The Only Two-Door Phantom VI

1973 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Cabriolet by Frua

Offered by Bonhams | Ebeltoft, Denmark | September 26, 2015

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The Rolls-Royce Phantom VI replaced the Phantom V (obviously). It was introduced in 1968 and lasted, ludicrously, through 1990. They were exclusive sedans and limousines favored by the likes of Queen Elizabeth II. A couple of hearses were also constructed and there were two convertibles built by Frua. One has four doors, making this the only two-door Phantom VI built.

It was designed by Pietro Frua for a Swiss diplomat for use in Switzerland and Monaco. In fact, he kept the car until 1997. It had one other owner before the current owner acquired it. It is powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 and power was “adequate.” Just look at the thing – it’s enormous. The car is over 19 feet long. It’s almost a foot longer than a ’59 Cadillac convertible. It’s one of the biggest two-door convertibles ever built.

And it is opulent. The interior has been aggressively nitpicked to the slightest detail from the leather-lined carpet to the owner’s initials on the horn. You really should see this thing from every angle, including the opposing opening hood. You can find more pictures here. It is expected to sell for between $300,000-$390,000. Click here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $550,098.

Silver Ghost Skiff

1914 Rolls-Royce 40/50 Silver Ghost Skiff by Schapiro-Schebera

Offered by Bonhams | Ebeltoft, Denmark | September 26, 2015

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The Silver Ghost is the most famous of all Rolls-Royce models. Many were huge touring cars or sedans for the wealthy to be chauffeured around in. But not everyone wanted to sit out back and there are a number of “sportier” variants of the 40/50HP Silver Ghost, including this nautical-themed Skiff.

The Silver Ghost was so named because of an early factory demonstrator that was painted in silver. The car still exists – it’s actually owned by Bentley and is hugely famous. Between 1906 and 1926 (an eternity), Rolls-Royce moved 7,874 examples – including the 1,703 built in the U.S.

The engine from 1910 onward was a 7.4-liter straight-six making 50 horsepower. This car was delivered new to France before making its way to Belgium. Around 1919, just after WWI ended, the car was taken to Berlin and re-bodied from an enclosed sedan to the skiff you see here. The car would later reside in Cairo, Egypt for decades until being taken back to England for a restoration in the 1970s. The restoration was not all that intense, as the car was well-preserved in its desert home for many years. In fact, some of the car appears original.

In 1985 the car went to a new owner in California. It’s current owner has the car in Denmark. It has certainly led a well-traveled life. It is thought that this may be the only wooden skiff-bodied Silver Ghost ever built, even if it was a re-body (but although this was done in period, it’s really not a big deal). It should bring between $1,100,000-$1,400,000. Click here for more info and here for more from this sale.

Update: Sold $1,117,387.

June 2015 Auction Highlights, Pt. II

There were a lot of auctions in June. H&H Classics held what appeared to be a 90% Rolls-Royce/Bentley sale in June. The top sale was a Rolls-Royce – a car we were going to feature but ran out of time. It’s a 1923 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Shooting Brake and it brought $253,210. Check out full results here.

Photo - H&H Classics

Photo – H&H Classics

If we jump across the English Channel, we’ll find ourselves in Paris, for Artcurial’s sale. The top sale was actually a 1991 Ferrari F40 for $1,114,520 even though I was sure this Bugatti would’ve taken top honors.

1991 Ferrari F40

Photo – Artcurial

Our featured Alpine A210 sold for $524,480. Check out complete results here. Racking up more frequent flyer miles, we hop back to England where Bonhams had an awesome sale at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where a previously-featured Croizemarie sold for $35,237. The top sale was this 1935 Aston Martin Ulster factory race car with amazing race history for $4,578,122.

1935 Aston Martin Ulster

Photo – Bonhams

A featured Aston Martin failed to sell. The Gordon-Keeble brought $125,550, the Isotta Fraschini $547,929, and the Williams $160,748. Complete results can be found here.

Motostalgia held a sale in early June and our featured Lola-Cosworth sold for $93,500. The AAR Eagle failed to sell. The top sale was this 1932 Cadillac V12 Victoria Convertible barn find for $308,000. Click here for complete results.

