Barrett-Jackson, WestWorld, Scottsdale, Arizona, January 13-18, 2015
All props to Barrett-Jackson, no matter how it is cut, sliced and mixed. This is the grand daddy of collector car auctions and within its ebbs and flows mirrors the car collecting hobby better than anything else.
There is a law of large numbers at work here. With 1,628 cars crossing the block in six days of nearly non-stop commercial excess, it’s hard to miss a trend. But Barrett-Jackson works hard to smoke them out before others tumble to them.
Hundreds of vendors flock to fill the acres (soon to be measured in square miles?) of space under the buildings and tents at WestWorld. Their offerings similarly mirror the tastes (if that word can be applied) of the bidders, guests, sponsors and a daily deluge of walk-ins who part with up to $60 just to partake of the spectacle.
In a quarter century of chronicling collector car auctions I’ve never wavered from a simple expression: Barrett-Jackson’s Scottsdale auction is “Barrett-Jackson” followed by a year. Other Barrett-Jackson sites, Palm Beach, Las Vegas, LA, Orange County and Reno, specify the location.
This is ‘Barrett-Jackson.’
There is no other.
The bare numbers are eye-opening:
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The average car this year at $89,100 (rounding taken into account) was a ’69 Plymouth Road Runner Hemi Hardtop.
One of the median cars at $45,100 was an FJ40 Land Cruiser (described later).
Barrett-Jackson has a huge audience with its television presence and it has effectively used its exposure to expand not only its footprint but also the opportunities it offers to the multitudes who watch and eventually visit.
The experimentation with new ideas is especially visible in what Barrett-Jackson calls The Salon Collection. It was added as a separate segment in 2012 featuring a selection of high value classics, sports cars and concepts. Positioned at the front of the enclosed preview area, The Salon Collection gave everyone who walked into Barrett-Jackson a quick dose of cars unlike the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s American, sports, muscle, custom and resto-mods (another category pioneered by Barrett-Jackson) that filled the preview tents. It started slow with just 32 lots in 2012, but all but three of them sold and brought a total of $18,282,700, 20.2% of the $90 million Barrett-Jackson total in 2012.
Importantly, the Salon Collection demonstrated that, after years of catering to a mostly American, mostly 50’s-70’s era market, Barrett-Jackson could and did sell classic marques like Packard, Isotta-Fraschini, Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, Daimler and Hudson and they brought very good prices, as high as and in some cases higher than they might have brought at competing auctions. The high end, classic, market was dynamic, and the interests of Barrett-Jackson’s clientele were broad and expanding to encompass it.
In 2013 The Salon Collection was back, now with 54 cars ranging from a 1914 Mercedes and 1919 Pierce-Arrow to a pair of 2009 Spykers, and of course George Barris’s “Batmobile #1”. 50 of them sold, bringing a total of $29,240,200, (27.9% of the 2013 total) a one-day, three hour performance than any auction anywhere would point to with pride.
Having identified a good thing, Barrett-Jackson expanded the Salon again in 2014, bringing it up to 75 lots including a Calliope, a Carousel, several customs, a boat-trailer-Hummer combination and the “Snake” v. “Mongoose” exhibition drag cars with their haulers. The docket ranged in age from a 1918 Packard Twin Six to a brand new 2013 Camaro CRC COPO. All but four sold, bringing a total of $32,027,600 (28.8% of the week’s total.) Fifteen lots were offered with reserves, 4 no-saled, a 73.3% sell-through on reserve lots.
This year there were 105 lots in the Salon, filling nearly half of the front preview structure. 84 sold for a total of $22,173,800 (16.9% of the week’s total.) The Salon Collection’s performance was somewhat disappointing, but realistic in light of the heavy interest and expansive promotion of the 140 cars from Ron Pratte’s collection that pre-empted the sequence of Salon offerings on the block to fit into Barrett-Jackson’s television schedule.
Aside from showing Barrett-Jackson’s willingness to tinker with its extraordinarily successful formula (actually there are several formulae that interact synergistically) the success of The Salon Collection at Barrett-Jackson’s signature week-long Scottsdale auction demonstrates how interest in collecting expands when collectors are presented with opportunities that challenge their established patterns.
If it shows nothing more than that, the Salon Collection’s success shows that collecting, and car collecting in particular, is not a static environment. The idea that young collectors hankering after the Countaches, Ford GTs and Enzos of their high school and college years will lose interest after satisfying that urge is narrow-minded. Once collecting interest is stimulated the appeal of a Fifties Chrysler, a Forties Woodie Wagon, a Thirties Packard, a Twenties Cadillac and even a Teens Pierce-Arrow becomes steadily more apparent.
It is recognized and encouraged in the Barrett-Jackson Salon Collection.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report
Lot # 1 1977 Club Custom Golf Cart; S/N HG0303247856; Red, Arizona Cardinals/White vinyl; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $6,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,150. No Reserve – Brinkmann four-burner grille, covered bed, alloy wheels, satellite stereo. – It is the wrong team for tailgating at this year’s Superbowl, but it’s in the right Zip Code. Clean, fresh and like new. – It’s maddening to the auctions when the first cars (or in this case ‘vehicles’) across the block come at the head of the lot order display. In Cardinals’ mad Phoenix this is a cool thing, and not unreasonable even for a week’s driving around the massive B-J site; a golf cart rental for seven days is darn near this much.Lot # 1.1 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC Coupe; S/N 10702412020680; Brown/Beige leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,400. No Reserve – Automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, Becker Mexico cassette stereo, alloy wheels, Michelin radial tires, sliding sunroof. – Decent older repaint with edge chips. Tired, tom leather, faded dashtop. Aged body seals. Tired but sound. – New leather is a must (but a few sheepskins would cover up the tears and escaping padding, which is what usually is the case with cars like this.) With over 200K miles service is a valid concern. It would make a good airport car (‘Go ahead and steal it’) and it’s barely more than half the price of the golf cart.Lot # 2 1984 Cadillac Seville 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 1G6AS6987EE836802; White, White vinyl roof/Burgundy leather; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $4,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,950. No Reserve – Power everything, Alpine CD stereo, wide chrome wire wheels, gold line narrow whitewalls, dark tinted windows. – A sound and usable used car, only vaguely distasteful. The interior was remarkably good, fortunately without being velour. – The price is enough for what it is, a symbol of America’s 80’s divergence from good taste.Lot # 2.1 1981 AMC Concord DL Coupe; S/N 1AMCA0652BK194125; Mustard, Tan vinyl roof/Tan velour; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,950. No Reserve – Automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, AM-FM, tilt column, padded steering wheel rim, bucket seats, power locks, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. – Good original paint, chrome and interior appropriate to the 49,979 miles on the odometer. – This is, by any standard, a real find. In the 80’s even American Motors could make a 2-door with funny little quarter windows, a padded half roof, gaudy wheel covers and upholstery from a Victorian bawdy house and actually sell it. Its survival in such good condition is nothing short of a miracle. It must have made a statement in Sun City.Lot # 5 1978 Puma GT Coupe; S/N SP1022603; Yellow/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $6,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $7,150. No Reserve – 1600 cc Air-cooled VW four, 4-speed, dual Weber carbs, Bridgestone Potenza tires, quad exhaust tips, VDO gauges, wood rim steering wheel, Sony cassette stereo, tinted windows, locking glove box. – Decent paint with some noticeable chips and scratches. Slightly dirty engine bay. Shabby interior with loose door panel screws and fairly worn overall look to it. Showing 99,000 miles but doesn’t look so bad overall. Much better than most 70s VW kit cars because Puma was a legit carmaker that sold complete examples in Brazil. Not a lot of them in the US, and few can claim to be this good. – This Puma’s auction history is like a pachinko game, bouncing from auction and buyer to buyer. It sold at Mecum Kissimmee a year ago for $5,750, then at B-J Palm Beach three months later for $6,270, then at Anaheim three months ago for $5,000. This result looks like a home run, before transport, entry fees and commissions are taken into account. Poor thing. May it someday find a VW-loving home.Lot # 6 1967 Ford Fairlane Ranchero Pickup; S/N 7K47C230223; White/Blue, Brown vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $5,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $6,050. No Reserve – 289/200hp, automatic, bench seat, hubcaps, Michelin radial tires. – Cheap, poorly masked repaint in refrigerator white. Tired interior and dashboard. Decent chrome. Dry, original underbody