Tag Archives: auctions

Ferrari 275 N.A.R.T.

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1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 N.A.R.T. Spider by Scaglietti

Offered by RM Auctions | Monterey, California | August 16-17, 2013

1967 Ferrari 265 GTB4 N.A.R.T. Spider by Scaglietti

This is one of the most valuable Ferraris in the world. It was born out of a 275 GTB/4 and Luigi Chinetti’s (correct) feeling that convertibles go over big in America. He talked Enzo Ferrari into building a run of 25 convertibles based on the 275 GTB/4. Only ten ended up being built and Chinetti moved each one of them at $8,000 each in 1967 and 1968. They all carry the name “N.A.R.T.” in honor of Chinetti’s North American Racing Team that made Ferrari such a success in the States.

I actually had reservations about featuring this car because the “proceeds are going to charity” and at some auctions that’s a big red flag because the final selling price of the car tends to be wildly inflated over the actual value. But this car has an actual pre-sale estimate posted of between $14,000,000-$17,000,000 and I don’t think anyone dropping that kind of cash is really gonna bump the price just to feel good about themselves and make everyone see how great of a person they are (which is what charity cars at auctions are all about – showing you are a decent person even though you’re rich… that and the tax write-off).

The engine is a 300 horsepower 3.3-liter V-12 and the car was bought new by Eddie Smith, Sr. – directly from his friend Chinetti, to whom he traded back a coupe version he had just purchased. Prior to the coupe, Smith owned a California Spider, so he obviously had taste. When Smith died in 2007, the car passed into his son’s hands and has not been used often – which is why they are selling it and donating whatever it brings to charity.

This is essentially a one-owner car – which is something you’ll never see again with regards to a N.A.R.T. Spider. This car is a big deal, and RM is making you register with them specially if you want to bid on this car. You can find out more here and see the rest of RM’s lineup here.

Update: Sold $27,500,000.

S/N: 10709

Maserati A6GCS/53

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1953 Maserati A6GCS/53 Spyder by Fantuzzi

Offered by RM Auctions | Monterey, California | August 16-17, 2013

1953 Maserati A6GCS53 Spyder by Fantuzzi

In the early 1950s, Maserati was winning races in Formula Two. They thought, “if we can win races at this level, why can’t we go sports car racing too?” Their single-seater was based off of their A6 road car – and so is this.

The World Sportscar Championship was what they were after with the clunky-sounding A6GCS/53. The engine is a version of the 2.0-liter straight-six used in the Formula Two racer – it makes 170 horsepower. Most bodies for the A6GCS were built by Fantuzzi using aluminium. You have to admit, this is one good-looking race car.

This car was sold new to an American Maserati distributor and while he never raced it, Juan Manuel Fangio drove this car on a publicity photo shoot. This car did a lot of amateur road racing in its day although the biggest race of its career was:

  • 1954 12 Hours of Sebring – 33rd, DNF (with Don McKnought and William Eager)

The car has had many owners and was acquired by the current one in 2006. The restoration is as old as 1999 and it is eligible for just about every historic racing even in the world. Only 58 A6GCS/53 were built and only 52 had Fantuzzi coachwork. This one should sell for $2,450,000-$2,950,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM.

Update: Did not sell (high bid of $2,200,000)

S/N: 2053

The 1st Ferrari 400 Superamerica

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1959 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Speciale by Pinin Farina

Offered by Gooding & Company | Monterey, California | August 17-18, 2013

1959 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe Speciale

If you compare this Ferrari 400 Superamerica to the other one we had featured in the past, you would see that the name “Aerodinamico” is very accurate to describe that car – especially in comparison to this one. This car looks downright boxy by comparison – but it also looks like it has been italicized – like the whole thing is leaning forward, itching to grab a gear and go.

This car was bought new by Gianni Agnelli – then-chairman of Fiat (a company that his family founded). The 400 Superamerica was the follow-up to the 410 Superamerica. It uses a 4.0-liter V-12 making a serious 340 horsepower. This was the first one built.

The styling by Pinin Farina is one-of-a-kind. Agnelli requested that it look like a Ferrari – and it does – but there are custom touches all around. He sold it in 1962 and it quickly became owned by actress Anita Ekberg – who thankfully never drove it through a fountain. It bounced around between owners after 1967 and in the early 1980s was donated to the Harrah Collection. The restoration was completed in 2004 under the care of its current owner.

Only 47 Ferrari 400 Superamericas were built and this is both the first one and the only one with a body like this – not to mention its unique and interesting ownership history. It should sell for between $3,750,000-$4,500,000. Click here for more info and here for more of Gooding & Company’s auction lineup.

Update: Not sold.

