May 2021 003

MARKET FOCUS

Courtesy of MECUM AUCTIONS

1967 Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe
sold for $2.7m at Mecum Glendale

Springtime Momentum drive to buy muscle, classics — it was more valuable in 2021
and sports cars was ramping up than it was in 2020.
In-person sales set records — and suggest a hot summer in a big way. By the numbers,
online sales did well too, but Second, those high prices
by JIM PICKERING in-person events seemed to kept on happening. Both
do even better regardless of Arizona events exposed a heck
BOOM CYCLES, BUST cycles COVID-19 restrictions. of a drive among cooped-up
— long-term car collectors buyers to own good, usable
have seen it all. But if you’ve The question, then, was examples of desirable cars.
been watching prices over the whether or not that momentum Apples-to-apples comparisons
past few months, you probably would continue. What would — and by that I mean the same
agree that this COVID-19 the pent-up COVID-19 classic exact cars as seen at auction
market feels different. car world really do with the before — brought notable
in-person experience that is premiums over their past
As I noted in our last issue, Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale appearances, and it happened
Arizona Car Week had to evolve in March? How would that over and over again.
to a mostly online affair this translate to Mecum’s Glendale
year, and Barrett-Jackson — the sale just down the way? Barrett-Jackson’s $105m
elephant in the room when total hammered home with
it comes to Arizona sales — Answers in the tents fewer cars on the docket and
elected to push their sale out fewer days on the schedule
to March versus running it in Barrett-Jackson’s and than in 2020 — and you can bet
January. Mecum’s Arizona results vividly that there were fewer people
illustrate a few things. through the gates as well. It
Meanwhile, Mecum blew the didn’t matter. It felt like 2007
roof off its in-person Florida First, prices on many again, before a collapsing
sales at the beginning of the good-condition muscle housing market took a bite
year, which suggested that the cars and Resto-mods shot out of the then-booming car
through the roof compared market. Seeing the Shelby
to the same events in 2020. Cobra Super Snake on the
Generally speaking, if the car block again — looking like
was built well or restored well it did when Barrett-Jackson
— regardless of make or model

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first offered it in ’07 — just Artcurial’s Parisienne event Experts Pick
reinforced that feeling. back in February reflected this
in a handful of Group B rally Sales that Mattered
Shelby’s supercharged cars, nearly all of which set
monster illustrates another new records for their rarity. NEARLY $50K FOR a rusty Ford wagon on Bring a Trailer?
key point here, too, alongside Group B is an up-and-comer Well, yeah, if it’s the one-of-one Country Squire built with a
the 275 GTB/4 Ferrari that in the collector world, and the 7-liter engine, 4-speed and bucket seats. Driving it, folks either
Barrett-Jackson also featured prices achieved at Artcurial’s thought I was the coolest dude on the planet or homeless; there
at WestWorld. The Super Snake sale, including $2.4m for an was no middle ground. How do I know? It was mine. On BaT
brought $5.5m this year — the Audi Sport Quattro, reflect that it received 523 comments and 64 bids — way more than your
same once-record price Ron newfound interest, as well as the average Porsche or BMW. Which tells me a unique story can
Pratte paid for it in ’07. The unrepeatable nature of the cars be more valuable than the car. I just hope it never gets restored,
Ferrari hammered sold at themselves. because its great history of street races and Little League games
$2.48m, or reasonable market will be lost. Not every old car needs to look new. — Tom Cotter,
money-plus for what it was and The key word there, I think, Author and host of Hagerty’s “Barn Find Hunter” series
what it wasn’t. Inflated prices? is “unrepeatable.” For true one-
Not exactly. shot, blue-chip cars — the ones THIS 575M BROUGHT $130,888 on Cars & Bids, which is big
that we often see in places such money for an F1 transmission — but it featured the rare HGTC
Still, the Ferrari’s price did as Monterey in August — I think package, which improved the car’s handling and performance.
seem on-par with a Classiche- the enthusiasm is there. Perhaps Very few 575M models were equipped with this package, which
certified example that what’s changed is what the cost over $25,000 when the car was new — and I consider it
Gooding & Company sold at market considers unrepeatable something of the “Pista” or “Challenge Stradale” version of the
the much smaller online-only right now. 575M, except even rarer. As these 575M models age, I suspect
European Sporting and Historic it will be the cars with the manual transmissions and the
Collection sale for $2.56m I’ve long believed that every ones with the HGTC Package that remain the most desirable
about a month before. old car owner is a collector, both examples, and this sale proved it. — Doug DeMuro, founder,
of history and of experiences Cars & Bids
Over at Mecum in Glendale, — but different collectors buy
the top sale was a 1967 different things for different   Linkage 003  107
Chevrolet Corvette L88 coupe reasons. By the numbers, it
at $2.7m — again pretty close seems that blue-chip buyers
to the $2.5m that the black have a more-leveled reaction
Triple Diamond ’67 L88 did to our current world than your
in Kissimmee in January. average muscle car buyer. Still,
However, this Sunfire Yellow the numbers are trending up
coupe had the benefit of its across the board, which is great
original engine and a Duntov news for a market that just a
Mark of Excellence award year ago was attempting to
alongside its Triple Diamond reinvent itself.
award. For L88s, it doesn’t get
better than that. The reinvention worked —
look to BaT, Gooding’s Geared
In short, in-person sales of Online program, RM Sotheby’s
blue-chip cars saw different Online Only events, and those
enthusiasm than just about high prices for Group B racers in
everything else. They still Paris. But I don’t think anyone
brought solid pricing overall, can deny the enthusiasm
but in large part, they didn’t seen in Arizona — and the
share the same gains seen in a cornerstone auction houses
slog of modified muscle, trucks were watching, too.
and sports cars — at least not
on a percentage of value basis. It shouldn’t serve as much of
a surprise, then, that Gooding
This wasn’t a hard-and-fast & Company has already
rule, however — note Craig announced its in-person dates
Jackson’s 1965 Shelby GT350 for Pebble Beach 2021, taking
Triple Crown car that made place alongside the 70th Pebble
nearly $1m and set a new Beach Concours d’Elegance.
record for a street-spec GT350 Others have followed , and so
in the process. We take a close too will blue-chip collectors.
look at that car and that sale on What that means for the
p.122. blue-chip cars presented on-site
remains to be seen.
Market rally
Will the boom continue, and
If stability-plus is the rule for how high will the unrepeatable
blue-chip cars right now, new go?
segments are the exception.

THIS SEASON’S CHURN

Bonhams will offer this 1929 Maserati
Tipo 26B 2800 Grand Prix at its
Goodwood Festival of Speed auction
in July

