Edsel Bermuda

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1958 Edsel Bermuda

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 11, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

I love Edsels. I also love station wagons. Guess what I think of this car. That’s right – I love it. One great thing is the color combination. Woodies (even though this is fake wood on the side) look great when accented with certain colors – maroon, black, and teal being the chief among them.

The Edsel range was only in production for three model years: 1958, 1959, and 1960. The Bermuda was only built in 1958. It’s a four-door wagon that was available in six or nine-passenger variants. All are powered by a potent 5.9-liter V-8 making 303 horsepower. It was priced at $3,155.

Being a one-model-year-only car, only 2,235 Bermudas were built – and only 1,456 were the six-passenger version. Considering its production numbers, this wagon is probably more affordable than you’d think. You can read more here and check out the rest of Mecum’s Houston lineup here.

Update: Sold $55,000.

Moynet LM75

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1975 Moynet LM75

For Sale by Atelier 46 | Courbevoie, Paris, France

Photo - Atelier 46

Photo – Atelier 46

Andre Moynet was a French war hero. He flew 115 wartime missions during World War II and dabbled in politics and sport after it was over. He was later a test pilot and worked for Matra. When he found some spare time, he built this sports prototype for the 24 Hours Le Mans (after he took Matra there in 1968).

This sleek prototype is powered by a Chrysler/Simca 2.0-liter straight-four making 190 horsepower. The Esso colors are what it wore in the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans – the only race in which this car competed. It was driven by three women: Christine Dacremont, Michele Mouton, and Marianne Hoepfner. They finished 21st and won their class.

The car sat for three decades before being completely restored and competing in the Le Mans Classic in 2010. Price is not available but it is the only Moynet automobile ever built (under his own name – he designed Matra’s Le Mans car too). Click here for more info or to purchase this piece of history.

A Sporty Turcat-Mery

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1913 Turcat-Mery Model MJ Boulogne Roadster

For Sale by Fiskens | London, England

Photo - Fiskens

Photo – Fiskens

Turcat-Mery was a French automobile manufacturer that was actually around for a decent amount of time, but hardly anyone has heard of them. Their cars certainly don’t come up for sale often today – which is why, when I saw this one for sale at Fiskens (one of the world’s premier collector car dealers), I had to feature it.

The company was founded when two Mery brothers – and their brother-in-law, Leon Turcat – wanted to improve upon the Panhard et Levassor. Their first car went on sale in 1899. The company started competing in races in 1903 and won the inaugural Monte Carlo Rally in 1911.

Financial problems arose in 1921 and the company shut its doors in 1928. This gorgeous, sporty pre-war roadster uses a 6.1-liter straight-four. It is one of only a handful of models from this company left and is possibly the only MJ Roadster in existence. You can find out more (or buy it) here.

GT40 Prototype

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1964 Ford GT40 Prototype

Offered by Mecum | Houston, Texas | April 12, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Everyone knows the story of how the Ford GT40 came into existence – the Ford vs. Enzo Ferrari showdown that led Ford to dominate the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the latter part of the 1960s. The first GT40 made its world debut at the New York Auto Show in April 1964.

The first two GT40 prototypes were wrecked in Le Mans testing. Chassis #2 was repaired and found its way into the 1000km of the Nurburgring. But Ford needed more cars, so two more prototype were built. This was the second of those additional prototypes. This one was the first one built with a lighter steel chassis. It was also among the first group of GT40s to actually compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

The competition history of this car includes:

  • 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans – 44th, DNF (with Richie Ginther and Masten Gregory)
  • 1964 Nassau Speed Week – DNF
  • 1965 Daytona 2000km – 3rd (with Ginther and Bob Bondurant)
  • 1965 12 Hours of Sebring – DNF (with Ginther, Phil Hill & Ken Miles)

The car was retired from competition prior to the 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford restored the car and sent it on a promotional tour of the auto show circuit. In 1971, it was sold to its first owner. A restoration to race condition began in 1973 and wasn’t completed until after 2010.

This is one of two Shelby American-prepared GT40s that raced and it’s one of only four Ford 289-powered GT40 prototypes. That engine, the 4.7-liter V-8, also called the Cobra home. This is the second-oldest GT40 in existence. and it is a big money car. Read more here and check out more from Mecum here.

Update: Sold $7,000,000.

Lister-Jaguar “Knobbly”

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1958 Lister-Jaguar “Knobbly” Prototype

Offered by RM Auctions | Monaco | May 10, 2014

Photo - RM Auctions

Photo – RM Auctions

These cars are often referred to as “Knobbly”s because of their curvy shape. In all honesty, I didn’t know that was the reason (really, how many people do?) but every time I saw one of these I assumed that was the case. They are kind of knobby-looking cars. And I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or not.

Lister built Bristol-powered racers between 1954 and 1957. In 1957, they reworked the car to house a Jaguar straight-six (from the all-conquering D-Type). This car has the 265 horsepower 3.8-liter straight-six from Jaguar. The “Knobbly” debuted in 1958 and this was the first one built. It was originally conceived as a one-off racer but it’s popularity led them to realize they could make money selling these and 11 were built in total.

This car was originally supposed to go to the famed Ecurie Ecosse team, but Briggs Cunningham finagled his way into owning it (and another one). The racing history for this car includes:

  • 1958 12 Hours of Sebring – DNF (with Archie Scott-Brown and Walt Hansgen)
  • 1958 SCCA National Champion – 1st (with Walt Hansgen – he won a lot of races this season in this car)
  • 1959 12 Hours of Sebring – 12th (with Hansgen & Dick Thompson)

Briggs Cunningham owned the car into the mid-1960s before selling it. It has had a few owners since and was most recently sold at RM’s Monterey event in 2013. The pre-sale estimate is not available right now, but it sold about 6 months ago for $1,980,000. You can check out more here and see more from RM’s Monaco sale here.

