RM Auctions, Hershey Lodge, Hershey, Pennsylvania, October 9-10, 2014
Two collections headlined this year’s RM auction at Hershey.
The first was John Moir, Jr.’s unique assemblage including the ‘A-Z’ collection of 26 marques comprising the full alphabet from A-Z, augmented with his peerless collection of AC cars.
The second was restorer Jeffrey Day’s collection of Fifties cars – mostly Fords – all done to uniformly high standards of appearance and function.
With 169 cars in total – about half from the featured collections – RM expanded the Hershey auction to two days. It was probably the most diverse offering RM has ever put on at Hershey, and that’s saying a lot because this is always a sale that features cars calculated and assembled to appeal to the legion of diverse collectors prowling the AACA Show and swap meet.
One of the intriguing features of Hershey is that foreign collectors flock to it. English is almost in the minority among overheard comments, and even the English is in many cases heavily accented with European pronunciation.
External factors sometimes enter in and that might have been the case in 2014. The British Pound was strong at $1.6049 to the dollar, up a penny from a year ago, but the Euro was at its lowest conversion rate to the dollar in the history of RM’s Hershey auctions, just $1.2636 on Friday. The Euro exchange rate a year ago was $1.3559 making cars in 2014 some 7.3% more expensive for Euro buyers just on the exchange rate alone.
The weather – in stark contrast to last year’s biblical deluge – was beautiful; cool, crisp and clear. It’s the Hershey week we try to remember, not the misery we try to forget.
There were some noteworthy cars among the two collections and the others RM brought to Hershey, but none was more noteworthy than John Moir, Jr.’s 1930 Cadillac 452 V-16 Fleetwood bodied Roadster, the third car offered in Thursday’s sale. In the Moir family since 1933, it was totally as-delivered and restored in the original colors twenty years ago. Yet even that history, quality, presentation and provenance is insufficient to explain the eye-popping price it brought: $1 million hammer, $1.1 million with commission.
And there were enough oddments – particularly, but not exclusively, within the Moir collection – to set the curve for many rarely seen cars and models, including several beautifully restored steam cars, a quantity of steam rarely, if ever, seen at a single auction.
Seventy-six of the 169 offered are reported here (a few that were missed in the preview reported as Not Evaluated, but too significant in their inclusion and presence to overlook.)
RM Hershey is a marvelous catalog of rare, obscure, intriguing and desirable cars, a living education in the history of the automobile’s development, and even the segmentation of the market from practical (and in some cases impractical) people-movers to elegant and powerful classics and sports cars. Along with the AACA Hershey Fall Meet and the acres of iron in the car corral and swap meet it is history up close and in intimate detail.
Lot # 144 1908 Stanley Model H-5 Gentleman’s Speedy Roadster; S/N 4099; Dark Red, Black accent, Cream chassis/Black leather; No top; Estimate $80,000 – $120,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $185,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $203,500. No Reserve – RHD. Rushmore acetylene headlights, Solar kerosene sidelights, wood spoke wheels, blackwall tires, five element steam whistle, bulb horn, copper drip pan under engine and driveline. – 2012 AACA Senior National First Prize and still show quality with excellent paint, bright brass and attractive upholstery. Better than new. – The first of several marvelous, over-the-top restored steam cars offered by RM at Hershey this year. Price is almost insignificant when a car is this goodLot # 146 1939 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet, Body by Brunn; S/N B602030A; Engine # B602030A; Black, Beige cloth roof/Beige cloth; Estimate $130,000 – $160,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $130,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $143,000 – Hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls, dual enclosed sidemounts with mirrors, Trippe lights, luggage rack, rollup division, rear clock, radio, heater. – Mediocre old repaint and interior. Engine cleaned up but the compartment it sits in and the chassis it sits on were not. Generally mediocre and superficially redone. – Sold by RM at Meadow Brook in 2009 for $166,100, then at St. John’s last year for $123,750. Not getting any better but brought a modest profit to its consignor.Lot # 153 1899 Crouch Steam Runabout; S/N 3; Dark Red, Black patent leather mudguards/Black