Monthly Archives: July 2015

Urban Explorer Concept

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2001 Ford Urban Explorer Concept

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Plymouth, Michigan | July 25, 2015

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

We like concept cars, new or old. In fact, we’ve featured an unlikely number of Ford concept vehicles from 2001. They must’ve really preened their collection a few years back. This may be a concept, but it’s easily based off a third generation Explorer.

It’s powered by a 4.0-liter V-6 making 205 horsepower – stock in all forms. The exterior was altered to make it appear much sportier (which it is). The wheel arches and lowered suspension were supposed to appear to youths.

Cars like this have limited appeal because they aren’t that old and not all that different from road-going models. Plus, it’s likely to be quite a task trying to get this road-registered. The number of people willing to shell out $20,000-$30,000 for a driveway-only SUV concept vehicle is pretty small. But hey, you never know where the value will stand in 10 years. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $14,300.

1906 Franklin

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1906 Franklin Model E Roadster

Offered by Auctions America | Santa Monica, California | July 17, 2015

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

Herbert H. Franklin founded his car company in 1901 when inventor John Wilkinson convinced him he had a solid design for an air-cooled automobile. Franklins remained air-cooled throughout their lifetime and as time went on, their cars went more and more upscale, which ultimately cost the company its existence when the Depression started.

The Franklin Model E was built between 1904 and 1906. It was Franklin’s light car for 1906 and is powered by a 12 horsepower straight-four. It was only offered as a two-passenger Runabout. This car was re-bodied at some point to resemble one of Franklin’s Speed trials cars.

It is being offered out of a “barn find collection” and therefore is likely not a running, driving example but would be a great little project car. The detail on it is great, right down to the light pinstriping on the suspension. It should sell for between $25,000-$45,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $19,800.

A Pretty LaSalle

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1931 LaSalle Series 345A Seven-Passenger Touring by Fleetwood

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Plymouth, Michigan | July 25, 2015

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

When Alfred P. Sloan took over at General Motors, he instituted many things that would transform the industry. One such initiative was the companion marque program, where each existing GM make (sans Chevrolet) would be allotted a secondary marque to fill price gaps between other makes. Cadillac’s companion make was LaSalle.

LaSalle’s were essentially “baby Cadillacs” and they were not a commercial success. But they did have a profound impact on GM. While the cars were built by Cadillac, their styling was no longer done in the engineering department. Instead, Harley Earl and his gang were given their own department. All LaSalle’s were eight-cylinder cars. This Series 345A features a 5.8-liter V-8 making 95 horsepower.

The body is actually by Fleetwood – it was one of five body styles offered by LaSalle in 1931 that were built by Cadillac’s in-house coachbuilder (of the 12 total body styles they offered that year). It cost $2,345 in 1931. This is an actual Fleetwood Seven-Passenger Touring body, but it likely did not come on this chassis originally.

LaSalle was phased out after 1940 and while the marque isn’t exceptionally rare today, this is easily the best-looking LaSalle I’ve ever seen. This is thought to be one of less than 12 of this style to survive. It is fresh off restoration and should sell for between $80,000-$100,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $77,000.

Crofton Bug

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1960 Crofton Brawny Bug

Offered by Auctions America | Santa Monica, California | July 17, 2015

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

Powell Crosley’s little automobiles ceased production after the 1952 model year. But the engines his cars’ used – as well as the design of the Crosley Farm-O-Road – wouldn’t be lost forever.

W.B. Crofton was a GMC dealer and owner of the Crofton Marine Engine Company in San Diego and he went into the car business himself in 1958. The Bug was built between 1959 and 1961. It used a similar mini-Jeep style to that of the Farm-O-Road in addition to a slightly modified 35 horsepower version of the Crosley 721cc straight-four.

Only 200 Bugs were produced in total and they’re very rare today, although they seem to pop up here and there. The Brawny Bug was the off-road version that had flotation tires on it and this example is so equipped. It’s a fun, simple off-roader and it can be yours for between $25,000-$30,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $22,000.

The Pope’s Ferrari

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2005 Ferrari Enzo

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monterey, California | August 13, 2015

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

Remember when the Enzo launched and everyone thought it was a weird naming convention and then Ferrari waited a decade and decided to name a car the LaFerrari? We can’t wait to see what name their next halo car is burdened with.

The Enzo is a monster. When this car launched it was the pinnacle of supercar performance. It’s like an F1 car for the street. Only 400 were built between 2002 and 2004. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V-12 making 651 horsepower.

The Enzo slots in the supercar gap before the LaFerrari but after the 288 GTO, F40 and F50. It’s a special car in a special lineage. But this one is even more special. First off, it was the final Enzo built. This is #400. It has unique trim pieces such as a carbon fiber rear spoiler and special seats.