S/N: 1517-SA

Early August 2013 Auction Highlights

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August is a very busy month for classic cars – just in the Monterey area alone there are five major auctions. So we’ll cover early August as its own thing. First up, Auctions America’s huge and awesome sale in Burbank, California. Top sale was this 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster for $825,000.

1964 Shelby Cobra 289 Roadster

Our first feature car was the 1951 Glasspar and it brought $52,800. The other car we featured from this sale was an Edwards America roadster which sold for $66,000. Interesting cars was this auction’s bright spot. I’ll just go through them as I come to them… First, how about a 1976 Manta Mirage for $22,000?

1976 Manta Mirage

Then there’s this 1950 Pearson-Kurtis Front-Wheel-Drive Indy 500 car that was never actually raced. It’s got an Offy under the hood and is in barn-find condition – and it still managed $192,500.

1950 Pearson-Kurtis FWD

A rare 1967 Ghia 450SS Convertible sold at this sale. These cars are awesome. This one brought $129,250.

1967 Ghia 450SS Convertible

This 1953 Bohman Special Roadster was built by the son of the “Bohman” in “Bohman & Schwartz” – the celebrated coachbuilder. It was built for the movie “Johnny Dark” starring Tony Curtis. It sold for $104,500.

1953 Bohman Special Roadster

The award for “The Car I Would’ve Bought Had I Been There” goes to this 1924 Dodge Four-Door Sedan for only $5,500!

1924 Dodge Four-Door Sedan

For something a little rarer, this 1939 Steyr 220 Cabriolet should fit the bill. And the bill was $60,500.

1939 Steyr 220 Cabriolet

Check out this super rare 1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R (one of 107 built) with only 600 original miles. The price reflects it: $46,750 (which has to be some kind of record for a Fox body Mustang).

1993 Ford Mustang Cobra R

This I love. The sale was in Burbank – home of movie studios and Hollywood and all that. Well how about this extravagant golf cart? It was used in the Jim Carrey movie “The Grinch.” This car thing is straight out of Whoville. And it sold for $38,500. (It’s referred to in the catalog as a 2000 Cinema Vehicle Services Family Sedan). It’d definitely be cool to cruise in around a small town (on the sidewalks of course).

2000 Cinema Vehicle Services Whoville Family Sedan

Taking a 180 car-wise, this 1912 Buick Model 35 Touring was a car I kinda wanted to feature, but couldn’t squeeze it in. It sold for $28,600.

1912 Buick Model 35 Touring

Concept cars always get my attention – even if they aren’t that exciting. This 1988 Pontiac Fiero Concept was a 232 horsepower Fiero Concept that never made it to production. It’s one of one. It sold for $3,520. And I think that’s enough cars. You can check out the rest of the results here.

1988 Pontiac Fiero Concept

The other early-August auction was Silverstone’s semi-small (at least in comparison to the one above) CarFest North sale. The top sale was this 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster which brought $111,600.

1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster

Check out complete results for that sale here.

Hispano-Suiza J12

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1933 Hispano-Suiza J12 Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin

Offered by Gooding & Company | Monterey, California | August 17-18, 2013

1933 Hispano-Suiza J12 Cabriolet by Fernandez et Darrin

The Hispano-Suiza J12 is not a car you hear a lot about. You hear about Delahayes and Delages and Duesenbergs and Rolls-Royces (the list really does go on forever). For whatever reason, you don’t hear a lot about Hispano-Suiza – in general. Even less about a specific model.

The J12 was introduced in 1931, replacing the very popular H6 line of cars. It was the top-of-the-line model offered by the company. It used a 11.3-liter V-12 making 250 horsepower. That’s pretty powerful and that’s also a huge engine. Only about 100 were built before the company made the switch to aircraft engines in 1938. Only about 42 to 46 still exist.

They were powerful so they could carry extravagant coachwork – and this car is no exception. Fernandez et Darrin was the successor company to the more well-known Hibbard & Darrin. Same Darrin, new partner (yes that sounds like the tag line for a bad buddy-cop TV show). The body was originally a Sedanca Coupe from the same coachbuilder, but it was modified to its present configuration by a later owner.

This car changed owners over three continents since it was built and has been restored and taken care of. It’s a performer and a looker and the catalog says it’s an “incredible opportunity to return its body to the original… configuration” in order to display it at the most prestigious of car shows. I have to wonder what kind of price it would bring had it kept its original body – as the pre-sale estimate is $2,000,000-$3,000,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Withdrawn.

S/N: 14040.

