in this result which easily doubles the price of a comparable mileage and equipment paddle shifted 612 Scaglietti, a premium firmly fixed in the minds of today’s buyers.

Lot # 128 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione Coupe; S/N ZARJA181480039129; Rosso Competizione/Red leather; Estimate $300,000 – $330,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $290,000 plus commission of 11.72%; Final Price $324,000. – 20-inch PZero tires, climate control, Quadrifoglio, braided leather interior, Marchio Sportivo alloy wheels, carbon fiber trim, leather headliner, Bose stereo. – Ex-Michael Fux, <600 miles. Like new. – Sold by Mecum at Monterey in 2016 for $335,500 and impossible to be in anything but comparable condition (“like new” is, after all, hard to qualify) and the result here is consistent with the 8C’s condition, performance and rarity.

Lot # 130 2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Coupe; S/N JTHHX8BH7C1000347; Orange/Black Alcantara; Estimate $825,000 – $925,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $825,000 plus commission of 10.61%; Final Price $912,500. – Factory luggage, carbon fiber trim, Mark Levinson audio, rearview camera, sat nav. – One owner, 1,615 miles. – It seems like, other than the factory test drivers wringing it out on the Nordschleife, no one drives an LFA Nürburgring. This is even rarified mileage for one but the appeal is apparent in the generous, near record, price it brought. The only one noted at previous auctions at a barely higher price ($918,500 at B-J two months ago) had half the miles.

Lot # 135 2005 Ferrari Superamerica Convertible; S/N ZFFGT61A950145711; Argento Nürburgring/Tobacco leather; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $280,000 plus commission of 11.79%; Final Price $313,000. – SF shields, modular alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, climate control, Ferrari stereo, Red calipers, Assembly # 62834. – Delaminating electrochromic roof panel, lightly burnished driver’s seat. Under 3,500 miles. Chipguarded nose. – Even with this mileage the 14 years since this Ferrari left Maranello suggests that the very expensive electrochromic roof panel will be the new owner’s responsibility, making this a realistic price for the car and its condition issues.

Lot # 136 1988 Lamborghini LM002A 4×4 Sport Utility Vehicle; S/N ZA9LU45AXJLA12109; White/Black leather; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $270,000. – Six Webers, Pirelli Scorpion tires, original spare, wood interior trim, power windows, air conditioning, JVC cassette stereo. – Even though it supposedly got a respray in 2017, the paint is poor with many defects of just about every kind all over the bodywork. They are particularly bad along the roof, the windshield, and the cowl vents. Recent engine-out service but it’s not spotless under the hood. The interior has been restored and is like new, but the newly upholstered seats do not present identically. The rear driver’s side and front passenger’s side seats both have stitching that is not uniform or straight. A mediocre Rambo Lambo let down on several fronts. – LM002s are rare and valuable. A serious collector would be better off waiting for a better example than this, while the owner of this one would have been better off letting it go at the reasonable reported high bid. It’s a tacky rat sold by RM at St. John’s in 2015 for $192,500 and worth little or nothing more today than it was then.

Lot # 137 1992 Ferrari F40 Berlinetta; S/N ZFFGJ34B000091464; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $900,000 – $1,100,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $920,000 plus commission of 10.54%; Final Price $1,017,000. – SF shields, modular wheels, PZero tires, OMP Fire system, Assembly # 08677, felt dashtop, 5-point competition belts. – Dirty, loose fitting driver’s seat, otherwise clean and well-maintained. Represented as 27,063 km from new. Upgraded brakes and suspension. – Sold by RM at the famed Duemila Route auction in 2016 for $1,091,709 (Euros 1,030,400 at the time, this result is Euros 904,600.) The modifications and mileage do this car no favors, factors the bidders at the Ritz Carlton took into account with this result.

Lot # 139 2005 Maserati MC12 Spyder; S/N ZAMDF44B000033559; Yellow, Black/Blue; Estimate $1,600,000 – $2,000,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,350,000. – Track-only Corse version with shortened nose, carbon fiber steering wheel, carbon fiber Sparco seats, Willans five-point harnesses, MC12 Corse s/n 0010. – The nose has a few small stone chips and the paint has some weathering from use. The wheels have some tarnishing and the interior shows some use. In lightly used condition, but nothing glaring or bad although it could have had better pre-auction detailing and cleaning. One of 12 Corse versions allocated to select clients and recently out of a collection in Dubai but with no race history. – It’s hard to think of the Maserati MC12 as anything other than a badge-engineered Ferrari FXX and the bidders at RM Sotheby’s Amelia weren’t in the least conflicted about this MC12. The reported high bid here is reasonable and could have been taken.

Lot # 143 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N 15717; Engine # B2034; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $650,000 – $725,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $575,000. – Becker Europa AM-FM, Veglia air conditioning, power windows, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, Mallory ignition modules, jack, books and tools. – Good clearcoat paint cracked at the hood front corners. Lightly wrinkled upholstery and good dashtop. Sound chrome. Old, frayed window runners. Clean, orderly engine compartment. A sound driver. Ferrari Classiche certified. – Daytona values have been in flux for some time, steadily weakening but not to the point of the excessively conservative amount offered for this sound and largely original example. The seller was justified in taking it home.

