009

1963 Chrysler Turbine
Ghia coupe

A few of the cars that attracted attention included the 1923 once part of the Harrah Collection
McFarlan 154 Twin Valve Six Knickerbocker Cabriolet that was first before being acquired and restored
owned by silent film star and director Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. by Sam and Emily Mann.
He was, at one point, the highest paid actor in Hollywood. The
flamboyant car had six fenders, landau bars and a special canopy at American Hot Rods returned
the rear of the roof for protecting his director’s chair. It was presented to the Pebble Beach field for their
by the Nethercutt Collection and was the McFarlan class winner. biennial appearance, and 12 were
in the 1932 Ford Historic Hot Rod
The Unorthodox Propulsion class was won by Mark Hyman’s Class. The Bob McGee Roadster
1907 Columbia Mark XIX Surrey. It is thought to be the only one in that was on the cover of the October
existence and was once part of the Henry Ford Museum. The class 1948 issue of “Hot Rod” Magazine
also included a 1963 Chrysler Turbine Ghia coupe, one of nine was the class winner. It was acquired
remaining, that were powered by the A-831 engine. It could run on by Bruce Meyer in 1989, and he
most anything including perfume and even, in a pinch, tequila. I’m commissioned So-Cal Speed Shop
not sure what it was using when it drove across the ramp for its class to return the car to its original
award. configuration.
The cars from the 24 Hours of Le Mans Centennial were presented
The Audrain Collections presented their 1912 Rauch & Lang in two classes: early and late. The famous 1929 Bentley Speed Six
Electric Roadster that was first owned by Elizabeth Cunningham, “Old Number 1” was the second Speed Six built and won the grueling
mother of famed race car driver Briggs Cunningham. Electric cars race on two occasions. It was re-bodied several times over the years
were favored by women drivers for “automobiling” as they were easy but was restored and returned to the configuration it wore prior to its
to start, odorless and clean. The Rauch & Lang would have been right final race at Brooklands.
at home on Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island.
Two Cadillac racers
Graber coachwork and a special Bentley
Miles Collier and the Revs Institute presented the two 1950
Hermann Graber was a Swiss coach builder who produced Cadillac Series 61 cars that Briggs Cunningham entered in the
over 800 designs for European and American chassis. The Graber 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans race. One, “Le Monstre,” was drastically
Coachwork cars were presented in two classes, early and late, with modified and the other, nicknamed by the French as “Petit Pataud”
the 1930 Duesenberg Model J Graber Cabriolet owned by Sam or “Little Clumsy One” was original. The Petit Pataud, driven by Miles
and Emily Mann winning the early class. The Duesenberg was first Collier’s uncle and father, actually finished one place ahead of the
bodied by Murphy as a town car, but in 1935, a subsequent owner faster “Le Monstre.” It was a treat to see the two historic cars together.
sent it to Graber for a more-streamlined and striking body. It was
All of the cars had interesting histories, and being selected for
the field was an honor in itself. The highest honor, however, was
being selected as the Best in Show by the Chief Class Judges and
the Honorary Judges. This year the honor went to the unique 1932
Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo (J-465) owned by Lee Anderson
Sr. The original Figoni coachwork and the chassis had been separated
in the early 1960s but were reunited by Anderson. This was the
seventh Duesenberg to receive Pebble Beach’s Best of Show, and the
car was selected from three other exceptional finalists.

The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance is not all glitz and
glamour, as over $35 million has been raised for local charities over
the years. This year’s contributions exceeded $2m.

The countdown for the 72nd Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance
has begun and it is scheduled for August 20, 2023. An event not to be
missed!

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PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Audrain’s Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
at Pebble Beach

The day started with Dawn Patrol and ended with a Class Win

by CHESTER ALLEN

Donald Osborne parks the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS
during Dawn Patrol

IT IS A high honor to have your car invited Osborne gives the 904 a quick
to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, check before the judging starts
and that has to be enough for the vast
majority of entrants each year.

Every car that rolls onto the Pebble
Beach fairway at dawn is very special.
Those lucky owners then give their car a fast
detail — and then enjoy a fantastic day in
the spotlight.

To win a class at Pebble Beach is a
stunning achievement — one to be savored
for a long time.

On August 21, Audrain’s 1964 Porsche
904 Carrera GTS, once part of the Dr.
Nicholas Begovich Collection, purred onto
the course, with Linkage Publisher Donald
Osborne behind the wheel. A few hours
later, Audrain Chairman Nicholas Schorsch
drove the car to the awards ramp to collect
the ribbon and trophy for winning the
Postwar Preservation Class. The Porsche
is in astoundingly original condition, with
only 1,862 miles on the clock.

The following photo essay shows the
Porsche 904 on its special day.

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Judge Simon Kidston Audrain Chairman Nicholas
goes through the 904’s Schorsch and Donald Osborne
engine compartment celebrate winning the Postwar
Preservation Class

The Porsche 904 on the
2022 Pebble Beach Concours
d’Elegance awards ramp —
and collecting a ribbon and a
trophy

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Major Henry Segrave flies
up Kop Hill in his Grand Prix
Sunbeam in 1925

Climbing Kop Hill

Tradition is reborn, as drivers challenge the clock — and the grade — at the close of the summer season

by RUSSELL HAYES

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, ENGLAND, late September Worcestershire was founded in 1905 and, over the
2022: A perfect autumn dawn rises across the Chiltern Atlantic, Colorado’s Pike’s Peak in 1916.
Hills — and on a motoring event so charming you
could give it a hug.   With renewed passion for life, the post-World War
I public flocked back to Kop to see British motorsport
Kop Hill is an 826m-long public road bordered by stars, including Malcolm Campbell, Raymond Mays,
hedges and fields with a notorious place in English Henry Segrave and Count Zborowski. Then on March
motor racing history. In April 1910, the Motor 28, 1925, it all went wrong.
Cycling Club assembled 60 riders to fly up the flint-
and-chalk-surfaced hill, then repair to the George  Major Francis Giveen, in a Type 13 Bugatti Brescia
and Dragon pub in the nearest town of Princes named Cordon Bleu, knocked over a group of
Risborough. The Kop Hill Climb was born. mechanics, and one of them broke a leg.

 Hill climbs were already the in thing. Nearby Aston  Crowds had become unmanageable at these
Clinton began in 1904 and gave Lionel Martin the events. Thus, the RAC banned all speed trials on
idea for his own brand in 1913; Shelsley Walsh in public roads on the UK mainland, including 36 hill
climbs. Kop Hill’s accident ended an era.

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“She makes it up
the hill. I was really
chuffed because there’s
nothing worse than
getting halfway up …
and you have to do the
roll of shame and come
back again.”