DETAILS IN THE COVID-19 Mecum’s massive Indy sale JUNE CARLISLE/ Carlisle Auctions RUSSO AND STEELE / Monterey
era change quickly. For the may be underway by the time Summer Sale 2021 August 12-14 Monterey, CA
most up-to-date information you read this — so head over to BONHAMS / Automobilia Online June 26 Carlisle, PA WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS / The
on sales, dates and auction linkagemag.com for updates June 1-14 Online (UK) ANGLIA CAR AUCTIONS / Classic Pacific Grove Auction
information, go to www. on these cars — and on Big Oly. SONICBIDDER / Spring Cleaning Car Auction August 12 Pacific Grove, CA
linkagemag.com. 2021 June 2 Online June 26-27 King’s Lynn, UK BONHAMS / Quail Lodge
Grand Prix VICARI / Orlando Collector Car VANDERBRINK / The Pellows August 13 Carmel, CA
Broncos Glory at Auction June 4-5 Orlando, FL Collection June 26 St. Paul, MN GOODING & COMPANY / The
Climb to New Goodwood SILVERSTONE / A Sale of Ferraris RM SOTHEBY’S / A Passion for Pebble Beach Auctions
Heights June 5 Online (UK) Elegance June 2021 Schaan, LI August 13-14 Pebble Beach, CA
AFTER A COVID-19 hiatus in BARONS / British Heritage, RM SOTHEBY’S / Monterey
MECUM’S PAST FEW sales 2020, Bonhams’ Goodwood Classic and Sports Cars JULY 2021 August 13-14 Monterey, CA
have been record-breakers, so Festival of Speed auction is June 8 Surrey, UK VANDERBRINK / Collector Cars
it stands to reason that the Indy scheduled to return for 2021, SHANNONS / Winter Timed OSENAT/Classic Cars and Motorcycles
sale, taking place from May 14- alongside the hillclimbers Auction June 8-15 Online July 5 Versailles, FRA August 14 Rutland, VT
22 and offering 2,500 vehicles, staged for action on the (AUS) H&H /The Pavilion Gardens ANGLIA CAR AUCTIONS / Classic
is going to set a new bar for the grounds of Goodwood House. H&H / National Motorcycle July 7 Buxton, UK Car Auction
company. Among the featured The auction is set for July Museum June 9 Solihull, UK BONHAMS / Goodwood Festival August 28-29 King’s Lynn, UK
lots is the 1969 Ford Bronco 9 — and it will present a good COLLECTOR CAR PRODUCTIONS of Speed July 9 Chichester, UK
known as Big Oly — built by selection of historic vintage / Toronto Spring VICARI / Dalton Collector Car SEPTEMBER
Dick Russell for Bill Stroppe race cars and quality road cars. June 11-12 Toronto, CAN Auction July 9-10 Dalton, GA
and Parnelli Jones. MECUM / Tulsa 2021 BARONS / Summer Classic RM SOTHEBY’S/ Auburn Fall
An early headliner is a 1929 June 11-12 Tulsa, OK July 16 Surrey, UK Sept 2-5 Auburn, IN
Big Oly may look like a Maserati Tipo 26B 2800 Grand GOODING & COMPANY / Geared BONHAMS MPH / July Auction BONHAMS / Collectors Motor
Bronco, but it’s a lot more than Prix two-seater — chassis no. 35, Online June  July 17 Bicester, UK Cars & Automobila
that. Its tube frame, fiberglass estimated at $1.3m to $1.8m. June 11-18 Online (USA) HISTORICS / Windsorview Lakes Sept 4-5 Beaulieu, UK
and aluminum body, large LUCKY COLLECTOR CAR July 17 Slough, UK WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS / The
wheel travel and roof-mounted Return to AUCTIONS / Spring Classic ARTCURIAL / Monaco 2021 Auburn Auction
wing were revolutionary in the Monterey June 12-13 Tacoma, WA July 19 Monte Carlo, MCO Sept 4 Auburn, IN
world of off-road racing. The TOM MACK / Mountain Classic GAA CLASSIC CARS / Classic Car H&H/Automobila Auction
team ran this Bronco to Baja AS OF THIS writing, Gooding June 12 Fletcher, NC Auction Sept 5-12 Online (UK)
1000 wins in 1971 and 1972 and & Co, RM Sotheby’s, Worldwide VANDERBRINK / The Kansas July 22-24 Greensboro, NC H&H / Imperial War Museum
Baja 500 and Mint 500 wins in Auctioneers, Russo and Steele, Collection VANDERBRINK / The Jack Sept 8 Duxford, UK
1973. It was so fast that it often Bonhams and Mecum have June 12 Tonganoxie, KS Slaymaker Collection MECUM / Dallas
outran the usually quicker all announced dates for their H&H / Automobilia Auction July 24 Fostoria, IA Sept 8-11 Dallas, TX
motorcycles in other classes. annual Monterey Car Week June 13-20 Online (UK) MECUM / Harrisburg 2021 BARONS / Jaguar Heritage
events, all held in the days OSENAT / Classic Cars July 28-31 Harrisburg, PA Sept 14 Surrey, UK
If there’s ever a Bronco to leading up to the 70th annual June 15 Fontainebleau, FRA SILVERSTONE / The Classic Sale BARRETT-JACKSON / Houston
break into the seven-figure Pebble Beach Concours on RM SOTHEBY’S / Milan July 31 Online (UK) September 16-18 Houston, TX
zone, this is it. Sunday, August 15. June 15 Milan, ITA BONHAMS / Goodwood Revival
BARRETT-JACKSON / Las Vegas AUGUST Sept 18 Chichester, UK
Other standouts planned The outlook remains good June 17-19 Las Vegas, NV VANDERBRINK /The Krinke
for auction here include a for these events. Watch BONHAMS / The Bonmont Sale H&H / National Motorcycle Collection
1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda linkagemag.com for updates June 20 Cheserex, CHE Museum Aug 4 Solihull, UK September 18 Scranton, ND
convertible with its original on Car Week activities as they BRIGHTWELLS / Timed Auction BRIGHTWELLS / Timed Collector CCA / Autumn Sale
engine, a 1930 Duesenberg become available. June 24 Online (UK) Car Auction  Sept 25 TBD
Model SJ Rollston Convertible CCA / The London Classic Car August 5 Online (UK) HISTORICS / Mercedes-Benz
Victoria and a 1965 Shelby Show June 25-27 London, UK H&H / ABC Live Auction World Sept 25 Weybridge, UK
GT350 R fastback. Aug 11 Online (UK) CARLISLE / Fall Carlisle
MECUM / Monterey 2021 Sept 30-Oct 1 Carlisle, PA
108  Linkage 003 August 12-14 Monterey, CA

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT BARRETT-JACKSON
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Waking the Giant

A new date and new restrictions didn’t slow
Barrett-Jackson’s success in March

by JIM PICKERING

Scottsdale 2021
Barrett-Jackson
MARCH 20-27, 2021

Total: 1,054 / 1,054 cars sold | $105,986,728

BARRETT-JACKSON HAS ALWAYS benefitted from volume at its
Scottsdale sale. For years, this was the biggest single auction in the
world, and it tended to have totals that dwarfed the other Arizona
auctions that popped up in its wake.

The team at Barrett-Jackson elected to hold their 2021 year-opener
in March rather than January due to external complications related
to COVID-19, but the change of date didn’t slow the auction’s
momentum, with final results — and indeed specific lots — that
looked like they came straight out of the booming days of 2007.

But as noted above, volume here stuck me again this year — and
I’m not talking about the number of cars on offer or the number of
people through the gates. I’m talking about the sheer number of lots
bringing prices well over what we might have expected in 2020.

You can call this the Barrett-Jackson effect if you want, but I think
there’s more to it than the glitz, glamor and 15 minutes of fame that
comes with bidding at an auction like this. No, the market here was
pent-up and primed for great examples of muscle cars, sports cars,
trucks and Resto-mods of all stripes, and Barrett-Jackson was well
positioned to deliver them.

photos courtesy of BARRETT-JACKSON

AUCTION SNAPSHOT BARRETT-JACKSON

1963 Lincoln Continental convertible

THE BASICS: leather interior. 22-inch wheels Concours There is a huge subset of today’s
Black with black leather designed to look like factory Entourage market that loves the melding
hubcaps. of vintage style and modern
interior. 430-ci V8 fitted Lot 1313, #1- condition stance, and when the work is
with modern electronic fuel PICKERING SAYS: S/N: 3Y86N415498 tasteful, detailed enough and
injection and 3-speed auto. Say what you will about Sold price: $253,000 done on the right car, prices
Said to have had a complete climb. That happened here, but
concours-level restoration with Resto-mods, but they’ve been among custom car builders that doesn’t mean the seller’s
over $250k in the build. Original on the value upswing as of late. today — has boosted the image in the black. The receipts don’t
chrome pieces restored, laser- The Continental’s role in HBO’s of the slab-side Lincoln among spell out success here, but I’m
straight black body, custom “Entourage” — and a refreshed a generation that isn’t as not sure that’s the point.
interest for 1960s luxury concerned about originality as it
is about image. Consider this: Barrett-Jackson
sold a stock-style restored ’65
I love stock restorations as with similar receipts for $330k
much as the next guy, but I also in January 2020. That car will
think cars like this are a vision get accolades that this one
into the future, like it or not. won’t at the next Lincoln &
Continental Owner’s Club meet
— but the tables will be turned
wherever younger car people
are. All things considered, this
was a good deal for the work
done.