Lot # 144 2015 McLaren P1 Coupe; S/N SBM12ABA5FW000292; Volcano Red/Black leather; Estimate $1,400,000 – $1,600,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,350,000 plus commission of 10.37%; Final Price $1,490,000. – 750 miles and two owners. There’s just a hint of driver’s seat stretch and a pinhead sized chip behind the passenger’s door. Tested at Cape Canaveral in 2016 with a trap speed of 205.296 mph in the standing start mile. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2015 for $1,980,000, the buyer there got his reward with the 205 mph pass at Cape Canaveral a year later. It’s hard to say the car is worth this much less today, except for a proliferation of newer and more exotic McLarens that have succeeded it in young buyers’ minds. This is legitimate hybrid hypercar money.

Lot # 147 2017 Ferrari F12tdf Berlinetta; S/N ZFF81BFA1H0220191; Metallic Tour de France Blue, Silver stripe/Tan leather, Blue Alcantara; Estimate $950,000 – $1,100,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $875,000 plus commission of 10.57%; Final Price $967,500. – Paddle shift, yellow calipers, yellow tach face, adaptive lighting, rear seat, carbon fiber interior trim. – Two owners, 350 miles, unblemished and like new. – This is a particularly attractive color combination, low miles, exceptional care and condition and a sound retail value for the new owner.

Lot # 148 2007 Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano Berlinetta; S/N ZFFFC60A970156417; Vinaccia/Crema leather; Estimate $200,000 – $225,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $190,400. – SF shields, one-piece alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, Silver calipers, climate control, Ferrari stereo, Yellow tach face, carbon fiber interior trim, chipguarded nose and mirrors, carbon ceramic brakes. – Discolored console trim, a few small scuffs, unblemished upholstery. 2,961 miles. – Despite the low miles several aspects of this 599 GTB are troubling and indicate a casual approach to maintenance and care that isn’t reassuring. That didn’t seem to deter the bidders, though, who paid a realistic retail price for it, perhaps on account of the rare and striking color.

Lot # 151 1964 Volkswagen Beetle Sunroof Sedan; S/N 6297002; Engine # 8596656; Sea Blue/Beige vinyl; Estimate $15,000 – $20,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $26,880. – Whitewall tires, body color wheels with hub caps, sunroof, aftermarket radio head unit. – Good paint, but there is a bit of polishing compound in the nooks of the air intake panel below the rear window. The engine compartment is clean and restored with a few original components reused. The underbody has been completely redone and is very clean. The interior has been restored and has not seen significant use. A mostly top-notch but not overdone Beetle in charming colors and with the desirable sunroof. – A lot of money for a Beetle, but this is a very good one and to the deep pockets at the Ritz, overpaying a bit for an entry-level classic like this isn’t a big deal.

Lot # 154 2008 Ferrari F430 Spider; S/N ZFFEW59AX80159148; Marrone 1971/Brown leather, Black bars; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $224,000. – Black calipers, one-piece alloy wheels, carbon fiber interior trim, climate control, Ferrari stereo, Yellow tach face, carbon fiber interior trim. Assembly # 76443. – Good original paint and barely creased upholstery. Dirtier chassis and engine compartment than expected for the 3,657 miles it’s covered. One owner. – Both the colors and generally good condition play into this F430 Spider’s value, but this result exceeds the limit of the “realistic” envelope even taking those factors into account. It is an expensive (but distinctive) Ferrari.

Lot # 155 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster; S/N 80920; Engine # 71315; Speedster White/Red; Black cloth top; Estimate $225,000 – $275,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $195,000. – Hub caps, Michelin X tires, boot cover, gold brightwork, Kardex. – Clean and restored with light road wear underneath. Replacement engine. A few small scrapes on the wheels. Sloppy fitting top. Very good older paint and brightwork, although the Porsche badge on the tail is loose. Very good interior. Originally a 1500 Super, but the original engine was lost years ago and it currently carries a 1958 Normal engine with light mods. A gorgeous Speedster in good colors, but it wasn’t restored yesterday and it’s starting to show its age. – This is a tasty driver quality 356 Speedster but it has many issues, enough to keep bidders from making a serious charge at it and the reported high bid is realistic.

Saturday at the Ritz…

Lot # 231 1942 Willys MB Jeep; S/N T218942; Olive Drab/Green canvas; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Enthusiast restoration, 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $14,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $16,240. – Rear-mounted spare, trailer, shovels and axes. – An amateur paint job, as many compartments were not removed before paint and have a thick coat of paint over them. A lot of the fasteners look like they came from the hardware store. An interesting, early Jeep but it wears a much older and casual restoration. – With some collectors paying over $100,000 for Fiat Jollys, a WWII military Jeep is, even without the trailer, worth all of this price. “Willie and Joe”, Bill Mauldin’s WWII illustration characters, would be pleased with this Willys Jeep, particularly at this price, which inflation adjusted is about what the US Army paid for it in 1942.

