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102 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARIZONA 2024 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing Exquisite Restoration Leads to Record Price Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Lot 1406, #1+ condition S/N: 1980406500225 Sold price: $3,410,000 THE BASICS: Freshly restored Gullwing with work completed by Coachwerks of Victoria, British Columbia. 3.0-L fuel-injected inline-six engine has been verified as matching-numbers by the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center of Long Beach, CA, as has the car’s body, transmission, rear axle, front spindle and steering box. Refinished in DB 180 Silver as it was from new, though it now features a natural leather interior with green cloth inserts rather than the original blue. Rudge wheels have been mounted and fitted luggage is included, as are a spare set of full leather seats. The car is documented with over 3,000 restoration photos and all invoices. TAYLOR SAYS: At just over $3.4m, the stunning 300SL Gullwing landed as Barrett-Jackson’s top sale in Scottsdale. And while the presentation was near perfection and it was certified as numbers matching, the silver Mercedes did have one fault in the form of a mostly unknown history. The description lists the original order number as 823298, with it leaving the factory on October 30, 1956. A European car, it was delivered via distributor Mario Morescalchi of Rome, Italy. Other than the original colors and options, no other history was mentioned until 1993, when it resurfaced in Pennsylvania. By 1995, it was owned by Roger S. Gallet and remained with him until purchased from his estate in 2020 by the consignor. It was then sent to Coachwerks for the comprehensive restoration. It often takes provenance and a recorded history — in addition to outstanding condition — for high-end cars such as the 300SL to bring top money. However, the sale at WestWorld shows that is not always true, as the $3.4m paid set a new record for any nonalloy 300SL. In fact, no Gullwing sale in the past two years has even come close. The next highest sale was at Mecum’s 2022 Kissimmee auction — but at $2,640,000, that was still a hefty sum less. Two more examples squeaked past the $2m mark that same year, while none hit that threshold in 2023. The only other non-alloy car to break $3m was a ’63 Roadster sold at the 2021 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach auction for $3,085,000. Despite the fanfare caused by the new record, I’m inclined to say the seller came out on top at Barrett-Jackson. The Gullwing’s biggest selling point was its exceptional condition, and regardless of how carefully it is maintained, the car will degrade. Without a notable history to fall back on, the likelihood of the car selling near the record price again seems unlikely. 1984 Audi Sport Quattro The King of Quattros RM Sotheby’s Arizona Lot 175, #2 condition S/N: WAUZZZ85ZEA905147 Sold price: $665,000 THE BASICS: Well preserved, with 8,806 km on the odometer. 2.1-L turbocharged inline 5-cylinder engine, 5-speed manual transmission. One of 214 Sport Quattros produced, this one was delivered new to Japan. Under the current ownership for the past decade, the catalog says the consignor is a former North American Rally Championship driver. Carefully stored and run regularly, it has been well maintained by both Kris Clewell ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
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104 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARIZONA 2024 Audi of St. Paul and Anderson Motorsport of Chanhassen, MN. The Sport Quattro is accompanied by a set of tools, owner’s and service manual, import documents, previous bills of sale and service invoices. TAYLOR SAYS: Put an Audi Sport Quattro in front of most people and it’s likely that many wouldn’t believe that the brutish little hatchback is the true ruler of the Quattro throne. To those in-theknow however, standing in front of one of the 214 real-deal Sport Quattros is a special moment. They will also recognize it as a very valuable collector’s item. Carefully maintained and stored, the example sold by RM Sotheby’s was well preserved, which is exactly what buyers are looking for. Other than some of the usual aging we see in any engine compartment — especially newer cars with plastic components — and wear to the large seat bolsters, the car appeared to come straight out of 1984. As if the outstanding condition wasn’t enough, the consignor’s status as a former rally champ was without a doubt the cherry on top here. Though the auction catalog did not name names, it seems reasonable that admission in itself was plus for bidders. Perhaps that accounts for some of the premium RM Sotheby’s white example realized. The last Quattro sold at auction went for a healthy $434k — $231k behind the Scottsdale Audi — but that was back in 2019 at Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction. As expected for such a rare car, sales are few and far between, making it near impossible to compile a helpful list of comps. But as a fully acknowledged collector car and aided by the current strength of the market, $665k is a fair price for the king of Quattros. 2004 Lamborghini Murciélago coupe Next-Gen Analog Italian Worldwide Auctioneers Scottsdale Lot 56, #2- condition S/N: ZHWBU16M34LA01266 Sold price: $250,000 THE BASICS: 6.2-L V12 mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with gated shifter — one of 31 manual cars shipped to the U.S. in 2004. Appropriate for a Lambo, the exterior is finished in Giallo Evros over a black and yellow interior. Catalog states in 2008 — with 1,500 miles on the odometer — the passenger door was damaged and replaced. Clean, non-branded North Carolina title was issued in 2015. A full powertrain service was recently performed costing $4,800. In addition, new Pirelli tires have been fitted and the undercarriage, engine bay and wheel wells were given a dry ice detailing. The interior was also detailed. Odometer reads 21,613 miles at time of cataloging. TAYLOR SAYS: A bit more backstory on the minor fender bender in 2008 is needed to fully paint the picture of the yellow Mercy. The Worldwide catalog says that the Texas-based insurance company decided it was more cost effective to rule the Lambo a total loss and pay out a full claim to the owner. Said owner was insistent on the car being air-freighted back to the Lamborghini factory for the necessary repairs. To help reassure bidders they were looking at a solid car, Worldwide did an excellent job in presenting the Lamborghini. It provided a massive catalog of detailed auction photos that included full undercarriage shots, wheelwell photos and snaps of both the inside and outside of all four wheels, amongst numerous others. Seeing “complete loss” listed in an auction catalog is usually an instant red flag. But if you can feel confident that the original damage was indeed minor and you are buying a solid car, it is worth considering. It’s also worth noting that the yellow Murciélago has now hit the 20-year-old mark, helping drive home the fact that it is less an old, used supercar and more in solid collector car territory. When viewing it as such, the title history — and even the high mileage compared to other examples — seem less of a factor. Both facts, however, do seem to have played at least a small role here. The $250k selling price was a tad shy of the current average. Several other 6-speed cars similar to the yellow example have sold within the past year, two of which sold at European auctions for $286k and $343k. Even more expensive was a Grigio Antares coupe that sold on Bring a Trailer in August 2023 for $471,500 all-in. Its mileage was not insignificant either at 14,000. Considering the Worldwide car’s title drama and mileage, a quarter-million dollars might seem high, but given its nice condition and 6-speed transmission, I’d call it a slight deal for the buyer. If it doesn’t seem that way now, it will in the long run.
