RM Auctions Concorso Villa d’Este 2011 – Auction Report

Lot # 117 1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype, Body by ; S/N GT/111; Linden Green/Dark Blue cloth; Estimate $3,401,280 - $4,109,880; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $2,976,120 -- RHD. The eleventh of twelve GT40 prototypes, one of five roadsters, thought lost after accident damage while being raced by Bob Bondurant and Sir John Whitmore for FAV in the Targa Florio until it was discovered in 2006. Restored to original appearance in 2007 with solid lifter 289 V-8 and original type ZF 5-speed. One of three known surviving GT40 Roadsters, successfully raced in the UK since and ready to go. Some "barn find", after being thought lost for 40 years. Handsomely and accurately restored and now developed in historic racing. A little more should have had it a new home, at a handsome price.

Lot # 118 1939 Delahaye 135 MS Grand Sport Roadster, Body by Figoni & Falaschi; S/N 60158; Engine # 103349; Andalouse Red/Brick Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $1,133,760 - $1,388,856; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $992,040 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $1,111,085 -- RHD. Marchal headlights and fog lights, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, wind wings, rear wheel skirts, enclosed rear spare, trafficators. An attractive and, for Figoni & Falaschi, rather sedate and practical design with interesting hood side vent treatment. Owned by Peter Agg and Hugh Taylor, then freshly restored by Tessier in France for John O'Quinn and just completed. John M. O'Quinn estate. Sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2006 for $1,100,000, then by RM at Amelia Island in 2007 for $1,347,500. This is a disappointing result with the fresh restoration and is a good value at the price.

Lot # 119 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe, Body by Figoni & Falaschi; S/N 60112; Engine # 103364; Ivory/Red leather; Estimate $1,275,480 - $1,558,920; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $1,176,276 -- RHD. Cotal gearbox, Ivory wire wheels, trafficators, rear fender skirts, Marchal headlights and fog lights. Unusual teardrop-style execution with the tall Delahaye grille painted red, white and blue as it was displayed at the 1938 Paris Salon. Restored in 1987, then displayed at Rosso et Bianco. Freshly re-restored by Tessier in consultation with Claude Figoni. John M. O'Quinn estate. Sold to John O'Quinn by Bonhams at Quail Lodge in 2006 for an O'Quinnly generous $1,712,000 in somewhat tired older restored condition. Now concours-ready and as an unusual example of the teardrop style on a Delahaye worth more than the amount bid. It would be a good value at the $900,000 low estimate.

Lot # 120 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 0490 AM; Engine # 0490 AM; White, Black roof/Tan leather; Estimate $4,535,040 - $5,952,240; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $4,251,600 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $4,761,792 -- RHD. Borrani wire wheels, sliding side windows, wraparound Plexiglas rear window with molded-in extractor vents, center-mounted rear fuel filler, front fender side vents, covered headlights in front fender tunnels. The last 375 MM built of only ten berlinettas, displayed by Ferrari at Turin in April 1955. Original engine. Excellent paint, chrome, glass, Plexiglas, trim and interior. Restored to high standards, class winner at Pebble Beach in 2004 and Cavallino in 2005. Much more powerful than a 250GT, one-off coachwork. Consistently owned and maintained by enthusiasts since new. Pebble Beach winning restoration. All that is the recipe for an extraordinary Ferrari value, which this most definitely is even though the hammer price is a bit below RM's low estimate. The caliber of the restoration and the bodywork design (which has more than a few elements of the later 250GT Tour de France in it) commanded a superior, but fully deserved, result.

Lot # 121 1931 Minerva 8AL Convertible Sedan, Body by Rollston; S/N 80105; Engine # 80116; Green/Beige broadcloth; Green cloth top; Estimate $892,836 - $1,190,448; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $666,084 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $746,014 -- Dual sidemounts with chrome rings, body color wheel discs, blackwall tires, windshield visor, integrated luggage trunk, gold plated instrument panel and bezels. Built for Henry Walker Bagley (son-in-law of R.J. Reynolds), later owned by D. Cameron Peck. Restored by Steve Babinsky in 1998 for Charles Morse. First in class at Pebble Beach in 1999 and a later winner at Meadow Brook, Amelia Island and Louis Vuitton in New York. Well maintained since and still in show quality condition. An elegant and very practical automobile that brought a realistic price considering its restoration's age.

Lot # 122 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 1307GT; Engine # 1307GT; Dark Blue, Silver hardtop/Black leather; Estimate $2,267,520 - $2,834,400; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $3,188,700 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $3,571,344 -- Cold air box, chrome spoke Borranis, Blaupunkt multiband radio, electric fan, Marchal fog lights in grille, mesh-backed front fender vents, ignition switch moved to driveshaft tunnel-mounted box, modified BMW 507 hardtop long associated with this chassis. Thankfully not yet modified to covered headlights. Represented to have its original engine. Excellent paint, chrome and interior but no longer fresh. Freshly detailed engine compartment. Ferrari Classiche certified. This car's history is illustrative of the long wheelbase California Spyder's ascent in value from merely expensive to ionospheric. RM offered it in New York in 2002 in Metallic Green where it no-saled at $840,000, repeating that performance at Amelia in 2003 at an $850,000 high bid. It came back to Amelia in 2009 with its current paint job but lacking some details now attended to and was reported bid to $1,975,000. It's a better car today and cracked through even RM's generous high estimate to hammer sold at this price, helped significantly by the strength of the Euro. While it's $1.3 million more than bid at Amelia, the Euro price is not quite 700,000 above its 2009 equivalent. That's still breathtaking, but not quite as much as it is in dollars.