1976 Ford Bronco Custom

THE BASICS: environment rigs like this will for even higher numbers at this The Long Trail
Brittany Blue with black ever see. auction, they’re not alone —
Mecum, RM Sotheby’s, Bring Lot 1276, #1 condition
leather and blue fabric interior. If you’ve been watching the a Trailer and more have also S/N: U15GLB89731
5.0-L Coyote V8 with 10-speed market over the past few years, moved big-money, first-gen Sold price: $181,500
automatic transmission and none of this is news — and Bronco customs in 2021 as well.
Dana 20 transfer case. Wilwood while Barrett-Jackson has rolling on, and while this was
brakes, Wild Horses lift, Bilstein brought a good number of these What’s most interesting expensive, I wouldn’t call it a
shocks, Superlite wheels, to market for similar prices, to me here is staying power. bad buy within the integrated
Centech wiring and more. Rear including two others that sold This Bronco trend just keeps technology’s window of freshness.
quarters uncut. How long is that window going
to be open? Well, look at it this
PICKERING SAYS: way: When’s the last time you
Resto-mod builders have thought billet-and-tweed street
rod interiors were cool?
taken notice of the classic
Bronco market, and they’ve
applied their methods
appropriately.

These rigs usually have trick
modern engines, transmissions
and suspensions and little to
no plans for actual dirt action.
But in a world of new jellybean
do-it-all crossovers, ultimate
specialization on 35s can
be appealing, even if rolling
over curbs is the most extreme

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT BARRETT-JACKSON

1963 Chevrolet Corvette 327/340 coupe

THE BASICS: original paint became a selling have an X-factor about them The COVID
Riverside Red with red point. Of course, that value limit that others don’t, from the way Factor
didn’t happen here. they look to the way they feel.
interior. 327-ci, 340-hp engine In some cases, that can bump Lot 1303, #3+ condition
is said to be the matching- So what’s going on? Well, red better options out of the way — S/N: 30837S115089
numbers unit, alongside the is a powerful thing, and so too this was not a Fuelie, but it was
original T10 4-speed manual is the one-year-only split rear priced like one. Sold price: $194,700
transmission. Originally sold window. But key was the car’s
in Kansas, said to be refinished “largely unrestored” nature — This car also came with a 2020, just before the pandemic,
but also unrestored. Knock-off vehicles that have never been nice big data point in that it for $170,500. That’s important,
wheels, AM/FM radio. Clean blown apart for restoration sold here at Barrett-Jackson in because any work done since
but showing some age. notwithstanding, it shows how
the market has risen for the right
PICKERING SAYS: cars in the midst of our current
Thanks to both the NCRS and climate. We can argue about
whether it was some Barrett-
Bloomington Gold, originality Jackson effect or if it’s repeatable,
is highly coveted in the Corvette but remember that it takes two
world, and we often see high bidders to drive any price.
prices attached to cars that
are showing evidence of time
passed. This car walked the line
between original and restored
thanks to a factory-color
repaint, and that can often limit
value, but it was usually done
way back in the days before

1953 MG TD roadster

THE BASICS: looks stock other than green- Wind in Your considered soft by sports car
Cream Yellow with black top Interstate battery. Single Hair purists of the day — it’s that
family owned for 35 years. softness makes them tractable in
leather interior. 1,250-cc engine Lot 637, #1- condition today’s world, and I think that’s
and 4-speed transmission PICKERING SAYS: S/N: TD23208 driving the current slight boost
claimed original. Recent Generally speaking, after Sold price: $37,400 for the model.
comprehensive cosmetic
and mechanical restoration a year cooped up inside, I British cars are a great example Of the 30k built, most came
showing no issues. Modified think we’re looking at a new of this — particularly those to the U.S., so they’re common
with driving lamps and radial emphasis on experiences in the done up to a high level in stock here still — and generally a
tires. Engine compartment car market, and in some cases, configuration. lot cheaper than this example.
prices are moving up as well. The key to this one’s success
The TD drips with old British was its restoration, which
sports car feel, with small doors, was obviously expensive.
somewhat effective weather While we’ve seen other sorted
gear and the sights and smells examples also sell in the $30k
that come with all that. It’s range — both here at B-J this
funny to think that these were week and on BaT — this one set
the bar for 2021 thus far.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT BARRETT-JACKSON

1966 Shelby Cobra 427 Super Snake we’re back in a booming market
for cars of this nature — just look
THE BASICS: original brake calipers, 3.77 rear Super Snake to the Shelby-owned CSX3178
Blue with black interior. One end, engine block, headers and Strikes Again Mecum sold in Kissimmee for
more. Never restored, but has $5.94m as proof of that — and
of two built with twin Paxton- had some freshening. Lot 1396, #2 condition remember, that car’s last sale
supercharged 427 and an S/N: CSX3015 price was just under $1.4m back
automatic transmission. Started PICKERING SAYS: in 2016.
life as one of 23 full competition The Super Snake was a Sold price: $5,500,000
Cobras before being converted Is that car more special than
into force-fed rocketship by special car when new and it’s story here, too: in 2007, it sold this one? I suppose it depends
Shelby and his team. Two were still a special car now — so to Ron Pratte for $5.5m, and it on the bidder and his or her
converted, but this is the only much so that Barrett-Jackson then left his collection in 2015 for intentions with the car. The
surviving example. Original has offered it as a headliner on $5.115m. Here, of course, it did Super Snake is a beast — there
body and 1967-built hood, three separate occasions — 2007, $5.5m again, which tells us a few were only two built, and the
2015 and 2021. The price tells a things about the market. other one flew off the highway
into Half Moon Bay at high
Just like the Corvette above, speed, killing its owner. So this
the Super Snake is an apples-to- car is a one-of-one today, similar
apples comparison, and it shows to Shelby’s Kissimmee-sold
us data points both prior to the personal 427 — but CSX3178 is
housing crash of ’08 and a few likely a lot more drivable, while
years after. And, of course, now the Super Snake is certainly more
over the top.

At the end of the day, this car
ended up bringing the same
number it brought in the last
booming market, which tells
me it was fully valued then and
fairly valued now.

1967 Chevrolet Nova SS

THE BASICS: only built six Chevy IIs with the isn’t ever called an L79 — and The Power of
Tuxedo Black with red vinyl L79 engine in 1967. Why? Well, that’s an important distinction. Numbers
I’m sure the then-new Camaro Just because a car was built
interior and black vinyl top. had something to do with it. But before values really took off Lot 1017.1, #1 condition
327-ci, 325-hp V8 with 4-speed what’s interesting here is not doesn’t mean it’s a real car, but S/N: 118377W154199
manual. Restored to a high level that spec — it’s what isn’t said none of this suggests it isn’t what Sold price: $198,000
in its original color combination in the listing. it appears to be, either — even
in 1990 after sitting inoperative if several Nova forums did. the lines is important, as is
since 1979. Won multiple The engine is claimed to be With anything, reading between understanding what, exactly,
awards in the early 1990s, date-code correct, but the car you’re looking at before you bid.
then retired from show duty in
1993. Has all Nova SS standard In any event, this brought
accessories and optional extremely strong money for a
equipment. Engine block, Nova SS with a great, older
heads, starter, water pump, restoration and no proof of spec,
manifolds, carb, distributor, which, again, is this current
alternator and rear axle are market at work.
claimed date-code correct.

PICKERING SAYS:
The 325-hp rating is special

here, as that suggests this is an
L79 — that Corvette-sourced
monster designed to fly under
the radar and to make the Nova
into a serious street brawler.
While the numbers vary by the
source, GM is thought to have

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT BARRETT-JACKSON

1955 Ford Thunderbird

THE BASICS: This is a fantastic collector’s auction was here at Barrett- The First
Black with black and white piece — but the news here Jackson in 2015, where it made
isn’t in that this car was both $242,000. That number — way Lot 1355.1, #2- condition
interior and black hardtop. rare and special. No, the news under the $660k sale — reflected S/N: P5FH100005
292-ci V8 with automatic here was instead in the delta the downward trend in early
transmission. Fitted with between this price and the last ’Birds referenced above, as well Sold price: $374,000
power windows, power one. Note that this car once sold as a slowing market that was
steering and power seat. The here at B-J for $660,000 — when also represented in the sale of because, well, it’s a Shelby —
first Thunderbird sold to the Ron Pratte bought it for his the Super Snake from Pratte’s not a Thunderbird.
public, discovered by George collection in 2009. collection that same year. But
Watts in 1965 and subsequently the Snake saw less of a drop, Condition and everything
restored. Was tested in “Sports The car’s last appearance at else being equal, our price
Illustrated” in 1954 and has here reflects quite the jump in
made a number of special value for an admittedly special
appearances over the years, car that represents an era
including at the 1984 Olympics. that had been on the decline.
Older restoration work is My takeaway? It’s time to
holding up well. reevaluate every previous trend,
because 2021 is a new world.
PICKERING SAYS:
T-Birds are right in the center

of a shifting demographic trend
— or at least they have been.
They’ve been losing ground in
the market at the same rate as
cars from the 1980s have been
gaining.

