Tag: collector car auction

ON THE BLOCK: The Amelia Island Challenge (Updated)

March 2, 2023 / moto+match / 0 Comments

The Amelia Island auctions take place this Thursday, March 2, 2023 with exceptional lots being offered by Bonhams, Broad Arrow, Gooding & Company, and RM Sotheby’s. Lucky for you, your fairy godmotorhead has once again given you $230,000 to spend as you please. What will you bid on? Use the median estimate and make your picks.

Example:
At 10:00 a.m. we’ll be Bonhams looking to pick this up:

LOT 104 – 1988 Porsche 924 S Coupe

It was selected as one of our 23 For 23 For Under 23 and this example of a Porsche 924 S is exceptional with less than 20,000 miles. Finished in the more rarely seen India Red, it is an outstanding addition to any Porsche collection. Enjoyed sparingly, it will undoubtedly follow the other transaxle cars like the 928 and 968 in appreciation while being appreciated for what it is: a superb handling sports car that earned being called a Porsche.

SOLD for $24,000

Funds remaining: ^$225,000

We’ll stay at Bonhams and wait for our chance to buy this:

Lot 158 – 1965 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Fixed Head Coupe

Finished in its Oscar-golden Sand coat over black leather, this Park Ward, Ltd-bodied coupe emits a classic Hollywood elegance, while its 220-hp 6.2-liter V8 and independent front suspension promise an enjoyable drive.

SOLD for ^$80,000

Funds remaining: ^$145,000

Next we’ll head down the A1A to Gooding & Company where we’ll vie for this:

LOT 41 – 1973 Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Zagato

It’s one of only 402 Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Zagatos and this one was a former display model at the Zagato Factory Collection showroom. Apart from a repaint in the original color, it appears as it did when it left the factory in 1973.

SOLD for ^$45,000

Funds remaining: ^$100,000

We’ll stay at Gooding where not long after acquiring Lot 41, we’ll go after another rare Italian in white:

LOT 45 – 1964 LANCIA FLAVIA 1.8 COUPE

This elegant Pininfarina-bodied 2+2 fastback evokes the lines of another Pininfarina creation, the Ferrari 250 GTE, only driven by a lightweight 1,800 cc boxer engine. It is impressively original with charming patina inside and out. Undoubtedly an immensely enjoyable drive, its rarity in the US is also certain to be an attraction at any cars & coffee or Italian car gathering.

SOLD for ^$28,000

Funds remaining $72,000

EDIT: We had a great day, picking up all our lots below house estimates. Instead of being left with a projected deficit of $2,500 we have a surplus of $72,000. Let’s see what we can find at newcomer Broad Arrow:

LOT 191 – 1994 Mazda RX-7 Touring

The weekend wouldn’t be complete without some Japanese representation. They have been hot in recent years, led by early Datsun 240Zs, Nissan Skyline R32s and A80 Toyota Supra Turbos. Competing with the latter was Mazda’s rotary-powered FD RX-7. Their styling is timeless; their performance and handling on par with the best of their day. But finding one that hasn’t been subjected to fast & furious modifications is a rare event and one with just over 24,000 is too hard to resist.

Median auction estimate: ^$65,000
Funds remaining: ^$7,000

ON THE BLOCK: The $1,000,000 Fort Lauderdale Challenge

March 26, 2015 / moto+match / 0 Comments

After a successful haul in our $2,000,000 Amelia Island Challenge, we’re heading south to the Auctions America sale in Fort Lauderdale. Our Petrolhead Godmother continues with her generosity; this time with $1,000,000 to play with this weekend. Using Auction America’s HIGH estimate, choose one or choose several cars (no motorbikes or automobilia) that you would like to bring home. We’ll get started:

Lot 108 — 1973 Peugeot 504 Cabriolet
Estimate $30,000
UPDATE: SOLD FOR $13,500 including premium

Featured in a Pick Of The Day last year, this is an presentable example of a car rarely seen on these shores. While it shows signs of wear and previous body repairs, this Peugeot 504 has had recent paint and is a complete example of a classic Pininfarina styling.

