Thursday, August 29, 2019

1958 250GT LWB California Spider leads at Gooding & Company - $9.9m

A 1958 250GT LWB California Spider was top lot at Gooding & Company, bringing $9.9m.

Since 2008, eight Ferrari 250 GT California Spiders have sold for more than $10m, with the highest price doubling that.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 California SWB Spider did not change hands at RM Sotheby's
1. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spider – $9,905,000
2. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT Series I Cabriolet – $6,800,000
3. 1975 Ferrari 312T – $6,000,000
4. 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT – $3,600,000
5. 1958 Ferrari 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Tour de France – $5,100,000
6. 1939 Alfa Romeo Tipo 256 Coupe – $2,755,000
7. 1913 Isotta Fraschini Tipo IM – $2,645,000
8. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Sport Berline – $2,040,000
9. 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS – $1,765,000
10. 1993 Porsche 964 Carrera RS 3.8 – $1,710,000
11. 1952 Ferrari 212 Inter Coupe – $1,600,000
12. 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB – $1,572,500
13. 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing – $1,435,000
14. 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante – $1,325,000
15. 1941 Mercedes-Benz 540 K Cabriolet A – $1,297,500

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

1986 Ford RS200 Evolution

The Ford RS200 is a mid-engined, four-wheel drive sports car that was produced by Ford Europe from 1984 to 1986. The road-going RS200 was based on Ford's Group B rally car and was designed to comply with FIA homologation regulations. The new vehicle's design featured a plastic-fiberglass composite body designed by Ghia, a mid-mounted engine and four-wheel drive. To aid weight distribution, designers mounted the transmission at the front of the car, which required that power from the mid-mounted engine go first up to the front wheels and then be run back to the rear, creating a complex drive train setup.
Power came from a 1.8 litre, single turbocharged Ford-Cosworth "BDT" engine producing 250 horsepower in road-going trim, and between 350 and 450 horsepower in racing trim. A total of 24 of the 200 original cars were later converted to the high performance "Evolution" models
Able to run with (and often leave behind) more prestigious and expensive supercars of the day, the RS200 Evolution remains a highly sought-after collectible.

In 2015 a 1986 Ford RS200 Evolution was sold for $539,000 by Gooding.

2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Series - $1.05m

Bonhams offered a 2017 Ford GT '66 Heritage Series, the first of 138 examples of the car that the automaker produced for the 2017 model year. The limited-production '66 Heritage Edition was announced in June 2016 to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the overall win at Le Mans by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon at the wheel of a GT40 Mark II, part of Ford's historic 1-2-3 sweep. Showing 120 miles, it was naturally of interest to collectors.

The end to the two year Ford prohibition on reselling the GT means speculators are looking to cash out. Bonhams provided an estimate between $1,250,000 and $1,900,000.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

McLaren F1 Le Mans Spec package - $19.8m

The McLaren F1 holds a hallowed place in the supercar universe. 106 of them were built with 64 being legally allowed to drive on public roads. Chassis 018 is even more special. It’s one of two to have been called back to the factory following the F1’s win at Le Mans in 1995 and fitted with a GTR racing engine and High-Downforce Kit (HDK).
This ultra-rare McLaren F1 is the 'best of the best' and those bragging rights don't come cheap.
The car appeared at Monterey and made $ 19.8m against an estimate of $21m to $23m.

Monday, August 26, 2019

Lamborghini Miura SV/J

When the Lamborghini Miura debuted in 1966, it was a sensation with its radical mid-engine chassis and gorgeous looks. It had the performance too but it wasn't without its faults. The Miura became notorious for generating front-end lift at high speeds. Making it worse, the fuel tank was located just behind the front axle, meaning the nose would get even lighter as fuel was expended. Effort to fix the Miura's shortcomings helped create the Miura SVJ.
There are six examples of the Miura SV/J known to be built by the factory, while the Miura was still in production. One was built new (chassis #5090) and five were converted from existing SVs (chassis #4934, #4860, #4892, #4990 & #5084).

Any Miura is a beautiful car to behold, but the SVJ takes the Miura to the next level. This 1971 Lamborghini Miura SV/J hammered for $ 1.9m in 2015.
385 hp, 3,929 cc DOHC transverse V-12 engine, four Weber carburetors, five-speed manual transaxle, independent front and rear suspension by coil springs and unequal length wishbones, and four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

1965 Ford GT40 Roadster Prototype - $7.6m

The first of five GT40 roadsters built, the eighth of twelve GT40 prototypes. Built for Shelby American as a test and development car. One of two GT40 chassis used by Kar Kraft for J and X series development.