Lot # 123 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Competition Spider, Body by Bertone; S/N LML/507; Engine # VB6J89; Red/Red leather; Estimate $992,040 - $1,289,652; Competition car, original as-raced, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $850,320 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $952,358 -- Lefthand drive. Silver painted wire wheels, full width Plexiglas windshield. Coachwork designed by Franco Scaglione, one of three built for Stanley 'Wacky' Arnolt. Displayed at the Chicago Auto Show in 1954. Known history from new including Mercury Outboard's Karl Kiekhaefer. Raced in period in the Midwest, then in vintage events. Original, aged an attractively patinaed despite some paint defects. Reported sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2009 for $1,045,000. Considering its condition can't be appreciably different from 2009, it hard to see why the car should not be worth more, not even the dollar. The price in 2009 was Euros 735,000; today it was Euros 672,000. The new owner should be very satisfied with the Aston and with its price.

Lot # 124 1968 Bizzarrini 5300GT Strada, Body by Bertone; S/N 1A30314; Engine # 1298V0423/W; Metallic Green/Tan leather; Estimate $538,536 - $680,256; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Post-block sale at $506,143 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $566,880 -- Borrani wire wheels, aluminum coachwork, later A/C. Restored in the early 00's with excellent paint, chrome, interior and underhood detailing. Better than new and updated in details for drivability. Closed post-block at a price that is fair to both the seller and the buyer. Inherently this is huge value in performance and handling but the pushrod overhead valve V-8 is plebian in Europeans' views.

Lot # 125 1930 Cadillac 452 V-16 Convertible Berline, Body by Saoutchik; S/N 700979; Engine # 700979; Silver, Dark Blue fenders/Beige cloth; Estimate $396,816 - $496,020; Older restoration, 1- condition; Post-block sale at $389,097 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $435,789 -- Grebel head lights, fog light and spotlights, chrome spoke wire wheels, full-length sunroof, dual sidemounts, chrome spoke wire wheels, luggage rack, chrome hood side vents. Saoutchik body fitted in Europe to a Cadillac V-16 chassis used for Cadillac's 1931 European Salons with Sport Phaeton coachwork, later mounted on this '31 V-16 chassis. Spectacularly restored by Fran Roxas, updated by Alan Taylor and Mosier Restorations. Brilliant chrome, excellent paint, interior, roof and wood beginning to evidence its age. Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2001 for $124,200, then reported sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2007 for $462,000 although RM's catalog maintains the 'present owner acquired the car in January 2001', i.e., at Barrett-Jackson. Either way, it is a beautiful automobile and an excellent value at this negotiated post-block price.

Lot # 126 1964 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ Coupe, Body by Zagato; S/N 750006; Red/Black; Estimate $673,170 - $814,890; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $793,632 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $888,868 -- Alloy wheels, roll cage, outside fuel filler. First generation TZ1, originally prepared by Autodelta and raced at the Targa Florio (Bussinello/Todaro, 3rd overall) and LeMans (Biscaldi/Sala, 15th overall, 2nd in class) in 1964. Later owned and raced by Giancarlo Sala in Italy. Restored in 2010 to LeMans configuration with appropriate lights and fittings. Thoroughly researched and authenticated, although no one makes any claims for the engine. Done right, without going overboard. With a LeMans history that includes both finishing and a place on the class podium and factory Targa Florio history with an overall podium finish, this Alfa is capable of running with the big boys, and keeping up. It is expensive, but there aren't likely to be many others out there so meticulously restored and with a comparable race record. This is what it took to own it.

Lot # 127 1938 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS Coupe, Body by Figoni & Falaschi; S/N 90112; Silver, Grey fenders/Ruby leather; Estimate $4,393,320 - $5,385,360; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $3,968,160 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $4,444,339 -- RHD. Chrome spoke wire wheels, sliding sunroof, Wilson pre-selector gearbox, recessed headlight behind chrome grilles in the fender catwalks, skirted rear wheels, rear deck spline. Multiple award winning restoration including three awards at Pebble Beach in 2009 and Best in Show at Meadow Brook in 2010. Known history from new including a period with the Belgian Royal family, numbers matching. A gorgeous, fresh, highly detailed concours car. A beautifully, accurately, meticulously restored example of one of the milestone designs of the Thirties and a Figoni & Falaschi masterpiece. The price is representative of the esteem in which these sixteen Figoni & Falaschi Teardrops are held.