[With all credit to Bill Mauldin, Stars and Stripes, United Features Syndicate and any copyright holder(s) whoever they may be.]

Lot # 234 1983 Ferrari 512 BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000048165; Engine # 00717; Rosso Corsa/Beige leather; Estimate $275,000 – $325,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $230,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $257,600. – Pioneer cassette stereo 5-spoke alloy wheels, TRX tires, Borletti air conditioning, Vitaloni mirrors. – Decent recent repaint, new upholstery, good dashtop. good chassis, underbody and engine compartment. – Sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2002 for $71,500 in original but good condition, then by RM at Arizona in 2017 for $210,000 in a post-block transaction. The recent work is a positive addition to its condition and presentation, but the bidders didn’t seem to accord it much if any value result in this moderate price and a sound value for the new owner.

Lot # 235 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Coupe; S/N 1980406500212; Engine # 1989806500; Strawberry Metallic/Beige leather; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,150,000. – Euro headlights, hinged steering wheel, body color wheels, hubcaps, luggage, belly pans, Becker Mexico multiband radio, fitted luggage. – Excellent (color changed) paint, chrome and interior. The engine compartment is like new without being overdone. The driver’s door is slightly twisted, other panels fit flush. The right vent window gasket is wrinkled and the radio faceplate is aged, all small quibbles on an extraordinary 300SL. – There was a time when Strawberry Red was the be-all and end-all for Gullwings … about the time this Gullwing was color changed. It has lost its appeal today and appears contrived, which may explain why the seller’s expectations and the bidders’ appreciation deviated. Reported bid here to within $50,000 of the low estimate, if there was money in the Ritz Carlton ballroom this Gullwing should have found a new home.

Lot # 238 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III LWB 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N LSFU155; Engine # SU77F; Silver/Light Blue leather; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $114,800. – Wheel covers, whitewalls, rear seat tables, original radio. – Represented as a time capsule car with 4,734 original miles. Some grime and oil underneath, and the exhaust is oxidized, but no serious rust visible. Uneven door gaps. The original paint has numerous chips and scratches, and there are blisters at the top of the left rear door, but from a short distance it looks great. The body is pretty straight as well. The wood doesn’t look new, but it’s remarkable for its age and the leather is only lightly worn. Represented as the lowest mileage Silver Cloud known to exist with 4,734 miles, and there isn’t much reason to doubt it. Chauffeur driven and hardly driven at all, then stored carefully. Then fully sorted in 2017. – Something is only original once, and this car is far too good to restore. It also has the added benefit of having been gone through mechanically by Vantage Motorworks in Florida, so it’s usable as well. It brought the kind of money that ordinarily buys a restored Cloud III, but for one so well and thoroughly preserved the money paid is a good value.

Lot # 241 1933 Pierce-Arrow Twelve Model 1242 Convertible Roadster, Body by Pierce; S/N 3100006; Engine # 355193; Dark Gray, Blue coachline/Red leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $325,000 – $425,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $259,091 plus commission of 11.93%; Final Price $290,000. – Archer mascot, dual horns, dual sidemount spares with mirrors, luggage rack, rumble seat, suicide doors, black wire wheels, wide whitewall tires, chrome hubcaps. – One of three known survivors in this body style. The paint is good other than deep scratches on the passenger’s side door. Numerous large blisters on both doors. The interior is very good with only light wear on the seat. The tires and wheels are in good condition as well. Restored in the early 1990s for Bill Lassiter and an AACA National First award winner, but the work is starting to show its age and the car could use at least another round of cosmetic attention. – Sold at Christie’s sale of Lassiter’s collection in 1999 for $140,000 in much better condition than it is today. The rarity of the body style and the appeal of the big 462 cid 175hp V12 however has overcome much of the restoration’s aging and brought a healthy price in this post-block negotiated transaction.

Lot # 242 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition Roadster, S/N CSX3006; Engine # White; Black hood/Black leather; Estimate $3,000,000 – $4,000,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,750,000. – RHD. 427 side oiler, Halibrand starburst centerlock alloy wheels, Dunlop Racing tires, black side exhausts, woodrim steering wheel, outside fuel filler, driver’s paperclip rollbar, wind wings, quick jack pickups, Holley 4-barrel, cold air box. – Midwest raced when new by first owner William G. Freeman, exported to the U.K. shortly thereafter and converted to RHD. Won first time out at Brands Hatch Ilford 500 driven by Bob Bondurant and David Piper. Later converted back to LHD for Mike Shoen and eventually restored in RHD by Legendary Motorcars for Larry Bowman in the early Naughts. It is an early 427 side oiler Comp Cobra and, aside from the location of the steering wheel, highly original including the body (according to the catalog). Very good paint and unblemished upholstery. The engine compartment and chassis are like new. Done right and not too much. – Sold for $593,600 by RM at Boca Raton in 2003 when blue and with the steering wheel on the left. RM offered it in London in 2009 where it didn’t sell on a reported bid of $867,625 (GBP 525,000 at the time; the bid here is GBP 2,113,800), both well before the most recent high quality restoration. It has only one significant international victory in period but a sequence of informed, sympathetic owners who have preserved it meticulously now in its Brands Hatch configuration and livery. All of that is good, but so is the reported high bid here at Amelia. Looking for a little bit more seems adventuresome.