Christina and Lorna Brooks
(left and right), shine with
Wendy — the Austin A35 flower
van. Wendy did not do the roll
of shame

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KOP HILLCLIMB

RIGHT Fiat never built this 1905 land
speed record chassis, but Briton Mike
Vardy brought it to life with a 16.5-liter
(1007-ci) Isotta-Fraschini aero engine.
BELOW Showgoers can donate to charity
for a ride in their favourite steed

The comeback Up the hill ABOVE Ian Tomlinson’s
1961 Triumph Italia, one
 Speed to 2009. Goodwood, Shelsley Walsh and Lorna Brooks (with husband Tony and daughter of only 330 built between
the Prescott hill climbs are thriving. After three years Christina) was marking 10 years of appearing in ‘50s 1959 and 1962
in the making under Tony Davies and three local finery with her 1959 Austin A35 van. Lorna is also a
councils, Kop Hill is revived as a non-competitive Fuller of the local 5th generation family owned florist RIGHT Steve Newport-
commemorative car and bike event for the pleasure and the Austin delivers its blooms on dry days and for Hall’s 1932 Ford Model 18
of around 16,000 spectators. It’s run entirely for local weddings. Tudor Sedan hot rod – the
charities by volunteers. Last year it raised £105,000 patina stays for vintage
for 19 local charities. The running total to 2021 was “We like dressing up at any opportunity,” Lorna beach racing
£870,000. The goal is £1 million. says breezily. She also had a lifelong liking for
commercial vehicles and wanted a mascot for the
 Cordon Bleu was back to open the 2010 event. shop in 2012. The 850-cc A35 was found on eBay and
Today’s surface is smooth tarmac (with a few bumpy it was love at first sight. “We call her Wendy.”
repairs), has gentle bends and its verges are wooded.
It starts with a gradual slope and is 1 in 6 at the Wendy is not all show. “She makes it up the hill. I
halfway mark. The road then eases off before getting was really chuffed because there’s nothing worse than
even steeper at 1 in 4 for a short section just before getting halfway up — because the hill goes up, levels,
the summit. There’s plenty of room to stop. then seriously up again — and sometimes vehicles
can’t make that second bit and you have to do the roll
 At 792 this year, the 2022 entry list was, as always, of shame and come back again,” Brooks said.
oversubscribed. Attendees spanned from giant
Edwardian racers (nothing less than 10 liters/610 ci) As the Fuller’s Austin is shiny, so we come to a
to Fiat 500s. The paddock is grouped by era and those 1931 short wheelbase Austin Seven which is — as the
who aren’t on show can still enter the “cherished car” name says — crusty. Chris Parkhurst from nearby
parking lot. Aylesbury has been from Beijing to Paris in it (via the

 Kop Hill is seen as the perfect weekend to finish off
the season. Many see it as a friendly and affordable
afterparty to the Goodwood Revival, and the two are
timed not to clash.

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ABOVE Chris Parkhurst and Crusty the 1931
Austin Seven: “It’s certainly not a garage
queen. It stays out through the winter”

Gobi Desert) and the length of Argentina. “The three
cars that did the big trip in were Crusty, Rusty and
Dusty. They weren’t in pristine condition but they
were great survivors.”

On Saturday morning, Crusty made the first of
several ascents with all of its 750cc and three-speeds
but boosted to a giddy 19 hp by a Phoenix crankshaft
and Honda pistons. Easy, says Chris: “I can get up
there in about a minute forty seconds, but if I take a
passenger it takes about 14 seconds longer.”

Hot rods were new for 2022, and the organisers
were keen to have Steve Newport-Hall’s 1932 Ford
Model 18 Tudor Sedan. It’s chopped to the tub with
a 255-ci Mercury flathead V8 that has Offenhauser
heads, a ¾ race cam and Stromberg carbs. Steve
shipped it from Oklahoma in 2019 for vintage beach
racing.

He unexpectedly gives me a ride up the hill. A
little wheelspin is fine, but laying down train tracks
of rubber isn’t (nor is removing your muffler). The
Ford is tidily away — thanks to high gearing from a
modern 5-speed ‘box. A few shakes, lots of hedge and
we’re at the top.

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KOP HILLCLIMB

RIGHT A 1929 Austin Seven Gordon England Cup
opens for breakfast, or a spot of tea
BELOW This year the Hill saluted the late rally Mini
ace Paddy Hopkirk, a former patron. A genuine BMC
Works Monte Cooper S driven by Rauno Alltonen in
1964 and 1965 graced the paddock

Showgoers could enter a raffle for a ride up
the hill in a McLaren Speedtail prototype

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ABOVE DeLorean-shaped “Back to the
Future” box launches down the ramp

TOP RIGHT Harry King, grandpa Richard
Smith and the Spirit of Bluebird

Gravity-powered victory Harry King’s tribute to Donald Campbell’s ABOVE The Soapbox
Bluebird? Yup. Grandpa Richard Smith had only Challenge puts young
Car and course safety is provided by the British finished building it the night before after a year’s racers into pedal-free cars
Motorsport Marshals Club. Hill riders must have a work and the pair had already raised over £600 for a that use gravity for power
safety briefing before they climb and collect a white cancer ward.
wristband to prove it. The national speed limit of 60
mph applies. The biggest risk was people and dogs Bluebird was pipped to first by Team Apollo
(there were lots) brushing up against cars going to the (aka Apollo Racing — Wendover Scouts). Bad luck
hill. chaps.

Meanwhile at the bottom of the paddock, there is With thanks to www.kophillclimb.org.uk
intense competition at the annual Soapbox Challenge
for children aged eight to 17 in pedal-free carts.
Kop Hill has a big heart. Earlier in the year the local
Rotary Club held a fundraiser to build two carts for
Ukrainian children staying in the community.

Long sleeves and helmets protect the junior
drivers, then it was a drop down the ramp down
a 100-meter wiggle marked by hay bales and racy
names: Bridge Corner, Goalpost Bend and Marquee
Curve. A distance of more than 77 meters was the one
to beat. Girl Guides ran out with a measuring stick
when each soapbox wobbled to a halt.

British silliness was in order with a frankfurter-
shaped cart (Formula Bun) and a kinda DeLorean-
shaped “Back to the Future” box — but there was
serious engineering too.

Was that a full wishbone suspension on 10-year-old

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AUDRAIN NEWPORT CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Judges confer during
their morning rounds

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Judge David Kibbey shakes hands with
Joe Elmendorf, who was presenting the
1912 Mercer 35C Runabout at the concours

A Passion Project So it wasn’t a complete shock to see 16-year-old
David Kibbey, judging notebook in hand, walking up
The Audrain Newport Concours is all about the cars — to a 1912 Mercer 35C Runabout and shaking hands
and also a lot more with Joe Elmendorf, who was presenting the car for
the Heritage Museum and Gardens.
by CHESTER ALLEN and JIM PICKERING
Kibbey’s fellow judges, Toby Ross and Tabetha
A LOT OF people think a concours is about cars. It’s Hammer, began looking over the Mercer, and Kibbey
really about the passion people feel for cars. At the leaned right into the mix.
2022 Audrain Newport Concours d’Elegance, we ran
into three people who really, really love everything “I had never judged cars from that early an era
about cars. before,” Kibbey said. “These cars are 120 years old,
and I was learning how to look at Brass Era cars and
Starting out young to how properly check things out.

From the start, young car people have been “Some of these cars have had changes over the
heavily involved in the Audrain Newport Concours years.”
d’Elegance.
Kibbey started looking at — and learning about —
a wide variety of cars six years ago, when he became
a Hagerty Youth Judge at the Concours d’Elegance of
America (now known as the Detroit Concours).

“I just showed up at the concours, and I wanted to
meet Wayne Carini,” Kibbey said. “I was just 10 years

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AUDRAIN NEWPORT CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE
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The Bill Peterson Roadster
made it into the pages of
“Hot Rod” twice in period
— but it had never been
shown on the East Coast
until owner Jeff Goldstein
brought it to Audrain

old, and was probably the only kid there who wanted
to meet Wayne Carini.”

Kibbey ended up signing up as a Hagerty Youth
Judge, and he spent the next five years in the
program, where he learned about cars — and learned
a lot from car experts, such as Dave Kinney, Matt
Orendac and Nigel Matthews.

“So many people helped me, and I’m still learning,”
Kibbey said. “And being here at the Audrain Newport
Concours is just living the dream.”

Kibbey, along with friends Chase Ziegler and
Bennett DiMeo, recently started the Northville
Concours d’Elegance, where all the judges were
younger than 18 years old. The 2022 Northville
Concours, in Northville, MI, hosted 70 cars and more
than 800 people came to the show.

“We raised $2,000 for charity, and we’re going to do
it again next July,” Kibbey said.

