vendredi 27 mars 2020

1960 Chrysler 300F Convertible 413/375 HP, 1 of 248 Produced Sold for $181,500












  • Engine
    413/375 HP
  •  
  • Trans
    Automatic
  •  
  • Color
    Pink
  •  
  • Interior
    Beige



HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1 of 248 produced, approximately 70 exist today
  • 413/375 HP Wedge V-8 engine
  • Dual 4-barrel carburetors
  • Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission
  • Unibody construction
  • Torsion bar suspension
  • 126 inch wheelbase
  • Cross Ram intake with dual exhaust
  • Swivel front bucket seats
  • Astradome instrument group contains control for heat and vent, radio and pushbutton transmission
  • Power seats
  • Power steering
  • Power windows
  • Power top
  • Power brakes
  • Factory tachometer
  • Golden tone radio
  • 35 amp generator
  • Period correct Kelsey Hayes wire wheels
  • Original hubcaps in trunk
  • Body restoration
  • Beige leather interior with Black dash and carpets
  • Digital DVD owners manual and original jack instructions
  • Original jack instructions affixed in trunk

936 Cord 810 Convertible Coupe Meticulously Restored to 812 SC Specs Sold for $209,000





  • Engine
    288/190 HP
  •  
  • Color
    Rich Maroon
  •  
  • Interior
    Brown



HIGHLIGHTS

  • Meticulously restored to 1937 812 SC specs
  • Previously part of the Paul Creager collection
  • CCCA Senior First Prize
  • ACD Primary Senior winner 1996
  • ACD Certified, no. C-275
  • Rebodied at time of restoration
  • Supercharged 288 CI Lycoming V-8 engine
  • Engine no. FC2667
  • Frame no. 9118
  • Preselector gearbox
  • Rich Maroon with Brown leather interior
  • Front wheel drive
  • Independent transverse front suspension
  • Semi-elliptic rear leaf springs
  • Large hubcaps
  • Wide Whitewall tires
  • Please note that this vehicle is titled as a 1937 model
  • VIN ANNOUNCEMENT

jeudi 26 mars 2020







  • Engine
    391/160 HP
  •  
  • Trans
    3-Speed
  •  
  • Color
    Marine Blue
  •  
  • Interior
    Gray


HIGHLIGHTS

  • One of 61 built-to-order in this configuration
  • One of an estimated seven known to exist
  • ACD Certificate of Authenticity and sticker included
  • Primary First Place and the 60th Annual ACD Reunion in 2015
  • Senior First Place at the ACD Club West Coast meet in 2015
  • Restored over a 40 year time span and completed in 2015 with the majority of the work having been completed by marque expert Stanley Gilliland
  • In 1979, according to Randy Ema, the current owner acquired an original Auburn Convertible Sedan body (which is the correct body style for this car) from Henry Leon of California and the frame wood was replaced. This body supposedly came from an Auburn out of Mexico
  • Interior components sourced from original Auburns
  • Lycoming 391/160 HP V-12 engine, engine no. BB-2472U
  • 3-speed transmission
  • Dual Stromberg carburetors
  • Original 2-speed rear axle
  • Bijur chassis lubrication
  • Original X-frame supplemented with an A-subframe attachment
  • Refinished in original Deep Marine Blue Opalescent paint with argent accent striping
  • Medium Gray leather interior and Tan convertible top
  • Dual ratio differential which is operated by a dashboard lever
  • Chrome moldings on running board and fenders
  • Beltline cove fitted with chrome molding and trimmed hood louvers
  • Center-mounted driving light
  • Dual side mount spares and luggage rack
  • Chrome wire wheels with spinners

LOT S134 2006 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 5.4L/617 HP, 151 Miles Sold for $385,000









  • Engine
    5.4L/617 HP
  •  
  • Trans
    Automatic
  •  
  • Color
    Silver
  •  
  • Interior
    Red


HIGHLIGHTS

  • 151 miles
  • 1 of 200 produced for the U.S. Market
  • Supercharged 5.4L/617 HP engine
  • 0-60 MPH in 3.6 seconds
  • 1/4 mile time of 11.6 seconds
  • Silver with Red leather interior
  • Air conditioning

mercredi 25 mars 2020

LOT S117 2017 Ford GT Competition Series Owned by Le Mans GTE Class Winner Sebastien Bourdais Sold for $1,100,000




LOT S117



2017 Ford GT Competition Series
Owned by Le Mans GTE Class Winner Sebastien Bourdais
Sold for $1,100,000




  • Engine
    3.5L/647 HP
  •  
  • Trans
    Automatic
  •  
  • Color
    Liquid Gray
  •  
  • Interior
    Black