Photo by Josh Sweeney © 2019 courtesy RM Sotheby’s

Lot # 243 1949 Maserati A6 1500/3C Berlinetta, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 086; Engine # 086; Dark Red/Dark Blue, Beige cloth inserts; Estimate $800,000 – $950,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $455,000 plus commission of 11.10%; Final Price $505,500. – 1488cc single overhead cam six, 3 Weber carbs, 4-speed, Marchal headlights, body color wheels with polished rims, woodrim steering wheel, Blockley tires – Restored in the early 1980’s, multiple award winner through the 80’s, ran the 2006 Mille Miglia Storica then re-restored in 2010. Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome and interior and a clean, orderly engine compartment. Believed to be one of only nine with triple Weber carburetors of which only one other is known to survive. Now fitted with correct style Maserati steel wheels. – Sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2014 for $891,000 and today showing only about 500 km more on the odometer than it did then, to say this is a bargain at half a million dollars stretches the definition of the word but is applicable in this case not only for this Maserati’s condition but also for its rarity, Pinin Farina coachwork and its eligibility and suitability for a wide variety of desirable events.

Lot # 244 1964 Maserati 3500 GTi Spyder, Body by Vignale; S/N AM1012769; Engine # AM1012769; Azzurro Metallizzato/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $700,000 – $900,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $659,091 plus commission of 10.76%; Final Price $730,000. – Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, Personal black plastic rim steering wheel, power windows. – Very good clearcoat paint, fresh upholstery. Tiny rust blister on the left side of the deck lid. Some prep striations visible under the taillight chrome. The chassis has been redone assembled in chassis black. Looks great at ten feet, but not as good up close. – This Maserati found its new home post-block in this negotiated transaction, a realistic compromise for a dramatic, attractive car in excellent overall condition even noting its minor issues.

Lot # 248 1959 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster; S/N 1980429500015; Engine # 1989808500357; White, White hardtop/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,200,000 – $1,400,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $975,000. – Polished wheels, body color hubcaps, Pirelli tires, Becker Mexico AM-FM, Talbot outside mirror, Euro headlights, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, fitted luggage, two tops. – Excellent paint, interior and chrome. The engine compartment is like new and not overdone. Flush panel fits and even gaps. $200K in comprehensive mechanical work completed in 2016 and about as good as it gets in a 2-top 300SL Roadster. – Sold by Gooding in Scottsdale in 2014 for $1,430,000 before the recent mechanical overhaul there is no reason for the bidders’ reluctance to go into, even well into, seven figures here at Amelia except for the obstacles faced by all of the 7-figure cars in 2019.

Lot # 250 1968 Iso Grifo GL Series I Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N GL840212; Engine # 1087; Metallic Silver/Putty leather; Estimate $350,000 – $425,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $325,000 plus commission of 11.54%; Final Price $362,500. – 327/300hp Chevrolet, 4-speed, Becker Europa II AM-FM, Campagnolo centerlock alloy wheels, Eagle RS-A tires, power windows, air conditioning, modern rotary compressor, Personal woodrim steering wheel – The paint, chrome and interior are very good without blemishes with only slightly stretched seats. Decent engine compartment and chassis in good driver condition. Some kluged underhood wiring. A sound and presentable driver quality Grifo. – Realistically estimated and appropriately bought, this is a good Grifo at an appropriate price. The ability to buy parts at NAPA or AutoZone is a real edge for the buyer’s ownership cost.

Lot # 252 1926 Hispano-Suiza H6B Cabriolet Le Dandy, Body by Chapron; S/N 11528; Engine # 301528; Black/Orange pigskin; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,300,000 – $1,600,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,225,000 plus commission of 10.41%; Final Price $1,352,500. – RHD. Polished wheel discs, 19-inch Michelin tires, eight dashboard instruments, Marchal headlights and dip beam light, driving lights, cowl-mounted Marchal spotlight, dual enclosed rear-mounted spares – Concours restored, impeccable except for a bit of seat cushion stretching. Owned in the 50’s by Alec Ulmann, then by Joe Weider, a mailman on Long Island for thirty years. Best in Class at Pebble Beach in 2004 and in 2016 in the featured Chapron class. – A beautiful car, lavishly equipped and presented with a superb double Pebble Beach class winning restoration. The new owner should be proud of the car, and proud of the value in this transaction.

