Category Archives: Uncategorized

D.B. Le Mans

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1961 D.B. Le Mans

Offered by Osenat | Fontainebleau, France | June 17, 2012

Known as Deutsch-Bonnet until 1947, D.B. was a French manufacturer founded by Charles Deutsch and René Bonnet, who left the firm in the early 1961 to start his own company. D.B. started in 1938 building Citroen-based racing specials and turned to road cars in 1952.

The Le Mans model was introduced in 1958 and lasted until the company closed up shop in 1961. All their road-going models were Panhard-based using Panhard flat-twin engines. The Le Mans had an 850cc version making about 60 horsepower.

The Le Mans name was not wishful thinking – D.B.s won their class at the 24 Hours three separate times. These were legitimate sports cars. Approximately 200 Le Mans models were built and they might not be the most powerful European sports car of the 1960s, but they are certainly rare. For more information (in French), click here. And fore the rest of Osenat’s auction lineup (including another rare D.B.), click here.

Update: Not sold.

Henry J

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1951 Henry J Deluxe

Offered by Mecum | North Little Rock, Arkansas | June 16, 2012

Henry J. Kaiser’s vision of what his post-war automotive empire would look like was, well, optimistic. Kaiser, along with Joseph Frazer, took the remnants of Graham-Paige and bought Ford’s wartime Willow Run production plant to build automobiles under the Kaiser and Frazer nameplates. In 1950, Kaiser decided to try and bolster production of his cars by pulling a play out of the Henry Ford playbook: build a small, inexpensive car for the masses. The Henry J was born (and it was marketed as its own make).

So how did they do it? Kaiser wanted a car that seated five adults and could do 50 mph “for sustained periods of time.” It also had to retail for $1,300 (about $12,500 in 2012). To hit these marks, they had to cut some corners: there was no trunk lid – you had to go through the rear seats, which was probably difficult as the car was only offered with two doors. The base model also lacked armrests, a glove compartment, a sun visor and flow-through ventilation. Fortunately, the car you see here is a Deluxe model.

Which means it has the straight-six (instead of the four-banger). It’s a 2.6-liter making 80 horsepower. Unfortunately, even though it was very cheap, it only cost a few dollars less than a Chevrolet 150 – which had a functioning trunk, armrests, and more interior room. Sales declined steadily through 1954 when the Henry J was axed.

They didn’t build millions of these cars – which was part of the problem originally, as Kaiser needed mass production to make a profit. He didn’t get it and the Kaiser nameplate disappeared from passenger cars in 1955. The company went on to focus on it’s recently acquired Willys and Jeep business, which went on to become part of AMC.

It was a pioneering compact car, but you just don’t see Henry Js everyday. And this one looks to be in exceptional condition. We’ll see what it brings when it sells. For more information and photos, click here. And for more on the Salmon Brothers Collection, click here.

Update: sold $16,000.

Maserati 222

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1992 Maserati 222 SE

Offered by Bonhams | Oxford, U.K. | June 16, 2012

The Maserati Biturbo was in production in various forms from 1981 through 1994. The original models were all called “Biturbo” something or other. In the late 1980s, the models were named 222, the SE model being offered from 1990 through 1992. There were also four-door sedans with various numerical names from 420 through 430.

While the Biturbo was the first twin-turbocharged production car, the engines that the turbos were attached to varied based on model. The 222 SE had a 2.8-liter twin-turbo V6 making 225 horsepower. It was good for 143 mph.

Only 210 of these cars were built and this one has 53,000 original miles. This one was in storage for eight years, but has been freshened and serviced and is ready to drive. Biturbos aren’t known for their reliability – in fact, they are more well known for leaking, bursting into flame and generally falling into disrepair. It was born out of Maserati’s De Tomaso ownership – and cash was not plentiful. But as a cool, cheap exotic, this car could be a lot of fun… you know, until you have to fix it. And I wouldn’t recommend trying to use it as a daily driver.

The car is to sell without reserve with an estimate between $7,700 and $11,000. And it does have that Maserati badge on it. I am seriously tempted. For more information, click here. For more from Bonhams Oxford sale, click here.

Update: Sold $4,500.

Abarth OT 1300

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1966 Abarth OT 1300

Offered by Oldtimer Galerie International | Zurich, Switzerland | June 10, 2012

Photo – Oldtimer Galerie

Carlo Abarth is mainly known for his hot rod Fiats, but he also built cars of his own – well, kind of. He constructed his own cars, usually using bits and pieces of other cars. The one you see here is based on a SIMCA chassis with SIMCA and Fiat parts and a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine based on a SIMCA design, but built at a race shop in Italy. It makes 140 horsepower and can do a little more than 150 mph.

