Worldwide Auctioneers, Enthusiast Auction, Auburn, April 25-26, 2025

Worldwide’s Enthusiast Auction (aka “Auburn Spring”) presented an unusual and highly varied consignment largely derived from major collections including the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum, the Great Outdoors Collection and, most notably, the Passport Collection.

168 of the 249 lots offered, 67.5%, were No Reserve. Of the 81 lots with reserves, 58 found new owners on the block or in post-block transactions, an impressive 71.6% sale rate on cars with reserves.

68 of the lots, 27.3%, were built before WWII and all but six of them sold, a 91.2% sell-through, impressive in a time when so many opine of the demise of interest in pre-war cars. There was occasional indication of irrationality, too, particularly the 1933 REO Speedwagon BN that sold to an internet bidder for the astounding sum of $141,930, enough to have bought a quality restored Cord 810 Phaeton convertible in this sale.

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This was my first auction trip since November 2024. My wife and I sold our big nineteenth century house with two-storey barn in an idyllic country village and moved to a two bedroom apartment in an “independent living” community in the suburbs of Worcester, Massachusetts (aka, “the pothole capital of the world”). The process and rushed move were borderline traumatic and the adjustment has been difficult. It’s taken me this long to get rearranged, reestablish my reference library and kick myself in the butt to get out and about. Auburn was, as a result, a therapy: delightful to be back among the cars and colleagues.

The best part may have been the diversity of Worldwide’s offering which gave me a chance to reacquaint myself with a refreshing variety of cars … and conditions. I’ll still be going slowly over the next few months as I ramp back up to Monterey in August.

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Note: Worldwide at this sale had a 3-tier Buyer’s Premium. Normal sales were 12% of the first $250,000 and 10% thereafter but online sales charged 14% of the first $250,000. These rates are reflected in the results that follow, although the database still has to be modified to account for them automatically

Here are the numbers:

Cars Sold/ Offered	Sale %	Average Sale	Median Sale	Total $
208/249	83.5%	$63.172	$35,280 [55.9%]	$13,139,794

Reports and photos by Rick Carey. Vehicles are sorted in lot number order.

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Lot # 149 1949 Frazer Manhattan Convertible Sedan; S/N F495011568; Indian Ceramic/Black leatherette; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Online sale a $18,500 plus commission of 14%; Final Price $21,090 – 226/112hp six, 3-speed, wheel covers, whitewalls, pushbutton radio, power windows, skirts. – Older repaint starting to show a few flaws and defects but still remarkably well-preserved. Good interior and tight-fitting top. Restored but aged chassis and engine compartment. Some weak trim chrome. Good door fits with edge chips on the driver’s door and under the driver’s outside door handle. Right rear power window switch is dangling by its wiring. One of only 70 reported built in this body style in 1949. – Back in 1993 this Frazer Manhattan sold at Barrett-Jackson for $34,000 with 37,921 miles on its odometer. Ten years later, in 2003, it sold at the Hershey auction for $50,600. Today it shows 37,934 miles and doesn’t look like it has had much attention since ’93, maybe a repaint to indifferent standards. The result tells a more interesting, if depressing, story along the lines of “no one cares” but at least its value can’t go down much farther.

Lot # 159 1905 Cadillac Model F 4-Passenger Touring; S/N 8261; Dark Olive Green, Cream chassis/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $68,320 – 98 cid single, 9hp, 2-speed planetary gearbox, white tires, varnished wood spoke wheels, Rubes bulb horn, Gray & Davis kerosene sidelights and taillight. – Excellent old repaint indifferently maintained. Excellent upholstery, wood and top. Good brass. Not fresh but has shown potential with some diligent detailing and cleaning. – It is impossible not to be intrigued by this nifty little single-cylinder Cadillac with its deep green paint and plentiful brass, one of the models upon which Cadillac’s motto “The Standard of the World” is based. It sold at RM’s Auburn auction in 2021 for $51,700, then at Hershey in 2023 for $55,000. It would appear that little or nothing has been done to it since then but it has been carefully maintained and brought a healthy price increase that belies the oft-stated opinion that interest in antique automobiles is dying off.

Lot # 162 1929 Packard 640 Custom Eight Phaeton; S/N 174637; Burgundy, Black fenders/Black leather, Red piping; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $75,321 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $84,360 – 384/105hp eight, 3-speed, artillery wheels, Firestone wide whitewalls, dual sidemount spares, Goddess of Speed mascot, wood dash, wind wings, Depress Beam headlights, rear luggage rack, suicide rear doors, Jaeger dash clock. – Good but older and not show ready paint and chrome. Older tires. The door gaps are almost even, but not quite. Older underneath and lightly run engine bay. Very good interior. An older but correct and full restoration that has been well-maintained and preserved. – Enough power (and torque) to take full advantage of the 5-passenger coachwork and go on the road for a weekend or longer. It sold for $69,850 at the Leake Tulsa auction in 2017, then broke someone’s bank at Worldwide’s auction in Arlington, Texas in 2018 when it reportedly sold for $126,500. It has been offered once since then, at Bonhams Scottsdale in 2024 where it was reported bid to a more reasonable amount of $85,000. The price here is in line with its nominal history – absent the outlier in 2018 – and underlying rarity, style and performance.

Lot # 164 1941 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible Sedan; S/N 8356361; Metallic Eggplant/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $41,440 – 346/150hp L-head V-8, 3-speed column shift, red wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, skirts, pushbutton radio, turn signals, heater. – Sound older repaint. Generally good chrome except peeling headlight bezels. Good upholstery, interior trim and tight fitting top. Older restored chassis with some miles. The last year Cadillac offered a 4-door convertible sedan and in decent driver condition. – The catalog notes this car has been in the same family for 60 years, but not by choice. It was offered at the Leake Dallas auction in 2013 where it was bid to $75,000, then by Leake at Tulsa in 2016 where the bid was $70,000 and finally at Mecum’s Kansas City auction in 2016 where the top bid was $65,000, so it wasn’t “in the same family” for lack of trying to sell it on. Its condition here reflects its history of age and limited use and, for a CCCA Full Classic (r) it is a modestly priced entry to CCCA events and tours.

