Russo and Steele Monterey 2012 – Auction Report

Lot # TH250 1987 Porsche 930 Turbo Coupe; S/N WP0JB093XHS050206; Cassis Red/Dark Purple leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $53,000 – 3-liter, 5-speed, whale tail, Fuchs alloy wheels, sunroof, A/C. Low mileage and as new. Discotheque color combination just odd enough to be charming or at least nostalgic. 20,885 miles from new. A good, clean but aged Porsche. Consignment # 2170. Clean, low mileage and wearing an interesting color combination, this 930 looked set to sell. Then bidders realized the reserve sat somewhere far enough beyond the high bid that the seller wouldn’t pull the reserve. 930s are loved but they’re not rare and this number will buy great, low mileage examples all day long.

Lot # TH252 1966 Ford Mustang GT Fastback; S/N 6F09A100587; Lime Green/Gold vinyl; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $24,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $26,950 – 289/225hp, 4-speed, GT, Rally Pac gauges, fog lights. Solid interior, paint and bodywork. Chassis and mechanicals very well detailed. Cheesy fake knock-off spinners on Magnum 500 wheels. Sold at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale in January for $34,100, then at B-J’s Orange County sale in June for $32,275, the trend continues, but now the price matches the car. No show car. No trailer queen. Just a nice, presentable Mustang at lower than expected price.

Lot # TH274 1969 Mercury Cougar Eliminator 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 9F91R573612; Bright Blue/Blue vinyl; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $38,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $42,350 – 428/335hp, automatic, buckets and console, Magnum wheels, Radial T/A blackwalls, P/S, P/B, Ram Air hood, 8-track stereo. Restored in 1997 to like new condition with very good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody is like new. California car from new, three owners. Factory replacement block. If this were a similarly equipped and presented Mustang it’d bring another ten or even twenty thousand dollars. Even though Cougar Eliminators haven’t hit with collectors yet and this is a representative result for this car it has some appreciation potential when the Eliminator’s performance and rarity get more appreciated.

Lot # TH279 1999 Acura NSX Coupe; S/N JH4NA2128XT000155; Red/Black leather, suede; Unrestored original, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $59,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $64,900 – Number 28 of 50 Alex Zanardi edition NSXs built in 1999. Lightened 149 pounds, red with red-stitched upholstery, BBS wheels, titanium shift knob, manual steering, revised suspension. Very good original paint and interior, 33,834 miles. Consignment #2235. This is top of market even for this special limited production NSX, but all NSX prices have been growing faster than the middle market in general. The NSX offers supercar performance, exceptional comfort and drivability and Honda-like reliability. They’re hard to beat, especially in their present value level.

Lot # TH282 1988 BMW M3; S/N WBSAK0306J2195045; Silver/Red leather; Unrestored original, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $37,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $40,700 – 2.3 liter inline four, 5-speed, factory basket-weave alloys, fender flares, front and rear spoiler. As new and thoroughly detailed with all surfaces as new. E30 M3 are quietly rising in prices and more than one vintage car dealer have quietly set about buying up documented, low mile cars. This car didn’t have documents, but it did have outstanding condition and a beautiful color combination. Its price was fair and is only getting more attractive by the day.

Lot # TH290 1964 Ford Falcon Futura Convertible; S/N 4H22F140048; Black/Red vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $20,000 – $25,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $8,250 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $9,075 – 260/164hp, automatic, add-on A/C, pushbutton radio, power top. $29.95 Earl Scheib paint over a solid body. Scuffed major chrome, badly pitted trim chrome. Sound upholstery, poorly fit top. A scruffy example, treated to a scruffy repaint. No Reserve. Even in this unattractive condition the new owner of this Falcon Futura has a presentable (from 20 feet) weekend driver and a top that goes down. The seller may be disappointed at the price, but shouldn’t be too disappointed. This was all the car deserved.

Lot # F406 1974 BMW 2002 Turbo Coupe; S/N 4291365; Polaris Silver/Black vinyl; Unrestored original, 4 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $30,000 – 2 liter fuel injected and turbocharged inline four, 5-speed, carpeted dashboard, sheepskin seat covers, modern stereo, cold A/C. Used up with no preparation for auction. Interior looks like a 1970s finished-basement with animal hides and carpeting everywhere. Filthy alloy wheels in keeping with everything else. The kind of car that makes one feel like taking a shower. Consignment # 2102. 2002 Turbos have a loyal following, particularly in the States where the powerful little coupes were not sold originally. At this high bid there would be no room left to completely restore the car as is necessary and wind up above water. More money will be hard to come by.

Lot # F411 1968 BMW 1600 Cabriolet; S/N 1557107; Purple Metallic, black cloth top/Black Vinyl; Modified restoration, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $36,000 – Replacement 2 liter four cylinder and 5-speed, later 13 inch alloy wheels, aftermarket stereo. BMW-built, not a Baur basket handle convertible. Good paint and interior, decent trim. Driver’s side door handle scuffed. A stylish and fun driver. Consignment # 2100. Nice, but in no way original or historic, this 1600 Cab is overpriced at the failed high bid. Equally nice and far more correct cars are available for this money.

Lot # F416 1961 Jaguar Mark IX 4-Dr. Sedan; S/N 792405BW; Blue/Red leather; Cosmetic restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $20,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $22,000 – Driving lights, fender mounted rear view mirrors, whitewalls, painted steel wheels with chrome trim rings and hubcaps, wood-rimmed steering wheel, rear picnic tables. Paint showing age and not as shiny as new, interior soiled, trim pitted and scratched. Enough patina here to actually use the picnic tables without guilt. Sold at RM Meadowbrook 2006 for 20,900 and again at RM Arizona 2011 for $30,250, this car can’t be reproduced for anywhere near this money and the new owner can enjoy a stylish Jaguar without obsessing over money or the car’s condition.