Lot 177 — 1978 Aston Martin V8 Volante
Estimate $150,000
UPDATE: SOLD FOR $151,250 including premium

Not much information is in the catalog beyond the history of the V8 as a model, but this looks to be a rather tidy example, complete with books and tools. Although it is an automatic, it would still make for some very pleasant open touring.

Lot 226 — 1989 Porsche 911 Turbo (930)
Estimate $85,000
UPDATE: SOLD FOR $82,250 including premium

Although we aren’t given an odometer reading other than its condition belies the miles, this looks to be an excellent original example of a one-year-only 5-speed 930. Its high estimate would appear to be a bargain relative to other 1989s in like condition (not to mention the 1976 model that runs earlier in the day, estimated at $200,000).

Lot 317 — 1935 Ford Model A “Ratrod’ Pickup
Estimate $40,000
UPDATE: STILL FOR SALE high bid $26,000

This is another one of those lots that we’d chase only when Petrolhead Godmother is footing the bill, but that said, it is dandy. Powered by a 350 V8, its steel body has been chopped, stanced, channeled and dropped. Period wheels and tires cover front disc brakes. A very nicely built blend of bootleg-era looks and contemporary performance.

Lot 356 — 1949 Cadillac Series 61 Club Coupe Sedanette
Estimate $65,000
UPDATE: SOLD FOR $55,000 including premium

The C-Body Cadillacs of 1948 and 1949 brought together big advances in engineering with the overhead-valve V8 and alluring looks. Here we see the first nubs of Harley Earl’s tailfins punctuating a sleek and graceful body, particularly in the fastback “Sedanette” form. This one form 1949 was a former barn find restored to its current condition with a rebuilt original drivetrain. It’s a positively gorgeous American cruiser that is said to drive quite well.

Lot 472 — 1981 Renault R5 Turbo
Estimate $75,000
UPDATE: SOLD FOR $49,500 including premium

The Renault R5 Turbo is in many ways an answer to a question no-one was asking. It’s a completely insane answer, yet it makes perfect sense at the same time. Take a pedestrian Renault R5 (what we might remember as Le Car) and transform it into a mid-engined beast that eats supercars for breakfast. This example looks to have been restored at some point to what appears to be a high degree, yet appears to have been used as intended which is to drive the merde out of it. What’s not to love?

Lot 486 — 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary
Estimate $425,000
UPDATE: STILL FOR SALE high bid of $320,000

Petrolhead Godmother always says, “if you get thrown from a bull, get right back on.” We missed out on the Lamborghini Countach 5000S Quattrovalvole at Gooding and Company’s Amelia Island sale earlier this month, thus we’re somewhat compelled to try again. This time it’s the ultimate expression of the Countach, the coveted 25th Anniversary model. This one shows beautifully in its classic Italian combination of red on tan. With a recent service and less than 21,000 km, it promises to be appropriately raging.

Lot 622 — 1948 MG TC
Estimate $52,000
UPDATE: STILL FOR SALE high bid $37,500

Few capture the charm of early British motoring the way an MG TC does. Future TDs and TFs were already becoming too modern. This one from 1948 has been used sparingly since undergoing an older high quality restoration. It condition remains show worthy, but this little thing begs to be thrown on the open road, only stopping for a picnic. The Clipper Blue finish is a nice departure as well.

We came to a total of $922,000. Buyer’s premiums will put us slightly over the million dollar mark, but once again we’ll err on the side of excess when spending the Petrolhead Godmother’s money. Let us know what your picks are in comments.

For the complete Auctions America Fort Lauderdale 2015 results click here.