When he’s not judging, Kibbey is a junior at Detroit
Catholic Central High School, and he hopes to study
business at the University of Michigan.

“I want to be an entrepreneur, and I’d like to own
my own exotic car dealership some day,” Kibbey said.

Kibbey also hopes to judge at the Audrain Newport
Concours again next year.

“It is such a great event, and Newport is such a
wonderful town,” Kibbey said. “I would be so happy
to come back again.”

Honoring Tradition

Every concours honors classic and antique cars —
but the best events do it with fantastic depth, both in
terms of the cars, and where those cars are from.

Around the corner from the main stage, a fire-
engine red 1932 Ford roadster sat in the middle of
the handful of low, sleek and bright hot rods and
customs. Behind it, owner Jeff Goldstein, who runs a
private museum devoted to automotive design called
“Piston Palace” in Warwick, stood proudly next to the
car, ready to explain its significance.

From inside the tuck-n-roll pleated trunk,
Goldstein picked up a thick binder of information on
his car and opened it up.

“This is the Bill Peterson Roadster,” said Goldstein.
“The first car to win the Portland Roadster Show back
in 1956.” Inside the binder, he pulled out an original
program from that first event — an event that still
runs today, 66 years later.

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AUDRAIN NEWPORT CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Jeff Goldstein and Alexander “Peterson was one of the Road Knights,” said Chevrolet Impala for the roadster. They took it to
Soultanis look over the 1932 Goldstein, pointing to an original hot rodder plaque the 1959 Oakland Roadster Show, where it won the
Ford Model 18 Roadster at the still with the car. “Racing on the road was a problem Street Roadster Class. And that’s when it got noticed
concours back in those days, and so a bunch of local clubs again. It made the cover of “Hot Rod” magazine in
got together and formed the Multnomah Hot Rod September, 1960.”
Council, with the idea to raise funds for a drag strip.
They created the show to do just that, and they So why bring it to Newport, far from its original
eventually were able to build Woodburn Dragstrip, West Coast origins?
which is still a popular local track out there.
“There’s a lot of meaningful history there. Cars are
“The car went on to new ownership in 1958 — now reflections of their owners and there’s a lot to that car.
to Bob and Terry Tindle, who traded a new ’58 The restoration by Dale Withers is some of the finest
work I’d ever seen. The fits and finishes are very high
caliber and the authenticity goes beyond the details
you see in its “Hot Rod” magazine coverage.

“Sharing his story was a big part of my reason for
bringing that car. It’s the first time this car has been
seen on the East Coast. Everybody loves seeing
something different.”

Goldstein flipped to an image of the car as it
appeared in “Hot Rod”. The car on the aged but still
vivid cover was an exact match for the one sitting in
front of us, and as he turned the pages to show us
the story, I pointed out the three wrenches that had
been placed in special sewn-in pockets in the trunk of
the car, just as they appeared in the black-and-white
photos.

“Those are my wrenches,” said Goldstein with a
laugh. “But they look the same.”

“And to think, you only need three sizes.”

Diving Deep

The Audrain Newport Concours & Motor Week
attracts attendees from all around the world. It’s no
surprise, then, that the world of cars on-site are only a
part of what makes this event special. Every attendee
carries a car story with them — and when you’re
admiring the Blue Train Bentley, the Alfa Romeo 33
Stradale or the Best of Show-winning Bentley Speed
Six, these other stories have a tendency of coming to
light.

Alexander Soultanis is a car show and concours
regular — often judging, volunteering, photographing
or coordinating. He’s been an Audrain attendee since
the very first event — this year he was on-site too late
to volunteer, but not too late to admire Goldstein’s
’32 Ford at the same time that I was. Kicking tires lead
to a conversation about the challenges of authentic
restorations.

“I have a 1944 KdF-Wagen,” said Soultanis. “It’s
a very early example of the Beetle, built in wartime
Germany.”

“I’ve been restoring it for over 20 years — October
10 is the 20-year mark. Its one of the only 1944 Beetles
that’s ever been in the United States. It was a car that
three other Europeans all gave up on. This poor thing
went through so much. They made so few — only
121 of these. The story goes that the car was found
in Krakow, Poland around 1946. It was full of bullet

114  Linkage 009

holes and abandoned. Had shrapnel damage in it. shops, and I was dealing with different languages and William Medcalf celebrates
Had bullet holes through the motor. there was really no translation help. How do you say a Best in Show win with his
‘the head of a bolt’ in Russian, you know? 1930 Bentley Speed Six Sports
“The car was found in 1980, stripped. It was sold to Saloon — pure joy on a fun day
a collector in the UK — but he couldn’t find any parts “It’s a tremendously slow process and a significant
or any information. I found it for sale — the seller and challenge. Everything on this car is different.
I had a bunch of conversations. He was almost trying Everything. The car is now fully restored, and it’s being
to talk me out of it, drilling it home that this is not an assembled. It’s been a passion project, an obsession,
easy thing. You could tell that he really cared about even an escape over these past 20 years.”
the car and wanted to see it done.
As we walked past an Alfa 8C 2900B and a Mercedes
“Bumpers, taillights, other parts. We had to make 540K Cabriolet A, he stopped for a second.
them. Since 2002, I’ve been painstakingly searching
out every little thing. The wartime-marked bolts are “This concours is great. I love what they do here,”
even different. Combined, it probably took me three said Soultanis. “It’s a beautiful spot. It’s not massive,
years just on the bolts. Found them in motorcycle where you’ve got to walk ten miles to everything.

“When this car is done, it’s gonna be at Audrain.”

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  Linkage 009  119

MARKET FOCUS

Echoes of Success

Big numbers stole headlines, but the cars on offer
hinted at true market health

by JIM PICKERING

IN OUR LAST issue, I used this Monterey 2022 saw the largest here this time around than in number, yes, but it was also a
space to talk about a tipping dollar totals yet — $486m from 2021, and the margins were, right number. And for those of
point. At the time, the market RM Sotheby’s, Gooding & at least on an average basis, you counting, it was below the
for mid-level collector cars — Company, Bonhams, Mecum not nearly as extreme as what $25m low estimate.
those in the $500k and below and Broad Arrow. At RM we’d seen elsewhere in 2022.
range — was the barometer, Sotheby’s alone, 52 lots sold To me, a custom SEMA-style Now, that’s not to say that
with strong pricing that had for over $1m each — nearly Lincoln Continental at $715k at there weren’t very dear prices
carried throughout the year half of the total million-dollar Barrett-Jackson in January was paid during Car Week — but
and throughout the country. sales on the peninsula this year. more of an eye-opener than the there were also a handful of
What was that going to mean for The company set a new high $22m Ferrari 410 Sport that RM no-sales at solid bids, too.
Monterey, the place where the water mark for a collector car Sotheby’s sold in Monterey.
top levels of the market come auction at $239m in sales over Beyond the splashy numbers,
out to play? three nights. The high sale of the As Stephen Serio pointed out the news here was more
weekend also went to an RM in our Linkage seminar early about access than it was about
All signs pointed to a big Sotheby’s car — the ’55 Ferrari in Monterey week, the Ferrari exuberance. If we’re painting in
result on the horizon — the 410 Sport with Shelby history for was a weapons-grade car with broad strokes, the general result
kind of result that ends up $22m. A big year indeed — but a small group of serious buyers, was this: A strong market drew
splashed throughout the away from the news splashes, and the money it eventually great consignments to auction,
mainstream media without it was maybe not as big as you achieved was almost exact to and Car Week bidders generally
much context beyond commas would have expected given the his prediction. It also happened paid proper money-plus to own
and exclamation points. lead-up. to be in-line with what the car them. But the bigger news, at
brought when it sold last time. least to me, was the fact that cars
A Big Year Companies such as Bonhams The market knew what it was like the Ferrari were even on
and Mecum actually saw worth. offer in the first place. That’s not
As it happened, the numbers slightly smaller overall totals a new sentiment — I’ve written
did indeed drop jaws. In total, $22m for that car was a big about it before — but Monterey

