CAFÉ RACER 76

RM Sotheby’s enjoys World-Record results at $172m Monterey auction

RM kicked off the multi-million-dollar auction proceedings in Monterey on Thursday, with some strong results (and a few World Records) in the Pinnacle Portfolio sale…

‘RON 54’ returns home

Ultimately, the headline results were the $17.6m paid for the Ferrari 250 LM, and the $13.75m for the ‘LM-spec’ McLaren F1 – the latter all the more desirable with its ‘Brilliant Orange’ metallic paintwork illuminated by the saleroom lights (it looked a little flat in the press shots). The 250 LM is supposedly heading back ‘home’ to England, where it will wear its familiar ‘RON 54’ UK registration plates, as it did when it was raced and driven home in period by its first owner, Ronald Fry.

SWB slightly short of reserve

Bidding on the open-headlamp LWB California Spider and the 250 SWB Competizione failed to reach the respective reserves (perhaps RM will wait a while before trying to sell another yellow comp-spec SWB?), but the internal disappointment will no doubt have been cured by World-Record prices for a Ferrari Enzo and F40 LM – the former garnering a whopping $6.05m thanks to its Papal provenance and last-example-built status, and the latter achieving $3.3m against a $2m - 2.5m estimate that we previously suggested might be a little conservative. Other lots that sailed past their high estimates included the $462,000 Jaguar XJ220, the $550,000 Porsche 993 RS 3.8, the $412,500 Dino 246 GTS, and the $495,000 McMerc SLR.

That Friday feeling

Friday’s sale saw RM clinch another World Record, this time with the $13.2m paid for the ex-Works/Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar C-type Lightweight (now the most expensive Jaguar ever sold at auction). Other strong results included $2.06m for Ghia’s stunning jet-age Jaguar, the XK120 Supersonic, almost $700,000 for the 2013 Aston Martin Centennial DB9 Spyder, and $242,000 for the ‘matching pair’ of Fiat 600s. The characterfully patinated Ferrari 275S/340 America Barchetta made $7.97m.

Saturday success

The conclusion of the three-part sale on Saturday saw the Ferrari 250 GT ‘Tour de France’ sell for a staggering $13.2m – a new World Record for the model, and almost treble the price of a similar example (albeit without the inspiratory TdF win under its bonnet-belts) at RM’s London auction less than a year ago. The impressive sum, along with the $8.5m private post-auction sale of the aforementioned Cal’ Spider, brought RM’s 2015 Monterey sale total up to $172.7m – doing things the ‘the RM way’ has paid off once again...

Please note, all results are inclusive of buyer’s premium, and do not account for all post-auction sales.

Follow a judge at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2015

As I played with the calendar functions on my phone, then ran the sums, it struck me as amazing that this was my 34th Monterey Car Week. The lapel pin marked my 20th year as a judge, and this time around I was a Chief Classic Judge, overseeing three classes of post-War sports and racing cars.

Embracing evidence of use

Pebble Beach from the inside is, and isn’t, what you’d think. In my honest opinion, it’s the best and most significant field of 200 great classic cars of all stripe to be found at any time, on any single day, anywhere in the world. It is not, or at least is no longer, a beauty contest purely for trailer queens. In fact, entrants are rewarded for their participation in the optional 80-mile Tour d’Elegance that takes place the Thursday before Concours Sunday. Our chief judge emphasises that we judge cars, not owners, and that over-restoration is neither rewarded nor encouraged. Evidence of use, enjoyment and maintenance are appreciated, and the old rumour about getting points knocked off for blades of grass stuck in tyre treads is simply not true.

Heavyweight judges

Our team of more than 100 judges is a knowledgeable, international group of collectors, transportation designers, restorers, racers, authors, historians and otherwise in-the-know types. In other words, they really know their stuff and work hard to judge fairly and even-handedly, to achieve the best and proper result. Which happens far more often than not. Nowadays, the show also wholeheartedly embraces preservation and survivor/unrestored machines with their stories, and often with their hard-earned patina intact.