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106 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARIZONA 2024 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster Restored v. Replaced Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Lot 137.1, #1- condition S/N: 154080 Sold price: $2,420,000 THE BASICS: 4.4-L supercharged V8 with a 4-speed manual transmission. Body was built by British coachmaker Mayfair. Specified from the factory to feature a set-back motor. Destined for Paris, the history of the car’s delivery is cloudy. It is known to have remained in the UK until the mid-1950s before being shipped to Canada and eventually the U.S. The car was restored by Richard and Stephen Mertz over many years, then purchased by collector Ralph Engelstad in 1995 — who re-restored it and changed the color to red. It was then bought by General William Lyon in 2002. It is said to have sold in 2007 to what appears to be the Blackhawk Collection. Shown at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance as part of 125 years of Mercedes and Benz. Offered by Barrett-Jackson as part of the Don Williams Collection. TAYLOR SAYS: There has been a lot written about this car in regards to certain aspects of its history. Specifically, a fire in the 1960s and the extent of the damage suffered. The exact details have been playing out all while the car has been up for sale over the last six years. The BarrettJackson appearance was the car’s third at auction since 2018. First it was offered at the Bonhams 2018 Quail Lodge Auction and then at Mecum’s 2023 Monterey Auction — also as part of the Don Williams Estate Collection. The Bonhams auction catalog from back in 2018 said the fire damage to the Mercedes was substantial, necessitating not only a new wood frame but also the replacement of body panels. Before being offered at Mecum last year, the car’s history had been updated with new information. Through contacting members of the family who had owned the car at the time of the fire — together with photographs — it was stated that the car’s wood frame needed rebuilding, but none of the bodywork did. That was because it had been stripped off by the fire crew to help them extinguish the flames. It was removed but not lost, meaning all of 154080’s bodywork remains original. Despite this, the car was a no-sale at Mecum with a high bid of $2.6m. An original restored car versus one that needed to be rebuilt with different components are viewed very differently in the market. The rebuilt example is often seen as a lower-tier car and not truly original. In the case of the Mercedes, the early information provided set the tone of any possible sale. It cast doubt about the car’s originality and that was sure to follow it regardless of where it turned up for sale, keeping a lid on the price. The new owner might be able to do better down the road, but it’s best to let the dust settle for now and just enjoy the car. 1973 Ferrari Dino 246 GTS Middling Price for a Middling Spyder Bonhams|Cars Scottsdale Lot 44, #3+ condition S/N: 05710 Sold price: $431,250 THE BASICS: Targa-topped version of the Dino 246 with a 2.4-L V6 and a 5-speed manual transaxle. Nero over tan from new, with repaint completed in 2015. Interior is original to the car. Delivered to and sold new by Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo of Portland, OR. Remained in California for much of its early years. In November 1998, HarleyDavidson racer and would be Ferrari Challenge driver Buddy Stubbs purchased the GTS, using it as both a commuter car and entrant for the Copperstate 1000. The engine was overhauled at the time of the 2015 repaint, costing some $32k. 66,657 miles are listed on the odometer. Factory tool roll, jack and owner’s manual accompany the car, as well as service and ownership records. TAYLOR SAYS: Having worked at Ron Tonkin Gran Turismo, as well as living in Oregon — where each issue of Linkage is created — I enjoy seeing once-local cars appear at auction. Especially ones that have been enjoyed as much as this black Dino. While far from Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson Courtesy of Bonhams Cars
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108 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARIZONA 2024 used-up, the car did show wear, mostly to its unrestored interior. The catalog calls it “beautifully broken-in like a favorite pair of boots,” which seems fair — other than some damage on the passenger door panel. The thing is, the car was neither preserved nor fully restored. It seemed more of a driver-level Dino to be enjoyed. That feeling is further emphasized by some very out-of-character dark window tint, including a matching piece across the top of the windshield that stretches almost halfway down to the dash. Should the owner want to show the car at any prestigious event, a full restoration would be necessary. The good news for both the buyer and seller of the middleof-the-pack Dino is the market has remained strong. The Spyder variants have even experienced some slight appreciation since the lows of 2020. Prices for the open-top Dinos average $500k to $510k, with other nicer non- “chairs and flares” examples reaching closer to $600k. That leaves the Bonhams buyer some extra room to make some improvements — and at least get rid of that gaudy tint. 1957 Porsche 356A Outlaw by Emory Waiting List Be Damned RM Sotheby’s Phoenix Lot 156, #2 condition S/N: 101416 Sold price: $747,500 THE BASICS: Engine is now a 2.6-L Emory-Rothsport “Outlaw-4” with electronic fuel injection, twin-plug ignition, custom stainless headers and custom four-into-one exhaust. The flat-four is said to produce 260 hp. Other mechanical features include four-wheel disc brakes, 901-style independent rear suspension, Koni adjustable shocks and sway bars both front and rear. The clean Light Ivory exterior with black powder-coated 16-inch billet alloy wheels is contrasted by an interior with Speedster-style seats wrapped in Green Vine leather and a Moto Lita wood steering wheel. Other comfort features include electric air conditioning and a Stealth Bluetooth module. TAYLOR SAYS: In the world of modified 356s, it is hard to argue that anyone does it better than Emory Motorsports. A couple years back, I interviewed Rod Emory for Linkage #006. His passion for the 356 and the work he and his team undertake was clear. The custom car sold by RM Sotheby’s was one of the company’s subtler builds — from an appearance standpoint at least. Other than its deleted bumpers and front hood handle, nothing about the exterior stands out as over-thetop. The cabin transformation is even more subtle, giving off an heir of sporty elegance, and nothing of a basic, strippeddown hot rod. The balance of traditional 356 and modified custom on this Ivory White 356 had greater appeal to a wide audience than a more outlandish build might, and that fact certainly had something to do with the huge $750k paid for the car at RM Sotheby’s in Phoenix. Only the most desirable stock 356s come close to that sum — we’re talking Carrera 2, GS or possibly a pristine Speedster. Comparing a custom like our subject to other examples is a tough task. The closest I found was another Emory car that was bid just shy of $700k on Bring a Trailer in June of 2023. That black 1958 Porsche 356A Emory Special Sunroof coupe did have a similar appearance, though it had bumpers and custom louvered panels behind the doors. The interior also showed a bit more use. That said, a custom is really only worth what someone is willing to pay. With a growing group of fans and a years-long waiting list, it seems the buyer at RM Sotheby’s was okay paying over a half-million to skip the line. It’s clear they’re not the only ones willing to do so. 1960 Edsel Ranger convertible Restored Ranger Reigns Supreme Worldwide Auctioneers Scottsdale Lot 93, #2 condition S/N: 0U15Y701938 Sold price: $86,240 THE BASICS: Three-owner car from new with largest factory engine option under the hood — the Super Express 352-ci V8 producing 300 hp. The Edsel Registry lists the car as having the top-of-the-line Dual-Power Drive 3-speed automatic transmission. Current owner purchased the car in 1989 and overhauled the mechanicals, including engine, brakes and suspension. Circa 2019, the car was given a cosmetic restoration with a bare metal repaint in its original Polar White — with an extra bit of gold flake for additional sparkle. Interior has correct Moroccan grain turquoise vinyl with simulated stitching. Sale includes original build sheet, factory paint inspection Nathan Leach-Proffer ©2023 Courtesy of RM Sotheby’s
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110 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARIZONA 2024 form, restoration photos and a new replacement padded dashboard cover. TAYLOR SAYS: Edsel Ranger convertibles — particularly 1960 models — aren’t common. Only 76 were built before Ford threw in the towel on the short-lived Edsel brand. That said, no Edsel sold at auction in the past five years has come close to the value this one achieved at Worldwide. The two highest priced Edsels to sell since 2019 both went for $44k. The first was a red 1960 Ranger convertible from the Dave Leimbach Collection at RM Sotheby’s 2020 Auburn Fall auction. The second — a red Ranger 2-dr hardtop — sold at Mecum Harrisburg in 2022. One other 1960 Ranger convertible came close to the subject car back in 2019 at Mecum Indy with a high bid of $82k, but it hammered as a no-sale. Like the Worldwide car, Mecum’s red convertible was a three-owner example that had been fully restored. It too also had the factory Continental kit with covered spare tire — although that car had the smaller 292-ci V8 and the lesser 2-speed automatic transmission. The reasoning behind the extra cash paid in Arizona isn’t immediately clear, except for the rarity of the chance. If this car was on your must-have list, it’ll be hard to find a better example for sale, and that was obviously clear to the high bidder in the room. The new owner here also got a car with the biggest engine and the top-spec transmission. 1967 Chevrolet C10 custom pickup A Mind-Blowing Market Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Lot 1067, #1- condition S/N: CS147T127944 Sold price: $330,000 THE BASICS: Full custom powered by an LS3 V8 with a Magnuson 2300 supercharger on top and a 4-speed auto bolted behind. Engine features a Holley EFI Dominator ECU, a custom intake, stainless long-tube headers and a dual stainless exhaust system with cutouts. Other additions include a RideTech coil-over suspension, Moser rear end and Baer brakes shrouded by 20-inch custom Schott wheels. The exterior was painted by Lucky Luciano before receiving ceramic paint protection treatment. Armando’s Custom Upholstery refinished the interior. Awarded the Scottsdale Goodguys Top 10 Builders Choice Award and was a Del Mar Goodguys Truck of the Year Late Finalist. TAYLOR SAYS: Writing this was less about the specific truck — though the work done on the blue ’67 C10 was expertly done — and more about the overall strength of the custom pickup and SUV segment. Scrolling through pickup-only results from Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, the sheer number of trucks that sold at huge prices was astonishing. The year range of the big-dollar sales was quite broad — 1950s through the 1970s — and the trucks were mostly comprised of GM and Chevy pickups with some Fords in the mix. There were many $100k-plus transactions. It was much the same story for K5 Blazers, Broncos and the like. The same $330k paid for the subject ’67 C10 at BarrettJackson could have also bought a SEMA award-winning 1956 Chevrolet 3100 custom pickup known as “Sinister 56,” a 1950 Chevy 3100 custom from the MS Classic Cars Collection or a ’72 Chevy K20 Cheyenne Super custom. If someone wanted to empty their wallet further, there was a 1956 Ford F-600 custom quad-cab pickup for $550k. Not including any SUV sales — I counted over 60 trucks trading hands for more than $100k each. Of those, 39 sold for over $150,000 each, with 13 exceeding $200k. You can’t argue with results like that. It is obvious that pickups — and vintage SUVs — remain a scorching hot proposition in 2024. However, I’m still not ready to consider sales like the subject blue ’67 C10 a good buy. In the long run it seems likely the seller will come out ahead. 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray L89 convertible Starting the New Year Strong RM Sotheby’s Phoenix Lot 116, #1- condition S/N: 194679S710749 Sold price: $313,000 THE BASICS: Retains its matchingnumbers 427-ci L89 V8 engine and M21 4-speed transmission. Other options from new include power brakes, power steering, 3.55 Posi-Traction rear end, AM/ RM Sotheby’s Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