HIGHLIGHTS

  • 270 miles
  • Serial no. 67
  • Owned by famed driver Sebastien Bourdais, GTE class winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016
  • One of three remaining Ford GT Competition Series
  • Plaque made by Chip Ganassi Racing in commemoration of the GTE class win at Le Mans on dash featuring engraved signatures of winning drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Dirk Muller and Joey Hand
  • Mid-Mounted Twin-Turbo 3.5L DOHC 24-valve Ecoboost V-6 engine
  • Rated at 647 HP and 550 ft/lbs of torque with a top speed of 216 MPH
  • Titanium exhaust
  • 7-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters
  • Front and rear independent suspension with electronic adjustable damping and pushbutton front lift system
  • 5 drive modes with 2 variable ride height settings
  • Brembo vented disc brake system
  • Finished in Liquid Gray with carbon fiber racing stripe
  • Carbon fiber a-pillars and side mirrors
  • Exposed carbon fiber lower sill trim with gloss finish
  • Unique Perspex acrylic engine hatch cover with manual latch and carbon fiber prop rod
  • Lightweight bulkhead Gorilla Glass
  • Carbon fiber console and door sills
  • FIA-certified steel roll cage
  • Alcantara upholstery with Red accents
  • F1 styled steering wheel with functional controls
  • Air conditioning, stereo and speakers, storage bins and cup holders removed for weight reduction
  • Carbon fiber 10-spoke wheels with titanium nuts
  • Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires
Ford’s historic assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans commenced in 1964, the first salvo in a war declared by Henry Ford II on Enzo Ferrari after the imperious Italian rejected Ford’s offer to purchase his company. The battle raged on for two years until Ford Motor Company finally prevailed at Le Mans on June 18-19, 1966, its monstrous 427-powered GT40 MkII racers finishing 1-2-3 and putting a seemingly permanent end to Ferrari’s domination of the 24 Hours.
As the 50th anniversary of that legendary victory approached, in January 2015, Ford shocked the motoring world by introducing the new, third-generation Ford GT at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and announcing another run at the Le Mans classic. Just 17 months later and exactly 50 years to the day after the Ford armada steamrolled the competition there, on Sunday, June 19, 2016, French ace Sebastien Bourdais and teammates Joey Hand (U.S.) and Dirk Müller (Germany) took the No. 68 Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA Ford GT to the GTE-Pro class win at the 24 Hours. It was an especially rewarding win for Bourdais, who was born and raised in Le Mans and, inspired by his father Patrick (who started at Le Mans nine times), grew up dreaming of winning the 24 Hours. He had started in the race 10 times previously, beginning in 1999 and scoring three overall runner-up results in 2007, 2009 and 2011, the last time finishing a heartbreaking 13 seconds behind the overall winner. Resuming his commitment to the Verizon IndyCar Series precluded a return to the Sarthe until 2016, when an opening in the schedule and an invitation from Ford Chip Ganassi Racing provided the opportunity he sought to score his first win there.
For Sebastien Bourdais, among the many accolades and perks that came with the achievement of that career milestone was this strikingly beautiful 2017 Ford GT Competition Series, one of just six built and one of only three that remain in pure Competition Series specification. When asked how he came to own GT No. 67, Bourdais explained that it was “a bit of a late call.”
“I joined the (Ford GT racing) program in late 2015,” he said. “In one of the meetings in Detroit, when Raj (Raj Nair, Ford executive VP, global product development, chief technical officer and the man most responsible for the Ford GT) and all the others were with us, and we kind of all inquired whether we were eligible to get a GT or not by being in the race program, and they said yes. So that was settled pretty quickly and most of the drivers got one. It so happened that a few months later we ended up winning the (2016 Le Mans) race with Dirk and Joey, and we all own one.”
As if to put an exclamation point on the whole affair, Ford delivered the freshly completed—and very exclusive—GT Competition Series to Bourdais just in time for Christmas of 2017. It arrived exactly as Sebastien had specified it, although he points out that the factory had already determined most of the car’s features and specifications. “The guidelines were pretty specific, so you really couldn’t separate each car too much. There were a few different colors, then the Competition Series added more specifics, so you didn’t have much room to decide exactly what you wanted—ultimately, colors and specs within the spec sheet. For me the deciding factor was the interior. The interior in the Competition Series is the only one that is full Alcantara; that’s the one I really wanted, and that’s ultimately why I chose the Competition Series.” 

1968 CHALLENGER 2 STREAMLINER






  • Engine
    1000 CI
  •  
  • Trans
    3-Speed
  •  
  • Color
    Blue
  •  
  • Interior
    Black