Lot # 254 1933 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix; S/N 51153; Engine # 20; Blue/Black leather; Estimate $1,250,000 – $1,600,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $685,000 plus commission of 10.73%; Final Price $758,500. – RHD. 7-spoke alloy wheels, Blockley tires, cycle fenders, Marchal headlights, road lighting, dual aeroscreens, radiator stoneguard. – Bugatti factory team car in 1933, perhaps driven by Rene Dreyfus. Damaged by the first private owner, Giovanni Alloatti in the 1934 Targa Florio. Now with a Type 35 frame, number 256. Later mixed up with other Bugattis owned by Ray Jones and there is another T51 claiming the same chassis number. Very good paint, brightwork and unblemished upholstery. Better than very good but just right for starting to build patina. – It’s not uncommon to see Bugattis with mixed up parts, a common way to keep them running years ago. This Type 51 may be more mixed up than most, however, and that is seen in the price it attracted.

Lot # 255 1968 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible; S/N 11304412002740; Light Beige, Light Beige hardtop/Dark Brown leather; Estimate $90,000 – $110,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $168,000. – Both tops, automatic, wheel covers, Continental tires, Becker Europa radio. – Very good fresh paint and chrome. Even gaps. Very clean trunk and engine bay. Very good interior other than a tiny crack in the dash top. Attractive colors and recently restored over the course of seven years and 150 grand. Showing just 162 test miles. – There was a frenzy for Pagoda SLs a few years ago that peaked in 2016, and prices have only come down since then. Even at the height of that, though, this result still would have been very expensive even for a freshly restored 280. In today’s softened SL market, it’s an outrageous price that signifies nothing more than two bidders determined not to go home empty handed.

Lot # 256 1907 Stoddard-Dayton Model K Runabout; S/N 1004K; Engine # 1004K; Black/Black leather; Estimate $150,000 – $180,000; Recent restoration, 1- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $190,400. – RHD. 336/30 ALAM hp T-Head four, three seats, Solar Parabolens-Projecteur acetylene headlights, Solar kerosene sidelights and taillight, Solar acetylene generator, body color wood spoke wheels, white tires. – Excellent paint, bright brass, nearly like new upholstery. Engine is a little leaky, but only a little. Both seatback panels are cracking but in general this is a quality restoration in much better than new condition. One of only three known. 2016 AACA National First Place winner. – Offered at Mecum’s Spring Classic in Indianapolis in 2016 where it was reported bid to $200K and moved on to a new owner here at a good price within RM’s pre-sale estimate range.

Lot # 262 1927 Bentley 6 1/2 Liter All-Weather Tourer, Body by T.H. Gill; S/N PR2310; Blue, Black fenders/Grey leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $650,000 – $750,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $645,000 plus commission of 10.78%; Final Price $714,500. – RHD. Black wire wheels, 21-inch Dunlop tires ,dual sidemounts with mirrors, Lucas tri-bar headlights, overdrive added. – Replacement engine believed to be MD2458 ex-PR2317 by Bentley circa 1929. Originally a Weymann patent lightweight saloon body. Updated with twin carburetors for the third owner and this T.H. Gill body to a Hibbard & Darrin design for the third or fourth owner, Hugh Hunter. Restored in the late 80’s and still has very good older paint, chrome and interior. Orderly, lightly oily engine compartment and chassis. Restored a while ago and well-maintained and driven since. – Offered by Bonhams at the Simeone Museum five months ago where it was reported bid to $700,000 and changed hands here at the Ritz Carlton for not much less, a good example of suitably adjusted seller’s expectations.

Lot # 264 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; S/N CSX 3359; Red/Black leather; Black top; Estimate $1,750,000 – $2,100,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $1,625,000 plus commission of 10.31%; Final Price $1,792,500. – 427/425hp, Halibrand sunburst centerlock alloy wheels, Goodyear Power Cushion HP tires, wind wings, tinted sun visors, electric fan. – Blistered sidewall non-DOT tires. Excellent paint, chrome and good but stretched and wrinkled mostly original upholstery. The engine compartment is better than new. Restored by Mike McCluskey for Larry Bowman in the Naughts and little used since, a 427 Cobra that’s never been messed up and always carefully preserved – Offered by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2017 with a reported high bid of $1,360,000 and sold here for a handsome price that is amply supported by this Cobra’s condition, originality and history.

Lot # 265 1956 AC Ace Bristol; S/N BEX223; Engine # 100D559; Almond Green/Andes Green leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $400,000 – $450,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $360,000 plus commission of 11.39%; Final Price $401,000. – 100D Bristol engine with three Solex carburetors, chrome wire wheels (spare is painted), Michelin X tires, woodrim steering wheel, Lucas tri-bar headlights, front disc brakes, jack and tool roll. – Excellent fresh clearcoat paint, bright chrome, barely stretched fresh upholstery. The engine compartment is clean, fresh and like new except for modern hose clamps and old leaf spring wrapping. Stored many years, then restored in an appealing color. – A seriously good Ace Bristol that sold for a price that is fair to both the seller and the buyer.

