Monday, January 31, 2011

My Favorite Cars - Results From Arizona - RM Auctions

by Mike -

The results are in red text below, originally posted on January 12 and 13. It looks like RM also had a successful auction.

1958 Aston Martin DB MK IIIA Coupe - Estimate is $200,000 - $250,000

Not Sold at High Bid of $197,500

This Aston has a 2,922 cc inline six cylinder engine with dual SU carburetors producing 162 bhp with a 4 speed manual transmission. This is a very rare car indeed, it was owned by the original owner until 2009! It has only 44,000 miles and is in original unrestored condition. That is about 850 miles per year; it is a California car that still has the black California license plates and is left hand drive (my favorite). In addition to this great stuff I love the ivory white color. I will bet that two sets of golf clubs fit nicely in this wonderful car.



1956 Arnolt Bristol Roadster - Estimate is $150,000 - $200,000

Sold for $99,000

This car is Corvette powered with 225 hp from a 265 cid V-8, dual Carter four-barrel carburetors and a 4 speed transmission. According to RM this car is "In concours-quality condition, the Arnolt-Bristol has been driven a mere 33 miles since completing its full, body-off restoration." This car did not leave the factory with that Corvette engine. With body by Bertone this car would have originally come with a 6 cylinder Bristol engine. These cars have a colorful history and achieved some racing success. There were 142 made between 1953 and 1959 and probably less that 100 still exist today. It will take a special owner for this car, one who can appreciate the unique history. That new owner will then own a rare and special car.



1987 Porsche 959 - Estimate is $350,000 - $440,000

Not Sold at High Bid of $300,000

A 2,849 cc rear-mounted air- and liquid-cooled horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engine with twin two-stage turbochargers, and six-speed manual gearbox produces 450 bhp. This is a 4 wheel drive super car, the Komfort model, and an "Unmodified, factory-specification 959" according to RM. Porsche 959s are great collector cars and originally were not imported to the US. So, a US buyer should be sure that this car can be licensed for street use (or modified to be legal for street use), or reserve it for track days - which would be great fun too. This will be the coolest Porsche on the block for sure.



1973 Lamborghini Espada Series III Coupe - Estimate is $30,000 - $40,000

Sold for $38,500

The engine is a 3,929 V12 engine with a 5 speed manual gearbox producing 370 hp. This has the same engine as the Miura but is less that one tenth the cost of the cheapest Miura. The Espada was styled by Marcello Gandini of Bertone. This is an original car with 84,000 miles and it will seat four people. It is comfortable for long drives, although probably not with four people. Espadas are under appreciated classic Lamborghinis and this one looks great to me. I have written about Espadas before.



So, these are some of the cars that I like at the upcoming RM auction in Arizona. Make up your own mind - read more and see more pictures at RM Auctions. More from me later this week.

My original posts are here and here.

Click on the images for a larger view.



Part 2

1952 Allard J2X Roadster - Estimate is $175,000 - $225,000

Sold for $187,000

This car has a 283 cid Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine, 4-speed manual transmission and 4-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. It puts out 230 bhp. It was originally equipped with a Chrysler engine; this was changed to the current Corvette engine many years ago. These are not the best looking cars around but they are fast and had a reasonable racing history. There were 83 J2X cars produced between 1952 and 1954, so they are quite rare. This is a great combination, British chassis with American power. It is said that these cars influenced Carroll Shelby to build the AC Cobra.



1967 Lamborghini 400GT Coupe - Estimate is $275,000 - $375,000

Sold for $341,000

This car has a 3,929 cc V12 engine with six Weber carburetors and a 5-speed manual transmission producing 320 bhp. I believe that I have mentioned before that the engine was designed by Giotto Bizzarrini. This is a rare "interim" 400GT meaning that it is one of 23 cars that have the 4 liter engine instead of the 3.5 liter engine of the 350GT but does not have the back seats of the 400GT 2+2. This car has beautiful red leather interior and a silver body - great combination and it is a show winner. I want this Lamborghini real bad.



1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder - Estimate is $800,000 - $1,000,000

Sold for $880,000

OK, this estimate should be a clue that this is a real Spyder and not a conversion. Indeed RM states "One of only 121 factory-built Daytona Spyders". It has a 4,390 cc double overhead camshaft V12 engine, six Weber carburetors and 5-speed manual gearbox producing 352 bhp. So, it is a Ferrari and a real Daytona Spyder so what more do you need? How about celebrity ownership like “Evel” Knievel, Reggie Jackson and New York DJ Frankie Crocker? Well, it has that too. If you want a Daytona Spyder this one looks like a great catch, it is sure to impress your friends even the Ferrari folks.



1970 Ferrari Dino 246 GT - Estimate is $125,000-$150,000 - OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Sold for $115,500

This car has a 2,418 cc mid-mounted V6 engine with four overhead camshafts and three Weber carburetors and a five-speed manual transaxle putting out 195 bhp. These have now been fully accepted as real Ferraris although they originally did not carry the Ferrari badge. This one is a driver quality car and not a show car, so if the hammer price reflects that then this can be a very enjoyable weekend driver. It is the second lowest priced car that I have profiled from RM and it is not a red Ferrari. So, its got that going for it too.



1966 Shelby 427 Cobra - Estimate is $650,000 - $750,000

Sold for $643,500

This is a real Shelby Cobra with the huge 427 cid engine producing 520 bhp. It also has 4 Weber carburetors and a 4-speed transmission. This car has been fully restored by a well known restoration expert, Stewart Hall (even I know Stewart). RM says "The restoration was completed to spectacular standard in a no-expense-spared fashion to not only look great but also to perform well under the rigors of competition driving". Great car.



So, these are some of the cars that I like at the upcoming RM auction in Arizona. Make up your own mind - read more and see more pictures at RM Auctions

My original posts are here and here.

Click on the images for a larger view.

Below is a Shelby factory post card given to me by my father in 1965. Man, did I want this car.


This is on the back of the post card.


2 comments:

  1. Great postcard...did you sell that?
    Thanks, Edo

    ReplyDelete
  2. No, I still have this postcard. As I said my father gave this to me in 1965. He got it directly from the Shelby factory.

    ReplyDelete