leather; No top; Estimate $60,000 – $90,000; Concours restoration, 1 condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve – RHD. Single Frankonia acetylene headlight, Solar kerosene sidelights, wood spoke wheels, solid tires, tiller cleaning, three element whistle. – 2012 AACA Grand National winner. One of three apparently built by Crouch, and the only known survivor. Excellent paint and upholstery, brilliant brass. Still concours quality. – A funky thing, but nothing if not an interesting piece of history, even if it’s an automobile evolutionary dead end and magnificently restored and maintained. There can be no contesting the value the bidders here put on this vehicle. It is one and done.Lot # 157 1913 American Underslung 22-B Scout Roadster; S/N X590; Red, Black fenders/Black leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 4+ condition; Hammered Sold at $105,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $115,500 – Electrified Gray & Davis headlights and sidelights, oval bolster fuel tank, single rear spare with round tool box inside, varnished wood spoke wheels, alternator, switch panel from a boat, later speedometer clamped on steering column, bulb horn. – Dirty old car but complete and inclined to be great. Exceptionally cool. A driver, maintained (if that word applies) in generally usable condition with many updates for the 1988 Great American Race to facilitate touring and dormant since. Needs a lot, but will reward sympathetic attention with an important, good handling American sports car. – This is not your conventional collector car. Its many updates make it a bit of a hybrid, but a car to be enjoyed for what it will do, not for what it is. Every bit the sports car as a Mercer or Stutz, without the aura, and a great value even at 1/6th over the modest high estimate. A car for someone who loves to tinker, adjust, tune and drive without worrying about stone chips and bug splatter. I liked this Scout a lot.Lot # 158 1904 Oldsmobile Model 6C Curved-Dash Runabout; S/N NJ1168; Engine # 20388; Black, Burgundy accent/Black leather; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – RHD. Wood spoke wheels, NonSkid black tires, bulb horn on tiller, Dietz kerosene headlights. – Good older paint and upholstery done by Curved-Dash expert George Green many years ago. Old AACA National First Prize winner. Engine is oily and a little grimy. A good driver. NJ assigned VIN and engine number. – Henry Ford’s Model T may have put the world on wheels but Ransom Olds’ Curved Dash put America on wheels when Henry was still tinkering with race cars. Always welcome at any show or event, this is an appropriate price for a good, well-maintained Curved Dash.Lot # 159 1924 Marmon Model 34B Speedster; S/N 2240111; Red, Black fenders/Black tape, plaid cloth; Black leatherette top; Estimate $125,000 – $175,000; Unrestored original, 4+ condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $80,000 – Drum headlights, fender mirrors, wind wings, rear-mounted spare, body color wire wheels, blackwall tires, hinged steering wheel. – A solid and complete barn find, still covered in barn dust, same family owned since the 70’s. Mechanically reawakened and said to run and drive well. Crappy old brush repaint but sound and complete with minimal rust and damage. A real find. – ‘Marmon’ and ‘Speedster’ don’t usually come together which may explain the bidders’ reluctance to rise to the bait of this Marmon. Barney Oldfield drove a similar car to pace the 1920 Indianapolis 500 and was so impressed he bought the Marmon he drove. Barney, unfortunately for the consignor, wasn’t in Hershey today.Lot # 160 1915 Stanley Model 820 12-Passenger Mountain Wagon; S/N 15055; Red, Black fenders and accent/Black leather; Estimate $200,000 – $250,000; Not evaluated, – condition; Hammered Sold at $190,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $209,000 – – Believed to be the only Model 820 Mountain Wagon still with its original body. Owned by James Melton from 1944-1952, then by Thomas C. Marshall and others. – Offered here two years ago with a high bid of $190,000, this Mountain Wagon arrived on the block wreathed in steam, like a wraith from a former time. Think about getting off the train and mounting this steaming behemoth for the trip to the F.O. Stanley’s Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, touring Mount Desert Island in Maine or riding from the Cog Railway to the Mt. Washington Hotel in the Mountain Wagon. This ride has style.Lot # 164 1962 Porsche 356B 1600 Hardtop Coupe, Body by Karmann; S/N 200797; Engine # P606494; Aetna Blue, Black roof/Taupe leather; Estimate $90,000 – $125,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $75,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $82,500. No