Friday, January 31, 2020

1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 Cabriolet by Brandone

Between 1929 and 1939 automobiles developed into sophisticated artifacts. For the first time in history the top cars were reaching speeds over 80 mph, an astounding feat. This 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 Cabriolet comes from a time when cars had hood ornaments, shiny trim and running boards. It has a large hood ornament that is fashioned as a flying stork.
The Hispano-Suiza was reserved for kings, queens, and movie stars, the world’s wealthiest, most stylish people. They demanded the luxurious, beautiful, and exclusive. A total of 204 cars were built in the manufacturer's Paris factory.

About forty examples are known to have survived.
The new Hispano Suiza K6 was introduced at the Paris Auto Salon in the fall of 1934. It was offered as a rolling chassis only, so customers could have it fitted with coachwork of choice.
The straight 6, 5,184 cc / 316.3 cu in engine produced 125 bhp @ 3,200 rpm through a 3 speed manual gearbox. This example crossed the block at RM Sotheby's in January.
The last time a 1935 Hispano-Suiza K6 Cabriolet changed hands in 2012 it made $2.2m.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro at Mecum

1 of 201 Yenko Camaros produced in 1969. Chevy loyalists revere a car dealer named Don Yenko. Yenko had a deserved reputation for driving, building, and selling dominating Chevrolets.

The Holy Grail for Chevy enthusiasts, these cars are among the most sought after Chevy muscle cars ... period.
427 CI V-8 engine. Hi-lift camshaft. Solid valve lifters. Hi-Rise intake with 800 CFM Holley carburetor. The L72 427, which Chevy pegged at 425 bhp, Yenko rated a more-realistic 450.
As delivered, Yenko Camaros turned mid-13s. Most were fitted with headers and slicks and in this form recorded 11.94-second ETs at 114 mph.

The car's iconic status is reflected in the steep rise in value over the decades. It is difficult to touch one of these cars for under $200,000. Hagerty suggests a concours example trends around $ 350,000. This example made $192,500 in 2018.

1969 Pontiac Firebird Convertible - $60k high bid

Rare factory HO Ram Air convertible. Custom ordered in code 76 Daytona Goldenrod Yellow. Frame-up rotisserie restoration completed in 2019. Service records from new. 400 CI Ram Air III engine. Factory Turbo 400 transmission. 3.55 Safe-T-Track rear end. Manual steering and brakes. Manual convertible top. Poverty hub caps.

1 of 499 Ram Air III automatics produced, it's estimated that fewer than 60 convertibles were built with this drive train.
Launched in February 1967, Pontiac’s Firebird 400 was the performance leader, packing a 330 HP W66 V-8 as standard, with the Ram Air III and Ram Air IV as highly expensive options. The engines were under-rated at 335 HP and 345 HP respectively. This example appears at Mecum's.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

2015 Lamborghini Veneno

In celebration of the marque’s 50th anniversary, the matte-black 2015 Veneno roadster will go up for auction as part of RM Sotheby’s upcoming Paris sale. One of just nine Venenos roadsters ever produced, it is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine mated to a 7-speed ISR semi-automatic transmission, which churns out 750 bhp.

Then, there is the name. Lamborghini says Veneno comes from “one of the strongest and most aggressive fighting bulls ever,” a bull that famously killed a matador in 1914. The car has just 280 miles on the odometer. With an original price tag of $4m, the estimate is $5m to $6.1m.

1970 Chevrolet Chevelle LS6 Convertible - $240k high bid

Auction Lot F143, Kissimmee. Documented with original build sheets and title search. Extensive restoration and Diamond Certified.

Original matching numbers LS6 454/450 HP engine. Original M22 Rock Crusher 4-speed transmission. Original 3.31 Positraction rear end. Power steering and front disc brakes. Delco AM radio. 5-spoke SS wheels. Firestone Wide Oval tires.
The 1970 Chevelle SS 454 LS6 was the big dog of Chevrolet's intermediate muscle cars in terms of value and performance. The convertible is the rarest and most valuable of the pack. Less than 20 are known.

The LS6 454ci V8 was rated at a ridiculous 450hp. The real number was likely past 525hp.
This is the absolute top of the muscle car collector food chain. The car made high bid of $240k against an estimate of $275k to $325k.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

1970 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/T - $143k

In 1970, Dodge built 14 Coronet R/Ts with the fire breathing 425-hp, 426-cu.in. Hemi V-8, including 13 hardtops and a single convertible. That makes any original Hemi-equipped 1970 Coronet R/T a rare and desirable car.