The big show goes big

Pebble bristled with many anniversary recognitions and special categories this year, including a special roster of du Pont automobiles, those fashioned by Touring of Milan, Pope automobiles and the many high-points from the history of Lincoln and Continental. One particularly popular special class this year comprised Mercury customs – lead sleds of the 1950s, custom style by gents such as the Barris Brothers, Dean Jeffries, and other name-brand custom builders of the period. Pebble goes all out for Ferraris about every 10 years, and 2015 was one of them. Great road and racing Ferraris from every era dazzled the field with spectacular coachwork and singing V12 engines.

Concours-worthy... Mustangs?

Few thought they would ever see Mustangs on the vaunted greens of Pebble Beach, but this year a category of early and prototype Shelby GT350s put eight of Carroll’s great Mustang ‘sport cars’ on the turf. Sir Jackie Stewart strolled the field, holding court and the rapt attention of the many show-goers appreciative of the three-time F1 World Champion’s viewpoint and impressive career. Sir Stirling Moss, who has long served as an Honorary Judge, also strolled, chatted, and perused the field.

A wrap for another year

After all the results had been tabbed, four final nominees gathered at the foot of Pebble’s famous presentation ramp: three pre-War ‘heavy classics’ and an oddly wonderful-looking Abarth sports coupé. When the herald trumpets blared and the confetti and fireworks were launched, an absolutely commanding and uber-elegant 1924 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A bodied by Worblaufen took home the heavy crystal as 2015’s Best of Show winner. The triple black and heavily chromed stunner is the pride and joy of the Jim Patterson Collection, coming to Pebble Beach from Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Some consider this rare and perfectly proportioned droptop to be among Pebble’s best-ever overall winners.

Special classes and commemorations for 2016 are pending and will be announced soon. And with luck, I’ll be back to judge for my lucky 21^st time.

1979 Triumph T140 Bonneville – Classified Moto

It’s crazy to think John Ryland from Classified Moto only bought his first bike seven years ago. Since then he has definitely made up for the late start. By the end of that first year of riding, John had already owned three bikes. This 1979 Triumph Bonneville T140 was the third bike he had ever owned. It holds significant importance to him because he traded a mint ’81 Kawasaki KZ550 for it – unfortunately the Bonnie was a complete basket case.

“It was my daily driver when I was working on my very first front end swap on a 1980 Yamaha XS850” he recalls. One day John decided to ride down to Penny Lane Pub to watch the USA in a World Cup qualifier. “I’ll ride my British bike to the pub to watch some football” he thought. He kick started the bike and the exhaust fell right off at the head. So he decided to park it and decided to catch a cab.

The bike sat for a long time in the Classified Moto garage before he received an email from Chris Czel in Connecticut. Chris wanted something built in the Classified Moto way but wanted something a little different. Something British and something old and British. “Chris was one of those customers who imposed very few restrictions or limitations on the design.” He says. “We don’t claim to know anything about old Triumphs, but it was an exciting project.”

Obviously the whole ‘Frankenstein’ look is a big part of the Classified Moto look. This one takes that to the next level. It’s an old Triumph with a Kawasaki KLR650 swing arm modified to accept dual Progressive 970 shocks and Excel Supermoto wheels that are actually made for a Honda XR650L.

The distinctive angular tank is from a Honda CB450T Hawk and the front end is from a Ducati Monster 600 – also fitted with an Excel Supermoto wheel from an XR. As for tires, the rear is fitted with a Avon Supermoto and the front is a Pirelli MT60.

Fittingly, the Bonnie’s weak link in its former life – the exhaust – is now its strength. “Or at least we went way out of our way to make it that way” says John. The stainless steel pipes snake around the bike in very elegant way – tucked nice and close to the motor. To compensate for this, the CM team added a heat shield between the pipes and the cylinder. The pipes are a work of art in themselves. They collect into an up-pipe that enters the under seat muffler that directs exhaust fumes through twin pipes and a layer of stainless mesh. Don’t worry, there’s also a heat shield under the seat.

After building around 50 bikes in the last seven years, John thinks this Triumph takes the ‘most fun to ride’ award. “The bike is a joy to ride, and for whatever reason, is the smoothest, most factory feeling bike we’ve produced to date – despite the grab bag of components.” Maybe not one for the Triumph purists, but you gotta love Classified Moto’s ingenuity.