Melling Wildcat

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2008 Melling Wildcat Prototype

Offered by Coys | Birmingham, U.K. | January 14, 2017

Photo – Coys

Al Melling worked at TVR and was responsible for co-designing the TVR-produced engine that was used in the Cerbera. His work spread across to motorcycles, Formula One, and other supercar manufacturers. He set up a shop in Rochdale, England, called Al Melling Sports Cars to produce this, the Wildcat.

It looks like something that would’ve come out of England, specifically like something from TVR or Marcos. This was the first example built and it is powered by a 5.7-liter Chevrolet V-8 tuned to make 450 horsepower (other engines are an option if you buy one new). Top speed is 180 mph and 60 arrives in just 3.5 seconds.

As of 2014, only seven Wildcats had been produced, with this being the first, the Prototype (which was assembled in just nine months). The car has been in the Melling family since it was built and they are the ones offering it for sale here. Click here for more info and here for more from Coys.

Update: Sold (about) $22,375

A Pair of Goggomobils

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A Pair of Goggomobils

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 14-22, 2017

1957 Goggomobil T-250

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

Goggomobil was a German marque produced by Hans Glas GmbH between 1955 and 1969. They were microcars offered in a few different body styles. The Sedan was the “T” and the T-250 was the first model offered, going on sale for 1955. The engine is a rear-mounted 247cc straight-two, two-stroke engine that makes about 13 horsepower.

It’s a four-seater with rear-wheel drive. Two other, more powerful, sedans were later offered and the sedan stayed in production through 1969. Goggomobil sedans aren’t seen often, but they aren’t particularly rare with over 210,000 examples produced in 14 years of production. This one is flawless. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $12,100.

1962 Goggomobil TS300 Coupe

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

The TS was Goggomobil’s Coupe. Three different models were offered over the lifespan of the model, with the TS300 being in the middle, power-wise. The car was introduced in 1957 and was more expensive than the sedan counterpart. This car was sold in France as the Glas Isard.

More expensive than the sedan, the coupes are much rarer, with only 66,511 having been built. The TS300 is powered by a 293cc straight-twin making almost 15 horsepower. Top speed was between 53 and 59 mph (depending on wind and road grade, perhaps?) and this one is street legal in the U.S. It’s in good shape and you can see more about it here and more from Barrett-Jackson here.

Update: Sold $12,100.

Goggomobil TS300

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1962 Goggomobil TS300 Coupe

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 14-22, 2017

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

The TS was Goggomobil’s Coupe. Three different models were offered over the lifespan of the model, with the TS300 being in the middle, power-wise. The car was introduced in 1957 and was more expensive than the sedan counterpart. This car was sold in France as the Glas Isard.

More expensive than the sedan, the coupes are much rarer, with only 66,511 having been built. The TS300 is powered by a 293cc straight-twin making almost 15 horsepower. Top speed was between 53 and 59 mph (depending on wind and road grade, perhaps?) and this one is street legal in the U.S. It’s in good shape and you can see more about it here and more from Barrett-Jackson here.

Update: Sold $12,100.

Goggomobil T-250

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1957 Goggomobil T-250

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 14-22, 2017

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

Goggomobil was a German marque produced by Hans Glas GmbH between 1955 and 1969. They were microcars offered in a few different body styles. The Sedan was the “T” and the T-250 was the first model offered, going on sale for 1955. The engine is a rear-mounted 247cc straight-two, two-stroke engine that makes about 13 horsepower.

It’s a four-seater with rear-wheel drive. Two other, more powerful, sedans were later offered and the sedan stayed in production through 1969. Goggomobil sedans aren’t seen often, but they aren’t particularly rare with over 210,000 examples produced in 14 years of production. This one is flawless. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $12,100.

Trans Am Kammback

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1985 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am Kammback Concept

Offered by Barrett-Jackson | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 14-22, 2017

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

The third generation of the Pontiac Firebird went on sale in 1982 and stayed in production through 1992. The Trans Am model was sort of the Firebird-equivalent of the IROC-Z Camaro.

The Trans Am was the hot version of the Firebird, and in 1985 it used a 5.0-liter V-8 making 190 horsepower. This is no ordinary Trans Am, however, as it features a “Kammback” – a huge station wagon like hatch on the rear end that looks more like a pickup truck cap. This genuine General Motors factory concept car began as a well-equipped Trans Am (and possibly a factory test mule) before getting the prototype treatment.

It was also used as a pace car during the 1985 racing season for series including IMSA. GM kept it for 13 years until it was sold to Detroit-area car collector John McMullen. It was purchased from that collection in 2007 by John O’Quinn for $66,000. It’s not road legal because it has an experimental VIN number but it still has 36,000 miles and has been restored. You can read more here and see more from this sale here.

Update: Sold $44,000.

Update: Sold, Mecum Kissimmee 2019, $40,700.

500 Superfast

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1965 Ferrari 500 Superfast

Offered by Gooding & Company | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 21, 2017

Photo – Gooding & Company

If you’re going to call your car the “Superfast” you’d better make sure it is actually pretty fast – or at least looks the part, and this one does. The 500 Superfast was the culmination of nearly 15 years of development of Ferrari’s “America” line of cars that began in 1950 with the 340 America. The 500 Superfast was a direct evolution of the 400 Superamerica.