ESTIMATE

$900,000 - $1,500,000


HIGHLIGHTS

  • Holds the fastest ever certified speed record run for a piston-driven vehicle
  • Designed by Hall-of-Fame driver Mickey Thompson in collaboration with Kar Kraft in 1968
  • Driven by Danny Thompson to a new SCTA AA/FS record of 448.757 MPH on August 12, 2018 at the Bonneville Salt Flats
  • In 1968 Mickey Thompson tested the vehicle at around 400 MPH at Bonneville, but the course flooded before an official run could be made.
  • Chassis built by famed Indy Car constructor Quin Epperly with MT Advanced Engineering team and overseen by drag racer Pat Foster
  • Bodywork formed by Tom Jobe and Nye Frank with assistance from Louie Teckenoff
  • Restored, retrofitted and updated over 7 years by Danny Thompson in his Huntington Beach, CA shop
  • In 1968 Sports Illustrated declared Challenger 2 'a rolling textbook in sophisticated automotive design'
  • 4-wheel-drive
  • Twin Brad Anderson 500 CI dry block A-fuel-type Hemi V-8 engines
  • B&J Big Boy twin 3-speed transmissions
  • Blue exterior
  • Two 30-gallon aluminum fuel tanks
  • Designed to run on fuel mix of 87 percent nitromethane and 13 percent methanol
  • Curb weight of approximately 5,800 pounds (wet)
  • 32 feet long, 36 inches wide and 37 inches high at the canopy
  • Bodywork made up of 68 hand-formed aluminum panels connected to the subframe by Dzus fasteners
  • 4130 steel tube chassis
  • Custom Hadley Boxes driven by Gates belts
  • Accufab throttle bodies
  • Magnesium quick-change rear ends
  • Suspension designed by Kar Kraft
  • King ultra-high speed shock absorbers
  • Fire suppression system behind rear engine
  • SK Specialties billet 2024-T351 aluminum wheels
  • Mickey Thompson Bonneville LSR tires with 1/32-inch rubber/prototype nylon weave/banded steel
  • Carbon ceramic disc brakes
  • Dual parachutes with four foot blossoms
  • Sold on a Bill of Sale
Dubbed “Challenger 2,” this twin-Hemi-powered streamliner holds the certified record run as the fastest naturally aspirated, piston-powered vehicle in history—an automotive milestone that was 50 years in the making.
Designed and built by Hall of Fame driver, self-made engineer and prolific promoter Mickey Thompson in collaboration with Kar Kraft of Brighton, Michigan, Challenger 2 was Thompson’s second land speed car intended to break the overall piston record. In 1960, Thompson had become the first American to break the 400 MPH barrier, piloting his Challenger 1 streamliner to 406.60 MPH at Bonneville to exceed Englishman John Cobb’s one-way record of 402 MPH. Unfortunately, the car broke on its return run, robbing Thompson of the coveted two-way record, but it ultimately set the stage for his next attempt.
That came in 1968, when Thompson returned to the famed Salt Flats with the Challenger 2, which was originally christened the “Mickey Thompson Autolite Special.” In contrast to the somewhat heavy-handed approach taken in the four-engined, Pontiac-powered Challenger 1, Thompson’s new creation was a tour-de-force of elegant engineering, described by “Sports Illustrated” at the time as “a rolling textbook in sophisticated automotive design.”
With financing and engineering input from Ford, Thompson hand assembled an all-star team of California Hot Rodding and racing talents to handle the job. Drag racer and fabricator Pat Foster managed the project, and famed Indy Car constructor Quinn Epperly built a portion of the chassis in his shop with the remainder completed by the team at MT Advanced Engineering. Meanwhile, Tom Jobe of “Surfers” Top Fuel dragster fame and the ubiquitous Nye Frank massaged the aluminum panels used to form the car’s slippery envelope, with assistance from the talented Louie Teckenoff.
The completed streamliner’s first tests at Bonneville showed great promise. Thompson initially drove it to approximately 365 MPH, eventually reaching a terminal speed in excess of 400 MPH, but rain flooded the dry lakebed, preventing another record attempt. Ford subsequently pulled its sponsorship, Thompson moved on to other racing activities, and the quest for a new record was abandoned.
Having already retired from racing, Mickey and his son Danny pulled the car from storage 20 years later with plans for another record attempt, but tragedy struck; on March 16, 1988, Mickey and his wife, Trudy, were murdered in front of their home in Bradbury, California, and their grieving son placed the car and the rest of his father’s racing memorabilia into storage for another two decades.
But Danny never lost sight of the dream he shared with his father, and on the 50th anniversary of the original 406 MPH run, he took the wraps off Challenger 2 and moved it to his Huntington Beach, California, shop to facilitate its resurrection, during which he restored, retrofitted and updated the car to meet contemporary SCTA (Southern California Timing Association) requirements.
The basic machine remained unchanged; fully 32 feet in length, it is just 36 inches wide and 37 inches high at the canopy. Its 4130 chrome-moly steel tube chassis is cloaked in 68 lightweight hand-formed aluminum panels affixed by Dzus fasteners, yet it stills weighs in at a mighty 5,800 pounds.
Beneath the repainted aluminum envelope, Danny and his team executed a plethora of upgrades. The two Ford 427 SOHC engines that originally powered the car were replaced with twin Brad Anderson 500 CI dry-block, A-fuel-type Hemi V-8 engines, each driving one set of wheels and running on a brew of 87% nitromethane and 13% methanol through Accufab throttle bodies, more than doubling the original output from a combined 1,800 HP to 5,000 HP. Twin 3-speed gear boxes connect the engines through two Top Fuel triple-disk clutches, two B&J Big Boy 3-speed transmissions, two Hadley Box belt-drive engine connectors and two specially manufactured extreme heavy-duty magnesium quick-change differentials. 