with overspray. cleaned up but not detailed engine. Good for Home Depot runs but not much else. – Cheap enough, for a utilitarian Fairlane Ranchero in seriously mediocre condition, but farther North than Scottsdale it would be riddled with rot, patch panels and Bondo. It is a realistic purchase at this price.Lot # 7.1 1967 BMW 2000 Sedan; S/N 1210127; Red/Black vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $8,200 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,020. No Reserve – 4-speed, steel wheels with hub caps, Minos tires, VDO gauges, Sparkomatic cassette stereo. – Dull paint and chrome. Very tired interior with loose trim. Shifter boot tied on with a shoelace. Shabby underneath, but no visible rust. Originally an automatic, but switched to a 4-speed. Rare 4-door car that will grab a lot more attention than a regular old 2002, but this one is about as driver quality as it gets. – A long 2002, or a Bavaria shortchanged by two cylinders, either way this is an unusual car that won’t go unnoticed at a BMW gathering. It’s perfect for a BMW fan with a fam, and is even for that market affordable. Many hours can be productively employed improving its presentation.Lot # 25.1 1966 Renault Caravelle Convertible; S/N 191584; White/Black; Black top; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $10,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $11,000. No Reserve – Original Engine and removable hardtop – This Renault is an older restoration. Engine is correct has been detailed. Vehicle was listed as hardtop but is a convertible with a removable hardtop. The soft-top is an older replacement and shows wear and tears on connecting corners. Paint shows bleed thru and has dings and chips all around the car with poor attempts at touch up. Brightwork is fair, bumpers are bright but side trim shows wear. Glass is good but rubber seals are cracked. Tires have been replaced but are of original style. Engine has been highly detailed and engine compartment is repainted. Undercarriage shows wear but is clean with no attention to detailing. Seats and dash have all been replaced and are good. This is an older restoration that has been cleaned up for a quick sale. – Renault made only one impression on the American market: a bad one. The Caravelle is a pretty little boulevardier, a grown-up Jolly, but damned by Renault’s abominable quality control. This Renault’s presentation mirrors its build quality and the consignor should have been happy to get this much for it.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Two
Lot # 47 1977 Chevrolet C10 Fleetside Pickup; S/N CCL447F422926; Bright Blue, Yellow side stripes/Blue cloth; 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200. No Reserve – 350/165hp, single four barrel, automatic, grille deflector, Uniroyal narrow whitewalls, Delco FM radio. – Decent, maybe original, with some scratches and several dark colored drips above the left front wheel. Good, lightly worn interior. Tidy underneath. Good chrome. Almost unbelievably well kept for what it is. – There are always some good trucks at Barrett-Jackson, and this is one of them, an honest, clean, pretty truck that shows little use or age. It brought a deserved superior price early in the B-J sale, showing that informed buyers were present from the first hours of the marathon.Lot # 49 1970 Jeep Jeepster Commando Station Wagon; S/N 8705F1758861; Torch Red, Ivory hard top/Tan vinyl with Tan cloth inserts; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $14,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $15,400. No Reserve – 225/160hp V-6, 3-speed, American Classic whitewalls, hard top, Suntune column-mounted tach, Optimus cassette stereo, locking glove box. – Very good paint overall with some overspray on the weather stripping. Very good chrome. Excellent interior. Inside of the hard top is a little rough. Very clean underneath. Pretty well restored example. A handsome Jeepster for fun. – Explain why three of these Jeepsters add up to only one FJ40? Makes no sense, except to the buyer of this Jeepster who got all the style and most of the function for a modest price.Lot # 62 1950 Crosley Hot Shot Roadster; S/N VC20796; Red/White leather with Red inserts; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $16,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $18,150. No Reserve – Single wing mirror, white steel wheels with hub caps, Yokohama all season tires, rear-mounted spare wheel with white vinyl cover, factory radio, heater. – Very good paint, chrome and interior with a few dings on the nose. Windshield frame is tired and aged. A well done, pretty, little car in sound driver condition. – Crosley’s little Hot Shot, de-contented for better performance from its little 725cc 26hp overhead cam four, was a performance phenomenon in the early 50’s, the Abarth of its time. Prices at auction are regularly over $20,000 and this is nothing if not a good value.Lot # 393.1 1978 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser Hardtop 4×4; S/N FJ40275352; Red, White/Black; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $28,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $31,350. No Reserve – Power brakes, power steering, aftermarket radio, side hinged rear doors. – A quick, thick repaint, detailed engine compartment, underbody is dirty and crusty, clean interior. Not especially eye catching and hastily prepped for sale. – Sold here last year for $27,500, a modest increase in price that matches the increasing popularity of FJ40s, even ones as superficially prepared as this.Lot # 500.1 1970 Dodge Charger R/T 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N XS29V0G110182; Blue, White vinyl roof/Blue vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $47,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $51,700. No Reserve – 440/390hp, Six Pack, automatic, power steering and brakes, BFG Radial T/A tires, vinyl top, AM/FM radio, center console, tick-tock-tach. – Fresh paint, door adjustment slightly off, refreshed underhood, transmission pan has a leak, underbody is clean, interior is redone. A decent cosmetic restoration. – Sold here last year for $55,000 and now showing 49,452 miles on the odometer, 34 more than it did when at WestWorld a year ago. The only other change is the fresh paint, and the seller got dinged over $10K (after commissions and entry fees) for the time and effort. A prime example of stagnant collector interest in Mopars.Lot # 554 1965 Sunbeam Tiger Mk IA Convertible; S/N 9470640LRXFE; Yellow/Black leather; Black top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $68,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $74,800. No Reserve – 260/164hp, 4-speed, Minilite alloy wheels, Bridgestone tires, woodrim steering wheel, woodgrain dash. – Two owner Tiger with claimed 62,259 actual miles, original engine and transmission. Excellent interior, very clean underneath, a recent ground up restoration. Other than the amateur-ish paint, this is a very strong example of a Tiger. – This may not be the best restoration of a Tiger, but it’s one of the best Tiger values in recent memory. Dragged along by soaring Cobra prices, it would not have been a surprise to see this Tiger bring another $25,000 hammer bid without being truly expensive.Lot # 555 1975 Toyota FJ-40 Land Cruiser Utility Custom; S/N FJ40198500; Camouflage/Black vinyl; Customized restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $41,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $45,100. No Reserve – Loaded with lights, winch, roof rack, stereo system, polished alloy wheels. – Restored to like new mechanical condition then completed with an imaginative camouflage paint scheme. Even among the many well restored FJ40s hitting the market this is a headliner. The car card is confused, saying it is both a 3.9 liter F engine or the larger 4.2 liter 2F. Either is appropriate for a 1975 MY FJ40. – The attempt at camouflage will do nothing to disguise this FJ40 from onlookers. It is over the top, but brought no more than some pretty ordinary FJ40s sold during Arizona auction week. The new owner got a special vehicle, even if its appeal is also specialized.Lot # 711 1961 Morgan Plus 4 Roadster; S/N 4796; Silver/Maroon leather; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700. No Reserve – 1,991cc TR2 engine, 90hp, dual SU carbs, 4-speed, chrome centerlock wire wheels, wind wings, rear-mounted spare wheel, banjo steering wheel, wood dash. – Excellent paint for the most part, but some is coming up around the door edges and exposing some surface rust. Very good chrome and interior. A good quality restoration, but no show car. The Plus 4 had a hotter Triumph engine than its Ford-engine 4/4 sibling and is the one to have. This one is done well and is a gorgeous driver. – Sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction in 2012 for $41,340, then here a year ago for $49,500 and offered at Mecum Monterey last August with a high bid of $42,000. The succession of results suggests that the buyer here at WestWorld got something of a good value.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Three