Reserve – Blaupunkt multiband radio, chrome wheels, hubcaps, Michelin blackwalls, single grille. – Represented as matching numbers. Hinge post tag reads # 6002, Ruby Red. Engine upgraded to 75hp ‘S’ specs. Very good paint, chrome and interior. Clean engine compartment is nearly like new. Underbody is dry and surface rusted. Body is thoroughly skimmed with filler. A pretty and unusual Porsche but not in encouraging condition. – Represented as matching numbers, but uprated to S specs. The bidders were not impressed by this Hardtop, nor should they have been, and if brought a realistic price for what it is.Lot # 207 1949 Ford F-1 Pickup; S/N 97HC-203043; Washington Blue, Black running boards/Grey vinyl; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Recent restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve – Pushbutton radio, heater, varnished bed floor and side boards, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewall tires, alternator. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Excellent paint, chrome, stainless, interior and bed wood. Chassis, underbody and engine compartment are better than new except for some minor evidence of age. Vent windows beginning to delaminate. Restored and maintained better than new but starting to show some age.. – The first vehicle in the forty car collection of Jeffrey Day, and a very good example of what was to come from the collection. This is far better than most Ford F-1s and didn’t cost a lot.Lot # 209 1937 Ford V-8 DeLuxe Club Coupe; S/N 18-3841926; Black/Brown cloth; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve – Banjo spoke steering wheel, radio, outside mirror, heater, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls. – Very good paint and interior. Thin grille chrome, good dash and gauges. Restored nearly like new. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Like the other Jeffrey Day cars in today’s auction, a good, sound, well-restored example done without going overboard or taking shortcuts. An unusual body style, too, and an appropriate price for it, but a car the new owner can look forward to enjoying with confidence.Lot # 210 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P5FH255119; Goldenrod Yellow/Black, Yellow vinyl; Black cloth top; Estimate $50,000 – $70,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – 292/193hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, cassette stereo, aftermarket A/C, wire wheel covers, whitewalls, skirts. – Excellent paint, chrome, interior and top. Restored like new, with better cosmetics, then a few careful miles. Not fresh, but very clean. Jeffrey Day Collection. – It would be hard to find a more correctly and appropriately restored ’55 T-bird, a combination that makes this car a good buy for its new owner.Lot # 211 1930 Ford Model A Open Cab Pickup; S/N CA10922; Medium Green, Black fenders/Black vinyl; Black leatherette top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Recent restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $30,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $33,000. No Reserve – Body color wire wheels, whitewall tires, quail radiator cap, radiator stoneguard, single black vinyl covered sidemount with mirror, varnished bed floor. – Freshly done to show truck standards. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. A chip here or there is the only evidence of age. No rear attachments for the top. A gorgeous truck. Jeffrey Day Collection. – It would be a shame, but at this price this Ford roadster pickup is a prime candidate for hot-rodding. A Mercury flathead under the hood would be sweet, but a Model B 4-cylinder with ohv head and dual carburetor intake would be even better. The possibilities are endless, including the best one: leaving it just as is and collecting many show trophies. It is a neat old truck at an entirely reasonable price.Lot # 212 1955 Ford Country Sedan 4-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N U5EX190237; Black/White vinyl, Red cloth; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – 272/162hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power seat, radio, heater, dual outside mirrors, wheel covers, whitewall tires, roof rack, windshield sun visor, 2-row seating, sill molding. – Represented as 3,326 miles from new and all new except for a good repaint, carpets and the windshield visor. Good major chrome, wrinkled interior, pitted window trim and steering wheel chrome. Old undercoat in wheelwells. Engine is orderly and clean but chassis is old and only superficially redone. A good driver with the patina of a low miles original car. Jeffrey Day Collection. – The