Reliant Regal

1957 Reliant Regal Mk III

Offered by Bonhams | Scottsdale, Arizona | January 2024

Photo – Bonhams

The Reliant Motor Company is most famous for its three-wheeled vehicles, notably the Robin (and by extension, the Rialto). But prior to the Robin there was this, the Regal. It went on sale in 1952 and lasted for over 20 years before being replaced by the Robin in 1973.

Over that 20 years, they produced seven different series of Regal. This is a Mk III, which was introduced in 1956. It featured an all-fiberglass body and a 747cc inline-four that made 16 horsepower. The Mk IV arrived in 1958.

Bigger engines came later, but this could get to 60 mph if you tried (and how fast do you really want to go on three wheels?). Plus it’s a convertible. These are rarely seen in the U.S., and this one is going at no reserve. Click here for more info.

Aurelia B20 GT

1957 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupe Series VI

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | London, U.K. | November 4, 2023

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Designer extraordinaire Vittorio Jano oversaw the development of the Lancia Aurelia, which was the first production car powered by a V6 engine. It debuted in 1950, and the two-door B20 GT Coupe arrived a year later, with a body designed be Felice Boano at Ghia. The bodies were actually built by Pinin Farina.

The car was produced in six different series. This car is from the last of them and was produced in the Aurelia’s penultimate model year. Power is from a 2.5-liter V6 rated at about 110 horsepower.

Just 2,650 examples of the B20 GT with the 2.5-liter engine were built across six years. This one was sold new in the U.K. and was restored in Italy. Only 25 Series VI cars went to the U.K., making this a rare subspecies. Anyway, it has an estimate of $100,000-$120,000. Click here for more info.

Studebaker Silver Hawk

1957 Studebaker Silver Hawk

Offered by Mecum | Las Vegas, Nevada | November 9-11, 2023

Photo – Mecum

Studebaker‘s Hawk line of cars were a series of two-door hardtops/coupes that were born out of the company’s Starliner hardtop coupes of the mid-’50s. The first year for the cars was 1956, when there were four different Hawk models available.

The following year, 1957, shrunk the line to two: the carryover Golden Hawk and the new Silver Hawk, the latter of which would remain on sale through 1959. The Silver Hawk was a pillared coupe that, for the 1957 model year, was available with two engine options. This car has the larger 289ci, 4.7-liter, V8 that was rated at 210 horsepower.

Just 11,035 examples of the Silver Hawk V8 were built this year. This one has a wonderfully mid-century paint scheme and is selling at no reserve. Click here for more info.

Zagato Tour de France

1957 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France by Zagato

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monterey, California | August 2023

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Well here is a big-boy Ferrari. So big in fact that RM will not even run it across their block in Monterey this year. Instead they are going to the “Sotheby’s Sealed” format, which, I guess, just takes the fun out of watching people bid.

The long-wheelbase 250 GT started out with the 250 Europa, and the “Long Wheelbase Berlinetta” debuted in 1956 and acquired the nickname “Tour de France” after the cars competed in the 10-day Tour de France race. Just 77 were built through 1959, most of which were bodied by Scaglietti based on a Pinin Farina design.

But five of them escaped off to Zagato, and this car is the third of those. It has the signature double-bubble Zagato roof and is the only such example with covered headlights. It also has a 3.0-liter Colombo V12 that made somewhere around 250 horsepower. This car has period competition history, too, including:

  • 1957 Mille Miglia – 6th (with Camillo Luglio and Umberto Carli)

It was restored in the early 2000s and has been with its current owner since 1999. It’s been shown at Pebble Beach three times since, winning its class in 2009. You can read more about it here.

Update: Withdrawn.

La Dawri Sebring

1957 La Dawri Sebring

Offered by Bring a Trailer Auctions | July 2023

Photo – Bring a Trailer

Okay, so “1957” probably isn’t the year here. No year is listed on the auction page, but what it does tell you about years is surprising. Unlike many fiberglass specials of the 1950s, this one is rear-engined. And it is powered by the 1.3-liter flat-four of its donor 1957 Volkswagen Beetle.

Can we take a moment to really appreciate how great this wild paint scheme is? This is the automotive equivalent of a surfboard. The windshield frame is a real highlight. La Dawri was only around a short time: founded in Canada in 1956 before moving to California the following year. They offered fiberglass sports car bodies until 1963.

Still, in that time, they produced no less than seven or eight different models. This Sebring screams “1950s sports car” but looks completely unlike almost anything else you could get at the time. It’s like some sports car special you would’ve seen in the background of an Elvis movie. This is a car that would be a lot of fun at the right price – and draw a lot of attention wherever it goes. Check out the auction here.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $7,500.