Lot # 128 1915 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 40/50hp Limousine, Body by R.A. Hamshaw; S/N 2BD; Engine # 11B; Dark Olive Green/Black leather, Beige cloth; Estimate $736,944 - $992,040; Older restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $623,568 -- RHD. Brass trim, jump seats, embroidered window pulls and rear compartment trim, rollup rear compartment shades, sliding divider, ivory knobs, speaking tube, triple Elliott, CAV head and side lights, wicker trunk. Good older restoration that shows age and would benefit from some cosmetic attention. First owned by Captain H. Whitworth, then sold to Mr. Alfred I. duPont for his wife Alicia, later by A. Atwater Kent, Jr. Oral history says the order, during Rolls-Royce's WWI work, was facilitated by King George V in gratitude for the duPont company's supply of powder and munitions. Beautifully restored some years ago by David Hemmings for Richard Solove. The restoration is ageing and hasn't benefited from four years in one of John O'Quinn's warehouses. Sold by Gooding at Pebble Beach in 2007 from the Solove collection for $1,100,000 during the peak of John O'Quinn's acquisition binge but even taking that into account the price of this elegant Silver Ghost is a good value for the owner.

Lot # 129 1957 BMW 507 Convertible; S/N 70048; Engine # 40052; Papyrus/Blue leather; Estimate $736,944 - $821,976; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $921,180 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $1,031,722 -- Front disc brakes, Becker Mexico radio, luggage rack, factory hardtop, centerlock wheels. Repainted years ago during accident repairs but otherwise original even to the spare wheel, jack and white rubber floor mats. Odometer shows 89,889 km. Two owners from new and offered from the Panini Collection where it has been displayed since being acquired from the original owners. Well preserved throughout with one small tear in the driver's seat and some peeling interior trim chrome but far too good to be restored, just mechanically and electrically checked and refreshed. This is a huge premium for originality and two owner history, even in Euros, for a 507. While the 3.2 liter V-8 is a gem, its performance never realized the design's promise and with 150 horsepower is anemic compared with its counterparts. The design, however, is brilliant, accounting for most of the 507's appeal. This car would have been adequately valued at RM's low estimate. This result is a 25% premium.

Lot # 130 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 09495; Engine # 09495; Red/Tan leather; Estimate $1,027,470 - $1,169,190; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Post-block sale at $835,136 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $935,352 -- Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels (alloy wheels included), A/C added during 2003 cosmetic restoration in the present colors. Done very well and shows essentially no use or age since the restoration was completed. Flush panel fits, even gaps, bright chrome and pristine upholstery. Closed post-block at this price somewhat generous value considering its modifications and the change from its original Rosso Cordoba/Black livery. The A/C, nearly imperceptibly hidden in the recesses of the engine compartment with outlets built in under the dashboard, helps its value to drivers who want to use it if not to the ones who value purity validated by personal discomfort.

Lot # 131 1938 SS Jaguar 100 3 1/2 Liter Coupe, Body by Graber; S/N 30182; Dark Blue/Red leather; Estimate $425,160 - $566,880; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $297,612 -- RHD. Chrome wire wheels, Marchal headlights, skirts. Unique and attractive blind quarter closed coachwork by Graber with a few subtle chrome embellishments built for Michel Dionisotti called a "Limousine Coupe." Occasional rear seats and an access door for storing skis. Restored by RM in 1994, won Designer's Choice at Meadow Brook, award winner at Pebble Beach and seven JCNA awards. Excellent paint, chrome, interior and glass. A concours restoration that is still fresh and sharp. Formerly in the Kathy and Jerry Nell Collection. Sold for $385,000 (Euros 301,600 at the time) by RM at Monterey in 2010, a remarkably modest price at the time for the quality of the chassis, coachwork and restoration. A particularly rare and attractive car offered close to the home of its coachwork, it should have sold well here so close to the origin of its Graber coachwork and it's hard to conceive why the bidders were so reluctant.

Lot # 132 1957 Ferrari 500 TRC, Body by Scaglietti; S/N 0670 MDTR; Engine # 0670 MDTR; Red, Yellow nose and sills/Red leather; Estimate $3,684,720 - $4,676,760; Competition restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $3,543,000 plus commission of 12.00%; Final Price $3,968,160 -- RHD. Full width Plexiglas windshield, side exhaust, silver painted Borrani wire wheels, driver's head fairing. Ex-Bernardo Cammarata of Palermo, Sicily and raced in the Targa Florio in 1958, 1959, 1965 and 1966. Acquired by Giulio Dubbini in 1966 followed by Corrado Cupellini and raced in the Shell Ferrari-Maserati Challenge, then Nick Colonna for whom it was restored in 2003. Known history from new, matching engine and chassis, thoroughly restored and now somewhat aged and carefully used and maintained. The Targa Florio history virtually guarantees that this is a ticket to just about any sports car event the new owner wants to attend and a veteran of most. The history is unusually clear and free from mishaps. The result is appropriate and this is a (n original 4-cylinder) Testa Rossa for a reasonable price, less than half the price of a 250 TR.