Scottsdale 2012: Meet the new kid on the block, Bonhams

Ok, ok Bonhams auction house isn't exactly "new". They've been at it since 1793, before there were even cars. But, for 2012 they're joining the ranks in Scottsdale, AZ for what will likely become an annual auction. Their catalog is divided into two distinct sections, automobilia and cars. Looking at the cars, they picked a very nice selection for starters. Here's some that stood out to me.

This 1969 Porsche 911S is a real looker with the Martini colors and full race trim. This car is fully set up for vintage SCCA race duties and has a Elverude built 2 liter motor that packs 225 horse power. This is a turn key vintage racer that was built right and ready to go.

I have a special spot reserved in my heart for early E-type Jaguars. This 1962 3.8 litre roadster is a true barn find. It has been in storage sine 1976. While it was redone at some point in the past, including a color change, you really can't fault the car's current condition. It presents itself really well and could make an excellent driver or be restored to it's original color combo.




One of the highlights of the auction is this 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom I transformable convertible sedan. This is one of two built with coachwork by Hibbard & Darrin, and was originally given as a gift by Paramount Studios and director Josef von Sternberg to actress Marlene Dietrich. A long history follows the car and has just received a comprehensive $500,000 restoration. And has not been shown since the restoration was completed.


This 1967 Porsche 906E was driven by Otto Zipper and Scooter Patrick to a 1967 USRRC under 2 litre class win. This car would be a welcome addition to any vintage race or concours and certainly the Porsche Rennsport Reunion. This ex-works car has been fully restored to it's 1967 championship livery.

When you think of the Monte Carlo Rally, your mind conjures up images of Mini Coopers and Audi Quattros. Not a full size Bentley sedan. But compete this 1952 R-type saloon did in the 1953 rally. At the hands of Mike Couper, this Bentley won the Concours de Comfort class.


Source & Photos: Bonhams

Another significant 1953 Corvette to be auctioned in Scottsdale

I had mentioned earlier this week about Russo & Steele auctioning off the famed Noland Adams 1953 Chevrolet Corvette here. However, I think I may have found a slightly more significant 53 Vette that will be auctioned by RM auctions the same weekend.

Up for auction is 1953 Corvette #5. This is one of the earliest known Corvettes in existence, and carries quite an interesting history. This car was one of the first three Corvettes to be sold to the public. Before it was sold though, the story goes that Harley Earl. GM's head of styling paraded this car around Detroit to some Ford dealers and even drove it to Ford's engineering department. Perhaps in all in a good natured, "Beat you to the punch" moment. After that, Corvette #5 was shipped to Philadelphia, PA to show to prospective Chevrolet dealers and to be reviewed by 3 time Indy 500 winner Mauri Rose who would report back to GM what needed to be updated to improve build quality on later Corvettes.

Shortly after, Crawford Greenewalt purchased Corvette #5 from Wilmington, Delaware’s Diver Chevrolet as a gift to his wife. Greenwalt at the time was chief chemical engineer and president of DuPont. The car then passed through many owners before being restored from 1997 through 2003 to be unveiled for the Corvette's 50th Anniversary. During that time, Corvette #5 was restored to NCRS "Top Flight" specifications. Included with the sale are copies of many internal GM documents verifying the car's history as well as the expected documentation that would accompany a car of this quality.


Barrett-Jackson auctioned off an even earlier example, Corvette #3, which for all technical purposes was the first Corvette sold to the public for $1 million dollars in 2006. RM's estimate, may just be a little on the light  side at $450,000-$650,000.  But who knows. Different auction company, different buyers. This is another we'll be watching for sure next weekend.

Source: RM Auctions

Barrett Jackson bringing a host of interesting cars to Scottsdale.

The folks at Barrett Jackson are really stepping up efforts to go back to their roots in a way by auctioning a wide array of classic cars that you typically would not expect to see. I've been browsing the catalog for the 2012 Scottsdale auction and found several unique classics that are set to be auctioned in a little more than a week's time. Here's what's caught my eye.

1948 Tucker Torpedo. What's not to love about the tucker? A truly uniquely styled car and a great story of the American Dream and free enterprise. Preston Tucker is a person I admire greatly, just imagine if things actually did work and the car flourished. This car comes from the famed private collection of Ron Pratte who is a staple at Barrett Jackson auctions.

1939 Buick Roadmaster. This one caught me because of the fact that it's the 1939 Indianapolis 500 pace car. The catalog doesn't say if it's "The" car that paced the race, but it's still really cool to think of a car this big as the pace car.

1957 Desoto Adventurer convertible. There's just something about the overall look of this one. I don't know if it's the wire wheels or the gold and black paint. A lot of folks might go for the Chrysler, Plymouth, or Dodges of this era, but there's something classy about the Desoto. And I think it looks the best out of them all.

1933 Desoto. This one stood out because it's not only a classic, but it was used in a classic film. 1967's Bonnie & Clyde. What's even more outstanding is that the car is essentially how it appeared in the film. Bullet holes and all. And it still presents itself very well. This one will make a collector very happy.

Also from 1933 comes this Pierce Arrow from the Blackhawk collection. I love the styling of this car cause it is radically different from anything else on the road at that time. This car was owned and restored at one time by the late Bill Harrah of the Harrah's Collection. This will be a significant sale at the auction without a doubt.