120  Linkage 009

1955 Ferrari 410 Sport was where it all came to a head month, capping off the auction winged Mopars and nine Ram
Spider by Scaglietti for 2022. house’s most successful year Air IV Pontiacs — all of them
in its 50-plus-year history. And with some sort of defining rarity
In the end, Monterey didn’t online, Bring a Trailer reported beyond the basics, from options
so much set the market as it did hitting $1b in sales with most of to paperwork to low miles.
reflect what we already knew the fourth quarter still left to go. You can bet on Barrett-Jackson
about it: It’s a great time to sell setting records in Scottsdale
because prices are strong, and According to Bloomberg, again, too. Last year they sold
it’s a great time to buy because BaT has the potential to achieve out their VIP sections early. I
there are great cars available. $1.3b in sales before the close of expect that’s already in process,
That echo chamber drove the the year. Last year? $829m. The along with consignments of
result. year before that? $398m. SEMA-level customs alongside
the top-level muscle cars and
Strength in volume It’s easy to get numb to the big trucks that have been setting
numbers being thrown around records on their auction blocks
Beyond Monterey, auctions from places such as Monterey since January.
marched on into Fall much — but the BaT rate of growth is
as they had throughout the important. The steam picked up It’s clear that buyers and
previous months of 2022. in 2022 hasn’t let up, at least not sellers both see this as a good
Mecum’s auctions continue to in places where volume rules time to act. What that means
set records — including $36.4m the day. for 2023 remains to be seen, but
from sales held in Chicago and don’t be surprised to see more
Chattanooga on the same day in As of this writing, Mecum commas and more exclamation
October. Barrett-Jackson totaled has 4,000 cars planned points in the new year.
$31.4m in Houston that same for Kissimmee in January,
including a collection of over 12

Photo by Patrick Ernzen ©2022 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

  Linkage 009  121

THIS SEASON’S CHURN

This 1970 Plymouth Hemi
Superbird from The Gary
Edwards Wing Car &
Mopar Collection will cross
the block at Mecum’s
Kissimmee sale

Photo courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. DECEMBER

FOR THE MOST up-to-date Linkage and current market for these BONHAMS / The Winter Automobilia Sale
information on sales, dates Seminar in cars, as well as their greater December 1-14 Online (UK)
and auction information, go to Phoenix overall significance within MECUM / Kansas City 2022
www.linkagemag.com. the collector car world, the December 1-3 Kansas City, MO
Join Linkage publisher technological world and the BRIGHTWELLS / Classic Cars & Motorcycles
Back and Donald Osborne and panel art world — all factors that December 6 Herefordshire, UK
Bigger Than for an exclusive seminar power value and desirability. H&H CLASSICS / National Motorcycle
Ever on Thursday, January 26 The seminar will take place at Museum
at RM Sotheby’s Phoenix the Arizona Biltmore, located at December 7 Solihull, UK
Last year, Mecum’s auction in Arizona. History, 2400 E Missouri Ave, Phoenix. MANOR PARK CLASSICS / Classic Car Auction
Kissimmee sale set a world Intellect, Passion — What The event starts at 11 a.m. and December 7 Cheshire, UK
record total for a single auction Connects Collectors to Cars runs for one hour. Admission is SONICBIDDER / Christmas Around the World
at $217m in sales — a record will focus in on several of RM free for Linkage subscribers — December 7 Online (US)
that’s only just recently been Sotheby’s headline lots, and and if you’re not a subscriber, CCA / The Christmas Classic
topped by RM Sotheby’s $239m will discuss both the past now’s the time to sign up! December 10 Warwickshire, UK
total in Monterey. For 2023, Learn more and RSVP at www. RM SOTHEBY’S / Miami 2022
Mecum has set their sights even linkagemag.com.  December 10 Miami, FL
higher, with an additional day BONHAMS / Important Collectors’ Motorcars
of sales and a full 4,000 cars December 16 London, UK
planned for auction. OSENAT / Automobiles de Collection
December 19 Versailles, FRA
Early headliners include a BARONS / The December Classic
11,000-mile ’92 Ferrari F40, December 30 Southhampton, UK
a ’65 Shelby GT350 originally
delivered to Tasca Ford, nine JANUARY
Ram Air IV GTOs from the
Chuck Cocoma Collection and MECUM / Kissimmee 2023
12 Mopar winged cars from January 4-15 Kissimmee, FL
the Gary Edwards Wing Car BARRETT-JACKSON / Scottsdale 2023
& Mopar Collection — all of January 21-29 Scottsdale, AZ
which are high-level examples WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS / Scottsdale
with proper documentation. Auction
January 25 Scottsdale/Tempe, AZ
BONHAMS / The Scottsdale Auction
January 26 Scottsdale, AZ
RM SOTHEBY’S / Arizona 2023
January 26 Phoenix, AZ

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY

A New Benchmark

RM Sotheby’s 2022 Monterey auction — a docket loaded
with superlatives becomes the world’s largest grossing
auction (so far)

by B. MITCHELL CARLSON

Monterey
RM Sotheby’s
August 18-20, 2022
Total: 180/190 cars sold / $239,258,340

THE STRONG MARKET that began during the pandemic came to a
head at Monterey this year. Leading the charge more than any other
auction house was RM Sotheby’s.

With two major collections on the docket — the Masterworks of
Design and Oscar Davis Collections — RM Sotheby’s expanded out
to three evenings at the Monterey Conference Center.

Thursday evening opened up with the 46 cars from the
Masterworks of Design Collection. Just as impressive were the 21
cars from the Oscar Davis Collection that were the highlighted
core of Friday’s larger segment. From them came the high sale of
the evening (and what proved to be their fifth-highest sale of the
weekend), a 1957 Ferrari 500TRC, which brought $7.815 million.

Topping every single car sold anywhere at Monterey was the car
Carroll Shelby won the most races in — a one-of-two 1955 Ferrari
410 Sport Spider. Opening at $15 million, the energy in the room
picked up markedly when it was announced at the $19 million bid
that the reserve was met. One further bid sold it for $22,005,000.

When all was said and done, those three nights made this auction
the highest grossing collector car auction in history.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY
1931 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A Landaulet Imperiale

Standing Out in a the driver to get out and open
Full Classic Crowd the rear compartment door at
the curb, I think that European
Lot 107, #2- condition snob appeal was also a factor.
S/N: 1628
One of the opening offerings
Sold Price: $368,000 from the Masterworks of Design
Collection, this Isotta not
THE BASICS: refurbishment, retaining a CARLSON SAYS: only reflects the tastes of this
Sold new in New York City significant amount of the original Isotta’s largest export market collection, but in that they did
car. Sheen on the paint and a fabulous job of maintaining
to Mrs. Jean Boalt Chambers, brightwork are still resplendent. was the U.S., but even so, all of the cars.
later bought by D. Cameron Light oxidation on some engine these cars were equipped with
Peck in 1948. Offered here by components. Updated with right-hand drive. While some The car hammered sold
Masterworks of Design. Old modern safety glass. Light of its peers that held out longer within the range of the pre-
restoration was a sympathetic wrinkling to leather seating. with RHD, such as Pierce-Arrow, sale estimate of $275,000 to
cosmetic and mechanical argued that it was easier for $375,000. A reasonable sale for
someone who want to be a bit
different — be it on the concours
lawn or a CCCA CARavan
— with an underappreciated
marque.

