Gooding & Company Amelia Island Auction 2011 – Report

Lot # 41 1953 Siata 208CS Berlinetta, Body by Balbo; S/N CS073; Engine # 000026; Silver/Black cloth; Estimate $650,000 - $850,000; Competition restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $550,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $605,000 – Silver, painted wire wheels, Michelin X blackwall tires, rollbar. One of 23 built and nine with Balbo coachwork. Restored by David Tourlotte with appropriate but not original engine, gearbox and rear axle, completed in 2009 but unused since then. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Flush door and hood fit, even gaps. Restored like new, fresh and untouched. This result is a severe discount from the price a 208CS with its original drivetrain would bring, a largely unnecessary hedge by the bidders considering the rarity of any of these remarkable automobiles. It is a very good value at this price.

Lot # 42 1958 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible; S/N J58S100494; Engine # FT023CQ; Snowcrest White, Silver coves/Black; White top; Estimate $75,000 - $90,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $61,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $67,100 – 283/230hp, 3-speed, whitewall tires with full hubcaps, seat belts, factory AM radio, factory hardtop. Concours quality chrome, excellent paint but panel fit is variable. Correct factory stamps in engine bay and underside. Interior very lightly worn. Correct but starting to show its age. No Reserve. The estimate was high but the money paid was market correct for this attractively presented but unexceptional Corvette.

Lot # 47 1946 Lincoln Continental Cabriolet; S/N H147325; Engine # 810237; Monsoon Maroon/Tan leather, Tan cloth top; Estimate $70,000 - $90,000; Concours restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $51,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $56,100 – Body color wheels with Lincoln script caps and beauty rings wearing wide whitewalls. Clock and AM radio. Restored circa 2000 and an LCOC winner in 2001 and 2004. Deep mirror chrome, excellent body work, paint, and top fit. Interior very lightly worn on driver's side. Fastidiously maintained and lightly driven as evidenced by light road wear. No Reserve. The quality of this restoration is evident in the way it has survived still nearly in concours condition. It is not, however, fresh and the bidders were conservative, taking it home with plenty of headroom for any unanticipated contingencies that might develop. A sound value, and the seller should not be disappointed.

Lot # 49 1958 Aston Martin DB Mark III Coupe, Body by Tickford; S/N AM300/3/1727; Engine # DBA1335; Pacific Blue/Grey leather; Estimate $180,000 - $220,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $195,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $214,500 – Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires. Excellent show-quality restoration to like new condition but the door-hood fit is off. Chrome is very high quality but with some polish marks. Interior is like new with no sign of wear but shows some road wear on the underside. This car was consistently presented to high standards throughout, attention to detail and quality that was reflected in the bidders' willingness to pay a healthy price for it. The seller couldn't have asked for any more.

Lot # 51 1925 Bentley 3-Liter Tourer, Body by Gurney Nutting; S/N 930; Engine # 914; Green, polished aluminum hood/Tan leather; Estimate $250,000 - $325,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $215,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $236,500 – RHD. Silver wire wheels, dual side-mounted spares, Auster rear windshield. Represented as matching numbers with its original coachwork, SU carbs and an electric fan added. Paint worn and chipped especially around the doors. Interior worn and lightly soiled. Underside very worn from driving. Known history and perfect for participation in Bentley Driver's Club events. This is a lot of car for the money especially for a Bentley with no stories on the engine or body origin. It brought $253,000 at Gooding's Scottsdale auction in 2010 and is very well bought with plenty of room to spare here.

Lot # 52 1934 LaSalle Series 50 Convertible Coupe, Body by Fleetwood; S/N BodyNo541; Engine # 2105993; Burgundy/Black leather, Black cloth top; Estimate $125,000 - $150,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500 – Red steel wheels with whitewall tires, combination side-view mirror-spotlight and Jaeger clock. Deep paint and chrome with polish marks. Vent window glass beginning to delaminate. Driver's side of the front seat lightly worn. Straight body, good gaps and excellent paint finish. The design of this LaSalle is absolutely striking. The restoration was very respectable and has resulted in a car that its new owner will be proud to show or drive today. Considering LaSalle's stature in the automotive lineup and the prices of comparable and better vehicles the high bidder could have paid more and still not overpaid.

Lot # 56 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Spyder; S/N 16987; Engine # B2794; Yellow/Tan leather, Black stripes, Black cloth top; Estimate $1,000,000 - $1,300,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,200,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,320,000 – Chrome spoke Borranis, blackwall Michelin XWX tires, Becker Mexico cassette. Painted nose panel, popup lights. Good paint, chrome and top. Chassis is older. Engine is nicely done and like new. Upholstery shows some age and light use. This is a 2008 price, and maybe even a little more for the age and extent of its restoration.