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112 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT ARIZONA 2024 FM radio, headrests and auxiliary hardtop. Delivered by Hood Motor Company of Fort Walton, FL, its first owner was drag racer Steve Honnell. Not long after taking delivery, he removed the original engine and stashed it away. Sold to Danny and Kenneth Watkins circa 2005, the duo restored the car back to its original Daytona Yellow over black color scheme and re-installed the original L89. Received an NCRS Top Flight Award in 2014 and is sold with a trove of original documentation, NCRS judging record and a Shipping Data Report. TAYLOR SAYS: Steve Honnell purchased his L89 with the intent to drag race it. As such, he never titled or registered it and just 361 miles were noted on the odometer when RM Sotheby’s cataloged the car for its sale. In fact, the car description lists one of the accompanying documents to be a 1974 Sheriff’s inquiry into the car’s registration and titling history. Though the highest-selling Corvette in Arizona this year was a $1.1m 1967 C2 convertible built by Jeff Hayes Customs at Barrett-Jackson, there were several restored, stock ‘Vettes sold for good money. Though the majority of those were of the C2 generation, the other bright spot was the C3 L89. Not only did RM Sotheby’s sell the Daytona Yellow car for an above-market $313k, Barrett-Jackson sold a black example for a few thousand more at $319k. Both prices are almost three times higher than the $115k average selling price of C3 L89s in 2023. Though not as high as the cars sold in Arizona (but still well above average), Mecum sold a black ’68 L89 in Kissimmee this year for $209k. That amount is equal to the highest selling L89 to sell at auction over the past three years. Whether these sales represent a flash in the pan or true, lasting appreciation has yet to be seen. After all, it takes more than two or three sales to make a market. But it is clear 2024 has started strong for the beastly L89. The next several months and sales will be telling, but for the moment, it seems fair to call both the RM Sotheby’s and Barrett-Jackson L89 sales wins for their sellers. 2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series Next-Gen on the Rise? Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Lot 1111.1, #1 condition S/N: WDBTJ77H58F243129 Sold price: $247,500 THE BASICS: Limited edition Black Series with a naturally-aspirated 500-hp 6.3-L V8 and 7-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission. One of 500 examples produced. Shows just 454 miles on the clock. Changes from the softer non-Black Series CLK include adjustable shocks and front-axle camber, as well as extensive structure bracing front and rear. The car’s track is three inches wider at both ends, hence the bulging fender flares. The carbon fiber rear diffuser and ducts in the front fascia are also noticeable additions. Inside the leather-wrapped driver and passenger seats have deep, supportive bolsters, while the rear seats have been eliminated altogether. TAYLOR SAYS: I have lusted after the Mercedes CLK63 AMG Black Series for years. It stems from a Pro-Drive instructor at our local raceway who tuned his CLK to the point that one of the rear tires would lift off the ground when exiting the dealership I worked at in my younger days. In that moment, I knew I needed one. Values fell well under the original MSRP of $138k in the 2010s, hovering somewhere between $60k and $80k. In 2020, prices increased, with the top sales landing around $100k. Twelve months later and the cheapest cars were not far behind that previous high-water mark at $85k to $95k. The previous record paid for a CLK Black Series at auction was $212k at Bonhams’ 2021 Bonmont sale in Switzerland. That sale also coincided with an increased average selling price near $115k that has held steady since. The market is now showing signs of possible appreciation again, with two examples selling late last year at above market prices. The cheapest was a European example sold by Collecting Cars Auctions for $155k. A few weeks prior, Bring a Trailer sold one for $206,000 all-in, just behind the 2021 record — a record that would be broken not long after by this car at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale. The premium paid in Arizona seems fair considering the car’s near-new condition and miniscule mileage. But if no appreciation does come to fruition, the price paid could seem inflated in hindsight. Given that uncertainty, I’d still say this was a slight deal for the seller. Courtesy of Barrett-Jackson
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114 Linkage 017 MARKET MOVER 1960 FERRARI 250 GT SWB BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE BY SCAGLIETTI A NART Hot Rod Races to Big Money Ferrari prices have softened recently, but this car is in the top tier for racers and collectors by STEVE AHLGRIM ANY STORY THAT begins with Luigi Chinetti, George Arents, and Bill Kimberly is bound to be a captivating tale. If the name Jan de Vroom is added to the mix, you have the ingredients for an evening of entertainment. The subject will be Ferrari, and in particular, NART — the North American Racing Team. These guys were the founders and patrons that put the team on the map. Luigi Chinetti was Enzo Ferrari’s U.S. distributor, and, by default, his U.S. racing arm. Chinetti needed no encouragement to promote the brand through racing, as he had a successful career as a racer in Europe before moving to the U.S. 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti S/N: 1773 GT $11,008,360 (€10,158,125) Lot 161, RM Sotheby’s Paris January 31, 2024
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116 Linkage 017 MARKET MOVER 1960 FERRARI 250 GT SWB BERLINETTA COMPETIZIONE BY SCAGLIETTI Unfortunately, seed money for a team was a problem. Enter George Arents. Arents was an heir to an American tobacco fortune and a gentleman racer. He had more than enough money to pursue his passion, which included racing and helping fund Chinetti’s fledging North American Racing Team. Jan de Vroom’s source of money was a little more complicated, but like Arents, there was enough cash to put him in Ferrari race cars and help found NART, as Chinetti’s legendary team would be known. Big money, fast cars, eager drivers Chinetti’s connections with Ferrari allowed him to get the best cars and participate in the top races. That happy combination attracted more wealthy patrons that were willing to pay for the opportunity to drive a Ferrari in a big race. One of those patrons was Gentleman Jim Kimberly, as he was known. Kimberly was an heir to the Kimberly Clark paper products fortune, and it was with those funds that he bought a seat in the NART Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione #1773 GT for the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring. His copilot was George Arents, and together they would finish 7th overall and 5th in the GT class. The GT classes allowed gentleman racers to compete against each other in nearly off-theshowroom-floor sports cars. Ferrari recognized the need for this type of car and offered a line of dual-purpose models that could be driven to an event, raced for the weekend and driven home. The most popular and successful was a line of 250 GTs that included the 250 Europa GT Berlinetta, the 250 GT Long Wheelbase, aka the Tour de France, the 250 GT Short Wheelbase, the 250 Interim Berlinetta, the 250 GT LWB and SWB Californias — and the 250 GTOs. The models were often offered in steel and alloy bodies, with the alloy version intended as the ultimate competitor. The 250 GT Short Wheelbase was built with both steel and aluminum bodies. They came in road trim, full competition trim, and anything in between — depending on the client specifications. The later cars have comfort features — such as glove boxes, cooling vents, a recess in the trunk for a license plate and rain gutters — that early cars do not have. The factory also made about 20 examples known as SEFAC hot rods that were Ferrari’s weapons-grade SWBs. Sebring appears to be the only time #1773 was campaigned by NART, but it would go on to have an active sports car career and some vintage racing history. It has no recorded accidents — and a
Linkage 017 117 well-documented provenance, including Ferrari Classiche Red Book Certification. The ultimate car show Rétromobile is a multi-day celebration of classic vehicles. Held in a sprawling exhibition center in Paris, the show features vendors of classic vehicles with two, three, four and more wheels. Additionally, there are vendors of every type of business that support the classic vehicle hobby. This includes parts, service, restoration, insurance, financing, automobilia and more. Artcurial Auctions partners with the Rétromobile show, while Bonhams and RM Sotheby’s host off-site auctions at great Paris venues. World-class car, world-class spending Ferrari 250 GT 1773 GT is a factory-built alloy competition version. It featured a factory roll hoop — but none of the extra vents, rain gutters, indented license plate area or other updates later cars got. It did however have a 168B engine that was hotter than most SWBs — but shy of the output of the ultimate Testa Rossa head 168B/61 250 SWB engine. Like a boat or an airplane, the purchase price of a classic Ferrari is often just the start of the cost. Taxes, registration, insurance, and maintenance are not incidental. If you want to attend events, entry fees, transportation, and support will also get your attention. Restoration, even on a sound car, can be daunting. Despite this car never being wrecked or run down, RM Sotheby’s reported over $1 million was spent on #1773 GT’s restoration. Classic Ferraris have been a bit soft lately, but Chassis 1773 sold well. RM Sotheby’s had estimated the car at roughly $9,700,000 to $11,800,000. It sold for a reasonable $11,008,360, including premium, but only after an excruciating long session ending with two bidders very slowly flogging each other with €25,000 lashes. The sale was the top auction sale of Rétromobile week. The number was well above the $1,011,000 it brought at a 1999 Brooks auction — but well short of the reported $13,250,000 no-sale bid the car drew at RM’s 2015 Monterey sale. The new owner spent well. This Ferrari is a wonderful car in excellent condition with a great story to share. This car will be welcome everywhere, and, hopefully, the new owner will take advantage of the invitations.