originality of this Country Sedan is compromised to the point where it’s neither fish nor fowl, just an undistinguished but well-equipped old station wagon. The seller should be happy to get this much for it.Lot # 213 1953 Ford Crestline Sunliner Convertible; S/N B3CC155937; Red/Red, Black; Black cloth top; Estimate $45,000 – $55,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $45,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $49,500. No Reserve – 239/110hp, overdrive 3-speed, P/S, oil filter, heater, power top, remote spotlight, skirts, wheel covers, bumper overriders. – Very good paint, chrome, stainless, interior and top. Excellent engine compartment, like new underneath. The restoration may have some age but it hardly seems like it. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Right on the money for a quality restored car with desirable accessories, maybe even a little light but not enough to warrant further comment.Lot # 214 1953 Ford F-100 Pickup; S/N F10R3D11028; Red/Grey vinyl; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $35,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $38,500. No Reserve – Flathead V-8, 3-speed, oil filter, remote spotlight, painted bumpers and grille, hubcaps, trim rings, whitewall tires, heater, no radio. – Ford never built them like this. Beautiful paint, chrome, interior and varnished bed floor. Done everywhere and, aside from minor chips under the hood, better than new. Jeffrey Day Collection. – It’s impossible not to call this anything other than a bargain, a quality restored example of the first year for Ford’s F-100 pickup. More glitz (chrome bumpers, etc.) might have brought up the price, but this is an honest truck presented in lik enew condition and ready to go work as it was in 1953.Lot # 216 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Club Sedan; S/N F7FT316303; Black/Grey vinyl, cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve – 312/300hp supercharged, 3-speed, radio, heater, wheel covers, whitewalls, no P/S or P/B. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Brightly political stainless. Chassis and engine compartment are done like new and show only a little age. Dash and instruments are not to the same standard with dull faces and grungy legends. Some attention to details will make this a much better car. Jeffrey Day Collection. – A sleeper that apparently escaped the notice of the bidders in Hershey. Its condition is inconsistent, but can be addressed (or overlooked). F-code T-birds bring twice this money, but are if anything more common. This Fairlane 500 deserved to bring more, to the eventual purchaser’s everlasting enrichment and pleasure.Lot # 218 1951 Ford Custom Convertible; S/N B1KC133395; Black/Dark Red, Black vinyl; Black cloth bound in Dark Red top; Estimate $55,000 – $75,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $65,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $71,500. No Reserve – 239/100hp, 3-speed, overdrive, pushbutton radio, heater, hubcaps, whitewalls, oil filter. – 3-time Early Ford V-8 Dearborn Award and 2005 AACA National First Prize. Excellent paint, chrome, stainless, interior and top. Engine compartment is spotless. The restoration may date to the early 00’s but it looks like it was done yesterday. Jeffrey Day Collection. – A sweet Ford that brought a modestly premium price both for its quality and the longevity of its restoration.Lot # 221 1956 Ford F-100 Custom Cab Panel Truck; S/N F10V6E40294; Diamond Blue/Blue leatherette, Grey trim; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $40,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $44,000. No Reserve – 272/167hp 2-barrel V-8, 3-speed, heater, dual outside mirrors, Ivory wheels, hubcaps, blackwall bias ply tires, chrome bumpers and grille, electric wipers. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Engine compartment, chassis and underbody are like new. Ford never built trucks finished this well. Jeffrey Day Collection. – No matter what the business or how many motorcycles are owned this is a prime way to show them off and at a price that is nothing if not modest for a body style usually used up, rotted out and left to molder in a field. It is a good value, by any standard.Lot # 222 1956 Ford Thunderbird Convertible; S/N P6FH160761; Peacock Blue, White hardtop/Peacock Blue, White vinyl; White vinyl top; Estimate $60,000 – $75,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $55,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $60,500. No Reserve – 312/225hp, automatic, P/W, Town & Country radio, porthole hardtop, wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, engine dressup, P/B, no P/S. – Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Like new engine compartment, underbody and chassis. About as good as it gets and better than anything assembled by Ford and the UAW. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Sold by RM at Ft. Lauderdale in 2008 for $53,900 and worth every nickel it brought today.Lot # 223 1956 Ford Country Sedan 4-Dr. Station Wagon; S/N P6LX177104; Meadow Mist Green, Colonial White/Green vinyl, cloth; Estimate $40,000 – $50,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,750. No Reserve – 312/225hp, automatic, P/S, no P/B, pushbutton radio, heater, chrome wire wheels, whitewall tires, 3-row seating, windshield visor, skirts, dual exhaust, grille guard. – Very good paint, chrome, stainless and interior. Chassis and engine compartment were restored like new but have been used and show age. Dash, gauges, steering wheel and interior chrome items are flaky, fogged and dull, not up to the standard of the paint and brightwork. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Sold by RM at Ft. Lauderdale in 2007 for $32,400 and detailed to a higher standard here but still a generous price to pay for a superficially cosmetically restored example.Lot # 225 1932 Ford Model B Roadster; S/N B5142252; Engine # AB303783; Black, Red coachline/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $82,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $90,750. No Reserve – R.E.M. sohc Model B 4-cylinder, dual Stromberg carbs, Mitchell overdrive, headers, P/B, tube shocks, VDO gauges, rumble seat, beige cloth covered rear-mounted spare, greyhound radiator cap, red wire wheels, hubcaps, trim rings, wide whitewalls. – Restored better than new with excellent paint, chrome, upholstery, engine, underbody and chassis but not like new, especially the hot Model B engine. A thoughtfully built and beautifully presented hot rod. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Amaze your friends and bedevil flathead Deuce street rod owners with this whomping great Model B four. Bought for a fraction of what it must have cost built it, even before the superb cosmetics are taken into account, this is a car for a discerning collector who like to make a statement.Lot # 229 1956 Mercury Montclair 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N 56LA35957M; White, Red/White, Red vinyl; Estimate $45,000 – $60,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,250. No Reserve – 312/235hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power seat, pushbutton radio, power antenna, windshield washer, skirts. – Excellent paint, interior, chrome and stainless. Underbody is a little dirty, chassis is oily and lightly road grimy. Excellent door and panel fits, a little filler behind the right rear wheel. Better than new on top and darn near like new underneath. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Not the best ’56 Merc around, but more than good enough, particularly at this price. It’s less than a Ford, which begs explanation, but that’s the way it is.Lot # 232 1958 Chevrolet Bel Air Impala 2-Dr. Hardtop; S/N F58L192202; Black/Red, Silver vinyl; Estimate $75,000 – $100,000; Modified restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $85,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $93,500. No Reserve – 348/280hp, three deuces, later R704 automatic, modern P/S, dual circuit power front disc brakes, alternator, aftermarket A/C, spinner wheel covers, whitewalls, P/W, power seat, dual rear antennas, continental kit. – Lowered and modified. No numbers on engine block. Excellent paint, chrome and interior. Crisp, sharp engine compartment, beautiful dash and stock instruments. Lowered just enough to catch your eye but not enough to spoil the look. The Impala you wanted in high school, and better. Jeffrey Day Collection. – While the configuration qualifies as a Resto-Mod the car is both more and less than that. Subtly lowered but otherwise stock appearing, this Impala has all the good stuff that makes a modern car enjoyable, like working A/C. and safe, like dual circuit front wheel disc brakes. Bought for less than the cost of creating it, the new owner will need no excuses, either for the car or for the price paid.Lot # 234 1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner Convertible; S/N M6GC166664; Coral, Black/Coral, White vinyl; Black vinyl top; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Recent restoration, 2+ condition; Hammered Sold at $87,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $96,250. No Reserve – 292/200hp, overdrive 3-speed, P/S, P/B, factory A/C, P/W, Town & Country radio, dual remote spotlights, sill moldings, wire wheel covers, bias ply wide whitewalls, rear antenna, skirts, fog lights, grille and trunk guards. – Excellent paint, chrome, stainless, interior and top. Sharp dash, gauges and interior chrome trim. Engine compartment is better than new. A uniformly impressive Sunliner with a particularly unusual and comprehensive options list. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Wow. It is hard to imagine a better ’56 Ford, not only in its presentation but also in the nearly unbelievable list of options and accessories it carries. The price it brought is a premium for the 272 engine but fully supported by all the stuff it carries.Lot # 236 1957 Ford Custom Ranchero; S/N C7RF198534; Blue, White/White vinyl, Blue cloth; Estimate $35,000 – $45,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $32,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $35,750. No Reserve – 292/212hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, Town & Country radio, wheel covers, narrow whitewalls, skirts, grille guard, sill moldings, engine dressup. – Very good paint, chrome and interior. Clean engine compartment. Chassis and underbody are lightly oiled and road grimy, like a carefully used six month old Ranchero. There are a few paint flaws and masking oversights but the overall quality is far better than most. Jeffrey Day Collection. – I’ve been looking for a ’57 Ranchero for my next-door neighbor for eight months so when I saw this good but not overdone example I called him and said ‘Jimmy, this is your Ranchero. Done right, not overdone, used a little, sound and with the right stuff.’ He chintzed out on the price, and I told him, ‘Jimmy, you need to start looking at El Caminos.’ This is a sweet Ranchero: not great, but more than good enough. It is a real value at this price. Jimmy, eat your heart out. You missed your chance.Lot # 237 1955 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria 2-Dr. Sedan; S/N U5DW171504; Coral Mist, Raven Black/White, Coral vinyl; Estimate $50,000 – $75,000; Older restoration, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $42,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $46,750. No Reserve – 272/162hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, A/C, pushbutton radio, P/W, power seat, wire wheel covers, whitewall tires, rear antenna, continental kit. – Restored in 1999 and an AACA Grand National winner, showing only a little age and use since it was restored. Good paint, chrome and interior. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Sold by Kruse at Auburn Fall in 2005 for $38,340 and by RM in Arizona in 2008 for $46,750, exactly the same price it brought today and in comparable condition with its odometer showing 32 more miles today than it did in 2008. What has the collector car market done in the last six and a half years? For this Ford at least, nothing.Lot # 239 1956 Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria Skyliner ‘Glass Top’; S/N M6KW160585; Sunset Coral/White vinyl, Red cloth; Estimate $80,000 – $110,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $150,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $165,000. No Reserve – 292/202hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, factory A/C, pushbutton radio, P/W, glass roof panel with shades, wire wheel covers, bias ply whitewalls, dual outside mirrors, rear antenna, continental kit, grille and trunk guards, sill moldings, rear window defroster, power seat, zip-in sunshade. – Restored by Crown Vic expert Dan Pixler for his own collection many years ago. Very good paint, chrome, stainless and interior. A quality older restoration to better than new condition now showing its age but little or no use. Jeffrey Day Collection. – Sold at the Kruse auction of the Woodhead Fords in 2004 for $77,000 and at Barrett-Jackson in 2007 for $71,500. This is an eye-opening result that fully values all this car’s options and then some.Lot # 246 1936 Ford V-8 DeLuxe Convertible Sedan; S/N 182922717; Sky Green/Brown leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – Chrome spoke steel wheels, wide hubcaps, trim rings, bias ply wide whitewalls, banjo spoke steering wheel. – Early Ford V-8 Dearborn Award and 2002 AACA National First Prize and Senior winner when owned by Ford V-8 expert Jack Hogan. Very good paint, chrome, stainless, interior and top. Upholstery is lightly creased, with a few surface cracks. Interior fittings show a little age here and there. Attractively mellowed and still worthy of being shown proudly at the end of a day’s touring. Jeffrey Day Collection. – This is a rare and desirable body style that brought a bit less than its rarity and the quality of its presentation could have supported. Not cheap, but a good value.
This is the last car in the Jeffrey Day Collection.