Lot # 165 1989 Ferrari Testarossa Berlinetta; S/N ZFFSG17A8K0080371; Rosso Corsa/Red leather; Unrestored original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $165,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $184,800 – 4,942/380hp, 5-speed, 5-spoke alloy wheels, BFG tires, SF shields, air conditioning. – Good paint and stretched upholstery. Represented as 18,796 miles from new, belt serviced in 2022. Also represented as “multiple show-winning” without saying what shows they may have been. – This is a premium price but it bought a premium condition Testarossa with unusual red leather interior. It would not have been a surprise to see it with a successful hammer bid of, or at least close to, $200K and is a sound value in this transaction.

Lot # 178 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Roadster; S/N 11304412020026; Red, Red hardtop/Black vinyl; Black top; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Online sale at $67,500 plus commission of 14%; Final Price $76,950 – 2,778/160hp, automatic, Frigiking air conditioning, Becker Europa AM-FM, body color wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, power steering, two tops. – Good repaint in the original color. Good upholstery. Tidy engine in a cleaned up but not restored compartment. Rust blisters over the left headlight. Polished cam cover and intake runner. Desirably equipped but not reassuring, particularly with the rust showing in the front fender on the left side. Road rot usually first appears on the right side. – A popular car, and by that I mean not just the 280SL but this particular 280SL. It sold at Leake’s Tulsa auction in 2014 for $69,850 then had a series on no-sale transactions at Russo and Steele Monterey in 2016 ($66K), Leake Dallas 2016 ($55K) and Leake Dallas a year later ($45K). Worldwide placed it with a new owner at their Scottsdale auction in 2018 for $55,000 ($50K hammer) and its value here seven years later owes more to a gradual upward trend in values than to any particular attribute of this example which is, with its rust bubbles, less than ordinary even though it is pretty.

Lot # 181 1954 Austin-Healey 100-4 Roadster; S/N 150976; Red/Black leatherette, Red piping; No top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $67,000 – 2,660/60hp, white number roundels, woodrim steering wheel, outside mirrors, black wire wheels, no bumpers, fog lights, Lucas tri-bar headlights, louvered hood, cold air box intake, matching spare. – Good paint with chips under the left mirror and behind the driver’s door. Orderly engine compartment. A presentable driver showing some age. Modified for vintage rallys. Engine rebuilt in 2024. Represented as matching numbers and BMIHT documented. Usable and with much potential for fun driving. – Sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction in 2012 for $47,700, then by Worldwide at Scottsdale in 2018 for $58,300. This is a premium result for a car that appears to be better mechanically than it is cosmetically, a distinction that would be rewarding for an enthusiastic new owner but not at a price higher than this.

Lot # 309 1957 Dual-Ghia DG Convertible, Body by Ghia; S/N 150; Dark Blue/Dark Blue, Ivory leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $252,000 – 361/310hp D500 (?), dual quads, automatic, power steering and brakes, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, signal seeking radio, – Scratched, fisheyed paint. Decent chrome. Sound interior. Poor driver’s door fit. A sound and usable but used older restoration. The powerplant is a bit confused, but no matter if it’s standard 315/230hp wedge or a D500 it has plenty of power to keep up with traffic. – Offered by Mecum at Phoenix in 2019 where it was bid to $300,000, then at Bonhams Amelia where the bid was significantly less, $220,000, about what it brought here in Auburn. It is not very impressive, but it is impressively unusual and possibly bought by Frank Sinatra as a gift for Ava Gardner, a part of oral not documented history. This is a totally realistic result for it and both the seller and the buyer should be satisfied with it.

Lot # 317 1951 Frazer Manhattan Convertible Sedan Pilot Car; S/N F516001002; Yellow/Black leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original 4- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $33,600 – 226/115hp, 3-speed, power windows, pushbutton radio, dual remote spotlights, wheel covers, wide whitewalls, fog lights – A pilot-run car believed displayed at the Chicago Auto Show and later for many years the personal car of company founder Henry J. Kaiser. Poor door and top fits. Original interior trim with tired old replaced interior. Erratic chrome including strange looking front and rear bumper chrome with rainbow reflections. Really tired and neglected. – “Neglected” is the operative adjective, not to mention being a relic of a barely-remembered attempt to build better automobiles by one of America’s industrial titans during the Second World War, Henry J. Kaiser. This car was sold by RM at Hershey in 2014 for $41,250, then at St. John’s in 2015 for $55,000. It has been overlooked in its years in the Passport Collection and based on condition alone deserved to be overlooked here as well. On the other hand, it is an example of early Fifties upheaval in the American automobile industry. Henry couldn’t build cars as well as his steel mills and shipyards built Victory Ships. Ships were utilitarian but the car business was about style and features even in 1951 and Henry missed the evolution.

Lot # 321 1939 BMW 327/328 Cabriolet; S/N 74582; Blue, Light Blue/Blue leather; Dark Blue cloth top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $190,000 – 1,971/80hp 3-carb engine, 4-speed, centerlock wheels, Dunlop tires (made in Zimbabwe), banjo steering wheel, dash clock, scalloped rear fender skirts, enclosed rear-mounted spare, long wave radio, turn semaphores. – Good paint, lightly stretched upholstery,. Good looking engine but the engine compartment has been superficially painted with holidays and shadows under accessories that should have been removed before painting. A rare and appealing touring quality restoration with some rectification since last seen eight years ago. – The standard BMW 327 had a barely adequate 55hp but it took only a little work and a couple more carburetors to realize the performance potential of the 327’s cross-flow engine in the BMW 328, a light and responsive middleweight that punched above its weight. This 328 was restored in period style colorful livery years ago and has been well-maintained since. It was bid to $275,000 at Bonhams Amelia in 2016, to $200,000 at Bonhams Scottsdale in 2017 and sold to the Passport Collection at Bonhams Greenwich later in 2017 for $220,000. It has been well-maintained in Missouri since then and there is no reason at all why it shouldn’t have brought over 200 Large here in Auburn. It is an essential part of BMW’s history and its prewar elegance, performance and style, a legacy that has taken years to rebuild from the Isetta 300 years to the present day’s stature. A BMW dealer should have sopped this car up for showroom display like a sponge, but they see only “units” and tariffs.

