Tag Archives: classic cars

Sapphire 346

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1955 Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire 346

Offered by Silverstone Auctions | Silverstone, England | May 20, 2016

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

The history of Armstrong-Siddeley begins with the production of the short-lived Armstrong in 1902. From 1904, the cars were known as Armstrong-Whitworth and in 1919, they bought Siddeley-Deasy and started building cars as Armstrong-Siddeley. Production lasted through 1960 when the company merged again and focused on its other specialty: aircraft engines.

The Sapphire was actually a line of cars built between 1952 and 1960. There were different lines and the 346 was offered in sedan or limousine form between 1953 and 1958. The engine is a 3.4-liter straight-six making 125 horsepower –  or 150 with twin Strombergs on it. Top speed was a solid 95 mph.

The production total for this model was 7,697. This example is very nice and was brought back to the U.K. from Romania. It hasn’t been used a lot recently, so it could take a little love to get it back and road ready. You can read more here and see more from this sale here.

Update: Sold $7,834.

GS Stage 1 Convertible

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1970 Buick GS Stage 1 Convertible

Offered by Mecum | Indianapolis, Indiana | May 17-21, 2016

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

The GS – or Grand Sport – began life as an option package on the Buick Skylark in 1965. It was essentially an engine upgrade and it became its own model in 1967 as the GS. In 1973, once the muscle car era had abruptly ended, the name was lengthened to Grand Sport.

The “Stage 1” was the king engine for the GS line and it was introduced in 1969. The 455 Stage 1 is a 7.5-liter V-8 rated at 360 horsepower and an awesome 510 lb-ft of torque. These cars were well-equipped from the factory with just about every bit of GM know-how built into them. That said, this is a relatively low-option car, as it was outfitted for performance and not necessarily luxury.

This car was restored just prior to 2011 and is one of only 67 4-speed Stage 1 Convertibles built in 1970. Only 19 are known to still exist, with this being the lowest-option model thought to have been built. It’s the biggest, baddest Buick of the muscle car era and it should bring between $200,000-$250,000. Click here for more info and here for more from Mecum in Indy.

Update: Sold $185,000.

MGB Prototype

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1965 MG B EX234 Prototype Roadster by Pininfarina

Offered by Bonhams | Goodwood, England | June 24, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The MG B is a legendary car because it is the definitive British sports roadster. Produced between 1962 and 1980, they are ubiquitous – with over half a million built. You can find them everywhere, they are cheap and easy to work on. And fun. And wild – I’ve been in one that launched into a snowbank off a slippery runway. Good times.

But what we have here is a very special MGB. In 1964, MG started planning for the “next MGB” and built a prototype chassis with independent rear suspension and four wheel disc brakes. The engine was a 1.3-liter straight-four found in most other BMC products (but, strangely, not other MGBs). They shipped the chassis to Italy for Pininfarina to attach a prototype body to it.

It was intended to replace the B and the MG Midget. But both cars were strong sellers – and why mess with success? This car got put away and eventually sold into an MG museum in 1977 having only 100 miles on it. Today it has covered only 374 miles and is all original. It’s one of a kind and it’s the first time it is being offered for public sale. It is expected to bring between $51,000-$66,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $83,762.

Update: Not sold, Bonhams Goodwood 2022.

Ferrari 330 GTS

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1967 Ferrari 330 GTS

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monaco | May 14, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

Everyone loves Ferrari convertibles, yet they are so rare. It seems like, over the years, Ferrari has turned out drop-tops at just a fraction of the rate as their hardtop counterparts. Only 99 of these were built. The 330 GTS is the Pininfarina-styled convertible version of the 1966-1968 330 GTC (whose production numbered nearly 600).

It’s powered by a 300 horsepower 4.0-liter V-12 that can push the car to 150 mph. It was the followup to the short-lived, but similar-in-style 275 GTS. This example sports its rare, original colors: gold with black interior (but of course those colors have fancier, Italian names). No red respray here.

First purchased in New York City, this car has spent its entire life in the States in the hands of numerous owners. It was involved in an accident in the late 1990s and was professionally repaired. To further ease any damage fears, an extensive restoration was carried out in 2014 (and by “extensive” we mean it cost like $400k). It’s one of the nicest examples anywhere of the only 99 ever built and it should bring between $2,350,000-$2,700,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Diablo GT

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2001 Lamborghini Diablo GT

Offered by Coys | Monaco | May 14, 2016

Photo - Coys

Photo – Coys

The Lamborghini Diablo was one of the best supercars of the 1990s. It was the brand’s main model and was in production between 1990 and 2001. It started production while Lamborghini was owned by Chrysler and continued through Megatech’s rocky years and on into the “present” under the stewardship of Volkswagen’s Audi.

The Diablo got a slight facelift in 1999 and there had been various models of the Diablo produced previously and that continued right up until the end. One of the final special edition models was the GT. It was the “track day” variant – it had a spartan interior, more aggressive bodywork and a tuned engine. That engine is a 5.7-liter V-12 making 575 horsepower. It is rear-wheel drive.