Lot # 266 1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe; S/N V811900LCAV; Engine # V5401900LFM; Kentucky Blue/Cream leather, Dark Blue piping; Estimate $300,000 – $350,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. – Alloy wheels, fog lights, 6-speed, Jaeger dash clock, later Alpine stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Very clean wheels and newer tires. Two long but very light scratches on the bottom front lip. Light dirt and wear underneath but mostly restored. The interior is original, but it didn’t necessarily need to be redone. The seats are fairly wrinkled and the switchgear is lightly worn, but nothing looks bad. Restored in the early 2000s with the engine rebuilt to European Vantage specs, a 6-speed fitted and the suspension upgraded. – This is a driver-centric restoration with performance and handling upgrades and a thoughtfully retained original interior. It was bid to a responsible figure appropriate to its history, presentation and specifications.

Lot # 267 1952 Lancia Aurelia B52 Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N B521026; Engine # 3113; Medium Blue, Black roof/Tobacco leather; Estimate $400,000 – $500,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $340,000. – RHD. Folding sunroof, Black wheels, hubcaps, Michelin X tires, woodrim steering wheel, Autovox multiband radio, ashtrays on each front seatback. – Very good cosmetics with a little driver’s and passenger’s seat cushions. The underbody is redone to quality driver standards. One of five believed bodied by Vignale, restored in the 90’s, a class winner at Pebble Beach in 1995 and meticulously maintained since so it is still in lovely condition. – It’s most likely accurate to observe that this Aurelia B52 with its Vignale coupe coachwork has a specialized appeal, as does its aged Italian restoration. The reported high bid here is appropriate and the consignor’s decision to decline it sets up another search for the right venue and bidders. Don’t be surprised to see it turn up later this year somewhere else with a moderated estimate range and consignor’s expectations

Lot # 269 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer, Body by Corsica; S/N 57512; Engine # 19S; Black/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $6,000,000 – $7,500,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $5,700,000. – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, 18-inch Dunlop Racing tires, eight tiny exhaust pipes, single right side spare, Marchal headlights, Winfield updraft carburetor. – Represented as the original chassis, engine, gearbox and body. Sound older paint, chrome and interior. One of only 16 Type 57S with open coachwork. First owner Maurice Lubbock was induced to sell upon being elected president of Rolls-Royce. Supercharger added in the 30’s. Displayed at Pebble Beach in 2003. The engine compartment and chassis are aged, dull and driven. A beautiful, intriguing Bugatti in wonderful condition for tours and events but not for show except at the end of a glorious day of top down touring. – Supercharged Bugatti Type 57S s/n 57541 with Vandenplas Sports Tourer coachwork was displayed at the Concours on Sunday, which is ample vindication of the significance of this car. The reported high bid here is close enough to the pre-sale estimate that it could have been bridged by some creative revenue allocation by RM Sotheby’s, even with an adamant consignor, and it could have been sold with some satisfaction to both parties.

Lot # 270 1963 Lancia Flaminia GT Convertible, Body by Touring; S/N 824142244; Engine # 8231014110; Silver/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $134,400. – 2458/140hp, 4-speed, hub caps and trim rings, Michelin X tires, boot cover, woodrim steering wheel, Jaeger gauges. – Small dent on the left rear wheel cover. Small scrape on the bottom of the passenger’s door as well as a long scratch and a big crack on the left rear. That’s a shame since the paint is otherwise bright and beautiful. The chrome is a little dull but presentable. Even gaps. Light wear to the steering wheel but the interior is otherwise gorgeous. Recently refurbished engine. Clean and restored underneath. A great 10-footer and inherently interesting, but with the paint and chrome issues it’s not a show car. – A modest result for such a rare, interesting an attractive open-top Lancia, especially considering that it sold for $195,250 at Bonhams Amelia Island in 2017.

Lot # 271 1972 Lamborghini Jarama 400 GT Coupe, Body by Bertone; S/N 10228; Engine # 40644; Green/Tan leather; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $100,800. – Alloy wheels, Pirelli P4000 tires, Ansa exhaust, woodrim steering wheel, wood shift knob, power windows, air conditioning. – Represented as original other than a repaint. A few nicks on the wheels, but they’re mostly good. Newer tires. Very clean underneath, cleaned and sorted to the point that it almost looks restored. Sound original chrome. Very good repaint. Freshened and detailed engine bay. Nearly immaculate original interior. Some light scratches on the rear window. US market car, and phenomenally well kept. – Not sold at a $95,000 high bid at Worldwide Pacific Grove in 2017 and let go at this equally appropriate number. The Jarama was supposedly Ferruccio Lamborghini’s favorite, but it’s also far from the prettiest or coolest thing the company ever built, and this is about what a good one is worth.