Lot # 323 1937 Hudson Deluxe Eight Convertible Coupe; S/N 743063; Peacock Green/Green leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $47,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,200 – 254/122hp eight, 3-speed pre-selector gearbox, hill holder, dual enclosed sidemounts, skirts, cream wire wheels, wide whitewalls, radio, heater, Lorraine fog light. – A sound and presentable old restoration that shows its age. Best displayed, as it was here, with its top up and the canvas side curtain rear quarter windows that set it apart from other convertibles of the era. – Sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2000 for $46,200 showing 970 miles on the odometer, it was bought by the Passport Collection at Meadow Brook in 2006 for $72,600 showing 1,070 miles. Today it shows 1,077 miles and brought a lot less but is still a handsome, unusual open car with touring potential. The Auburn bidders weren’t enthused and the successful bidder went home with a solid value.

Lot # 324 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Convertible Coupe; S/N VC57S299018; Matador Red/Red, Silver vinyl; White vinyl top; Modified restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $78,400 – Non-stock 283/250hp fuel injection, 3-speed column shift, aftermarket cassette stereo, skirts, dual rear-mounted antennas spinner wheel covers, power steering, continental kit, heater. – Good paint and upholstery. Bright chrome. Even door gaps, flush fits. An older restoration and FI upgrade with some oversights like paint on old undercoat in the wheelwells. Runs well and looks good. Passport Collection. – This Bel Air has had more miles in transporters than on the road over the past eight years being offered at Worldwide Auburn in 2017 where it was bid to $70,000, at RM Ft. Lauderdale in 2018 with a $95,000 bid and Worldwide Scottsdale in 2024 with a reported bid of $85,000. It’s a good older restored Chevy, but not the FI Bel Air it wants to be and the result here in Auburn is all it could have hoped to bring. Scottsdale ’24 was a fever dream bid.

Lot # 325 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 10101; Engine # 10101; Oro Chiaro/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original 3- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $400,000 – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, Becker Europa AM-FM, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin XWX tires, power windows, air conditioning. – Worn original driver’s seat upholstery. Sound clearcoat paint. Passenger’s door sags. Scruffy engine compartment. Represented as matching numbers engine. Serviced in 2019. Mostly original but showing its age. Passport Collection. – Purchased by Passport at RM Monterey in 2023 for $445,000, the same $400,000 hammer bid it brought here, not a reward for two years of care and surely worth more than this parsimonious bid. Pristine 330 GTCs bring (and deserve for their performance, style and beauty) big money but tired cars like this despite originality beg restoration that will cost more than any value increase it will earn. This bid is a realistic if harsh opinion of real world value.

Lot # 337 1967 Maserati Ghibli 4.7 Coupe, Body by Ghia; S/N AM115074; Blue Sera/Senape leather; Recent restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $190,000 – 4,719/340hp, 5-speed, centerlock alloy wheels, Cinturato H5 tires, Alpine cassette stereo, air conditioning, power windows. – Represented as the numbers matching engine and gearbox. Very good clearcoat paint, bright chrome, excellent fresh interior. Like new underbody. Freshly but expeditiously restored – Sold by Worldwide at Pacific Grove in 2018 for $170,500 in largely original and aged condition with 16,283 miles, then restored and barely driven so it now shows 16,639 miles. It was sold by Bonhams at Amelia in 2021 for $268,800 and is no surprise it didn’t sell at this hammer bid in Auburn even though it is by current standards a generous price.

Lot # 338 1963 Daimler SP250 Convertible; S/N 100925; Cream/Black leatherette; Black leatherette top; Original, modified for competition or performance 4 condition; No Reserve; Online sale at $15,000 – Ford V-8, automatic, Holley 4-barrel carburetor, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Firestone F-560 tires, VDO Classic gauges, lace-on steering wheel cover. – Frightening loose steering. Chipped wire wheel paint. Old upholstery. Crazing, pitted paint. Dirty engine compartment and chassis. A fairly horrid car and the seller didn’t even know if the Ford was 260 or 289 cubic inches. – I’m reluctant to use the term “nasty” because it is pejorative, but this Daimler Dart deserves it. There is n-o-t-h-i-n-g about it that commends it to a new owner. It is a series of expensive headaches waiting to be experienced.

Lot # 340 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 Series 1 Coupe; S/N 6549; Engine # 6549; Verde Metallico/Brown leather; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $310,000 – 3,967/300hp, 5-speed, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Pirelli tires, headlights with yellow lens fog lights. – $105,000 color changed cosmetic restoration completed in 2017 and represented as the original engine. Recent clearcoat paint. Sound chrome and inviting new upholstery and interior trim. Fenderwells painted over old, cracked undercoat. Orderly engine compartment with no apparent seepage. – There is a disconnect here between the price this “Chinese Eye” 330 GT 2+2 brought at RM Monterey in 2023, a result that was called “generous” at the time, and the expectation it might be still worth nearly as much. $200K would be more than adequate for it in 2025.

Lot # 341 1936 Cadillac Series 80 V-12 Convertible Coupe; S/N 4110177; Light Yellow/Red leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $66,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $73,920 – 368/150hp V-12, 3-speed, dual enclosed sidemounts, red steel wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, radio, fog lights, rumble seat, chrome hood side vents. – Passport Collection. Two decade old restoration that earned CCCA National First Prize, Senior and Premier #1641. Badly cracked paint on th left cowl side. Worn interior. It is now a quality old restoration, with the emphasis on the “old” and should be a good, if not sparkling, tour car. – A rare find and with sufficient power to make it enjoyable to drive, this is a sound, if aging, older restoration that brought a realistic price and a value as sound as its restoration.

Lot # 343 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet B; S/N 169367; Black, Silver/Green leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $770,000 plus commission of 10.65%; Final Price $852,000 – 5,401/180hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Michelin X tires, dual sidemount spares, dual chrome horns, single Bosch driving light, suicide doors, mother-of-pearl instrument panel, burl wood interior trim. – Good but older paint and chrome, and there are some scratches on the left front fender. Unequal gaps on the doors. Fantastic interior with a beautiful dashboard and no visible wear to the leather. Very clean underneath. An older restoration with some issues documented with its original data plate and a copy of the Kommission paperwork. – Sold by RM at London in 2013 for $1,289,368 (GBP 820,000 at the time, this result is GBP 639,100), it took a severe correction when sold by RM at Amelia Island in 2023 for $775,000 (GBP 646,000) and held its own here in Auburn although the hammer price of $770,000 means there is no net recover for the seller. “540K” is a magic phrase for classic car collectors although “Cabriolet B” is not similarly enticing and notably looks better with the top erected than it does with the lowered top piled on the rear deck. The result here is appropriate.

