Tag Archives: classic cars

Lagonda V12

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1939 Lagonda V12 Drophead Coupe

Offered by H&H Classics | Duxford, U.K. | March 15, 2023

Photo – H&H Classics

Lagonda’s V12 engine was designed by W.O. Bentley and debuted just in time for WWII. Production of the V12 model commenced in 1938, and just two years later only 189 had been produced when the war broke out.

The 4.5-liter V12 produced 180 horsepower, which was enough to propel the cars over 100 mph, regardless of what body style they wore. This short-wheelbase car features factory drophead coupe coachwork and received a replacement V12 under warranty when new.

It later spent over 40 years in a barn in England before being pulled back out into the light in 2006 and subsequently restored. This is one of the great pre-war classics, and perhaps England’s best. This one has an estimate of $300,000-$360,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold, but H&H LAMELY removed the price to protect some sensitive owner or flipping dealer.

Knox Model C

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1903 Knox Model C Runabout

Offered by Bonhams | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2, 2023

Photo – Bonhams

The Knox Automobile Company was based in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was founded by Harry Knox and Elihu Cutler, and they sold their first 15 cars in 1900. Knox would hang around for another decade and a half, with cars trickling out until they went bankrupt in 1915. Tractor and truck production until the Knox brand continued until 1924.

In 1903, they offered just the Model C, which was only built in Runabout form. Power is provided by a 10-horsepower, 2.6-liter single. This car was parked for a long time, with its engine used to power a saw.

Later on, it was restored, with recreation coachwork constructed by its restorer. It now has an estimate of $55,000-$65,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $44,800.

Alfa 1900C SSZ

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1955 Alfa Romeo 1900C SSZ by Zagato

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2-3, 2023

Photo – Gooding & Company

Alfa Romeo’s 1900 model was built between 1950 and 1959. Berlina sedans, Sprint coupes, and coachbuilt cabriolets were all available. So were a slew of other sub-models, including this, the “SSZ.”

Power here is from a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-four fitted with twin Solex carburetors for a rated output of 115 horsepower. This 1900C (C for “Corto” – denoting a short wheelbase) was bodied by Zagato in SSZ form. Just 39 such examples were completed, with all but 10 of those known to exist.

This car competed in two Mille Miglias: 1955 and 1956. It was most recently restored in 2017 and has since been shown at Pebble Beach. It now has an estimate of $1,500,000-$2,000,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $1,545,000.

Crane Model 3

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1912 Crane Model 3 Four-Passenger Sport Landau

Offered by Bonhams | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2, 2023

Photo – Bonhams

The Crane & Whitman Company, founded by engineers Henry Crane and Allen Whitman, sprang up in 1906 and was known for their engines. Speedboat work came in 1907, when Crane developed a 200-horsepower V8 that would help set a motorboat speed record.

The Crane Motor Car Company was set up in 1909, and their first model, the Model 3, was ready for 1912. They were powered by a 110-horsepower, 9.2-liter inline-six. They were “premium” cars at a premium price: $9,000 for a bare chassis that you had to have bodied elsewhere. This one was bodied by a small coachbuilder called F.R. Wood in New York.

Less than 60 cars were produced by Crane through 1914, when they were acquired by Simplex. This is one of two survivors of what was one of America’s finest pre-WWI automobiles. The estimate is $180,000-$220,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

OSCA Tipo S-187

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1959 OSCA Tipo S-187

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2-3, 2023

Photo – Gooding & Company

O.S.C.A. was kind of like “Maserati Take II.” It was founded by the Maserati Brothers when they left their own company in 1947, and it remained around through 1967. The S-187 was introduced in 1956.

It’s powered by a 747cc DOHC inline-four, which has been bored to 846cc in this car. Output is estimated at 75 horsepower. It’s a tiny 1950s sports racer, and it helped its first owner capture the 1959 SCCA National Championship. It remained active in SCCA competition through 1965.

It also won regional SCCA championships from 1961 through 1963. The car was later stored in a dismantled state. Recent work included a repaint in 2018. The pre-sale estimate is $500,000-$600,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Venturi 111 Cup

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1991 Venturi Coupe 111 Cup

Offered by Broad Arrow Auctions | Amelia Island, Florida | March 4, 2023

Photo – Broad Arrow Auctions

For such a small company, Venturi sure produced a lot of different models. Or at least a lot of sub-models off of its early MVS Venturi Coupe platform. Their coupe models were produced between 1987 and the mid-1990s with essentially the same styling. Tweaks came for the Atlantique 300 of 1996.

