Monthly Archives: March 2016

March 2016 Auction Highlights

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March 2016? Sort of. Let’s start with some leftovers from last month. First, Auctionata’s classic car sale from February where this 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL was the top sale for $113,150. Click here for more.

Photo - Auctionata

Photo – Auctionata

The next piece of coverage is also from the end of February: it’s Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale – the road car half. The top sale was this 2004 Porsche Carrera GT for $595,500.

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Our only feature car, the 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 Evo II, sold for an outstanding $407,500 – more than the lightning-hot Countach that was also offered here. Click here for more results.

Onward to Brightwells’ first sale of the year. The featured Bedford CA sold for $5,975. Two cars tied for the top sale at $105,325. They were this 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.7 Coupe…

Photo - Brightwells

Photo – Brightwells

…and this 1934 Bentley 3½-Litre Tourer.

Photo - Brightwells

Photo – Brightwells

The other feature car was the FSO Kombi that sold for $1,700. Click here for complete results. Now we are on to Amelia Island and the first sale held down there was that of Bonhams. The top sale was our featured Bugatti 57SC for $9,735,000. The Maserati Biposto was another big seller, bringing $1,001,000. The Thomas Flyer was close to the million dollar mark, bringing $825,000. Interesting cars include this beautiful 1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe for $458,700.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

A previously-featured pre-1900 Armstrong sold for $483,400. And the Sabra GT brought $93,500 while the Cunningham went to a new home for $275,000. Click here for complete results. And finally, Mecum’s Kansas City sale. We didn’t feature anything from it, but this 1968 Shelby GT500KR Fastback was the top sale at $210,000. Click here for the rest of their results.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

540K Roadster by Lancefield

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1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Roadster by Lancefield

Offered by Bonhams | Stuttgart, Germany | March 19, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

We’ve seen a lot of 500K and 540K cars roll through here over the past few weeks. So to find something else to say about these cars is tough. The 540K was the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz engineering when it debuted in 1936. There were 419 chassis built.

The engine is a 115 horsepower 5.4-liter straight-eight that could pump out 180 horses when you pushed the throttle pedal to the floor and engaged the supercharger. Most of the cars were bodied by Mercedes’ in-house coachbuilding division, Sindelfingen. Not nearly as many were bodied by an outside firm.

This is one of those cars. It is an attractive convertible roadster designed by Lancefield Coachworks Ltd. of London. This would’ve been a late body by the company as they switched to aircraft components during the war and maintained that production afterward. It’s a one-off body and it is quite elegant. Look for it to bring between $3,000,000-$3,800,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams’ all-Mercedes sale.

Update: Not sold.

Update: Sold, RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022, $1,050,000.

S/N: 169317

1913 Mors

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1913 Mors Type RX Torpedo

Offered by Osenat | Fontainebleau, France | March 20, 2016

Photo - Osenat

Photo – Osenat

Mors was a French automobile marque and one of the first major manufacturers, having been founded in 1895. Their first automobile race occurred in 1897 and they were one of France’s premier, early automobile companies.

Émile Mors expanded his company after the turn of the century, opening an American arm. But like a fair number of early automotive giants, the years took their toll and Mors was gone by 1925.

This Type RX Torpedo is a decent-sized touring car. It’s powered by a 12/15 horsepower four-cylinder engine. Mors are fairly rare today and this one looks pretty nice. It’s been with its current owner for almost 30 years and should sell for between $16,300-$21,700. Click here for more info and here for more from Osenat.

Update: Sold $28,135.

Puma GT

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1972 Puma GT Coupe

Offered by Auctions America | Ft. Lauderdale, Florida | April 1, 2016

Photo - Auctions America

Photo – Auctions America

Brazil is on the board! It’s always interesting to add a new country to our geographical list of cars and Brazil is the newest addition. Puma was based in São Paolo and they got their start in 1966. Brazil was a strange case –  it’s a huge country and imported cars were very expensive. Only manufacturers that built cars in Brazil really sold them there: like GM and VW.

