Photography by ©2015 Ron Avery
RM is one of the many auctions taking place in and around the Monterey Peninsula during Car Week. Located at Portola Plaza in the heart of downtown Monterey, the auction takes over several large rooms inside the hotel as well as the main indoor area and even spilling outside in the large courtyard.
This year I’ve chosen a select six cars that caught my eye (listed below). In additon to the standard information, including what each car sold for (if it did), I have included my Condition Ratings for each car. With 1 being perfect and 5 being a basket case.
1965 Lamborghini 350 GT (Condition 1)
Lot #331
Auction estimate: $800,000-1,000,000
Sold for $935,000
What makes this car special:
- V12 engine (280 bhp)
- One of only 131 built
- Original matching numbers engine upgraded to period 400 GT specs
1976 Bizzarrini P538 (Condition 1)
Lot #350
Auction estimate: $700,000-900,000
Did not meet reserve
What makes this car special:
- Chevrolet V8 engine (365 bhp)
- Restoration completed in 2015
- Authentic Bizzarrini car with authentication by noted marque expert Jack Koobs de Hartog
1957 Alfa Romeo 1900 Super Sprint Coupe by Touring (Condition 1)
Lot #260
Auction estimate: $300,000-400,000
Did not meet reserve
What makes this car special:
- 1975 cc engine (115 bhp)
- One of less than 600 built
- Original matching numbers engine
- Barn find in 2007 with complete three-year ground-up restoration completed in 2014
1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 3.8 L OTS (Condition 1)
Lot #312
Auction estimate: $325,000-425,000
Sold for $258,500
What makes this car special:
- Inline 6 cyl engine (265 bhp)
- Early flat floor car with original engine and color combination
- Originally owned by entertainer Jerry Lewis
1973 Alfa Romeo Montreal by Bertone (Condition 1-)
Lot #209
Auction estimate: $140,000-180,000
Sold for $110,000
What makes this car special:
- Equipped with Tipo 33-based V8 engine (200 bhp)
- 1 of approximately 100 in the US
- Rare factory-equipped air conditioning
- Features manuals and an original tool pouch
- Has the incorrect wheels and mismatched interior trim parts (reason for Condition 1- rating)
1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302 (Condition 1)
Lot #203
Auction estimate: $90,000-120,000
Sold for $85,250
What makes this car special:
- 302 cu in V8 engine (290 bhp)
- Original colors and several desirable options
Nice cross section of choices here, and looking at the numbers (and extrapolating wildly) I see a softening of the market. Only one hit the middle of the estimate; two didn’t meet reserve; three sold below the low estimate. Part of that could be RM overestimating the price ranges.
But… $110K for a Montreal seems like a good deal, and that Bizzarrini … wow. Gorgeous. I’ve always loved that shape but haven’t seen it in this color.
Thanks for the post and the great shots by your local expert…
Thanks!