S/N: BHL EE 101

Update: Sold $1,618,294.

Ache Freres

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1902 Ache Freres Type TM

Offered by Osenat | Fountainebleau, France | March 16, 2014

Photo - Osenat

Photo – Osenat

This is one of those early motorized vehicles where not much is known about it because only a handful were built in a shop somewhere. Well we know where the shop was: Agen, France. We know who built them: the Ache Brothers. Well sort of. The company could have also been called something else.

The engine is a 669cc single-cylinder De Dion – and at least one other example of these is powered by an Aster engine. As you can see, the layout of this three-wheeler is bizarre compared to modern vehicles. Similar trikes were constructed by companies like La Nef.

The Ache was built from 1902 to 1904 and between 15 and 20 were built in total. This is one of two or three known to survive. It should sell for between $83,000-$110,000. Click here for more info and here for the rest of Osenat’s lineup.

Update: Not sold.

Rene Bonnet Le Mans

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1963 Rene Bonnet Le Mans Grand Luxe

Offered by Osenat | Fontainebleau, France | March 16, 2014

Photo - Osenat

Photo – Osenat

French sports cars in the 1950s were from a limited number of companies. And for whatever reason, a couple of them ended up as Rene Bonnet-branded cars. Rene Bonnet was a race car driver who started building his own cars in 1936. In 1946, he co-founded Deutsch et Bonnet (aka DB). In 1961, Charles Deutsch went his separate way and Automobiles Rene Bonnet was formed.

The Le Mans was a sports model introduced by DB in 1959. From 1962 through 1963 (production actually ended in 1962), the Le Mans was marketed as a Rene Bonnet. His version used a 1.1-liter straight-four making 70 horsepower – the most powerful version of the Le Mans ever offered.

The Le Mans was built as a convertible or a coupe and the Grand Luxe was the expensive, loaded version with a removable hard top – which this car has. Only 232 Le Mans’ were built between both manufacturers. This could be one of as few as 59 built under the Bonnet name. It should sell for between $35,000-$40,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Osenat’s sale.

Update: Not sold.

1913 Little Bull

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1913 Bull Little Bull 5-12

Offered by Mecum | Davenport, Iowa | April 4-5, 2014

Photo - Mecum
Photo – Mecum

The Bull Tractor Company was founded in 1912. The tractor you see here was built one year later – 101 years ago. The Bull was the best-selling tractor of 1914 and cost $395 when new. It was the first commercially-successful gas-powered tractor but Bull couldn’t sustain the progress and went belly-up in 1920.

Engine: Two-cylinder. 12 horsepower.

Production: 1913-1917.

Produced: 3,800+.

Update: Sold $81,000.

Rumely Oilpull

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1928 Rumely Oilpull X 25-40

All tractors offered by Mecum | Davenport, Iowa | April 4-5, 2014

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

This is our second chunk of tractors we’ve featured. I try to get a few of them in the mix as something different. We featured a Rumely Oilpull before. Here are the need-to-knows about this very nice old tractor:

Engine: 9.9-liter two-cylinder. 50 horsepower.

Production: 1928-1930.

Produced: 2,400.

Update: Sold $20,000.

5 Cool Tractors

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Gone Farmin’ Tractor Spring Classic

All tractors offered by Mecum | Davenport, Iowa | April 4-5, 2014

 1928 Rumely Oilpull X 25-40

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

This is our second chunk of tractors we’ve featured. I try to get a few of them in the mix as something different. We featured a Rumely Oilpull before. Here are the need-to-knows about this very nice old tractor:

Engine: 9.9-liter two-cylinder. 50 horsepower.

Production: 1928-1930.

Produced: 2,400.

Update: Sold $20,000.

1919 Minneapolis 12-25

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

The Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company began in 1889 building traction steam engines. In 1911 they started building tractors under the Minneapolis name and in 1929 it merged with two other companies in Minneapolis to form Minneapolis-Moline.

Engine: 25 horsepower.

Production: 1919-1924.

Produced: ?

Update: Not sold, high bid of $50,000.

1925 Rumely Oilpull L 15-25

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Here is another rare Rumely Oilpull (I think tractors are cooler the older they get – they’re very raw machines). This tractor looks highly original.

Engine: 6.1-liter two-cylinder. 30 horsepower.

Production: 1924-1927.

Produced: 4,855.

Update: Sold $10,500.

1913 Bull Little Bull 5-12

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

The Bull Tractor Company was founded in 1912. The tractor you see here was built one year later – 101 years ago. The Bull was the best-selling tractor of 1914 and cost $395 when new. It was the first commercially-successful gas-powered tractor but Bull couldn’t sustain the progress and went belly-up in 1920.

Engine: Two-cylinder. 12 horsepower.

Production: 1913-1917.

Produced: 3,800+.

Update: Sold $81,000.

1963 Minneapolis-Moline Jet Star 2 Orchard

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

As you can read above, Minneapolis-Moline was founded in 1929 but the brand name was phased out in 1974 after having been acquired by the White Motor Company in the year in which the tractor you see here was built. Check out more cool tractors from Mecum here.

Engine: 3.4-liter four-cylinder. 44 horsepower.

Production: 1963.

Produced: 1,213. Only 1,100 were gas-powered. Only 22 of those were Orchard models.

Update: Sold $14,500.