1970 Plymouth Superbird

THE BASICS: that spent most of its life in Flying High knocked values out of the
Tor Red with black vinyl Canada. Smooth paint, clean clouds.
interior and detailed engine Lot 1430, #2 condition
interior and black vinyl top. compartment. S/N: RM23U0A161587 This car was offered just
440-ci, 375-hp V8 is claimed Sold price: $176,000 across the way at Mecum’s
to be date-code correct. 727 PICKERING SAYS: Glendale event in March 2020,
automatic transmission. These Mopars were a tough the long nose and tall tail. where it was bid to $115k but
Optioned with bucket seats. This one is a good example didn’t sell. Mecum also offered
Comes with two original sell when new, but they’ve long it elsewhere too, including Las
Broadcast Sheets and an since become collector car of a nicely restored Superbird Vegas 2020 in November, where
extensive photo album of favorites for those with garages with only a couple of options it bid to $127,500.
the restoration. U.S.-built car long enough to accommodate to speak of, including the A36
performance axle and Rallye Here it brought a price
wheels. But that makes it a closer to what I would have
good barometer of the market expected for a Six-Pack car,
for winged Mopars — a market which, considering everything
that once flew very high, before else we’ve seen out of Barrett-
the housing collapse in 2008 Jackson’s 2021 Scottsdale sale,
is not much of a surprise. Based
on what we’ve seen for good
condition winged cars in other
places, I don’t think this was
over the top money — but I
expect it will look less expensive
after this trend continues
through the summer.

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1999 Vector M12

THE BASICS: taller drivers while retaining Poster Posture was forced out of his company
Black with red leather the basic original design. and Lamborghini was brought
Recent work includes a 2019 Lot 1372.1, #1- condition in to deliver powertrains
interior. 5.7-L V12 makes engine-out service, ceramic S/N: 1V9MB1224X1048010 and components. While this
492 hp. Claimed top speed flywheel and rebuilt clutch. is still a Vector in name, it
of 190 mph and a 4.5-second Has been in several museums, Sold price: $176,000 doesn’t have the swagger of
zero-to-60 sprint. The 12th of including the Petersen. the wedge-shaped W8, with its
14 M12s built, and the second thing is true for Vectors — but beep-boop dream-of-the-1980s
of four built in 1999. Originally PICKERING SAYS: the Vector has the advantage electronics and aviation-
produced for the Prince of Auto writers love to talk here in exclusivity. With so few themed cockpit. What it does
Brunei, later upgraded with built, you’ll likely have the only have are Lamborghini Diablo
modern supercar interior about how Countach prices M12 wherever you take it — components underneath, which
appointments and modified for are driven by the poster car assuming you get where you’re I suppose could be considered
generation, and the same going. a plus if you have a few beers
before you really think about it.
When it comes to Vectors,
the earlier turbocharged W8 is But for a serious collector of
the top dog — the M12 came over-the-top supercars from the
along after company founder 1980s and 1990s, a Vector has
and designer Gerald Wiegert to be on the list — the trouble
is, the car that collector really
wants is the W8. M12 comps are
hard to find, but this sold for
the exact same price at Barrett-
Jackson last year. What does
that tell you?

1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 coupe

THE BASICS: the Gold Award at Cavallino in That all combined to set Right Money
Rosso Corsa with tan leather. 2000. A lot can happen to a car this up for a right — but not
in 21 years, but this one looked record — price. Note that Lot 1394, #2+ condition
3.3-L 4-cam V12 makes 300 hp. to have been well respected, and the last four-cam we saw sell S/N: 9677
5-speed manual. Claimed to it clearly was driven — note was at Gooding’s nine-car Sold price: $2,475,000
have all matching numbers and the engine rebuild as proof of European Sporting & Historic
complete history from new. that. For an end user collector Auction back in February — a Red Book. That car did $2.56m
Older restoration, odometer concerned mostly with usability, black example with a Ferrari online, and it had fewer miles.
is now showing 60,021 miles. that’s good. Classiche Certification and Chalk this up to the power of
Comes with original tool bag red on a body designed for it, in-
and factory brochure. Recent person excitement and instant
work includes engine rebuild availability. For all those things,
at North Coast Exotics. One of this was priced right.
330.

PICKERING SAYS:
This is a far cry from the

likes of a lifted Bronco, but
Barrett-Jackson’s long-standing
premium offering collections,
including the Salon Collection,
have always been geared at lots
such as this.

This car had been shown at
both Cavallino and Amelia
Island — and it achieved some
awards in the process, including

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MARKET MOVER 1965 SHELBY GT350

The Best and the Rest

A top-level GT350 brings a top price at Barrett-Jackson

by BRAD BOWLING

S/N: SFM5S553
$962,500
Lot 1395, Barrett-Jackson,
Scottsdale, AZ,
March 20-27, 2021

Photos courtesy of BARRETT-JACKSON AUCTIONS

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NEW ENGLAND WISDOM holds that “a rising the “Bullitt” movie hero car for $3.74m in January
tide lifts all boats.” That aphorism may be true for 2020.
watercraft, but it doesn’t always apply to collector car
auction price trends. So it goes with the sky-high price for 1965 Shelby
GT350 S/N 5S553, which sold at Barrett-Jackson on
A record sale does not necessarily mean a hike March 27 for $962,500, including auction fees.
is imminent for all other cars in that category. For
example, the prices of 1968 Mustang GT fastbacks did Barrett-Jackson Chairman and CEO Craig Jackson
not climb appreciably when Mecum Auctions sold offered the car from his personal collection of 80-plus
vehicles. He had found the Wimbledon White and

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MARKET MOVER 1965 SHELBY GT350

Guardsman Blue fastback in a Texas storage building
in 2016 and had put it through an exhaustive two-
year restoration.

All 562 of Shelby American’s first-year GT350s are
desirable and historically significant, but only a few
are likely to enter the seven-figure club anytime soon.
Rare exceptions would include the 36 race-ready 1965
R-models, the documented prototype of which set an
auction record of $3.85 million in July 2020.

A high bar

So, what is it about 5S553 that brought it so close to
becoming another million-dollar Mustang? Factors
include the condition of the car when found, its low
mileage and a handful of awards from the country’s
toughest judges.

The car benefitted from a lifetime in dry weather
climates, having been built at Ford’s San Jose plant
and shipped to Shelby American’s facility at Los
Angeles International Airport for conversion. It
served briefly as a publicity car before moving to
Texas in 1966. The first owner clearly took good care
of the GT350 before passing it onto his brother, who
used it to tow a dirt bike to races.

A minor accident damaged the passenger’s side
suspension, after which a shop mistakenly installed a
stock Mustang idler arm. With the steering geometry
out of whack, the Shelby was far less fun (and safe) to
drive and was parked in an enclosed garage for many
decades. The easy-to-repair steering problem is why
the well-preserved GT350 today only has 19,000 miles
on the odometer.

Best of the best

When Jackson sent the car to Thoroughbred
Restorations in Piedmont, Oklahoma, he instructed
owner John Brown to make it the finest example of
a first-year Shelby Mustang in existence. In 2017, it
won Division One Gold status at the Mid America
Ford & Shelby Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In
2018, 5S553 won Premier Gold honors at the Shelby
American Automobile Club (SAAC) 43 Nationals in
Indianapolis, and Thoroughbred Gold honors at the
Mustang Club of America (MCA) National Show in
Kansas City. Winning top honors at the three events
marked only the fifth time a Mustang claimed the
restoration world’s “Triple Crown” — and the first
time for a ’65 GT350.

