Category Archives: Uncategorized

Duesenberg Model Y

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1927 Duesenberg Model Y Phaeton Prototype by McFarlan

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Hershey, Pennsylvania | October 6-7, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Never heard of the Duesenberg Model Y? Well it’s a very important car – and as we here are Duesenberg fanatics, it is a brilliantly exciting one as well. The Model Y was the prototype for the legendary Model J. Two were produced and only this one survives (the other one was actually sold to Frank Morgan of The Wizard of Oz and subsequently lost to time).

This prototype originally used a 6.8-liter straight-eight engine that reportedly put out about 200 horsepower. This engine was based on the Model A’s 88 horsepower, 4.2-liter straight-eight (which this car is now powered by). This car was given to August Duesenberg and he was told he had to destroy the chassis. So he put the engine in a race car and put the body (which was styled and built by McFarlan, the automobile company that shut down around the time this car was built) on a Model A chassis and sold it to a local businessman.

This amazing car has been in the ownership of the same family since 1957. It was last restored prior to their purchase and has been on display at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum for a long time. This is the first time it has been offered for sale in six decades. It’s a milestone automobile and the price it brings will be very interesting. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $340,000.

Ferrari F1-91

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1991 Ferrari F1-91

Offered by Bonhams | Stuttgart, Germany | August 12-September 27, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Bonhams is offering cars from the Willi Balz collection at a public tender sale – meaning it isn’t a live auction, but instead you can offer a price via a sealed bid. There are a number of classic F1 cars on offer here, including this: Ferrari’s 1991 F1 machine.

The F1-91 was also known as the Ferrari 642, following the 1990 641/2 and the 1989 F1-89. For 1991, the Scuderia powered their cars with a 3.5-liter V-12. Horsepower should be about 740, as the 1990 car put out 685 from the same engine (up 85 from 1989). This car has race history including:

  • 1991 San Marino Grand Prix – DNS (with Alain Prost)
  • 1991 Monaco Grand Prix – 3rd (with Jean Alesi)

Since its retirement from Ferrari, it has been used at historic events including Goodwood and the Nurburgring. The 642 had a short shelf-life as it was only used in the first five races of 1991 before being replaced by the 643. This, chassis 124, is the third of five built and it should bring between $340,000-$680,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

M4 Sherman

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1944 Chrysler M4 Sherman

Offered by Artcurial | Catz, France | September 18, 2016

Photo - Artcurial

Photo – Artcurial

This is not your father’s Chrysler. Or, if he’s a World War II veteran, maybe it is. The Medium Tank, M4 (aka the M4 Sherman) was the most popular American tank of WWII (and thereafter). They were in service from 1942 through 1955 and some countries used them until 1990.

There were 16 variants of this tank, with this being an M4(105) which was built between February 1944 and March 1945. Only 800 were built, making it one of the rarer variants. Nearly 50,000 Shermans were built of all types.

This historical monster is powered by a 16-liter, 9-cylinder radial engine built by Continental. Horsepower is in the 300-450 range and this fully restored example is described as “quite pleasing to use and drive.” This is a great piece of WWII and American history and one that doesn’t come up for sale often. It’s incredibly cool and should sell for between $225,000-$450,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $330,540.

BRM P133

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1968 BRM P133

Offered by Bonhams | Stuttgart, Germany | August 12, 2016-September 27, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

In modern Formula 1 it’s kind of rare for a chassis manufacturer to build its own engines. Only actual road car manufacturers that compete do it (Mercedes, Ferrari, Renault). Those teams that exist solely to compete in motorsport usually outsource their engines… but when your team name is British Racing Motors, I guess building engines is sort of your wheelhouse.

BRM was founded in 1945 by Raymond Mays and competed in F1 between 1950 and 1977. It won the constructors’ title in 1962 (this was the year that Graham Hill won the drivers’ championship).

This, the first P133 built, is powered by a 3.0-liter V-12 and has race history including:

  • 1968 South African Grand Prix – 7th (with Jackie Oliver)
  • 1968 Belgian Grand Prix – 2nd (with Pedro Rodriguez)
  • 1968 Dutch Grand Prix – 3rd (with Rodriguez)
  • 1968 German Grand Prix –  6th (with Rodriguez)
  • 1968 Canadian Grand Prix – 3rd (with Rodriguez)
  • 1968 Mexican Grand Prix – 4th (with Rodriguez)

The car is listed as being in original condition, even though it has been used in historic racing. It’s an awesome example of late-1960s F1 technology and has great looks to match. It should bring between $340,000-$450,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

1948 Murad

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1948 Murad Prototype

Offered by Brightwells | Leominster, U.K. | September 21, 2016

Photo - Brightwells

Photo – Brightwells

The Murad was a car designed by English-trained and Jamaican-born electrical engineer Wadia Halim Murad. Designed and built by the Murad Machine Tool Company between 1946 and 1948, the intention was to offer a sedan in the competitive British market. The entire thing was designed in-house, engine included, and the cost of such a large undertaking nearly bankrupted the company and the project was shelved.

One lone prototype was ever completed. It was powered by a 1.5-liter straight-four capable of 48 horsepower, however the engine is no longer with the car and it is being sold as a restoration project. Surely a period-correct four-cylinder could be located and installed without too much trouble. Air-conditioning was to be standard as well.

After the project was cancelled, Mr. Murad continued to drive this car regularly up until 1964 when it was parked. It essentially disappeared and, like many cars before it, was assumed scrapped. But as luck would have it, in the 1990s a man purchased an old farm building and while he was clearing it out, this car was found in the back corner under some straw. It is complete (other than the engine) and, should the next owner restore it, would make for an interesting conversation starter wherever it goes. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $1,557.