Oh, and this car was gifted to Pope John Paul II. His Holiness probably didn’t get the car up to its 221 mph top speed and he probably never drove it at all (it only has 112 miles on the odometer). But he did bless it and then-Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo wrote an inscription under the hood. This is called the most important Enzo ever built and it will have an outrageous price tag. Click here to see more and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $6,050,000.

Marlin Roadster

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1990 Marlin 1800 Roadster

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | July 15, 2015

Photo - Brightwells

Photo – Brightwells

Marlin Sportscars Ltd has been around since 1979 when it was founded in the U.K. by Paul Moorhouse. All six models that the company has produced have been based around other cars. They’re kit cars (even though you can technically buy one already built).

The Roadster was Marlin”s first model, first introduced in 1979. Kits were sold up through about 1990 when a new model took its place. Original cars were based on the Triumph Herald while later cars (like this one) were based on the Morris Marina. The engine is a 1.8-liter straight-four.

Marlin is still in business, building sports cars as they have been for decades. It you want a throwback roadster with pre-war or immediate post-war looks, and you’re on a budget: look no further. This is expected to bring between $2,300-$3,100. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $2,635.

Gilbern Genie

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1969 Gilbern Genie

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | July 15, 2015

Photo - Brightwells

Photo – Brightwells

We’ll start by stating what should be the obvious: Gilbern Sports Cars (Components) Ltd built some great looking sports cars between 1959 and 1973. They built three different models and the Genie was the second.

Built between 1966 and 1969, the Genie was available as a kit based around MG and Ford parts. The engine is a 3.0-liter Ford V-6 making 141 horsepower. Gilbern cars were expensive for what they were and in 1969, this car cost around £2,000.

The Genie was the least most-produced of the three Gilbern production models with only 197 completed. This one looks very nice, having covered 92,000 miles. It is expected to bring between $7,800-$8,600 – which sounds like a steal for a car this good looking. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $7,285.

Duesenberg SJ-528

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1933 Duesenberg Model SJ Riviera Phaeton by Brunn

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monterey, California | August 14-15, 2015

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

The big-time auctions in Monterey are a little over a month away and there are plenty of big dollar cars already announced, including this SJ Phaeton. SJ Duesenbergs are sought after by all types of collectors. This is a factory-supercharged SJ, not one that had a supercharger bolted on decades later.

With that supercharger, the 6.9-liter straight-eight makes 320 horsepower. The original owner of this car was Jacob Schick, of razor fame. The Brunn body is simple and elegant and it takes more than a quick glance to realize that it does indeed have four doors and is not a Disappearing Top Roadster.

Only 36 Model Js were factory-upgraded to SJ specification and this is one of only three Brunn Riviera Phaetons built. The car has had many owners over the years but does have known ownership history since new. It has also had multiple restorations: 1950, 1983, and ca.2003 (the last of these was by Fran Roxas). This car was sold out of the John O’Quinn collection in 2010 when it brought $1.43 million. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $1,595,000.

Ferrari Testa d’Oro

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1989 Ferrari Testa d’Oro by Colani

For sale at Purosangue Maranello | Maranello, Italy

Photo - Maranello Purosangue

Photo – Purosangue Maranello

Um. I bet you’ve never seen one of these driving down the expressway. One, because there is only one of them and two, because it looks pretty crazy, doesn’t it? Would you believe it if I told you that this used to be a Ferrari Testarossa?

That is, it was based on a Testarossa. It has a modified version of the base engine, in this case it’s a 5.0-liter twin-turbo flat-12 making 739 horsepower. The insane streamlined body was designed by industrial designer Luigi Colani. Look how much glass there is. It looks like a life-size Hot Wheels car.

It had one purpose: break a land speed record for its class (cars with catalytic converters) at Bonneville. And it did, reaching 218 mph on the Salt Flats. This car has shown up here and there over the years and is currently for sale in Italy. Click here for more info.

Pope-Hartford Portola Roadster

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1913 Pope-Hartford Model 31 Portola Roadster

Offered by Auctions America | Santa Monica, California | July 18, 2015

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

When one thinks of early 1910s sports cars, names like Stutz, Mercer, and even Marion spring to mind. But not necessarily Pope-Hartford. Yet, of all the companies that bore the name of Albert Pope (and there were many!) this is perhaps the sportiest.

The Model 31 was built in 1913 only (Pope-Hartford only lasted from 1904 through 1914) and the Portola Roadster was the sporty variant, named for Oakland, California’s Portola Road Race. Pope-Hartford did do some factory racing, just not in this particular event.

It is powered by a 40 horsepower 4.9-liter straight-four. This restoration on this car finished in 1999 and it has covered a remarkable (and kind of saddening) 200 miles since. It should sell for between $175,000-$250,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $181,500.