118 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS MECUM AUCTIONS Mecum Auctions Kissimmee 2024 January 2-14, 2024 Total: 3,070/4,213 cars sold / $238,289,890 A New Record Mecum’s Kissimmee event enters uncharted territory for any collector car auction by CHAD TYSON MECUM’S HEADLINE ANNOUNCEMENT at the end of its January 2024 Kissimmee sale was simple: “The Most Ever.” With all lots combined, the total crested to $275m in sales. As the company hit over $200 million for three years running at their Kissimmee sale, one marque lead the way: Ferrari. The top-end additions to the run order resulted in a lineup that parallels or outright beats all of Monterey Car Week’s offerings in a given year. Ferrari’s final 250 GT SWB California Spyder topped the sales list this year at $17,875,000, over 2.5 times the amount spent on the second highest seller, a Ford GT40 Mk I road car at $6,930,000. Both would have fallen two spots if bids for a 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB/LM Competizione Speciale ($23m) and a 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder ($23.5m) hadn’t fallen short. While the following selection is mostly from the top end of the sales list, and the final numbers are again record setting, my calculations show the median price for a car at the sale was an even $37k. Over 83% of the sold lots went for under $100k. No other sale can so easily claim to have something for everyone. The only way we’ve seen to hit $200m is volume — unless you can double up on $100m cars — and Mecum’s crew moved a staggeringly impressive 4,213 automotive lots across the block over a 13- day run, January 2–14. Photos courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc.
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120 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS 1966 Ford GT40 Mk I 1974 De Tomaso Pantera Straddling a Divide Lot F144, #2+ condition S/N: THPNNK06396 Sold price: $148,500 THE BASICS: Code 4 Red over black leather. 351-ci 330-hp Cleveland V8 with ZF 5-sp manual. Odometer shows 19,052 miles in catalog photos. XM radio tuner clutters the console where the ashtray originally sat, but cigarette lighter is still present. Interior as presentable as the exterior. Seatlbelts look to be the oldest/ hardest wearing part inside. Comes with a Marti report. Fuel delivery upgraded to injection. Part of The Apex Collection. TYSON SAYS: I’ve had a few spirited discussions with gentlemen about whether Panteras were American cars with Italian bodies or Italian cars with American hearts. Of course, it ultimately doesn’t matter if this is neither fish nor fowl. The Pantera is fast, fun and service parts can still be bought at any local NAPA store. To some, it’s the best of both worlds. Ford stopped importing the Pantera to the U.S. in 1975, which effectively divides the car into two generations. And then there are the emissions components fitted to later models, which choke some of the Ford V8’s power delivery. The price paid here was on the lower end for an early Pantera in such remarkable condition, but it still pegs this car at midmarket for the overall Pantera game. Call it a good deal at a crazy sale. Too Good To Use? Lot F155, #1 condition S/N: P/1052 Sold price: $6,930,000 THE BASICS: Metallic dark blue over black leather. 289-ci V8 and ZF 5-sp manual. Coming to sale after nearly 30 years. Docs include history dossier by Ronnie Spain. Odometer reads 13,442 miles at time of cataloging. Catalog highlights that it was never in an accident or damaged. Certainly appears that way, as it’s in remarkable condition. RUF still restored the car, with photo documentation. One famous previous owner was Porsche and Ferrari Works driver Umberto Maglioli, a winner of 12 Hours of Sebring and three-time champ at Targa Florio. One of 30 GT40 road cars. Part of the Apex Collection. TYSON SAYS: Another argument: which country retains bragging rights over the GT40? America or England? Whereas the Pantera seems to have settled in most people’s minds as an Italian car, the British contributions to the GT40 (let alone the fact that they built them) haven’t done enough to make this anything other than an American car in most U.S.-based car enthusiast’s minds. No matter where you fall on country of origin, as this is a road car, it won’t command as much as a winning racer. That didn’t stop the sale price here from being enough to qualify as the top lot in 98% of collector auctions held over the last year. It would have been the top seller here, too, if not for the spirited bidding on Saturday night with the 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder, Lot S195.3. Someone added a top-tier collectible to their garage. The price paid is the price paid for something at this level. Fair deal for a work of art.
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122 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 Competition 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible Add Another Zero Lot F200, #1- condition S/N: BS27R0B305097 Sold price: $2,145,000 THE BASICS: Lemon Twist over tan vinyl. 426-ci, 425-hp V8 with 3-sp automatic. Odometer shows 26,324 miles. Rotisserie restoration by Legendary Motorcar in Ontario, Canada, included stripping body and replacing of production markings and tags. Another top-end Mopar that ends up being one-of-one when all the equipment and options are factored. TYSON SAYS: Hemi ‘Cuda convertible means seven figures these days. Sure, options and condition can dicker around the agreed-upon value, but someone will put two commas in that wire transfer. It’s almost absurd to think Great Power Value Lot F231.1, #1- condition S/N: CSX3006 Sold price: $4,180,000 THE BASICS: Guardsman Blue over blackand-red leather. 427-ci V8 with 4-sp manual. Originally LHD. Sent to London in 1966, where Chequered Flag converted it to RHD and painted it white. Back to blue by 1992. Back to white in 2003 and documented on the Speed TV show “Dream Car Garage.” And once again that folks will pay up to 10 or 20 times what a regular Hemi ‘Cuda hard top sells for. At least this one’s market is pretty well defined. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this car show up at auction. Mecum sold it at their 2019 Indy sale for $1,980,000. It popped up at Kissimmee 2022, where it didn’t sell against a high bid of $2.1m (with 26,314 miles noted). Two years later, the consignor accepts a $1,950,000 high bid. That’s not an ideal way to deal at auction, but this time the seller cut it loose. Hopefully more than 10 miles are added to the odometer in the next two years. After all, they aren’t that pretty at a standstill. back to blue and LHD by 2022. At least the consignor states the car retains its original aluminum body, making it one of the more significant Cobras hanging around today. TYSON SAYS: A specific butt in a seat can make a big dollar difference. At least that’s what I infer from catalog listings claiming all the famous derrieres that graced this general seating position. It ain’t the original seat covering, for one, and most assuredly isn’t the same foam cushion. But Bob Bondurant and David Piper drove this car to a win at the Ilford Films 500 at Brands Hatch. This was one of the more frequent flyers at auction, with previous stops at RM’s 2009 Battersea Evolution sale in London where it went unsold. It reappeared with RM Sotheby’s in 2019 at Amelia Island, with buyers exhausting their efforts against an estimate of $3m to $4m. It presented as the Brands Hatch car then, with right-hand drive, white body and black hood. Mecum tried to sell it at its 2022 Monterey sale (as LHD and blue), where it didn’t change hands for a $4.8m high bid. I bet that stings a little now. Shelby made only 23 427 Competition Cobras, so retaining that original aluminum body after a racing career (even if brief) is a big deal. Even if the car could have sold for more a few years ago, this is a strong price for a strong presentation.
