1969 Austin-Healey Sprite Mk IV, Lot 103, Bonhams, 9th March 2017
“But, it’s not a Midget.” How often do Sprite owners have to politely correct observers who make passing comment at petrol stations when wandering over to admire their attractive little convertible? Many custodians will be Austin-Healey followers who are proud to fly that particular flag perhaps because, ironically in this guise, it does so closely resemble those made in larger numbers of a different marque. This one must be even greater, in sheer desirability terms, than any shiny restoration of either manufacturer because it is, effectively, almost brand new. Having been stored by a dealer for the first 39 years of its life, with fewer than 150 miles on the clock, and only another 4,000 since then, this is an example of a truly time warp roadster. In the Summer of ’69 (there’s a great driving song in there, somewhere), the Sprite crossed the Atlantic, having become a motor car from the combined manufacturing processes and assembly carried out in the plants at Swindon, Cowley and MG of Abingdon. From arrival at the port in New Orleans it went overland up to Missouri, reaching North Kansas City dealer Economy Cars Ltd. on 25th September. And there it stayed until 2008 when bought by the first owner. It remained quietly in the collections of a few subsequent keepers, until 2014, when it received some appropriate maintenance to bring it back to modern road worthiness. Now with just 4,234 miles on the odometer, it is accompanied by files of original documents, books and memorabilia related to its sheltered life. Even if you are a died in the wool MG stalwart, this must represent a very tempting opportunity, as it will be sold without reserve. Surely to command interest, might it exceed even the upper estimate of £32,000? Take a look at the pictures of this left-hand-drive example, attractively finished in BRG with a black interior and hood.
1966 McLaren M1B, Lot 039, Gooding and Company, 10th March 2017
A McLaren M1B has more power and performance than the majority of competent club racers could ever utilise, perhaps even handle. ‘Continuation’ sports racing cars now abound, but this opportunity is for a real one – with a great history. One of 28 examples of M1B sold to US buyers, all of them were built for McLaren by Trojan. Peter Agg’s company had acquired the Elva sports cars business three years earlier and had already been successful manufacturing the Mk IV Elva Courier. This particular M1B had high calibre drivers exploring every inch of its huge potential back in the mid-60s, on the unlimited playgrounds of the early Can-Am championships while in the charges of Peter Revson and Skip Barber. Strangely, as just a bullet point mentioning the result, rather than within the auction catalogue narrative, perhaps one of its most impressive feats was its first. In the hands of 1966 Le Mans winner Chris Amon at Brands Hatch, soon afterwards, chassis ‘30-12’ was placed third, ahead of Ickx, Attwood, Redman, Piper and Parkes, a 26 car entry with other McLarens, Lolas, Ferraris and Brabhams. All names of contemporary greats, and now such potent rocket ships are revered and invited to the very top events like Goodwood. With a 358 cubic inch Chevrolet V8 (5,866cc) mated to a Hewland LG 500 transmission, not much in historic racing packs a bigger punch. There’s the Masters Series for whole seasons of fun, and where would your own personal ‘thrill to bravery’ quotient measure, with foot flat to the floor, while approaching Eau Rouge at Spa? What else ticks the right boxes (all of them!) like this, for a lower estimate of $275,000? Even with currently poor UK Sterling exchange rates, that is still not much above £200k.
1966 Aston Martin Short Chassis Volante, Lot 139, RM Sotheby’s, 10th March 2017
The curiously named Short Chassis Volante. One of the rarest and most sought after Aston Martins of all time. In crude terms, a DB5 convertible with bells on. As soft tops go, 123 DB5s were built and 140 of the next generation DB6 Volante, but just 37 of this interim model rolled out of Newport Pagnell. The same dimensions as the ‘5 but with subtle visual differences and upgrades throughout, originally designed for the longer, bulkier, ’6 body shell Astons. And this example, ladies and gentlemen, is chassis number one, with added rarity of being an original left hand drive. Known and much admired in the American AMOC fraternity for decades, this will surely be of interest to several wealthy buyers. Not only that but it’s been upgraded and modernised, on many fronts, by Pennsylvanian Aston Martin specialists, Steel Wings. The original 3995cc engine has been enlarged to 4.5 litres and the triple SU carburettors replaced by Webers. With new pistons and camshafts, it’s now above ‘Vantage’ specification and handling is enhanced by uprated springs, Koni shock absorbers and a stiffer anti-roll bar. A Sony radio and modern air conditioning adds to the occupants’ well being while on board when the roof is raised. Absolute purists of the marque might prefer more ‘60s originality, although the installation of a replacement Tremex gearbox is entirely endorsed by Steel Wings, in favour of retaining the original ZF 5-speed transmission. With a standard DB5 – one of about 900 having a metal roof – making $1.485m only last month at Scottsdale (though Barrett-Jackson), chassis no. DB5C/2301/L could sail though the $2m upper estimate. However, if only a single serious bidder is in the room, it might be had for half a million less, and thus be a relative bargain.