Lot # 763 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider; S/N AR375967; Red/Black leather piped in Red; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000. No Reserve – 1570/91hp, single Solex carb, 5-speed, steel wheels, Vredestein blackwalls, Nardi woodrim steering wheel, locking glove box. – A high quality restoration that has been driven just a little bit. Fantastic paint. Very good chrome and top. Very good interior. Engine bay shows very light use. Not overrestored, just done very well. – A satisfying Alfa, thoughtfully presented without embellishment and bought for a relatively modest price.Lot # 800 1959 Jaguar XK 150 Roadster; S/N S830353DN; Black/Beige leather; Tan cloth top; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $80,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $88,000. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, Lester wide whitewalls, single wing mirror, locking filler cap, locking glove box. – Represented as matching numbers and with the same owner from 1965 until 2012. Very good paint and chrome. Sound but lightly worn interior. Basic equipment, but a very pretty usable example. – Sold here a year ago for $91,300 and a sound value at the price it brought this year.Lot # 837 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 194679S734788; Engine # V08T71W; Cortez Silver/Burgundy; Black vinyl top; Unrestored original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $54,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $59,400. No Reserve – 350/350hp, M-22 “rock crusher” 4-speed, Rally wheels, red line tires, 3.70 Posi-Traction, factory AM-FM, power steering, power windows, power brakes. – Represented as completely original with 789 miles and that appears to be true. Original engine and drivetrain. Very good original paint with some scratches. Lightly pitted brightwork. Aged but tidy engine. A car that has aged gracefully with no major issues to fault it. – Trying to find a good home, this Corvette was sold here in 2008 for $88,000, crossed the block at Mecum Kissimmee last year with a $45,000 high bid, then was reported sold at Mecum’s Indy auction in May for a whopping $81,000, leading to this disappointment. The trouble with a low mileage car like this is that much more than on and off the trailer miles soon begin to eat into its most valuable attribute, the sub-1,000 miles on the odometer. The cycles in its auction results indicate that prospective purchasers can’t make up their minds how much, if any, premium it deserves. Whatever it is, however, it won’t be less than the bare minimum reflected in the price here, a sound value by any standard.Lot # 1075.1 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe; S/N 194377S118085; Engine # T0404JE; Silver/Red leather; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $110,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $121,000. No Reserve – 427/435hp, 4-speed, power brakes, Vintage air conditioning, side exhaust, alloy wheels, red line tires, power windows, AM/FM radio. – Good paint, brightwork has some scratches, well maintained engine showing expected wear, detailed underbody, interior has no wear. Professionally restored to good, consistent standards and well maintained since. Represented as matching numbers, documented with the tank sticker. Odd that it doesn’t have NCRS judging records, though. – This car no-saled at Auctions America’s Ft. Lauderdale auction ten months ago on a high bid of $105,000 and it was a long wait to get only another $5,000. A very desirable Big Block Mid-Year bought for a reasonable price. that wouldn’t have been any less reasonable for several thousand dollars more.Lot # 1096 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379L529383; Le Mans Blue, White/Black, houndstooth; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000. No Reserve – 302/290hp with cross ram dual quad intake, 4-speed, power steering and brakes, chambered exhaust, rally wheels, Goodyear Polyglas tires, 8-track player, center console, full gauge pack, AM radio. Represented as a factory cross ram prototype certified by Jerry MacNiesh as the original drivetrain and a factory prototype. – Flawless paint and chrome. This car is like new top to bottom, inside and out. A restoration with no expenses spared anywhere. – A significant Z/28 that it fully and desirably equipped and has interesting origins, restored to very high standards of fit, finish and factory appearance. A premium car bought for an appropriately premium price that could have been even more to take into account the cross-ram and its factory history without being expensive. As it is the new owner got a good value at a significant discount from the $165,000 it brought at B-J’s Palm Beach auction in 2013.Lot # 1143 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback; S/N 8F02R195335; Wimbledon White, Black stripe/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. No Reserve – 428/335hp CJ, 4-speed, Ram Air hood, 4.30 Sure Grip, power brakes, Goodyear Polyglas tires, AM radio. Deluxe Marti Report. – Very good fresh paint, excellent chrome, fully redone engine compartment. Rear glass swirled and scuffed. Very clean underbody and interior. A well done restoration with few issues worth picking on. Marti Report documented. – This Ford has been on tour since appearing at Mecum’s Indy auction in 2013 where it sold for $50,290, then on to Kissimmee a year ago where it no-saled at $51,000 and Mecum Houston three months later where it sold for $59,400. A fast, unusual and desirably equipped car with the ultra-low 4.30:1 rear axle which surely has used up its fair share of rear tires. The seller scored well with it here at WestWorld but the new owner paid no more than what it is worth.Lot # 1250.1 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 Sportsroof; S/N 1F02R203515; Silver Blue Metallic/White; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $48,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $52,800. No Reserve – 351/330hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, 3.91 Traction-Lock, power brakes, power steering, deluxe rim-blow steering wheel, console, tinted glass, Magnum 500 wheels. – Represented as the original engine. Vehicle has had some restoration work; the paint is newer with a very good luster. Brightwork is fair as it shows some dulling. Glass shows some aging and has a small chip on passenger side rear-quarter window. Tires are newer BF Goodrich radials. Interior is fair with minor wear. Engine has been cleaned but no detailing. The air cleaner is worn. The Mustang has an after-market battery, new distributor and spark plug wires. Undercarriage is clean and shows no defects. A sound older restoration that will be a decent driver and reward the new owner’s attention to its many small details. Documented with a Marti Report and window sticker. – Recognized by Mustang enthusiasts for its exemplary performance just as the dawn of fuel shortages, emissions standards and repressive insurance rates made ‘performance’ a bad word. This a lot of performance Mustang, reassuringly documented and bought right. It sold at Auburn Spring in 2002 for $17,172 freshly restored with 64,394 claimed original miles. Thirteen years later it is worth three times as much and has only about 7,500 more miles on its odometer.Lot # 1276 1970 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 W-30 Convertible; S/N 344670M330961; Porcelain White, Gold stripe/Green vinyl; Tan top; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve – 455/370hp, automatic, air conditioning, 3.23 limited slip, power brakes and steering, SSII wheels, BFG Radial T/A tires, vinyl top, dual sport mirrors, bucket seats, center console, Hurst dual gate shifter, 8-track player. Comes with build sheet, maintenance records and Protect-O-Plate. – Flawless paint and brightwork. Restored engine with attention to detail, underbody is immaculate as is the interior. A spectacular restoration by Thornton with a rare and attractive color combination. Ownership history from new, abundant documentation confirming its original configuration and three-owner history. – Offered at Mecum Indy seven years ago with a reported high bid of $85,000, the same bid that bought it today. The restoration and its preservation are exceptionally impressive, as is the long list of features and options. It is a sound value at this price.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Four
Lot # 1346 1956 Ford Parklane 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N M6LR129000; Bermuda Blue, Diamond Blue/Blue vinyl with Gray cloth inserts; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. No Reserve – 292/202hp with three 2-barrel intake, automatic, chrome wire wheels, Coker Classic whitewalls, push button radio, power steering, power brakes. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Fresh, high quality restoration needing nothing. Show ready. Rare one year only two-door wagon with desirable equipment. – By any standard this is an unusual and desirable car, but it is no more desirable than the Parklane sold from Ron Pratte’s collection and that brought only $77,000. This price is unsupportable, even freshly restored.Lot # 1549 1971 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 Coupe; S/N 124871N511505; Cottonwood Green, Black/Black; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $24,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,400. No Reserve – 350/350hp LT1, automatic, power brakes and steering, rally wheels, BFG Radial T/A tires, aftermarket tape player, center console. – Represented as having the correct engine and transmission casting numbers and date codes. Very good paint, door gaps are slightly uneven, engine compartment is clean and restored, underbody has some minor oxidation, interior represented as original and if it is it has held up very well. Cosmetically redone and a better than average driver. – Sold at Auburn Spring last year for $19,250, then at Mecum Dallas last September for $25,920. ‘Correct’ is a word frequently appearing to give an aura of originality to a car that can’t be supported; it’s a trigger word in reading auction car descriptions. The B-J Scottsdale bidders read carefully and bought appropriately.Lot # 1558 1968 Plymouth GTX 