Lot # 346 1935 Auburn 851 SC Cabriolet; S/N 3728F; Cream, Black fenders and accent/Black leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 – 280/150hp supercharged, 3-speed, 2-speed axle, rear-mounted spare, rumble seat, folding windshield, Trippe lights, outside exhaust head pipes, body color wire wheels, wide whitewalls. – Passport Collection. Supercharger added later. Old paint with fisheyes and edge chips. Sound but aging chrome, some chips and rusting behind the bumpers. Sound but aged old upholstery. Dangling underdash wiring. Once was great but now needs and deserves a refresh. – Any Auburn 851 Supercharged automobile is brag-worthy but the cabriolet coachwork isn’t particularly distinctive and its later accession to superchaged status limits its appeal to purists. The restoration’s age is readily apparent as well, making this more of a project than an instantly gratifying acquisition. The reported high bid takes this all into account and is entirely reasonable for its configuration and condition.

Lot # 347 1915 Lozier Type 82 7-passenger Touring; S/N 9114; Engine # 9114; Maroon, Black fenders and accents/Black leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $102,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $114,800 – 369/36 ALAM hp, 3-speed, body color wood spoke wheels, 37×5 Gehrig tires, front axle mounted hydraulic dampers, Warner speedometer, Legalite headlights, Waltham clock, full weather equipment. – Passport Collection. Formerly owned by Barney Pollard and the only known Lozier Type 82 with its original body, engine and chassis. Good older paint and chrome showing age and some visual deterioration. Sound but aged old upholstery. Clean tight-fitting top. Orderly but aged engine compartment with fluid leakage that needs attention. Same for the chassis. An imposing vehicle in very presentable condition. – Offered by RM at Amelia in 2020 where it was bid to $180,000 – while the bidders were distracted by something called COVID – it was sold in November 2020 in an RM online auction for $110,000 and appears to be in pretty much the same condition today as it was five years ago. Its odometer reads the same today as it did back then. This was one of the best, and most expensive, automobiles built in the U.S. at the time and still has the look and performance of a high quality car. It should be worth more than it brought here but appreciation for the Lozier name and quality is waning. The new owner got a very rare automobile and a great value for the money.

Lot # 348 2010 Ferrari California Convertible; S/N ZFF65LJA5A0173729; Azzurro California Blu/Crema leather; Unrestored original 2- condition; No Reserve; Online sale at $97,500 plus commission of 14%; Final Price $111,150 – 4,297/460hp, 6-speed AutoManual, 22″ wheels, P Zero Nero tires, $46,000 in options. – Passport Collection. Window sticker documented and 11,591 miles from new. Excellent original paint and good upholstery with only some driver’s seat stretch. – With most of the depreciation taken by the prior three owners and under 12K miles, this is a right car for the right money.

Lot # 349 1949 Bentley Mark VI Drophead Coupe, Body by Park Ward; S/N B452LEY; Engine # B226E; Silver/Oxblood leather; Grey cloth top; Older restoration 2- condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $224,000 – 4,257/130hp, column shift 4-speed, dual enclosed sidemounts, fender mirrors, body color wheel covers with chrome hubcaps, wide whitewalls, power door windows, skirts, roller sun visors, halogen headlights, fog light, trafficators. – Passport Collection. Bright, clean engine compartment. Excellent paint, chrome and upholstery. Shiny, pretty, clean and attractive with impressive and streamlined coachwork by Park Ward. Known history from new, U.S. delivered, build sheet copy documented. Amelia Award winner in 2012. – Sold by Bonhams at Amelia in 2023 for $196,000 and turned over for a modest profit today, this is a car with continuing appeal for its style, design, comfort and performance. It will always command front row treatment wherever it appears and deserved the price it brought here today.

Lot # 350 1973 Ford Mustang Convertible; S/N 3F03H185095; Light Gold/White; White vinyl top; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; No Reserve; Online sale at $29,000 plus commission of 14%; Final Price $33,060 – 351/177hp, automatic, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, Rally wheels with trim rings, Wide Oval tires, AM-FM. – Passport Collection, formerly owned by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft. Good repaint. Good original interior. Orderly but aged and used engine compartment. A driver. – An ordinary Mustang convertible distinguished only by its politician ownership and solid presentation and those attributes go a long way to justifying the 25% premium it brought which, in any event, is only about $6,000, not exactly retirement-wrecking money.

Lot # 351 1964 Lincoln Continental Convertible Sedan; S/N 4Y86N410872; Ivory/Dark Red leather; White vinyl top; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $95,200 – 430/320hp, automatic, air conditioning, AM-FM, power everything, headlight dimmer. – Passport Collection. 1999 AACA National First Prize and Senior winner, Lincoln Continental Owners award winner. Wrinkled top. Good lightly creased upholstery. Orderly engine compartment. Very good older repaint with various small chips and touched up dings but overall a very good and presentable example. – Sold by RM at Arizona in 2008 for $79,750 with 89 miles on the odometer following its restoration. Today it has 166 miles, only 77 more than it did 17 years ago. Continental convertible sedans have been enjoying an upsurge in interest recently and this transaction, and the increase in value in an otherwise moribund collector car market, is a good indication of that as well as an ample result for a car with an aging restoration and some small cosmetic issues.

Lot # 353 1959 Alfa Romeo 2000 Spider, Body by Touring; S/N AR1020400137; Cream/Red; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $78,400 – 1,975/115hp, Weber carburetors, 5-speed, steel wheels with hub caps, Michelin tires, dual mirrors, AM radio. – Passport Collection. Good older repaint. Touched up chips behind the right door. Erratic but serviceable chrome. Sound upholstery. Redone engine compartment but erratically sprayed with chassis black and showing use and age. Shift lever shroud doesn’t fit well. Better than a driver, but when it accumulates a few more miles it will be. – The Fifties Alfa 2000 is an odd duck, a waypoint on Alfa’s evolution from big, luxurious eights and sixes to the sublime Giulietta and Giulia with their dohc 4-cylinder engines and Pininfarina/Bertone coachwork. The Fifties 2000 looks like a 2600 but misses the extra two cylinders. Thoughtfully maintained and equipped with a highly desirable 5-speed gearbox, this is a good example but one that illustrates the model’s fall from favor. It was sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2018 for $95,200, then peaked at Bonhams Amelia in 2023 with a result of $128,000 it has added just under 300 miles to its odometer since 2018 and doesn’t impress with its condition. It wasn’t a bad deal in this transaction, but the price reflects its condition and appeal.

