RM Auctions Monterey 2011 – Auction Report

Lot # 241 1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 GS 5th Series Spider, Body by Zagato; S/N 10814402; Engine # 10814898; Dark Blue/Dark Red leather; Estimate $850,000 - $950,000; Older restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $935,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,028,500 -- RHD. Dark Red wire wheels, Firestone blackwalls, dual rear spares, Bosch headlights, Marchal fog lights, spotlight. Engine swapped with 10814898 in the 70's (original engine is now in 8513088.) Never fully restored. Twice in the Mille Miglia Storica. Original chassis and body. Aged but sound paint, chrome and upholstery. Superficially redone chassis painted over rust pits. Radiator discolored from boilover. A driver's 1750. This Alfa doesn't need restoration, just continuing good care, regular attention and enthusiastic use as it has received over the past half century. Its character and patina are significant contributors to its value, which is accurately represented by the price it brought here today.

Lot # 242 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 154140; Engine # 154140; Silver/Blue leather; Estimate $8,800,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $9,680,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $10,648,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, dual spotlights, Bosch headlights and dip beam. Long tail, high door, covered spare. First delivered to Argentina. Restoration begun in Germany by Axel Schuette, completed in the U.S. by Stone Barn and Sam and Emily Mann. Concours restored, Best of Show and Best Mercedes-Benz at Amelia Island, Class winner and Best Mercedes at Pebble Beach in 2004. Inspected and verified original engine, chassis and body by Mercedes Classic Germany experts. Sam and Emily Mann collection. The headline car of this auction, and just about anywhere it might appear, a magnificent vehicle by any standards, meticulously restored to concours-quality. It blew away even RM's estimate, as it deserved to do.

Lot # 243 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 16539; Rosso Dino/Black leather; Estimate $350,000 - $450,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $357,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $393,250 -- Chrome spoke Borranis, Michelin XWX 215/70VR15 tires, Becker Europa II AM-FM, P/W, A/C, headrests. A clean original car with a very good repaint. Three owners and 6,395 miles from new. The originality of this Ferrari is almost an afterthought in its price. It will be a difficult decision to add many miles to the few it has covered, but a little use won't hurt its originality or value, which at this price is very good.

Lot # 244 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competition Berlinetta, Body by Pinin Farina; S/N 2209GT; Red/Brown leather, corduroy; Estimate $3,800,000 - $4,500,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $5,280,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $5,808,000 -- Chrome spoke Borranis, 6.00L-15 Dunlop tires, Marchal head and fog lights, carburetor cold air box. Raced (and believed owned, although records have it first delivered and registered to Ardilio Tavoni) by Jo Schlesser, 3rd in the 1960 1000km of Montlhèry with Andre Simon, 3rd in the Coppa St. Ambroeus at Monza driven by Alessandro Zafferri, 4th in GT in the 1961 Tour de Corse driven by Schlesser with his wife as co-driver. Sold in 1962 to Gianni Roghi who crashed it in 1966 or 67. Rebodied by Drogo, with 250 GTE engine 4921GT. Restored and again rebodied by DK Engineering in SWB '61 style in the late 80's. Fresh chrome. Good upholstery. Fresh, sharp chrome. Fresh paint flawed and bubbling on cowl. Chassis Black blown on underbody. Ferrari Classiche stamped block. Not as good as it could, or should, have been. Ferrari Classiche certified. Skip Barber collection. This car was sold by RM at its first Maranello auction in 2007 for $2,820,246, partially restored with the restoration by Ferrari Classiche included in the price. At the time I thought the acquisition was fraught with risks and potential conflict among the seller, Classiche and the buyer. It has now been conclusively proved to be worth the risk. This is an awesome price for a re-stamped engine SWB, let alone one restored to this flawed condition.

Lot # 245 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Coupe; S/N 1980405500621; Engine # 1989805500665; Silver/Black leather; Estimate $650,000 - $850,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $803,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $883,300 -- Rudge wheels, fitted luggage, hinged steering wheel, belly pans, sport camshaft. Two owners from new. Restored like new to better than showroom condition by Kevin Kay wiht interior by Ken and Cindy Nemanic with limited subsequent use. No Reserve. An outstanding Gullwing which brought an appropriately outstanding price.

Lot # 246 1955 Ferrari 250 GT Europa Low Roof Berlinetta Alloy, Body by Boano; S/N 0447GT; Engine # 0447GT; Dark Red/Grey leather, Dark Red piping; Estimate $750,000 - $850,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $660,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $726,000 -- Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, 185S16 Pirelli blackwalls, Marchal headlights and fog lights. Chassis and underbody sprayed with undercoat. Good paint, chrome and interior. Scuffed window trim. Alloy body, later modified by Boano without the fender top break behind the doors and cleaner headlight joint to conform to later designs. Restored in 1986 by Lyle Tanner and little messed with since. Offered at Gooding's Scottsdale auction in January where it no-saled at $750,000. There is little not to like about this car -- although it would be more intriguing with the original rear fender line -- and on account of its date it is eligible for most events making it a sound acquisition at this price.

