Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale 2013 – Auction Report

Lot # 5001 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500323; Engine # 1989805500334; Silver-Grey/Dark Red leather; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,850,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,035,000. With Reserve – – Rudge wheels, Nardi steering wheel, fitted luggage, Becker Mexico radio. – Clark Gable’s Gullwing, thoroughly documented. Restored by Paul Russell to like new with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Half the money for the car, the other half for the Clark Gable history.

Lot # 5004 1934 Duesenberg Model J LWB Custom Beverly Sedan, Body by Murphy; S/N 2489; Engine # J-468; Gold, Dark Gold/Beige broadcloth, brocade; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,300,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,430,000. With Reserve – – Chrome wine wheels, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts, rollup division, silk rear window shade, elaborately equipped rear compartment with beautiful brocade upholstery. – Documented history from new. Restored thirty years ago by Stone Barn, 1988 AACA Senior and CCCA Premier #722. Breathtakingly trimmed and equipped rear compartment. Dated colors, but, really, who cares? A magnificent automobile with a restoration that demonstrates its quality by how well it has survived. It wouldn’t get painted gold today, but there are plenty of more subtle counterpoints to the dramatic interior that will appeal to present-day fashion. A magnificent price for a magnificent car.

Lot # 5006 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Shooting Brake; S/N 67XJ; Dark Green/Black leather; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $100,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $110,000. No Reserve – Black painted wire wheels, blackwall tires, single sidemount, tinted glass windshield visor, three row seating. – Rebodied in the 50′s with this shooting brake coachwork. Sound paint, chrome and interior. Frame is not restored and is surface rusted. A usable driver quality Rolls-Royce shooting brake. Sold by Brooks at Quail Lodge in 2001 for $83,900 in moderately unattractive condition, offered at Bonhams Quail Lodge auction last August in the present much more attractive livery with a reported high bid of $135,000. Sold here at WestWorld for a modest price and a good value for its new owner. People pay this much for Ford woodies.

Lot # 5007 1929 Isotta-Fraschini Tipo 8AS Roadster, Body by Castagna; S/N 1535; Engine # 1482; Red, Maroon/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000. With Reserve – – Grebel headlights and spotlights, polished wheel discs, whitewalls, dual rear spares, rumble seat. – One of two Castagna Roadsters, completely as built. Provenance includes D. Cameron Peck, Harrah’s and Blackhawk. Aged and used Harrah’s restoration but sound and very attractive. A choice car. Think how many rotten tomatoes got thrown at Albert Wielich got thrown at him by unemployed on food lines as he drove this imposing, elegant roadster through the Depression era streets of New York. It’s almost too good to restore again, but not quite good enough. Everything is there and its reincarnation as a concours car will be straightforward.

Lot # 5008 1913 Fiat Tipo 55 Speed Car; S/N 211; Red/Black leather; Rebodied or re-created, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $180,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $198,000. No Reserve – Monocle windshield, dual rear spares, electric lights, white artillery wheels. – Microblistered paint, aged upholstery with some cracks and tears, good brass. A massive, exciting driver. created from the whole cloth by Gary Wales. There are very few cars that give their driver and passenger the thrill of driving that this FIAT will. It has no, zip, bupkus history, but that only means it is easier to take it out on the road where it will amaze (and frighten) passersby. A thrilling car bought for a healthy but not outrageous price.

Lot # 5010 1959 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N LSMH21; Beige/Beige leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $335,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $368,500. No Reserve – Multiband radio, body color wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, fog lights, badge bar. – 47,952 miles from new. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Old undercoat on underbody. A well maintained and fastidiously cosmetically restored car. One of seven lefthand drive Cloud I Mulliner dropheads. Old and honest, this Cloud I Drophead has miles left in it before it needs or should have a concours-quality restoration. It brought an appropriate price here at Barrett-Jackson from a somewhat surprisingly receptive audience.

Lot # 5011 1986 Porsche 959 Prototype Coupe; S/N WPOZZZ93ZFS010067; White/Gray, Red cloth; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $400,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $440,000. With Reserve – – White 5-spoke wheels, Dunlop tires. – Good original paint and interior. Like new. A legendary car, avidly sought not just by Porsche collectors but as one of the first supercars that set a new standard for technical sophistication and performance. To see one of these all wheel drive marvels raised up on its variable ride height suspension and flying over the dunes of the Paris-Dakar was a revelation. The new owner paid a healthy but entirely realistic price for this prototype, a car that’s special even among 959s.

Lot # 5013 1927 Bugatti Type 38 4-Seat Open Tourer, Body by Lavocat & Marsaud; S/N 38243; Engine # 115; Blue/Black leather; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $650,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $715,000. No Reserve – Cycle front fenders, polished wheel discs, dual rear spares, Marchal headlights, folding windshield. – Original engine, chassis, body and wood. Fresh paint on an older restored car in good overall condition. Sold to South Africa when new, then disappeared and eventually acquired by the Dragone brothers. Engine rebuilt in 2008 and recently serviced by High Mountain Classics. In effect, a 4-seat Type 35A, in excellent touring condition and remarkably complete and as-delivered throughout. In many ways it is more desirable and practical than a Type 35, with room for friends or grandchildren but all the exhilarating sensations of driving an 8-cylinder Bugatti. It’s a sound value at this price.