NART Daytona Spider

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1971 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona N.A.R.T. Spider by Michelotti

Offered by Gooding & Company | Monterey, California | August 17-18, 2013

1971 Ferrari 365 GTB4 Daytona NART Spider

The Ferrari Daytona is one of the most classic Ferraris. Of the cars they built in the late-1960s and even through most the 1970s, these are the Ferraris everybody wants. And on top of that, there is the 365 GTS/4 – or Daytona Spider. These are exceptionally rare and highly prized and collectible. They were built by Scaglietti.

And then there’s this. Only a handful of Ferrari Daytonas were custom-bodied and this is one of them. It is one of five custom-bodied Daytonas commissioned by Luigi Chinetti (the guy responsible for Ferrari being in America) – though not all were the same. It was built as a 365 GTB/4 coupe and sold by Chinetti in Connecticut. He bought it back in 1976 and shipped it to Michelotti in Italy to receive this custom body.

Michelotti designed it and built three just like it – all for Chinetti. It was finished in the colors you see and given to Mrs. Chinetti as a gift. The car also carries “NART” designation. N.A.R.T. stands for North American Racing Team – Chinetti’s race team that he used to tout the Ferrari marque around America. The engine is a standard 365 GTB 4.4-liter V-12 making 352 horsepower.

The car was acquired by its current owner in 1991. It has never been restored and was refreshed before being brought to auction. Remarkably, it has covered only 1,568 miles in its life (not including when it was a Daytona coupe for five years). As you’ll see next week, this NART Spider is a bargain at $700,000-$1,000,000. That’s even cheap for a 365 GTS/4 Daytona Spider. Click here for more info and here for more from Gooding in California.

Update: Sold $720,000

S/N: 14299

The 1974 Indianapolis 500 Winner

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1974 McLaren M16C

Offered by RM Auctions | Monterey, California | August 16-17, 2013

1974 McLaren M16C

I guess I can get right to it: the competition history for this car includes:

  • 1973 Indianapolis 500 – 9th (with Johnny Rutherford)
  • 1974 Indianapolis 500 – 1st (with Rutherford)
  • 1974 Milwaukee 150 – 1st (with Rutherford)
  • 1974 Pocono 500 – 1st (with Rutherford)
  • 1974 Michigan 500 – 4th (with Rutherford)
  • 1974 Trenton 300 Race 1 – 4th (with Rutherford)
  • 1974 Trenton 300 Race 2 – 7th (with Rutherford)
  • 1974 Phoenix – 7th (with Rutherford)

As I think you’ll agree, only that second line really matters. It makes this car huge. Only a handful of Indianapolis 500 winning race cars are in private hands (that won prior to 1996). Rutherford started 25th, battled with A.J. Foyt for 50 laps and then took off, lapping every car on track with the exception of second place Bobby Unser – who finished 22 seconds behind J.R. That’s a beast of a race car and driver.

The M16C was introduced in 1973. This was a McLaren-factory car campaigned for the entire USAC season with Rutherford behind the wheel (Peter Revson was his teammate). This car won the pole at Indy in ’73. It was slightly redesigned for ’74 and Rutherford had to wait until Bump Day to make the field. This car was sold by McLaren to a privateer team, who failed to qualify for the 500 with it in 1977 and 1978.

When it was restored later on, the car was reverted to as it was in victory lane in 1974. It changed hands for a record price in 1991 and has been used (by Rutherford) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The engine is a 2.6-liter turbocharged Offenhauser straight-four making 800 horsepower. That’s more than current Indy cars. At any rate, it’s rare that a 500 winner can be bought. This one should sell for between $1,250,000-$1,750,000. Click here for more info and here for more from RM in Monterey.

Update: Sold $3,520,000.

S/N: M16C-5

FXX Evo

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2005 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione

Offered by Gooding & Company | Monterey, California | August 17-18, 2013

2005 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione

Photo – Gooding & Company

The Ferrari Enzo was the epitome of supercars when it came out in 2002. But some people are really hard to please and Ferrari realized they could capitalize on these people and sell them an upgraded Enzo for double the money.

So in 2005 they took a street-legal Enzo and made it entirely street-illegal. The engine was enlarged – to a 6.3-liter V-12 making 789 horsepower. Then they threw in their Formula One transmission, upgraded brakes, and custom-made racing slicks.

Then they sought out customers (you weren’t allowed to approach Ferrari with the intent to buy one). You would purchase the car (at something like $1.8 million a pop) and you would be allowed to drive it on Ferrari-designated track days all over the world. Then Ferrari would house the car for you – forget taking your new $2 million toy home! Owners and drivers (including Michael Schumacher) would send all their track day data back to Ferrari for whatever purposes they saw fit.

The Evoluzione program began after all 30 FXXs had been built. It was a kit that bumped horsepower up to 850, lowered aerodynamic drag, and increased shift times. This car has that kit. This was the first FXX built and has had a single-owner from new. Thankfully, Ferrari has removed restrictions on taking the car home so now you can take this one to yours. It is still the ultimate example of Ferrari engineering superiority and track prowess. It should sell for between $2,300,000-$2,600,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Gooding’s sale.