  Sold for $330,000


  • Engine
    454/450 HP
  •  
  • Trans
    Automatic




HIGHLIGHTS

  • Well known in the hobby as the “Fuller car”
  • Unrestored Triple Black LS6 Chevelle Convertible with 10,222 original miles
  • This car has served as reference example for LS6 Convertible judging and restoration guidelines since the 1980s
  • Four owners since new
  • Documented with original Protect-O-Plate, punch card, laminated window sticker, dealer invoice, owner's manual and a copy of the build sheet
  • Original Tuxedo Black paint, Black top and Black interior
  • LS6 454/450 HP V-8 engine
  • M40 Turbo Hydra-Matic 400 automatic transmission
  • 4.10 rear end. door edge guards
  • Cowl Induction hood, stripe delete
  • Power front disc brakes, windows and top
  • Padded SS dash and gauges
  • Strato bucket seats with console
  • Original front and rear floor mats
  • Fiber optics and auxiliary lighting
  • Tilt steering column, remote driver's mirror
  • Tinted windshield, rear defogger
  • Lamp monitoring system on front fenders
  • Power steering and AM radio/8-track player, installed by original owner shortly after purchase
  • Sold new at McEleney Motors in Clinton, Iowa
  • Purchased new by Bob Fuller of Clinton, Iowa, who bought two brand-new LS6 Chevelles in 1970 (this Black LS6 Convertible and a Red LS6 Hardtop)
  • Fuller customized the rear bumper insert with 450 HP callouts when new
  • Fuller pampered the car for more than 30 years
  • Featured in Muscle Car Review in 1987
  • Best Unrestored Chevelle at the 1988 Super Chevy Show in Indianapolis
  • Best in Class at the 1989 Muscle Car Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa
  • Chevy VetteFest Spinner Concours in 1990
  • Purchased from Bob Fuller by Gary Esse of Madison, WI in 2001
  • Sold to Dave Christenholz in 2003 and remained part of his collection until 2008
  • Part of a private collection since 2008
Possessed of monumental power and muscular styling to match, the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS454 LS6 is firmly established as one of the most iconic and desirable machines of the classic muscle car era. Well known in the collector car hobby as the “Fuller car,” this unrestored Triple Black 1970 SS454 LS6 convertible ranks as the premier example, having served as a reference for LS6 convertible judging and restoration guidelines since the 1980s.
The LS6 Chevelle was Chevrolet’s knockout punch to the competition after years of playing bridesmaid to contenders packing dozens more cubic inches. Ironically, it was the looming spectre of government-mandated and power-robbing emission controls that led GM’s management to cancel its limitations on displacement with the goal of maintaining higher power output. To that end, Chevrolet engineers increased the 427 Mark IV’s stroke from 3.76 inches to a full 4 inches to push displacement to 454 while maintaining dependability.
Aside from the longer stroke, the high-performance Mark IV remained essentially unchanged, but the LS6’s factory rating of 450 HP at 5,600 RPM was the highest output of any production engine to that time, and it generated an incredible 500 lb-ft of torque at just 3,600 RPM, prompting “Hot Rod” magazine’s editors to declare in their May 1970 road test, “The past is gone. The future may never see a car like this. It is one of the brutes, and all it needs is a way of staying in contact with terra firma.”
The Fuller LS6 Chevelle convertible is unquestionably the preeminent example of this epochal muscle machine. Still finished in the original Tuxedo Black paint, black top and black interior, the car is immediately identifiable by the absence of contrasting sport striping that is usually a signature feature. Every other element is present, however, and its history is well documented. A four-owner treasure with just 10,222 original miles, it was purchased new by Bob Fuller of Clinton, Iowa, from Clinton Chevrolet dealership McEleney Motors as one half of a two-car deal that included a brand-new Cranberry Red LS6 Chevelle hardtop (now restored and in a private collection). Fuller pampered the convertible for more than 30 years, his only deviation from maintaining originality being an AM radio/8-track tape player, power steering and the “450 H/P” callout on the rear bumper insert, all added soon after he took delivery.
As one would expect with such a carefully preserved car, in this case driven for its first year and then put away, the engine bay is so clean and original that the cast iron exhaust manifolds and other raw cast surfaces show almost zero change from factory fresh. The rest of this gem is in the same marvelous condition, the main reason it is widely held in such high regard as the reference for the truest possible restorations.
Another important reason is its extensive option list. Building on such standard SS features as F41 suspension, power brakes with front discs, and a padded SS dash with specific gauges, Fuller chose the M40 400 Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission, a 4.10 rear end, power steering, cowl induction, Strato bucket seats with console, power windows and top, remote driver’s mirror and tilt steering wheel. Other interior options include a tinted windshield, U46 lamp monitoring system, fiber optics and auxiliary lighting, door edge guards and a rear defogger.
Fuller’s dedication to preserving this extraordinary LS6 convertible were rewarded with a 1987 feature article in “Muscle Car Review” magazine; it subsequently won Best Unrestored Chevelle at the 1988 Super Chevy Show in Indianapolis, Best in Class at the 1989 Muscle Car Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Chevy VetteFest Spinner Concours honors in 1990. Fuller sold the car to Gary Esse of Madison, Wisconsin, in 2001. Noted collector Dave Christenholz then purchased it in 2003, and it was sold to a private collector in 2008.
Of course, a truly great example of any collectible automobile is well documented; in the case of the Fuller Chevelle, that includes the original Protect-O-Plate, punch card, laminated window sticker, dealer invoice, owner's manual and a copy of the build sheet, all part of the car that has earned its status as the standard by which all LS6s are restored and judged.