Lot # 247 1935 Mercedes-Benz 500K Roadster, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 105380; Engine # 105380 (see text); Dark Red/Tan leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $4,000,000 - $5,000,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $3,767,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $4,144,250 -- Chrome wire wheels, dual rear spares, wide whitewalls, dual Bosch spotlights, mother of pearl instrument panel, Bosch headlights and dip beam, radiator stone guard. Chromed front suspension and springs. 1935 Berlin Motor Show display car, then delivered to Hans Friedrich Prym, later owned by the Imperial Palace. A well maintained old restoration by the IP that has seen little use and only minor age. M-B Classic inspection identifys the engine as a period replacement, correct body. Lyon Family collection. In its own way as important and spectacular as the later 540Ks and a beautiful individual example of Sindelfingen's coachwork. It is amply but justifiably valued at this result.

Lot # 248 1953 Ferrari 375 America Coupe, Body by Vignale; S/N 0327AL; Engine # 0327AL; Burgundy, Silver roof/Light Grey leather, Maroon piping; Estimate $1,750,000 - $2,100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $1,980,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,178,000 -- Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, 215/70VR15 Pirelli P5 blackwall tires. 1954 Geneva Salon show car, one of only two Vignale-bodied 375 Americas, the other also being sold here in Monterey this weekend (0337AL) at Gooding's. Good fresh repaint in the original colors. Excellent chrome, lightly soiled upholstery. Chassis was redone like new but shows some age and use. An impressively presented, elegant and handsome Ferrari. 0337AL, freshly and completely restored in brilliant original colors, brought $2 million hammer, $2.2 million with commission today at Pebble Beach, pretty explicitly describing the market for Vignale bodied 375 Americas.

Lot # 249 1936 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 130945; Engine # 130945; Black, Burgundy accent/Black leather, Red piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $2,700,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,970,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $3,267,000 -- Chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, dual rear spares, Bosch headlights and dip beam, dual spotlights, mother of pearl instrument panel, low windshield. Owners include Lowel Ledford, Don Williams, Nachiro Ishikawa and Thomas Taffet. Excellent 1994 concours restoration redone in 2006, no longer fresh but possible to fault only in generalities. Inspected by M-B Classic Germany experts and confirmed as original engine, transmission and body. This is a very interesting and attractive M-B with intriguing interim features between the 500K and 540K. The otherwise beautiful coachwork has a single drawback, its massive folded top sitting on the rear deck and it is significant that it's neither cataloged nor shown with the top down. It is a beautiful and regal automobile, however, and brought an appropriately beautiful and regal price, especially when compared with its $2,035,000 sale by RM freshly re-restored at Arizona in 2008.

Lot # 250 1935 Mercedes-Benz 290 Cabriolet D; S/N 104569; Engine # 104569; Black/Beige leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $200,000 - $300,000; Concours restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $275,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $302,500 -- Chrome wire wheels, blackwall time, dual sidemounts, dual Heller spotlights, fog lights, cowl-mounted trafficators, trunk rack. CCCA National First Prize # 2691. Concours restored with some sympathetic subsequent use and age. Strong paint, chrome, upholstery, interior wood and top. Still close to concours. This was a smart consignment, trading on and following RM's unprecedented array of giant 8-cylinder supercharged Mercs, this rather pedestrian but beautifully restored and presented 290 Cab D was an opportunity for the rest of the audience to share in the excitement. It paid off with a full price for the seller but still a lot of automobile for the new owner.

Lot # 251 1924 Mercedes 28/95 Sport Phaeton, Body by Sindelfingen; S/N 27003; Black, varnished wood/Brown leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $900,000 - $1,200,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $1,017,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,119,250 -- RHD. Clamshell front fenders, four spotlights, driving lights, dual rear cloth covered spares. Discovered by Kirk Gibson in New England, later owned by Ben Moser and restored for Ted Jameson in the early 90's. Very good paint, chrome, glass, wood and interior. Highly attractive older restoration still in presentable condition but aging and showing it. Sold by Bonhams at Brookline from the Jameson collection in 2003 for just $245,900 to a couple of experienced collectors who recognized its quality and hidden value. It has added just over 400 miles to its odometer since it was offered by RM at Amelia in 2007 (a $775,000 no-sale). The result here is heroic money, probably helped along by the Mercedes-Benz epic which this year's RM Monterey sale was.