Photo - Motostalgia

Photo – Motostalgia

Finally, Mecum’s Denver sale. We weren’t able to feature anything from this sale, but the top seller was this 2012 Lamborghini Aventador for $285,000. Click here for full results.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

February 2015 Auction Highlights Pt. II

First up in this rundown is Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale where this 1993 Jaguar XJ220 was the to sale at $287,595.

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

Our feature car from this sale, the Alfa Romeo SZ, sold for a strong $130,805. Click here for full results.

Up next is H&H Auctions’ Pavilion Gardens sale. The top sale was this 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL for $84,950.

Photo - H&H Auctions

Photo – H&H Auctions

We didn’t get to feature a car from this sale, but this 1956 Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire 346 is kinda pretty. It sold for only $9,660. Check out full results here.

Photo - H&H Auctions

Photo – H&H Auctions

The next auction we’re covering is Mecum’s sale of the Rogers’ Classic Car Museum. The top sale here was this 1962 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Mulliner Drophead Coupe for $320,000. Our featured Nash Special Six sold for $17,000. Click here for complete results of some very interesting and rare pre-and-post-war American convertibles.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Now we have something a little different. Bonhams held an auction in Oxford that consisted largely of Victorian carriages. It was all from a single private collection and the big seller was this c.1835 Traveling Landau by Adams & Hooper. It went for $376,416.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

There were three early motorized horseless carriages also on offer. The top seller among those was this 1911 Sears Model P for $31,431. Check out full results here.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Finally, Coys’ Spring Classics sale was held March 11th. The top sale was this 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. It sold for $236,800.

Photo - Coys

Photo – Coys

Our featured Lotus 59 did not sell. Check out full results here.

December 2014 Auction Recap

This first sale we’re covering here is H&H’s Chateau Impney sale. The top sale was actually a tie between two cars: this 1927 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model Tourer (below) and the 1972 Ferrari 365 GTC/4 (second below) sold for $331,968 each.

Photo -  H&H Auctions

Photo – H&H Auctions

Photo - H&H Auctions

Photo – H&H Auctions

Our featured 1911 Talbot Tourer sold for $88,583. Check out full results here. Next up, Bonhams in Oxford. Our featured Bristol 411 was withdrawn, but this 1912 Rolls-Royce 40/50HP Silver Ghost Tourer was the top sale at $420,474.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Our featured Albion Delivery Van sold for $55,919 and the Diatto brought $45,096. Click here for full results.

The top sale at Mecum’s Kansas City sale was this 2005 Ford GT for $290,000. Our featured Mauck MSV sold for $50,000. Click here for full results.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Mecum’s Austin, Texas, sale also saw a Ford GT be the top sale, in this case it was a 2006 model that sold for $310,000.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Our featured 427 Mercury Comet sold for $169,000. The three rare trucks we featured all sold as well with the Studebaker going for $72,000 while the Willys brought $40,000 and the Terraplane $45,000. Click here for full results.

Finally, our featured cars from Coys’ London sale. The March-Cosworth failed to sell but the Lancia brought $266,875. Click here for full results.

June 2014 Auction Recap

Onto June’s highlights. First up was Bonhams’ sale in Greenwich, Connecticut. The top sale there was a crazy sum for this 1975 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscipica. The price? $1,210,000. Yikes!

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

The legendary Fitch Phoenix brought $253,000. And our featured Stoddard-Dayton sold for $170,500. This cool 1927 Essex Super Six Boattail Speedabout caught my eye for $55,000.

Photo - Bonhams

Photo – Bonhams

Our featured De Dion-Bouton went for $93,500. And the 1911 Reo Express sold for $22,000. Click here for full results. Continue reading

April 2014 Auction Recap

April was kind of a busy month for auctions, so let’s get to it. First up is Silverstone’s Restoration Show Sale, where the top sale went to this half-complete 1962 Facel-Vega HK500 restoration project. It sold for $107,500.