Photo courtesy RM Sotheby’s © 2019 RM Auctions

Lot # 272 1936 Horch 853 Special Roadster Recreation; S/N 853268; Silver, Flag Blue/Carmine leather, Dark Blue piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $550,000 – $750,000; Rebodied or re-created, 1 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.71%; Final Price $775,000. – Chrome wire wheels, 17-inch blackwall tires, inset rear deck spare, 2-barrel Solex downdraft carburetor, Horch headlights, spotlights. – Reproduction coachwork by Horch Classic based on an original chassis discovered in Hungary in 2011. Impeccable cosmetics and especially impressive interior wood figure and varnish. The engine compartment and chassis are crisp, sharp and like new. A beautiful car done to very high standards. – Offered by Bonhams at Chantilly in 2017 with a reported high bid of $963,280 (Euros 800,000 at the time) and sold by Bonhams here last year for $544,000, this is a swooningly magnanimous price, albeit for a swooningly gorgeous car, restored from little more than a chassis with reproduction coachwork, no matter how gorgeous it may be.

Lot # 273 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton; S/N 81232269H; Engine # FC2984; Geneva Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $180,000 – $250,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $196,000. – Chrome hubcaps and blue trim rings, whitewalls, pre-selector transmission. – The paint is fair with numerous large blisters visible on almost every panel. The brightwork is good other than light pitting on the windshield trim and grille. The interior is good other than cracks on the front seats and loose stitching on the interior panels under the dash. A good driver and hobbyist-level show car, restored but done many years ago. – Sold by RM at Monterey in 2013 for $225,500, at Arizona in 2016 for $209,000 and at Hershey in 2017 for $211,750. It’s not getting better with age despite adding only 74 miles to the odometer since 2013, and brought a price here that is fair to both parties.

Photo by Jordan Kwasnycia © 2019, courtesy RM Auctions

Lot # 274 1930 Cadillac 452 V-16 Roadster, 2/4-p., Body after Fleetwood; S/N Engine No. 701673; Engine # 701673; Red, Black/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $325,000 – $425,000; Rebodied or re-created, 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $300,000. – Wood trim on the running boards, dual spotlights, dual enclosed sidemount spares with side mirrors, Pilot-Rays, dual horns, rumble seat, luggage trunk, machined steel dashboard, chrome spoke wire wheels and black hubcaps. – The paint is very good, although there is a single inch-long deep scratch near the driver’s side door. The brightwork is excellent and the interior is very good. Unknown history and doesn’t wear the original body (ordered new as a seven-passenger sedan). Recently restored and received an AACA National First Prize in 2015. – Handsome and impressive, there was another 452 V-16 Roadster in Amelia at Bonhams. It had its original body and it sold for $1,187,500. The reported high bid here for this meticulously constructed rebody is reasonable.

Lot # 279 1962 Jaguar XKE SI 3.8 Coupe; S/N 886871; Engine # R75509; Opalescent Silver Blue/Blue leather piped in Grey; Estimate $175,000 – $210,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $160,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $179,200. – Chrome wire wheels, Firestone tires, woodrim steering wheel, modern radiator and exhaust. – Very good paint and chrome other than a tiny chip on the nose. Slightly imperfect gaps. New exhaust. Clean underneath, but lightly run and not spotless. Very clean engine bay, correct other than the newer radiator. Very good restored interior. A gorgeous but probably not show-winning matching numbers early E-Type. Toured Europe immediately after delivery. Little used after that, then stored for many years and restored in 2007. Joined the E-type Anniversary Tour from Coventry to Geneva in 2011 and displayed at JLR’s new headquarters opening in 2018. – This car sold for $176,000 at Bonhams Scottsdale in 2015. It has done 463 miles since then and is in essentially the same condition. Both results are very strong prices for a non-flat floor coupe, but with that kind of consistency it’s hard to say the car doesn’t deserve the money.

Lot # 280 1957 Fiat-Abarth 750 Record Monza Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N 100 441205; Engine # 54990; Red/Beige cloth, Black piping; Estimate $100,000 – $140,000; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $87,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $98,000. – Silver wheels, Pirelli Cinturato tires, covered headlights, rollbar, pushrod four, dual choke downdraft Weber. – Good paint, chrome and very good upholstery. Replacement engine. Orderly engine compartment restored to driver standards. Same for the chassis. The driver’s door doesn’t fit flush and appears, along with the adjacent body, to be crudely filled. One family owned since 1961, “Clyde” was restored in 2002 and shows its age. The 4,958 km on its odometer are since the restoration. – Appropriately marked down by the RM Sotheby’s bidders for its erratic condition, this is on the other hand a cherubic little 850 Record Monza that begs to be driven and is by any standard a sound value at this price. Wailing on this pocket rocket will be a delight, and if the engine suffers an electrical failure (by virtue of a connecting rod holing the block and cutting a wire), so what other than building up another engine? It’s a sound buy here and should please its new owner.