1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster

THE BASICS: Fit for a King,
Ordered new by the king of with a Price that
Matches
Afghanistan. Repainted, seats
reupholstered and carpets Lot 108, #3+ condition
replaced after it was bought S/N: 154075
by American Vernon Jarvis in
1954. Other than replacement Sold Price: $9,905,000
tires, the car is original. Paint
has light enamel cracking, but transactions later, Mr. Jarvis desirable of all Sindelfingen This was the third-highest sale
plating is still quite presentable. purchased it. bodies and there’s little wonder at Monterey 2022, yet the new
Seats have moderate wrinkling, that the pre-sale estimate was owner got one of the better
light surface cracking, and Its originality is fascinating $9m to $12m. buys, as you really can’t repeat
some seams that are starting to regardless of the body style this car.
split. Clean under the hood. (let alone surviving being in It didn’t disappoint, as at
occupied France unscathed). $9m, the reserve had been
CARLSON SAYS: Combine that with the most satisfied and it was going to sell.
This was delivered new in

Kabul, but it weathered the
storm of World War II right in
the eye of it: Ensconced with
diplomatic immunity within
the Afghan embassy in Paris.
When it emerged in 1948, the
king gave it to his son-in-law,
who kept in it London. A few

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY

1936 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio Convertible

THE BASICS: The Best of Ten
Originally built for the 1936
Lot 112, #2 condition
Nantes Fair international S/N: 57406
trade exposition. Subsequent Sold Price: $681,500
pre-World War II owner
updated the car with fender Collection, as it’s deemed a a handful of Mercedes 500s restored back to its original
mounted inset headlights, front national treasure by the French and 540Ks in the same auction configuration three decades
bumperettes, fender skirts and government), when do you space, saturating the market ago, the updates were in period
Lockheed hydraulic brakes. get a chance to pick among 10 isn’t as risky as it might seem. before the war and the Stelvio
Restored to generally match Bugattis at auction? It’s not Since the majority of Bugattis on bodywork carries them well.
this configuration after it was often such a thing takes place, offer here were rebodies, this one
purchased from the estate but as RM Sotheby’s showed a rises towards the top of the list. Call this well bought, and not
of East Coast collector Alec few years back when it offered just because it came just shy of
Ulmann. Restoration is still in While not perfectly the $750k low estimate.
fine order but in need of detail
work to be concours-ready.
Wheels chrome plated as part
of the restoration. The fully
restored interior shows slight
seating surface wrinkling.
Engine bay is still quite clean.

CARLSON SAYS:
Short of a Bugatti specialist

collection coming to market
(and it won’t be the Schlumpf

1924 Hispano-Suiza H6C “Tulipwood” Torpedo

THE BASICS: in a copper-plated frame. The Most Famous This was originally fabricated
Last restored in 1985. Shown Light wrinkling on the seating Hispano for French aperitif heir, World
surfaces. Modern stick-on War I fighter ace, playboy
at Pebble Beach, where it labels on the steering wheel Lot 141, #2- condition and racing enthusiast Andre
attained the Alec Ulmann mounted controls. S/N: 11012 Dubonnet. He commissioned it
Trophy for the Most Significant to compete in 1924 at the Targa
Hispano-Suiza. Wood finish CARLSON SAYS: Sold Price: $9,245,000 Florio (finishing sixth) and
is still pretty decent, although To say that this car is well Coppa Florio (attaining fifth
some of the wood is lifting the right side profile of this car. place). Current pontoon fenders
slightly — more so on the known in the collector car world The bodywork is fashioned from replaced two previous styles,
fenders. Light dents and dings is a gross understatement. I even strips of mahogany, like boat added when the car was redone
on the copper plated body have a 1960s-era Genesee Beer hulls and some period aircraft by the English restoration shop
end caps. 1959 UK tax disc tin advertising sign featuring framing; there’s not so much as Panelcraft in the mid-1950s.
a toothpick worth of tulipwood That’s when it also first acquired
in the car. It likely picked up the its copper plating.
name from its grain structure,
which looks similar to tulipwood Right behind the “Sally
— which was in vogue in Special” Porsche 911 and
furniture and architecture the Ferrari 410, this was the
during the Roaring ’20s. next most anticipated car in
Monterey. This sold right in the
wheelhouse of its $8m to $12m
pre-sale estimate, which was
right money despite the copper
plating and bulbous fender
deviations (which I overhead as
“1950s bling”).

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY
1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C SS Teardrop Coupe

Concours half a century. During the
Competition late 1990s, a correct engine
was located in the UK, and
Lot 243, #2 condition the restoration was finally
S/N: 90117 completed in 2002. It was
further restored to concours
Sold Price: $7,265,000 standards after it was added to
the Oscar Davis Collection. It
THE BASICS: clean and detailed engine having competed in Le Mans in was shown at Pebble Beach in
Stunning paintwork, but compartment. Leather seats 1939. So not only does it have 2007, and again after that at
and door panels look and smell stunning good looks, but with several European concours.
replating is lacking on several like they are fresh from the period driving chops to boot.
pieces. Front bumper is restoration shop. Bidding opened at $6.6m,
adorned with car club grille This car’s restoration started and to the surprise of several,
badges from all over Europe CARLSON SAYS: three decades ago, after it the room ran dry and it was
– from Luxembourg to Turkey One of eleven “Teardrop” emerged without an engine hammered sold. The final price
– plus a pair of period Marchal from hiding under the Iron was notably shy of its $9m to
driving lights. Impeccably coupes, and the sole example Curtain in East Germany for $12m pre-sale estimate. Like the
with racing underpinnings, “Tulipwood” Hispano-Suiza,
this was a decent deal for the
buyer, simply because it could
get bought.

1935 Duesenberg Model J Convertible Coupe

THE BASICS: The Real McCoy
This body was originally
Lot 252, #2 condition
fitted to SJ chassis 2556 with S/N: 2576
engine J527 in 1933. After a Sold Price: $4,680,000
problem with that engine two
years later, the body was moved it premiered in 1976. Terrence E. Adderley, has had it numerous detail differences. It all
to this chassis. ACD Club Although Monogram took since 1967. adds up to a strong sale, topping
Certified Category 1 car. Period the pre-auction estimates. Yet for
state-of-the-art restoration artistic license and made it as While similar to the most a car that he owned for 55 years,
by Mervin “Beaver” Colver in a 1934 SJ (it’s all about the side common of Duesenberg bodies Mr. Adderley would probably
1966 is holding up very well. pipes), this car was the basis — the short-wheelbase Murphy think of it more as paying what
Wears CCCA National First for that plastic model. This was disappearing top convertible was due for the experience.
Place Award number 121 and also one of the longest-owned coupe — this long-wheelbase
an AACA National First place Duesenbergs, as the consignor, Rollston is a one-off with
badge on the front bumper
brackets. Paint and chrome
remain show quality, although
exterior alloy pieces could
stand polishing.

CARLSON SAYS:
Like the “Tulipwood”

speedster, this is another car
that I have a mass-produced
copy of, in the form of
Monogram stock number 2302
— a 1:24-scale plastic model kit
that they’ve reissued twice since

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY
1956 Continental Mark II Convertible

THE BASICS: tended to show up at the same Texas State Fair in 1956, back The Only Ford-
Sent from new by Ford Motor LCOC meets that I attended in when luxury cars were a big authorized Mark II
my St. Paul-based Lincolns. deal there), and it was always Soft Top
Company to Derham to be intended to be Mrs. Ford’s
made into a soft-top convertible. Others have cut hardtops into personal car — especially since Lot 264, #2- condition
Exceptionally well documented convertibles, but this is the one her husband spearheaded the S/N: C56G3190
from new. Chrome is still good, and only FoMoCo-authorized Mark II program. Sold Price: $296,500
even if a few pieces are starting example. It was originally
to show their age. Original a show car (debuting at the After three generations of Goeppinger stewardship,
ownership badge states, “Mrs. interests changed, and the
William Clay Ford,” nee Martha car was sent here to sell at no
Firestone Ford — Harvey reserve. While that may seem
Firestone’s granddaughter, the risky, it’s the only one, and it
wife of Henry Ford’s youngest found a new caretaker right in
grandson, and mother of Ford the middle of the $250k to $350k
Motor Company’s current estimate.
Chairman of the Board, William
Clay “Bill” Ford, Jr.

