Tag Archives: classic cars

Frazer Nash Mille Miglia

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1952 Frazer Nash Mille Miglia

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | London, U.K. | November 5, 2022

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

Frazer Nash built pre-war and post-war sports cars. They were also the U.K. distributor for BMW in the 1930s. This is a post-war sports car, obviously, as it’s from the early 1950s. The last Frazer Nash cars were built in 1957, which was about eight years before Archibald Frazer-Nash died.

In 1948, the company built a car called the Fast Tourer, which was also the name of a pre-war model. This morphed almost immediately into the Mille Miglia model, of which 11 were built through 1953. Power is provided by a 2.0-liter Bristol inline-six that made somewhere between 110 and 126 horsepower depending on the compression ratio.

This car was damaged in the 1960s or ’70s, spending a period in storage after that. A restoration that started in the late 1970s dragged on for decades, eventually being completed around 2005. You can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold.

Steyr 220 Cabriolet

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1939 Steyr 220 Cabriolet

Offered by Dorotheum | Salzburg, Austria | October 15, 2022

Photo – Dorotheum

Hard to believe a Steyr 220 has not come across this site yet. There have been a few that have popped up over the years, which can only mean that this site was asleep at the wheel. That or confident another would pop up soon. And here we are.

Steyr, which is mostly known for Steyr-Daimler-Puch products like the Pinzgauer, actually built road cars, including some fancier-looking ones like this. The 220 was the last in a line of 120/125/220 that stretched back to 1935. The 220 would be built from 1937 through 1941. It was the company’s most glamorous product – and their last passenger car.

Power is from a 2.3-liter inline-six that made 55 horsepower. Just 5,900 examples of the 220 were produced. Interestingly, a 220 with the same engine number sold on Bring a Trailer for $36,000 earlier this year. The car here has maroon wheels and fenders in lieu of body-color fenders and tan wheels, but it could be the same car. It has an estimate of $78,000-$110,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Not sold.

Renault Fregate

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1959 Renault Fregate Cabriolet by Chapron

Offered by Artcurial | Paris, France | October 16, 2022

Photo – Artcurial

Renault’s Fregate was a sedan offered between 1951 and 1960, but a few of them ended up as coachbuilt two-door cars, including this pretty cabriolet from Henri Chapron. Chapron actually designed three different variations of the Fregate. This is an example of the third.

Only three of these were built, and this is the only one left. It’s powered by a 2.1-liter inline-four that could be had in 75- or 80-horsepower form. This particular car was restored in the early 2000s.

The paint colors are great for a ’50s car, and are actually period Chapron colors, although this car was previously burgundy. The pre-sale estimate is $77,000-$116,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $82,291.

Turner 803

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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.

Four-Wheel Leon Bollee

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1905 Leon Bollee 45/50HP Roi-des-Belges Tourer

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 4-15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

Leon Bollee was a pioneer in the automotive field, as was his father, Amedee. The most common vehicles associated with Leon Bollee are the three-wheeled voiturettes from the 19th century.

But, Leon Bollee Automobiles actually built cars through 1923 before being taken over by Morris, who soldiered on with a hyphenated marque until 1931. This car is the oldest four-wheeled Leon Bollee car known to the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain. That distinction leads one to believe that older four-wheeled cars could potentially exist elsewhere. Like in France. But who knows

It’s powered by an 8.3-liter inline-four rated at 50 horsepower. It’s got dual-chain drive and remained with the original owning family for 65 years. The restoration dates from the late 1980s/early 1990s. This is a big time early car, and you can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold.

Steyr Type 55

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1939 Steyr Type 55

Offered by Dorotheum | Salzburg, Austria | October 15, 2022

Photo – Dorotheum

The “Steyr Baby” was a small car produced by Steyr-Daimler-Puch between 1936 and 1940. It was actually called the Steyr 50 upon its introduction, and it was renamed the 55 when it was updated for 1938. Updates for the Type 55 included a lengthened wheelbase (by like two inches) and a stronger engine.