Lot # 58 1955 Austin-Healey 100/S Roadster; S/N AHS3707; Engine # 1B222731; OE White, Lobelia Blue/Blue leather; Estimate $600,000 -; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $575,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $632,500 – RHD. Ivory painted wire wheels, blackwall tires, no bumpers, quick-fill steering wheel, Moto-Lita style woodrim steering wheel, full width Plexiglas windscreen. A late 80's restoration to like new condition with better cosmetics. It is still fresh, sharp and pristine. The longevity of this restoration attests to the care and skill with which it was done and to the sympathy of its subsequent owners. It was offered by RM at Monterey in 2005 where its reported high bid was only $150,000 against a $175-225,000 estimate. How times have changed, and this is a reasonable price for a correct 100/S in 2011 in this exceptional condition. Unfortunately, it's probably too good to race.

Lot # 63 1957 AC Ace Bristol Roadster; S/N BEX404; Engine # 100D760; Ice Blue/Red leather; Estimate $250,000 - $275,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $235,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $258,500 – Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, triple carbs. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Restored a few years ago and no longer fresh but done to high standards and still very attractive. This is exactly the same price this car brought at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2008. While the overall market may be down from the pre-financial crisis peak this car has held its own nicely. It's also held up nicely and is a sound value at this price.

Lot # 64 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback, Body by H.J. Mulliner; S/N BC16LD; Engine # BCD15; Shell Grey/Gray leather, Burgundy piping; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $700,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $770,000 – 4.9 liter, lefthand drive, center shift, lightweight seats, manual windows, no rear skirts. Two long term owners from new, stored for some time and dusty, dirty, mildewed and oxidized but sound and all there. Comes complete with its Bentley Continental Touring Spares Kit specific to BC16LD. One old repaint, aged and peeling. Original interior is sound and can be reclaimed with careful attention. The body is remarkably well preserved and straight. Reversing the effects of time and rather rough storage will not be inexpensive but it can be done sympathetically and thoroughly and still be in the money with this extremely well preserved and sound Continental. It is a sound value at this price, even in this condition.

Lot # 66 1962 Lotus 23B Sports Racer; S/N 23S80; BRGreen/Red leather; Estimate $175,000 - $225,000; Competition restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500 – RHD. Lotus Ford twin cam, Weber carbs, yellow wobbly wheels, Avon race tires, braced rollbar. Beautifully, freshly restored to much better than new standards of fit and finish for Ed Henning's widow and sold with only two hours on the rebuilt engine. Formerly owned by Ed Rahal. It's hard to imagine a competition car restored to better standards of fit, finish and function that this. It is gorgeous, and it brought an appropriate price both for its history and its presentation.

Lot # 67 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mark II Vantage Coupe; S/N DB6MK2/4125/L; Engine # 400/4355/VC; Silver Birch/Black leather; Estimate $300,000 - $350,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $295,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $324,500 – Lefthand drive, 5-speed, chrome wire wheels, cassette stereo, woodrim steering wheel with black spokes, Weber carbs. Restored to showroom condition with good paint and interior. Good major chrome but thin window frame chrome. One of only nine lefthand drive Vantage DB6s built, making this a rare and desirable example. That and its handsome restoration make this a sound and astute buy at this price.

Lot # 70 1969 Ferrari 365 GTC , Body by Pininfarina; S/N 12407; Engine # 12407; Dark Blue/Beige leather; Estimate $275,000 - $325,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $310,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $341,000 – Alpine cassette, P/W, chrome spoke Borranis wire wheels, Michelin XWX blackwalls, A/C. Excellent paint and chrome. Chassis has been recently slathered with undercoat. A handsome and little used older restoration with fresh mechanicals including brakes, suspension, engine and transaxle in 2010 The bidders like this 330 GTC a lot, perhaps a bit more than the current market for similar cars can support. It would have been better at $285-295,000 all in.

Lot # 72 1957 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N D7FH172519; Black/White, Black cloth; Estimate $60,000 - $80,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $60,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $66,000 – 312/245hp, automatic, power seat, P/B, Kelsey-Hayes chrome wire wheels with wide whitewalls. Restored in the 70's and still spectacular. Concours quality deep chrome with polish marks and straight body and paint with polish marks. Top and interior look new and top fits very well. Underside meticulously presented with every surface spotless. Four owners from new. No Reserve. This T-Bird looks extremely fresh for a 1970's-era restoration. It has not been driven much since the work was completed and is well cared for and has certainly been freshened at some point. Regardless of the age it sold at the higher end of the T-Bird market.

Lot # 73 1990 Ferrari F40, Body by Pininfarina; S/N ZFFMN34A5L0085575; Red/Red cloth; Estimate $525,000 - $575,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $522,500 – A/C. U.S. delivery model. Fresh belt service. 5,612 miles and nearly like new aside from the usual driver's seat wear from the belts. There should be no quarrel with this result, either from the seller or the buyer.