Lot # 257 1905 FIAT 60hp 5-Passenger Tourer, Body by Quinby; S/N 3003; Engine # 3003; Red, Black accent/Dark Red leather; Black top; Estimate $800,000 – $1,200,000; Unrestored original, 3 condition; Hammered Sold at $750,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $825,000. No Reserve – RHD. 10.6 liter T-head four, 4-speed, double chain drive, Angelicus acetylene headlights, Reflex kerosene bullseye sidelights and taillights, folded trumpet bulb horn, 100mph Jones speedometer, ingenious (and fascinating) FIAT engine oiler with metering by bead chains, side curtains, new top. – One of only about 20 built, short (2,985mm) wheelbase, and the only known survivor of the series. Delivered as a $14,500 rolling chassis, bodied here by Quinby & Co. for beer baron August A. Busch. Bought from his estate by James Melton, then sold to Don Miller and Louis Biondi, the only owners until 2012. Fettled with the original magneto and carburetor by George Ktsanes, runs and drives well according to the consignor. Mostly original paint, front seat upholstery is torn and cracked, rear seat is sound and usable, brass is aged, dull and abundant. 2012 Pebble Beach Preservation Class 2nd place and, simply, marvelous. – The history of this FIAT is magic and the car even more so. Only five owners from new, never messed up or mistreated. The only thing lacking is a pre-1905 build date so it could scare the whiskers off the veteran car drivers on the Brighton Run. Like most cars it probably won’t manage to use all of its speedo’s 100mph scale but it has been clocked at over 50 (in 3rd gear.) Taking it to its performance limit would be an experience that can only be described as life-altering. This is so much more automobile and more history than cars that routinely bring $750K hammer that the comparison is irrelevant. You’re one of many with a Ferrari Lusso. You’re one of one driving this magnificent FIAT, especially at this moderate price.Lot # 258 1933 Chrysler CL Imperial Dual-Windshield Phaeton, Body by LeBaron; S/N 7803651; Engine # CL1356; Putty Beige/Maroon leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $390,000 – $450,000; Older restoration, 1- condition; Hammered Sold at $475,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $522,500 – Chrome wire wheels, wide whitewall, dual enclosed sidemounts, rollup rear windshield, metal luggage trunk, opening vee windshield. – Exceptional body and paint work. Show quality chrome plating except crazed door handles. Top fits very well and interior is barely worn. Restored first in the 50’s for Homer Fitterling, then again in the mid-90’s. Prize winner at Pebble Beach in 2004. An older restoration with excellent cosmetics but ago and some miles showing on the chassis and underbody. – Sold by RM at Arizona four years ago in 2010 for $385,000, then at Amelia in 2011 for $352,000, it’s in no better condition (and conversely, no worse) today which makes this result exceptional. Could it be the curl of a wave recognizing the quality of Chrysler’s beautiful classic Imperials? If it is, it’s none too soon for them to get the recognition they deserve.Lot # 263 1952 Allard K2 Roadster; S/N K26015; Black/Black; Estimate $80,000 – $100,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $95,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $104,500 – Later Ford 302 V-8, 3-speed, chrome wire wheels, blackwall tires, Hurst shifter.. – A mix of mostly later gauges, strange two-spoke plastic rim steering wheel, Allard Register chassis number. Decent paint and interior, dirty chassis and underbody. No top, just a tonneau cover and side curtains in the trunk. Intriguing but not encouraging. – This is big money for an Allard K2 with any number of later updates and no history of consequence. Allard enthusiasm overtook considered judgment at this price.Lot # 266 1938 Ford V-8 DeLuxe Club Cabriolet; S/N 18-4300995; Black/Beige vinyl; Beige cloth top; Estimate $70,000 – $90,000; Older restoration, 2- condition; Hammered Sold at $50,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $55,000. No Reserve – Chrome wheel spiders, wide hubcaps, trim rings, Ford script whitewall tires, dual outside mirrors, radio, clock. – Good paint, chrome, interior and top. A quality older restoration to showroom condition that is aging gracefully. – Sold by RM at the 2006 Mike Dingman sale for $79,750 in somewhat better condition than it is today and showing only 115 more miles on its odometer now than it did then. The result here must be disappointing to the seller, but accurately reflects the excitement which high profile single-owner collection auctions frequently produce. Buried in nearly 200 cars in Hershey, this nearly pristine Club Cabriolet didn’t generate much excitement and brought a realistic price.Lot # 270 1962 Imperial Crown Convertible; S/N 