CARLSON SAYS:
I’ve known this car since 1996,

when I first saw it at a Lincoln
and Continental Owner’s Club
meet in the Minneapolis area.
Walter Goeppinger and his
family (who’ve owned it since
1962) were from Iowa, so it

1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder

THE BASICS: Missing two small trim pieces Driving Passion top-of-the-market price.
Long-term Italian (Milan) on each side aft of the doors, The bidding opening at $4.5m
with four raw holes on each Lot 339, #2- condition
ownership, from new until side and some paint chipping S/N: 1077GT and the reserve was off $500k
1993. Owned by the consignor from the top mechanism. Halon Sold Price: $5,972,500 later, despite being a pop culture
since 1997. Generally good fire extinguisher mounted to landmark model that’s also
newer paintwork, but has some the top of the passenger’s side CARLSON SAYS: still revered by the top of the
masking miscues around the kickboard. I initially thought this was market as well. It’s now part
top opening aft of the rear seats. of a generational shift that is
going to ring the bell at or near even affecting Ferraris — maybe
the high estimate of $8.5m — or even more so than some other
at least hit the low estimate of marques.
$7m. But after inspecting the
car in person, I could tell that Still, a good buy over the long
it was not quite worthy of a term if driving versus showing
is your thing, especially for
those of us who appreciate a
front-engine V12 Ferrari “from
a better, vanished time” rather
than rushing after the next
trend.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT RM SOTHEBY’S MONTEREY

1955 Ferrari 410 Sport Spider

Shelby Meets to August, RM Sotheby’s posted
Ferrari their estimate of $25m to $30m.

Lot 355, #2 condition The low estimate was entirely
S/N: 0598CM plausible, but the upper end
was wishful thinking, even in
Sold Price: $22,005,000 a strong market. This is a great
car, but its mostly U.S. history
THE BASICS: SCCA competition makes it style race seat has been redone is a limiting factor, as is the
Driven in period by many noteworthy, as that chicken with modern fire-resistant weapons-grade nature of the
farmer won more races driving material, but the insert is car. I was in the room when it
famous race drivers, includling this car than any other in his separating from the seat’s sold, and let’s just say that the
Juan Manuel Fangio, Phil Hill, entire career. Paint still has a frame. Sold on a Bill of Sale. buyer is heavily imbedded into
Masten Gregory and Richie good sheen to it, despite some the collector car auction world,
Ginther, among others. It’s use light polishing scratches. Faded CARLSON SAYS: so he knew exactly what he was
primarily by Carroll Shelby 50th anniversary of Ferrari This was handily the car to doing and the car is going to a
as part of John Edgar’s U.S.- decal on windscreen. Period good home.
based team in 1956 and 1957 watch at Monterey this week.
Once the calendar flipped over In the theme of this issue, this
may be a calculated risk, but
one that you can’t really go too
wrong with if you can write that
check. That said, for the right
person, there could be money
sitting on the table for it — but
not now. This was worthy of its
price, but it wasn’t a deal.

1938 BMW 328 Roadster

THE BASICS: original dealership badging on Ford, Grand-Spalding Dodge, A Pre-War
One of 464 built. Originally restorations. It is logical, as it’s a and the obvious Don Yenko Bavarian Buy
vital portion of the car’s history Chevrolet; I’m now seeing it
supplied to BMW dealer (although that no longer makes more on European cars — Lot 357, #2 condition
Automag, which was the first it “as factory built”). especially on ones sold new in S/N: 85144
officially recognized BMW their home markets. Then again, Sold Price: $698,000
dealership. 2.0-L inline 6 makes While I first noticed this in I have a BMW 2800CS that
79 hp. History has a gap from some muscle car circles, notably retains its original dealership Berlin (the German capitol’s
when it was sold new until it from famed performance tag from Neideraustellung oldest BMW dealer), so maybe
was purchased by an SCCA friendly dealers such as Tasca I’m seeing trees in the middle of
member in 1969. However, one the forest.
clue is that it retains a 1954-55
Harvard University parking The buyer here got an on-the-
permit decal on its soft top’s button example for anything shy
backlight. Concours-quality of Best of Show concours duty
restoration performed from — and that’s just as well, as this
2012 through 2019. FIVA 328 was born to run.
certification issued in 2021,
making it eligible for a host of
global events. Superb repaint,
with the UK number’s plate
combination in vinyl graphics
on the front facia. Original
dealer badges affixed to both
sides of the lower cowl.

CARLSON SAYS:
I’ve noticed a greater

appreciation for retaining

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MARKET MOVER 1979 FORD BRONCO

On the Beaten Path

The market for 4x4s continues to evolve — and the change looks familiar

by JIM PICKERING

Photos courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

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1979 Ford Bronco FORD’S SECOND-GEN BRONCO launched in 1978,
Free Wheeling Edition following the trail laid down by Chevrolet’s Blazer: Why
S/N: U15HLFA6847 build an off-road machine on its own platform if you
already have perfectly good full-size truck bones to work
$70,400 with?

Lot 670.1, Barrett-Jackson This was the Trans-Am tape-stripe performance era,
Houston, TX and Ford added special edition packages to their line to
October 22, 2022 help boost sales over their crosstown rivals. In ’79 — the
year this Bronco was built — 10,003 were delivered with
the Free-Wheeling Package, and of those, 1,149 were built
like this one, with Candy Apple Red paint and Chamois,
orange and Russet stripes.

This Bronco also has XLT equipment and a bunch of
options, as listed in a Deluxe Marti Report.

Wait a second… Marti Report? Production number
minutia in the auction house listing to highlight rarity?
Studio shots of a stock-style resto?

$70k?
Does this feel like muscle car territory to you?

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MARKET MOVER 1979 FORD BRONCO

Climbing high It makes sense. With the rise of muscle car values
in the 1990s and 2000s came an inevitable rise in
The SUV market continues to bounce along at a truck values, as a lot of people — young people —
high level, with excellent examples selling for ever were priced out of the Chevelles and Mustangs that
bigger money. they had long lusted after. Classic trucks became the
next best thing — and values in that segment took off
Look at any Barrett-Jackson or Mecum auction over from there.
the past two years, and you’ll find done-to-the-nines
Broncos and Blazers bringing multiples of this price. A few years on from that, we have a new hot market
on SUVs — a market that I think is partially powered
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been by truck owners — now prime earners with families
surprised by an auction result on a 4x4. Those trucks — realizing that having a single bench seat, a spouse
usually have LS or Coyote power, updated and and two kids means that someone gets left behind.
lifted suspensions, leather interiors with Bluetooth
everything. The restomod business is booming — But while those custom SUVs have been setting
particularly when it comes to removable-top rigs with records, the market has also been evolving in this
two diffs.