Lot # 355 1925 Cunningham Series V-6 Phaeton; S/N V4661; Burgundy/Burgundy leather; Beige cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $89,600 – 442/100hp eight, 4-speed, red wire wheels, wide whitewalls, Waltham gauges, Bausch & Lomb drum headlights, dual sidemounts, spotlight. – Superficial old protective paint, worn nickel trim, Tired old upholstery and top. All here but very needy. Known history and only four owners since the 1930’s. – The Passport Collection bought this Cunningham at Bonhams auction at the Simeone Collection in 2014 for $162,250 and age is not the friend of its ancient restoration. A rare marque but tired and begging for serious attention, the result here is in line with the value curve for Cunninghams that peaked in the early 20-teens and has since declined into obscurity.

Lot # 359 1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 12793; Engine # 12793; Rosso Corsa/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original 4+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $140,000 – 4,390/320hp, 5-speed, Borrani chrome spoke alloy wheels, Goodyear Integrity tires, Blaupunkt AM-FM, Halogen headlights, factory air conditioning, power windows. – Failing old badly masked paint with cracks and chips. Redyed old upholstery. Missing inside rear view mirror and replacement outside mirrors. Dirty original engine compartment. Tired, neglected and given a repaint that wouldn’t have been inappropriate on a Pinto. – Auctions America tried to sell this Queen Mother at Santa Monica in 2016 where it was reportedly bid to $185,000. AA tried again at Ft. Lauderdale in 2017 where the bid was $130,000. Bonhams, however, was successful in selling it at Quail Lodge in 2021 for $151,200 ($135,000 hammer). The odometer has gained only 410 miles since 2017 and despite the haircut it implied the reported high bid here was all the money for this Queen Mother’s condition.

Lot # 366 1931 Auburn 8-98 Boattail Speedster; S/N GU54317; Black, Silver/Dark Rose leather; Older restoration 1 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $225,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $252,000 – 269/98hp inline eight, 3-speed, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, Pilot-Rays. – Passport Collection. Rose brake drums matching the upholstery. Excellent paint, chrome and upholstery. Concours quality restoration and essentially unused. – With a few exceptions among Auburn 8-98s this is an heroic price befitting its excellent presentation, well-preserve restoration, exciting appearance and rewarding performance. Unfortunately, there is no mention either in the Worldwide catalog or the block presentation of an A-C-D club attestation of the originality of its configuration, and that puts the buyer’s research to the test. This is an A-C-D Category One price.

Lot # 370 1938 Mercedes-Benz 320 LWB Kombination Roadster 3.4L, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 408153; Burgundy, Maroon/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Unrestored original 4- condition; With Reserve; Post-block sale at $460,000 plus commission of 11.09%; Final Price $511,000 – 3,208/78hp side valve six, 4-speed, luggage, steel wheels, recessed rear deck spare with chrome cover, backup light, Bosch head and fog lights, radio, mother of pearl instrument panel, banjo spoke steering wheel, opening vee windshield. – Passport Collection. Long 129″ wheelbase, Sindelfingen coachwork. Factory replacement engine. Poor old repaint, pitted, peeling chrome, dirty, dry underbody, cracked, worn interior but complete and good as a pattern. Sound body. Runs and drives. Filthy engine. 1953 Connecticut inspection sticker. Runs and drives. – Another odd duck combining a 500/540K wheelbase and Sindelfingen roadster coachwork with the more modest Mannheim 6-cylinder L-head engine with only 78 horsepower. A ’63 Corvette with a six would be a similar compromise. It was offered by the Dragones in 2013 with a reported bid of $850,000, then by Bonhams at Greenwich in 2015 where it was reported sold for $775,000. It has been a restoration project since it surfaced at the Dragone’s in 2013, a daunting prospect since it will cost as much to restore as a 500/540K while still being worth much less with its Mannheim flathead six. It took a deserved beating here, even for a rarely seen Mercedes-Benz variant.

Lot # 372 1932 Buick Series 50 Sport Phaeton; S/N 2647621; Bronze, Metallic Green fenders/Green leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $33,600 – 230/83hp eight, 3-speed, dual enclosed rear spares, dual windshields, windwings, Trippe lights, chrome hood vents, chrome spoke Lime Green wheels, whitewalls. – Passport Collection. Pretty tired and presented in fairly hideous colors. Pitted chrome trim, chassis casually sprayed Black over whatever was there. Instrument panel finish crazed and lifting. Needs comprehensive attention. 101 miles added to the odometer since it was last seen 22 years ago. – Sold at RM’s J.E. Morgan auction in 2003 for $55,000 and spent the intervening years doing little more than sitting in a building until a re-restoration (in different colors, please) is in order. It is, however, a sound prospect for a straightforward reworking and is a sound value at this price.

Lot # 374 1960 Daimler SP250 Convertible; S/N 100324; Metallic Light Blue/Parchment leatherette; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Online sale at $30,000 plus commission of 14%; Final Price $34,200 – 2,548/142hp hemi-head V-8, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, aftermarket woodrim steering wheel. – Passport Collection. Bright clearcoat paint, good chrome. Sound interior with the dashtop trim coming loose. Clean, orderly repainted chassis. Cracking windshield gasket. A decent and usable Daimler Dart in an eye-searing color. – The catalog rambled on about how the SP250 Dart succumbed to inter-company competition with Jaguar, failing to mention the peculiar body design with its low protruding air intake that gave it the visage of a bottom-feeding fish. The little V-8 makes decent power and 4-wheel disc brakes back that up with stopping power and this is a realistic price to pay for a car that is both more rare and better performing than a comparable Triumph.

