Archive
26/08/2021
Lively market, at times more, but not for everything
The article discusses the results of the 2021 Monterey Car Week auctions held by Bonhams and Mecum, which differ from those of RM and Gooding in terms of auction positioning and intended target. While the average prices for the cars sold by Bonhams and Mecum were lower than those sold by RM and Gooding, the former two auctions confirmed interesting trends, such as the market's willingness to spend millions of dollars for vintage cars. The article highlights the successful sales of two high-end cars at Bonhams: a 1928 Mercedes-Benz S-Type 26/120/180 Supercharged Sports Tourer and a 1948 Talbot-Lago T26 Record Sport Cabriolet. It also compares the selling prices of two Fiat 600 Jolly models sold at Mecum and Gooding. The article concludes that the value of the location, as in real estate, also applies to cars.
22/08/2021
Cars & Movies 14 - Beetle: not always lovely
The Volkswagen Beetle has a special magic that makes it a great companion. It has appeared in many movies, from innocent and fun roles in "The Love Bug" to darker roles in "The Shining" and a movie about the Ku Klux Klan.
21/08/2021
Gooding Monterey. A baby Maserati lights the fuse of success
The Gooding auction, held in Amelia Island, Florida, has exceeded expectations by selling a McLaren F1 for over $20m, despite only being estimated at $15m, and also selling an Allegretti children's car for $156,250, exceeding its estimated value of $30-$40k. The Gooding sale achieved an overall sales value of $106,674,160, or 84.45% of the estimate, while its competitor, RM, only achieved 75.85%. However, the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLK GTR Strassenversion was not sold, despite an estimated value of $8.5-$10m. The auction also featured a category of Midget Racers, which had a considerable following in America, and included examples such as a 1938 Richter that once belonged to Indy 500 legend Sam Hanks, which exceeded its estimate of $60-$80k by selling for $184,800.
19/08/2021
RM Monterey. Excellent cake but no icing.
RM Sotheby's held a three-day auction of 159 cars, with 42 of the lots estimated to sell for over one million dollars, for a combined value of over $190.5 million. While the auction house managed to sell 88.68% of the lots offered, its biggest sale, the 1970 Porsche 917K used in the Steve McQueen film "Le Mans," went unsold. Out of the seven top lots on offer, three went unsold, lowering the sales percentage value. The two Aston Martin DB4 Zagatos from the Andrews collection failed to reach their estimates. The biggest success for RM came from a 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage, which set a new record for a non-Volante DB6 when it sold for $808,000.
15/08/2021
Cars & Movies 13 - A Renault for every occasion
Renault's special models have always made appearances in cinema, with the classic models appearing in films like Titanic and Indiana Jones, while the Renault 4 proves its capabilities in the South American jungle.
14/08/2021
Uber alles
The article explores the transformation of the German car industry after the devastation of World War II through the lens of three iconic cars: the Porsche Speedster, the BMW 507, and the Mercedes 300SL Roadster.
12/08/2021
Monterey. Litmus paper
The article discusses the upcoming Monterey Car Week, which takes place after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The event sees the return of the world's top auction houses with their traditional approach after relying on virtual sales in 2020.
08/08/2021
Cars & Stars 12 - MINI, small car big screens
The Mini is a car that works on every occasion, a car that lives outside every rule. From James Hunt to Mister Bean, Inspector Clouseau to alien attacks, the Mini has been a beloved star in romantic, psychological, and crime films.
07/08/2021
Turin magic
This article discusses the post-war rush of creativity among Italian coachbuilders and highlights some of the most significant and memorable Italian spider models, such as the Ferrari 250GT by Pininfarina, the Miura in its one-off spider version.
05/08/2021