That engine is a 1.2-liter flat-four that made 25.5 horsepower compared to 22 horsepower of the Type 50. Only 7,800 Type 55s were built, all in two-door sedan style. The diminutive shape and rounded profile has lead to the occasional “Austrian Volkswagen” nickname.

This example was restored at the end of the 1990s and wears a two-tone paint scheme, as they came with from the factory. A rare survivor, it’s likely the best one around. The pre-sale estimate is $37,000-$47,000. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $48,705.

1914 Overland

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1914 Overland Model 79TE Touring

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Hershey, Pennsylvania | October 5-6, 2022

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

The Model 79 was one of two products sold by Overland in 1914, the other was the Model 46. The Model 79 was offered in three body styles: a roadster, coupe or touring, the latter of which cost $950 when new.

Power is provided by a 35-horsepower inline-four. This one was sold new in Wyoming to a sheep rancher. In 1914, cars had been on sale for a bit, approximately 14 years. Yet, this was the first car for the family of its first owner. Makes you wonder when the last hold outs finally converted to automobiles.

Touring cars from this era are just great, and this one is no exception. It’s actually being sold by the family of its first owner – and at no reserve. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold $45,100.

Thomas Flyabout

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1914 Thomas Flyer Model K 6-90 Flyabout

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Hershey, Pennsylvania | October 5-6, 2022

Photo Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

E.R. Thomas‘s automobile company got off to a modest start in 1902. But it only took about five years for them to make quite a name for themselves by winning the 1908 New York to Paris Race with an ’07 Model 35.

Their cars were some of the nicest you could buy in the U.S. prior to WWI. The Model K 6-70 was introduced in 1908 and featured a 140″ wheelbase and a preposterous 12.8-liter inline-six. That car made 70 horsepower. If that was not enough, you could order, as a factory option, an increased cylinder bore that would up the displacement and also the power – to 88 horsepower.

Thomas actually ran out of money in 1912, and after that they sold the Model K chassis for truck use, which is how this car was initially configured. Used as a fire truck by a few cities, it was eventually spotted and purchased by Bill Harrah in 1959. It would be one of nine Thomas cars he owned (including the New York-Paris race winner). It wasn’t until its next owner in the 1980s that the car was rebodied in Flyabout fashion.

Only about 500 Model K 6-70/90 cars were built in total, and only 10 are known to exist. This one has an interesting history, which you can read more about here.

Update: Sold $594,000.

Ocelot Mk-8A

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1981 Ocelot Mk-8A Sports 2000

Offered by Mecum | Chicago, Illinois | October 15, 2022

Photo – Mecum

Larry Schneider and Gene Davis built about 20 Ocelot race cars out of the Madison, Wisconsin, area from about 1968 through 1981. The cars were built to target the SCCA D Sports Racing (DSR) class. The car featured here is utilizes a tube-frame chassis and fiberglass bodywork.

This is the only Mk-8A built, sort of at the end of the road for new Ocelot cars. It’s powered by a 2.0-liter Ford inline-four mounted behind the driver. It’s got a Hewland four-speed gearbox and comes with a bunch of spares.

This car has been active all over the Midwest, having been last on track about a year ago. You can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold, high bid of $14,000.

McIntyre Utility

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1909 McIntyre Model NN Utility

Offered by H&H Classics | Duxford, U.K. | October 19, 2022

Photo – H&H Auctions

McIntyre was based in Auburn, Indiana, and was surrounded by quite a few other local manufacturers. They produced cars out of the old Kiblinger factory, and like Kiblinger, also produced high-wheelers.

From 1909 through 1911, they exclusively produced high-wheelers. The company claimed they were the only high-wheeler manufacturer to offer a full line of automobiles. And in 1909, they sold four models across nine body styles and sub-models. So yeah, kinda.

This car is one of 264 Model NNs produced in 1909. It’s powered by an 18-horsepower twin and sold for $650 when new. It’s basically an early pickup. It’s offered at no reserve. Click here for more info.

Update: Sold ~$12,814.