In addition, the GT350 competed at the MCA
Grand National in New Hampshire that year, where
judges gave it the Authenticity Award for Outstanding
Thoroughbred. To give you an idea of how stringent
the guidelines are for Authenticity evaluation, the car
can only lose 12 points out of the 700-point judging

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checklist to receive the award. Not only must all
parts be new-old stock (NOS); they must be NOS
components that match what was installed on the
assembly line. In other words, what Ford or Shelby
put on the car before it was shipped to the dealer was
very often packaged or coded different from what the
dealership parts department sold as a replacement.

According to Hagerty’s value database, Carroll
Shelby’s 1965 GT350s have not seen much of a rise or
drop during the past three years. They solidly range
between $265,000 in fair condition and $520,000
in concours condition. Not bad for a bunch of old
ponies, but it’s unlikely the sale of a low-mileage,
authenticated “unicorn” such as 5S553 will change
those values in the short term.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS

Springtime in
Arizona

Mecum’s early 2021 momentum continued in Arizona this
March, where sales grew by over $12m

by SAM STOCKHAM

Glendale 2021
Mecum Auctions
MARCH 18-20, 2021
Total: 712/829 cars sold | $42,363,275

MECUM CAME OUT of the gate strong at the Kissimmee auction
in January, with record totals helping to underline a solid fact:
COVID-19 was not going to impact sales into 2021 — at least not
negatively.

Still, Mecum’s third sale in Arizona launched into a strange
atmosphere. This event was always scheduled for March, but with
virus-related restrictions breaking up the annual January Arizona
auctions, Mecum’s Glendale sale wasn’t going to stand alone this
year. With the addition of Barrett-Jackson’s rescheduled event,
a second car week in the desert sprang up — and a first time for
Mecum and Barrett-Jackson to be running more or less head-to-
head in the same metropolitan area.

Mecum put on a nice spread at the State Farm Arena — the
stadium where the Arizona Cardinals football team plays. The
venue ensured plenty of room to spread out, and Mecum needed
the space. This has become Mecum’s third-largest sale behind
blockbusters Kissimmee and Indianapolis, and of the 800-plus cars
on offer, over 700 sold — reflecting a solid boost over last year’s
$30m, and continued stability of the booming trends from back in
January.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS
1991 Ferrari Mondial

THE BASICS: STOCKHAM SAYS: Best of the Worst end of the economic scale due
Rosso Corsa with tan leather. The Ferrari Mondial had a to price tag. Do you think they
Lot F36, #2+ condition did proper Ferrari service when
3.2-L V8, 5-speed manual. 5,532 long run through the ’80s and S/N: ZFFRK33A5M0088428 needed? I don’t.
miles from new and said to have into the ’90s, but the poor car Sold price: $74,800
been owned by Ferrari collector hasn’t seen much love in the That said, this particular car
Brandon Wang. Repaint of lower collector world. look, and the car ended up was one of the best Mondials I’d
front air dam, trunk lid slightly at the bottom of the pecking seen in some time, and that’s
out of alignment. Driver’s seat Traditionally, collectors order because of power steering why the price tag here was well
belt retractor is slow. haven’t been fond of the and thanks to its novelty back above the $50k that really good
Mondial’s shy, cab-forward seat — even though it made Mondials usually bring. It had
the car more livable. Reliability spent some time in the Don
concerns have also plagued Davis Collection — RM Sotheby’s
these cars — many fell into the sold it in 2013 for $85,250, with
hands of owners at the lower just five fewer miles on the clock.

If you were to drive it, I would
replace the 12-year-old tires, but
this one will most likely become
garage art for a collector — which
takes us back to styling. A good
investment? You be the judge.

2020 Jeep Gladiator

THE BASICS: and the labor, and they’re all some rough, uneven edges. A Bandit, But
Black with gold Bandit visual — there weren’t any For the kind of markup seen Hardly a Steal
changes to the drivetrain from here, I would have liked these
graphics and branding. 3.6-L stock. So building this probably painted on and cleared over Lot S63.1. #1- condition
Pentastar V6 with 8-speed auto. cost about $63k, give or take. by a skilled artist — but that’s S/N: 1C6HJTAGXLL130732
Outlaw Edition III, 3.5-inch not the point. Modern Jeep Sold price: $82,500
Rough Country lift kit and Does it make sense yet? Wranglers and Gladiators are
38-inch tires on custom one-off Upon closer inspection, the part of the current custom SUV wave. You’ll often see them
Bandit rims. 320 miles from stickers had been applied with at auctions with one-off or
new, and looks as-new. No uncommon custom packages,
reserve. and the money follows — and
in 2021, it can be a lot. A Hemi
STOCKHAM SAYS: swap would have been the real
What does a second-gen value-add here.

Trans Am in “Smokey and
The Bandit” regalia and the
new 2020 Jeep Gladiator have
in common? If the answer
is nothing, why is there a
screaming chicken on the hood
of this black pickup?

The answer is in the price
paid here. Since this likely
started as a fully loaded
Gladiator, it cost around
$55,000 new. From there, we can
add around $8k for the add-ons

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS

1969 Pontiac GTO

THE BASICS: It’s Easy Being
Fathom Green with Green

parchment vinyl interior. Lot S57. #2- condition
6.2-L LS3 engine claimed S/N: 242379B122144
to make 550 hp. 5-speed
manual transmission, custom Sold price: $66,000
suspension with tubular
control arms and upgraded and some polished engine this car is like so many other when you start looking at price.
sway bars. Upgraded rear components needed to be Resto-mod-leaning muscle This would be a fun car as it sits,
differential, custom exhaust. polished again. The engine bay cars on the market today — and it’s worth every penny of the
electrics weren’t well placed, upgraded, used and with room $66,000 price in this market. Any
STOCKHAM SAYS: nor were components hidden for improvement. growth here would take further
The older I get, the more I like when appropriate to do so, investment in fixing the details,
and electrical tape ruled the This car’s issues wouldn’t have but that might not pay the new
modern amenities in older cars. under-hood land. In short, been challenging to address, owner back.
I also like GTOs. So too does but they have to be considered
the market, as evidenced by the
number of Resto-mods selling
for large money at auctions
in March. How large was the
money? Well, this very car sold
at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale
2020 for $48,400.

This car had all the right
parts, but the paint needed
a wet sand and final polish,

1979 Chevrolet K5 Blazer

Black Beauty that full removable hardtop.
Even so, all second-gen Blazer
Lot S25. #3 condition
S/N: CKL189Z187145 pricing has exploded with the
Sold price: $33,000 rise in vintage SUV values. This
price would have been expensive
THE BASICS: STOCKHAM SAYS: These trucks entered their a few years ago, but now it’s
Black with maroon cloth and Squarebody Chevy trucks are second gen in 1973, and by a basic standard for a good
1976, Chevy shortened the example.
vinyl interior. 350-ci V8 with all the rage right now. The Blazer removable top to the rearmost
automatic transmission and still seems to languish behind the section of the body, with steel This one had a few issues,
4-wheel drive. Factory a/c and Bronco, at least when it comes over the front occupants and including black paint that was
Cheyenne package. Shows just to the first-generation rigs. Once full door window frames. As obviously redone on a budget.
under 64,000 miles. Repainted, we get into GM’s square years such, earlier rigs tend to bring Even with just 60k miles on the
with original chrome, trim and and the bigger 1978 Bronco, that slightly higher prices, thanks to clock, time has taken its toll here.
interior. trend vanishes. Faded trim paint on the stainless
grille and the interior plastic tell
the story pretty well. This was a
used truck with some fluffing —
not a minty, untouched example.

Despite all that, this market
continues to move here, and this
one’s needs balanced with the
price paid are a good indication
where things are at the moment.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS
1979 Pontiac Trans Am SE

THE BASICS: STOCKHAM SAYS: Where’s Burt? common. Wavy bumper covers
Starlight Black with black In an era where stickers and are normal at this age as well.
Lot F209, #3 condition
cloth interior. 6.6-L V8 with gimmicks made up for lazy S/N: 2W87K9L139014 This car suffered from
automatic transmission. powertrains, the ‘79 Trans Sold price: $31,350 both those problems, as well
Fitted with SE package, which Am takes the cake. There was as a repaint that showed
includes gold Trans Am accents certainly plenty of show here The 1979 model year issues throughout. The
and hood bird. Options include —­ but low compression and introduced square headlights, weatherstripping was cracked
power steering, power brakes, emissions add-ons provided and build quality was genuine and a missing rear center cap
a/c and power windows. questionable go. 1970s GM, so cars today with pretty much summed up this
good panel fit are pretty rare car’s condition — and its place
unless the owner invested as a driver-level collectible.
heavily in expert panel
alignment. The long doors were Still, this sold at top money
heavy and worn hinges are for its condition compared to
the similar Lot F236, which only
fetched $18,700. That car had
the less -powerful 403-ci engine
and no T-tops.

