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DBr1 Feature

By Andrew Nabors –  August 21, 2017

Aston Martin DBR1 Breaks Records At Monterey

Race cars are sometimes tricky to sell. Owning and driving them requires mechanical aptitude and patience, traits that some collectors are not willing to endure. But if production was limited to only 5 cars, it completely changes the situation.David Brown bought Aston Martin in 1947, and his line of high-performance luxury cars was named with his initials. One of his famous racers, the DB3S was based on a street-legal car, as per regulations at the time. But a change to the rulebook for 1956 allowed for competitors to build race-only cars. The DBR1 was the first Aston Martin specifically built as a race car. Only five cars were produced, and they brought home numerous wins. The prototype was this car "DBR1/1", and it won the 1,000 km of Nürburgring in 1959. After a complete restoration, it has also become the most expensive British car ever sold. At RM Sotheby's Monterey auction, it hammered for $22,550,000. From the light alloy body to a futuristic 5-speed transaxle, this car was built to dominate. RM Sotheby's had very strict criteria on bidders, who required vetting and a background check. They also chose to showcase it on the world's greatest car website, so that prospective buyer could see all the details. We're glad we could help it find a new home, and congratulations to RM Sothebys on a successful weekend. Stay with us for a breakdown of Monterey highlights and more Aston Martin news.

superbird-mecum-08142017

By Edward Jones –  August 14, 2017

Cover Car: 1970 Plymouth Hemi Superbird Sells for Big Money

The famous Superbird is the result of Plymouth taking the Road Runner and modifying it for NASCAR. Mecum Auctions recently auctioned an pristine example of the model at their Harrisburg 2017 event for big money. You can view the bidding for yourself in the video below.What makes this Superbird so special is the fact that it's one of 58 Hemi examples that were produced with the four-speed transmission. This impeccable piece of American automotive history has 17,000 miles on its odometer, the original window sticker, warranty card, IBM punch card and more. Along with physical items, this car also won Best American Muscle Car at 2003 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and OE Silver Certification at 2002 Mopar Nationals. Buy This Issue Now

RM Sothebys Ferrari Feature

By Andrew Nabors –  July 17, 2017

RM Sotheby’s to Auction 13 Iconic Ferraris At Monterey

The year seems to be flying by because it feels like we just left Monterey Car Week 2016. With news of this year's highlights beginning to trickle in, RM Sotheby's announcement outshines all the others. A press release over the weekend outlines 13 classic and contemporary Ferraris that will highlight their event. These lucky 13 cars have been dubbed the Ferrari Performance Collection. All cars are low-mileage examples from the collection of a single owner. They represent over 50 years of racing-inspired automobiles, these are among the most coveted street-legal cars in existence. Ten cars are selling without reserve so the results will be used to gauge the pulse of our hobby. Here Is The Lineup: 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta – Est. $8,500,000 – $10,000,000 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 Berlinetta by Scaglietti – Est. $2,750,000 – $3,250,000 1969 Ferrari Dino 206 GT – Est. $650,000 – $750,000 Cars without any reserve: 1991 Ferrari F40 – Est. $1,300,000 – $1,500,000 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO – Est. $700,000 – $800,000 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi – Est. $375,000 – $450,000 2005 Ferrari 575 Superamerica – Est. $375,000 – $450,000 2009 Ferrari 16M Scuderia Spider – Est. $350,000 – $400,000 1984 Ferrari 512 BBi – Est. $275,000 – $325,000 2004 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale – Est. $275,000 – $325,000 2009 Ferrari 430 Scuderia – Est. $250,000 – $300,000 1976 Ferrari 308 GTB ‘Vetroresina’ – Est. $175,000 – $225,000 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS – Est. $90,000 – $120,000 Of all those ten, the most shocking is a two-owner 1991 Ferrari F40. Chassis 87895 is one of 213 US-spec cars. It comes with luggage, tools and the original invoice. Following close behind is a 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO with only 481 miles. Instead of a race inspired street car, the GTO was actually a detuned 599XX. On the more affordable end of the spectrum, a 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS and a 2004 Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale are among the cleanest examples on the market. The trio of headliners will have reserve prices because to make sure they find a proper home, and you might be surprised to find a Dino making the list. Steel bodied cars were prone to rust, but the aluminum examples have become greatly sought after. Next up will be a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 with certification by Ferrari Classiche. The headliner of the event will be a 1961 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta. It is among the last production cars to be eligible for endurance racing. It could bring upwards of ten million dollars so we will be there with live coverage via our Facebook page. Of course, we will be attending other events of the weekend, so stay with us for all your Monterey coverage.