So what do you think this Puma is based on? That’s right, a Volkswagen. It’s got a rear-mounted 1.6-liter flat-four. Complete cars were available in Brazil and some were exported to the U.S. in kit form. A convertible was also offered.

The Puma GT was built between 1968 and lasted up through 1995 when the company went under (the car’s popularity across the sea is one reason the company sprang back to life in 2006 in South Africa). This GT is one of 330 Coupes built in 1972 (they built 484 total cars that year). Puma’s total production as a marque was over 22,000 cars. This car is fully restored and comes out of a Brazilian collection. It should bring between $10,000-$15,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $19,250.

Bentley-owned DFP Sports

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1913 DFP 10/12HP Special Sports by R Harrison & Son

Offered by Bonhams | Chichester, U.K. | March 20, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Doriot, Flandrin & Parant, based in Courbevoie, was a French automaker that was around between 1908 and 1926. From 1906 until 1908, the company was simply known as Doriot-Flandrin. When Jules-René Parant came on board and the company took off.

The 10/12 was produced between 1911 and 1914 and is powered by a 1.6-liter straight-four. It was the smallest car the company offered at the time. DFP exported some cars to the U.K. where the official importer was none other than brothers Horace and Walter Owen Bentley.

The Bentleys were responsible for finishing the cars – getting bodies made, etc. W.O. Bentley tuned some of them and entered them into competition events like hillclimbs and speed trials. This car was actually used by the Bentleys and was later purchased by a museum. The engine has been rebuilt and other bits restored. It is usable and is noted as being the “Oldest car in the world with a Bentley plate.” It’s sort of a part of Bentley history and you can read more about it here. It should sell for between $63,000-$91,000. Click here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $66,641.

500K Sports Roadster

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1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Sports Roadster by Sindelfingen

Offered by Bonhams | Stuttgart, Germany | March 19, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

This is a slightly more “standard” 500K – even though it is so beyond most of its 1936-era contemporaries. Most of the 354 500Ks built fall into specific categories such as Cabriolet A, Cabriolet B, Cabriolet C, Special Roadster, etc. This is a Sports Roadster and is one of somewhere between seven and 12 such examples built. There is a category of “other open cars” with regards to 500K body styles and this would fall in there.

The engine is the standard supercharged 5.0-liter straight-eight making 100 horsepower or 160 with the kompressor engaged when the throttle is held wide open. This car was delivered new to London and later ended up in Florida. In 1989, it returned to Europe – this time Sweden. It’s a wonderful example of one of MB’s all-time great models. It should bring between $3,900,000-$5,000,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Update: Sold, RM Sotheby’s Monterey 2022, $1,270,000.

S/N: 130857

500K by Saoutchik

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1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet by Saoutchik

Offered by Bonhams | Stuttgart, Germany | March 19, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The fact that this car looks so fresh as if the body was constructed during a restoration – but wasn’t – signifies that it is something special: it is entirely unique to this model. Jacques Saoutchik is responsible for some of the most beautiful designs of his era. And to have one of those stylish bodies on one of the greatest chassis of the era is quite a feat.

The Mercedes-Benz 500K is one of their most sought-after models with only 354 built. They are powered by a 5.0-liter straight-eight making 100 horsepower or 160 with the supercharger engaged. This particular chassis was displayed as a bare chassis at the 1935 Paris Salon.

It was sold new to California and remained there until the current owner acquired it in 1989. It has been restored but it hasn’t really done the show circuit. It’s quite the ticket and should bring between $6,600,000-$7,700,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Update: Sold, RM Monterey 2022, $1,710,000.