Lot # 252 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Coupe, Body by Pininfarina; S/N 3559SA; Engine # 3559SA; Metallic Blue/Cream leather; Estimate $1,500,000 - $1,900,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $2,090,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $2,299,000 -- Chrome spoke Borrani wire wheels, 205/70VR15 Michelin XWX tires, SNAP exhaust tips. Excellent paint and chrome. Seats and center armrest worn and stretched. Sharp, detailed underbody and chassis. Restored in 1993 by Edi Wyss in Switzerland and still in excellent condition. These cars are on a tear, price-wise, as this transaction at the top of RM's generous estimate range shows. It's a lovely car that might benefit from reupholstery but that's about all.

Lot # 255 1953 Siata 208S Spider; S/N BS523; Engine # BS070; Red/Binge leather, Red piping; Black cloth top; Estimate $875,000 - $1,175,000; Recent restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $946,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $1,040,600 -- Chrome spoke Borranis, 165-400 Michelin X blackwall tires, Heuer rally timers, driving lights behind the grille. First owned by Steve McQueen. Restored some time ago with 2.3 liter pistons and liners, later further upgraded by Nino Epifani. Excellent restoration to like new condition. Replacement engine block; original block is with the consignor and available on separate agreement. The colorful history doesn't hurt; in fact it offsets the replacement engine block and some of the performance and reliability updates that have been applied. This is what a quality 208S is worth these days, a tribute to their intriguing engine, gorgeous coachwork and eligibility for many exclusive and desirable events.

Lot # 256 1955 Kurtis 500SX Roadster; S/N SX001; Maroon/Dark Blue leather; Estimate $800,000 - $1,000,000; Competition restoration, 2 condition; Post-block sale at $500,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $550,000 -- Chrome side exhausts, rollbar, driver's head fairing, Dunlop 6.00x16 tires. A brute that has been very carefully historic race prepared. Front wheel well and outside exhaust configurations are not as original. Second owner Mickey Thompson installed a Pontiac engine and 4-speed in place of the original Cadillac. Later mated with this ex-Firestone Ray Nichels-built 500hp FI Pontiac during restoration. One of a kind engine with magnesium dry sump pan, valve covers and front cover with accessory drives. Live axle front and rear suspension, Halibrand QC rear axle, Halibrand kidney bean wheels. Raced by Thompson and Jerry Unser. Historic raced at both Goodwood meetings. Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in 2007 for $852,500 in a bidding contest that should have ended where this one did. This is a wonderful, historic old car thoroughly prepared in the British manner (and in Britain) for modern historic racing and not to its original configuration. The Ray Nichels fuel injected Pontiac adds both to its enjoyment on the road and to its historic appeal. This is appropriate money for the car.

Lot # 258 1974 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS; S/N 07968; Yellow/Beige leather, Black stripes; Estimate $175,000 - $225,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $187,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $205,700 -- Cromodora alloy wheels, Michelin Green X blackwall tires, A/C, P/W, Becker Mexico cassette. Good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody painted but chassis and engine given a quick once-over. An attractive cosmetic restoration with limited use. Repainted from the original Dino Blue. It's hard to argue with the decision a decade or so ago to repaint this Dino in Fly Yellow, a color that looks good on any Ferrari and particularly on a Dino. Thoughtfully maintained and consistently given just about anything it might need, this is a good car which the Monterey bidders confirmed with a good price.

Lot # 263 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupe; S/N WDDAJ76F76M001188; Crystal Palladium Grey/Light Brown leather; Estimate $240,000 - $280,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $242,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $266,200 -- New York Auto Show 2007, two owners, 4,000 miles, freshly serviced and nearly like new. A show-off car with show-off miles.

Lot # 264 1966 Mercedes-Benz 230SL Roadster; S/N 11304210018632; Light Ivory/Brown leather; Estimate $75,000 - $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750 -- 4-speed, hubcaps, wide trim rings, blackwall tires, no radio, hardtop. Good paint, chrome and original interior. Wheel wells painted body color over undercoat. Engine compartment has been cleaned up with a new firewall pad but otherwise looks original. Cataloged as 30,000 km but read 58,456 on-site, and represented as all original but appears to have been repainted. No Reserve. This is a healthy price for a $45-55,000 highly original car with paintwork. Maybe the 540K enthusiasm carried over? No, probably not that either.

Lot # 265 1886 Benz Replica Patent Motorwagen; S/N 066; Black, wood/Black leather; Estimate $60,000 - $80,000; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $49,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $54,450 -- Little used, but what use it has had shows. Built by John Bentley Engineering in the U.K. under Mercedes-Benz authorization. No Reserve. The less expensive of the two Bentley replica Patent Motorwagens sold at Monterey this weekend. It's also the less pristine of the two.