Tag Archives: rm sothebys

Duesenberg J-119

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1929 Duesenberg Model J Disappearing Top Convertible Coupe by Murphy

Offered by RM Sotheby’s | Plymouth, Michigan | July 30, 2016

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

This is one of the earliest Model J Duesenberg’s we’ve yet featured. The car that took the world by storm in late 1929 still gets people’s attention today. The Model J is undoubtedly one of America’s greatest automotive achievements.

This is a “Disappearing Top” Convertible Coupe, built by the Walter M. Murphy Company of Pasadena, California. They built 60 Convertible Coupes, with only 25 of those being of the Disappearing Top variety. As a Model J, it is powered by a 265 horsepower, 6.9-liter straight-eight engine.

This car was sold new with a Derham Sedan body attached to it. The original owner in Chicago sent it back to Duesenberg to have this body installed. This happened in 1934 and then it was resold. It has had many owners, but the current owner has had it for many years and used it often. In fact, he has driven this car round trip from Florida to Auburn, Indiana. The car’s second restoration was completed under his care and is being sold to benefit a liberal arts college. Read more about it here and see more from this sale here.

Update: Sold $1,540,000.

May 2016 Auction Highlights

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Before we jump into May, we again go back to January for Coys’ Grandes Marques sale held in Maastricht, Netherlands. We didn’t feature anything from this sale, but the top seller was this 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster for about $215,000. Click here for full results.

Photo - Coys

Photo – Coys

Actually in May, we have Brightwells whose sale included this 1962 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8 Semi-Lightweight Coupe that was the top seller at $161,705.

Photo - Brightwells

Photo – Brightwells

Our featured Donnet-Zedel failed to sell but you can check out full results here.

May means Monaco and the first sale we’re covering from Monaco is that of Bonhams. The top sale there – far and away – was this all-original 1953 Jaguar C-Type with Le Mans history. It brought $8,221,626.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

A previously featured Benetton F1 car sold for $1,200,618 after it no-sold a year and a half ago for less than a third of this price, proving that sometimes it’s better to hold on to it and wait. Our featured Bugatti Type 35 brought the same amount. The Ferrari 330 America justifiably brought more than its estimate at $489,382. All three other feature cars failed to sell: the Aston One-77, De Tomaso Vallelunga, and the Talbot-Lago. Full results can be found here.

Onward in Monaco to RM Sotheby’s. The top sale was our featured Ferrari 340 America (as the 275 NART Spyder didn’t meet its reserve) at $8,233,680. Other feature cars that didn’t sell included the Peugeot 205, Alfa 1900C, Ferrari 330 GTS, and a previously-featured March 711. The two cars from the Quattroroute Collection that we featured both sold and both seemed like bargains: the SCAT Torpedo brought $48,135 and the Hispano-Suiza $120,340. For most interesting, we’ll pick another “car” from that collection, this 1903 De Dion-Bouton chassis & engine that brought $50,668.

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

The Ferrari 275 GTS did sell – it went for $2,026,750. Click here for full results.

And the final highlight for this rundown are that of Silverstone Auctions and their May Sale. Our featured Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire sold for $7,834. The top sale was this 1983 Lamborghini Countach 5000 S for $408,065. Click here for full results.

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

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.

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.

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.

Hispano-Suiza H6B

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1930 Hispano-Suiza H6B Coupe Chauffeur by Binder

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

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

The Hispano-Suiza was a combination of the Spanish and Swiss… so it only makes sense that a number of their greatest cars were actually built by the French. Many of the models were Spanish built, but the French firm was responsible for the H6B, H6C, HS26, K6, and J12 models.

This H6B differs from the later H6C in that it has a smaller, less powerful engine and a lower top speed. It is powered by a 135 horsepower, 6.6-liter straight-six with a top speed of 85 mph. This model was available from 1919 through 1929.

The business-like Coupe Chauffeur was a car built just for that – to be chauffeured around in. The body is by French coachbuilder Henri Binder and the restoration is described as “older.” What that means I’m not sure, but the car has been in the same collection since 1962. Click here for more info and here for more from RM.

Update: Sold $120,340.

SCAT Torpedo

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1914 SCAT Tipo 14-1 Torpedo by Solaro

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

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

The Ceirano Brothers were pretty big players in the early days of the Italian automobile industry. They were responsible for the birth of the following brands: Ceirano, S.T.A.R., Itala, S.P.A., Fiat (technically), and SCAT. Societa Ceirano Automobili Torino (SCAT) was founded in 1906 by Giovanni Ceirano. It lasted through 1929.

They built a solid reputation for sportiness and power: between 1911 and 1914 the company won the Targa Florio twice. This is a Model 18/30 HP and it was built between 1914 and 1916. It is powered by a 38 horsepower, 3.6-liter straight-four. The car is a Torpedo tourer with seating for five, six, or seven.