Daimler Dart Prototype

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1960 Daimler SP250 AHC Retractable Hardtop Coupe

Offered by Bonhams | Goodwood, U.K. | September 10, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The Daimler SP250 “Dart” was a sports car built by the British Daimler company between 1959 and 1964. It was a weird thing for Daimler to build, as they specialized in big sedans and limousines. Obviously, as this is a 1960, it is not one of the original SP250 prototypes. Instead, it is a one-off prototype car built by the Antony H Croucher Precision & Prototype Engineering Company to showcase their novel retractable hardtop system.

The car was also slightly enlarged – it features four seats and a larger trunk. The work was completed in 1963 and the car is still powered by the SP250’s 2.5-liter V-8 that puts out 140 horsepower. A hardtop was an available option on the SP250, but this car’s can disappear into the trunk. Amazingly, the hardtop can be raised or lowered while driving.

The car has recently been freshened and is operable – roof included. Originally orange, it was repainted this silver that looks great when wet. Only 2,654 Darts were produced in total and this is the only one with a retractable hardtop. It has been owned by the same family since it was built and should bring between $65,000-$92,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Renwick & Bertelli

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1925 Renwick & Bertelli 1½-Litre Sports

Offered by Bonhams | Goodwood, U.K. | September 10, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

William Renwick and A.C. Bertelli came together in 1924 to build engines… but their sticking to engines was short-lived. In 1925, they built the car you see here. Starting with a custom designed engine, they mounted it to a chassis from Enfield-Allday (where Bertelli used to work) and then they had Bertelli’s brother – who was a coachbuilder – build the body.

The engine is a 1.5-liter straight-four. It’s an important engine because the following year Renwick & Bertelli became the controlling directors of a little, financially insolvent company called Aston Martin. This car, dubbed “Buzzbox,” was the inspiration for the company-saving International and Le Mans models from Aston Martin. And with Aston up, running, and successful, Renwick & Bertelli never built another car under their own names.

This one-of-one car is a couple of things. One, it is incredibly sporty and good-looking. Two, it is an important piece of Aston Martin history, having given the company a path to success. It has been restored twice with the most recent work being quite fresh. It is ready and eligible for all major shows. The pre-sale estimate is between $310,000-$370,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

An Underslung Regal

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1912 Regal Model T Touring

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Hershey, Pennsylvania | October 6-7, 2016

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Detroit’s Regal Motor Car Company isn’t the most remembered automobile manufacturer to come out of Michigan, but boy did they produce some attractive cars. Brothers Charles, J.E., and Bert Lambert teamed up with Fred Haines to form the company in 1907. In their 11 years they produced some more traditional-looking (for the day) cars as well as this hot new thing called the Underslung.

An Underslung chassis is defined as a chassis where the chassis itself is suspended from the axles which lowers the car dramatically. Improvements from this include a lower center of gravity and awesome handling (for 1912 anyway). Because roads were more of an afterthought in the  day, larger wheels could be fitted to maintain ground clearance. The most famous example of these cars are the beautiful American Underslungs. Regal’s version went on sale in 1910.

This car is powered by a 25 horsepower 3.3-liter straight-four. The Model T (Ford’s trademark lawyers were apparently not quite as ruthless in 1912 as they are today) was the Touring model, although you could get a Roadster or Coupe with this engine. This is one of two survivors of this model and would be about as much fun as you can have driving a car from 104 years ago. Click here for more from RM Sotheby’s and here for more about this car.

Update: Not sold.

Monteverdi 375/L

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1971 Monteverdi 375/L High Speed Coupe by Fissore

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | London, U.K. | September 7, 2016

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby's

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Peter Monteverdi’s Swiss car company never built models in huge numbers. In fact, only a handful of the cars he built ever made it to the production stage. Among them is the High Speed 375 line of cars that was built between 1967 and 1970 (with a few sedans built after that).

The 375/L was the second car in the High Speed line and it was a 2+2 four-seater on a slightly longer wheelbase than the preceding 375S two-seat coupe (there was also a 375C convertible and a 375/4 sedan). The engine is a Chrysler 440 (7.2-liter) V-8 making 375 horsepower. The body on this car is by Fissore of Italy.

A car with an American engine and an Italian body made for instant success. This particular example is being sold by its original owner. Monteverdis don’t trade hands often and that’s probably because they are awesome cars – on par with the other big Italian muscle car/tourers of the day (think Ghia SS and Maserati Ghibli). Production numbers are unknown, but it wasn’t many. You can read more here and see more from RM Sotheby’s here.

Update: Sold $210,112.

Morgan Plus 4 Plus

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1964 Morgan Plus 4 Plus

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | London, U.K. | September 7, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Morgan is a car company steeped in tradition – all their cars are assembled by hand and even today, in the 21st Century, they sell cars with an ash frame. Many of their cars sport styling that was introduced in the 1960s and they even sell a three-wheeler that’s just an updated version of a car that dates back 100 years.

So in 1963 when Morgan introduced the Plus 4 Plus at the Earls Court Motor Show, the technologically advanced car was met with a predictably cool reception and the company went back to focusing on their bread and butter. This car has a fiberglass body – a long way from ash frames. The striking closed coupe body has a greenhouse that is large enough for two human heads, but not much more. The engine is a 2.1-liter straight-four making 105 horsepower.

Restored in 2007, this example has spent most of its life on the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada where it had a string of only five owners. This is the fifth Plus 4 Plus built out of a production run of only 26 cars. It is among the rarest cars Morgan has ever built and one of the most instantly recognizable. It should bring between $156,000-$182,500. Click here for more info and here for the full RM Sotheby’s London catalogue.

Update: Sold $172,592.