mardi 24 mars 2020

2017 FORD GT COMPETITION SERIES




  • Engine
    3.5L/647 HP
  •  
  • Trans
    Automatic
  •  
  • Color
    Liquid Gray
  •  
  • Interior
    Black

Sold for $1,100,000

HIGHLIGHTS


  • 270 miles
  • Serial no. 67
  • Owned by famed driver Sebastien Bourdais, GTE class winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2016
  • One of three remaining Ford GT Competition Series
  • Plaque made by Chip Ganassi Racing in commemoration of the GTE class win at Le Mans on dash featuring engraved signatures of winning drivers Sebastien Bourdais, Dirk Muller and Joey Hand
  • Mid-Mounted Twin-Turbo 3.5L DOHC 24-valve Ecoboost V-6 engine
  • Rated at 647 HP and 550 ft/lbs of torque with a top speed of 216 MPH
  • Titanium exhaust
  • 7-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters
  • Front and rear independent suspension with electronic adjustable damping and pushbutton front lift system
  • 5 drive modes with 2 variable ride height settings
  • Brembo vented disc brake system
  • Finished in Liquid Gray with carbon fiber racing stripe
  • Carbon fiber a-pillars and side mirrors
  • Exposed carbon fiber lower sill trim with gloss finish
  • Unique Perspex acrylic engine hatch cover with manual latch and carbon fiber prop rod
  • Lightweight bulkhead Gorilla Glass
  • Carbon fiber console and door sills
  • FIA-certified steel roll cage
  • Alcantara upholstery with Red accents
  • F1 styled steering wheel with functional controls
  • Air conditioning, stereo and speakers, storage bins and cup holders removed for weight reduction
  • Carbon fiber 10-spoke wheels with titanium nuts
  • Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires
Ford’s historic assault on the 24 Hours of Le Mans commenced in 1964, the first salvo in a war declared by Henry Ford II on Enzo Ferrari after the imperious Italian rejected Ford’s offer to purchase his company. The battle raged on for two years until Ford Motor Company finally prevailed at Le Mans on June 18-19, 1966, its monstrous 427-powered GT40 MkII racers finishing 1-2-3 and putting a seemingly permanent end to Ferrari’s domination of the 24 Hours.
As the 50th anniversary of that legendary victory approached, in January 2015, Ford shocked the motoring world by introducing the new, third-generation Ford GT at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and announcing another run at the Le Mans classic. Just 17 months later and exactly 50 years to the day after the Ford armada steamrolled the competition there, on Sunday, June 19, 2016, French ace Sebastien Bourdais and teammates Joey Hand (U.S.) and Dirk Müller (Germany) took the No. 68 Ford Chip Ganassi Team USA Ford GT to the GTE-Pro class win at the 24 Hours. It was an especially rewarding win for Bourdais, who was born and raised in Le Mans and, inspired by his father Patrick (who started at Le Mans nine times), grew up dreaming of winning the 24 Hours. He had started in the race 10 times previously, beginning in 1999 and scoring three overall runner-up results in 2007, 2009 and 2011, the last time finishing a heartbreaking 13 seconds behind the overall winner. Resuming his commitment to the Verizon IndyCar Series precluded a return to the Sarthe until 2016, when an opening in the schedule and an invitation from Ford Chip Ganassi Racing provided the opportunity he sought to score his first win there.
For Sebastien Bourdais, among the many accolades and perks that came with the achievement of that career milestone was this strikingly beautiful 2017 Ford GT Competition Series, one of just six built and one of only three that remain in pure Competition Series specification. When asked how he came to own GT No. 67, Bourdais explained that it was “a bit of a late call.”
“I joined the (Ford GT racing) program in late 2015,” he said. “In one of the meetings in Detroit, when Raj (Raj Nair, Ford executive VP, global product development, chief technical officer and the man most responsible for the Ford GT) and all the others were with us, and we kind of all inquired whether we were eligible to get a GT or not by being in the race program, and they said yes. So that was settled pretty quickly and most of the drivers got one. It so happened that a few months later we ended up winning the (2016 Le Mans) race with Dirk and Joey, and we all own one.”
As if to put an exclamation point on the whole affair, Ford delivered the freshly completed—and very exclusive—GT Competition Series to Bourdais just in time for Christmas of 2017. It arrived exactly as Sebastien had specified it, although he points out that the factory had already determined most of the car’s features and specifications. “The guidelines were pretty specific, so you really couldn’t separate each car too much. There were a few different colors, then the Competition Series added more specifics, so you didn’t have much room to decide exactly what you wanted—ultimately, colors and specs within the spec sheet. For me the deciding factor was the interior. The interior in the Competition Series is the only one that is full Alcantara; that’s the one I really wanted, and that’s ultimately why I chose the Competition Series.