ON THE BLOCK: Stunning Aston-Martin DB 2/4 MkII Supersonic Highlights RM Auctions-Sotheby’s Automotive Artistry Sale in New York

May 7, 2013 / moto+match / 0 Comments

BLENHEIM, Ontario (April 30, 2013) – RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, is delighted to announce a new sale in New York City, November 21. The exclusive auction will celebrate the motor car and its place in the history of design, focusing on iconic styling and the artistry of combining automotive function with exquisite form. Featuring approximately 35 handpicked automobiles from around the world, the auction will be held at Sotheby’s global headquarters in New York and will represent the first time a major collector car auction has been held in Manhattan in over a decade. With an emphasis on bespoke design and ‘best of category’ examples from the world’s most admired automotive marques, the sale will feature one of the most significant collections of motor cars offered in auction history.

As a prelude to the sale, an extraordinary exhibition showcasing the vehicles on offer will be held November 19 – 20 on the 10^th floor galleries at Sotheby’s New York—a setting customarily reserved for the display of world-class works of art offered at Sotheby’s.

“In recent years, collector cars have enjoyed phenomenal interest from enthusiasts and experts who value their historic importance and rarity alongside the achievements of their creators, coachbuilders, engineers and designers, who must be counted amongst the world’s great artistic visionaries,” says Rob Myers, Chairman & Founder, RM Auctions. “Our upcoming New York sale will celebrate the historic importance of the automobile—a singular achievement at the crossroads of art, technology and innovation—at the same time paying tribute to the creativity, styling and imagination of the world’s leading coachbuilders. We are delighted to be working with the team at Sotheby’s for this exclusive event. From the exhibition on their 10^th floor galleries to the incredible caliber of the consignments on offer, it will certainly be a sale like no other.”

Maarten ten Holder, Sotheby’s Managing Director, Americas, commented, “We are thrilled that this autumn Sotheby’s will host the first ever automobile exhibition in our 10th floor galleries when 35 of the world’s finest and most important cars will be shown ahead of the RM sale on November 21. As the first car auction in Manhattan for over 10 years and one of the most significant ever held, this is set to be an unprecedented and historic event.”

Leading early highlights for the sale is the stunning 1956 Aston Martin DB 2/4 MkII ‘Supersonic’, chassis AM300/1/1132. A truly one-off creation, ‘1132’ received its bodywork from the renowned Ghia coachworks of Turin, Italy. It is the only Supersonic built on an Aston Martin chassis, was first displayed at the 1956 Turin Auto Salon and was driven by American grand prix racing driver Harry Schell. The car’s first registered owners were newlywed New Yorkers Gail Whitney Vanderbilt and her husband, the record-setting water skier Richard C. Cowell, who took delivery directly from David Brown and were photographed with this car by Life magazine whilst living in the South of France. It was then acquired in the late 1950s by noted American collector Robert Lee and benefits from known ownership history through the present day. Offered for sale from the distinguished James Patterson Collection, it is the recipient of a recent, thorough, no-expense-spared, Pebble Beach award-winning restoration.

“A completely bespoke creation, “1132” is unlike any other Aston Martin of its era,” adds Myers. “From the oval egg-crate grille and covered headlamps to the arrow-like spear running along its sides, Supersonic tailfins and Jet Age tail lamps, it is truly a masterpiece of the automotive designer’s art and emblematic of the most advanced postwar alloy coachwork. Considered alongside what the automotive industry offered the public in 1956, this Aston Martin was not only fast and exclusive, it was downright wild! It’s pop art on wheels!”

The striking Aston Martin, which carries a pre-sale estimate of $1,500,000 – $2,000,000, will be on display in Sotheby’s York Avenue lobby, New York, from today (April 30) through May 7.

Further information on the sale will be provided in the summer.

Tag: collector car auction

ON THE BLOCK: The Amelia Island Challenge (Updated)

ON THE BLOCK: The $1,000,000 Fort Lauderdale Challenge

ON THE BLOCK: Stunning Aston-Martin DB 2/4 MkII Supersonic Highlights RM Auctions-Sotheby’s Automotive Artistry Sale in New York

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