Update: Not sold.

S/N: ZFFHX62X000145369

Voisin C25

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1935 Voisin C25 Aérodyne

Offered by Gooding & Company | Monterey, California | August 17-18, 2013

1935 Voisin C25 Aerodyne

Voisins are some of the most stylish and advanced cars from the coachbuilt era (except that Voisins weren’t coachbuilt – they didn’t need to be). They’re an easy ticket to car show super-stardom, too. Judges (and everyone else in attendance) go crazy over their outlandish features and unconventional design. And rightfully so.

I’m not getting into an argument with myself or anyone else about my decision to refer to this as a “Voisin” and not an “Avions Voisin” as the catalog does. G.M. Georgano refers to it as simply “Voisin” and if you don’t know who that is, then you aren’t in a position to argue against my decision. Anyway, Gabriel Voisin was a French aircraft pioneer who turned to motorcars in 1919.

He valued lightness in his cars and worked with a lot of aluminium and alloys (all that aircraft knowledge came in handy). The cars weren’t supposed to be beautiful – but “rational” – that is, functional and efficient. The lines are angular and supposed to serve a purpose. He wanted to build the world’s most perfect automobile. The engines were also efficient – this car uses a 3.0-liter Knight Sleeve-Valve straight-six making 90 horsepower. And it’s a big car, so speed obviously wasn’t a priority.

The Aérodyne was introduced at the Paris Auto Salon at the end of 1934. The car was marketed at the most well-heeled clients and was fabulously equipped. The interior is wrapped in a crazy Art Deco print design and the fastback roof is full of portholes for sunlight and the whole thing actually slides back like the world’s first giant sunroof.

voisin c25 aerodyne top

This car was owned by the same man from 1963 until his death in 2008, when the car was sold and restored by its new owner. He, the current owner, only displayed the car once – meaning it is ripe for 2014 Concours season. Only 28 Voisin C25s were built and only eight had Aérodyne coachwork. Only four of those are believe to survive today and you can buy one (and you might as well) as it is expected to bring between $2,000,000-$3,000,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Gooding & Co. in Monterey.

Update: Sold $1,925,000

S/N: 50023

July 2013 Auction Roundup

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I have three auctions on my calendar from July that we haven’t talked about. First is H&H’s sale at Pavilion Gardens. The top sale (reported, there was one old Bentley that didn’t have a price attached to it) was this 1936 Bentley 4.25-Litre Special which sold for $164,246.

1936 Bentley 4.25-Litre Special

Interesting cars were topped off by a car we featured from a previous H&H Auction. It failed to sell then, but sold here. It was the Jaguar XJ220 Development Prototype and it sold for $111,384. Our featured Jensen CV-8 failed to sell. Check out full results here.

Next up was RM’s annual sale held around the St. John’s Concours d’Elegance. The top sale here was our featured Duesenberg for $682,000. Cool cars included this 1941 Dodge Half-Ton Canopy Express for $29,700.

1941 Dodge Half-Ton Canopy Express

Personally, I think this 1956 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible is awesome. Too bad I didn’t have $90,750 to drop on it.

1956 Plymouth Belvedere Convertibl

And yet another Chrysler product, this 1961 Imperial Crown Convertible was a car I thought about featuring but didn’t. I love how outrageous this thing is. It sold for $148,500.

1961 Imperial Crown Convertible

Our other two feature cars did well. The Lincoln Model K sold for $165,000. And the Cadillac Model 30 Military Roadster brought $110,000. And finally, this 1915 Mitchell Light Six Six-Passenger Touring car was one of my favorites of the sale. It sold for $50,000. Click here for full results.

1915 Mitchell Light Six Six-Passenger Touring

And finally, Silverstone Auctions’ Silverstone Classic sale. The top sale here was a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 for $571,838.

1965 Aston Martin DB5

Our feature car, the 2001 Lotus 340R failed to sell, however a 2004 version (which is weird, you’ll have to read the lot description as to why it’s a 2004) managed to sell for $36,950. Interesting sales were easily topped by the “how-did-I-not-see-this-and-feature-it” 1927 Falcon-Knight 10 Tourer. It brought $44,000. Do you know how long it’s going to be until another Falcon-Knight comes up for sale? A long time.

1927 Falcon-Knight 10 Tourer

And finally, as is always the case with a Silverstone sale, there are some cool competition cars. The coolest this time round was this 1989 Lancia Delta Integrale Group N Rally Car. It sold for $41,350. Click here for full results.

1989 Lancia Delta Integrale Group N Rally Ca