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124 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS 1988 Rolls-Royce Corniche II convertible 1967 Chevrolet Camaro RS Z28 Old School Z Lot F270, #2+ condition S/N: 124377N216227 Sold price: $302,500 THE BASICS: Marina Blue over white vinyl. 302-ci, 290-hp V8 with M21 4-sp manual. Fun parts include 12-bolt Positraction rear axle and power front disc brakes. Pretty bits include the Deluxe interior, Rally Sport package and Goodyear Redlines over Rally wheels. Number 98 in the Z28 Registry. NOS panels and parts used in restoration of unspecified date. Presents very well, if sterile. TYSON SAYS: The $400 Z28 package came with the famous 302 V8, F41 suspension and quick-ratio manual steering, among other pieces. Power front discs were a required option at near $100. Per Camaro Hi-Performance, this is the only ’67 Z finished in Marina Blue with a Deluxe White interior. Not sure that’s what got this car across the sales line, but it’s a fun anecdote and a point of differentiation for the ego minded. That’s not to say the car is totally original, as the restorers used NOS sheet metal where needed. Engine is claimed to be matching numbers. This car showed up at Mecum’s 2022 Harrisburg, PA, sale, where it sold for $214,500. The odometer showed 7,007.7 miles in that catalog. Photos showed 7,017.9 here. That’s a short drive for a high-five-figure gain. A stunning car with a surprising price to boot. Mustard Magnet Lot S29.1, #2 condition S/N: SCAZD02AXJCX23024 Sold price: $176,000 THE BASICS: White with black canvas over white leather. Black soft top and black piano wood veneer. 6.75-L fuel-injected V8 with 4-sp automatic. Jaeger odometer reads 15,075 miles. One of 1,234 Corniche II Rolls built. TYSON SAYS: This is an eye-watering price. It’s a shocking price. I needed to pull this car from the 4,200 other cars on offer here as a highlight — it’s far more surprising than any of the Ferraris featured here. As a comparison, lot S250, a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Brewster Newmarket convertible sedan, sold for $165,000. I hope the new owner is well stocked in a certain Dijon mustard and anticipates permanently adolescent adults’ antics. Maybe this is foreshadowing of where ‘80s posh luxury is headed in the marketplace. Or maybe this is a one-off, way-out-there result that won’t be repeated anytime soon. Regardless, this was very, very well sold on the day.
126 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS 2004 Ferrari Enzo 1996 Lamborghini Diablo Devil’s In The Details Lot S99, #1- condition S/N: ZA9DU07PXTLA12421 Sold price: $302,500 THE BASICS: Rosso Diablo over black leather. 5.7-L, 485-hp V12 with 5-sp manual. Odometer at 13,426 kilometers (8,342 miles) during auction preview. Fast parts listed include OZ Racing wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires and Brembo brakes to keep the fast from getting too out of hand. Some scuffing on the tires and wheels. CD player fitted in otherwise factory center stack. From The Asi and Lisa Sheikh Collection. TYSON SAYS: I remember about a decade ago, when these were just dead on arrival at auctions. The sellers wanted too much, the buyers didn’t want to pony up, and as a result, these hung around $100k. So much for the good old days. These flying checkmarks have come into their own and sell much more often now. Part of that is a seller that apparently needed to move this car along. This car was previously sold at Broad Arrow’s 2022 Monterey sale for $310,000, where it was advertised as one of 529 VTs Lamborghini made from 1993–99, with 13,410 km (8,333 miles). Interesting that there was no VT attribution in the catalog this time. This was a no-reserve offering, but the seller was likely expecting $400k–$425k, as noted by the “estimate” on the sales sheet. Interest never hit those heights, but it was the highest seller in the seven-car collection. A tremendous price paid, even if the consignor paid a little more back in Monterey 2022. Ultimate Seller Lot S131, #1 condition S/N: ZFFCZ56B000136089 Sold price: $4,510,000 THE BASICS: Grigio Titanio over black leather. 6.0-L, 651-hp V12 with 6-sp automatic. At time of cataloging, odo read 2,745 miles. All the right docs accompany: Ferrari Classiche, Massini report, factory books and tool kit. They don’t sell like the ultimate Ferrari, however, what with eight-figure bids rejected on earlier Enzo-era racers here in Kissimmee alone. But Enzos do sell — all 10 I’ve tracked at auction over the last three years have found new owners. Our highlight is another Monterey 2022 sale popping up less than a year and a half later. It previously sold at Gooding & Company’s 2022 Pebble Beach sale for $4,130,000 with 2,730 miles. Pre-market press posted on Mecum’s website pegged hopes of the seller at more than $4.7m. Bidding fervor for the car put this car near the top of the market, as the best of them pip $4m. Fair deal on one of the best available to the market. TYSON SAYS: Enzos will forever be the ultimate Ferrari to me. I blame being a teenager when they debuted in 2002 more than the car’s technical prowess (once bleeding edge, now slightly dulled) or racing achievements.
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128 Linkage 017 AUCTION SNAPSHOT MECUM AUCTIONS 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spyder 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Tour de France Alloy Berlinetta Bitsa Price Special Lot S138, #2+ condition S/N: 0899GT Sold price: $2,805,000 THE BASICS: Rosso Corsa over tan leather. 2,953-cc, 260-hp V12 with 4-sp manual. True to its TdF nickname (retroactively added after 0557GT won the event) this coupe won the 1958 Coppa Santa’Ambroeus at Monza and 1959 Castell’ Arquato Vernasca Hill Climb, among others. Claimed original parts include gearbox, chassis, front and rear suspensions, brakes, dash, fuel tank and steering box. Reassembled in 1987 in Italy with new body and a correct-type engine — 0817GT Boano — and restamped. TYSON SAYS: A car with stories, sure. The body and engine separated after a road accident in 1961. In fact, the body once joined up with a Swallow-Doretti chassis. This car has competed and has been shown since restoration in Italy in 1987. Yes, there’s some ‘splaining to do, Lucy, but enough parts and pieces were there for bidders to throw their paddles up again and again. It’s obvious why this one didn’t sell in the regular Ferrari air, but seven digits aren’t anything to scoff at in car sales. Fair deal for all things considered. This is a racewinning Ferrari after all — at least most of it is. Last is First Lot S195.3, #1 condition S/N: 4137GT Sold price: $17,875,000 THE BASICS: Rosso Cina over Pella beige leather. 2,953-cc, 276-hp V12 with 4-sp manual. The final 250 GT SWB Ferrari built, completed on February 9, 1963 according to documentation. Ferrari Classiche certified, with Marcel Massini report and known ownership since new. Original bits said to include the chassis, body, engine and gearbox. Restoration in Berkeley, CA, completed in 2001. Shown by Ferrari NA at their 60th anniversary and with the debut of the California T model in 2014. Spent time in The Rare Wheels Collection in Windermere, FL. TYSON SAYS: And here’s the auction’s top seller, by a factor of 2.5. And it’s still a good price with all the right bits. This car was part of a Ferrari collection brought to sale, but the first two, the 1967 275 GTS/4 NART Spyder and 1964 275 GTB/LM Competizione Speciale, each failed to sell at bids over $23m each on the block. The auctioneer tried coaxing a $20m bid to kick things off with this one, but reduced it to $18m, then $15m and ultimately found traction at $12m to open the bidding. The reserve fell away at $15.5m, which prompted howls from the crowd. Hammer dropped shortly thereafter at $16,250,000. Shown from coast to coast (including Casa Ferrari at Pebble in 2016 and 2017 and Amelia Island 2016) and an award winner most years from 2014–23. We’ll have to wait and see where this ticket to any concours worldwide pops up next. It’s one on a short list to get a call from Ferrari North America to celebrate Ferrari history.