Also coming from the Blackhawk collection is this 1954 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Gullwing coupe. If there was ever a blue chip collector car, this is it. The dark silver paint just suits the flowing lines of this SL.

This 1947 Bentley may perhaps be one of the most beautiful cars in the world. This example with Coachworks by Franay comes from the Ron Pratte collection and has over 50 awards won for it's beauty. This is a one of a kind classic that will stop them in their tracks at any concours.

Next up is this 1941 Packard 160 limosine with Body by Rollson. This caught me eye because of the unique town car body style and how the passenger compartment was styled with a traditional carriage roof. This car harks back to the era of old money, and you can just imagine the sort of events and parties this car was used for.

Lastly is a car that is no stranger to Barrett Jackson. This 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible was used in the TV show Nash Bridges and was driven by Don Johnson. He liked the car so much, he purchased it when the show went off the air. In 2003 he and Cheech Marin drove the car across the auction block and sold the car, where it returned the following year to move to another collector. You may be saying, wait that's a 71 Cuda. In traditional Hollywood magic, yes the car is a 1970 Cuda that was modified to 1971 standards for the show.

Source & Photos: Barrett Jackson

Scottsdale 2012: Russo & Steele 1953 Corvette

The 1953 Corvette might not have been a performance power house, but it laid the ground work for what would become one of Chevrolet's  longest running nameplates. The 1953 Corvette pictured here, may just be the finest example in the world of a first year vette. This car, #284 of 300 is owned by famed Corvette collector and researcher Noland Adams. He purchased this Corvette used in 1955 and under his ownership, treated the car to a 10 year long frame off restoration that was completed in 1999. Documenting every step of the process. And his efforts awarded him also Adams' 53 earned the Bloomington Gold Award, NCRS Top Flight, NCRS Performance Verification Awards, and the NCRS Duntov Mark of Excellence Award with a score of 99.8%, very impressive. Adams' 53 was also the basis for the U.S. Postal Service's Corvette stamp issued in 2003 for the Corvette's 50th anniversary.

Now in time for the Corvette's 60th anniversary in 2013 you can have the world's best 1953 Corvette in your collection. This car will be auctioned by Russo and Steel in Scottsdale, Az  January 18th through the 22nd.


Source & Photos: Russo and Steele

The mountain or the law still haven't got those Duke Boys!

Everyone is familiar with the General Lee. The orange 69 Dodge Charger driven by Bo and Luke Duke every week from 1979 to 1985 on the hit CBS show, The Dukes of Hazzard. While there are several original General Lee's from the TV show still in existence, there is one unique one that will be up for auction at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction January 15th through the 22nd. This particular car is known in Dukes circles as Lee 1, and was the first General Lee to ever be jumped on the series, as well as the 1st car built. Lee 1 was used extensively through the first episode before making the first iconic jump over Roscoe P. Coltrane that would later be seen in the opening credits of every episode.

After a 16 foot high, 82 foot distance jump, the charger was extensively damaged. It was repainted shortly after to look like a wrecked stock car and used in another early episode before being retired to a junkyard near Covington, Georgia along with a few other cars from the early episodes. That's where Travis Bell comes in. A die hard Dukes and film car fan did some research on the show and made a visit to Covington. Speaking with several crew members led to the tip that a few cars from the show might still be in the junkyard and a visit was planned. Hidden in the woods was Lee 1. Still wearing it's green paint and i.d. tags for the show, and literally left to rot. A rescue mission was started and Lee 1 and several other cars were saved and preserved. Several years and owners later a full restoration was started. With attention to detail as to how the early cars were built, and in an effort to preserve as much as possible, the car was restored and painted as a stock 69 charger before the characteristic orange paint and graphics were re-applied. Unlike performing a concours restoration, all efforts were taken to restore the car to "as used' condition. That means it's not a perfect show car, but there's no denying it's heritage. And now the General Lee can be all yours. I'm sure this is one car that will ring the bell in Scottsdale. It's also one of a handful of celebrity and movie cars that are being auctioned at the various auctions in Scottsdale in the next couple weeks.

Stay tuned for more posts on the 2012 Scottsdale auctions.

Photo and info source: Barrett-Jackson. 

Hot Rod of the Day: 1929 Ford Model A

A very subtle take on the classic Model A hot rod formula. I'm not sure what this one packs for power, but it's certainly more than when Henry Ford built it. You have to appreciate the overall stock look. 

The last Saab? Well kinda sorta

Even I have been surprised about how quite the Internet has been about the ultimate demise of Saab. As of our last check, dealers here in the U.S. for the most part have put the sale of new Saabs (some still 2010 Models) on hold til Saab corporate and Saab North America figure out what the next move is. In the mean time it has been announced by fan site, Saabs United that a handful of Saab workers will go back to work to finish the last 100 or so cars left standing on the assembly line for the last few months when production stopped. Should Saab fade off in to the darkness, will there be a last hurrah or a show of appreciation as the last Saab leaves the assembly line like the last Ford Crown Victoria and Ranger or the last Oldsmobile? Doubtful outside of the thousands of Saab fans worldwide. But that is all the news that is currently floating around the net on what fate has in store for Saab.

We do also hear of a series of events being held around the world for Saab in the next few days. www.outside-saab.com is showing there will be 73 events in 35 countries on the 14th and 15th of January. I can't tell if these are events being held in hopes of saving the company, or just to celebrate the quirky brand we have all come to love. Either way it brings the fans together.


Source: Saabs United