It is not original but whatever work has been done (including the paint) was done long ago. It still looks great and would likely be a lot of fun. It has serious pedigree and is from a mostly forgotten manufacturer. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $48,135.

205 Turbo 16 Evo 1

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1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 1 Group B

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

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

The Peugeot 205 was a small car sold by the French company all over the world between 1983 and 1998. Versions of is became some of the best Hot Hatches of the era. It just so happened that during this car’s production run, the insane rally category – Group B – was thriving.

Between 1982 and 1987, Group B cars were the most over-the-top rally cars ever built. Peugeot entered the fray in 1984 and Group B regulations required homologation road cars. The hatchback road cars were front-engine, front-wheel drive – but the rally cars (and their road-going counterparts) are mid-engined and four-wheel drive. That engine is a 1.8-liter turbocharged straight-four making 345 horsepower. It’s a beast.

This was a works rally car, and as such, it’s competition history includes:

  • 1985 Rallye Monte-Carlo – 1st (with Ari Vatanen)
  • 1985 Swedish Rally – 1st (with Vatanen)

After the ’85 season (which included more races than those listed above), the car was sold to a collector in France. It has been recently serviced and is the perfect car for anyone with an insane amount of driving skill. Or you know, a collector. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Not sold.

March 2016 Auction Highlights, Pt. II

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We’re back with more auction highlights from March, starting with Silverstone Auctions’ third sale of the month. This, the Restoration Show Sale, didn’t have any feature cars here on our site, but the top sale was this 1999 Lamborghini Diablo SV for $248,550. Click here for full results.

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Next up, more Amelia Island sales. Motostalgia held a sale during the Concours weekend and, while we didn’t get to feature anything, the top seller was this 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta for $1,250,000 Click here for complete results.

Photo - Motostalgia

Photo – Motostalgia

Also at Amelia Island was Gooding & Company where the top seller was the insane $17,160,000 paid for this 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider. Long one of the most sought-after road-going Ferraris, their prices have seemingly doubled in the past five years. We aren’t surprised.

Photo - Gooding & Company

Photo – Gooding & Company

Of our feature cars, a number brought big money, including a previously-featured Duesenberg for $2,640,000. The Ford GT40 went for $3,300,000 and, from the Seinfeld collection, the Porsche Jagdwagen went for a tenth of that at $330,000 (Seinfeld appears to have taken a million dollar loss on the 917/30). Three of our feature cars failed to sell including the Jerry Seinfeld Carrera GT, the Porsche 908, and the O.S.C.A. Click here for complete results.

And the final Amelia Island highlight is that of RM Sotheby’s. Another classic Ferrari road car topped the results, this time being a 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica LWB Coupe Aerodinamico for $4,400,000.

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

Our top-selling feature car was the Edsel Ford Speedster ($770,000) while the other featured Ford, the RS200 Evo brought $522,500. Falling between those two was the Stutz Monte Carlo at $550,000. The Mercedes 540K failed to sell.

The other three feature cars all sold: the Kurtis Aguila brought $423,500, the Packard Limousine $137,500, and the Siata $198,000. Click here for complete results. And finally we have Bonhams’ Mercedes-Benz sale in Stuttgart. All three of our feature cars failed to sell, including the 540K and both 500Ks. The top sale was this 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss for $2,594,170. Click here for complete results.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Ferrari 340 America

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1951 Ferrari 340 America Barchetta by Touring

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

Photo - RM Sotheby's

Photo – RM Sotheby’s

There were a number of Ferrari automobiles that wore a “340” badge. There was the 340 Mexico, the 340 MM, the 340 F1, and this, the 340 America. The America, obviously, was part of the Ferrari America line of cars that began in 1950 with this model. It would continue through 1966 with the 500 Superfast (and maybe through 1967 with the 365 California if you count that one).

The 340 America is powered by a 4.1-liter V-12 making 317 horsepower. That’s some serious get-up-and-go for 1951. It’s first owner was a Frenchman who drove his first 24 Hours of Le Mans 20 years prior. And with that, this car was entered in the 1951 24 Hours (just a week after its owner took delivery, no less). It’s competition history includes:

  • 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans – 56th, DNF (with Louis Chiron and Pierre-Louis Dreyfus (the car’s owner)
  • 1952 24 Hours of Le Mans – 45th, DNF (with Dreyfus and Rene Dreyfus)

It’s a quick car, too – able to hit 150 mph on the Mulsanne. It sports a recent restoration to 1951 Le Mans spec and has both competed in the historic Mille Miglia and has been shown at Villa d’Este. It is the third of 23 340 Americas built. Only eight were bodied by Touring (this is the second). Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $8,233,680.