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130 Linkage 017 ONLINE MADNESS Italian Flair Italian car passion can lead to some questionable decisions by NICK JAYNES LAST ISSUE, I sought out cars that sold for far too little money. This brought much more joy than shaking my fist at what seem to be unhinged auction results. “I’ll do the same for ‘Modena’ I thought. This should be fun.” So, I searched Bring a Trailer for “Italian” and sorted for “Sold” and “High Bid: Less than $25k.” The results sent my blood pressure through the roof. You’ll see why. ONLINE MADNESS #2 condition Sold price: $8,800 Bring a Trailer, 2/04/2024 S/N: N/A I am a bachelor and I own eight cars. Cars dominate my home and most of my life. Even to me, though, this is too much. One of my prize possessions, my ‘79 BMW 320i, cost less than this. And my BMW is a car that I can drive. Mostly, it’s something that lives in my garage that I like to look at. When I take it out for a spin, people think it is cute and charming. So, that’s a nice plus. This wall art is the antithesis of my Bimmer. It’s a slab of fiberglass that looks like the rear-end of a Ferrari. It doesn’t drive. It’s not part of an actual F40. And people who spy it hanging in your home — regardless of whether it resides in your “man cave” or wherever — will wonder why you have the adult version of a race car bed hanging on your wall. GOOD: I am just going to pretend this is hanging on the wall of some well-heeled eight-yearold’s room so I don’t go totally mad. BAD: This theoretical eight-yearold’s parent spent more than $8k on wall decor. FINAL THOUGHT: You’ll have to add your own vroom noises — your friends won’t help. Ferrari F40-Style Wall Art
Linkage 017 131 2005 Maserati Quattroporte #3 condition Sold price: $16,000 Bring a Trailer, 1/27/2024 S/N: ZAMCE39AX50015135 down repair solutions for whatever was wrong with the instrument cluster. The rest of the car, unsurprisingly, had a group of intermittent faults and broken bits called out in the listing. But hey, adventures are what you make of them. Right? It’s ugly on the outside, hasn’t aged well on the inside and is somewhat broken. At least it’s gray (the least interesting Italian color). GOOD: Gray hides dirt well. BAD: Expensive things will break, so don’t count on it getting dirty. FINAL THOUGHT: It will sound cooler than an Infiniti. I’ll give you that. Toys Toys Ferrari F1-Style Electric Go-Kart #3 condition Sold price: $7,150 Bring a Trailer, 10/09/2023 S/N: N/A A lot of these F1-style electric go-karts have appeared lately on BaT. This, from what I could find, was the most expensive one. No matter if it’s $2,500 or, in this case, $7,150, anything more than a few hundred bucks seems like too much for a glorified Power Wheels. Let’s say you bought this for your four-year-old child. $7,150 is too much. They don’t need a $7,150 vintage EV go-kart. Or maybe you didn’t buy it for a kid. Let’s say, instead, you bought it for yourself … an adult who can’t fit in it. Well, in that case, let me recommend the “BetterHelp” website. GOOD: Red’s a good color and parking won’t be much of a problem. Toys Toys is Italian. BAD: If the buyer isn’t single yet, he will be soon. FINAL THOUGHT: We get it. You had a bad childhood. Just talk it out, man. This Maserati looks like an Infiniti with the mumps. It’s never a good sign when the car you’re buying comes with spares. Or at least vital ones, such as the instrument cluster. My assumption is that it had been replaced in the past and that the original (broken) unit came with the car in the trunk. You know, just in case. At least the seller chased
132 Linkage 017 ONLINE MADNESS 1957 Dual-Ghia Convertible #1 condition Sold price: $385,000 Bring a Trailer, 2/05/2024 S/N: 124 Ferrari F119 V8 Engine Coffee Table #3 condition Sold price: $5,113 Bring a Trailer, 2/02/2024 S/N: N/A I think we have all, in our weaker moments, pondered owning an engine coffee table. About a decade ago, keen to see if I could make my own engine coffee table, I walked into a machine shop and asked if they had any spare engine blocks. “Ya know, like ones people never came back for.” The owner furrowed his brow and thought carefully before replying, “No one has ever not come back.” We stared at one another with quiet confusion — both equally puzzled by the whole interaction. The whole idea of a table is to have space to put things above the floor, right? This table’s intake, which protrudes from the surface, negates most of that utility. Beyond that is the fact that it’s a $5,113 coffee table. GOOD: The table is fitted with casters — it’s as if the builder knew the second act after introducing it to the living room (and a significant other) would be its removal. BAD: It’s grimy. What gives? FINAL THOUGHT: Who needs love when you have a Ferrari coffee table? GOOD: Understated in all the right ways, with plenty of subdued style. BAD: People will ask you what year your Chrysler is. FINAL THOUGHT: One of the most gorgeous cars from the 1950s. Needing a palate cleanser from the above listings, I went in search of something from Italy that’s actually cool. I found this. Forget the price. Forget the fact that it looks like an Italian copy of a ‘57 Chrysler 300C. This ‘Ghia’s squeaky-clean Hemi-filled engine bay is what caught my attention. The only Italian car I’ve ever owned I bought because I fell in love with the engine bay. It was a ‘71 Fiat 850 Spider. I couldn’t exactly point to what about this ‘Ghia’s engine bay tickles me so, but it has all my neurons firing. That’s something I really enjoy about Italian cars; even their engine bays are aesthetically pleasing.
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134 Linkage 017 YoungTiMers Henry Tucker AGE: 36 PROFESSION: Mathematics Lecturer at USC From Oddball to Alfa A range of uncommon cars led one collector to Milan’s finest by SARA RYAN REGARDLESS OF A car collector’s age or taste, car passion tends to run deep. So too does the pull of something different. Something interesting. Something not seen every day. Henry Tucker is a collector whose passion runs into every aspect of his life. Every SoCal car event is already on his calendar, and every weird European car collector seems to already be his friend. Henry bleeds odd cars from an up and coming era — and how he got here reflects both his unique tastes as well as what one young person’s path into the collector car world looked like in the mid-2010s. Henry sat down with me for this issue to talk about his collection — and in particular, his Italian cars. What was your first car? My first car was a 1989 Saab 900 Turbo convertible. I’m jealous of anyone who had the opportunity to own a Saab (especially a 900 turbo) when they were still cheap. You have a relatively large collection — what cars do you have now? Here’s my current collection in order of acquisition: ’89 Chevrolet S-10 Blazer — my grandfather bought it new, lives in SC ’88 Saab 900 Turbo convertible — 2014 ’82 Subaru Brat — 2016 ’83 Alfa Romeo Spider — 2017 ’83 Saab 900 Turbo sedan — 2019 ’89 Peugeot 405 Mi16 — 2019 ’85 Saab 900 Turbo SPG — 2021 ’86 Alfa Romeo GTV6 — 2021 ’61 Chevrolet Corvair — 2022 ’70 Renault 10 — 2023 ’80 Datsun 280ZX — 2023 ’90 Audi Coupe Quattro — 2023 ’87 Subaru RX Turbo sedan — 2023 ’87 Alfa Romeo Milano — 2023 I see a theme here. You clearly like pre ‘90s oddball cars and I love that. When did you really start building this collection? I got another red Saab convertible around 2014, a couple of years before I finished grad school at USC, for $2,000 off of Craigslist. It’s been a great vehicle. I didn’t realize how recent this collection came to be! That’s a ton of uncommon cars to acquire in only 10 years. Why did you choose the three Alfa Romeos? I had seen a lot of Alfa Spiders sitting in driveways around Berkeley when I was in college, and having an “Italian sports car” also sounded like something I’d like to try out. All my cars up to that point were decidedly not very sporty, although I’d argue that the Saab counts. I already had three cars when a nice running beater came up for cheap on Craigslist, so I figured, what’s another car? Of course I ended up loving the car and had to look for more. I’m familiar with Berkeley’s fondness of Alfas! I too saw lots of them during my time there. The “what’s another one” is certainly a slippery slope for most of us, but I’m glad it happened to you. Why did you choose to purchase the Italian cars beyond just the idea of having “an Italian sports car.” First and foremost, I just like unusual cars, especially
Linkage 017 135 from Europe. I really wanted to give an Italian car a go, and Alfa Romeo’s sporting heritage, unusual designs and sometimes radical styling was attractive to me. They are like baby Ferraris with half the horsepower and twice the personality. It also should go without saying that I definitely could not afford any of the Italian marques upmarket from Alfa Romeo, and most Fiats and Lancias in the U.S. have returned to earth.... I would still like to pick up an X1/9 or a Scorpion/Monte Carlo someday. I also like strange cars. I’ll always opt for something with character over the same old expensive sports cars. Personality is everything. What makes Italian cars different? Why do you think they’re special? It’s a cliché, but you can just see the passion that the Italians put into their designs. I think the fact that Italy is home to the most prolific independent coachbuilders, the Carrozzeria, shows how much value they put on designing a beautiful machine. Alfa Romeos have been bodied in-house as well as by Pininfarina, Zagato and Bertone. The Italians also place more value on a sporty car, even in the cheaper models. Even the most economical Fiats are willing to be whipped around narrow street corners and twisty roads. There is definitely more substance behind Italian cars. The emphasis on sport over practicality compliments Italians’ preference for glamor and aesthetics. What are the downsides of owning Italian cars, specifically the Alfas? I can really only speak to owning the older cars, and it’s honestly been without many downsides, besides the usual issues with driving a very old or dysfunctional vehicle.
