Auction News Network

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.

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.

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.

Paul McCartney’s DB5 In London Auction

When Sir Paul McCartney ordered his brand new Aston Martin DB5 in 1964, he specified that the car be fitted with musical notes stitched into the leather seats, as well as a Phillips record player. At the time, it set him back $5,900. When the DB5 appears at auction later this week in London—minus the musical notes, eliminated in a restoration—RM is expecting it to sell for around $621,000, or more than 100 times its original cost.

Update: Paul McCartney’s car fell a bit short of expectations, selling for $496,613. The auction’s star, an alloy-bodied 1955 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing, stalled below its reserve at $3,876,000, and failed to find a buyer.

’68 Ford Sets Record, ’36 Mercedes Falls Short At Pebble Beach

Records fell at the high-value vintage car auctions around the Pebble Beach Concours over the weekend, but they weren’t the ones that had been expected. A 1968 Ford GT, used by Steve McQueen in the making of “Le Mans,” became the most expensive American car ever sold at auction when the gavel came down at $11m, including buyer’s premium. A magnificent 1936 Mercedes 540K Special Roadster that had been anticipated to be the weekend’s star fell short, however, selling for “just” $11.7m, including premiums.

RM Offers Horch, Ferrari & Talbot Lago Rarities At Pebble Beach

Merely wanting a Horch motorcar wasn’t enough. Prospective buyers of the early German competitor to Mercedes had to demonstrate they had enough in the bank to reflect well on the brand.  Accordingly, the manufacturer—a precursor of the Audi—produced few automobiles. For example, Horch made only five Second Series Special Roadsters–one for Herman Goring–of which three exist. The 1938 example that RM Auctions will be offering at its Monterrey auction over the Pebble Beach Concours weekend has still another bonus: the 854A Special Roadster by Erdmann & Rossi won Best of Show at Pebble Beach. It’s expected to realize $6m-$8m.

Clark Gable’s Duesenberg At Pebble Beach

The celebrity cars continue to roll towards Pebble Beach. The latest to emerge at the Gooding auction on August 18-19 is Clark Gable’s 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe. One of only 10 JN’s built, and specially modified for Gable with a raked windshield and other upgrades, it’s the car in which he and his wife, actress Carole Lombard, drove up the West Coast to Vancouver. The Special Award winner at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the automobile was also featured in the 1938 film “Merrily We Live.” The JN comes to the sale without public estimate.

Tom Mix’s Rolls At Blenheim Palace Sale

Few vintage cars can match the Hollywood history of the 1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Playboy Roadster that Coys is offering in its auction at Bleinheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill.  At one point silent screen star Tom Mix owned the car, which went into the Warner Brother’s movie fleet after his death. Over the next 30 years, it was seen in such films as “Giant,” “The FBI Story,” and “Inside Daisy Glover,” with Robert Redford behind the wheel.  At the July 14^th auction, it’s expected to sell for $171,000-$202,000.

Bentley Sells For Record $7.9m

Bonhams was anticipating stellar results at its Goodwood Festival of Speed vintage car sale, and the auction house wasn’t disappointed. A 1929 ‘Birkin’  4 1/2 –litre Bentley became, at $7.9m, the most expensive British car ever sold at auction. Close behind was the record $7.4m that a buyer paid for “The Corgi,” a 1912 Rolls-Royce ‘Silver Ghost’ Double Pullman Limousine. All told, the 20^th anniversary sale in the Uk brought in $34.5m.

Five Remarkable Car Collections At Goodwood

Led by the ultra-rare George Daniels-owned 1929-31 ‘Tim’ Birkin Bentley that may set a new auction record for the marque, and an Ex-Works Le Mans 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Lungo (est. $3.9m-$6.2m), Bonhams will offer no fewer than five distinguished collections at its auction later this week at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.  A Bentley 3-Liter Speed Model Sports Two-Seater with coachwork by Park Ward (est. $200,000-$230,000) highlights the Peter Gwynn Collection, and a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C (offered without estimate) leads the pack from the noted collector John O’Quinn, who at one point owned 869 vintage automobiles.

“Lost” ’27 Mercedes Could Be Worth $2.4

They call it “The Lost Mercedes,” because the 1927 supercharged “S” Type sports tourer has been tucked away by the same family for 85-years. In totally unrestored condition, Goodwood is bringing the car to auction in September with an estimate of $2.4m. In its day, the car could do 100 mph.

The Most Valuable Bentley Ever Sold?

The late George Daniels was renowned as a master watchmaker, but his reputation as a vintage car collector was also substantial. Next month Bonhams will sell eight cars and two motorcycles from his collection at its Goodwood auction. The jewel of the group is a 1929-32 Bentley 4 ½-litre supercharged single-seater Bentley, once owned by former Le Mans champion Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin. If, as expected, it sells for $6.3m, the car will become the most expensive Bentley ever sold.