flying merkel Archives - ClassicCarWeekly.netClassicCarWeekly.net

The first sale held in November was RKMCCA’s sale in Charlotte. Our featured Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster was the top sale at $1,300,000. Our featured Lotec failed to sell. You can check out more results here, but there’s nothing else I can show you. Next up was Bonhams’ Harrogate sale. Our featured Burlington Arrow failed to sell. The top sale was this barn find 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage for an eye-popping $209,905.

There were a number of commercial vehicles at this sale (which I always find interesting). The most of interesting of which was this 1935 Albion SPL 126 Van. It was almost featured here on the site and it sold for $30,307.

Our featured Star Comet sold for $12,857. And finally, from the beauty category, this 1949 Bentley Mk VI 6.75-Litre Drophead Coupe. It went for $106,150. Check out full results here.

Hopping over the Channel to France, we have Osenat’s Lyon sale. Our featured Ford Comete sold for $74,250. The top sale was this 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Cabriolet by Fernandez & Darrin. It brought $256,500. Check out full results here.

Next up was RM’s incredible Art of the Automobile sale held in conjunction with Sotheby’s in New York. The top sale was our featured Ferrari 250 LM for $14,300,000. Next up was the Talbot-Lago for $7,150,000. Another $7 million car was the Ferrari 250 GT Speciale for $7,040,000.

Our featured Lincoln concept car failed to sell. The newest car in the auction, the one-off Bugatti Veyron, went for $2,310,000. A cool car we didn’t feature was this low-slung 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Sports Coupe by Freestone & Webb. It sold for $2,420,000.

Our featured Delahaye sold for $2,420,000. The Zagato Maserati brought $4,455,000. A previously-featured Minerva sold for $660,000. The sale’s only Duesenberg went for $1,760,000. The coolest other vehicle was this 1914 Flying Merkel Model 471. These are some of the coolest motorcycles ever built and the price reflected it: $181,500.

Other featured cars: the Supersonic Aston Martin sold for $2,310,000. The custom-bodied Ferrari Europa GT went for $2,420,000. And the Chevrolet CERV II sold for $1,100,000. Click here for full results.

Next up: Silverstone’s NEC Classic Motor Show Sale. The top sale was this 1965 Aston Martin DB5 for $586,845.

Our featured IKA Torino sedan brought $45,644. You can check out full results here. And finally, Mecum’s Anaheim sale where our featured Hemi Charger failed to sell. The top sale was this 2006 Ford GT for $230,000.

The coolest car in this sale was this 1953 Hudson Hornet Twin-H Convertible that brought $150,000. Click here for full results.

The other big motorcycle auction in Sin City was brought to you by Auctions America (January 12-14, 2012). The big talk of this auction was the 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle that we featured over a month ago. It was supposed to break all motorcycle auction records when it sold. Unfortunately, it did not sell – nor did a number of other high-profile motorcycles offered at this sale.

That said, there were still some significant money changing hands and some bargains to be had as well. One that qualifies as both was this 1910 Flying Merkel V-Twin Belt Drive. Flying Merkels are extremely rare and valuable: the pre-sale estimate on this one was $175,000-$200,000. It sold at no reserve for $77,500. A steal and the second highest price paid for a motorcycle at this auction. The distinction of Top Sale went to a 1964 Ducati 250 F3 Corsa at $81,200 that once belonged to 4-time Grand Prix motorcycle champion Walter Villa (this is according to their published results online. I read a story at AutoWeek.com that said the Merkel was the top sale).

One of my favorites from this sale was this 1926 Cleveland Fowler powered by a 600cc four-cylinder engine – of which just 100 were made. This one supposedly belonged to Steve McQueen – a name that increases the value of just about anything its attached to, especially things with wheels and engines. There didn’t seem to be any documented proof of this connection but the legend worked its magic: the bike sold for $76,160.

Pretty good lookin’, eh?

There were BSAa and Triumphs too numerous to count, but there was also the occasional bizarro-bike. Like this 2010 Confederate Fighter P120 – one of 50. Looking like it rode off the set of Terminator, it packs 160 horsepower and an all-aluminum monocoque. I’m guessing it rides about as scary as it looks:

There were a number of Harleys for sale in Las Vegas – and a bunch of “Anniversary” models from the manufacturer who is king of anniversary models (seriously, every 5 years). My Harley pick of the auction is this 1990 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy – one truly awesome looking bike. There is something about the styling of this Harley that stands out above the rest. I don’t know… but I think something about it’s $10,080 sale price is attractive too. Ah, the air of affordability!