Auction News Network

Aston Martin, Bugatti Star At Greenwich Concours Sale

Aston Martin built only 29 DB6 Vantage Volantes, one of them a 1967 example once owned by the late conducting star Leonard Bernstein. This past weekend, the rare car enjoyed its own starring role at Bonhams’ auction at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, where it sold for $825,000, including buyer’s premium. Even more valuable was a 1930 Bugatti Type 43 Supercharged Sports 2/4 Seater, for which a buyer paid $935,000.

Aston Martin Sells For Record $4.95m

Until this past weekend, the record for an Aston Martin at auction was the $4.6m paid for a DB5 with celebrity credentials, having seen use in “Goldfinger.” That price was eclipsed on Saturday, when a factory-restored 1960 DB4GT “Jet” Coupé sold for $4.95m at a Bonhams auction in the UK. Offered for the first time in 30 years, the unique car — the only GT with body by Bertone — has won various Concours d’Elegance awards, including ‘Best In Show’ at the Villa d’Este and 1^st in the Italian Coachworks Class at Pebble Beach.

Winston Churchill’s Daimler Sells In Germany

Between the years of 1944-49, and thus throughout his tenure as Prime Minister in World War II, Sir Winston Churchill’s ride of choice was a stylish 1939 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe. Incongruous as it may seem for an automobile that belonged to the man who led his country’s battle against the Third Reich, the roadster turned up on German eBay, where it set off a bidding frenzy that ended with a price of $621,500. That was, according to the Online Mail, about 16 times what a DB18 might be expected to command.

100 MPH Without Brakes: Steve McQueen’s 1914 Indian At Bonhams

Of all the motorcycles owned by Steve McQueen—and there were many—one of the more unusual is the 1914 Indian Board Track Racer that Bonhams will offer at its Stafford sale in England later this month. Produced for one of the first pine-board motordomes in the country, it was fitted with neither brakes nor throttle. Racers went all out, powered by a 4hp, 500cc engine, reaching speeds of 100mph. Restored by Indian specialist Stephen Wright, McQueen’s bike is estimated at $34,000-$43,000.

A Duesenberg Like No Other, $4.5m

A 1935 Duesenberg coupe, Model SJ, with a supercharged, 8-cylinder engine and a sexy body sold for $4.5m this past weekend by RM Auctions at the Amelia Island sale. Only three SJs came from the factory. This was the only one equipped with the supercharger.

With its low slung, sculpted profile, three speed transmission, and semi-automatic convertible top, the Model SJ was Duesenberg’s entry in a more aerodynamic, up to date design compared to some of its earlier models.  The SJ was designed by J. Herbert Newport. Coachwork by Walker-LaGrande.

British Rarities At Motorcycle Sale

All Brough motorcycles are rare, but the example that Bonhams will be offering at its Stafford sale this spring is among the rarest. It’s a 1926 SS80/100 modified with the SS80 sidevalve engine. The factory produced a very limited number, and just a few survive. After World War II its engine was replaced with an overhead valve SS100 unit. In that configuration, it won the “Rebuild of the Year” award at the Brough Superior Club’s Annual Rally in 2012. Its award  at the Bonhams’ sale is expected to be rather more lucrative. The vintage bike is expected to sell for as much as $299,000.

Duesenberg Leads Boca Raton Concours Auction

In its day, the ultra-sleek 1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton had few rivals for style, luxury, engineering or power. More expensive than a Rolls Royce or Hispano Suiza, fewer than 500 were made, making the cars’ owners members of a very exclusive club that included Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, and William Randolph Hearst. The example that Bonhams will offer tomorrow at the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance belonged to the wife of Duesenberg’s owner, E.L. Cord and has been featured in numerous movies. Restored to show standards, it comes to the auction without an estimate, generally a sign of high expectations.

George Lucas’ Tucker May Fetch $2m

The Tucker motor car company produced just 51 examples of the Tucker 48, known as the Torpedo, before going out of business in 1949. Characterized by its suicide doors and distinctive center headlight, which was conceived to move in tandem with the steering wheel, the 1948 car was the creation of visionary Preston Tucker, whose struggles were chronicled in a 1988 film directed by Francis Coppola and produced by George Lucas. The 1948 example that RM will offer in Amelia Island next month has its own story, having been owned by Lucas himself. The product of an extensive restoration, it’s expected to sell for $1.5m-$1.9m.

Steve McQueen’s Last Ride In Auction

Of all the sleek and expensive automobiles associated with Steve McQueen, the least likely was probably the yellow 1951 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe Convertible that he drove in his last movie, “The Hunter” in 1980. All the same, McQueen loved the car and bought it at the production’s conclusion. Since then, it’s changed hands just once, in 1984, at the liquidation of McQueen’s estate. Almost 30 years later, it’s coming up for sale again at a Fort Lauderdale auction on March 22-24. Without the McQueen provenance, its value would be about $45,000. With it, the final selling price is expected to be much, much more.

Print Of A Car For $100,000?

Car prices have been soaring in Phoenix this week, but in London Bonhams will offer just a print of a car that likely will sell for more than $100,000. It’s by Cyril Edward Power of a car that broke the land speed record in 1931. The owner bought the linocut print 25-years ago for $32 and hung it in his garage. Unaware of its value, he showed it to a Bonhams representative at the Grand Concours in Pebble Beach.

Prices Soar At Scottsdale Classic Car Auctions

Little doubt remained about the extraordinary vitality of the vintage car market after the results at the multiple auctions that took place this past weekend in and around Scottsdale, Arizona. Gooding & Co. led the final tallies with a total of $52.5m, paced by the sale of a 1958 Ferrari 250GT LWB California Spider for $8.25m. With six of the weekend top 10 sales, Gooding’s result was up 31% over last year’s sale, a pattern of growth that almost all the Scottsdale events mirrored.

BMW Races to $167,800

As a sidecar racer, the mid-century BMW Rennsport RS54 had no peer. The motorcycle dominated its class for almost twenty years, racking up 19 World titles, among other records. Yesterday at Bonhams motorcycle auction in Las Vegas it achieved another one, as a 1954 example led the pack with a $167,800 result.

‘Godfather’ Lincolns Come To Scottsdale

Although the offerings at Bonhams’ Scottsdale vintage car sale may lack the mega-million dollar star power of the rare Ferrari’s that will be idling across the block at other auctions in the area next weekend, the January 17^th event will still feature an array of extraordinary automobiles, some with rather colorful histories. For example, there are two 1941 Lincolns, one a limousine, the other a coupe, that were featured in ‘The Godfather’ (estimates withheld). Those less focused on showbiz may prefer a 1955 Mercedes 300SL that’s one of the highlights of the sale. Finished in Strawberry Metallic, and recently restored, it’s estimated at $850,000-$1m.

Rare 1902 “Rambler” & McQueen Dirt Bike In Las Vegas Sale

One of the earliest American motorcycles was the 1902 “Rambler,” produced by the American Cycle Company. In its day, the matching numbers 2 1/4hp Model “B” that Bonhams will offer at its Las Vegas motorcycle sale on January 10^th was a revolutionary design. Having spent years in the Indian Motorcycle Museum collection, it’s in pristine condition and expected to fetch $60,000-$80,000.

The Old Buick Was A Star in “Rain Man”

The Buick has been called the 3^rd most important “character” in 1988 “The Rain Man” movie that won 4 Oscars. Although the car is 63-years old, the Roadmaster is expected to sell in the $80,000 range because Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman spent most of the movie riding in it. The Heritage auction will be held Dec. 14 in Dallas.