Lot # 377 1973 BMW 2002tii Coupe; S/N 2762755; Fjord Blue/Black leatherette; Older restoration 2- condition; No Reserve; Online sale at $55,000 plus commission of 14%; Final Price $62,700 – 1,990/130hp, Getrag 5-speed, Panasport alloy wheels, Yokohama tires, Kenwood stereo, sunroof, rear strut tower support, Momo steering wheel. – Represented as the original engine, rebuilt during restoration. Very good clearcoat paint. Good upholstery and interior trim. Missing radio antenna mast. Immaculate engine compartment. Driver’s door closes slightly proud. Old undercoat in the wheelwells. Good gauges. Good major chrome with some dull aluminum trim. Gearbox transplanted from an E31 3-Series. A sharp 2002 that got plenty of looks during the auction preview. – Sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2022 for $67,200 with a further 125 miles showing on the odometer since then. This 2002tii (touring international injected) promises to be a rewarding acquisition even though it is some 20% more expensive than its predecessor carbureted 2002. Thoughtfully modified and upgraded where it counts and attractively presented there are many happy hours behind the wheel of this BMW. Among 2002s it is expensive but it deserves to be in so many ways.

Lot # 378 1946 Ford V-8 Super Deluxe Station Wagon; S/N 1361525; Silver, Black cobra grain roof/Brown leatherette; Older restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $53,760 – 239/100hp V-8, 3-speed 3-row seating, hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, radio, remote spotlight, enclosed rear-mounted spare, heater. – Painted wood framing and crudely woodgrained interior. Dirty engine compartment. A very disappointing, superficially restored and well-used woodie. The Great Outdoors Collection. – Intrinsically attractive but the quality of the wood from Ford’s own Iron Mountain forests is one of the core appeals for Ford woodies, and this one has its hardwood framing painted to cover up the wood’s grain, depth and importantly the water stains and rot repairs that afflict woodies. It is a kiss of death and has been included, maybe even minimized, in the bidders’ arriving at this result. I think it is expensive, even though this result sits on the condition/value curve.

Lot # 379 1983 Ferrari 512BBi Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina-Scaglietti; S/N ZFFJA09B000046545; Black/Black leather, Red bars; Visually maintained, largely original 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $255,000 – 4,942/340hp flat twelve, 5-speed, Pioneer stereo, power windows, Borletti air conditioning, centerlock Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin TRX tires, books and tools. – Very good paint and lightly used upholstery. Clean engine compartment and chassis. Engine-out serviced last month. Impossible to fault in any meaningful except for its carefully maintained age. – Reported sold by Russo and Steele at Monterey in 2012 for $96,250. Russo did it again five years later with a price of $231,000 ($210,000 hammer). The high bid here is very realistic and would have been a meaningful bump over 2017 had it sold and added the buyer’s premium. It is, however, a very nice car and it would easy to understand the seller’s desire to keep it for the shear pleasure of driving it… except it has been driven only 160 miles in the last eight years meaning no one has gotten much pleasure out of it.

Lot # 381 1935 Packard Twelve Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton, Body by Dietrich; S/N 821202; Metallic Burgundy/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $268,800 – 473/175hp V-12, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, spotlight, dual windshields with windwings, Ride Control. – Very good older upholstery and chrome. Paint has some small stress cracks and is shrinking badly on both cowls and the left hood top. CCCA National First Prize #0899 and Senior. Thin hood side vent chrome. Crisp, sharp gauges. Clean and orderly engine showing age. Chassis and underbody were concours restored but now are aged, dusty and show some miles. A beautiful, imposing Packard. – Reported sold by RM at Hershey in 2017 for $495,000 ($450,000 hammer), then offered by them at Amelia in 2022 where the bid was only $220,000. That was, however, a lot closer to the $240,000 hammer bid that bought the car here than the purported bid at Hershey in 2017 and it’s actually added over 1,000 miles to its odometer since 2017, “high miles” by classic car standards. I may use “imposing” to excess, but this Packard Twelve earns that description and is a huge value for money whether it is measured in quality, appearance or weight.

Lot # 384 1959 Porsche 356A 1600S Convertible D, Body by Drauz; S/N 85731; Engine # P603402; Red/Brown leatherette; Brown cloth top; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $170,000 – 1,582/82hp, 4-speed, Lietz luggage rack, silver wheels, hubcaps, Cinturato tires, bumper overriders, headlight stoneguards. – Very good paint and major chrome but weak chrome on the taillight bezels. Good upholstery, carpets and gauges. The engine compartment is disappointing, old and superficial with overspray on the engine. Peeling chrome on the steering wheel spokes. Exterior overspray on old undercoat in the wheelwells. – This is a 1958 Convertible D chassis number and a 1960 356B 1600 Normal engine number. The engine specs in the description are based on the catalog representations. This Porsche looks good from the outside, but upon a closer look and more research the less attractive it appears to be. Under the circumstances the seller would have been prudent to take the money.

Lot # 387 1957 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible; S/N P857H30944; Kenya Ivory, Red accent/Red, White leather; White vinyl top; Concours restoration 1 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $150,000 – 347/315hp, fuel injection, automatic, WonderBar radio, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, power windows and seat, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, T3 badged halogen headlights, power rear-mounted antenna. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Beautiful bright shiny engine compartment. Brilliant chrome. Lightly stretched front seat upholstery. Sharp, crisp gauges and dashboard. Restored better than new, loaded with options and showing no signs of age or use. – The fuel injected Bonneville convertible, only some 630 built in 1957, is an even more rare bird that Fuelie ’57 Bel Airs. Bonnevilles were lavishly equipped like this although it is represented as one of only eight with factory air conditioning. The restoration is exceptional and leaves nothing to be desired. Except, perhaps, a little more money on the high bid. It is inexplicable that FI Bonnevilles like this are overlooked by collectors. $175K would not have been out of line for this Bonneville.

Lot # 390 1932 Auburn 8-100A Boattail Speedster; S/N 36059; Ivory, Light Yellow accents/Burgundy leather; Natural cloth top; Older restoration 4 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $270,000 – 269/100hp, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, vee windshield, junior Pilot-Rays, dual sidemounts. – A-C-D certified original engine, body and chassis. Tired dull paint. Cracked and torn upholstery. Flaking wheel chrome and weak body chrome. Dirty chassis. ACD certified original engine, body and chassis. Usable as is after mechanical attention but in reality needs everything. – E.L. Cord’s Lycoming didn’t pioneer any engine developments except reliability and longevity. Auburn did the opposite with the Boattail Speedster, creating an American sporting image that has produced more than its share of reproductions and replicas. This isn’t one of those, as the A-C-D document attests. It is the real thing, the genuine article, and it looks like it has survived without intervention since the Thirties. No one here was willing to undertake the restoration it needs, nor to assume the mantle of its eminent collectors’ history.