The Trans Am market ran up
to a peak a few years back and
has seen cooling since, but this
one bucked that trend.

1970 Ford Mustang Boss 429

THE BASICS: homologation by Kar Kraft. paint still showed a deep gloss. Boss Buy
Grabber Blue with black vinyl It takes a lot to make one of Boss ‘9 values have been
Lot S113, #1- condition
interior. 429-ci V8, 4-speed these cars right, down to the losing a bit of horsepower. Most S/N: 0F02Z137153
manual. Kar Kraft number proper lug nuts. This car was that have shown up at auction Sold price: $225,500
2401, shows 7,745 miles. nicely restored, and my only over the last 15 months are bid
Restored by David Randal of complaints were detail items up to either side of $200k and was a no-stories car, and I think
Randal’s Restorations, with such as stainless trim polish many remain unsold. it was a sound buy at $25k
finish detailing by Bob Perkins. and aging window gaskets. The below Mecum’s estimate, even
Randal’s site claims the only panel fit was fantastic and the With a notable restoration considering the current market
reproduction parts used were house adding to pedigree, this for Boss 429s. This price bought
exhaust, belts, battery, carpet the new owner some time for
and tires. Original Ford invoice, enjoyment, with room left to
original build sheet and Deluxe cover any future cost of parting
Marti Report. Featured in with it.
Mustang Monthly in September
1996. One of 499.

STOCKHAM SAYS:
I’d say the Boss 429 is the

ultimate classic Mustang — at
least short of an R-code Shelby.
The Z-code 429 had a bespoke
engine, offered for only two
years. It was designed for
NASCAR-bound Torinos,
yet was curiously stuffed
into the Mustang chassis for

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS

2001 Ferrari 550 Barchetta

THE BASICS: from the rain. Using the top 2020 with only 465 miles on Less is More
Rosso Corsa with tan leather. above 70 mph was not advised. the clock. Still, this particular
car was the fourth example Lot S106, #2- condition
5.5-L V12 makes 485 hp. Since only 448 were made, produced, and since three-pedal S/N: ZFFZR52A810123676
6-speed manual transmission, this brought about four times Ferraris are in demand and Sold price: $440,000
Fiorano handling package. what a comparable 550 coupe likely will never be made again,
Number 004 of 448 built. might bring. $440k is a big this car was attractive. over the transmission tunnel
Said to have 1,508 miles on number considering a similar suggested this car has sat
the clock. Last major service Barchetta brought $396k In July Some faded upholstery outside at a lot of car events,
performed in 2019. but with only 1,500 miles on
the clock, it probably didn’t get
STOCKHAM SAYS: driven to very many of them.
The Ferrari 550 Maranello That’s a shame. Big money, but
well presented.
rekindled the romance of a
two-seat, front-engine V12 GT
— a car that had been missing
from the Ferrari line since the
Daytona went out of production
in 1973.

The 550 Barchetta was built
to celebrate the 70th anniversary
of the Pininfarina design
house — and to build it, Ferrari
eliminated the roof, laid back
the windshield slightly, added
roll bars and gave you the
equivalent of a loincloth to hide

1961 Lincoln Continental convertible

THE BASICS: STOCKHAM SAYS: Complex tough to fix when they fail.
Black with red leather The ’60s Continental is by far Collectible This car looked nice from

interior. 430-ci V8, automatic the most recognizable model Lot F176. #3 condition a few feet away, but I think it
transmission. Fitted with power from Lincoln, and it defined S/N: 1Y86H412734 used to be white and it looked
steering, power brakes, a/c, luxury in the ’60s, even if the Sold price: $67,100 like it sat outside a lot. The
power windows, power top and company was still chasing repaint is not bad, but the car
power seat. Cadillac in sales. These cars were big, heavy and complex was painted while assembled,
for the day. The power top, which is a shame. The leather
for example, works on at least interior looked great too — until
11 relays and limit switches I noticed the faded trim around
in series. The climate control, the dash and rear seats. The
windows and vacuum-operated stainless trim also needed a
door locking system are all good polish.

These cars are expensive to
restore, which goes to show how
some totally sorted examples
can sell for multiples of this
amount in our current market.
This was a nice driver, and for
that, the price was right.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS
1970 DeTomaso Mangusta

THE BASICS: STOCKHAM SAYS: Cobra Killer Pantera quickly became the
Red with black leather The DeTomaso Mangusta poster car for DeTomaso, while
Lot F120. #2 condition the Mangusta faded out of
interior. 302-ci V8 and 5-speed was rumored to have been born S/N: 8MA1118 favor — at least for a while.
transaxle. One of approximately out of an ill-fated deal between Sold price: $302,500 Collectors have for years valued
401 built. Paint clean, interior Shelby and Alejandro de these earlier cars at a higher
tidy and faults are tough to find Tomaso — a deal that fell apart and named it Mangusta, which level than the more common
aside from light road rash on just before Shelby joined with is Italian for mongoose — a not- Pantera.
the nose and wear to leather Ford on the GT40. Dejected, de so-subtle dig at Shelby’s Cobra.
steering wheel and seat back. Tomaso built his car anyway This car is a later production
After five years building model with the Ford 302 and
the Mangusta, DeTomaso the manually operated single
developed the Pantera, and in headlights — a foresight to
collaboration with Ford, put it coming U.S. regulations. This
in Ford showrooms (another was near top money for a
idea aped from Shelby). The Mangusta, as most trade around
$275k — give or take $25k — but
if you were in the market for a
good one, this was it.

2006 Saleen S7 Twin Turbo Vision Come
to Life
THE BASICS:
Black with black leather Lot S109. #1- condition
S/N: 1S9SB18126S000074
and suede interior. 7.0-L
twin-turbo V8 makes 750 hp. Sold price: $605,000
6-speed manual transmission,
twin-plate clutch. Carbon fiber — and remember, this was could find were in delaminating on the horizon, as this is a
body panels. Fitted with GPS at least 10 years before your quarter glass and some light proper American supercar.
navigation, tilt and telescopic 707-horsepower Hellcat — all wipe marks in the long quarters, Coming out of the Steve
wheel, power windows and put into a full carbon body over and they could easily be buffed. Todhunter Collection, this was
locks, and limited-slip diff. a lightweight steel spaceframe It’s what you’d expect in a car a great purchase for a wise
Runs from 0-60 in 2.8 seconds. that also had all the proper that hasn’t been used much. new owner at the low end of
One of 14 built. Shows 1,167 creature comforts inside. the $600k-$700k pre-estmate
miles. The price tag here might range.
This example in black is indicate that prices are
STOCKHAM SAYS: stunning — the only flaws I slipping, but I don’t see that
Saleen has always been about

performance, and the S7 —
Steve Saleen’s race car for the
road — represents a high point
for the company.

The aluminum 427 engine
used here was loosely based on
the Ford Windsor powerplants.
By 2005, it had a pair of
turbos strapped to it, which
worked to deliver 750 horses

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AD

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MARKET MOVER 1986 PORSCHE 944 TURBO

Photos byTEDDY PIEPER @vconceptsllc ©2021 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s

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The
Intersectional
Porsche

The 944 charms generations of collectors — but
low miles aren’t always the key to a good buy

by ROB SASS

S/N: WP0AA0956GN150854

$27,500

Lot 210, RM Sotheby’s, Online
Only — Open Roads, February
19-28, 2021

AUDRAIN CEO DONALD Osborne has referred to
the Porsche 944 as an “intersectional” car, or one that
may be just as likely to appear at a catalog sale as it
would on Facebook Marketplace.

That’s true, but the 944’s ascent to the status
of occasional catalog sale appearance is a recent
development.