Mecum 911 GT2 Feature

By Andrew Nabors –  May 26, 2017

1996 Porsche 911 GT2 Evo Brings Big Money At Mecum

If a car auction has rare or fast machines, you will find us there and read about it here. That means we have enough auction credentials to make interesting artwork for the garage, but more on that later. Since we see what happens behind the scenes, there are good events, and also mediocre ones. Then there is Mecum. Even tuning in for coverage, you can easily see that everyone is having a great time with Dana Mecum and his team of fast-paced auctioneers. Porsche 993 For Sale Perhaps that's how he amassed some of the most coveted cars on earth to the Original Spring Classic. The star of their 30th-anniversary event was an incredibly rare Porsche 911. If you read our overview of the 993 series you probably know it was the last air-cooled design. It was also the introduction of the wild Porsche 911 GT2, a no-holds-barred twin turbo. The engine masters in Stuttgart managed to make 600 horsepower from a 3.6-liter flat-six, but it wasn't exactly street legal. So eleven race cars were built to take on the world. The GT2 class doesn't allow AWD, so the driveshaft and differential were left to the 'regular' 911 turbos. With 490 lb-ft of torque and a race-spec six-speed transmission, it was able to hit 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph. Porsche never disclosed the price for such power, which has only added to its appeal. That's why two bidders erupted into a war last weekend which ended with a hammer price of $1,450,000. To all the journalists who said the air-cooled market had softened, you might want to revise your résumé. A Porsche 911 GT2 RS is as close as most of us will get, so check out our listings and remember those who served this weekend.

movie-cars

By Edward Jones –  April 17, 2017

Buy Cars From The Big Screen At This Auction

Tiger Group will conduct an online-only sale on April 27th of approximately 200 classic autos, muscle cars, specialty and other vehicles no longer needed for the continuing operations of Picture Car Warehouse, which for more than 20 years has been a leading provider of specialty vehicles for the motion picture, television, TV commercial and video industries. The assets also include hot rods, customs, period cars and motorcycles that have appeared in dozens of motion pictures, commercials, and television shows. Spare parts will also be available.Online bidding for the vehicles will commence April 20 at www.SoldTiger.com. Bidding will close in rapid succession, live auction style, on April 27 at 10:30 a.m. (PT). All bidders are required to register prior to the sale at www.SoldTiger.com. Previews of the assets will be held on April 26, from10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (PT), in two California locations: at 18959 Parthenia Rd., Northridge, and at 34855 Petersen Rd., in Agua Dulce.“As Picture Car Warehouse makes room for new acquisitions, individuals, collectors and production companies can take advantage of this unique opportunity to purchase these exceptional vehicles associated with movies and other productions,” said Jeff Tanenbaum, President of Tiger Group’s Commercial & Industrial division. “It’s also a rare opportunity for the general public to purchase a car from their favorite movie or show.”Picture Car Warehouse has provided vehicles for dozens of motion pictures and television shows, including Rush Hour 3, The Bucket List, Grindhouse, Taxi, The Runaways, Beverly Hills Cop, Pee-Wee's Big Holiday, The Town, Faster, Vampire Diaries, Sons of Anarchy, Seven Psychopaths, Nightcrawlers, Entourage, Mad Men, The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons, Straight Outta Compton, Agent Carter, Rosewood, Caged Heat, Monk, Grey's Anatomy, Dexter, Agents of Shield, Reno 911, plus ads for Allstate, Budweiser, and Chevrolet to name but a few.The offering includes classic vehicles like Ford, Chevy and Dodge box, panel, and tow trucks from the 1940s; a 1956 Desoto, a 1965 Harley Davidson Chopper, and a 1966 “427” Corvette. Muscle cars, hot rods and other vehicles up for bid include a 1967 Chevelle SS with a frame-off restoration, a 1990 ZR-1 Corvette with 75 original miles, Camaros, Mustangs, and Firebirds; and motorcycles by names like Harley Davidson, Suzuki and Kawasaki.Vehicles from the 1970s through the 2000s include Crown Vics, Impala SS clones, Rabbit convertibles, Gremlins, Chargers, and a Hummer H2. Pickup trucks, station wagons, trailers, and vans will also be available.Specialty vehicles up for bid include a 1961 Lincoln “Bud Light” limo, a 1963 “Madmen” John Deere mower, Unimogs, camera cars, ambulances, armored cars, news vans, a 2002 Gem Truckster, custom motorcycles, and more.For a full catalog of the items offered and details on how to schedule a site visit and bid, go to: www.SoldTiger.com.View Auctions

First Retail 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to be Auctioned by Barrett-Jackson

By Edward Jones –  April 04, 2017

First Retail 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE to be Auctione...