9223188696; Black/Dark Red leather; Black cloth top; Estimate $135,000 – $160,000; Older restoration, 2 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $95,000 – 413/340hp, automatic, P/S, P/B, P/W, power bench seat, chrome wire wheels, wide whitewalls, A/C. – Later A/C compressor, auxiliary electric fan. Very good paint over impressively flat and carefully fit panels. Brilliant chrome, excellent interior. Neat, orderly and nearly like new underhood. Underbody shows a little use. A quality restoration of a quality car. – While this is a rare car (554 built) and an amazing restoration, expecting Eldorado money for it isn’t realistic. Even at that, though, the consignor showed good sense in keeping the car at the reported high bid.Lot # 274 1948 Hudson Commodore Eight Sedan; S/N 484113039; Quartermaster Grey metallic/Grey cloth with clear seat covers; Estimate $40,000 – $45,000; Cosmetic restoration, 2 condition; Hammered Sold at $52,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $57,750. No Reserve – 255/128hp eight, overdrive 3-speed, pushbutton radio, turn signals, dual remote spotlights, stoplight viewer, windshield and side window visors, wide hubcaps, trim rings, whitewalls, oil filter, windshield washers, grille guard, skirts. – Given a very good repaint in the original color and obsessively detailed to like new condition, then lavished with accessories. Original upholstery protected for 66 years under those awful (cold in winter, hot and sticky in summer) clear plastic seat covers. Multiple class firsts and it shows. – This is a step-down Hudson at its best and no wonder the bidders stepped up to soundly beat the estimate. The combination of exceptional, showroom ready, condition and originality is hard to beat and the Hershey bidders stepped up with a superior price for a superior car.Lot # 279 1953 Jaguar XK 120 Roadster; S/N 673723; Engine # W7810-8; Carmine Red/Biscuit leather; Tan cloth top; Estimate $110,000 – $130,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3+ condition; Hammered Sold at $115,000 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $126,500 – Chrome wire wheels, bias ply whitewall tires, Lucas tri-bar headlights and driving lights, tool roll, jack. – Good paint, chrome and interior. Underbody and the top of the engine are good but the chassis and running gear are oily and grimy from years of use. A presentable cosmetic restoration. – Sold for $75,900 at the Leake auction in Tulsa last June. The price it brought here is appropriate in today’s frothy Jaguar market.Lot # 280 1948 MG TC Roadster; S/N TC/4964; Light Blue/Parchment leather; Beige cloth top; Estimate $30,000 – $40,000; Cosmetic restoration, 3- condition; Hammered Sold at $37,500 plus commission of 10.00%; Final Price $41,250. No Reserve – Silver painted wire wheels, blackwall tires, Lucas fog light, tonneau cover, Moto-Lita woodrim steering wheel, windwings. – Decent paint, chrome, interior and top even if the interior, top and tonneau cover are all different colors. Under the hood the footwells are painted a bilious olive green. The engine is neat and orderly. The chassis is covered in oily road grime. Dash, instruments and interior wood are good. A usable older restoration that some effort and grease-cutters will make better. – The money this TC brought could have bought a better example than this one. It should have sold at, or a little below, the low estimate. While the buyer’s value handicap is significant in percentage terms, in dollars it’s only a few thousand and that can be explained by the way this old restoration is holding up.Lot # 282 1924 Stutz Special Six Tourabout; S/N 2255; Engine # 101501; Grey, Black fenders/Brown leather; Black leatherette top; Estimate $60,000 – $80,000; Visually maintained, largely original, 3 condition; Not sold at Hammer bid of $50,000 – 268/75hp ohv six, 3-speed, wire wheels, chrome lock rings, wide whitewalls, drum Monogram headlights, dual sidemounts, spotlight, etched glass wind wings, robe rope, aftermarket turn signals, side curtains, later luggage trunk. – Ex-A.K. Miller. Sound but dull original paint with freshly painted fenders and frame covers. Good original upholstery and trim panels, sound but fragile old top. Dull exterior bright trim. Eminently usable as is and too sound, with proudly earned patina, to restore. – One of very few cars sold at the Miller auction in even close to complete and usable condition. Cataloged as a ’23 with no chassis number, it sold for $25,300 and has had a great deal of work – mostly mechanical – done to it so it can be driven. It’s hard to argue with the consignor’s decision to take it home at the reported high bid. This is a Stutz with both A.K. Miller history and originality that deserves a caring home where it will be driven and toured with a sense of its history and preservation.