Between 1965 and 1966, 50 examples of the OT 1300 were built. There were also OT 1000, OT 1600, and OT 2000 models (I’m not sure of their production numbers off-hand). All OT models were intended for the track when built, however this particular car is road-legal (and in Switzerland at that).

Personally, I quite like the styling and the competition history of the model makes it seem like a performer (the OT 1300 won its class at Le Mans). I wouldn’t mind taking one for a spin. But I’m not sure if I can afford it – as the estimate is “on request.” Perhaps it’s my fault that the two cars I picked from this sale were the only two with “on request” estimates. Then again, they were the pick of the litter.

For more information and photos, click here. And for more on this sale, click here.

Dolson Model F

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1907 Dolson Model F

For Sale at Hyman Ltd | St. Louis, Missouri

I do love those tires. Why aren’t any modern cars equipped with solid white tires? I guess people would complain about having to keep them clean, but it would certainly make a statement. Anyway, the Dolson Automobile Company (known as J.L. Dolson & Sons until 1906) of Charlotte, Michigan, produced big 60hp touring cars from 1904 through 1907 – meaning this car came from the final year of production. This four-cylinder car would have cost about $3,250 in 1907 – hardly cheap.

It is a well-equipped car and even features galvanized steel (a rarity in the day), which should have improved the car’s chance of long-term survival. But Dolson isn’t a marque you see too often. Later in the company’s short existence, they introduced a 20hp flat-twin model as well as a 28/30hp four-cylinder.

However, even though the cars were of a very high quality, success wasn’t to be and Dolson was liquidated in 1908 after production ceased the year prior. This is a rare opportunity to get your hands on one. The cost? $110,000. For more information, click here.

Update: Sold, RM Auctions, St. Johns, Michigan, 2012 – $74,250.

MBM SP-100

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1960 MBM SP-100

Offered by Oldtimer Galerie International | Zurich, Switzerland | June 10, 2012

Peter Monteverdi was a Swiss car salesman turned race car driver turned auto constructor. Okay, maybe not necessarily in that order. He ran the Swiss Ferrari franchise at one point as well as a race team that attempted to break into Formula One with the team’s owner as it’s driver. He attempted one championship race with the MBM (Monteverdi Basle Motoren) team but withdrew after destroying the car in a practice accident.

Then he turned his attention to sports cars and specials for the road race circuit. The MBM Tourismo (chronicled elsewhere on this site) was a very rare road car with approximately two built. The car you see here, the SP-100, is likely the only one of its kind. It was built for the race team Ecurie Baloise HOBA.

It features a 100 horsepower 1.1-liter straight-four from O.S.C.A. One hundred ponies might not seem like all that much, but this car only weighs 425 kg, so it likely goes pretty quick. It also looks quite sporty, with a pontoon-fendered Testa Rossa look to the front of it. It has been owned by the same owner since 1978 and was restored over a nine year period ending in 1991.

Peter Monteverdi went on to build cars under his own name in 1967. Cars like the Monteverdi High Speed are not seen often – but they are seen more often than anything bearing the MBM logo. This is a very rare opportunity. The estimate is listed as “on request,” which is annoying, but it is what it is. The only Monteverdi I can recall for sale was a Hai 450 SS, which was listed for over $1 million. This won’t bring quite that much.

For more information and pictures, click here. For more on this sale, click here.

Lambo Reventón

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2008 Lamborghini Reventón

Offered by H&H Auctions | Canary Wharf, London | June 11, 2012

The Lamborghini Reventón is an ultra-rare, ultra-expensive, sort of “super Murciélago.” It has the 6.5-liter V12 making 631 horsepower engine straight out of the Murciélago LP640. So, you’re paying many times the price of a Murciélago for the same performance and power.

And by “many times” I mean that this car cost $2 million when new. That’s insane. So what are you paying for? Styling? Not really. If anything, this car is part Murciélago and part Aventador. It’s all Murciélago underneath but with styling that looks more like the follow-up model. If I paid $2 million for something that I thought was only one of 20, only to find, three years later, that they were putting into production a car that closely resembled the one I bought, but with shinier paint and a lot more horsepower, I would not be a happy camper.

And yes, that’s right, there were only twenty of these built, so they don’t really come up for sale everyday. In fact, all twenty were pre-sold before the car was even revealed. The one offered here is “for sale” and not going under the hammer (as I understand it). If you’re in London, stop by and buy it. I’m not sure what the asking price is, but, as the saying goes, if you need to ask, you can’t afford it.