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N RS23L8A219794; Green/Black; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $31,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $34,100. No Reserve – 440/375hp, automatic, Sure Grip 3.23 rear end, red line tires. Matching number fender tag and partial build sheet. – This is a 2006 restoration that shows little use. The paint is fair, it is still bright but has chips and scratches on each door. Brightwork is fair with some dulling with age. Glass shows some scratches on driver’s side rear quarter window. The engine is clean and nicely detailed, shows no signs of much use. The undercarriage shows some wear and less attention to detail than the rest of the car. The exhaust has been replaced. The interior is original, other than the carpet replaced during restoration, and there are no signs of much use. A nice car for an older restoration and it should make for a nice driver. Documented with the original Certicard, warranty book and owner’s manual. – A post-block sale at Mecum Indy in 2008 for $31,565, then sold at B-J Las Vegas in 2009 for $28,600 and Palm Beach in 2010 for $39,930. It is ageing gracefully and represents a good value at the price it brought here in Scottsdale.Lot # 1593 1963 Jaguar Mk 2 3.8 Sedan; S/N P221563DN; White/Tan leather; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – 3.8, Borg Warner T-5 transmission, wing mirrors, centerlock wire wheels, Michelin tires, wood rim steering wheel, aluminum shift knob, burl wood dash and window trim, dome interior courtesy lights, pushbutton radio. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Very good interior wood. Upgraded transmission. Gorgeous show quality Mk 2 with the desirable 3.8 engine. – The car card says $90,000 in restoration receipts go with the car, making this price something of a bargain. Mk 2s, particularly the 3.8s, are renowned for their excellent driving dynamics as well as the quality and luxury of their interiors. This result is fair to both the buyer and the seller, even if the seller is in the hole by tens of thousands on the project.Lot # 2003 1956 Ford Parklane 2-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N M6DR126479; Light Grey, White/Red, White vinyl; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $70,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $77,000. No Reserve – 292/200hp, 3-speed overdrive, wire wheel covers, wide whitewalls, roof rack, dual remote spotlights, heater, pushbutton radio. – Very good clearcoat repaint applied assembled and not wet sanded close to the body side trim. Underbody is like new but dusty. Very good interior but instrument lenses are foggy. Bright chrome and stainless with only a few weak cast trim details. A rare and unusual Ford, if not exactly the competitor to the Nomad as B-J styled it. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold for $57,200 at Las Vegas in 2008 and in noticeably better condition now than it was then. Today it is the car Ron Pratte thought he bought seven years ago.Lot # 2004 1955 Pontiac Star Chief Convertible; S/N K855H19445; Grey, White/White, Grey vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $220,000. No Reserve – Wheel covers, whitewall, automatic, pushbutton radio, P/S, P/B, heater, clear vinyl seat covers. – Built for a TVLAND cable channel Promotion to resemble the Star Chief featured in ‘I Love Lucy’. Very good paint, chrome and stainless. Good upholstery. Orderly but dusty underbody and chassis. Flaky chrome on instrument cluster and steering wheel. Scuffed window sill moldings, window frames and blistered trim paint. Ron Pratte collection. – This replica of a TV car brought as much as a good TV featured General Lee and is far more money than the rather mediocre car it brought. It was a much better value when Ron Pratte bought it here at WestWorld in 2004 for $49,680.Lot # 2006 1958 Plymouth Fury 2-Dr. Hardtop “Christine”; S/N LP2L11322; Red, White roof/Red vinyl, cloth; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. No Reserve – Wheel covers, whitewall bias ply tires, P/S, P/B, pushbutton automatic. – Good paint, weak trim chrome, good upholstery. Old body seals and window channels. Bad left quarter window fit. Old undercoat. A typical movie car cosmetic restoration, well maintained is as-filmed condition and documented with a convincing paper trail. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold by Kruse at Spring Auburn in 1998 for $19,110, then by B-J in Palm Beach in 2004 for $167,400. Preserved in as-filmed condition after being updated for a promotional giveaway. It’s a typical movie car, but still has the aura of menace that Stephen King’s book and the subsequent movie conferred on it, and all 1958 Plymouths. Don’t give this car to your ex-wife, it could be construed as threatening.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Five
Lot # 2015 1969 Chevrolet Camaro COPO 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N665765; Burnished Brown/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. No Reserve – 427/425hp, 4-speed, 4.11 Positraction, Wide Tread GT tires, Rallye wheels with trim rings, Hurst shifter, radio, heater, P/B, double COPO, 9561 and 9737, Jerry MacNeish documented. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Like new underneath. Claimed and documented to be the original engine, transmission and rear axle. Restored and maintained in better than new condition. Ron Pratte Collection. – The thorough documentation and long, known history of this COPO give needed confidence in its correctness, as well as the rare survival of its original engine, transmission and rear axle. The rare and attractive color complete the value package and support the generous price it brought after selling here in 2007 for $176,000.Lot # 2016 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle Yenko 427 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 136379B408711; Fathom Green, White stripes/Black vinyl; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $250,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $275,000. No Reserve – 427/425hp, column shift automatic, F70-15 Polyglas, radio, heater, COPO 9737 and 9562, Super Sport hood, dual exhaust, drag racing suspension. – Restored like new, with better paint. In the quest for ‘unique’ the consignor notes this is the only ’69 Yenko Chevelle with the automatic’s shift on the column, which is a fairly slender branch upon which to base a claim of uniqueness. Ron Pratte collection. – Offered by Mecum at the Spring Classic in Rockford in 2004 in decent but not exceptional cosmetically restored condition and a reported high bid of $135,000, then sold here in 2007 for $176,000. Its condition and presentation now is impeccable and it brought a price appropriate to its configuration and condition, even if it is nearly $100,000 more than eight years ago, a 56% gain (7% a year, but not compounded.)Lot # 2017 1954 Kaiser-Darrin 161 Roadster; S/N 161001208; Light Green/Light Green vinyl; Light Green vinyl top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $170,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $187,000. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, whitewall bias ply tires. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Like new underneath. Bright, crisp dash and gauges. Ron Pratte collection. – Bought here in 2008 for $176,000. Its price here, hammered sold $6,000 under what was paid seven years ago is less a reflection on the current value of this extremely pretty Kaiser-Darrin than it is the extraordinary price paid for it in 2008. There is a reason experienced dealers say, ‘You make your money when you buy, not when you sell.’Lot # 2032 1966 Shelby Mustang GT350 Fastback; S/N SFM6S1765; Ivy Green, White stripes/Black vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $175,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $192,500. No Reserve – 289/306hp, 4-speed, 10-spoke alloy wheels, Eagle GT4 radial blackwall tires, 4-speed, pushbutton radio, P/B, woodrim steering wheel. – Very good paint, chrome, stainless and interior. Underbody is dusty but otherwise in fine condition. A very well preserved 2003 restoration. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold here in 2004 for $70,200, then in 2009 for $220,000. The price it brought today is in line with what has been seen recently for good ’66 GT350s, but may not give enough weight to this car’s benign history.Lot # 2035 1969 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 RS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124379N509335; Rally Green, White stripes/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve – 302/290hp with NOS cross-ram intake added, 4-speed, 4.1 rear axle, Endura nose, Wide Tread GT tires, Rally wheels with trim rings, pushbutton radio, heater, console gauges. – Very good paint, chrome, stainless and interior. Underbody is like new. Exceptionally well documented with original window sticker, pre-delivery check, shipper, Protect-o-Plate, key envelope and knock-outs, owner’s manual and more. It also (at great expense) was rebodied with GM sheet metal; it must have been a very rusty place to start. Ron Pratte collection. – This Z/28 represents an interesting quandary: does its restoration with new body panels add to (by virtue of their quality) or detract from (not as-built) its value? It brought $137,500 at B-J’s Las Vegas auction in 2008 and, it must be said, is better than new without being overdone. Would a similar car boasting ‘all original body panels’ be worth more? Probably not at least at the present time, but it might if GM suddenly tooled up for a run of new ’69 Z/28 panels and wholesale replacement became a widespread restoration practice.Lot # 2036 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Convertible; S/N 136670B215264; Cranberry Red/Ivory vinyl; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $135,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $148,500. No Reserve – 454/450hp LS6, automatic, 4.1 Positraction, P/B, P/W, buckets and console and 37 other options. – Restored to showroom condition with better than new paint. Meticulously detailed and presented, but not an LS6 when it left Baltimore. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold at Auburn Spring in 2003 for $28,355, then here in 2007 for $115,500. It would be hard to conceive how it could be prettier than it is, or any more desirable as a muscle car without actually being delivered the way it is seen. Hovering in the background somewhere is another, equally significant question. This Chevelle is offered without any documentation and if the engine was changed, how about the other 43 options that make it so distinctive? Based on that uncertainty, it is fully priced today.Lot # 2043 1903 Ford Model A Rear Entrance Tonneau; S/N 300; Dark Red, Black accent and mudguards/Black leather; Older restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $155,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $170,500. No Reserve – RHD. Kerosene sidelights, white tires on wood spoke wheels, snail trumpet bulb horn. – Preserved many years in the Warner Brothers film car inventory, then restored by the Woodhead family to promote their Ford dealership. Excellent paint, bright brass and very good upholstery. Meadow Brook first in class. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold at the Kruse auction of the Woodhead Ford collection in 2004 for $143,000, one of few ’03 Fords remaining and, if it passes VCC inspection, eligible for the Brighton Run, all factors that combine to make this rather generous result.Lot # 2070 1959 Fiat 600 Jolly; S/N 594358; Yellow/Wicker; White vinyl top; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. No Reserve – Wheel covers, whitewalls. – Excellent chrome, paint and surrey top. Sound, refinished original wicker. Orderly but not fully redone underbody. Engine cover hinges are still cracked but have fresh paint on them, license plate light chrome is pitted. Engine compartment is nearly like new and very clean. – Sold here in 2007 for $81,400 and dressed up a little since then with new paint and some attention to preserve the original wicker seats but otherwise pretty much as it was. Of three Jollys sold in Arizona this week, this and a similarly-priced one at Bonhams were only ‘expensive’, unlike the one at Gooding that broke some bidder’s paddle waving arm trying to hold up a price of $170,500.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Six
Lot # 2089 1957 Mercury Monterey 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N 57LA47009M; Light Blue, White roof/White, Blue vinyl, cloth; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve – 368/335hp, dual quads, 3-speed, black steel wheels, hubcaps, bias ply blackwall tires, radio, heater. – Number 33 of about 100 built at Bill Stroppe’s shop to homologate the dual quad M335 engine for NASCAR. Very good paint, chrome and interior, excellent panel fits. Underbody done to showroom standards. An intriguing car with brutal performance. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold here in 2011 for $38,500 and still a good value at this result. Calling this engine combination ‘little known’ is an understatement, which has significant effect on its value; collectors who haven’t heard of a rare variant like this don’t know what they’re getting. And if they don’t know what they’re getting they’re unlikely to keep bidding. It is one of the better values in Arizona this year.Lot # 2091 1931 Ford Model AA Postal Delivery Truck; S/N AA4828082; Olive Green, Black/Black; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $32,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,200. No Reserve – – Very good paint, solid woodwork and upholstery. In better than new condition. Reproduction wood body but represented as originally a Post Office truck in Minneapolis. Ron Pratte collection. – Sold at B-J’s Orange County auction in 2010 for $35,000. It’s not a recipe for getting rich, but it is a sound place to park some money, returning about as much as a savings account over the past five years.Lot # 2500 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special Motorama Concept Car; S/N 50175932; Metallic Green/Metallic Green; Older restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,300,000. With Reserve – GM Motorama concept car. – Redone to very good standards of fit and finish. New brushed aluminum window moldings. Very good interior. Ron Pratte collection. – Barely a minute on the block, sold to a phone bidder with little if any bidding activity visible at WestWorld. This is slightly better than the $2.8 million ($3.024 million with commission) the Bonneville brought nine years ago when Ron Pratte bought it here.Lot # 2501 1950 General Motors Futurliner Parade Of Progress Tour Bus; S/N 11; Red, Polished aluminum, White; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Charity Fundraiser, no buyer’s premium $4,000,000 plus commission of; Final Price $4,000,000. No Reserve – Parade of Progress US Royal whitewall tires. – Thoroughly gone through since its acquisition here in 2006 and brought to high standards of fit and finish. Still powered by the later engine, but now essentially fully functional and suitable for rolling display. The display area is liveried in the same green as the Pontiac Bonneville Special displayed in it during Ron Pratte’s ownership. The star of this year’s Barrett-Jackson. Proceeds to the Armed Forces Foundation. Ron Pratte collection. – Much heralded and maybe even more heavily promoted than nine years ago when it set the auction world ablaze. Craftily positioned with all proceeds to charity for maximum effect, the bidding slowed, then took off when a phone bidder (the buyer of the Pontiac Bonneville Special?) entered the fray against Rick Hendrick and brought it to this remarkable level. Hammered sold quickly upon hitting this bid, but still the star of the show.Lot # 2522 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Hemi 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N BS23R0B216443; Blue/Black vinyl; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $345,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $379,500. No Reserve – 426/425hp Hemi, automatic, shaker hood, rally wheels, fog lights, AM radio. – 30,000 or so miles from new, restored to a reasonable facsimile of the way it would have looked on the showroom floor albeit with better paint and fits than any American factory ever did in 1970. Represented as matching numbers, broadcast sheet documented. Ron Pratte collection. – Bought here in 2004 for the then curve-setting price of $216,000. Mopars have since then been up, and down again but this transaction once again represents a curve-setting transaction, encouraged by the provenance of coming from Ron Pratte’s collection. Mopar collectors (and speculators) should be encouraged.Lot # 5022 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL Convertible; S/N 12104010019587; Ivory/Red leather; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $140,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $154,000. No Reserve – Clarion AM-FM, hubcaps, trim rings, narrow whitewalls, two tops. – Freshly restored with excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Sharp and crisp underhood with polished cam cover. Underbody is better than new. Both door fits are off, though. – Attractively restored and presented even with the erratic door fits, this result is a representative number for a 190SL today.Lot # 5030 1960 Pontiac Ventura 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 360S7843; Black/Red vinyl; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $76,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $83,600. No Reserve – 389/348hp, Tri-Power, 4-speed, factory shifter, bench seat, 8-lug wheels, whitewall tires, heater and radio delete. – Restored like new in 2010, Pontiac-Oakland Club and Meadow Brook winner, and still exceptional. Great clearcoat paint, chrome, interior and glass. Underbody is like new. – As good as it gets, not only in its restoration but also in the meticulous factory presentation (with better clearcoat paint.) A Ventura isn’t loaded down with gewgaws, getting maximum advantage from the solid lifter Tri-Power engine under the hood. In 1960 nobody messed with a Ventura with the Tri-Power emblem on the fender, and no one should mess with this beautifully restored, show-winning, Ventura, especially at this price.Lot # 5035 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Convertible Race Car; S/N 194678S402351; Blue, White ‘Sunray DX’, Blue hardtop/Black vinyl; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,100,000. With Reserve – 5- spoke modular wheels, Firestone race tires, white side exhaust, fixed covered headlights, SW gauges, braced rollbar. – Built by Don Yenko, driven by Yenko, Peter Revson and Pedro Rodriguez for Sunray DX Oil with no notable results other than a Midwest Division SCCA Championship for Yenko but raced at Daytona and Sebring. Modified from a stock Corvette to L88 specs by Yenko. Restored in 2004 and used only as a showcar since then. Sharp and clean. – The restoration is spectacular, the race history not so much. Corvette fans idolize the Sunray DX car for its brutal performance but it didn’t accomplish a lot and the reported high bid would seem to have been enough to separate it from its owner.
