Auctions America: Third Annual California Sale Results
Culver City CA, July 21 2015 – Auctions America wrapped its third annual California sale on the weekend (July 17 – 18) with more than $15.4 million* in total sales. The multi-day auction, held for the first time at Santa Monica’s historic Barker Hangar, lifted the gavel on approximately 300 collector vehicles and select memorabilia, with numerous spirited bidding contests erupting over the course of the two days.
Reflecting Auctions America’s international reach, bidders hailed from 11 countries around the world; significantly, 43 percent of bidders represented first-time clientele. The event also provided a fantastic illustration of Auctions America’s inventive presentation – playing upon the event’s airport hangar location, the sale delivered a new take on automotive auction staging, with vehicles driving onto the auction podium via the tail section of a C130.
1932 Ford Muroc Hot Rod designed by Chip Foose & Jerry Kugel sold $77,000
“We’re very pleased with results from our third annual California sale, which cements our reputation as the leading auction house serving the Southern California collector community,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, Auctions America’s West Coast Division. “Despite the rainy weather, we enjoyed strong attendance on Saturday, with some solid prices recorded across the board. Our new venue at the Barker Hangar proved particularly popular among attendees, and provided us with a great opportunity to showcase our team’s creativity. All in all, the event was a success on all fronts and created an excellent foundation for us to build on in the future.”
Top sales honors were tied by two cars from very different eras: an exquisite 1938 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster, a model that represented the height of luxury and sporting elegance in period, and a 2004 Ferrari Enzo, one of the most exciting and iconic cars of the 21st century. Originally built as a 540K Cabriolet B before an expert rebody, the 540K glistened under the auction lights, drawing strong interest to garner a fantastic $1,870,000. The Enzo also drew significant attention from those in attendance, roaring onto the auction stage before also selling for final $1,870,000. Rounding out the sale’s top three and also achieving seven figures was the 1967 Ferrari 330 GTS, the epitome of mid-sixties Italian supercar styling, which realized $1,622,500.
Additional notable sales included:
A beautifully restored 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Cabriolet, for an above-estimate $407,000;
An iconic 1989 Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition, one of the most widely recognized supercars ever produced and showing just 6,500 miles, for $360,250; and,
The eye-catching 1955 Ford “Beatnik Bubbletop” Custom, the world’s largest bubbletop custom car, offered by eclectic collector and star of A&E’s “Storage Wars”, Barry Weiss, for $165,000.
In addition, solid results were also recorded for a variety of Porsches included in the sale, illustrating a growing appetite in the marque. A freshly restored 1972 Porsche 911T Coupe, striking in Gemini Blue Metallic, commanded $140,250, while a 1996 Porsche 911 Twin Turbo, one of the most desired models of the Porsche series, garnered $165,000, and a 2007 Porsche GT3 RS, a true street legal racing machine, $192,500.
Auctions America continues its 2015 calendar with its flagship Auburn Fall Collector Car Weekend, September 2 – 6. Returning to the historic Auburn Auction Park in Indiana, this multi-day event will lift the gavel on some 1,000 collector vehicles, in addition to presenting a car corral, swap meet and a host of other automotive-themed activities for enthusiasts of all ages. Auctions America concludes its 2015 calendar with its debut Hilton Head Island Auction, October 31 in South Carolina, during the Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival and Concours d’Elegance.
For further information on upcoming events, or to view complete official results from Auctions America’s California event, please visit www.auctionsamerica.com.
*Results are listed in USD and are inclusive of 10 percent buyer’s premium for automobiles and 15 percent for all other lots.
Related: Auctions America - Santa Monica Style (300+ photos)
Pictured below: 1909 Peerless Model 19 Touring (unrestored) sells at $165,000; 1985 Land Rover Defender 110 Wagon sells at $27,500; 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6 Sport Coupe "offered without reserve" sells at $48,400; and 1953 DKW Sonderklasse Coupe sells at $24,200
Source: Auctions America
Photos: Randy Berg
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