Photo - Silverstone Auctions

Photo – Silverstone Auctions

It was an interesting sale and I suggest you check out the full results here. Then we’ll move over to Barrett-Jackson’s Palm Beach sale where the top sale was a charity car (so we’ll ignore it). But the top actual sale was this 1935 Packard Twelve Model 1207 Coupe Roadster by Dietrich – one of the last bodied by Dietrich. It sold for $330,000.

Photo - Barrett-Jackson

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

Most Interesting goes to one of the first lots of the sale, this 1978 Puma GTE for only $6,270.

Photo - Barrett-Jackson

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

Also interesting (and yellow) was this 1988 Pegasus. The Pegasus was a re-worked Trans-Am but were actually titled as unique cars. Only 25 were built and this one cost someone $33,000.

Photo - Barrett-Jackson

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

The final car I’ll showcase from this sale was the 1994 Chevrolet Highlander Concept (which is actually a 1992 Chevrolet S-10). It sold for $7,920. Check out full results here.

Photo - Barrett-Jackson

Photo – Barrett-Jackson

Now on to Mecum’s Houston sale. The top sale there was our featured Ford GT40 Prototype for a cool $7,000,000. Our featured Locomobile and Cadillac failed to sell – and so did the Dragonsnake Cobra, even though it was bid to $1.1 million. Cool cars were topped by this 1934 Cadillac Fleetwood V-12 All-Weather Phaeton for $165,000.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Another great, old car was this 1932 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Huntington Limousine by Brewster. It brought $145,000.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

Our featured Edsel Bermuda sold for $55,000. Check out complete results here. Earlier in April, Mecum held one of their tractor sales, and we featured five from this sale. Here’s the rundown:

  • Minneapolis 12-25 – Not sold
  • Rumely Oilpull L 15-25 – $10,500
  • Minneapolis-Moline Jet Star Orchard – $14,500
  • Rumely Oilpull X 25-40 – $20,000
  • Bull Little Bull – $81,000 – top sale of the auction

Complete results can be found here. Now we move on to H&H’s Imperial War Museum sale. The top result here was this 1969 Aston Martin DB6 for $265,300.

Photo - H&H Auctions

Photo – H&H Auctions

Our featured AC Greyhound brought $73,850. And the Marmon Speedster we featured almost doubled the high end of its estimate, selling for an awesome $90,300. Click here for full results. And finally, Mecum’s Kansas City sale, where this 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback brought $220,000 to be the top seller.

Photo - Mecum

Photo – Mecum

We didn’t get the chance to feature anything from this sale, but two past feature cars did sell here, including a 1920 Cadillac for $24,250 and a very rare Abbott-Detroit Roadster for $35,000. Click here for full results

Rolls-Royce Hyperion

2008 Rolls-Royce Hyperion by Pininfarina

For Sale at Alain Class Motors | Dubai, U.A.E.

2008 Rolls-Royce Hyperion

The Rolls-Royce Hyperion was a one-off car designed and built by Pininfarina based around a contemporary Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. It was built for and at the request of Rolls-Royce collector Roland Hall.

The car debuted at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours and Hall decided to sell it the following year. He asked 4.5 million euros. A few years later, this car surfaced in Dubai at the dealer you see here. The asking price had dropped to about 3 million euros. The price today is undisclosed, but probably less than it was a year and a half ago.

The mechanicals are all Rolls-Royce. The engine is a 6.75-liter V-12 making 460 horsepower. There are no rear seats (they were removed). The body is a custom carbon fiber job and it actually looks pretty cool – especially from the back. You can buy it or see more pictures here.

2014 Scottsdale Highlights II

The next auction we’ve got results on is RM’s annual Arizona sale. The big winner there was, no surprise, a 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider for $8,800,000.

1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider

Our featured Chaparral did not sell while our featured, all-original, Duesenberg brought $2,200,000. Our other featured top-seller was the Porsche RS 61 for $2,750,000. The only other feature car that cracked the million dollar mark was the Hispano-Suiza J12 and it only hit $1 million with the buyer’s premium added on: $1,045,000. Interesting cars were topped by this 1960 DKW 3=6 Schnellaster Kastenwagen for $60,500.