A Pair of Stunning 500Ks

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A Pair of Stunning 500Ks

Offered by Bonhams | Stuttgart, Germany | March 19, 2016

1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Cabriolet by Saoutchik

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The fact that this car looks so fresh as if the body was constructed during a restoration – but wasn’t – signifies that it is something special: it is entirely unique to this model. Jacques Saoutchik is responsible for some of the most beautiful designs of his era. And to have one of those stylish bodies on one of the greatest chassis of the era is quite a feat.

The Mercedes-Benz 500K is one of their most sought-after models with only 354 built. They are powered by a 5.0-liter straight-eight making 100 horsepower or 160 with the supercharger engaged. This particular chassis was displayed as a bare chassis at the 1935 Paris Salon.

It was sold new to California and remained there until the current owner acquired it in 1989. It has been restored but it hasn’t really done the show circuit. It’s quite the ticket and should bring between $6,600,000-$7,700,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Sports Roadster by Sindelfingen

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

This is a slightly more “standard” 500K – even though it is so beyond most of its 1936-era contemporaries. Most of the 354 500Ks built fall into specific categories such as Cabriolet A, Cabriolet B, Cabriolet C, Special Roadster, etc. This is a Sports Roadster and is one of somewhere between seven and 12 such examples built. There is a category of “other open cars” with regards to 500K body styles and this would fall in there.

The engine is the standard supercharged 5.0-liter straight-eight making 100 horsepower or 160 with the kompressor engaged when the throttle is held wide open. This car was delivered new to London and later ended up in Florida. In 1989, it returned to Europe – this time Sweden. It’s a wonderful example of one of MB’s all-time great models. It should bring between $3,900,000-$5,000,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Stutz SV-16

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1930 Stutz SV-16 Monte Carlo by Weymann

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Amelia Island, Florida | March 12, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

Harry C. Stutz’s motor company was one of America’s finest in pre-war America. Right there with Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg, it was a flag-carrier for Indiana’s motor industry. Their eight-cylinder models were introduced in 1926 and by the time the Depression rolled around, some of these cars had become fabulously expensive and stylish.

The SV-16 – also called the Model MB – is powered by a 5.3-liter straight-eight making 115 horsepower. It was Stutz’s premier offering in 1930 and the Monte Carlo body style by Weymann was one of a few “European” styles that could be had.

It is thought that three SV-16 Monte Carlos were built in 1930. Costing $4,495 when new, they have appreciated significantly in value with this car carrying a pre-sale estimate of $550,000-$650,000. It has an RM restoration and is an award-winner. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $550,000.

Update: Not sold, Bonhams Quail 2019.

Porsche 908 Coupe

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1968 Porsche 908 Coupe

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 11, 2016

Photo - Gooding & Company

Photo – Gooding & Company

The Porsche 908 was actually a series of race cars that the company produced between 1968 and 1971. We’ve already featured three variations: the 908/2 Longtail Spyder, the 908/03 Spyder, and a 908/03 Spyder Turbo. They all look different. For instance: this one has a top.

So the 907 was built in 1967 and to take advantage of a rule in the FIA book, Porsche adapted their flat-eight engine to 3.0-liters (in this car, putting out 350 horsepower) and the body was just sort of the natural next step from the 907. The first batch of cars were closed coupes to make outright speed. In total, 31 908s were built with five Coupes remaining. The factory competition history for this car (chassis no. 11) includes:

  • 1968 1000km Spa – 3rd (with Hans Herrmann and Rolf Stommelen)
  • 1968 6 Hours of Watkins Glen – 27th, DNF (with George Follmer and Joe Buzzetta)
  • 1968 500km Zeltweg – 13th, DQ (with Jochen Neerpasch and Rudi Lins)

After those three races, Porsche was quickly on to other styles of the 908 and its successive siblings. This car went to a privateer in Switzerland who used it in hillclimbs (which sounds like an awesome amount of overkill). It was wrecked slightly in 1974 and later repaired. In the last 10 years this car has seen use in historic racing and many shows. If you’ve been hunting for a true, usable factory Porsche racer, look no further. It should bring between $3,000,000-$3,300,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.