The 111 Cup was a car aimed at the Italian market and built in 1991 and 1992. Italy had some big taxes on cars over 2.0 liters in capacity, and other Coupe/Transcup models exceeded that engine size. So they decided to swap those out for a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four sourced from Renault. It made 185 horsepower.

It’s thought that only three examples of this model were produced. This one has a remarkably low (claimed) 350 kilometers on it since new. The pre-sale estimate is $90,000-$110,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $56,000.

Giulietta Spider

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1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

Offered by Historics Auctioneers | London, U.K. | February 25, 2023

Photo – Historics Auctioneers

One of the prettiest cars of all time, Alfa‘s Tipo 101 Giulietta Spider is just simply classic. The Tipo 750/101 Giulietta was available from 1954 through 1963 in a number of different styles, including the basic sedan, the Bertone-bodied Sprint and Sprint Speciale, the Zagato-styled SZ, and this, the Pinin Farina-styled Spider.

This one was originally white but has been refinished in classic Italian red. It was sold new in New Jersey and spent time on both U.S. coasts before being exported to the U.K. in 2015. It’s powered by a 1.3-liter twin-cam inline-four that made around 80 horsepower. Top speed was just over 100 mph.

Giulietta Spider production totaled around 14,300 units, with another ~2,800 built to Veloce spec, which brought more power. The estimate on this example is $55,000-$63,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

AJS-Jensen Tourer

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1931 AJS-Jensen Open Tourer

Offered by H&H Classics | Duxford, U.K. | March 15, 2023

Photo – H&H Classics

A.J. Stevens & Co. Ltd. was founded by Jack (Albert John) Stevens in 1909 after an engine produced by his father’s machine company was successfully used in a 24-hour motorcycle run. They sold motorcycles under the AJS brand from 1910 through 1931.

As far as car go, AJS started by building bodies for Clyno, and when Clyno went out of business at the end of the ’20s, AJS put their know-how to use and launched their own car in late 1930. They were powered by a 1.1-liter inline-four that made 24 horsepower. Production estimate range from 1,000 to 3,000 through 1931.

Only 38 of their cars are known to exist. This one was sold new as a bare chassis (which was an option) and was bodied for the first owner by Jensen Brothers, which is what they did before they started building their own cars. Restored, it now has an estimate of $30,000-$38,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Fiat 1400 Rondine Coupe

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1952 Fiat 1400 Rondine Coupe by Stabilimento Monviso

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2-3, 2023

Photo – Gooding & Company

The 1400 was Fiat‘s first all-new post-war model when it went on sale in 1950. It would be produced through 1958, while the similar 1900 model was sold from 1952 through 1959. The 1400 was marketed by the factory as a four-door sedan.

There were some coachbuilt versions of the 1400, however, including this stylish coupe. It was bodied by a small Turin-based coachbuilder called Stabilimento Monviso, who would be acquired by Ghia in 1955. Styling was actually by Giovanni Michelotti, and a small number of these “Rondine” coupes were built between 1950 and 1953.

It has suicide doors and two-tone paint. Power is from a 1.4-liter inline-four that was rated at 44 horsepower with a single Weber carburetor. The pre-sale estimate is $150,000-$200,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $89,600.

Duesenberg J-131

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1931 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Sedan by Murphy

Offered by Gooding & Company | Amelia Island, Florida | March 2-3, 2023

Photo – Gooding & Company

Feel like it’s been a bit since we’ve featured a car from Gooding & Company, although it’s hard not to take notice when they start putting Duesenbergs out there. We’ve got a few other cars coming from this sale too.

This is among the classic looks for a Model J: a convertible sedan with coachwork by Murphy, the most prolific Model J coachbuilder. Power is from a 6.9-liter inline-eight rated at 265 horsepower.

This one has mostly known ownership history back to new and was restored over 30 years ago, when it received its current two-tone paint job. Convertible sedans look much better with the top down, and this one is no exception. The pre-sale estimate is $2,000,000-$2,400,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $2,205,000.