Want to be the first one to own a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE? Then you better head to the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach auction, because that's where the first one will be auctioned off.The auction company announced on March 30 that they will be auctioning off the rights for the first retail production example of the upcoming ZL1 1LE at their Palm Beach event. If history has anything to say about this, Rick Hendrick may be the one that will snatch this up for a high price. However, no matter how much it sells for, 100 percent of the hammer proceeds will go to United Way.This new ZL1 1LE is the most track-capable Camaro that Chevrolet has ever created. Its aerodynamics, suspension, light weight, wheels, and tires were all optimized for the track. One of the most notable modifications on the new ZL1 1LE has to be the carbon fiber rear wing, which helps it stand out from the rest of the Camaros. Under its hood is a supercharged LT4 engine capable of 650 horsepower. Mated to this engine is a six-speed manual transmission.Be sure to stay with us to see just how much this car sells for after the auction April 6-8.

jaguar-e-type-12012016

By Edward Jones –  December 01, 2016

Lengedary Jaguar Set to Sell for Almost $10 Million

Everyone knows that classic Ferraris can sell for massive amounts of money, but what about Jaguars? The English automaker has a long history of iconic automobiles, with one in particular set to cross Bonham's Scottsdale auction block.The 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition, number S850667, was the tenth of the twelve Factory Lightweights that were ever built. This specific car also won the 1963 Australian GT Championship. It's also very well-documented, is very original and, get this, it has less than 4,000 original miles recorded with just three owners from new. Yeah, we're talking about a car from 1963.(Related - So Close: Jaguar E-Type Barely Misses Crashing Into $40 Million Ferrari)According to Bonhams: "This example has been out of the public eye for most of its life and comes recently from a private collection where it has resided since 1999. Its condition, too, is incredibly noteworthy with original finish visible in most areas, including almost all the interior. To have a competition car, and a championship winner at that, in such original condition is unheard of today."So, how much will it be sold for? Bonhams reckons it has an estimated auction price of $7,500,000-$8,000,000. If sold for this price, it will sit below the hammer price of 1955 Jaguar D-Type (CHASSIS NO. XKD 501) sold at RM Sotheby's 2016 Monterey auction, which was $21,780.000. Be sure to check back with us to see how much this 1963 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight Competition sells for at Bonhams' Scottsdale Auction taking place on Thursday, January 19, 2017.All Jaguar For Sale

mercedes-300-sl-roadster

By Edward Jones –  October 10, 2016

RM Sotheby's Hershey 2016 Official Results

RM Sotheby's recently held their 10th anniversary Hershey event in Pennsylvania and it's being marked as an incredible success. Held October 6-7 during the AACA Eastern Fall Meet, the auction company sold 90 percent of their lots, including a series of cars that were being offered just out of long-term ownership. The total for the two-evening event totalled out in excess of $11.58 million.Below are the top ten results from the event, including a stunning 1930 Duesenberg that sold for over $2 million.View Full Results 10. 1937 Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe - $187,000 9. 1932 Cadillac V-16 Five-Passenger Sedan - $220,000 8. 1937 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan - $275,000 7.  1927 Duesenberg Model A/Y Phaeton Prototype (Chassis 912) - $340,000 6. 1957 Porsche 356 A 1600 Speedster - $341,000 5. 1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 41 Convertible Victoria - $456,500 4. 1932 Lincoln Model KB Boattail Speedster - $605,000 3. 1957 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster - $825,000 2. 1935 Auburn Eight Supercharged Speedster - $880,000 1. 1930 Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton - $2,090,000 View More Sports Cars For Sale