It is powered by a 5.0-liter V-12 good for 400 horsepower, which was a decent jump over the car that came before it. The body, designed by Pininfarina, is super sleek like it just cuts through the air. When new, these cars cost an exorbitant $15,000 and many of them went to royalty or celebrities.

This one didn’t but it was sold new in California, where it has spent a majority of its life. The restoration dates to 2005 and is Ferrari Classiche certified. Only 36 examples were ever constructed and this is one of just 28 in left-hand drive configuration. It should bring between $2,800,000-$3,200,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Gooding & Company.

Update: Sold $2,915,000.

Impala Z11

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1963 Chevrolet Impala Z11

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 14, 2017

Photo – Mecum

The third generation of the Chevrolet Impala was built between 1961 and 1964. It was Chevy’s full-size model – the largest car they offered in 1963. The Impala was made iconic by the Beach Boys and their song “409” which referenced the largest engine available in these cars.

Well, until 1963 anyway. The Z11 was a rare option code that could be applied and it came with a 7.0-liter V-8. The 427 put out 430 horsepower and as you can see it doesn’t look much different than your aunt’s Impala two-door hardtop. It was the ultimate sleeper, with a higher power rating than what Chrysler would slap on their Hemi years later. The 427 was based on the 409, but bigger and better. Top speed was 120 mph.

This three owner Z11 is one of just 57 built, as 1963 was the only year this option was available. Only two were built in green, with this being one of those. A comprehensive restoration was completed, which included installing a correct Z11 engine (the car was probably raced in 1963 and was sold to its second owner with a 409 under the hood). It is expected to bring between $375,000-$450,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $250,000.

AMC AMX/3

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1969 AMC AMX/3

Offered by Gooding & Company | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 21, 2017

Photo – Gooding & Company

The AMX was American Motors’ foray into the muscle and sports car arena. The AMX was among the coolest cars AMC ever built and it was also the basis for a series of concept cars that the company funded. The third such car was dubbed the AMX/3 and it was nothing like the front-engine, rear-wheel drive coupe it shared its name with.

One of the designers of this mid-engined car was Giotto Bizzarrini and the body was done by ItalDesign. AMC was quite taken with the result and initially thought they could sell 1,000 examples, but reality sank in pretty quickly and the final order was for 26 cars to be constructed in Italy by Bizzarrini. But only five were ever built (though Bizzarrini did built one more from spare parts after the fact).

Power comes from a 340 horsepower 6.4-liter V-8 and it was quick. This particular example was tested at Monza and it exceeded 160 mph. It was sold just two years later to a native of Indianapolis. The second restoration was performed at the expense of the current European owner in 2014. This is one of the rarest, most exotic American cars ever built – and it came from a company known primarily for the Gremlin. It should sell for between $900,000-$1,300,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $891,000.

Mercedes-Benz Type S

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1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer by Erdmann & Rossi

Offered by Bonhams | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 19, 2017

Photo – Bonhams

Ye Gods! I have to admit, this car is near the top of amazing cars we’ve ever featured. There is something just so alluring… so… bad ass about these big, early Mercedes-Benz Tourers. There is a mystique here that few cars can match. This is probably also why they so very rarely come up for sale.

Mercedes and Benz joined forces in 1926 and that same year they introduced a model called the Typ S (or Type S or S-Type… you’ll inexplicably find different names for the same cars depending on the auction house). The Type S was built through 1930 and it gave rise to the Type SS and the legendary SSK. The low slung chassis of the Type S is powered by a 6.7-liter straight-six and makes 120 horsepower – or 180 with the supercharger engaged. That’s pretty impressive for 1926… as was the price: $7,000 as a bare engine/chassis. Over 100 mph was possible as well.

The body is by coachbuilder Erdmann & Rossi and is original to this car (as is the engine). It was delivered new to the U.S. and was restored in the mid-1990s. The car’s been in Europe for some time, but is being sold again in the U.S., where it spent much of its life. Mercedes-Benz only built 174 examples of the Type S making it quite rare. It’s a gorgeous beast of a car and it’s entirely usable. Get it while you can because it could be years before another example hits the market. But it won’t come cheap. Click here for more info and here for more from Bonhams.

Update: Sold $4,812,500.

Abarth Scorpione SS

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1970 Abarth 1300 Scorpione SS

Offered by Bonhams | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 19, 2017

Photo – Bonhams

The Abarth Scorpione was originally built as the Lombardi Grand Prix beginning in 1968. Based on the Fiat 850, the car was rear-engined and sported rear-wheel drive. It’s kind of a small fastback coupe, with Italian lines, having been designed in-house at Lombardi in Vercelli, Italy.

The Lombardi Grand Prix was sold under other names as well, such as the OTAS 820, the Giannini 1000 Grand Prix, and the Abarth Scorpione. Abarth also produced a hotted-up version called the Scorpione SS. It is powered by a 100 horsepower 1.3-liter straight-four, up about 25 horsepower over the base model.

All four models were out of production by 1972 and only a handful of Scorpione SS models were thought to have been produced. This example spent most of its life in the Netherlands and Belgium until it was imported to the San Francisco area in the early 2000s. It’s been completely restored and is a fine example of what turned out to be the final car produced by Abarth before Fiat took over the company. It should sell for between $70,000-$110,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $116,600.