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.

June 2015 Auction Highlights, Pt. II

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There were a lot of auctions in June. H&H Classics held what appeared to be a 90% Rolls-Royce/Bentley sale in June. The top sale was a Rolls-Royce – a car we were going to feature but ran out of time. It’s a 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Shooting Brake and it brought $253,210. Check out full results here.

Photo - H&H Classics

Photo – H&H Classics

If we jump across the English Channel, we’ll find ourselves in Paris, for Artcurial’s sale. The top sale was actually a 1991 Ferrari F40 for $1,114,520 even though I was sure this Bugatti would’ve taken top honors.

1991 Ferrari F40

Photo – Artcurial

Our featured Alpine A210 sold for $524,480. Check out complete results here. Racking up more frequent flyer miles, we hop back to England where Bonhams had an awesome sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where a previously-featured Croizemarie sold for $35,237. The top sale was this 1935 Aston Martin Ulster factory race car with amazing race history for $4,578,122.

1935 Aston Martin Ulster

Photo – Bonhams

A featured Aston Martin failed to sell. The Gordon-Keeble brought $125,550, the Isotta Fraschini $547,929, and the Williams $160,748. Complete results can be found here.

Motostalgia held a sale in early June and our featured Lola-Cosworth sold for $93,500. The AAR Eagle failed to sell. The top sale was this 1932 Cadillac V12 Victoria Convertible barn find for $308,000. Click here for complete results.

Photo - Motostalgia

Photo – Motostalgia

Finally, Mecum’s Denver sale. We weren’t able to feature anything from this sale, but the top seller was this 2012 Lamborghini Aventador for $285,000. Click here for full results.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Chevron B8

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1968 Chevron B8

Offered by H&H Classics | Chateau Impney, U.K. | July 11, 2015

Photo - H&H Classics

Photo – H&H Classics

Chevron Cars Ltd is a legendary name in the evolution of sports car racing – especially throughout the 1960s and 70s. It was originally founded in 1965 by Derek Bennett in England. They specialized in formula cars, specifically Formula Two, Three and 5000.

The Chevron B8 was a Group 4 GT car built in 1968 only. It was the fifth GT car built by the company. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter straight-four. This car had period privateer race history in the U.K. over several seasons.

This car’s body and chassis were separated at one point but the car has since been restored (around 2005). It has been active on the track since. Only 44 B8s were built and I just have this feeling that you could make this thing streetable in certain locations if you are creative enough. At any rate, it should sell for between $285,000-$350,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of H&H’s lineup.

Update: Not sold.

The Nautilus

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2003 Nautilus

Offered by Coys | Blenheim Palace, U.K. | July 11, 2015

Photo - Coys

Photo – Coys

This isn’t our normal cup of tea, over-the-top movie cars without any real historical significance. But this ting is actually so crazy looking that it caught our attention. And, it runs and drives.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a superhero movie from 2003 starring Sean Connery that I will admit to having watched but have no recollection of whatsoever. The characters in the film are actually pretty interesting, ranging from Dorian Gray to Tom Sawyer to Captain Nemo. Nemo, of course, being from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and captain of the Nautilus submarine.

Well this Nautilus was his road car. It is actually based on an old Land Rover fire tender and uses a Rover V-8. The front four wheels steer and it has four doors and no roof. It is ludicrously lengthy and was used in the film. Two were built but one was mounted with cameras for interior shots while this was used for distance. It does run and drive but is definitely not street legal. It is, however, quite decorative and interesting. It is estimated to bring between $23,500-$40,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $49,411.

Osella-Alfa FA1G

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1986 Osella-Alfa Romeo FA1G

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Silverstone, U.K. | July 23, 2015

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Here’s another Osella-Alfa Romeo (and if anyone thinks this might not be a G model, you could be correct… leave a message below if I’m wrong). Except this one is from the Turbo Era and it looks a little more traditional. The engine is still an Alfa Romeo, but instead of a V-12, it has a 1.5-liter straight-four that’s been turbocharged.

This car was raced by Piercarlo Ghinzani all season and it’s only finish was 11th place at the 1986 Austrian Grand Prix (which was the best finish for the team that season). He has owned this car since and the engine has been rebuilt by Alfa Romeo and has less than 200km on it since completion. It should sell for between $95,000-$110,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

S/N# 01.

Update: Sold $70,200.

Update: Not sold, Bonhams Spa 2017.

Toleman TG185

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1985 Toleman TG185

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Silverstone, U.K. | July 23, 2015

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Toleman Motorsport was a racing team from the U.K. founded by Ted Toleman and Alex Hawkridge in 1977. They moved up into F1 for 1981 and would actually be the team that Ayrton Senna got his start with. The TG185 was the team’s car for 1985 – their final season before selling out to team sponsor Benetton.

It was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged Hart straight-four making 800 horsepower. This car was driven by Piercarlo Ghinzani and it retired from every race it started. The unreliable Hart engine is no longer around, but this roller could house a Cosworth V8 pretty easily. It should sell for between $55,000-$70,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $48,266.

Minardi M189

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1989 Minardi M189

For sale at Purosangue Maranello | Maranello, Italy

Photo - Purosangue Maranello

Photo – Purosangue Maranello

Minardi, the great underdog of Formula One, was founded in 1979 by Giancarlo Minardi. In 2005 it became Scuderia Toro Rosso, the Red Bull “junior” team. Minardi never won a race as a team but they did score a handful of points.

The M189 was the car for the 1989 season and this was the personal ride of Pierluigi Martini, the most successful driver Minardi ever had. In period, it was powered by a 3.5-liter Cosworth V-8, although the engine is no longer with this car.

This is chassis #001 and Martini had a string of DNFs to start the season, although he did manage two top fives later on. It is unknown whether it was in this car or not. At any rate, this roller is for sale in Italy if you’re interested. Click here for more info.