Generally, in this market, any 944 that comes to a
high-end sale has some combination of low miles,
impeccable condition and interesting specification.
This particular car, while showing 44k miles, wasn’t a
particularly interesting spec, and it had more than a
few cosmetic issues that I think would have kept the
car out of one of RM Sotheby’s flagship live sales.

First-year Turbo 

The car in question was a first-year production 951,
more popularly known as the 944 Turbo. The car was
lightly optioned from the factory, which in a way,
suggests the original owner was a serious driver.

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MARKET MOVER 1986 PORSCHE 944 TURBO
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It was equipped with handsome lightweight Fuchs this market for the mileage. Otherwise, what we have
forged alloy wheels in place of the more-common here is a low-mileage car with either some glaring
ATS “phone dial” wheels. The car also had a limited- cosmetic issues that negate its low-miles attraction,
slip differential. or a car in need of a respray that will likely put the
owner under water.
However, the car also had the normal “comfort”
seats rather than the sport seats that you might have A note for intersectional buyers looking for their
expected to see in a driver’s-spec car. Odd, but maybe first collector 944: It may be better to spend the same
the first owner was just too large to fit comfortably in money on a well-maintained, original paint car with
a set of the more-confining sport seats.  double the miles. This is a tough one, but without
being able to assess the situation in person, I have to
 First-year 944 Turbos, while potent for the day, put this one in the well-sold ledger. 
were overshadowed by the 1988 Turbo S and the
1989 Turbo (which was essentially a Turbo S). Both Rob Sass is the Editor-in-Chief of Porsche Panorama, the official
of these cars brought almost 250 hp to battle with publication of The Porsche Club of America. 
the increasingly virile (and cheaper) Japanese sports
cars of the day. This car’s 220 hp seems light in
comparison. 

Pluses and minuses 

The auction company did a laudable job in
photographing the good and the bad, and from what
can be gleaned from the photos, there appear to be
some mismatched panels, some visible touchup
work on the doors and some ugly surface rust on
the rockers. The latter is troubling on a 44,000-mile
car that was well galvanized from the factory. The
anodizing is also wearing off the Fuchs wheels.

Challenged as the exterior may be, the engine
compartment and interior look decent. It’s rare
to find a 944 of any vintage with an uncracked
dash. Only the Walmart-quality Pioneer head unit
detracted here. 

 With a good painter and some careful spot work,
the body issues could perhaps be addressed for less
than $3,000, making an all-in of somewhere in the
low-$30k range possible — and still about right in

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARTCURIAL

Flat Over Crest

Legendary Rally cars (and one road racer) sell for top dollar at Artcurial’s Parisienne 2021

by JEFF ZURSCHMEIDE

Parisienne 2021 “FLAT OVER CREST” is a rally term. It’s a directive to stand on the
Artcurial throttle even though you can’t see what’s over the hill ahead.
FEBRUARY 5, 2021
The rally car market is on a crest of its own — with values rising
Total: 28/42 cars sold | $21,838,112 alongside collector interest.

The market for competition cars can be fickle. Verified examples
that were driven to victory by top drivers can command much higher

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photo by PETER SINGHOF

prices among collectors than those without famous provenance, B rally cars as a part of their $21.8m Paris event in February.
but rally cars led rough lives — especially after they left their factory The collection was put together by Michel Hommell, founder of
teams for privateer duty. Many of these cars show their battle scars
— but if the goal is to go vintage racing, beauty is far more than skin the Manoir de l’Automobile in Lohéac, France, and Olivier Quesnel,
deep. the former director of competition departments at Peugeot and later
Citroën. Hommell and Quesnel collected the cars shortly after the
In the world of historic FIA Rally cars — a world that is gaining banishment of Group B from FIA competition, and the cars became
prominence — there’s nothing better than Group B. For just five years museum displays. That made this sale an important inflection point
from 1982-86, manufacturers went all-out to produce the wildest in the current market for Group B cars of undisputed provenance —
machinery ever seen in the sport. By 1986, the fast-lengthening list and bidders responded by going flat-out to own them.
of fatalities among Group B teams and fans led the FIA to terminate
the class. Two less-exalted rally cars round out our coverage from Artcurial,
alongside a Ferrari Challenge racer that illustrates rising values for
Artcurial offered a rare collection of seven museum-quality Group veterans of the factory-sanctioned series.

AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARTCURIAL

1986 Lancia Delta S4

Apogee of B Delta S4 represented the apogee
of Group B.
Lot 8, #3 condition
S/N: 227 The Delta S4 was a late
Sold price: $972,348 arrival in 1985, but it made an
impact. Henri Toivonen won the
photo by PETER SINGHOF 1985 RAC rally to close out that
season, and then won the Monte
THE BASICS: events by by Miki Biasion and back on top. Carlo rally to open the 1986
Finished in Martini Bruno Saby through 1987 Lancia had been selling the season. In all, S4 drivers won
before joining the Manoir de four rallies outright in 1986,
colors and in works Group l’Automobile collection. Delta as its entry-level economy and finished on the podium
B configuration from hatchback since 1979, but for nine more times in the final year
new. Turbocharged and ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: the 1985 FIA rally season, the of Group B.
supercharged 1,759-cc engine After winning the 1983 humble Delta was transformed
makes 483 hp. This left the into a Group B powerhouse. The $972,348 ended up on
factory right at the end of the manufacturer’s championship, With their mid-engine space- par with the $986k sale of a
Group B era, and it was driven Lancia had fallen behind its frame design and all-wheel- WRC-winning Delta S4 at
in other rally and ice racing Group B rivals. The company drive, the 28 examples of the RM Sotheby’s London sale in
produced the Delta S4 to get 2019 — but this car didn’t have
that same winning history
and had carried a somewhat
lower estimate range of $719k
to $960k because of it. A good
indication of market interest.

1986 Ford RS200

THE BASICS: Podium
White and blue #8 Shell Performer

livery. Mid-mounted 1,803-cc Lot 6, #3 condition
turbocharged engine makes S/N: 015
450 hp in rally tune. Left-hand-
drive Works example. Took Sold price: $457,575
third place on the Swedish
Rally with Kalle Grundel photo by PETER SINGHOF
— making this the highest
achieving RS200 in the history The RS200 never finished purchased by Quesnel and Group B history.
of international motorsport. higher than third in a Group B was safely stored in Hommell’s While the $457,575 paid here
rally, but Kalle Grundel drove museum.
ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: this car to that podium finish. landed within the broad $300k
Ford’s entry in Group B Later in 1986, Stig Blomqvist The car is the 15th example to $480k estimate range for this
drove this car to victory in the made of the 200 required for auction, it also represented the
rallying was derived from UK national series Audi Sport homologation, of which 148 highest price realized at auction
earlier efforts based on the Rally near Shrewsbury. After a are known to still exist, so it’s for an RS200 since 2017 — and
European Ford Escort, but very short career, this car was slightly less rare than some other the highest price ever for an
for the 1984 season, Ford’s brands, and lacks the winning RS200 with rally history.
racing division created the
RS200 with a clamshell body
covering an aluminum and
composite monocoque chassis,
full-time all-wheel drive and
a mid-mounted turbocharged
Ford-Cosworth engine.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARTCURIAL

1985 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 Evolution 2

THE BASICS: A New High
Shell livery. Mid-mounted Mark

444-hp turbocharged 1,775-cc Lot 7, #3+ Condition
engine and all-wheel drive. S/N: VF3741R76E5200009
One of 19 Evolution 2 cars
built. Still registered to Peugeot Sold price: $1,172,537
Sport and fitted with the proper
components from its racing photo by PETER SINGHOF
days.
the 20 Evo 1 units that were able to carry Peugeot to two championships from 1988 to
ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: built in 1984 from the Evo 2 of consecutive championships. 1990.
At the other end of the Group 1985. Among many differences,
the Evo 2 used an entirely This particular 205 T16 Evo 2 Only 19 Evo 2s were built,
B spectrum from the RS200 is tubular space frame in the was driven to victory by Bruno making this is one of the rarest
the Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. With back half of the car to better Saby at the Tour de Corse, and most-successful Group B
this model, Peugeot took the accommodate the driveline, and by Timo Salonen in the cars. The market took notice,
manufacturer’s championship an integrated roll structure, Swedish Rally. Following the as the nearly $1.2m sale was
in both 1985 and 1986. Like and benefitted from a great end of Group B, the car went more than twice the amount
most of the Group B contenders, deal of weight reduction. to Peugeot of Finland, where a 1984 Peugeot Group B car
the 205 was modified from Thus improved, the Evo 2 was Matti Alamäki drove it to three commanded a year ago at the
a basic front-drive economy straight European Rallycross Silverstone auction in Britain.
model by installing a mid-
mounted turbocharged engine
with abundant horsepower and
all-wheel drive.