1960 DKW 3=6 Schnellaster Kastenwagen

Another cool car was this 1905 Reo Two-Cylinder Five-Passenger Detachable Tonneau that also sold for $60,500.

1905 Reo Two-Cylinder Five-Passenger Detachable Tonneau

I really liked this 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Park Ward. It looks awfully regal and makes me want to hire a chauffeur (even if it’s for my Honda daily driver). It sold for $440,000.

1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Sedanca de Ville by Park Ward

A previously-featured Abarth race car brought $46,750. The OSCA 750S sold for $660,000. This 1935 Lincoln Model K Convertible Roadster by LeBaron looks like a lot of fun. It brought $242,000.

1935 Lincoln Model K Convertible Roadster by LeBaron

And finally, our featured Fiat 8V by Ghia sold for $946,000. Check out full results here. Next up is “Super Saturday” at Barrett-Jackson (and also, Sunday – which is still going on as I write this). The top sale of Barrett-Jackson’s entire sale was our featured 1967 Chevy L88 Corvette Coupe for $3,850,000. Another top seller was this 1963 Cooper Monaco Shelby King Cobra which went for $1,650,000.

1963 Cooper Monaco Shelby King Cobra

The featured Duesenberg from this sale sold for $1,430,000. Another mega-bucks Corvette was the ultra-rare ZR2 we featured. It crossed the block for $495,000. For the same price, you could’ve bought this 1955 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport (which I think I’d much rather have).

1955 Talbot-Lago T26 Grand Sport

One car that didn’t stand out to me until I read the lot description (and saw it cross the block on live TV) was this 1926 Packard Eight Model 443 Phaeton by Murphy that was customized at the request of its original owner, Rudolph Valentino. It sold for $264,000.

1926 Packard Eight Model 443 Phaeton by Murphy

The featured Plymouth Belmont Concept car failed to meet its reserve and thus did not sell. You can check out full results here.

2014 Scottsdale Auction Highlights Pt I

Well I’ll start by saying I missed one auction in December. It was Osenat’s sale that closed out the 2013 auction calendar. The top sale there was this 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II by Hooper. It went for $68,500.

1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II by HooperThe coolest car from this sale was this cheap 1932 Peugeot 201C that sold for a paltry $8,905. You can check out full results here.

1932 Peugeot 201C

Because they’re already done and posted, I’ll go ahead and cover the first few days (Tuesday-Friday) of Barrett-Jackson. Also – a big thank you to Barrett-Jackson for posting your results as you go. It’s awesome. The top sale over these first few days was actually a charity car – this 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Copo Coupe for $700,000. It is serial #1 of 69.

2014 Chevrolet Camaro COPO

Of non-charity cars, the top sale was this 1957 Ford Thunderbird “E” Convertible for $330,000.

1957 Ford Thunderbird E Convertible

As far as interesting cars, I’m always a fan of Plum Crazy Mopars and this 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T Convertible fits the bill. It brought $104,500.

1970 Dodge Challenger RT Convertible

Also cool, this 1975 Autobianchi A112 Abarth sold for $16,500. The rest of the good stuff all crosses the block tonight. You can check up-to-the-minute results here.

1975 Autobianchi A112 Abarth

And the other part of our Part I coverage will be Bonhams Scottsdale sale. The #1 seller there was this 1951 Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta for $3,190,000.

1951 Ferrari 212 Export Berlinetta

Our featured Simplex failed to sell. The Figoni et Falaschi Bentley brought $605,000. Cool cars included this amazing all-original 1915 Packard 1-35 Twin Six Seven-Passenger Touring for $144,100.

1915 Packard 1-35 Twin Six Seven-Passenger Touring

I like the low, mean look of this 1929 Stutz Model M Monte Carlo by Weymann. It sold for $264,000. Our featured Thomas Flyer sold for $275,000.

1929 Stutz Model M Monte Carlo by Weymann

Our featured Intermeccanica Omega brought $73,700. And finally, the how-could-you-not-show-it, a 1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Sport Phaeton that sold for a seemingly reasonable $1,430,000. You can check out full results here.

1936 Mercedes-Benz 500K Sport Phaeton