DKW Schnellaster

1957 DKW Schnellaster

Offered by Dorotheum | Vosendorf, Austria | July 1, 2023

Photo – Dorotheum

The Schnellaster was the first Auto Union vehicle produced in West Germany after the war. It was built in Ingolstadt, Germany, now known as the HQ location for Audi, which Auto Union became later on down the line. We’ve actually featured a Schnellaster pickup before.

But a panel van and a microbus (passenger van) were also offered. The van features front-wheel drive and a two-stroke vertical twin (or triple) engine. This one has the 900cc inline-three from the DKW 3=6. Output was 32 horsepower, and top speed was about 60 mph.

This van has been used by commercial business for most of its existence, or at least until it was restored in the 2000s. Now it has an estimate of $33,000-$39,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Giulietta SVZ

1957 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato

Offered by Mecum | Monterey, California | August 17-19, 2023

Photo – Mecum

The Tipo 750 and 101 Giulietta was produced by Alfa Romeo between 1954 and 1965. The Giulietta SZ was a Zagato-bodied competition car, and later Zagato rebodied a Sprint Veloce (while the SZ was just based on the Sprint). The Sprint Veloce Zagato (SVZ) appeared in late 1956.

Just 18 would end up being produced, all powered by a 1.3-liter inline-four that was rated at around 116 horsepower. This car was originally sold in Italy, and the first owner wanted a double-bubble Zagato body, which Zagato went ahead and built for him.

The aluminum coachwork on this car is said to be the only SVZ re-bodied in this fashion. It’s eligible for historic runs of the Mille Miglia and has an estimate of $150,000-$250,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $115,500.

Lagonda 3-Litre

1957 Lagonda 3-Litre Mk II Saloon

Offered by H&H Classics | Duxford, U.K. | November 30, 2022

Photo – H&H Classics

The 3-Litre was Lagonda’s follow-up model to the 1948 through 1953 2.6-Litre, which itself was Lagonda’s first post-war car. The 2.6-Litre was also the first Lagonda produced by the company after its takeover by Aston Martin‘s David Brown.

The 3-Litre was produced between 1953 and 1958. It was available as a four-door saloon, a two-door coupe, and a two-door drophead coupe. Power is actually from a 2.9-liter inline-six (curse you Lagonda marketing department!) that made 140 horsepower. The sedan could hit about 110 mph.

The Mk II debuted in 1955 and featured a redesigned dashboard and a floor-shifted transmission. Just 266 3-Litres were produced. Lagonda took a few years off after this model before coming out with the Rapide in 1961. The pre-sale estimate here is $33,000-$41,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Withdrawn.

Turner 803

1957 Turner 803

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Birmingham, U.K. | November 12-13, 2022

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Turner Sports Cars was founded by Jack Turner in Wolverhampton, England, in 1951. The company stuck around for 15 years, building turn-key and kit cars featuring fiberglass bodywork that could be paired with Austin, Triumph, and Ford mechanicals.

The 803, also known as the A30, was the first Turner product. It utilized a ladder frame and the engine, transmission, and suspension from an Austin A30. Most of these had 803cc Austin inline-fours, but this car got 948cc unit from the Austin A35. This car was actually the prototype for the Turner 950 Sports, which would duplicate its drivetrain setup when it went on sale shortly after this car was produced.

This car was restored in the 1990s and had a successful vintage racing career thereafter. It’s now got a pre-sale estimate of $23,000-$34,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $22,285.

Bertone XK150

1957 Jaguar XK150 Coupe by Bertone

Offered by Bonhams | Knokke-Heist, Belgium | October 9, 2022

Photo – Bonhams

Jaguar’s XK120/140/150 series of cars are pretty distinctive, and this looks nothing like them. It actually looks like a Vignale-bodied Ferrari from the mid-1950s. But it is actually an XK150 under there.

The XK150 was built from 1957 through 1961 and was available in three factory body styles and with five different engines. This car was originally powered by the base 3.4-liter inline-six that was rated at 190 horsepower. It now has a 3.8-liter unit underhood. It is one of nine supplied as a bare chassis to coachbuilders, and it is one of three bodied by Bertone.

The car was previously on display at the Blackhawk Museum and was restored in 2020. It’s a one-off mid-1950s beauty with Italian style and British underpinnings. It has a pre-sale estimate of $800,000-$1,000,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $862,500.