It’s important to distinguish

1988 Audi Sport Quattro S1

Setting the Bar held back by Audi until 1988,
when it was first released for an
Lot 9, #3 Condition honorary “Race of Champions”
S/N: 85 ZGA 905 016 for Group B drivers. Quesnel
Sold price: $2,419,113 persuaded Audi to sell him the
car for museum use, but not
photo by PETER SINGHOF before Mouton, Bruno Saby,
and Ari Vatanen had all driven
THE BASICS: ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: Audi dominated the 1984 it.
As original and as raced, sold The short-wheelbase Group B season, winning
seven events to take the This car’s skimpy competition
to Quesnel directly from Audi homologation model was manufacturer’s title and history and its long stay in
AG in 1989. One of 214 Sport derived from the more-common enabling Stig Blomqvist to claim the museum may make it the
Quattros built with a shortened Audi Quattro sold in the United the driver’s championship. most original and undamaged
wheelbase, box flares and States. Rally cars based on the factory rally-prepped Sport
front and rear wings. 2,110-cc original Quattro carried Michèle Just 214 examples of the Sport Quattro in the world. Sales
turbocharged engine makes 493 Mouton to her Group 4 rally Quattro were made; enough to of ex-works Sport Quattro
hp and puts it to the ground via championship in 1982, and to achieve homologation and have examples are vanishingly rare,
all-wheel drive. Runs from 0-60 her victory at the 1985 Pike’s a few left over for competition so this sale has set the bar in the
mph in just three seconds. Peak International Hill Climb. use. This particular car was modern era.

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARTCURIAL

1985 MG Metro 6R4

French Rally applied a multiplier for turbos
Champion or superchargers.

Lot 10, #3 Condition The MG Metro 6R4 was
S/N: SAXXRWNP7A0570016 a latecomer to Group B,
arriving just at the end of the
Sold price: $293,134 1985 season, but finishing a
respectable third at the British
photo by PETER SINGHOF RAC rally behind two Lancia
Deltas. The MG team didn’t
THE BASICS: engine makes 400 hp, which is gutted and stuffed with a V6 have as much success in 1986,
As-raced example that channeled through an all- engine mounted amidships but did perform well in several
wheel-drive system. and driving all four wheels. national-level rallies.
carried Didier Auriol to The engine choice, rallying
the 1986 French Rally ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: purpose, and 4-wheel driveline The car came to the museum
Championship. Built as a Group B rallying was so are represented in the name: in 1989, and has been left in
right-hand drive model and 6R4. The naturally aspirated original condition as raced.
later converted to left-hand popular, even the staid MG V6 could be larger than the The sale price failed to meet
drive — but with the exception Car Company got into it. forced-induction engines of the the $335k pre-auction lower
of a tachometer, the dashboard Like so many others, the MG competition because the FIA estimate, but it still raised the
gauges are all still on the right. Metro 6R4 was based on an bar substantially over previous
Mid-mount 3.0-L DOHC V6 economical hatchback, but 6R4 sales.

1985 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo

THE BASICS: Rear-wheel
Claimed to be the ultimate Fury

R5 Turbo and the most Lot 11, #3+ Condition
powerful 2WD Group B car. S/N: PT 8220E 00001
Preserved in as-raced state.
Ex-Carlos Sainz. Sold price: $800,757

ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: photo by PETER SINGHOF
This Renault was unusual
10 of them to supply spare the 1986 Spanish national rally with two-time WRC champion
in Group B because it lacked parts to the other 10. Renault championship. Sainz helps, too. This car not only
all-wheel drive, but Renault’s is said to still hold four beat its pre-auction estimates,
rally program simply didn’t examples, which makes this With no Group B victories for it set a new standard for Maxi
have the budget for that. Still, car all the more rare. This car this chassis, the price might be Turbo values and dramatically
Renault pulled 345 horsepower was delivered to rally driver expected to be modest, but the exceeded all previous prices for a
out of the turbocharged 1,527-cc Carlos Sainz, who used it for Renault 5 Turbo has a devoted Group B Renault.
“Maxi” engine. The Renault 5 following, and the association
Maxi Turbo scored one Group
B win in 1985 at the Tour de
Corse, and another at the 1986
Rallye de Portugal Vinho do
Porto.

The factory produced 20 of
these cars for competition, but
then immediately disassembled

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AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARTCURIAL

1985 Lancia 037

THE BASICS: Image Over
Repainted long ago in History

Martini colors at Italian shop Lot 12, #3+ Condition
Volta. 1,995-cc supercharged S/N: ZLA51AR0*00000412
4-cylinder engine makes
upwards of 325 hp. Evo 2 Sold price: $657,765
specifications. The car carries
the later fuel-injected induction photo by PETER SINGHOF
system paired with an Abarth
supercharger. Complete history transverse behind the cabin. Group B era. The car remained brought a sale price toward the
unknown, as the original Walter Röhrl drove one to three reasonably competitive, earning low end of the $600k to $960k
chassis number stamping in the several podium finishes in 1985 estimate range — but this was
bulkhead shows evidence of victories in 1983, and Markku and 1986. still the second-highest price
being cut and rewelded. Alén won two more to deliver the ever paid for an 037. The top
1983 Group B manufacturer’s The car in question is not money — $871,717 — went to
ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: title to Lancia — the last time a known to have any notable an ultra-low-miles Stradale
Before the Lancia Delta S4, rear-wheel-drive car won a WRC rally history, but was acquired homologation car at RM
title. Alén claimed another win in for the Manoir de l’Automobile Sotheby’s Essen sale in 2019.
the Rally 037 was Lancia’s 1984 — the last for an 037. What museum collection in 1990 Still, this factory Group B car far
premier rallying car. The Rally is most unusual is that Lancia and is maintained in Group B outpaced the market history for
037 (as it was formally called) kept on rallying the 037 alongside configuration. this model.
was specifically developed the Delta through the end of the
for Group B. Lancia designed At the auction, this car
the 037 as a mid-engine,
rear-wheel-drive car loosely
based on the Lancia Scorpion,
but with the engine oriented
longitudinally, rather than

1984 Peugeot 205 Turbo 16

Sign of the Times This car sold at another
Artcurial auction in 2017, where
Lot 15, #3+ Condition it was bought by the original
S/N: VF3741R76E5100012 owner’s son for about $183,000.
Sold price: $300,284 The family restored it to its
1985 Tour de Corse livery and
THE BASICS: ZURSCHMEIDE SAYS: entered in the 1985 Tour de enjoyed it for a few years, and
Dark gray with gray and red With the dramatic sales of Corse. It didn’t finish the rally, they have now moved it onward
but it did compete. for a tidy profit.
cloth interior. The 12th of 200 the Group B collection put to
road-going examples built bed, it’s useful to compare those While fundamentally the The car’s $300k sale price
for Group B homologation. stratospheric values against same thing as the racers that not only beat the pre-auction
1,775-cc turbocharged engine other vehicles with less dramatic ran in Group B, this car was estimate, it far outstrips
detuned to 200 hp for longevity, but equally respectable tuned down for the public — other road-going Turbo 16
fitted with all-wheel drive just motorsports history. As a case- but it is still turbocharged, homologation models. This sale
like its Group B counterparts. in-point, we have this Peugeot all-wheel drive and features the would have moved the market
Generally clean but not 205 Turbo 16. clamshell rear bodywork that value of these cars closer to their
unused, with some driver’s seat lifts up to reveal the engine and Group B-prepared siblings,
bolster wear. After purchase, this car was drivetrain. except that the Group B Peugeot
outfitted with a roll cage and in this same auction raised that
bar well out of reach. Still, a
sign of the times.

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