One of the finest, most original, and rarest examples of Ford’s iconic race car.
The GT Competition Prototype Roadster is a forerunner to all of the glory that Ford garnered in its historic run to four consecutive overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 through 1969. The genesis of the Ford GT program is that Henry Ford II, known popularly as “The Deuce,” thought he had a deal with Enzo Ferrari to purchase the famous Italian automaker in 1963. Ferrari angered Ford at their meeting to close the deal. Ford famously declared war on Ferrari.
12 prototypes were built by Ford between January 1964 and April 1965. Ford’s first international sports car, it is considered by most to be the world’s first supercar.
In 2014 the car hammered for $6.9m.

That number was $7.6m in 2019.

1982 Chevy Cavalier - $1800

Barn finds rarely involve ordinary cars. They aren’t squirreled away by eccentric millionaires as a rule. But a barn find is a barn find. Case-in-point is a very humble 1982 Chevy Cavalier.

US$1800? It has a genuine and nearly unbelievable 23.6 original miles on the clock. The car's finish is a 'patina' now.

Friday, August 23, 2019

2017 Ford GT - $1.2m

The only 2017 GT finished in Beryllium Orange. Highly optioned, including carbon-fiber wheels. Less than 400 miles from new.

The GT engine is based on the 3.5-liter V-6 engine from Ford’s F-150 but with upgraded turbos, an aluminum intake manifold, unique camshafts, and a custom dry-sump lubrication system. Despite being a small V-6, power output is 647 horsepower.
Chassis is carbon-fiber monocoque with lightweight aluminum front and rear subframes. Every exterior body panel is made of carbon fiber. The car sits on a pushrod suspension system using active aerodynamics with a hydraulically adjustable rear wing.

Curb weight of the GT is only 3,354 pounds, with power put to the road through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
In virtually as-new condition and without Ford encumbrance. Ford warranty is valid until 5 August 2020.

This example made $1.2m.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

1970 Pontiac GTO Ram Air IV - $42k

1 of 627 produced in 1970. Believed to be 7,611 miles. Frame-off restoration. Build sheet. Muncie M21 4-speed manual transmission. 3.90 Positraction Safe-T-Track rear end. Hood tachometer. Rally II wheels.

1970 is generally believed to be the high water mark for American muscle.
The standard motor for the $3,267 GTO was a 350hp 400 paired with a floor-shifted three-speed manual. The first step up was the 455 at $57.93 with air induction for an additional $84.26. From there, the Ram Air III at $168.51. Top-dog was the Ram Air IV at a staggering $558.20 (plus mandatory equipment that added $200 more).
Rated at a highly conservative 370 HP, the Ram Air IV output was closer to 425 HP.

The car appeared at Mecum Dallas in September.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Monterey sales way down

Preliminary sales totals fell far short of expectations and lagged behind 2018 results by a whooping 34%. The sell-through rate on cars valued at $1 million or more was only 42%, compared to 55% at other auctions this year.

Monterey Auction Week suffered a low point when one of the superstars, a 1939 Porsche Type 64, rolled onto the block at RM Sotheby’s. The auctioneer seemingly announced the opening bid as $30m and soon accepted a bid for $70m, as shown on the big tote board at the front of the room. The problem was that the bids were $13m and $17m, but somehow everyone in the room heard the higher figures, including the people operating the tote board. The audience was clearly not amused. The car ended up being a no sale.
See ----->1939 Porsche Type 64

Sunday, August 18, 2019

2014 Ferrari LaFerrari - $2.6m

426 original miles. $37,589 in special features. 6.3/949 HP hybrid drive V-12 engine. F1-inspired HY-KERS Kinetic Energy Recovery System. Factory-rated top speed of 217 MPH. F1 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Scuderia shields. Brembo carbon ceramic disc brakes. Black brake calipers. Carbon fog lamps. Special-order Rosso Fuoco paint.
The Ferrari LaFerrari is the distilled essence of a Formula 1 race car. The entire drivetrain is “state of the art” Formula 1, consisting of a 6.3L V-12 engine mated with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System for a combined output of 949 HP all transmitted through a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Advanced F1 suspension design includes anti-lock braking, electric brake distribution, magnetorheological damping and stability control.
Performance anti blockage system/electronic brake balance. F1 electronic traction control integrated with the hybrid system and third generation electronic differential. The LaFerrari is the pinnacle of auto technology.

The car achieved $2.6m against a pre-sale estimate of $2.7 to $3.5m