This is a car for true Lamborghini and/or super car collectors. It’s cool, but the Aventador is better in every way. Buy this only if you want to tell your friends/potential trophy spouse that it is “one of only twenty.” If you want more information on this car, click here. And to see what else H&H is offering at this sale, click here.

Ford Sportsman Convertible

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1947 Ford Super Deluxe Sportsman Convertible

Offered by RM Auctions | Hampton, New Hampshire | June 9-10, 2012

There were a number of popular American “woodies” built shortly after World War II. The Chrysler Town & Country is among the very best – as are Ford Sportsman Convertibles. You’ll notice many of these cars are painted in some shade of maroon or green. Something about those colors really sets off the woodwork running down the sides.

This Model 79A Super Deluxe has a 100 horsepower 3.9-liter V8 and red leather interior. The wood-bodied Sportsman ran about $500 more than its metal equivalent and was available from either Ford or Mercury. From reading the description of the restoration, it sounds like restoring the wood took longer than the original build time of the car.

This car was part of the Nick Alexander woodie collection that was auctioned off in 2009 and is being offered from the Dingman Collection this weekend. It sold for $220,000 in 2009 and is expected to bring somewhere between $240,000 and $280,000. For the complete lot description, click here and for the rest of the expansive Dingman Collection, click here.

Update: Sold $253,000.

Mecum Spring Classic 2012 Highlights

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Dana Mecum’s 25th Original Spring Classic Auction held May 15-20, 2012, sold a ton of cars. I mean, it has seriously taken me two days to go through the results and my mind has melted from staring at the computer screen. The top sale was this gorgeous 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible, one of 18, that sold for $600,000.

Muscle cars were the stars of the show. Numerous Hemi Mopars and big-block Chevys went across the block and brought big numbers. One of my favorite Hemi cars to sell was a 1966 Dodge Charger – my favorite Charger bodystyle. It sold for $190,000 – and it’s all original and unrestored.

Another wonderfully rare muscle car brought the second-highest price paid for a car at this sale. It’s a 1969 Yenko Nova and it’s one awesome looking car. It sold for an eye-popping $475,000.

Our featured car, the Baldwin Motion Manta Ray GT failed to sell. Interesting sales of note included this 1978 Jeep J10 Honcho 4×4 that looks great and would’ve only cost you $7,000.

Carroll Shelby’s recent passing put a spotlight on all Shelby-badged vehicles. One of the more obscure models with the Shelby name on it is this 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota. It’s one of 1,500 built and sold for $9,500.

And finally, there was the 1964 Voisin Biscuter microcar – and it’s about as cheap as you can go on the Voisin scale. It sold for $13,000 – less than half of what it was priced at a month ago at Hyman Ltd.

There are countless – literally – other cars that sold at this sale. Check out the complete results at Mecum’s website.

Locomobile Model 48

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1919 Locomobile Model 48 6-Fender Town Car

Offered by Bonhams | Greenwich, Connecticut | June 3, 2012

Locomobile was one of the first big American automakers and the marque is a testament to the importance of the Stanley brothers in the history of the automobile. The publisher of Cosmopolitan magazine, John B. Walker, bought the design of the Stanley’s first steam car and put it into production. The Stanley brothers were General Managers until they left in 1902 to start Stanley, which would become Locomobile’s largest rival.

The Model 48 was introduced in 1911 and it had a wheelbase almost 30 inches longer than that of a modern Chevrolet Suburban. The 8.6-liter straight-six makes around 48 horsepower. Most of the powertrain components were cast in bronze and the chassis was made of chrome-nickel steel – which helps explain  why so few of these imposing automobiles survive to this day: scrap drives during the Second World War made these cars a lot more valuable in pieces than they did as a 20-something-year-old used car. This car was made using only the finest materials – the only thing, I guess, they could have done to make it even more over-the-top would have been to build it entirely out of gold and platinum – although it wouldn’t be quite so solid.

The body was built by Demarest and the layout is one you don’t see that often – a six-fendered town car. The fifth and six fenders sit just in front of the rear passenger compartment and I suppose exist to make each and every passenger feel a little like Cinderella being helped from her carriage. Bonhams claims that this car cost, when new, three times that of an open-bodied Model 48 – which I’ve read elsewhere would have cost around $10,000 in 1920 – which helps explain why Locomobile failed along with parent company Durant Motors at the onset of the Great Depression

This was about as grand a car as you could buy in 1919. And all of this grandeur will set you back somewhere between $60,000-$80,000. Which is a deal. For the complete description, click here. And for the rest of Bonhams’ lineup at the Greenwich Concours, click here.

Update: Sold $70,200.