Only 80 Diablo GTs were produced and they cost nearly $300,000 when new. They were never officially sold in the U.S. (though there are some cars here). This is car #73 and it is as it was from the factory, with the exception of a nicer radio (yes, those are the stock wheels). It’s been in Europe all its life and is expected to bring between $700,000-$775,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold, about $700,000.

Alfa Romeo Sprint Supergioiello

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1953 Alfa Romeo 1900C Sprint Supergioiello by Ghia

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monaco | May 14, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

This might look more like a coachbuilt classic than a rally car, but it turns out that it is both. The Alfa Romeo 1900C was the short wheelbase version of the 1900. The 1900 was built between 1950 and 1959 with the C having been introduced in 1951.

It is powered by a 1.9-liter straight-four making 100 horsepower. This car was bodied by Ghia and is one of 18 such examples built (and was apparently the final one). It was sold new in Spain and used extensively for rallying between 1954 and 1961. It actually ran in the 1955 Monte Carlo Rally with owner Gumersindo Garcia Fernandez at the wheel.

This car has spent most of its life in Spain and Portugal but was restored in Italy recently. It looks fantastic and the numbers on the door give away its racing past, even if those wire wheels don’t. It should sell for between $555,000-$660,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

Talbot-Lago T14 Special

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1956 Talbot-Lago T14 LS Special Coupe

Offered by Bonhams | Monaco | May 13, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

When Talbot reorganized under Tony Lago in 1935, they immediately started building some of France’s most spectacular cars. The great coachbuilt age may have disappeared when WWII broke out, but beautiful cars kept coming from Talbot-Lago through the end of the 1950s.

The Talbot-Lago Sport went by a few different names in different variations. The T14 LS was introduced in 1955 and it was set apart from other Sport-based models by its engine: a 2.5-liter straight-four making 120 horsepower. Even better was the Special model, which was equipped with aluminium body panels, Borrani wire wheels and a performance camshaft.

This particular example was the factory demonstrator and was used by famed racer Louis Rosier and has had nine owners over the years. It was restored in 1994 and still looks great. Only 54 examples of the T14 LS were built and only seven or eight of those were Specials. It should bring between $250,000-$290,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

S/N # 140031

Update: Not sold.

Update II: Sold, Bonhams Goodwood, June 2017, $176,371.

Ferrari 275 GTS

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1966 Ferrari 275 GTS

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Monaco | May 14, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

RM is actually offering the other 275 convertible, the NART Spyder, at this sale. That car is much rarer and more valuable (to an insane degree) than this one. This car, while related to the rest of the 275 line, looks nothing like it. The 275 GTB was built between 1964 and 1966 with Pininfarina’s 275 GTS convertible variant available during that same time period.

The car is powered by the same 3.3-liter V-12 in the twin-cam version of the 275 GTB. Horsepower is rated at 260 and the car was built specifically for the American market, though some right hand drive models were also made.

This model was intended as a followup to the 250 GT Series II Cabriolet and its styling reflects that, as it seems “older” than the rest of the 275 series. Only 200 were built and this one was sold new in Chicago for $12,400. It has had only three owners in its life (including one who affixed a trailer hitch to it at one point) and has never been restored. Even the paint is original and it displays beautifully. It should sell for between $1,875,000-$2,100,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $2,026,750.

Arrows A8

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1985 Arrows A8

Offered by Coys | Monaco | May 14, 2016

Photo - Coys

Photo – Coys

Arrows Grand Prix International was founded in 1977 in England by Franco Ambrosio, Alan Rees, Jackie Oliver, Dave Wass, and Tony Southgate. They first competed in 1978 and their last race was midway in the 2002 season.

The A8 was Arrows’ car for the 1985 (and part of the 1986) season. The engine was a 1.5-liter BMW straight-four turbocharged to make, in qualifying trim, up to 1,100 horsepower. It is unclear what engine this car currently carries but it is mentioned that said engine has been rebuilt (but never driven).

Only five (or six) of these were built with this one, A8-6, being the last. This car was Thierry Boutsen’s but we can’t report as to which races it ran in or how it best finished. At any rate, it should sell for between $170,000-$205,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Bugatti Type 35

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1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix

Offered by Bonhams | Monaco | May 13, 2016

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

There is so much that can be said about this car, starting with the fact that it’s one of the most iconic racing cars of its era. The Type 35 Bugatti was introduced in the latter half of 1924 and spawned multiple later variations including the Type 37.

It is powered by a 2.0-liter straight-eight producing 90 horsepower. It was sold new to someone in London, who picked the car up in France and drove it home. He quickly entered the car in various competitive events, finishing well in some of them.

The car was restored between 2007 and 2009, when an original Type 35 engine was re-installed in the car after decades of running on an Anzani engine. It was repainted to match its original color scheme and it is wearing the best wheels that a Grand Prix Bugatti possibly can. It’s a car that has been extensively used over its life, including post-restoration. Only 96 Type 35s were built, with this being 19th Grand Prix version constructed. It’s a fantastic car and should bring between $1,100,000-$1,700,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $1,200,618.