Lot # 281 1928 Stutz Model BB 4-Passenger Speedster, Body by Philips Custom Body; S/N 88626; Engine # 91981; Grey, Black fenders and wide coachline/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 – $150,000; Cosmetic restoration, 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $156,800. – Dual leatherette covered sidemounts, trafficators, flag staffs, Silver painted wire wheels, 20-inch Nokia tires, Parabeam headlights, Black leatherette luggage trunk. – Chipped and scratched old indifferent quality paint, dull scratched chrome. Sound newer upholstery and tight-fitting top. Cracking steering wheel rim. Dull, pitted interior chrome. Greasy, road grimy chassis. A sound and complete car with unusual coachwork but tired and in need of pretty much everything. Long resident in Finland, mechanically resuscitated by specialists in 2017 but with its original paint. Charmingly original and sexy. – As sexy as a contemporary Packard or Lincoln, this Stutz calls to mind Feds chasing crooks in old movies, except it’s faster than Packards or Lincolns, not to mention Fords. It is a pleasing combination of old, not so old, and fresh mechanical work and was bought for a reasonable number here, not least on account of its rare Philips coachwork.

Lot # 282 1978 Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo Coupe; S/N 9308800443; Engine # 6880287; Black, White Turbo graphics/Black leather; Estimate $135,000 – $155,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $123,200. – Black Fuchs wheels, Cinturato tires, cassette stereo, power windows, air conditioning. – Some chips on the nose. The paint is otherwise a little tired but not bad, and it’s all original other than the rear bumper. The exterior plastic is a little dull. Original but tidy and maintained underneath. Very good lightly worn original interior. Showing 33,155 miles that are represented as original and not a time warp car, but lovingly maintained from new and sparingly driven. – For a good but not exceptional early 3.3-liter 930, this is a fair result that both parties can be happy with.

Lot # 283 1997 Porsche 911 Turbo S Coupe; S/N WP0AC2999VS375714; Arctic Silver/Boxster Red leather; Estimate $340,000 – $380,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 11.61%; Final Price $346,000. – Turbo Twist wheels, yellow calipers, Potenza tires, sunroof, Kenwood CD stereo, white face gauges. – Showing 13,498 miles and had a recent major service. Very tiny chip at the front of the hood but the paint mostly looks great. Very good lightly worn interior. Barely used, but not a time warp example, and many other 993 Turbo Ss are in like-new condition. – A modest result considering another 993 Turbo S in the same condition and with similar mileage sold for $423,000 at Gooding’s sale down the road.

Lot # 284 1939 Talbot-Lago T-23 Major 4-Litre Cabriolet; S/N 93615; Black/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $325,000 – $375,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $285,000 plus commission of 11.75%; Final Price $318,500. – RHD. Wilson pre-selector gearbox, wheel discs, Michelin tires, rear-mounted spare, landau bars, Jaeger gauges, dash clock, wood dash and window trim, suicide doors. – Very good older paint and chrome from a 2014 restoration. A few blemishes on the wheels. Very good top and frame. Excellent newer interior with only very light age. A handsome French prewar open car that was fully restored at some point, but is nothing out of this world. Still pretty gorgeous, though. – Sold by RM at Villa Erba in 2015 for $278,032 (Euros 252,000 at the time, this result is Euros 283,300) and by Barrett-Jackson in 2018 for $258,500 before being offered by Worldwide at Pacific Grove in 2018 where it was reported bid to a generous $390,000. It’s come back to earth here at Amelia but still represents a sound value for both the seller and the buyer in an elegant open Talbot-Lago.

Lot # 285 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk I BN7 Roadster; S/N HBN7L189; Black, Cream/Black; Black cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $61,600. – Chrome wire wheels, Touring T/A tires, tonneau cover, banjo steering wheel, heater, stainless exhaust, BMIHT Certificate. – Very early 3000 BN7 restored by Healey Lane. Sound but older paint and chrome. The windshield frame is particularly dull. Tidy underbody. Slightly imperfect gaps. Good, lightly worn interior. No major problems on this car. It was well restored and it’s still pretty, it just wasn’t done yesterday. – This car has been to auction several times, first sold at Barrett-Jackson West Palm Beach 10 years ago for $86,900, then there again two years later for $88,000 and at Auburn Fall in 2018 it was a much more modest (and understandable) no sale at a reported $49,000. This is another modest but not exactly cheap result for a solid Big Healey restored by a reputable shop. Its auction history is representative of Big Healeys over the past decade.

Lot # 286 1949 Chrysler Town & Country Convertible; S/N 7410951; Engine # C4623190; Indian Maroon, Wood/Maroon leather, plaid cloth; Maroon top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $114,800. – Chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, amber fog lights, dual mirrors, factory radio. – The paint and wood are both very good. The tires and wheels are in excellent shape. The interior is very good apart from the carpet showing age. Underneath the wheel wells there is substantial blistering in the paint. Restored in the early 1990s and won an award at the Amelia Island Concours in 2006. Still holding up very well even if isn’t perfect, a testament to the quality of its original restoration. – This car was had for a steal at RM Hershey in 2017, selling for $77,000. It has added 123 miles to its odometer since then. This result is a much more realistic balance between the age of the restoration and its quality, and the seller came out ahead in a big way.

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