Auctions America Auburn Fall 2012 – Auction Report

Lot # 5135 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III Phase 2 Convertible; S/N HBJ8L34507; Champagne Gold/Red leatherette; Black leatherette top; Older restoration, 2- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $72,000 plus commission of ; Final Price $72,000 — Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, overdrive, no radio. Restored like new and still very clean and in nearly showroom condition. Chassis is barely used. Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2006 for $143,000, it’s easy to see why the consignor decided to go back for another bite at the apple. A 50% haircut is like going bald.

Lot # 5167 1956 Jaguar XK 140 Roadster; S/N S811865DN; BR Green/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $72,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $79,750 — Chrome wire wheels, whitewall 6.00-16 tires, fender mirrors, Lucas driving lights. A sound older restoration with decent paint, thin trim chrome and good interior. Driven, and it shows, but still presentable and eminently usable. With XK 140s routinely in six figures this sound and very presentable if used example is a righteous acquisition at this full retail price.

Lot # 5172 1955 Chevrolet Corvette Roadster; S/N VE55S001181; Polo White/Black vinyl; Beige vinyl top; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $64,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $70,400 — 265/195hp, 3-speed, WonderBar radio, wheel covers, whitewalls. Poor old repaint, sound but aged upholstery, old folded up top of dubious effectiveness. Bad hood fit. A Corvette cosmetically restored long ago to the much lower standards of the time and then used for years. Aged, used and pretty tired, it’s the 3-speed stick that sets this ’55 Corvette apart from so many of its Powerglide siblings. The price it brought accurately reflects its pros and cons and is fair to both the seller and the buyer.

Lot # 5194 1961 Pontiac Catalina Convertible; S/N 361P11998; Engine # 094692 A1; Mayan Gold/Brown, Gold vinyl; Brown cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $26,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $29,150 — 389/287hp 2-barrel engine code, automatic, P/S, P/B, 8-lug wheels, whitewall tires, pushbutton radio. Cracked steering wheel rim. Tri-power intake. Sound older repaint, interior and top. Sound body. Cosmetically maintained but not restored. Orderly underhood but the engine has grown an extra pair of carbs since it left the factory. A marginal driver. Reported sold at Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach last year for $31,900. Intrinsically an attractive and powerful weekend cruiser, this Catalina may not be correct in the classic sense but it’s more than good enough to be driven and enjoyed. On cruise night it will be a proud possession and few of the onlookers will care about the change from a single 2-barrel to triple deuces. It’s a sound buy at this price and even the seller has had a pair of summers to get more than $2,000 value out of owning and driving it.

Lot # 5212 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 RS 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 124378N426369; Matador Red, Parchment vinyl roof/Red vinyl; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $42,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,200 — 302/290hp, 4-speed, Hurst shifter, console gauges, pushbutton radio, P/B, Rally wheels with trim rings, E70-15 Wide Tread GT tires, 4.56 Positraction, tilt steering column, P/S, Space Saver spare. Good recent repaint and chrome, tired original interior with dead seat cushion foam. A superficially cosmetically redone and largely unsatisfying Camaro but in a very desirable configuration even though the seller honestly stated ‘Some options are listed on the original broadcast sheet, which is preserved.’ In other words, some options aren’t listed. Given over to the care of an experience Z/28 restorer, though, this Z/28 RS could be a real winner. That potential is reflected in the price it brought, a deft compromise between what it is, what it was and what it might be.

Lot # 7093 Mercedes-Benz Replica G-4 W131 Grosser Six Seven-Passenger Convertible Sedan; S/N 440889E; Blue, Black fenders/Black; Facsimile restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $245,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $269,500 — One of three very attractive replicas built to high standards of a phalanx of famed W131 Mercedes-Benz G-4s. Constructed by Mike Fennel with modern American 6-cylinder inline diesel power and drivetrains including power steering. This is the personnel carrier. Sold under a court order, these three G-wagen replicas were offered here in the last year of Kruse International with great fanfare. Protected by a phalanx of armed guards and guys in fluorescent yellow vests from being touched by mere mortals, they were offered as real M-Bs and lumbered up and over the block as a group with a completely made-up final bid of $1.7 million for the set. It was great theater, but totally pointless. The real value — and there is for parades and events — is shown by this result, in itself a healthy price for a replica lumber wagon.

Lot # 7094 Mercedes-Benz Replica G-4 W131 Grosser Six Luggage Carrier; S/N 440891E; Black/Black; Facsimile restoration, 3+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $100,000 plus commission of ; Final Price $100,000 — One of three very attractive replicas built to high standards of a phalanx of famed W131 Mercedes-Benz G-4s. Constructed by Mike Fennel with modern American 6-cylinder inline diesel power and drivetrains including power steering. This is basically a giant Suburban with dual rear axles. After a huge send-up four years ago in the final Kruse Auburn Fall auction when the set of three G-wagen replicas were run up to a $1.7 million dollar bid without a single visible hand being raised, presented honestly this Luggage Carrier couldn’t even find a buyer. It would cost way more than this to replicate it, but why?

Lot # 7095 Mercedes-Benz Replica G-4 W131 Grosser Six Radio Communication Carrier; S/N 440890E; Olive, Black fenders/Black; Facsimile restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750 — One of three very attractive replicas built to high standards of a phalanx of famed W131 Mercedes-Benz G-4s. Constructed by Mike Fennel with modern American 6-cylinder inline diesel power and drivetrains including power steering. This is configured as a communications unit and needs to have its composite roof completed. One of three wholly made-up replicas last offered at the final Kruse Auburn Fall auction four years ago to great fanfare. It would be great as a prop for a WWII movie, and impossible to duplicate for the amount it brought here. In 2009 the set was pushed to a reported high bid of $1.7 million without a single real bid or bidder being apparent in the building. Sold here under a court order and something of a value, at least for a ham radio operator looking to make an impression.

Lot # 7100 1958 Mercedes-Benz 220S Cabriolet; S/N 220S75112296; Black/Tan leather; Black cloth top; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $79,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $87,450 — Automatic, Blaupunkt multiband radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls. A good but used older restoration with sound paint, chrome and Zebra wood interior trim. Lightly soiled and creased upholstery. Beautiful interior wood, instruments and dash. Never messed up, this 220S Ponton has real potential, especially at this price. More than a driver, but for far less than a fully restored example would have cost. Drive and enjoy it.