Lot # 5037 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH218664; White/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500. No Reserve – 312/225hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, engine dressup, cassette stereo, chrome wire wheels, whitewall bias ply tires. – Restored like new with excellent paint, chrome, interior, top and glass. – A beautiful T-bird for which a generous price was paid even considering its last pass across the WestWorld auction block in 2008 when it sold for $79,200.Lot # 5038 1964 Shelby Replica Cobra Daytona Coupe Sebring Tribute; S/N C00100; Ice Blue/Blue leather; Facsimile restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $92,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $101,200. No Reserve – Shelby/Brock “Tribute” car in ’64 Sebring livery. Roush 427/560hp engine, Tremec 6-speed, polished alloy wheels, chrome side pipes. – Good paint and interior. 69 miles on the odometer are probably real. – Sold in Palm Beach in 2006 when in a notable ceremony its designer Peter Brock and Carroll Shelby shook hands on the block and it sold for $270,000. No Shelby Daytona Coupe had a 427 let alone a Tremec 6-speed, which alone is something to conjure with. It is a fun toy, and not unreasonably price here.Lot # 5039 2000 Cadillac Northstar LMP Race Car; S/N LMP00003; Silver, Black/Black; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000. No Reserve – – Apparently complete but without electronics. Good cosmetics. One of three built. Largely complete but without the electronics that makes it run. John Rosatti Collection. – This is a better car than its sibling that followed it across the block. Sold for $117,100 here in 2008 from the GM Collection, it deserved more than it brought.Lot # 5040 2000 Cadillac Northstar LMP Race Car; S/N LMP00005; Engine # ;/; Competition car, original as-raced, 4 condition; Hammered Sold at $90,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $99,000. No Reserve – – Beat up and neglected. No electronics, broken steering wheel. Scratched paint. Rusty bits. A parts car. John Rosatti Collection. – Sold by B-J from the GM Collection here in 2007 for $176,000, then in Palm Beach a few months later for $115,500, it has gotten steadily more ratty over its auction history and now is no more than a parts car for the better example, LMP00003 sold just before it. Without electronics, however, neither of them is of much use and this price should be considered a gift in this car’s neglected and abused condition.Lot # 5041 2002 Ferrari 360 Michelotto LeMans Race Car; S/N 2024; Red, White stripe/Red cloth; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $120,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $132,000. No Reserve – Digital display, F1 gearbox, carbon fiber wing and splitter, roll cage, BBS 18-inch wheels, clear engine cover. – N-GT specifications and despite the heading has no apparent racing history. Good cosmetics but otherwise old. John Rosatti Collection. – The first of three similar Ferrari GT cars modified by Michelotto for FIA competition from the same collection. Potentially a wonderful track day car, which is important because it is nowhere close to street legal. An expensive but not unreasonably priced toy.Lot # 5042 1952 Alfa Romeo 1900 C Sprint Coupe; S/N 1900C01535; Black/Beige cloth, Grey piping; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000. No Reserve – Solex carbs on an Abarth intake probably take the 1,884cc engine to 125-130hp, chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, Michelin blackwall tires. – Fair old repaint, erratic chrome and scratched aluminum brightwork. Cracked steering wheel, good upholstery. Orderly but not restored underhood. Displayed for many years in the Pininfarina Museum in Italy. Pretty, but usable only as a driver or the basis for a comprehensive (and expensive) restoration. John Rosatti Collection. – An unusual, pretty and largely original Alfa which brought a very healthy price here at Barrett-Jackson. This result highlights the increasing importance of B-J’s Salon Collection of classic American, European and sports cars. Crossing the block during Saturday Prime Time, it recalls (but with better cars at more realistic reserves) the parade of Tom Barrett’s overpriced classics that induced ennui at B-J years ago; they were marvelous to see and hear, but rarely produced a transaction. This little Alfa, offered without reserve, was the antithesis, a car that any auction company in Scottsdale would have been delighted to feature. Offered at No Reserve, it brought a superior price for the consignor and demonstrates the expanding reach of Barrett-Jackson’s marketing machine.Lot # 5043 1960 Pinin Farina X 4-dr. Sedan, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 29404; Silver-Grey/Black leather; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $330,000. No Reserve – Pinin Farina concept car with unique layout: a single driving wheel at the rear, single steering wheel at the front and balance wheels on each side just aft of the 4-door passenger compartment. Power comes from a (ubiquitous) 1,098cc Fiat four, and it actually runs and drives. – Cracked old repaint, aged and surface cracked original leather. Thin chrome. A sound but aged largely original concept car with big fins needed for cross wind stability on the 0.23 Cd low drag teardrop body. Displayed by Pinin Farina and reportedly driven to demonstrate it as a proof of concept for Italian manufacturers, who declined to adopt the idea. Retained by Pininfarina until 2007. John Rosatti collection. – Unlike many design concept cars that are just shapes, Pinin Farina engineered the X to run and drive making it particularly attractive. Its design and the exaggerated fins reflect the concepts of the late Fifties embodied in designs like the three Scaglione-designed Bertone B.A.T.s on Alfa Romeo chassis. Its dramatic departure from conventional layout, however, is particularly significant even if it never found expression in production. A very-Jetsons concept that can’t fail to attract attention on any concours lawn, it’s more than good enough in its preservation and presentation to continue to be preserved. Driving this thing through the streets and roads of Monterey next August would make every highlight reel.Lot # 5044 2008 Ferrari 430 GTC Michelotto Race Car Coupe; S/N 2604; Dark Blue, White/Black cloth; Competition car, original as-raced, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $300,000. With Reserve – GT2 racing car built by Michelotto with Ferrari’s cooperation. – Brand new, never raced. John Rosatti Collection. – One of three Ferraris prepared for various competition series offered from the same collection. It has serious potential, but now is seven years old and uncompetitive in modern competition but not old enough to have much utility in historic events. Last year’s race car has little value, a seven year old race car with nowhere to race has less.