Lot # 74 1950 Allard K1 Roadster; S/N 91K1703; Engine # 1738891; Silver/Dark Grey leather; Estimate $150,000 - $200,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000 – Lefthand drive. 295 cubic inch Mercury flathead with triple carbs on an Edelbrock intake, Edelbrock heads, Isky cam, Bluemel's Brooklands steering wheel, folding windshield, hubcaps, blackwall tires, enclosed rear spare, electric windshield wiper, full weather equipment, trafficators. Good paint, chrome and interior. Clean, orderly engine. Oily, greasy chassis, but not old, just used. This Allard is unusually sweet, particularly to those who appreciate the sound of the 3/4 race flathead. It has been thoroughly restored and is lefthand drive, an ideal tour car and its presentation provides strong evidence that it has been used in that capacity. Although it has a K body and is cataloged as a K1, its date and chassis number identify it as a later K2 for which this is an appropriate price.

Lot # 75 1936 Ford Model 68 Deluxe Phaeton; S/N 182124899; Black/Brown leatherette; Tan cloth top; Estimate $70,000 - $90,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $36,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $39,600 – Hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, wind wings, no radio or heater. An older restoration and still a presentable tour car. Steering needs to be tightened up. Sound and presentable paint, interior and major chrome. Weak door handle chrome. No Reserve. Sold for $41,340 at the Spring Branson auction in 2004 in somewhat better condition that it was today, this is handsome and highly usable example of one of Ford's more desirable body styles. The price here is modest, even though the estimate is more appropriate to a freshly restored car in better than showroom condition.

Lot # 76 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta; S/N 10147; Engine # 10147; Red/Black leather; Estimate $1,200,000 - $1,400,000; Older restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,050,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,155,000 – Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX blackwalls. A 1985 restoration to like new condition by John Hadjuk with excellent paint, chrome and interior. Done like new underhood. Engine rebuilt by Patrick Ottis in 1997 with further work to the suspension and brakes. Still looks fresh, clean, sharp and better than new. Includes a set of Campagnolo alloy wheels, books and tools. An outstanding example This result is right on the money for this 4-cam's condition and history.

Lot # 78 1959 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet, Body by Karmann; S/N 5557478; Mango Green/Tan vinyl; Tan cloth top; Estimate $30,000 - $40,000; Concours restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750 – Body colored steel wheels with red accent stripe and whitewall tires. Fog lights, bumper guards front and rear, two-spoke steering wheel, pushbutton AM radio. Excellent cosmetics from paint, body and chrome to the nicely restored, correct interior but the underside is not as presentable. No Reserve. A very nicely presented Beetle and the seller should be pleased with this strong result.

Lot # 81 1995 Ferrari F50 ; S/N ZFFTA46B000103499; Red/Black leather, Red Alcantara inserts; Estimate $700,000 - $900,000; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $600,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $660,000 – A/C. Number 34 of 349. Grey market car adapted by G&K Automotive Conversion. Original factory hardtop included. Like new with 7,700 miles. It's somewhat surprising that the F50, most of which have yet to turn five digits on their odometers, is now fifteen years old. It's still futuristic, technically advanced and frighteningly powerful. This is modest price for an example that is so well documented and maintained, but one that is appropriate to its grey market status in the U.S.

Lot # 82 1947 Chrysler New Yorker Town and Country Convertible; S/N 7403734; Engine # C3930711; Newport Blue/Blue leather, Beige cloth; Beige cloth top; Estimate $150,000 - $200,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $145,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $159,500 – Dual remote spotlights, hubcaps, sombrero discs, Fluid Drive, wide whitewalls, radio, heater, turn signals, fog lights. High quality restoration that didn't correct for some water stained joints in the original wood. Leather is lightly creased. Paint and chrome are excellent. Underbody is choice. A very nice car. The whole wood thing is an impossible compromise. It would be nice to replace the water stained pieces, but the mellow color of the old timber is nearly impossible to duplicate, let alone the appeal of having a largely original woodie. This car's restorer did it thoughtfully and thoroughly. Completed in the early oughts, this restoration has held up much better than most Town & Countrys and brought a price that intelligently reflects its appeal and condition.

Lot # 85 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing; S/N 1980405500303; Engine # 1989805500317; Silver/Dark Blue vinyl; Estimate $375,000 - $450,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $440,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $484,000 – Underdash cassette stereo, hinged steering wheel. Sound paint, musty interior, dirty original underhood. Barn find, but complete and sound. From the estate of Ron VanKregten, put away in 1977 (based on the last sticker on the California plates). Needs much, but also highly original, very complete and pretty sweet. No Reserve. With the recent eruption in Gullwing values this car is nothing if not a good buy with plenty of headroom to give it the sympathetic recommissioning it deserves and turn it into a wonderful, well preserved, sensitively treated tribute to the ingenuity and skill of Mercedes-Benz in the Fifties. The buyer is to be commended for thinking outside the box and seeing the real value in this Gullwing.