136 Linkage 017 YoungTiMers I was lucky to find an excellent mechanic in Carlos Platt of San Diego, CA, which is where I lived when I bought the Spider. Carlos operated a shop called Ital Automotive in San Diego from the early 1970s on through 2010 or so, but in retirement he will still work on the cars at his house. Now that I have had Alfas for a while, I also know of a few other mechanics in Southern California, but of course there aren’t that many even here. One surprising upside is the availability of parts, which has been a breeze compared to some other makes I owned. Dishonorable mention goes to Subaru there. John at Alfa Parts Catalog out of Berkeley for new parts and Larry Sr. and Jr. at Alfa Parts Exchange, also in NorCarl, for used parts. There are also a few other very reliable sources, such as Mr. Fiat and Centerline. It’s interesting that you’ve found it easier to find parts for a relatively rare car brand over the popular Subaru. That’s encouraging to hear though. It’s always good to know who knows how to work on a car and how to get parts before you buy one. A lot of Italian makers rely heavily on racing history and brand story to set their companies apart. What does Alfa Romeo do? Of course they probably push this more than any other brand. I like that they have historically been very good, but are also consistently sort of underdogs since the company has always struggled to stay profitable. What are you most excited about in regards to owning these Alfas? Nothing else drives or looks like an Alfa Romeo! I can’t argue with that! Where and how did you find all of these Alfas? resist. It was also the fifth and final car I bought last year. The sickness is real. The no-start condition seemed to be just one of the control modules for the fuel injection, but of course after that was fixed, we discovered a whole mess of other problems. It spent almost 8 months with Carlos, but he got it done just in time for the annual Best of France & Italy car show in Van Nuys, and so I was able to exhibit all three of the Alfas (Plus the Peugeot 405 Mi16). I think it’s great that non-op doesn’t discourage you from purchasing vehicles. People often overlook great deals because the car needs work. Obviously you have a reliable mechanic on your side though so that helps the decision. Do you plan to add more Italian cars to your collection? What would they be and why? I really want a Lancia Scorpion or Fiat X1/9 at the moment. I’ve driven an X1/9, and its handling makes my Spider look like some 1970s land barge. I also really like the late 1970s Alfetta Sport Sedan as well as all the Maserati Biturbo and Fiat 850 variants. The Spider was in Encinitas. My first “real” sports car, with rear wheel drive, 5-speed, etc. I bought it with a close friend from SC who was in town visiting at the time. The GTV6 was in Temecula. It was a mess, not running and partially gutted to be a race car. The Craigslist ad was posted in a Facebook group where I even commented on how hideous it was. However, a cheap GTV6 so close to me was hard to resist, so I went to see it, and the seller agreed to a lower price and AAA towing it to Carlos. So the deal was done. Of course it needed way more work than was expected, and it stayed with Carlos for almost a year, but it has been so worth it. This car is probably the most exhilarating to drive of my whole fleet. It’s got that loud growly Busso V6, no power steering, sits low, etc. This one was the first car I’ve owned that was indisputably a real sports car. The Milano was in Costa Mesa. It came from another post in an Alfa FB group. It was not running, but the overall condition (especially the interior) was very nice and the price was too low for me to The dream Alfa Romeo would be the ultra weird SZ. I’ve seen a few SZ’s on Bring a Trailer and yeah, super weird and ugly but that’s what makes them cool right? How do the other cars in your collection differ from these Alfa Romeos? Saabs — my first love in cars was the previously mentioned classic Saab 900 Turbo. I think they are sporty, too, but they are front wheel drive and pretty slow off the line, and slow in general if non-turbo. However, the “passing” acceleration in a Turbo, from around 35 mph to 65 mph, is pretty fantastic. But I just love the extreme originality and close attention to every single detail that Saab put into these cars. The 900 launched in 1979 as an evolution of the Saab 99, which began in 1968. It was longer, more luxurious and more powerful. The interior was restyled completely with a huge emphasis on ergonomics. The accessibility and visibility of all the controls to the driver was certainly airplane cockpit inspired. And of course the very idiosyncratic front-wheeldrive setup with a “backwards”
Linkage 017 137 longitudinally mounted engine remained. In this design, the engine is mounted directly on top of the drive axle, which gives these Saabs their legendary traction. Subaru — my second ever car was a Subaru Outback, which served me very well through grad school at USC until it was wrecked by an ex girlfriend. I promptly replaced it with another one! Right around the time I was finishing at USC, and about to head into my first “real job,” one of my dream vehicles appeared on Craigslist — a (very cheap, non-running) Subaru Brat! And since I was about to have a job that actually paid well, I figured, why not indulge in a third car? (This is pretty funny in retrospect.) So I began my adventures with Subaru Brats. Yes, there have been multiple. It took a while to find one that wasn’t a basket case, and not to mention that Subaru’s parts availability is total garbage. On the way I also had an ’88 GL wagon and currently have an ’87 RX Turbo. Since they are AWD or 4WD, Subarus are just a lot of fun to play around in the mud and dirt. I still of course retain some redneck tendencies from growing up in SC. Peugeot and Renault — I’d always wanted a French car (remember weird Euros seems to be my theme), and I wanted a Peugeot 505 in particular. However, in my search, I came across my 405 Mi16, which is an even rarer model here in the U.S. After reading about it I decided I’d pick it up, and I’ve been so happy I did. Even though it is a FWD car, and hence not a real sports car to some enthusiasts, it is a total blast to drive. It’s the only one in my fleet that approaches the Alfas in handling. Then this year I found my Renault 10, which is still with the French car specialist (shout out to Ukit at U.S. Foreign Auto Repair in El Monte, who has also worked on my Alfas) one year later! Chevy Corvair — a car that I’d always had a special place for in my heart since my great-grandfather, and then two great-uncles, ran two Chevrolet dealerships where I grew up in South Carolina. One of the great-uncles (who is still with us today going strong at 97) collected Corvairs; he had around six. I remember as a kid playing in them in the display garage where he kept them at his dealership. I also remember that he was part of an active Corvair club, and they would always be in the local Christmas parade. Very cute small town stuff. So when a ’61 4-door sedan (the body style I wanted the most) popped up on Craigslist a couple years ago, I had to snap it up. This is another car that I have absolutely adored. The community and CORSA chapters (Corvair Society of America) have also been some of the most welcoming car people I have encountered. I like how each car in your collection has a purpose and clear passion behind it. How do you feel modern Alfa Romeos differ from these vintage ones? Which is better or worse? I can only speak to the new ones that have come back to the U.S., that is, the Giulia and the Stelvio. The Giulia is a fantastic return to form for Alfa—finally a beautifully designed, rear-wheel-drive sports sedan. Sport coupes’ popularity has bottomed out, so I can’t really blame them for discontinuing the 4C coupe and Spider in 2020, but those were also awesome cars. Now, in Alfa’s North American wilderness period, from 1995 to 2014 or so, they were only making FWD cars, which a lot of long-time Alfisti find to be an abomination (or worse, a rebadged Fiat). However, I really like the looks of many of those cars, such as the 146, 156, 159, 166, 916 GTV & Spider, and 939 Brera and Spider, and I do think they strongly retain the Alfa character. Much like with Saab’s purchase by GM, of course some of the independent company’s classic character will be lost in the changes, but car companies must evolve or die out. And again like with Saab/GM, I think that Alfa Romeo has done an excellent job with the resources afforded them by Fiat-Chrysler (and now Stellantis) — partially because, unlike Saab/GM, I think that Alfa has been granted some independence (not to mention some help from their younger friend Ferrari). Unfortunately GM never fully understood Saab, but the Swedes did nonetheless still produce some excellent stuff in that time. As far as vintage vs modern, the answer is probably a standard one: I know the modern Giulias are more comfortable, have a smoother ride and lots of modern conveniences, but of course you can’t quite beat that visceral feeling one gets from driving the old cars. However, if I did want a new car (without budget consideration of course), then a Giulia would be at the top of the list.