1959 Cadillac Broadmoor Skyview, Lot 126, Bonhams, 9th March 2017
The seventh generation of Cadillac’s Series 70-75 were the biggest, and to many, the most extravagant of all top flight General Motors offerings. Sedans (saloons to most of us), coupes and convertibles were huge. The grand limousines were simply vast, but the Estates, or wagons, were so enormous as to be more appropriate for carrying people flat out – in purely commercial terms – and finished as either ambulances or hearses. Dimensionally disproportionate looking “stretches” are common sights, on both sides of the Atlantic now, but this one is a standard size, albeit 251 inches long, that’s just short of 21 feet, and can carry 12 people in comfort. Not only that, but being one of only six commissioned for guests of the opulent Broadmoor Hotel, set in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado Springs, it enables excellent all-round viewing by passengers, especially above, as most of the roof is plexiglass. It served the hotel admirably into the 1970s when sold to a collector in Ohio. He kept it until 1978 when it transferred into a large collection of Cadillacs in Connecticut. Thus preserved in excellent condition, having been maintained assiduously in Colorado, and then dormant for decades, the Broadmoor Skyview underwent the necessary mechanical refurbishment, parts replacement or overhaul, when discovered and prepared for market. British and European buyers may naturally shy away, but consider the thousands of VW and Mercedes Sprinter vans we see every day whose drivers think nothing of their bulk, most being over 22 and many even 24 feet long. Think about the grand entrance you would make, powered by a 390 cubic inch V8 (producing 345bhp) at any sports ground, rather than crammed with fellow players/spectators packing a characterless boxy minibus, or rounding up all your children’s local friends when it was time for duty on the School-run Rota. ‘Move over you little Range-Rovers, Q7s and X5s, near Twickenham, Stamford Bridge and the leafy Surrey suburbs, Cadillac Skyview coming through!’
1957 Jaguar XKSS, Lot 061, Gooding and Company, 10th March 2017
The story of the Jaguar XKSS is well documented and widely known in automotive circles: The great D-type successes on track, the chassis conversions of unsold cars to more comfortable road-going equivalents and the disastrous fire at the Browns Lane factory which wiped out so many unfinished Jaguars of differing type. This car began as XKD575, the last ‘1955 model’ or short-nose production car. It was part of the unsold D-type stock in November 1956, but owing to the February 1957 fire, just 16 examples of original XKSS conversion ever materialised complete, rather than 25. Even the highly discerning collector with his name as a globally respected clothing brand, owns a subsequent 1958 D-type transformation, one of a pair that year. However, the example here is valued at $16,000,000 to $18,000,000, perhaps so high as it boasts an impressive competition record, in addition to being a road-legal tourer. A long list of wins and podium positions, between 1957 and 1961 in Canada then, more recently, when back to D-type spec, the conversion being completed by Lynx in the UK. Whilst always retaining the special XKSS components, two famous British Jaguar specialists named John – Harper and Pearson – competed in chassis 716, between 1981 and 1984, at many historic events. Pearson Engineering, of course, being the perfect place for maintaining it in excellent health. In 1993, facilitated through Brian Redman, it returned to the United States and was kept in an Ohio collection until the Millennium. About a decade ago the next owner commissioned Pearson Engineering, now run by son Gary, to bring it back to XKSS specification with a complete, show-quality, restoration. Free from any major accident, it retains the original chassis, body, engine block and cylinder head which few other XKSSs, or D-types, can claim. Testament to the quality of that work, ‘716’ has been shown at the Concours of Pebble Beach and Villa d’Este, and enjoyed Tours of Europe and America. Neil Hadfield demonstrated it with verve at the celebration of D-types at Goodwood in 2014, where about three dozen, including several XKSSs, were in attendance.
1966 Jaguar XKSS Recreation by Tempero, Lot 155, RM Sotheby’s, 10th March 2017
If you don’t have a spare $18m and would still like the experience of owning and driving an XKSS, or at least something giving you perhaps 95-98% of the real thing, then why not take a look at the RM Sotheby’s offering, in conjunction with the one over at Goodings? Still, with a lower estimate of $150,000 it’s no small sum to part with for any vehicle, let alone a copy, but that must be a measure of the build quality on this particular homage to Jaguar’s finest from the ‘50s. With underpinnings from a 1966 E-type and a 4.2 litre Jaguar XK twin-cam engine, this ‘version’ of an XKSS was built to exacting measurements, with perfectionist dedication of a father and son team based in the south island of New Zealand during 2005. This, and many other recreations, have found a sizeable contingent of enthusiastic buyers in the United States. Not just Jaguar, but Ferrari, Maserati and Aston racing copies have been constructed in very modest surroundings, where chickens and ducks wander freely. That’s not to denigrate the company in any way, but to emphasise that a remote rural part of the world can be just as suitable for high quality manufacture as industrial parks near major circuits or cities. It might be useful to note that RM last sold this car in January 2012 where the gross sale figure came to a little below $146k. Look at the photos yourself, and make your own mind up but, in comparative terms, can you think of two such similar vehicles on offer at the same place, on the same day, in similar roadworthy condition where there is a potential price differential of 120 fold? Could the satisfaction of driving an original be one hundred and twenty times greater than a near identical experience when, as it would be, the cost is a mere 0.833%? That’s the largest ‘vanity versus value’ equation I’ve ever seen – outside the modern art and jewellery worlds!
John Godley of Classique Car Conduits.
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