1930 DUESENBERG MODEL J TORPEDO BERLINE CONVERTIBLE







  • Engine
    420 CI
  •  
  • Trans
    3-Speed
  •  
  • Color
    Cream
  •  
  • VIN/Serial
    J391

ESTIMATE

$1,400,000 - $1,700,000


HIGHLIGHTS

  • ACD Certified Category 1 Original
  • Coachwork by Murphy
  • Engine J-391, Chassis 2315
  • Used as a demo for the LA factory branch
  • Formerly owned by actor Tyrone Power
  • Sold new 1930 to rear admiral Gene Markey, the undersecretary of the Navy and movie producer
  • Owned in the 1940's by Wilfred Graham Hudson, C. Allen Yeagle, Roger V. Shields, Lassiter Hoyle and James Talmadge the son of Buster Keaton and Norma Talmadge
  • Talmadge traded the car to Tyrone Power for a new 1952 MG
  • Power owned the car until his death in 1958 when it was sold to J.B. Nethercutt and then to Bill Harrah's Auto Museum in Reno, Nevada
  • Sold in 1986 to Joseph Folladori of Indianapolis who restored it to its present color
  • Sold in 1991 to the Imperial Palace Collection
  • 420 CI DOHC straight-8 engine
  • Standard 3-speed transmission
No American car even approached the grandeur of the Duesenberg Model J when it made its first public appearance at the New York Salon on December 1, 1928, an event for which trading was temporarily halted on the New York Stock Exchange. By then the company founded by Fred and August Duesenberg 15 years previous was the property of E.L. Cord, whose plan for his latest venture was to exploit the Duesenberg name and engineering expertise, their reputation already enriched with a win at the French Grand Prix and three victories in the Indianapolis 500, to produce “The World’s Finest Motor Car.” The Duesenberg J perfectly fulfilled Cord’s desire for an uncompromising luxury motor car that was also a technical tour de force. Its masterfully designed 420 CI dual-overhead-camshaft straight-8 engine was fitted with four valves per cylinder and produced an astounding 265 HP and 374 lb-ft of torque, enabling a second-gear speed of 90 MPH and a top speed of 116 using a 3-speed transmission.
America was in the grip of the Great Depression when this 1930 Model J Torpedo Berline Convertible, engine number J-391, chassis 2315, and body 952 was completed by Walter M. Murphy Coachbuilders of Pasadena, California, as a demonstrator for Duesenberg’s Los Angeles sales branch. Originally painted in Washington Blue, it was sold to Hollywood screen writer Gene Markey, who later became a highly decorated Rear Admiral after World War II. A series of owners in the 1940s included James Talmadge (son of Buster Keaton and Norma Talmadge), who in 1952 traded the car to actor Tyrone Power for a new MG. Power owned the car until his death at the age of 44 in 1958, after which it was sold to J.B. Nethercutt and then to Bill Harrah's Auto Museum in Reno, Nevada. It was then purchased in 1986 by Joseph Folladori of Indianapolis, who restored it and finished it in its present color scheme. In 1991 it became part of Las Vegas’ fabulous Imperial Palace Auto Collection, after which it was in the care of several short-term owners until its purchase by the prestigious John O’Quinn Collection. Furthermore, J-391 participated in March of 1998 as one of six Duesenbergs specially invited to the Geneva Automobile Show in Switzerland, was featured in the November 1952 issue of Road & Track and was more recently immortalized by Beverly Rae Kimes in "A Duesie's Dozen, The Ownership Ancestry of J-391." Presented in stunning concours condition, this unique Model J has been judged as an ACD-Certified Category 1 Original with the original engine, chassis and body