In January 2018 a nifty one hammered for $143k.
Last year Hagerty suggested a 1970 Coronet R/T convertible with the 440 Six-Pack engine in #1 (Concours) condition is worth around $129,000.

A numbers-matching Hemi Coronet R/T hardtop, 1 of 5 with manual 4 speed, sold at a Mecum auction in 2014 for $305,000.
In 1970 Dodge built 2 Coronet R/T Convertibles with a 426 Hemi and 4 speed (WS27R0G). This is the only one left.

Monday, January 27, 2020

1956 Ferrari 290 MM - $22m

A Ferrari Classiche-certified 1956 Ferrari 290 MM previously raced by Formula 1 legends Juan Manuel Fangio, Peter Collins and Sir Stirling Moss headlined RM Sotheby's auction in 2018. The car has received a complete restoration by Ferrari Classiche in Italy and houses a perfect Tipo 130 V12 engine.
The car was built at the direction of company founder Enzo Ferrari, and it was the last of four 290 MM models built in 1956. A competition Ferrari, with a winning history, that was driven by several world famous drivers. That makes it desirable.

It's high estimate was $ 26m.
In 2015 a 1956 Ferrari 290 MM made $28m.

1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro - $165k

Auction Lot R265, Kissimmee. YS9637, COPO 9561 and 9737. 427 CI engine, 512 block. Winters aluminum intake manifold. 4-speed manual transmission. Heavy duty suspension. Power front disc brakes. AM radio. Hugger Orange with Black interior. Specifications for COPO Camaros were two distinct packages. COPO 9561 formed the core of the Yenko conversion, centering on the L72 Corvette engine.
It was an iron block with 4-bolt mains, utilized a forged-steel crank and connecting rods, forged-aluminum pistons, high-lift mechanical camshaft with heavy-duty valvetrain, large-valve rectangular-port heads and a big-bore Holley 4-barrel on a Winters dual-plane aluminum intake manifold.
COPO 9561 also specified a curved-neck 4-core radiator, a Muncie 4-speed, F41 Special Suspension, power front disc brakes, a 4.10 BE-code Positraction rear axle and cowl-induction hood.
The COPO 9737 Sports Car Conversion package added a 13/16-inch front stabilizer bar, 15x7-inch Rally wheels with E70x15 tires, and a 140 MPH speedometer.
A top end 1969 Chevrolet Yenko Camaro is a highly desirable thing.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Alloy Berlinetta Competizione by Scaglietti

The first official Ferrari 250 GT SWB appeared at the Paris Salon. Competizione cars received larger brake calipers, outside fuel fillers, upgraded suspension and lightweight aluminum bodywork. Above all, the Competizione SWB models were equipped with the type 168 B motor. Built strictly for racing, this engine featured a horizontally mounted oil filter, Testa Rossa heads, coil-type valve springs, velocity stacks and individual ports and was capable of producing upwards of 270 bhp.
The 250 GT SWB Competizione is the car that preceded the GTO as Ferrari’s racing gran turismo of choice. The new Ferrari 250 GT SWB was an instant racing success. The SWB is one of the most successful Ferrari GTs ever constructed. 42 alloy competition Berlinettas were built in 1960.

These cars epitomize everything that is collectible and values have reflected it's hallowed status.
This example carried an estimate of $9.5m to $13m. In 2016 an example changed hands at a Gooding auction for $13.5m. A decade earlier an example changed hands for $2.7m.

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2

The Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ (Tubolare Zagato) was a sports car and racing car manufactured by Alfa Romeo from 1963 to 1967. The car debuted at the 1963 FISA Monza Cup, where TZs took the first four places in the prototype category.

At the beginning of 1964 the TZ was homologated (100 units were needed for homologation) to the Gran Turismo category. After homologation it took many class wins in Europe and North-America. 112 TZ units were built between 1963 and 1965.
In 1965 the car was updated with new fiberglass bodywork providing lower drag and reduced weight of 620 kg (1,370 lb). This new version was also bodied by Zagato masters. The new design was called the TZ2. The TZ2 was only built as a racing version.

A total of 12 TZ2s were built.
TZ2 engines were DOHC Inline-4 four which produced 170bhp at 7500rpm. They were good for 160 mph. The racing career of the ‘mini Ferrari GTO’ was brief, but very successful. In 1966 the car ran in five international events, of which it took five first class wins.
Collectors covet all Alfa Romeo race cars and none more than the TZ2. In 1972 an example was offered for $6,750. Today if they change hands at all that number would be closer to $ 3m.

Hagerty suggests the number is $ 3.4m for a concours quality TZ2.