138 Linkage 017 GIFTS and GADGETS CLASSIC CAR OWNERS take note: Vredestein, one of the world’s oldest tire brands, has expanded into the vintage tire market. They’ve done it with an eye on both performance and safety, using modern materials and modern processes to bring better performance to your classic sports car in the one place that matters most: Where the rubber actually meets the road. The Sprint Classic is designed to offer strong tracking and cornering performance, as well as to improve braking distance. These radial tires have a classic look — just the thing for a vintage Alfa or Jaguar — and use modern summer tire compounds and modern tread patterns to deliver a surefooted feel. These tires are available in 20 different sizes to suit a variety of makes and models from the 1940s through the 1960s, and they’re rated for up to 168-mph use. For the newer classic market, Vredestein Classic Looks, Modern Performance The right rubber is vital in getting the most out of your classic or collector car by JIM PICKERING offers the Sprint+ range, designed specifically for the Youngtimer market. These feature a modern classic-appropriate asymmetric five-rib tread pattern for 1970s, 1980s and 1990s European performance cars, as well as modern construction and modern summer compounds for excellent cornering, braking and acceleration performance. Vredestein has worked hard to give the Sprint line performance capabilities beyond the grip of original rubber — and yet they look era-correct on just about any European classic. Learn more about specific sizing and applications at www.vredestein. com.
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140 Linkage 017 AUTOMOBILIA THE FINANCIAL PAGES tout the performance of the Magnificent Seven —stocks that dominated the stock market and outperformed the S&P 500 by a large margin in 2023. What those journalists do not tout, however, is the performance of quality porcelain advertising signs. In many cases, these signs have far outperformed even the “Magnificent Seven.” We do not advocate buying porcelain signs strictly for financial gain. However, if you buy the best that you can afford, there is a reasonable chance that your investment will be protected. The key elements are condition, rarity, graphic image and bold colors Signs with images of an American Indian are extremely desirable and very collectible. The Inland Refinery in Spokane, Washington offered 72-inch Chief Gasoline porcelain signs for each of the three states they operated in: Washington, Idaho and Oregon. At the January 2024 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction, they sold the Oregon version of the sign for $78,200, which is in line with other recent sales. A dealer recently mentioned that in the 1990s he discovered 18 of the signs that a retired station owner had accumulated. They were acquired for $600 apiece or a little over $10,000 for all. At today’s prices that equates to $1,400,000. A delightful return on investment. Cougar Oil Company was a small jobber located in Selma, Alabama, and they had about 10 service stations in the area. In January both BarrettJackson and Richmond Auction sold New Old Stock examples of Cougar 72-inch porcelain signs. They both sold for about $160,000, but it was remarkable that two extremely rare signs The Signs of the Times Vintage porcelain signs are bringing big bucks, especially if they’re in great shape, rare and sport bright colors by CARL BOMSTEAD septic tank covers, but this unused example survived in exceptional condition. The previous record for a sign was a touch over $400,000. There is no guarantee that the Magnificent Seven will continue to outperform — and there is no a guarantee that porcelain signs will continue to appreciate. The major advantage of owning the sign, however, is that it will be enjoyed hanging on the wall — regardless of financial fluctuations. were offered within a few weeks. In 2012, a Cougar sign that was mounted on a pole sold for $30,000. More recently, a Cougar sign sold on Facebook for $115,000. If both signs came onto the market right now, they would provide a handsome profit. The record for the mostexpensive antique advertising sign was set by Richmond Auctions last August when they sold a Musgo Gasoline 48-inch porcelain sign for a whopping $1,552,500. It was from a small, obscure company in Muskegon, Michigan that went out of business in the mid-1920s. Most of the company’s surplus signs were used as
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142 Linkage 017 CONNECTIONS CAR MANUFACTURERS AND RESTORERS AUCTION COMPANIES AUCTION COMPANIES AUCTION COMPANIES CAR PARTS & ACCESSORIES CAR PARTS & ACCESSORIES CLASSIC CAR DEALER CLASSIC CAR DEALER
Linkage 017 143 CAR MANUFACTURERS AND RESTORERS CAR MANUFACTURERS AND RESTORERS AUTOMOTIVE ART UPHOLSTERY RACE TRACKS VALUATION SERVICES CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM
144 Linkage 017 TAILLIGHTS PERFECTION, ESPECIALLY IN our beautiful, nutso car world, is a very elusive thing. I was reminded of this during Arizona Car Week just a few weeks ago. I was admiring a Shelby GT500 KR at an auction. The car was about 30 feet away, and it looked perfect. “But do you see how those racing stripes on the hood don’t quite line up with the stripes on the nose,” said Jim Pickering, Linkage managing editor. “They bother me so The Process of Perfection The cars and people of Modena are timeless much that I can’t get past them to the rest of the car.” At first, I thought my old friend was a little too picky, but I caught myself staring at this tiny, quarter-inch glitch over and over again. After a while, I could spot the problem from a long ways away. Did this error ruin the car? Of course not. Jim said the problem was probably easily fixed with some hood adjustments. But still…. The quest for perfection For a lot of car people, perfection is the goal. I saw tons of perfect muscle cars and restomods at Barrett-Jackson’s massive Scottsdale Auction, and they were beautiful. But I knew — as I was born in 1961 — that Detroit cars from the 1960s and 1970s were never, ever perfect off the assembly line or at the dealership. When I see a sign next to a perfect car that cites 100 percent originality, alarm bells go off in my head. Then again, why not make the car as perfect as possible — if only to see what is possible? There is a lot of fun in making things look better, run better and drive better. I understand restorations that make the car as original as possible. I also understand restomods, which make the car as enjoyable to drive as possible. Finally, there’s a lot of joy in finding a car that is, by some miracle, still in good, drivable shape after decades of use and decades of thoughtful care. Linkage Publisher Donald Osborne likes to talk about the Italian notion of “conservato” — caring for something and keeping it going for decades. These cars carry a special patina that is far from perfect — but also completely perfect in a different way. Modena I’ve been thinking about the Italian culture of creating beauty — through function and form — ever since we dreamed up the theme of this issue. I love traveling in Italy because of the people, the food, the art and the culture of creating great things —and caring for them. A walk through almost any Italian town is a mix of old and new, but the old isn’t tossed away. In a sense, many Italian towns are timelines — living history. And many of the cars that were designed and built in Modena are living history. I’m sure that the designers, engineers and skilled workers of Ferrari and Maserati during the 1950s and 1960s never imagined that many of their cars would survive through the decades and become modernday treasures. At the same time, I’m sure everyone in Modena thought the wine they drank and the bread they ate wouldn’t change much from 1957 to 2024. After
Linkage 017 145 all, why mess with something that is so perfect? I’m sure that the people who now work at Ferrari, Maserati and Pagani — and at Lamborghini just down the road — know that their work will live for a long, long time. That’s the living culture that started in Modena soon after World War II ended. It’s a process Like many of us, I ran to the movie theater to see “Ferrari.” I came away with this overall impression: In the 1950s, Modena was a place where people lived to create the world’s best race cars. That universal drive for excellence — winning all the itself each day — might just be the the highest level we humans can reach. And, so, Modena Linkage 017 cannot tell the whole story of the magic of Modena, the people who live and work in that part of Italy — and those amazing cars that live in our lives and in our hearts. We’ve tried to capture at bit of that feeling. We’re far from perfect, but this issue is our best shot of capturing a bit of the imagination, creativity, drive and beauty of Modena. Back to Arizona 2024 brought my 14th trip to Arizona Auction Week, and it was the best one ever. The week was great for me because so many of you came by our booth at Bonhams’ Scottsdale Auction and told me how you feel about Linkage. Our goal has always been to create an excellent, passionate car magazine that celebrates our world. We still have a long ways to go, but all of you help us get a little better each day. Thanks to everyone in Arizona who shared their ideas for future stories and future themes. You are part of us. Your thoughts, conversations and friendship mean everything to us. We’ll meet again in May, when we drive into “Someday.” This issue will explore car dreams — and how people make them happen. Making dreams come true is the motivation behind just about every thing we do in this wonderful, outlandish world of cars. In the meantime, let’s all celebrate the passion of Modena — no matter what cars we drive — and start spring with lots of joyful driving. — CHESTER ALLEN, Executive Editor races — made Modena a sacred place. It’s still that kind of place. When everyone in a group of people strive to be the best, amazing things happen. That kind of dedication carries a big personal cost to those who are in the game, but that process of creating something special — something that happens over and over again and renews
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