Lot # 5045 2005 Ferrari 575M GTC Michelotto Race Car Coupe; S/N 2220; Red, White, Matte Black/Black cloth; Competition car, original as-raced, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $500,000. With Reserve – Factory supported conversion to FIA GT specs by Michelotto. 5997cc V-12, 600+hp, sequential gearbox, FIA-spec flat floor, splitter and diffuser. – Described as ‘factory new’ and appearances back up the claim. Not fresh but clean and orderly. No race history. John Rosatti Collection. – The third of three recent Ferrari GT competition car conversions from the same collection, the consignor placed great emphasis on its ‘factory new, never raced’ condition. It elicited little enthusiasm from the Barrett-Jackson bidders and would have been more interesting if it had real race history.Lot # 5048 1968 Chevrolet Corvette L88 Competition Convertible; S/N 194678S405175; Blue, White stripe, Blue hardtop/Black vinyl; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,300,000. With Reserve – Race prepared by Dick Guldstrand, raced by James Garner’s AIR team. – Very good paint and interior. Underbody shows use and age. An historic L88 with a full schedule of competition appearances when new, its most notable success was the GT class pole at its first race, the 1969 Daytona 24. Restored to high standards and awesome in performance and appearance. – Sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2008 for $744,000, the reported high bid here is on the cusp of being enough to pry it from its owner’s hands.Lot # 5051.1 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N 30867S100148; Crimson Firefrost Metallic, White stripe/White leather; White vinyl top; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $850,000. With Reserve – 327/360hp, fuel injection, 4-speed, custom functional side exhaust, alloy centerlock wheels, AM-FM, P/W, P/S, P/B, wood rim steering wheel, two tops. – Show car paint, interior and heavily chromed underhood display. Built for GM President Semon ‘Bunkie’ Knudsen, extensive history and documentation. – Offered by Mecum in Houston last April with a reported high bid of $775,000, the GM Styling history of this Corvette along with its special mechanical preparation set it apart, but probably not as far apart as the market and the owner are.Lot # 5061 1961 Chevrolet Corvette FI Convertible; S/N 10867S101330; Fawn Beige, Fawn Beige hardtop/Fawn vinyl; Black vinyl top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $232,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $255,200. No Reserve – 2283/315hp, fuel injection, close ratio 4-speed, Positraction, RPO 687 competition package WonderBar radio, two tops, hubcaps, bias ply blackwall tires. – Raced when new, documented history, restored to multiple NCRS Top Flight winning standards. Represented as the original drivetrain. A quality older Bloomington Gold restoration now showing age but no appreciable use. Surprisingly good panel fits and impossible to fault except for needing a little better detailing. – A Corvette that sets a standard for both its specifications and its restoration, it also sets a standard for value.Lot # 5066 2005 Ford GT Coupe; S/N 1FAFP90S85Y400477; Silver/Black leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $320,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $352,000. No Reserve – Stripe delete. – 3,407 miles from new and as-delivered. – This is what Ford GTs, $150,000 cars when new, now command from a seemingly unlimited supply of collectors who want to own one. The stripe delete may appeal to those looking for rare options, but without the stripe the car looks utilitarian.Lot # 5071 1991 Ferrari F40 Coupe; S/N ZFFMN34A2M0087589; Black/Black cloth; Modified restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $585,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $643,500. With Reserve – Tubi exhaust, upgraded turbos, aluminum flywheel, Kevlar clutch, HRE wheels, Penske shocks, LED lights. – This is the famed Gas Monkey Garage F40, modified and rebuilt from a trailer full of parts. Extensively documented and vehemently maintained by Richard Rawlings and Dennis Collins to be better and more precisely jigged and squared than factory specs. Modified in many ways that will not please Ferrari. – Sold here for $742,500 a year ago and appears to be unchanged from how it was presented then. $100,000 of the buzz has worn off.Lot # 5071.1 2013 Ferrari 458 Italia; S/N ZFF68NHA4D0190499; Red/Tan leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $270,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $297,000. No Reserve – SF shields, rear parking sensors, 20 inch wheels, power seats. – Like new and represented to have 1,700 miles. – Still depreciating.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Nine
Lot # 5075 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500606; Silver/Blue plaid; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,000,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,100,000. With Reserve – Becker Mexico radio, chrome Rudge-style centerlock wheels, Michelin XWX blackwall tires, hinged steering wheel, fitted luggage. – Better than in Monterey, with a new interior and thoroughly detailed. – Reported sold at Mecum’s Monterey auction last August for $1,193,250 with the Blue leather interior it wore then now accompanying it in a box, it looks better with plaid (and will be more comfortable.) Why the consignor decided to take a $200,000 hit after just five months is a mystery but the buyer got the advantage of a very good Gullwing for a moderate price.Lot # 5076 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet A; S/N 1880100020253; Dark Red/Tan leather; Beige cloth top; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $585,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $643,500. With Reserve – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, 4-speed, fog lights, Becker Nurburg radio, heater. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Underbody is like new. Beautiful blonde burl interior woodwork. A wonderful specimen. – Even at this price the new owner got plenty of Fifties Mercedes-Benz performance, luxury and exclusivity for the money. It would still have been a realistic acquisition at another $50,000, it’s that good.Lot # 5077 1947 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Convertible, Body by Franay; S/N WVA63; Black, Tan/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $210,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $231,000. No Reserve – RHD. Lucas Bi-Flex headlights, Lucas King of the Road dip beam light, Tan painted wheel covers, cowl-mounted Trafficators, cutaway rear wheel skirts, wide whitewall tires, unusually cool underdash RCA Victor multiband radio. – Sound but aged paint, good newer upholstery, interior trim and burl woodwork. Kluged work inside window pockets. Sound but aged chrome. An imposing and rare but used older restoration done to compromised standards. – Sold by Brooks in Monaco in 1998 for $88,631, by RM in Arizona in 2011 for $165,000, here in 2013 for $220,000, by Worldwide in Auburn in August 2013 for $264,000 and offered by RM in Amelia in March of last year with a reported high bid of $210,000. It must be a particularly unsatisfying car to own to be so frequently flipped but maybe it found a new and enthusiastic owner who will give it a good long term home and the attention it deserves.Lot # 5078 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Dual Cowl Phaeton, Body by after LaGrande; S/N 2592; Engine # J-562; Dark Blue, Beige sweep panel/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Rebodied or re-created, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $700,000. With Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls. dual sidemounts with strap-on mirrors, Pilot-Rays, dual remote spotlights, dual windshields, Beige leather trunk. – Used as the Chicago factory demonstrator, supercharger installed by Duesenberg in period. Later had a Willoughby Berline body, then rebodied by Harold Orchard in a copy of the original LaGrande dual cowl phaeton for Hubert Fischer during restoration. Very good paint, chrome and interior. 2014 Greenwich Concours Best of Show. Its older concours restoration now shows some tour miles but is still beautiful and imposing. – Sold by Auctions America at Fall Auburn in September 2013 for $858,000 and a little bit more used now than it was then but still an impressive concours-ready car as its June 2014 Greenwich Concours award shows. Not surprisingly the consignor declined to take a hit of this magnitude although with the rebody the bid here in Arizona is probably more realistic than the price it brought in Auburn.Lot # 5079 1932 Auburn 12 160A Convertible Sedan; S/N 1931; Grey, Blue accent/Light Blue leather; Blue cloth top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $240,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $264,000. No Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual sidemounts with mirrors, single Pilot-Ray, Grey metal trunk, Dual Ratio axle, dressed up with Salon trim. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior, glass and top. Restored and maintained like new without excess. – As a combination of performance, style and attractive open coachwork, this Auburn 12-160A Convertible Phaeton is hard to beat, particularly at this price. A CCCA Full Classic ™, it is the entry ticket to multiple events where its inherent qualities, excellent restoration and highly attractive colors will fit right in with cars costing five times more.Lot # 5081 1927 Isotta-Fraschini 8AS Dual Cowl Phaeton, Body by LeBaron; S/N 1363; Grey, Blue accent and fenders/Blue leather; Grey cloth top; Older restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $650,000. With Reserve – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual rear grey cloth covered spares, radiator stoneguard, Pilot-Rays, dual windshields. – A well-preserved older restoration showing age in some storage dust but still better than many fresh restorations. – An exceptionally attractive combination of one of Europe’s best luxury chassis with open bodywork by one of America’s best coachbuilders, with over 7 liters of straight eight power and immense torque performance is not a question, only how it fits in the value spectrum of top quality classics.Lot # 5083 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 SS Spider, Body by Unknown; S/N 312901; Black/Brown leather; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,100,000. With Reserve – RHD. Black wire wheels, Michelin blackwall tires, dual aeroscreens, Bosch headlights. – Streamlined body by an unknown coachbuilder. Wing fenders, cowled and raked radiator. Very good paint, better upholstery. Clean, orderly engine and underbody. Dash and instruments are aged and erratic with an old aircraft style boost gauge in psi, Smiths psi oil pressure gauge, Jaeger tach and speedometer with broken odometer. Hard to categorize but not hard to enjoy. – Reported sold at Artcurial’s Retromobile auction 11 months ago in a post-block transaction for $1,248,808, then at Gooding & Company’s Pebble Beach auction in August for $836,000 ($760K hammer), it is difficult to appreciate the machinations behind this Alfa’s recent history. Notwithstanding the tos and fros, the reported high bid here should have been far more than enough to see it off to a new owner.Lot # 5084 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Ascot Tourer, Body by Brewster; S/N S178FR; Rouge Carmine, Amaranto/Beige leather; Beige cloth top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $375,000. With Reserve – Lefthand drive Springfield chassis, 7668/113hp, 3-speed, dual sidemounts, chrome wire wheels, Lincoln blackwall tires, luggage rack, dual Grebel spotlights. – New chrome wire wheels, bright chrome, very good paint, interior and top. Chassis is freshened but not to concours condition. – Sold by Bonhams at Quail Lodge for $172,000 in 2010 when it was tired, aged and in need of the restoration it subsequently got. It was a price that included an infatuation premium; the prospect of bringing out the swan in an otherwise ugly duckling. Since then it has been restored and was a post block sale at Bonhams sale in Scottsdale a year ago for $255,000 after being offered by Gooding here in Scottsdale in 2013 with a reported high bid of $280,000. It could have been sold with only slight regret at the reported high bid here but the combination of Springfield chassis and attractive original Brewster open coachwork holds promise of being worth more.
Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2015 – Auction Report Page Ten
Lot # 5086 1937 Mercedes-Benz 320 Cabriolet B; S/N 172436; Black, Blue/Red leather; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $950,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,045,000. With Reserve – Chrome wire wheels, dual sidemount, Bosch headlights and fog lights, dual Bosch spotlights, Trafficators. – Restored to concours standards and showing little or no subsequent use. Beautiful paint, chrome and interior. – This is an extraordinary quality restoration for a side valve six cylinder Manheim Cabriolet B, fully worthy of its mighty (and mighty expensive) eight cylinder overhead valve supercharged big brothers from Stuttgart and Sindelfingen. Prewar M-B style and luxury at an affordable (?) price.Lot # 5087 1949 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport Coupe, Body by Franay; S/N 110123; Black/Orange leather, Black piping; Recent restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,650,000. With Reserve – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, blackwall Michelin tires, sliding sunroof, fitted luggage, rear wheel skirts. – Sleek coupe coachwork by Franay with the fastback passenger compartment set back and low behind a hood so long it is nearly a caricature. Very good but polisher swirled paint, excellent chrome and interior. underbody is like new. 2014 Pebble Beach plaque inside. Fresh, crisp engine compartment. A show quality Talbot-Lago without being over done. – Sold by RM in London in 2009 before its current restoration but in good, sound older restored condition. Offered at Gooding & Company’s auction here in Scottsdale a year ago where it attracted a high bid of $1 million, then went on to be on the lawn at Pebble Beach last August. It is a sleek, swoopy statement on the short wheelbase T26 chassis and deserves at least as much as it brought here.Lot # 5089 1937 Delahaye 135 M Roadster, Body by after Figoni & Falaschi; S/N 47532; Pink, Grey/Red leather; Black cloth top; Rebodied or re-created, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $900,000. With Reserve – RHD. Chrome wire wheels, Excelsior blackwall tires, folding windshield, Marchal headlights and driving lights. – Concours quality paint, chrome, interior and woodwork. Interior wood is embellished typically of Figoni & Falaschi but the body is only ‘attributed to’ and contains major parts from a Chapron body including the grille, hood and doors. Very pretty, low, racy coachwork. Nearly concours except for some dust where it’s hard to reach. – A very pretty, low, sleek automobile restored to very high standards. The coachwork is everything expected of Figoni & Falaschi, but suffers in value from the integration of significant Chapron components during a 1970’s restoration. Its performance and appearance support the consignor’s opinion that it is worth more than the reported high bid.Lot # 5090 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Roadster; S/N CSX 3169; Metallic Vineyard Green/Black leather; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,450,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,595,000. With Reserve – Centerlock sunburst alloy wheels, Radial T/A blackwalls, wind wings, grille and trunk guards. – A 427 from new, not a converted 428, with a no-bad-stories history and represented as the original drivetrain, body and wheels. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Freshly restored to better than new without going too far. – Offered by Christie’s in Tarrytown in 1997 where it was bid to $150,000. It showed 27,445 miles then and was in good, sound, presentable, largely original condition. Now it shows 29,302 miles and is gorgeous in its correct original color. It took eighteen years to get to where it is today, in both condition and value, and the new owner should be happy with both the car and the price paid for it.Lot # 5091 1989 Ferrari F40 Coupe; S/N ZFFGJ34B000080727; Red/Red cloth; Original, with major mechanical repairs, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $975,000. With Reserve – Modular alloy wheels, P Zero tires, tools, shop manual. – Very good paint and fresh interior. Engine compartment is clean but showing some age and use. Crashed in 1994 and rebuilt to high standards. – It takes a brave bidder to step up for a previously wrecked F40, unless it is notorious like the Fast’n’Loud F40, and that was $300,000 less than the reported bid here. The seller would not have been misled to let it go at the reported bid here.Lot # 5092 1988 Ferrari Testarossa; S/N ZFFSG17A6J0077595; Red/White leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $245,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $269,500. No Reserve – A/C, books, tools, cover, window sticker. – 283 miles from new and pristine. Belt service in 2013. – The price of originality, negligible miles and a fairly recent belt service, in keeping with Testarossa’s steadily climbing values.Lot # 5093 1965 Bizzarrini P538 Spyder; S/N B04; Red/Black vinyl; Competition restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $575,000. With Reserve – LHD. 327 Chevy, four Webers, 5-speed transaxle, centerlock alloy wheels, Michelin XWX tires, four-point belts, full width windshield. – Good cosmetics, old paint on wheels and aged interior panels. Clean, orderly engine compartment with fresh looking engine said to have been rebuilt in 2013 with 180 degree exhaust and the Webers. Eminently usable as is, but not built until 1978 for a French enthusiast, Jacques Lavost, with some changes and updates. – A car that has bounced around some, it headlined the disastrous Kruse auction in New York in 2005 with a wholly made up reported high bid of $800,000, then made an appearance at Mecum’s Monterey sale last August where it was bid to $500,000. It is a cool thing, but more in the nature of a continuation or tribute than an historic racer. The original P538s had no competition success and aside from exotic looks, big Chevy performance and the Bizzarrini name this P538 continuation has little going for it, including not being worth any more than the reported high bid.Lot # 5104 1957 Ford Thunderbird Phase One D/F Supercharged Convertible; S/N D7FH202183; White/Red vinyl; Black cloth top; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $250,000. With Reserve – 312/340hp supercharged, 3-speed, Town & Country radio, chrome wire wheels, whitewalls, power windows. – Freshly restored by Amos Minter and family to showroom condition, judged 300 or 300 points by Classic Thunderbird Club. Perfect. One of fifteen pre-production D-Code T-birds assembled by Ford to run at Daytona Speed Week in advance of the introduction of the F-Code supercharged Thunderbird. – An interesting exercise for Amos Minter and his family, known for their over-the-top restorations of 2-seat Thunderbirds. This rare car was carefully done to factory specifications and finishes specifically to meet the highest standards of Thunderbird judging, and it succeeded. The reported high bid here is about 25% over the value of an equally well restored F-Code, and less than some have sold for. This rare bird is worth a lot more.
Hi Rick,
Great report again. Any comments on the dramatic devaluation of the Howard Hughes 1953 Buick Roadmaster? A 1.5 million dollar hit has to be some sort of record for any classic car at auction.
Cheers,
Allan
Allan,
Honestly, I have not a clue. I was — and remain — mystified.
It was the headline car at Palm Beach when Ron Pratte bought it, heavily promoted and exhaustively documented.
Ron is an aircraft guy, in fact he now spends far more time flying this and that than he did with his cars (which is why the cars are gone) so the Hughes connection may have been important for him … but there was an underbidder who couldn’t have had exactly the same motivation.
The Roadmaster itself is a tired old beast, although eminently suitable for Preservation Class events where it would be a knockout.
There was a movie around the time it was sold that increased awareness of Howard Hughes (although Tuckers don’t seem to have suffered much after that movie faded into distant memory.)
Should the Hughes Roadmaster have brought what it did when Pratte bought it? Probably not, but it sure should have brought more than it did in Scottsdale. It belongs in the hangar with the Spruce Goose.
And the precipitous decline in its value belongs in the collector car auction book of ignominious records.