lundi 23 mars 2020

1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING





  • Color
    Silver
  •  
  • Interior
    Red
  •  
  • VIN/Serial
    5500354

ESTIMATE

$1,700,000 - $2,000,000


HIGHLIGHTS

  • Factory build sheet
  • The car left the factory with Rudge wheels
  • Matching Red luggage
  • Restored in Silver with Red interior
  • Current owner drove on the Colorado Grand in 2011
  • Previous owner and his wife drove car from Vancouver to the arctic circle in Alaska over 2,600 miles
  • Earliest known owner was a famous hydroplane racer from Washington state
  • 2996cc engine
  • Bosch fuel injection
  • 4-speed transmission
  • Radio and dash clock
  • VDO gauges
  • Spare tire and lug wrench
The Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing was one of the automotive sensations of the 1950s and today remains one of the most iconic cars of the entire 20th century. Inspired by the lightweight racing coupes that dominated the Carrera Panamericana, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and the Nürburgring 1000 Kilometers in 1952, the 300SL actually improved on the performance of the racers with the use of Bosch fuel injection on the slanted three-liter inline-6 engine which, in addition to the gearbox, independent front suspension and swing-axle rear end were borrowed from the 300 S saloon model for budgetary reasons. The famed gullwing doors were necessitated by the 300SL’s novel multi-tubular space frame, which incorporated stressed side sections for increased structural rigidity. The subsequent high side sills dictated that the doors be hinged on the roof, actually constituting the side windows and part of the roof itself. Slanting the 6-cylinder engine and converting it to a dry-sump oiling system reduced the height of the front bonnet, improving aerodynamics and aesthetics at the same time. The 300SL’s virtually unadorned body gave the car an elegant, even unaggressive air that belied its astonishing performance.

The idea for a roadgoing 300SL was the product of the fertile mind of New York City imported-car dealer Max Hoffman. Known as the Baron of Park Avenue, the Austrian-born businessman was almost singlehandedly responsible for the deluge of European cars that flooded postwar America, including vehicles from Volkswagen, Porsche and Alfa Romeo. Watching the success of the lightweight SL racing coupes, Hoffman brashly guaranteed an order for 1,000 production Gullwing coupes for the American market, prompting the factory to abandon production of its competition cars and opt for the cash flow that would result from Hoffman’s proposal.

While the production 300SL was best known for its rally career, which included wins in the Liege-Rome-Liege event and the 1956 European Championship, it also scored such notable road racing achievements as John Fitch’s fifth place overall finish in the 1955 Mille Miglia in one of 29 alloy-bodied versions, all underscoring the 300SL’s bedrock reliability.

A previous owner of this restored 300SL drove it in the 2011 Colorado Grand rally as a last-minute substitute for the car he originally entered. With no preparation, he was able to drive the entire 1,000 miles with absolutely no issues. In addition, the car toured from Vancouver, British Columbia, to the Arctic Circle in Alaska, a trip of over 2,600 miles. Beyond its legendary reliability, the 300SL is one of the handsomest cars ever. Originally finished in Silver on Blue, this superb 300SL now sports a gorgeous Red leather interior with custom-made matching Red leather luggage.

According to its build sheet, this 300SL left the factory with coveted Rudge knock-off wheels, a rarity today because they were often damaged and were expensive to replace. While it wore standard wheels for the photography, it will be offered at auction with a fully reconditioned set of factory original Rudge wheels.  

1955 MERCEDES-BENZ 300SL GULLWING






ESTIMATE

$1,100,000 - $1,400,000



HIGHLIGHTS

  • The first Mercedes Benz 300SL that entered to Guatemala and is one of the 300 vehicles that the factory made for export outside USA
  • Eco-friendly and water based paint Glasurit Silver Grey Metallic made by BASF
  • Blue leather interiors by GAHH
  • Fitted matching luggage
  • Original manual, books and tools
  • Aftermarket Rudge wheels
  • Original floor pans
  • 2,996cc SOHC inline six cylinder engine
  • Bosch mechanical fuel injection
  • 4-speed manual transmission
  • 4-wheel independent suspension
  • 4-wheel drum brakes
  • 11% buyers premium on this automobile, Import duties have been paid
Perhaps the most legendary and charismatic car of the early post-war era, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe is forever remembered for its distinctive “gullwing” doors. Significantly, they were no stylistic whim, instead playing a very real functional role, because at the heart of the car was a light but complex tubular space-frame chassis. To provide the necessary rigidity, it had to intrude into part of the space usually occupied by conventionally hung doors, so the car’s designers ingeniously decided to hinge them from the roof.
The 300SL, whose name referred to its 3-liter displacement and “Super Light” designation, first appeared in the 1952 Mille Miglia competition in May, won the sports race at the Swiss Grand Prix later in the month and went on to take first and second places at Le Mans. In November 1952 the 300SLs were similarly successful across the Atlantic in the Mexico City Road Race. There was also a roadster version of the design that scored an impressive 1-2-3 victory at the Nürburgring.
In 1955, Guatemalan Mercedes-Benz dealer, collector and veteran sports car racer Manfredo Lippmann imported three new 300SL “Gullwing” coupes to Guatemala for the Central American market. Of the 300 Gullwings built for export outside the United States, they were the only three sold to Guatemala. The first car delivered to Lippmann by Mercedes-Benz was this Silver Grey coupe, serial number 5500606. Its first owner was Mr. Guillermo Suhr, a wealthy young local entrepreneur. In 1957 it was sold to Alan Plihal who, after six years, sold it to Mr. Alfredo Peralta, whose father Enrique Peralta Azurdia was President of Guatemala from 1963 to 1966.