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stock corner as well. It’s no longer just about first-gen — traditional muscle car factors — tend to matter
Broncos and Blazers like it has been over the past five more here.
or so years. Builders and buyers are branching out
into later examples. Hence, trucks such as ’79. As this market continues to mature, pricing as
seen here is becoming the norm — as is a muscle
Risk and reward car-like presentation on good, stock SUVs. And so too
are values climbing out above the reach of potential
I love restomod trucks as much as the next primary buyers.
guy — so much so that I wrote two books on how to
build them. But there’s one truth with them that you As for this Bronco, it had the right options —
can’t ignore: Changing anything from stock resets including XLT equipment — as well as the right
the depreciation curve. All those new parts? They’re condition and presentation on this day at Barrett-
going to age. Jackson to bring a strong number. The only real risk
here is buying at the height of the market, but as long
Stock-style restorations don’t have that problem. as Ford’s new Broncos are selling out and restomods
As such, as a long-term play, a stock-style rig carries keep bringing six-figure sale prices across the block,
less risk in terms of value. Options, condition, rarity there’s more hill to climb.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT GOODING & COMPANY
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A Strong Return

In total, 28 cars broke the million-dollar mark
just up the road from Pebble’s annual grandeur

by CARL BOMSTEAD

Gooding and Company
The Pebble Beach Auctions
August 19-20, 2022
Total 135/168 cars sold / $109,461,370

PENT-UP DEMAND WAS the name of the game in
Monterey this year, as close to half a billion dollars
in car sales were realized in the first real return to car
market normalcy on the peninsula since 2019. This
was with two major auction companies no longer
participating.

Gooding and Company’s flagship Pebble Beach
auction registered close to $110 million in sales.
There were 28 cars that sold for over $1 million
each, with the spectacular 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC
Atalante leading the pack at $10,345,000. On the
other end of the spectrum, a 1948 MG TC found a
new garage for only $38,080 and a 1967 Volkswagen
Beetle sold for $30,800.

Pebble Beach — and Monterey in general —
continues to be the definitive statement on the state
of the market each summer, and Gooding’s nearly
$110m in sales is proof of just how strong things
remain in 2022.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT GOODING & COMPANY

1963 Corvette Split-Window Fuelie Coupe

All Work and
No Play

Lot 184, #1- condition
S/N: 30837S111500

Sold Price: $268,800

Copyright and Courtesy of Gooding & Company, Images by Josh Hway Gold Spinners and a Best of
Show at Chevy Vette Fest.
THE BASICS been maintained in show- with the optional Muncie M20
A first-year Sting Ray coupe worthy condition. 4-speed gearbox and 3:70 Even so, this car sold at the
Positraction rear end. lower range of the estimates,
that’s powered by the L84 BOMSTEAD SAYS: I still think that just might
327-ci 360-hp fuel-injected This car was equipped with The car was restored in 1988 be considered aggressive.
V8. Sebring Silver with a black and in the years since has Regardless of how well
interior and wears an older tinted windows, AM Wonderbar accumulated an impressive maintained the car was, the 34
restoration. It has a long list of radio, whitewall tires and that resume of awards, including year-old restoration showed
judging achievements and has Fuelie 327. It also was equipped eight NCRS Top Flights, three the wrinkles and creases of age,
and the car has already won
its awards. But with the risk
now gone, perhaps it’s time to
repurpose for recreational use?

1932 Auburn 12-160A Boattail Speedster

THE BASICS: Style and
A second-series Auburn Speed

Boattail Speedster, all of which Lot 157, #2 condition
were built from 1931 and 1934. S/N: 12-160A 2280 E
Powered by the 391-ci L-Head
V12 designed by George Sold Price: $775,000
Kublin and built by Lycoming.
Equipped with a 3-speed 88.95 mph — an impressive brought buyers to Auburn years, had passed through the
manual transmission with introduction, with records that showrooms. Only 1,261 were hands of several well-known
Columbia Dual-Ratio rear axle stood for many years. sold in all body styles, and only collectors, had been refinished
and dual Stromberg downdraft 10% of those were the boattail about 20 years ago and had been
carburetors. Bold styling with The Auburn Boattail speedster. given recent mechanical attention.
a raked-V windshield and Speedster, redesigned for 1931
lines that flow smoothly to by Alan Huet Leamy, was the This car had been certified All versions of the Auburn
the sharply angled tail. It was most impressive of the new Category-1 by ACD, which Speedster have been appreciating
priced as low as $1,275 — an offerings. As a two-passenger means all the numbers matched of late — and considering this
absolute bargain. open speedster, it certainly and it was original. It had a one’s condition and status, the
wasn’t very practical, but it known history for the past 60 price paid was right.
BOMSTEAD SAYS:
The V12 Lycoming engine

provided an impressive 160
horsepower, and it claimed
every stock car speed record in
1932 — as well as a speed of
100.77 mph at the flying one-
mile at an AAA Contest Board
run at Muroc Dry Lake. The
new Auburn went on to set the
record for the grueling 500-mile
run with an average speed of

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT GOODING & COMPANY

1930 Cadillac Series 452 V16 Roadster by Fleetwood

THE BASICS: Show and was an immediate Over the years, it went Full Classic
The Cadillac V16 was sensation. through a number of hands Flair
and was refinished at least
powered by a revolutionary This car was specially ordered once. It was restored by RM Lot 36, #2 condition
452-ci engine with two updraft in Cannon Smoke Gray with Auto Restorations in 1999 to S/N: 7-926
single-throat carburetors — Aztec Red striping and 20-inch its original specifications and Sold Price: $1,655,000
one for each 8-cylinder bank. It wood artillery wheels along went on to win awards at
produced 175 horsepower and with rear-mounted spares. Pebble Beach, Amelia Island
was smooth and silent — the and various CCCA events. The
most-powerful production price here was reasonable — but
engine of its day. It was offered more than that, it continues
in an array of 10 standard to illustrate the resurgence
body styles with numerous of quality Full Classics in the
variations available by special market.
order.

BOMSTEAD SAYS:
In 1926, under a shroud

of secrecy, Cadillac began
a “skunk-works” project for
the development of the first
production V16 engine. The new
dramatic 16-cylinder Cadillac
was introduced at the 1930
New York International Auto

1932 Bentley Eight Litre Sports Tourer

THE BASICS: specialist in 2005 to its factory- A Significant produced. It wore some of most
Bodied by Vanden Plas correct specifications and Bentley luxurious custom coachwork
went on to First in Class award produced in the era, and it was
with several unique features. at Pebble Beach. Historically Lot 142, #2 condition strong, powerful and silent, with
Powered by an 8 Litre inline significant. S/N: YR5095 speeds in excess of 100 mph,
6-cylinder engine that even when wearing formal
produced 220 horsepower. BOMSTEAD SAYS: High Bid: $5,950,000 coachwork. Just 100 were
Fitted with 4-speed “F” Woolf Barnato was a primary produced.
type manual gearbox and company’s Chairman and
mechanical drum brakes on the investor in Bentley Motors largest shareholder. He had This car was built to order for
corners. Restored by a marque and eventually became the earlier, in 1924, purchased his company Chairman Barnato
first Bentley and went on to win and was one of just 35 short
several significant Brooklands wheelbase examples produced.
races. In the early 2000s, this Bentley
was well known in the Pacific
Barnato was instrumental in Northwest, and then it was sold
the development of the 8 Litre, to a new owner in Switzerland,
which is often referred to as the who commissioned a
finest vintage automobile ever comprehensive restoration.
I can’t fault the seller for not
accepting the under-estimate
offer here, as this is among the
most significant of all Bentleys
— but it does go to show that
even in a hot market, there are
no sure things.