Lot # 392 1964 Porsche 356 SC Cabriolet, Body by Reutter; S/N 159566; Engine # P810554; Ivory/Black vinyl; Black cloth top; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $200,000 – 1,582/107hp, 4-speed, chrome wheels, hubcaps, Michelin XAS tires, no radio. – Good paint and chrome. Tidy engine but in an unrestored, cleaned up compartment. Good upholstery, older interior trim panels. Chassis dressed up with shiny undercoat unevenly applied. Porsche CoA documented and represented as matching numbers. – The 107hp SC engine’s sound is the reason this 356 SC Cab has no radio, nor does it need a radio or any other sound inducing supplement. This is a credible bid for a sound driving quality car with one of the most desirable 356 engine, brakes and chassis configurations. Its “restoration”, however, is less than exceptional.

Lot # 395 1965 Chevrolet Corvette 396/425 Coupe; S/N 194375S122270; Engine # T0609IF 5122270; Milano Maroon/Maroon leather; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $106,400 – 396/425hp, 4-speed, AM-FM, power brakes, centerlock alloy wheels, gold line tires. – Represented as numbers-matching and 28,499 miles from new. Scuffed windshield molding. Cigarette burned gauge binnacle cover. Excellent metallic clearcoat paint. Good engine but unrestored chassis. A superficial cosmetic restoration. – Two years later it would take 31 more cubic inches (427 in total) and two more carburetor venturis (3×2 intake) to get just 10 more horsepower from Chevy’s stagger-valve big block V-8. The 396 was just that good even though it is usually overlooked among Corvette trophy hunters. This is right money for a quality car, even a few bucks generous but not out of line for its configuration and condition.

Looks better from the back than from the front

Lot # 397 1940 Buick Super Estate Wagon; S/N 13787637; Burgundy, Black leatherette roof/Burgundy leather; Older restoration 3+ condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $72,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $80,640 – 248/107hp eight, 3-speed, body color wheels, hubcaps and trim rings, wide whitewalls, turn signals, skirts, two row seating, pushbutton radio, dual outside mirrors, heater. – 2000 AACA National First Prize. Very good paint and upholstery. Good original wood with some water staining at framing element ends. Good chrome. No longer a show car but very nice and presentable at the end of a day’s touring. – Sold by Christie’s at Pebble Beach in 2002 for $82,250, then at Mecum Monterey in 2023 for $66,000, the result here is off-trend at a significant premium to its most recent auction sale. There were few of these Model 59 Super Station Wagons built. The style is appealing and it is hard to argue with the premium price it brought here. If only one car was in someone’s prospect, this would be a great one to own.

Lot # 402 1953 Jaguar XK 120SE Roadster; S/N S673431; Black/Burgundy, Biscuit leather; No top; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $115,000 – 3,442/180hp, 4-speed, chrome wire wheels, Dunlop tires, Lucas tri-bar headlights. – Represented as the numbers-matching engine, head and body. JDHT documented. Excellent paint and lightly stretched. Bright chrome. Crisp, clear gauges. The engine compartment and chassis are like new. Represented as the original engine block and head. JDHT Certificate documented. A quality example presented in reassuring condition and its original colors. – An excellent Jaguar in its documented original condition and restored to high standards, this is a parsimonious offer for a car worth more than this. It otherwise is a suggestion of lack of interest and may presage a decline in value.

Lot # 407 1969 Chevrolet Camaro L72/427 Double COPO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N648976; Yellow, Black vinyl roof/Black vinyl; Recent restoration 2 condition; No Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $200,000 – 427/425hp, 4-speed, Rally wheels with trim rings, Goodyear Wide Track GT tires, cowl induction hood, Hurst shifter, pushbutton radio, underdash gauges. – Berger COPO 9561 and 9737. Represented as numbers matching engine and transmission. Excellent clearcoat paint and upholstery. Sharp engine compartment and like new chassis. Clear, crisp gauges. No evidence of age or significant use. – A few years ago people mortgaged their kids to own a double COPO restored to like new standards like this. No more. Today it is just a notch above a Z/28, let alone a Z/28 with cross-ram dual quads and 4-wheel disc brakes. The seller’s expectations haven’t adjusted with the market, and this double COPO could have sold at the report high bid.

Lot # 409 1966 Ford Mustang Race Car; S/N 6F07C731480; Black, Gold stripes/Black cloth; Competition restoration 3- condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $22,400 – 363 Ford Windsor V-8, 4-barrel, 4-speed, Baer disc brakes, roll cage, two seats, Hoosier tires, headlights, R-type nose, 5-point belts, AutoMeter gauges. – Scuffed and edge chipped old paint, worn stripped interior, lightly dirty and used. A usable track day Mustang. – It looks like a notchback GT350H in black with its gold stripes and it probably goes like one, too, but it isn’t what it would like to be and that makes this a reasonable result.

Lot # 411 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Convertible; S/N 136670B147029; Cranberry Red, White stripes/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $75,000 – 454/360hp LS5, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, Rally wheels, Radial T/A tires, cowl induction, power steering and brakes, air conditioning, aftermarket cassette stereo. – Replacement LS5 implied to be like that installed at the factory but without documentation. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Lightly scuffed stainless. Later rotary A/C compressor. Orderly but grimy engine given a quick cleaning with leftover gunk in hard to reach places. Restored like new, then driven. Needs nothing to be an enjoyable driver. – Sold at Mecum’s Anaheim auction in 2014 for $70,200, then at Mecum Monterey last year for $93,500. It appears to be in much the same condition, including the grimy engine compartment, now as it was eleven years ago and the market for it has not improved for replacement engined LS5 Chevelles in the past eight months making the reported high bid here a reasonable offer for it.