In 1973 the car was purchased by Mr. William Wilmeth, an American resident in Guatemala who sent the engine to a specialist Mercedes dealer in the United States for restoration. Mr. Wilmeth subsequently fell ill and the restoration was left unfinished. Wilmeth later returned to his home in the U.S. and placed the car in dry storage. It remained there for more than 20 years until December 2004, when it was purchased by Guatemalan automotive collector Mario Sueiras.
Mr. Sueiras then invested more than 2,000 hours of work in a nut-and-bolt restoration that was completed in November 2006. Still powered by the original matching-numbers engine and driveline, this extraordinarily rare Gullwing coupe is finished in Silver Grey Metallic Glasurit® paint and features a Blue leather interior with fitted matching luggage by renowned interior specialists GAHH. Significantly, the original belly pans remain intact on the car, which was equipped during the restoration with chromed reproduction Rudge knock-off wheels. It also retains the original owner’s manual, books and tools.
This fabulous 300SL coupe is registered with the Gullwing Group, the world’s largest 300SL car club with members in 22 countries. Driven fewer than 200 miles since the restoration, it has otherwise remained in Mr. Sueiras’ climate-controlled personal garage, the crown jewel in his impressive collection.



ESTIMATE $1,100,000 - $1,400,000 HIGHLIGHTS The first Mercedes Benz 300SL that entered to Guatemala and is one of the 300 vehicles that the factory made for export outside USA Eco-friendly and water based paint Glasurit Silver Grey Metallic made by BASF Blue leather interiors by GAHH Fitted matching luggage Original manual, books and tools Aftermarket Rudge wheels Original floor pans 2,996cc SOHC inline six cylinder engine Bosch mechanical fuel injection 4-speed manual transmission 4-wheel independent suspension 4-wheel drum brakes 11% buyers premium on this automobile, Import duties have been paid Perhaps the most legendary and charismatic car of the early post-war era, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe is forever remembered for its distinctive “gullwing” doors. Significantly, they were no stylistic whim, instead playing a very real functional role, because at the heart of the car was a light but complex tubular space-frame chassis. To provide the necessary rigidity, it had to intrude into part of the space usually occupied by conventionally hung doors, so the car’s designers ingeniously decided to hinge them from the roof. The 300SL, whose name referred to its 3-liter displacement and “Super Light” designation, first appeared in the 1952 Mille Miglia competition in May, won the sports race at the Swiss Grand Prix later in the month and went on to take first and second places at Le Mans. In November 1952 the 300SLs were similarly successful across the Atlantic in the Mexico City Road Race. There was also a roadster version of the design that scored an impressive 1-2-3 victory at the Nürburgring. In 1955, Guatemalan Mercedes-Benz dealer, collector and veteran sports car racer Manfredo Lippmann imported three new 300SL “Gullwing” coupes to Guatemala for the Central American market. Of the 300 Gullwings built for export outside the United States, they were the only three sold to Guatemala. The first car delivered to Lippmann by Mercedes-Benz was this Silver Grey coupe, serial number 5500606. Its first owner was Mr. Guillermo Suhr, a wealthy young local entrepreneur. In 1957 it was sold to Alan Plihal who, after six years, sold it to Mr. Alfredo Peralta, whose father Enrique Peralta Azurdia was President of Guatemala from 1963 to 1966. In 1973 the car was purchased by Mr. William Wilmeth, an American resident in Guatemala who sent the engine to a specialist Mercedes dealer in the United States for restoration. Mr. Wilmeth subsequently fell ill and the restoration was left unfinished. Wilmeth later returned to his home in the U.S. and placed the car in dry storage. It remained there for more than 20 years until December 2004, when it was purchased by Guatemalan automotive collector Mario Sueiras. Mr. Sueiras then invested more than 2,000 hours of work in a nut-and-bolt restoration that was completed in November 2006. Still powered by the original matching-numbers engine and driveline, this extraordinarily rare Gullwing coupe is finished in Silver Grey Metallic Glasurit® paint and features a Blue leather interior with fitted matching luggage by renowned interior specialists GAHH. Significantly, the original belly pans remain intact on the car, which was equipped during the restoration with chromed reproduction Rudge knock-off wheels. It also retains the original owner’s manual, books and tools. This fabulous 300SL coupe is registered with the Gullwing Group, the world’s largest 300SL car club with members in 22 countries. Driven fewer than 200 miles since the restoration, it has otherwise remained in Mr. Sueiras’ climate-controlled personal garage, the crown jewel in his impressive collection.