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1937 BMW 328 Roadster

THE BASICS: At some point its livery was Benefit of Time until its recent acquisition.
2.0-L inline 6-cylinder engine changed from light blue to Barn find or neglect? In this
white with the original color Lot 123, #3- condition
makes 80 brake horsepower. visible in several areas. Has S/N: 85138 case closer to barn find, as
Lightweight twin-tube covered less than 32,000 miles the original leather interior
chassis fitted with aluminum since delivery. Sold Price: $874,000 and square-weave carpets are
coachwork and a steel ladder in good order and it retains
frame. 4-speed ZF manual BOMSTEAD SAYS: manufactured from 1936 until its rubber mats, clock and
transmission, hydraulic disc The 328 offered handling, 1940 — a total of 464 were cigarette lighter. Its folding
brakes. Single-family owned produced. Sekurit windscreen, hubcaps,
for over 70 years and is in its performance and uncommon trafficators and rear fender
unmolested original condition. reliability for its time. It was This car was delivered to its skirts are also intact as well. If
first owner in October of 1937. not for the respray this would
It went through several German be an original time capsule.
owners’ hands until being
acquired by an American pilot The price paid was the
stationed in Germany in the late highest in the past five years for
1950s. It was infrequently used a BMW 328. At this altitude,
and placed in storage in the U.S. a restoration probably isn’t
financially feasible and the
repaint may preclude it from
preservation awards. So tours
such as the Colorado Grand
and Copperstate are on the
horizon.

1939 Delage D8-120 Cabriolet Grand Luxe

THE BASICS: and twin-fog lamps, among late 1980s with about 16,000 Hidden
Delightful one-off coachwork other unique features. miles showing. Ten years later, Elegance
it was freshened and then won
by Henri Chapron Design. It is thought the Delage was First in Class honors in 1999 Lot 153, #2+ condition
Powered by a 4.3-L inline 8 first delivered to Egypt and at the Pebble Beach Concours S/N: 51980
that makes 90 horsepower. ended up in the U.S. in the early d’Elegance. Sold Price: $940,000
Cotel pre-select 4-speed. It 1950s. It was restored in the
has 4-wheel hydraulic brakes Several Delage 8-120s have
and front parallel-wishbone sold recently in the low $700k
suspension with transverse leaf range, but the elegant Chapron
springs. Ordered in 1939, but coachwork and interesting
due to war was not bodied until history take this to the head of
1946. the class.

BOMSTEAD SAYS:
This was one of the last

D8-120s built in ’39 and may
have been destined for the Paris
Auto Show. However, due to
WWII, the show was cancelled
and the chassis was hidden. In
1946, the chassis was sent to
Henry Chapron, who created
the pointed tail, aviation style
bumpers, folding windscreen

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1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Sport Cabriolet A

THE BASICS: Setting the Pace
5.4-L 8-cylinder engine
Lot 159, #1- condition
with gear-driven Roots-type S/N: 154084
supercharger makes 180 Sold Price: $3,085,000
horses when the blower is
engaged. Four-speed manual Copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company. Photo by Mike Maez
transmission with 4-wheel
hydraulic drum brakes. It is is documented with its build in the 1990s by a respected hovered around $2.5 million.
thought that about a dozen of sheet. Its history is known since marque expert. In 2002, it was This had only 56,000 km
this body style still exist. being delivered to its first owner acquired by California collector showing and had been
in Paris. It was acquired by an Ray Scherr, who had it prepared maintained in concours ready
BOMSTEAD SAYS: American collector in the ’50s for Pebble Beach judging. There, condition. As such, a premium
The 540K was one of the and subsequently returned to it was awarded several trophies. was justified.
Germany, where it was restored
fastest production cars of Recent 540K sales have
its time. Sweeping fenders
accentuated the car’s extreme
length of 206 inches. External
exhaust, prominent hood
and raked windshield added
prestige. It was recommended
that the “blower” only be used
for 25-30 seconds, which had to
be exhilarating.

This Sindelfingen-built Benz

1959 Porsche 718 RSK

Rarified Air suspension. It was raced until
1964, with many famous drivers
Lot 137, #2 condition including Sir Sterling Moss,
S/N: 718-024 Graham Hill and Dan Gurney.
High Bid: $3,900,000
From 1957 until 1959, only
THE BASICS: Last seen at Gooding & BOMSTEAD SAYS: 34 were produced, with 10
The aluminum-bodied Company’s 2018 Pebble Beach The 718 RSK was built in being prototypes from Porsche
auction, when it sold for $3.4m. Werks. Still, the car laid the
Spyder is powered by the Type Has been restored back to its 1957 as the continuation of foundation for Porsche’s future
547 “Fuhrmann” flat 4-cylinder original configuration since, the very successful 550A, with racing prowess with streamlined
1.5-L air-cooled engine. with a factory Spider mirror improvements to the body and coachwork, faired-in headlights
5-speed manual ZF transaxle, and 16-inch alloy rimmed suspension. The “RS” stood for and lower aerodynamic drag.
4-wheel finned alloy drum wheels. Rennsport, and the “K” defined
brakes. One of 34 produced. the shape of the torsion bar Seeing one Porsche 718 RSK is
uncommon, so two in the same
weekend is downright rare —
but that was the case here, with
RM Sotheby’s selling a Werks
prototype for $4,300,000. This
car wore coachwork by Wendler
and had a solid racing history,
having participated in the 1959
24 Hours of Le Mans. Still, the
bid did not meet the owner’s
expectations — but that’s a risk
with any vintage race car at
auction at this level.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT GOODING & COMPANY
1961 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Series 1 Coupe Aerodinamico

A Benchmark Superamerica was one of
in Every Way the most extraordinary
road-going automobiles they
Lot 133, #2 condition ever produced. They were
S/N: 2809 SA luxurious, hand-built and
produced in limited numbers,
Sold Price: $6,000,000 with price tags that exceeded
that of the most-expensive
THE BASICS: overdrive. This one features — and the only example clad Rolls-Royce. This example was
Ferrari’s “America” series closed headlights, lightweight in aluminum coachwork by ordered with one-off livery of
coachwork and Ferrari Pininfarina. It is one of only Nero Tropicle with Tobacco
were custom built, larger- Classiche Red Book. 14 short-wheel base examples Connolly leather, however
displacement grand touring produced, custom built for Count Volpi immediately had it
cars built in limited numbers BOMSTEAD SAYS: Count Volpi, the founder of reupholstered in a lighter shade
for discriminating clients. 3.0-L One of seven covered- Scuderia Serenissima, who was of leather.
V12 makes 320 horsepower. a prominent Ferrari customer.
Four-speed manual headlamp short-wheel base It’s been well preserved,
transmission with electric Coupe Aerodinamicos produced The Ferrari 400 with fewer that 24,000 kms
showing. Prestigious awards
won include two Preservation
Platinum awards and the Luigi
Chinetti Memorial Award. As
such, the number here exceeded
expectations. A significant price
— but a significant automobile.

1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Atalante

THE BASICS: fastest production cars built This Type 57SC was restored Setting the
Introduced in 1936 as a prior to WWII. by the Blackhawk Collection in Standard
1990 and again in 2005 by Bob
more sporting example of This car has known history Mosier. It was presented at the Lot 33, 2+ condition
the Type 57. “S” stands for from when it was first delivered 2009 Pebble Beach Concours S/N: 57523
“surbaisse,” or lowered. 3.3L to Paris in 1937. It is one of just d’Elegance, where it won its Sold Price: $10,345,000
inline 8-cylinder engine makes 17 Type 57S Atalantes built, and class and was presented with
200 horsepower. Roots-type is considered by many to be one the prestigious French Cup. So what’s it worth? In
supercharger was added of the finest. September of 2020, a very
at Molsheim shortly after similar Type 57S sold for
delivery, making this one of $10,400,000, which illustrates
the first 57SCs. Four-speed the market here. As such, this
manual gearbox, 4-wheel was a fair deal — and the
cable-operated drum brakes. highest sale for Gooding & Co
in Pebble Beach.
BOMSTEAD SAYS:
The Type 57S was lighter,

faster and more technically
advanced than the Type 57.
It had specialized gondola-
shaped frame rails, allowing
the engine to be mounted
lower to the ground. High
compression pistons resulted in
a gain of 25 horsepower over
the Type 57. It was one of the

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