Lot # 414 1913 American Underslung Model 34-A Tourist; S/N Engine No. N608; Light Blue, Black accents, Dark Blue chassis/Black leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 3+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $147,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $165,200 – Stewart speedometer, bulb horn, dark Blue wood spoke 36″ wheels, dual rear-mounted spares. – Sound older paint, upholstery and top. Clean chassis showing some use and age. A rare and impressive car in very good touring condition. Ex-Harrah’s Collection. – One of the better travelled Tourists in collector car history, Harrah’s sold this car at its 1984 auction for $16,500. It got restored long ago then was sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2004 for $85,250. RM sold it again at Arizona in 2006 for $83,600. Eighteen years later it was offered by RM at Hershey in 2024 but failed to sell with a reported high bid of $130,000. That was rectified to the consignor’s satisfaction here with this $147,500 hammer bid and it moved on to someone new. This is the fourth time it has appeared in these auction reports (I was doing something else in 1984 and not at the Harrah’s auction) and each time it shows up it still impresses as a clean and usable example of an innovative departure from conventional automobile thinking, always a favorite among the consignments at any auction but much more effective on tour where it can be appreciated by a wider audience. It is time for it to be driven and used.

Lot # 416 1959 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N J59S107154; Engine # F416CS; Black/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Recent restoration 2+ condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $125,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $140,000 – 283/290hp fuel injection, 4-speed, WonderBar radio, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls. – Represented as numbers-matching. Restored like new and sharp throughout. No Bloomington Gold or NCRS judging noted. – Sold by Mecum at Glendale in 2020 for $220,000, the condition of this Corvette is such that it can hardly have been used at all in the past five years. Values may have slipped since it was last noted at auction, but not this much and the new owner took home a Corvette to be proud of at a notably modest price, a good value.

Lot # 417 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N JH23J0B281109; Go Mango EK2, White vinyl roof, matte black hood/White; Visually maintained, largely original 3 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $70,000 – 340/290hp, Six Pack, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, power steering and brakes, 8-track stereo radio, Rallye wheels with trim rings, Radial T/A tires, hood scoop, hood pins, side outlet exhaust, woodgrain steering wheel rim. – Represented as the numbers-matching drivetrain and build sheet documented. Awful fisheyed paint in the original color. Good upholstery and gauges. Fair chrome. A sound driver begging for a decent repaint. – It is difficult to resist this car with its combination of high performance drivetrain, special suspension and blistering colors. The bidders, however, managed to do so, presumably after taking a good look at the paint which begs to be redone (at significant cost). It is a Challenger T/A that promises more than it delivers and the seller could have accepted the bidders’ judgment without being misled.

Lot # 419 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440-6 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23V1B297396; Tor-Red, Black 440 Billboards/White vinyl; Recent restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Not sold at Hammer bid of $351,000 – 440/385hp Six Pack, 4-speed, Hurst pistol grip shifter, radio, hood pins, Rallye wheels with trim rings, Polyglas GT tires, Shaker hood, gauges, radio, Track Pak. – Represented as the original engine and transmission, extensively documented with its broadcast sheet and various expert opinions. The Shaker hood has been added during restoration. Very good clearcoat paint, very good upholstery and interior trim. Chassis is like new. Impossible to fault in any meaningful way. – Russo and Steele offered this ‘Cuda at Arizona in 2007 where it was reported bid to $305,000. Barrett-Jackson sold it three months later at West Palm Beach for $313,500 all-in ($285,000 hammer) and Mecum offered it at Kissimmee in 2010 where it was inexplicably reported bid to only $130,000, a new benchmark as interest shifted from 440s to Hemis. Exactly why it was bid to this amount here, or why the seller declined something that is 3x its HPG value, is not apparent, and why it didn’t sell if there was money anywhere in the state of Indiana is a mystery.

Lot # 420 1936 Cord 810 Phaeton; S/N 2241H; Palm Beach Tan/Burgundy leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration 2 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $126,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $141,120 – 289/125hp, 4-speed pre-selector, chrome large hubcaps, wide whitewalls. – Excellent older paint, chrome and lightly stretched upholstery. Bright gauges. Chassis restored like new. Sharp, clean engine compartment. ACD certified. 2015 AACA National First Prize and still impressive with no overt evidence of use. – Reported sold at Mecum Kissimmee last year for $95,700 but brought here to Auburn, home of the A-C-D legend, and it popped right up into a headline price but one still reasonable for this 810’s condition, documentation and meticulous presentation.

 

Lot # 421 1949 MG TC Roadster; S/N TC10238; Engine # XPAG10905; Red/Beige leatherette; Black leatherette top; Older restoration 3 condition; No Reserve; Hammered Sold at $23,500 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $26,320 – 1,250/54hp, 4-speed, silver painted wire wheels, Firestone tires, luggage rack, Brooklands banjo spoke steering wheel, Lucas fog light. – Represented as the original engine. Restored a quarter century ago and looks better than that while still showing age. Scuffed fisheyed paint. Sound old stretched upholstery. Aged chassis showing miles and age. Sharp, crisp gauges. Clean well-maintained engine compartment with polished details. – Enthusiast owned, this TC shows the kind of car of its older restoration that gives confidence it will continue to be an enjoyable and reliable (at least as reliable as any British car built 76 years ago can be) weekend driver. Make a real statement a drive it to a tech-heavy company to park among the electrics and hybrids, it is an exercise in resource conservation and is fun and makes a social statement at the same time.

Lot # 422 1968 Chevrolet Corvette 427/435 Roadster; S/N 194678S412191; LeMans Blue/Black vinyl; Black vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration 3 condition; With Reserve; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $112,000 – 427/435hp, L89 aluminum heads, 4-speed, turbine wheel covers on Rally wheels, red line tires, AM-FM, offroad exhaust. – Represented as the numbers-matching engine, transmission and carburetors. Build sheet copy, order and purchase agreement documented. Sound original color repaint and lightly stretched upholstery. Clean engine in a superficially cosmetically restored compartment. Chipped interior console. Top scuffed rear deck. A usable driver with a primo drivetrain. – Sold by Mecum at Indy in 2020 for $71,500, then at Harrisburg in July ’24 for $93,500, the increase in this 427/435 L89’s value since it was sold at Harrisburg nine months ago mirrors what has been seen in similarly equipped ’68 Corvettes in the past year. In an otherwise tentative market, these choice Corvettes (only 624 L71/L89s built) have shown counter-market appreciation. This one is a sound buy in this transaction.