Ford GT Prototype

By Andrew Nabors –  August 29, 2016

Top 10 Sales from Russo & Steele Monterey 2016

With an event that has outgrown the Monterey waterfront, Russo & Steele have set new records for collector car prices. What started as an open air event at the Fisherman's Wharf parking lot has evolved into a must-see event of the weekend. Under tents that would leave PT Barnum speechless, they brought together 250 of the world's most sought after automobiles,  We told you what to expect a few weeks ago, but now the final numbers are in. Here are the most notable sales of the event: 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL With only 17,443 miles, the only restoration needed was new chrome plating on the bumpers. Numbers matching examples of these cars are becoming very hard to find, which is why it was able to bring $1,050,105. 2004 Ford GT Prototype As the final validation of their engineering efforts, Ford's design team and assembly workers signed the underside of the hood of this significant car. Built as the final prototype, it was the last pre-production Ford GT built before official production began. It was used to validate the assembly line techniques and to ensure the electrical system could perform as a daily driver. Most GTs have been well cared for in climate controlled garages, but Ford's SVT division racked up almost 50,000 miles in testing. It sold for $836,000. 1993 Jaguar XJ220 Supercars of the 90's are intimidating because they delivered incredible power with none of the modern stability systems we're accustomed to. The XJ220 is just such an example. With a twin turbo 3.5L V6, it offers 540 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque at all wheels. As such, the owner only amassed 871 kilometers (541 miles) since new. Capable of running with the fastest cars in the world, it sold for $435,000 2014 Mercedes-AMG SLS Black Series When AMG is given free reign to design the ultimate GT car, their menacing builds are known as the Black Series. In the quest for aerodynamic dominance, the track focused SLS AMG GT trades civility for downforce with carbon fiber spoilers. Since the new AMG GT models are based on the 4.0L twin turbo engine, the SLS might be the last big 6.3L naturally aspirated model. $418,000 2009 Ferrari 16M Built to celebrate Ferrari's 16th victory as a Formula1 constructor, the 16M is more than just a fancy F430. Only 499 cars were built, and they are as close to a street-legal race car as you will get. The interior is all carbon fiber and the exhaust is unrestricted. Capable of reaching 62 mph in 3.7 seconds, it stands as one of the most significant production cars in recent history. $355,000 1970 Ferrari 365 GT 2+2 The first production Ferrari with power steering and power brakes, the 365 was a more practical cruiser than its predecessors. Instead of a rear mounted transaxle, the 365 placed the transmission behind the engine in a conventional layout. This allowed for ample trunk space and room for rear passengers. Originally owned by a famous Hollywood producer, it sold for $346,500 1988 Lamborghini Countach 5000 QV The car that brought Lamborghini into the modern era, this Countach was ordered with every option. The first Countach to offer 4 valves per cylinder, the new 5.1L version of their venerable V12 did away with carburetors in favor of Bosch fuel injection. With only 18,469 miles, it is a time capsule of 80's excess. $321,750 1957 Porsche 356 Restored to an exceedingly high standard including the factory-specified color combination, this 1957 356 Speedster is complete with documentation. An outstanding original car from San Diego, California was the foundation used to begin a stunning restoration by Porsche marque specialists in Newport Beach, California. $250,000  2000 Ferrari 550 Maranello For the discerning buyer who needs a manual transmission, this well-preserved example has only 3,781 miles. The stunning & sensuous lines of Pininfarina are combined with a 5.5L V12 in a combination that we might not see again. $194,700 1955 Facel-Vega FV1 As a signal to the world that France was recovering from the war, Facel-Vega combined a Chrysler HEMI V8 with gorgeous coachwork. $181,500.00 Stay with us, as Russo & Steele will be previewing their Scottsdale event in the near future.

mclaren-p1-green

By Edward Jones –  August 22, 2016

Mecum's Top 10 Monterey Sales: Multiple Multi-Million Dol...

From August 18-20 in Monterey, Mecum hosted one of their finest auctions yet and it included some of the rarest cars in the world. The auction itself was held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, which created a perfect atmosphere for the amazing cars that ranged from classics to modern hypercars.Below are the top ten sales from their auction, including multiple multi-million dollar sales. What's more, seven out of these ten sales were hammered down at $1 million and more.Check out the list below, and click the "Learn More" buttons to learn more about specific cars. 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari 1 of 3 in Nero DS Opaco, 211 Original MilesSold for $4,700,000 Learn More 1966 Ford GT40 MkI First Road Car Delivered to North AmericaSold for $4,400,000 Learn More 2003 Ferrari Enzo One Owner and 2,050 MilesSold for $3,000,000 2014 McLaren P1 3.8/903 HP Hybrid, 576 Miles, Serial No. 2Sold for $1,850,000 Learn More 2005 Porsche Carrera GT 5.7/605 HP, 6-Speed, 152 MilesSold for $1,050,000 Learn More 2011 Ferrari 599 SA Aperta 6.0/661 HP V-12, 1 of 80 ProducedSold for $1,050,000 2006 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 8.0/1001 HP W-16, 3,839 MilesSold for $1,000,000 Learn More 1965 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster CSX2549, Rare AutomaticSold for $950,000 1968 Lamborghini Miura P400 S/N 3315, Same Owner Since 1985Sold for $790,000 2011 Ferrari 599 GTO 6.0/661 HP V-12, 1,965 MilesSold for $680,000

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